Can I do better than the North Face Cat's Meow in its price range?

HikingMano

HikingMano

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Sep 2, 2008
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I'm looking to get all-around use (car-camping, backpacking), 3-season sleeping bags for my girlfriend and I. It seems that the best bang for the buck is the North Face Cat's Meow ($130-170).

Is there anything better out there I should look at, in that price range (around $150)? I don't care about whether its down or synthetic (but would choose down over synthetic if given a choice), and I know I won't find the lightest bags at that price range, but I do want decent quality bags that will last us a few years.

Any suggestions on affordable pads of decent quality/longevity would be appreciated as well.



Thanks in advance!

Russell
 
I have a Big Agnes Fishhawk and love it. I've used it for weather in central/south Texas ranging from 70's at night down to 30 and been pretty comfortable. It has double zips so you can open up the toe section for ventilation if you get too warm and the squarish shape suits me better. I always feel...well...like a mummy in a tight mummy bag. The fishhawk is a down bag and runs a bit more than the syn at ~$180. gun creek is the syn bag in that range and runs about $130.

I use an Exped Downmat. Expensive but worth every freaking penny! Pumps by hand in about a minute and super comfortable. I also have a Big Agnes air pad thats not too bad but the Exped rules.
 
Might as well make this my first post. I 2nd the Big Agnes bags! I own the Whiskey Park (0degee) synthetic and use an REI 2.5" pad and it is an awesome set up. I am a large man and have plenty of room in the larger Park series bags. I am gettting ready to order another Big Agnes Park series bag but in a 30-40 degree bag.

Steve
 
In my opinion, the Cat's Meow is an outstanding sleeping bag, probably your best bang for your buck. And I don't even like The Northface stuff/image. After talking with the staff at Eastern Mountain Sports up in the northeast, I'm even more sold on mine. I've owned mine for going on 11 or 12 years. That's about half of my life.

I'm a young guy, and it's been used thousands of times. Canoe trips, back packing, festivals, crashing on a friends floor, middle of winter, you name it. The zippers are all still perfect, I've never once had a problem of any sort in that department. No rips at all, and no real staining except for a light grime ring around the hood. Truth be told, I've only ever washed it 2-3 times, haha. I keep mine in it's stuff sack in my truck if it's not in my pack. I know you're not supposed to store bags that way, but mine still has a lot of "fluff" to the synthetic insulation and keeps me more than warm. When I was in Boy Scouts, I once spent two nights in that bag at -20*F with only a thin fleece liner as an addition. This was in a cheap Eureka or Coleman tent, too. Never even thought about getting cold. You'll have no problems getting 3 seasons of use out of it.

After talking to the EMS staff this summer about their bags vs. Northface, I gained even more respect for the Cat's Meow. EMS is known throughout the northeast for making very high quality outdoor gear at very reasonable prices. For about $30 more than their version, the Cat's Meow uses a better, more efficient type of insulation, higher quality materials, and is considerably lighter. EMS makes great stuff, so I was shocked when the salesman broke it down like that for me.

As a final note, I would recommend synthetic over down unless you know what you're getting into or weight really matters. I've had to use that bag when it's gotten wet before, and I really did appreciate staying warm and not wrecking my sleeping bag. Down is great, but the maintenance isn't for me.
 
Hi Mano, I recently was looking for a decent 20ish degree, compressible, and comfortable bag for in the $180ish price range. Like back packs, I like to lay in the bag before I buy and I choose REI's Radiant "Plus" +20 degree down bag. The "Plus" means that it is made 6 inches longer and several inches wider. The extra inches wider results in a much more comfortable bag and is the only bag made by REI that was availible in the Plus size. I got it for $185 and used my REI member refund to purchase it. The real selling point for me was the fact it is the ONLY bag that I could fit in comfortably that didnt weight a ton or cost above $250. The Cats Meow was a nice bag, but it fit like a glove. I couldnt move around comfortably and felt restrictive. I'm about 6 foot, and 190 lbs so I am not huge, but I like to sleep on my side and bring my knee up.
YMMV, hope this helps.
 
I had a Cat's Meow a few years ago. It was a great bag, but I decided that I sprawl too much for a normal sleeping bag. I eventually bought a Kifaru Woobie which is more of a blanket than sleeping bag. Same price range and I found it surprisingly warm.

sjcootie, welcome to the forum. Glad to have you posting. :thumbup:
 
Guys, great input, thanks :thumbup:

RRTX2007 and sjcootie (Congrats on your first post, and welcome to BF! :)), I'll check out the Big Agnes offerings. The Fish Hawk looks great, 650 fill goose down rated (according to them) at 30* sounds good for my needs. Looks pretty roomy and has a lot of nifty features too. I'm willing to go up to $180ish, but having to get a bag for both my girlfriend and me makes me definitely want to keep each under $200.

Handwrecker, excellent write-up:thumbup: I change my mind on the down or syn preference practically every week :D I like down for the greater compressibility, lighter weight, and greater durability through cycles of compression... and I figure if you take the proper precautions with a tent or bivy, you should be able to keep the down dry under all but the most extreme circumstances. But the "what-if" monkey in me says the synthetic would be worth it because, well, stuff happens. And even if I'm not in a dangerously cold situation, down sounds like more of a PITA to deal with if it gets wet. So right now, I lean towards down, but as evidenced by my considering the NF Cat's Meow, I wouldn't be unhappy with synthetic.

