The first time I was invited on a camping trip in Utah my mood quickly went from stoked to scared. Did I want to get out in the mountains? Yes. Had I been dying to experience something John Muir would be proud of? Absolutely. Then why the fear? I didn’t have the gear, and I didn’t know what to get. My biggest fear was the sleeping bag. Do I buy lightweight, mummy shape, 0 degree, a bivy sack? So many to choose from that it made my head hurt, and in the end I failed. I spent way too much money, and had a cold, bulky bag.
Kelty’s Discovery series is an attempt to help the weekend warrior camper. Within their line of easy to use camping gear is the Discovery 30 sleeping bag.
During a trip to Oregon to visit my parents I brought the Discovery 30 along for the ride. After a long day of driving the only thing I wanted to do was sleep. A gas station attendant in the town of Burns pointed me towards a landmark known as Glass Butte, about an hour east. It was easy to spot and within minutes I had come upon an established site. After setting up my tent, I blew up my pad and threw the Discovery 30 on top.
One of the things I like about this bag is how it’s oversized. I’m a big guy and with its 80 inch length and 68 inch shoulder girth, I fit in it quite nice with space to move. The temperature dropped to around 45 degrees that night and I was never was bothered. The Discovery 30 is insulated with “cloudfit”, a trademark of Kelty. The company claims this synthetic material keeps you warm while letting the bag compress easily. The bag also features a full length draft tube and zipper seals to keep out the cold. I also slept in the redwood forest of California on that trip. The temperature was much warmer there compared to the Oregon high desert. That night I slept with the bag partially open. I prefer my sleeping conditions to be a bit warmer.
One of the things I find myself doing is using the Discovery 30 at home. I have it folded up next to the couch and use it as quilt for chilly evenings. No lies, it’s a good excuse to curl up next to my lady.
Pros: This bag has a great price tag. Under $60 (exclusively at REI stores) The bag to keep you comfortable in a summer night, and at home.
Cons: I did experiment with temperatures around 35 degrees and the bag was cold. This bag is a little too heavy and bulky to stuff into a pack and hit the backcountry.