Wherever you are in the world, one things for sure.
You need a sleeping bag to keep you toasting warm and alive through the cold nights.
I’m going to be providing the best Kelty sleeping bags reviews in this article.
Kelty KNOW how to provide top quality products. Their customer testimonials speak for themselves.
I’ve reviewed many sleeping bags in the past from Kelty and I must say that they truly do specialize in high quality products.
But enough about them, let’s get into the sleeping bags!
1. Kelty Cosmic 20 Degree Sleeping Bag – Best used for car camping & backpacking in winter
This is a Kelty Top-Seller.
The Kelty Cosmic 20 Degree Sleeping Bag has down filling and keeps you warm down to temperatures of -7 Degrees Celsius.
The new and improved hydrophobic finish combats moisture buildup and dries faster.
It has 550 DriDown fill, a locking zipper, full draft collar, comfort hood, foot box and zipper draft tube.
All of this creates a sleeping bag that keeps its loft for longer, doesn’t make you wet in cold conditions and keeps you warm and dry in low temperatures.
Pros
- Has a great warmth-to-weight ratio
- It is lightweight and fluffy
- Can be compressed down to 8 x 14 inches
- High quality and very effective for the price
Cons
- The zipper can catch and break if you’re not careful with it
- No interior pockets
The Verdict
This sleeping bag is one of the best in its price range and easily keeps you warm.
It has accumulated many good reviews over the years and there’s a good reason why – it is really comfortable and has a reasonable amount of features for the price.
Sure, there are warmer sleeping bags that provide more insulation and features, but then you’ll be paying an extra $100-$200.
And that’s why this sleeping bag has a good reputation.
Kelty have cut back on the features to get the most warmth and the least amount of weight possible, to end up with a good final price.
What a great sleeping bag!
My Final Rating
4.7/5
2. Kelty Dualist 20 Degree Sleeping Bag – Good for people on a budget looking for a high quality bag
DriDown and Thermapro partnered up to create the ThermaDri Hybrid construction, and that is exactly what the Kelty Dualist 20 Degree Sleeping Bag offers.
This means it’s 20% lighter than synthetic bags, 40% less dense (highly breathable), 40% more compressible, and offers 17 times more moisture defense.
The weight is 2.15 pounds and contains many great features, which are:
The thermal-comfort hood, drawstring, draft collar, footbox, dual-slider, zipper draft tube with an anti-snag and locking system.
It has a temperature rating of 20 Degrees F, which translates to -6 Degrees C and has no trouble keeping you warm for the whole night.
Pros
- Very light and comfortable
- It zips up smoothly due to the anti-snag design
- Compresses down really small, making room for other items in your backpack
- Lives up to the temperature of 20 Degrees F
- Extremely warm, as many users have pointed out
Cons
- It’s narrow at the shoulders
Conclusion
This sleeping bag has good loft, stays drier for longer and dries faster when wet.
In addition, the ThermaPro feature retains warmth while providing superior packability.
All of this results in a highly compressible, high quality and affordable sleeping bag that you can rely on to keep you warm for all your outdoor adventures.
The negative feedback is virtually non-existent and the high amount of positives are remarkable.
This led me to liking this bag right from the get-go. I just HAD to include it in this list.
My Final Rating
4.7/5
3. Kelty Tuck 22 Degree Sleeping Bag – Your go-to sleeping bag for all outdoor adventures
This is another sleeping bag that contains the “ThermaPro” technology.
ThermaPro provides the warmth and allows the bag to compress down to a small size.
Kelty claim that this bag is fully-featured and highly versatile.
With the technology and features like the ThermaPro insulation, comfort hood, natural fit footbox, media pocket, drawstring, quilt construction, zipper draft tube and anti-snag design, I’d have to agree with them!
It weighs just 3.3 pounds and fits anyone up to 6’6 feet comfortably.
Pros
- Feature-packed and highly-affordable considering everything it offers
- Compresses down really small
- Has high quality zippers (claimed by reviewers)
- Very warm – has no trouble holding in the heat on cold nights
Cons
- A little heavier than its competitors
- Narrow at the shoulders
My Verdict
This sleeping bag has been around for a very long time, and over that time it’s accumulated a large number of good reviews.
