Kelty Cosmic Down 20 Review

COMPLETE REVIEW

Kelty is owned by Exxel Outdoors and it is based in Colorado. The company specializes in outdoor equipment, mainly tents, sleeping bags and backpacks. The founder of the company, Asher Kelty, was the inventor of the aluminum-framed backpack.

The Kelty Cosmic Down 20 is a 3-season sleeping bag, which comes in 3 sizes: short, regular and long. The Cosmic Down 20 is a budget friendly option, without sacrificing on the quality and comfort.

Here are the main specifications of the Cosmic Down 20:

• Temperature rating: 20 degrees F
• Sizes: regular (fits to 6 feet; total weight: 2 lbs. 13 oz); small (fits to 5 feet 6 inches; total weight: 2 lbs 9 oz); long (fits to 6 feet 6 inches; total weight: 3 lbs. 6 oz)
• Material: 600 fill power DriDown; 50D polyester ripstop (shell)
• Stuff sack
• Draft collar
• 60 in. dual-slider locking zipper

The Cosmic Down 20 comes just with the stuff stack, but there is no compression sack included. This is a mummy shaped sleeping bag, but it is impressively spacious. It is also very comfy, thanks to its real down fill. It is filled with real down, which is a big deal, considering its price. Kelty has upgraded the down-fill on this new Cosmic Down 20, from 550 fill power on their older Cosmic version, to 600 fill power DriDown, which behaves better in damp conditions. Being a real down bag, it also mean is not as heavy as synthetic sleeping bags. However, it is a bit heavier than other down bags on the market, especially due to its roomy cut, so backpackers who focus a lot on space and weight, might want to consider other options. But if you just need a sleeping bag for short/moderate backpacking trips or for going car camping, this is definitely a choice to consider, if you don’t want to break the bank.

The temperature rating for the bag is 20 degrees F, although you should care more about its comfort rating, which is 30 degrees. If you do push the bag to its limits and use it at just 20 degrees, you might get a little cold in it, unless you have additional layers to protect you and keep you warm. Thermally-wise, the Cosmic Down 20 is more vulnerable in the feet area. You have to shake the bag quite a bit to spread the insulation to feel more protected.

The liner and shell are made of 50D Down-Proof Polyester, which means that the bag is durable and behaves well in windy situations, keeping you warm. There is also a draft collar and even though it is not as thick as on high-end sleeping bags, nor is it adjustable, it is still solid enough and offers you additional warmth. And then there’s also the draft tube. The hood is quite large but you can clinch it real tight if you need to.

On the downside, the polyester shell/liner is not that breathable. However, the DriDown used by Kelty is water resistant, which means the bag won’t take that much time to dry.

The zipper on the Cosmic Down 20 works really well. It is a two-way, full length zipper and you can unzip it from the bottom or top, depending on your preferences. It is also anti-snag, which is an important quality.

The Kelty Cosmic Down 20 is definitely a great value, but keep in mind that this is a budget-friendly sleeping bag, one for newbies or people who go on light and short backpacking trips. While it is lighter than a synthetic bag, it is still on the heavy side for a real down bag, it doesn’t come with a compression sack and although it is rated as a 3-season sleeping bag, you’d be advised not to use it under 30 degrees F.