Milani and Troy, that's the one concern I had with the Cat's Meow: it looks like a tight fit. I want to be able to wear layers under the bag in colder temps. And I'm another who generally likes freedom of movement while sleeping :) Those are excellent selling points for the Radiant Plus; I will definitely check out both when I go into my local REI this weekend to check out the bags. I'm liking the down too. Thanks for the great input.

Speaking of the woobie, I've been intrigued by the whole quilt/top-layer-only movement, but I think I want to start off with a sleeping bag for now.
 
Yeah, I've been eyeing the Hog Park.

ETA: Although the hog park would be on the heavy side if i want to use it for backpacking....
 
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I would look at the Kilo by Northface, weighs 2.2 lbs, cold rated to 25 to 30 degrees. & goose down. Comes with a compression sack, and really can pack it into a small space, very small and lighweight. I use one now, and got a 2010 model last month for $109. Found it on the internet for $99 at some supplier and then went to my local outfitter- Mountain Sports and paid $109, because the difference in the shipping cost. You can find it on the internet with quite a few price ranges, just have to search. Another good one is the Kelty- Lightyear, again search the internet and get a 2010 model, its cheaper.
 
Ive never owned or even seen the Cats Meow, but from looking at the specs, im sure you could do just as well with the Mountain Hardwear Lamina 20.

Ive got 2 of them, and i highly recommend them. I did some pretty extensive research when i was looking for a new bag, and i went with the Lamina. Havent regretted it.
 
Thanks Manitoba and Prop, I'll check out those bags. I've found a decent deal online for the Cat's Meow, so it might come down to pricing. Kelty Lightyear is looking nice, and have found it on sale too...

ETA:
My GF sleeps cold, so I'm thinking I might go for a down bag rated for colder temps for her. She doesn't like outings in cold and wet weather anyway, so down shouldn't be a problem there. Been looking at the REI Halo 25 or the North Face Hotlum (EN comfort rated 27*F and 25*F respectively... by contrast, the women's cat's meow is rated at 34*F).
 
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And remember, there's nothing more fun than a double bag for cozying up with a female. I have one of those too and it's a lot of fun;).
 
Haha, I bet :) We've just been using blankets, but I've been thinking about picking up one of those down the line.
 
Im gonna be the weird guy here and ask if you have ever considered hammock camping....

Its a great way to go light and the space/weight you save on traditional shelter can make a heavier bag/other gear more appealing, espeacially if your GF will only be out in nice weather get an ENO double nest deluxe spray it with permitherin, 2 woobies/blankets (to prevent middle of the night thievery) and compressible pillows and your ready for a night out under the stars and all your gear weighed in at under 5 pounds, just something to think about. i spent about a third of my time in afghanistan in a hammock and it was my sole comfort there so im a believer. really about the most romantic and pleasueable way to camp with a significant other espeacially if she runs cold and wants to leech some body heat ;)
 
I've considered it, but neither of us have found sleeping in hammocks particularly comfortable in the past, at least for more than a couple hour lazy afternoon nap. Maybe I should revisit the idea though; I'll look around to see if anyone is selling them in my area so we can look in person. What do you do if there are no trees around for anchoring?

I've been thinking about trying out hammock camping for solo trips down the line. Looks like a nice way to go lightweight and not have to worry about bugs and cold ground. :thumbup:


Going to REI tomorrow to try out some bags and pads :thumbup:
 
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Oh, I almost forgot to mention that all of the male and female REI bags are meant to be zippered together. I think the males are left side zippers, and females are right hand side.
 
Right :thumbup: I think North Face bags are like that too.

Oh yeah, I've been looking at the Big Agnes Insulated Air Core for a pad...looks like it's decent and well-liked at an affordable price. Would love to pick up an Exped Downmat for her and a Thermarest NeoAir for me...but the Big Agnes should do the job for now. I've also been considering the Thermarest Z-lite foam pad. Anyone prefer foam over inflatable, or vice versa?
 
Well REI should carry the ENO brand which i favor, i cant really imagine that many places in north america that i would want to go hiking/camping in that didnt have a few trees around.

The problem is probably that your laying in it wrong (sounds weird to think that you can lay in a hammock wrong ), a person is supposed to string it up relativley taught and then lay in it asymetricaly put your feet to one side and your head to the other, the asymmetrical lay is the pro's secret to hammock camping. This guy is a complete nut but he knows hammocks:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjL4ric6JZc&feature=relmfu about 2 and a half minutes into the video youll see him and how he is able to lie almost completley straight so no "bannana back" he'll do it again later in the video minus the pad but with a to quilt qhich i think illustrates the point much better because youl see how its the way he lays and not the pad that makes him so straight


When i was in afhganistan the worry was snakes, and to save a few oz's and place in my pack i used a permitherin coated hammock so i ddint have to wory about the rampant mosquitos carrying malaria.


i cant think of a way id rather camp the other think is that hammocks are relativley cheap versus a tent so you cna try one for about 50 bucks and if your not happy with it its not a big loss.

You can check out www.hammockforums.net if you wanna see some people who really know what they are doing
 
Ah, you're right! I have been lying in them wrong :thumbup: I've just lain in them straight down the middle. I'll give it a look, REI does carry ENO stuff. They even carry the double one.
 
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