Whether you’re camping with your family in a campsite or backyard, or by yourself in the wilderness, this should be your go-to sleeping bag for all your outdoor adventures.
It’s not the lightest sleeping bag in the price bracket, however, it packs small.
This means you get a great bag that’s packed with lots of features and only slightly heavier than others.
Basically, it’s highly versatile and affordable!
Great job Kelty.
My Final Rating
4.6/5
4. Kelty Cosmic 40 Degree Sleeping Bag – Good for warm-weather backpacking since it’s so lightweight
This sleeping bag is very lightweight and has 600 DriDown fill, making it comfortable and warm in cold conditions.
It keeps you warm at temperatures of 40 Degrees Fahrenheit / 4 Degrees Celsius.
Here are the features:
- 600 DriDown Fill that resists water
- Dual-sliding locking zipper
- Full draft collar
- Thermal comfort hood
- Natural fit footbox
- Anti-snag zipper with draft tube
Just like the Cosmic 20 bag, this one also has the hydrophobic finish.
It lofts better, dries quicker and keeps you drier for longer.
Basically, it resists water and condensation so you’ll stay comfortable and toasting warm all night long.
But what I like the most is that it’s ONLY 2.1 pounds, or 1.15 pounds if you choose the regular size.
Pros
- Ultralight and packs down small, which seems to be the main perk of this sleeping bag
- It has a 40 Degree temperature rating and still keeps you warm easily enough
- Comfortable
- Good for warm-weather camping since you won’t overheat
Cons
- No media pockets
- Not the best for extreme cold conditions
My Final Words
This is an amazingly lightweight bag that compacts down to a small size!
It is feature-packed and surprisingly comfortable for the price.
And even though it’s not the best for cold weather conditions, it is perfect for summer camping since you won’t overheat like some sleeping bags.
So I came to the conclusion that it is best for summer backpacking and camping.
It’s so lightweight, compact and warm. What more could you want?
My Final Rating
4.4/5
5. Kelty TRU Comfort 20 Degree Sleeping Bag – Perfect for plus-size people, or people with broad shoulders
This is the Kelty TRU Comfort 20 Degree Sleeping Bag.
It is mummy-shaped but much larger than traditional mummy bags.
This is so large adults and people who have wide shoulders can fit in comfortably without feeling all squished up.
My favorite feature is the 2-layer blanket temperature control system. Place it over top of you when it’s chilly or remove it when the temperature gets too hot.
Other features include: Comfort-tuck zipper, ThermaPro synthetic insulation, comfort hood, footbox, media pocket, and zipper draft tube.
The weight is heavier than other sleeping bags mentioned (5.1 pounds), however, that’s because it’s larger than them as well.
Pros
- Includes a unique built-in blanket for temperature control
- Warm, soft, and gets back into the stuff sack with ease
- Oversized – lots of room to move around
- A boatload of features
Cons
- Much heavier than other mummy-shaped bags
My Conclusion
This sleeping bag is PERFECT for people that can’t fit in traditional mummy bags comfortably.
As I’ve talked about already in this article, oversized people with broad shoulders can’t find a good sleeping bag to fit in properly (most of the time).
Well that doesn’t have to be the case anymore, because it is designed for bigger people in mind.
Of course every product has their positives and negatives.
At least the only downside to this one is the weight, so backpacking is completely out of the question.
But it works fine for car camping.
It is truly one-of-a-kind and a great concept.
My Final Rating
4.4/5
6. Kelty Tuck EX 0 Degree ThermaPro RH Sleeping Bag – Perfect for tall campers that sleep in temperatures below 0 Degrees Celsius
If you didn’t think the Kelty TRU Comfort 20 Degree Bag was going to keep you warm in cold conditions, I have some good news for you.
The 0 Degree version (this one) can withstand temperatures down to -18 Degrees Celsius!
It is 68 inches wide when open and keeps you warm easily enough, without sacrificing comfort or features.
The ThermaPro synthetic insulation ensures that it packs down as small as possible while keeping you warm when you’re counting on it the most.
It has the same features as the 20 Degree version, however, there is no built-in blanket.
But as a result of not having the blanket, it is LIGHTER and TALLER.
That’s correct – this one can fit people up to 7 feet!
