I invested in this bag in 2018 and have used it section hiking the Pacific Northwest Trail, on at least 18 trips backpacking and wilderness canoeing in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, on the Wonderland Trail, the Timberline Trail, Casque Isle Trail, and probably some more trips that I’m forgetting. I am just over 5’8’’ tall, and the men’s regular size works well for me. I prefer to have a little extra space, and the women’s version felt a little short.
When I first was researching down bags, I wasn’t sure about the Cloud 20’s design, but I did like the weight savings that came of it. The lack of zipper, that it just had a sleeve for a sleeping pad, and no insulation over part of the bottom was different than any of the bags I had used before. However, I have found that I really like the quilt-like quality and have found it easy to tuck around me to cozy up into the hood for cold weather without the worry of getting trapped by a faulty zipper. I did learn the hard way when I got lazy once and didn’t integrate my pad into the sleeve – when I rolled over, my back no longer had any insulation and I woke up freezing. However, I have not had any problems since when I use it as it is designed.
I prefer to use it for cooler weather, but not a Minnesota winter. I generally am not a warm sleeper and I’ve found that if temperatures dip below about 40F (and I’m the only person in the tent) I appreciate having an additional puffy to drape over the top for a little additional warmth. However, I have slept comfortably enough down to freezing temperatures. After these years of adventures it has begun to lose feathers out of some of its seams which probably impacts its insulating qualities, but it still functions quite well.
In hot weather (when temperatures stay at more than about 70F overnight) I have found some limitations with how far it can open up, even with sticking my feet out the bottom. While a normal bag with a zipper could be unzipped completely, this one cannot. Of course, it is a 20 degree bag, so if I’m on a trip where I expect it to be hot the whole time I’ll choose a different bag. However, most trips I’m on have a degree of unpredictability in the weather, so having a bag that performs well enough in all those conditions is important to me. I am happy with how this bag has performed in the varying climates (hot, dry, cool, cold, wet) of everywhere I’ve taken it.
Disclosures
Obtained independently: I paid for this product or received it as a personal gift from someone not affiliated with the brand.
Backpacking Light affiliation: I work for Backpacking Light in a paid or official capacity (owner/shareholder, employee, contractor, or paid contributor), but I am posting this review as an independent user and its content was not reviewed or directed by others at Backpacking Light.
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