Cold weather camping demands serious gear. Your three season sleeping bag may be able to keep you comfortable when the nights get cold, but can it really do the job when it’s freezing cold outside? If you are planning on snow camping or another cold-as-ice adventure you will need a zero degree bag to keep you cozy at night. For over 100 years Eureka! has been producing outdoor products that can stand up to the toughest conditions. I took their Kaycee 0 degree sleeping bag to Moab in late March to see if it could keep me happy in less than ideal conditions.
The Kaycee is heavier than your normal bag. Weighing in at 4 pounds 10 ounces this bag is as heavy as many tents. That’s to be expected as Eureka! has stuffed it with over 3 pounds of fill weight. When you are backpacking or camping in the cold you have to expect that all the gear you use will be both heavier and bulkier than what you are accustomed to. Rteq insulation blends four polyester fibers to create a balance of warmth, durability and compressibility. The bag comes with its own compression sack that helps make it trail ready right out of the box.
On the schedule were two nights of camping. The first night proved to be the coldest, and I was quite happy to have the Kaycee with me. Temperatures hovered right around freezing when I crawled into bed. When I slipped into the bag I was pleased to find it was already warm. The material on my other bags always shocks me with a chill, but the Kaycee was toasty. As Eureka! promises the polyester lining had a cotton feel to it- very comfortable against my skin. The bag also sports a trapezoidal foot box which allows your feet to stick up in their natural position. I zipped in and began to drift off to dreamland.
The night was very cold. I could hear my tent-mates tossing at times but I stayed comfortable. In fact, the only time I felt even a hint of cold is when I partially unzipped and poked my head out of the tent for a view of the stars. Instantly I was freezing, so back into the Kaycee I retreated. Both the draft tube and draft collar on the bag did their jobs to perfection: there were no problem spots where cold air could seep into the sleeping bag. I also liked the interior velcro pocket; I used it to store my headlamp on both evenings. I woke up refreshed and with no cold in my bones. Night one was a success!
Our second night was considerably warmer. Instead of keeping my base layer on, I got rid of everything but my boxers (too much info?) before climbing into the Kaycee. Within minutes I was warm, maybe too warm. I slept with the bag partially unzipped to account for the higher temps. When I woke in the morning I found condensation on my sleeping pad where my head and knees had been resting. Turns out the Kaycee had made me hot enough to sweat! However, big bonus points to Eureka! as the condensation proved a point: the Kaycee had wicked away my sweat to the outside of the bag where it would not be able to rob me of heat and comfort. Kudos!
Those of us who do a lot of rolling over in our sleep will have some issues with the Kaycee. A cold weather bag has to have a snug fit to combat heat loss, and this bag is no exception. I found it difficult to wiggle around and turn over in the Kaycee. If you need a roomy sleeping bag to account for your nighttime habits, consider another bag with a wider design.
The Kaycee was my first experience using a 0 degree bag, and I was pleased with the performance. If you are a four season camper then you better have a winter bag in your gear arsenal. The Kaycee is competitive with other bags in the weight range, and more than capable of keeping you comfy on the coldest of nights. When you consider the price tag of $135, the Kaycee becomes a downright steal! If a cold weather sleeping kit is on your “must have” list then look no further than this balmy bargain.
To purchase, visit Eureka! online.