Pros
- Keeps you alive at -18 Degrees Celsius
- Taller than the 20 degrees version (a better choice for you tall bloke)
- Absolutely packed with features
- Extremely comfortable, especially for plus-size people
Cons
- Doesn’t pack down small
- A little too heavy for backpacking
The Verdict
It’s not 100% suited for a long distance trekker, but that doesn’t stop it from performing beyond expectations.
It is roomy, EXTREMELY warm, comfortable, and will keep you alive when you’re counting on it the most.
The foot area is a nice touch since you can walk around with it on while you make your morning coffee 🙂
This bag is one of my favorites on this list, not because I am overly large or anything, but because I know how hard it is for plus-size people to find a sleeping bag that they can fit in comfortably, effortlessly, and without feeling all squished up.
My Final Rating
4.75/5
7. Kelty Rambler 50 Regular RH Sleeping Bag – Inexpensive, good quality, and wide enough for larger people
Although not as warm as the other tents mentioned, the Kelty Rambler 50 Regular RH Sleeping Bag still has its place on my list.
And why is that?
The fact that it’s HIGHLY affordable, high quality and perfect for festivals, summer camping and backpacking.
It packs down to a mere 7 x 11 inches and weighs only 2.2 pounds.
It features the comfort-tuck zipper system so you have temperature control on hot nights.
And by using the same zipper you can open it up like a blanket.
Furthermore: a compression stuff sack is included in the purchase.
You can pack it small and have more space inside your backpack for other items.
Pros
- Very lightweight for the price
- Perfect for summer camping
- The semi-rectangular shape makes it ideal for large people – it’s not as restricting as normal mummy bags
- The material is fluffy and makes for a comfortable nights sleep
Cons
- Won’t keep you warm in fall or spring unless you use a blanket or extra clothing
Final Words
It is lightweight and has a good number of features considering how low the price is.
As soon as I saw how much value it had I just HAD to include it in this list.
And even though it doesn’t have much purchasers, all of the feedback has been positive which is always good to see.
This sleeping bag is a good choice if you’re camping on a budget, and I have no doubts you’ll find it to work for you if you use it for casual camping.
My Final Rating
4.2/5
Final Words – Which Kelty Sleeping Bag Is The Best?
Each of these sleeping bags have their own pros and cons, and a lot of them perform exactly as advertised.
However, there were two that stuck out to me the most.
They are the Kelty Dualist 20 Degree Sleeping Bag and the Kelty Tuck EX 0 Degree ThermaPro RH Sleeping Bag.
Why, exactly?
The Kelty Dualist 20 is good value for money and provides just as many features as the more expensive bags.
While the Kelty Tuck EX 0 Degree Bag is more recommended for bigger people since it offers an “oversized” design.
I hope you found what you were looking for in this article, and thank you very much for reading!
I’d like to hear your thoughts and opinions while you’re here 😀 Please leave a comment below.
Cheers.
-Brandon
Which of these would be considered an all rounder with regards to temperature control? I’m from South Africa and camping can see you sleeping in a wide range of temperatures. Judging by the article I’d imagine no. 5 the TRU comfort being better suited to our conditions. Would that be a fair assumption?
Absolutely! It can keep you warm when it’s really cold, and when it’s too hot just take the blanket off and unzip the natural fit foot box to let your feet out.
This was good information. I have experienced zipper issues with previous sleeping bag. Ugh! I never thought about shoulder width. Now I will have to give that some thought. I love the idea of inside pockets. We use sleeping bags for sleepovers so the temperature is not an issue.
Yes, zipper issues are a serious problem with both tents AND sleeping bags. When they go, so does the whole product.
And that’s awesome if you only use sleeping bags for sleepovers, because weight and temperature ratings won’t be an issue for you. All you have to worry about is comfort and features.
Nice one!
I have bought several sleeping bags over the years, and while I prefer the boxy shaped ones, I can see that the mummy bag shape is great for people who backpack and need something sturdy yet lightweight.
And I have been stuck a couple of times, using other peoples gear and freezing during the cool August nights.
I was looking at that Kelty Tuck Ex 0, but it does not have the hydrophobic finished down, like the Cosmic 20 degree bag. What do you recommend for cool nights and possibility of wet conditions?
