Feathered Friends Puffin 20

 [killer deal]

Want the space-heater warmth and long-term durability of a down bag—without the, ahem, lofty price? The Light Year delivers. “It was like sleeping in a warm hug,” said one tester after a trip in the Rockies, with temps right down to the bag’s 20°F rating. Kelty keeps the cost in check by using 600-fill down, which means you’ll carry a little extra weight and bulk compared to a premium down bag, but still come out ahead of a similarly rated synthetic bag—and still get the puffy magic that makes down so effective as an insulator. “This bag lofted up like a bag of microwave popcorn!” exclaims a Colorado tester.

Offset horizontal baffles boost warmth, because the exterior and interior seams are staggered to prevent cold spots. The full-length zipper allowed one tester to open the bag wide on a mild September trip in Kentucky’s Red River Gorge. And later in the fall, the spacious torso dimensions allowed her to curl her knees up—her preferred sleeping style—inside the bag. The well-designed hood proved a godsend on the chilliest nights, thanks to a full draft collar around the neck and another puffy tube around the face, which allowed our tester to form a heat-trapping seal.

The exterior chest pocket is large enough for both an iPhone and a headlamp. And the 40-denier ripstop nylon shell is tough enough to handle years of bivy throw-downs. Plus, despite the discount down, it compresses smaller than a gallon milk jug in the included compression sack. As for the Cubist’s creamsicle design, our vote was split. $190; 2 lbs. 14 oz.; 20°F
The Puffin has a zipper that goes down the side and across the bottom. It may be zipped out flat and connected to a ground sheet, but it is designed primarily for a single person. It provides extra girth at the knees so legs can easily be drawn up inside the bag. It is available in several different temperature ratings from 20 degrees to -10 degrees F, in three different fabrics, and an optional collar.
Great for backpackers that want a light weight bag but crave the extra room.