A few weeks ago I talked about the little Kotey bag that I carry in my daypack. On the opposite end of the scale is our big, puffy, rectangular Downlite™ sleeping bag. The Downlite is one of the most flexible pieces of gear that we own, because it zips completely open into a down comforter which is great around the campfire and even on our bed. What other piece of camping gear gets regular use in your home?
There is nothing high-tech about the Downlite bag, but maybe that’s one reason it’s so flexible and durable. The exterior is a heavy cotton twill material and the fill is 550 in3/oz. hypoallergenic down. The bag is machine washable, which is a real plus for getting the campfire smoke-smell out of the bag. The sticky marshmallow residue requires an extra bit of scrubbing, but that’s no problem for the cotton twill exterior.
The disadvantages of a hybrid bag, like the Downlite, is that it doesn’t have some of the pure sleeping bag features that would interfere with its use a comforter. There’s no foot box, hood, or draft tube to insulate the zipper. To its credit, though, the Downlite is sized for a queen bed, so it’s a full 86-inches long and unzips to a full 60-inches wide.
If you camp with someone who’s not comfortable in a mummy bag, like I do, the Downlite is a great way to go. It currently sells for $70, which is very inexpensive for a down bag, and it serves several different purposes, which is always a plus. Just remember to wash the campfire smoke out of it before you use it on your bed!
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Oh I love this. I bought a mummy bag for the first time about 4 years ago because I liked how small it packed down. The first trip I used it on I HATED it, felt too cramped. So I bought a big rectangular sleeping bag that doesn’t pack down at all and used that for a while. Tried the mummy bag again and I don’t know what changed but now I love it! I have a hard time staying warm at night and the mummy bag is better for that. In fact, I’d like to put my mummy bag inside that Downlite!
It’s great that you finally got used to a mummy bag, Christine. They are much warmer, if you can get past the cramped feeling. They are also a lot easier to clean – a big rectangular bag really requires a commercial-size washer.
Great blog post Roy. My girlfriend is not a die-hard camper like I am and therefore wants more of the comforts of home. I was looking for a good sleeping bag for her that she can use on next weeks camping trip. I can’t wait to show her this blog post and sleeping bag. I think she’ll love it.
Good stuff! Thanks.
Thanks, J.E. – I think the Downlite would be a good fit, especially if you pair it with a comfy 3-4″ sleeping pad 🙂
You think I should update my 1967 original down bag then?
No way, let’s hook it up with my 1964 Coleman stove… 🙂
Looks and sounds really comfortable and at a good price. Keep up the great work Roy!
Thanks, Scott – yeah, I think it’s a decent value.
That seems like a very versatile bag. Our local metro district shows movies in one of our parks during the summer, when it can get chilly in the evening. This seems like it would be great to throw over the kids to keep them warm. As a bag, what temperature would you say it would allow a ‘cold’ sleeper to comfortably be out in? Seems like it might work well for my wife who doesn’t like the mummy style, but gets cold easily.
Marc – I’d say a cold sleeper would be comfy in this down to 35-degrees. My lightweight bag is a 35-degree bag and it’s not warm enough for my wife, in cool spring and fall weather.
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