Kelty Light Year XP Sleeping Bag: 0 Degree Synthetic - 2008 BCS

I have used my Kelty bag on a number of camp outs. The coldest being 20 degrees fahrenheit in a 4 man tent and was very warm all night. I have also slept in the open down to 28 and again was warm all night. I am looking forward to seeing if it will hit the rated temperature.

The bag is of excellent quality and very soft. I am 5'10" and 175 lbs at 48 years of age. I bought the long so I could through the next days cloths inside below my feet so I would have warm cloths in the morning, it also gave me 2 more inches of shoulder room which is appreciated. The bag is very well shaped and the hood fit is excellent. The insulating material is one of the best on the market and should ware well with age from my research.

I use this bag up to 50 degrees and still need to see how low I can go temperature wise. The feet vent is great if your a little warmer and again the quality is first rate. You get a stuff sack and storage sack and more loops for tie down then you will ever need.

My only issue with this bag is the locking mechanism for the hood draw cords is on the small side and difficult to use because of this, I also don't like the half sipper. a 3/4 zipper would have been far superior.

Over all an excellent bag, I don't understand were the other reviewer is coming from. I do know that with any winter camping it is important to eat a good meal and snack before bed or you may very well get cold. All I can say is I would buy this bag again and find it an excellent buy for the money. Oh, and the color (bright green and silver) is very attractive.

My boy and I bought a Kelty Chinook 0 degree bag several years ago that we have loved. However, my boy’s bag got destroyed in the washing machine. So, I wanted to get another bag with similar quality and bought this Kelty Light Year for him last Christmas. All year long he kept complaining that he was cold in this bag, unlike the previous Kelty Chinook 0 degree bag. His last complaint was a Boy Scout camp out about 2 weeks ago. I decided it was time to fix the problem. So, I called Kelty and they were very, very reluctant to acknowledge there was a problem and then to fix it.

On the other hand, the guys here at Backcountry.com were willing to let me return the bag with a full-refund, if you can believe that! So, I’m shopping right now for a replacement bag, and most likely it will be a Mountain Hardware bag, but definitely not another Kelty.

So, if you’re out shopping, don’t buy this Kelty Light Year if you want to stay warm!