That is correct. The mummy-shaped bags are designed to cut down on space and features, to bring down the weight.
I’m sorry to hear. I don’t wish a bad camping trip on anyone! Not even my own worst enemy.
And what’s the lesson for borrowing other peoples camping equipment? That you should not rely on everyone else’s gear. It’s always best to get your own, then you can learn to love it, look after it properly and it will look after YOU.
For cool nights and wet-weather conditions, I can gladly recommend the Kelty TRU Comfort 20 Bag. It provides immaculate warmth on cool nights, and even when it gets too hot, you have multiple venting options.
Hope this helps 🙂
Great review on Kelty sleeping bags- I have not had a chance to do much camping this season probably because I need to get some gear so this is a great place to start. I am looking at the Kelty Cosmic Regular because of its light weight and warmth… but then not too warm for the summer. 🙂
Good idea 🙂
When I first started out camping I bought a piece of equipment every other week, that way when it was camping season I had everything I needed, ready-to-go.
Of course if you’re pressed for time and short on funds, you can still get equipment even with a low budget.
Good luck.
Hi Brandon, nice post and very informative. I like the way you review many different Sleeping bags in the same post! I am actually looking for a sleeping bag for my 7 years old grand daughter. Can you recommend one?
I most definitely can. I know every girl likes Frozen and I’ve already found the best sleeping bags for girls. Let me know what else you need and I’ll be happy to help 🙂
Great and thorough reviews! I’m in love with my Phantom32 by Mountain Hardwear, but I’ve definitely thought about getting something for weather below zero. Thanks for the info, this is pretty beneficial!
I’ve never heard of that sleeping bag but I must say it does sound really cool!
You will certainly need a bag rated below 0 for extreme cold conditions. It’s not worth the risk trying to stay warm in a 20 Degree bag when you’re in -5 Degrees C. Thanks for sharing the type of sleeping bag you use for your outdoor adventures 🙂
This just brought me back to childhood since I haven’t went camping in a long time. That first sleeping bag looks nice. I think I would get the first one on the list since i don’t go camping to often.
The Kelty Cosmic 20 Degree Bag? It is a great bag, one of my favorites on the list actually.
I hope you go on a camping trip soon. Life’s too short to not be making memories.
Good luck.
Hi, I like the Kelty Cosmic 40 Degree Sleeping Bag. We have mostly warm weather in South Africa, I must see where its available, or would you be able to assist.
Your review is good and I like that you’ve brought in video clips
Well done
Hello Morne.
It’s easy to see if it’s available in your country, just click on the sleeping bag and underneath the words “In Stock” it will say something like: “This item does/does not ship to [your country]”.
That’s why I like Amazon, because it’s just so easy to use.
And if that seller DOESN’T ship to your country you can view other people selling the exact same product. You might find that other people are, and sometimes cheaper too.
Good luck.
I went camping last year and I did realize, the quality of the sleeping bag is everything! These mummy shaped ones look so comfortable. I can see how important it is in choosing the right one, especially as an avid camper.
Absolutely! Speed through your research on a sleeping bag and you’ll end up with one you don’t like, one that’s low quality and a waste of money, or one that isn’t as warm as the manufacturers claim it to be.
Excellent article! I also believe that a sleeping bag is a very important item for anyone who seeks to spend a night under the stars. I really like Kelty products and have been for the last year or so.
I really appreciate all the options on here. If you can’t the right sleeping bag on here you may not belong outdoors!
My favorite sleeping on here is the Kelty Cosmic. Here in Arizona it does’t get too cold most of the year so i’m a fan of one that is lightweight and wont cook me alive at night. I’m one of those warm sleepers.
I also prefer Down over synthetic because comfort is important to me. I know that there is a trade off but for me it’s worth it.
Where is the last place you went camping? I’m headed to northern Arizona on Monday. I’m gonna take sometime off and enjoy the cooler weather of Flagstaff.
I’m a huge fan of your website. I feel at home here.
Me too! Kelty specialize in high quality products and always have. They don’t skimp over the details and sure as hell don’t release bad products, and if they do it’s very rare.
I only camp in New Zealand at the moment because I don’t have the money to travel right now, however, I’m all ears for any suggestions you have 🙂
Cheers.
-Brandon