• SilLite™ stow sack and cotton storage sack included
• 20 denier Pertex Quantum nylon shell with DWR
• 800 fill power goose down insulation
• 20°F/-07°C comfortable temperature rating
• 5 in loft
• Ultra-lite 24 in/ 60 cm #5 coil sternum zipper
• Dual draft tubes protect zipper
• 6 in/15 cm baffles
• 22 denier polyester lining
• 5-piece ergonomic hood with 360° face-seal gasket
• FootVent™ (patent pending)

Arrival [return to top] The Feather arrived on October 5, 2005, in a corrugated box approximately 16 x 12½ x 10½ in (41 x 32 x 27 cm). The box was received undamaged. Inside the box I found a clear plastic bag containing the Feather, inside its cotton storage bag. Tied to the hood cord was the black nylon stuff sack. Attached to the bag I found two brightly colored heavy card stock retail hang tags, both printed only in English. The first folded hang tag discussed the SmartFit system, the other was a folded GoLite standard tag with a Feather-specific insert. There were no other contents, and all contents appeared undamaged.

Description [return to top] The Feather is a 20 °F (-7 °C) rated, mummy-shaped, 800-power down filled sleeping bag with a very lightweight (20 denier), bright blue ripstop Pertex Quantum nylon shell and a 22 denier black polyester lining. The shell is actually light enough that I can see the down through it. It has a 24 in (60 cm) coil zipper located in front of the chest, rather than on the side. The hood has a black drawstring and cordlock to cinch it around the face.

The foot panel of the bag, which measures 10 in (25 cm) round, is a two panel design, with the top 2/3 covering the bottom 2/3 and allowing ventilation of the foot area. I could also imagine myself slipping the foot rope of my hammock through the opening and wrapping the Feather around me AND my hammock – as long as I am not using bug netting.

The bag – in size Regular-Medium – measures 82 in long, 32 in wide at the widest (shoulder) point, 26 in wide at the hips (or, what *I* thought would be the hips), and 20 in wide just above the foot (208 cm long; 81 cm shoulder, 66 cm hips, 51 cm foot). It weighs 1 lb 14.4 oz (862 g). With GoLite’s SmartFit sizing, the Feather is available in Short, Regular and Long lengths, and Trim and Medium widths. After laying flat for about 10 minutes to regain loft, I measured the bag at 5-6 in (13-15 cm) of loft.

The black nylon stuff sack measures 11½ in wide x 14 in long (29 x 36 cm) when flat, and is equipped with a black drawstring and cordlock, as well as a black ribbon about 1 in (2 cm) wide that crosses the full width of the bottom of the sack (outside) and acts as a handle to help separate the Feather from the sack. The stuff sack weighs 0.7 oz (20 g).

The white cotton storage sack is made from lightweight woven cotton with the GoLite logo screened on the bottom in black. It measures 20 in wide x 32 in long (51 x 81 cm) when flat, and weighs 3.6 oz (102 g). It is intended for storage when the bag is not in use (in the garage or home gear closet, for example) so the bag is not compressed any more than necessary. It is equipped with a black drawstring and cordlock.

First Impressions [return to top] The Feather is a lightweight bag, very slick (as in slippery) and – in my opinion – somewhat fragile feeling. I am quite careful with my gear, so I am not too concerned yet, but I will be sure to check out the bag more often than others I have used to make sure it is still undamaged. I am concerned that I will have difficulty getting into the bag, especially in a hammock, as the short zipper requires much more sliding into the bag than a long side-zipper does.

Field Information [return to top] Our Boy Scout troop camps monthly, generally in the wooded areas of southeastern Pennsylvania and the Pocono Mountains. Almost all of these outings include a minimum of 2 nights of camping, with temperatures expected to be from lows around 20 ºF (-7 ºC) to highs around 80 ºF (27 ºC) during the 4-month test period. Elevations will range from sea level to approximately 1,000’ (305 m). Our new Scoutmaster has added monthly hikes to our schedule as well. My fiancée and I, who between us have 3 First Class boy scouts (ages 14, 15 and 15), are also looking into additional camping without the scouts, and there are possibilities of some AT section hikes (with overnights) in Pennsylvania with my son as he works towards the Hiking Merit Badge. My experience with sleeping bags has been mostly with U.S. military issue bags, both Intermediate Cold and Extreme Cold varieties. These bags are one-size-fits-all, so they are sized to fit almost anyone. They fit me with some (ok, lots) room to spare, but are terribly heavy at 10-12 lb (4.5-5.5 kg). In looking for a lightweight replacement, I quickly learned that sleeping bags come in different girths, and many just do not fit me. The GoLite Smartfit seems to address this. I have taken other bags similarly rated to the Feather’s 20 ºF (-7 ºC) down to around 10 ºF (-12 ºC) without much extra layering. To perform similarly, the Feather should be able to comfortably take me, nude, easily down below freezing, and even lower with a few extra layers. This will be tested in mostly hammock situations, although I will certainly be in a tent in mid February (zero trees available at that event).

Things I am/will be looking for: Fit. Does it fit me? I may not be tall, but I’m pretty wide. Will I be claustrophobic? Does it move well with me? Does it restrict my sleeping positions? Hood. Is the hood snug? Does it cinch easily, and comfortably, down to fit my face/head? Fabric. Does the Pertex breathe well? Is it water resistant (definitely going to want to test this)? Is it wind resistant? How durable is it? Insulation. I am not experienced with down bags. Will there be cold spots due to shifting? Does the bag regain loft well/completely after unpacking? Warmth. How cold can it get and still keep me warm, or, at least, comfortable? Zipper. Is it durable? Does it snag? Will I have difficulty getting into the bag in a hammock (I am scheduled to test the Crazy Creek LEX)? Packability. How packable is the bag? I will attempt to pack this bag as part of my 3-season load in my Deuter Futura 32, or my 4-season load in my Gregory Z-Pack. Stuff sack. How well does the bag fit in it? Is it easy to compress? Waterproof?

My findings so far: Fit. I slipped into it quickly, and found it roomy enough for comfort. Fabric. Boy, is this stuff light. Zipper. Using the Feather is almost like putting it on as much as getting into it. Stuff sack. The bag is a pretty tight fit. I need to be careful not to damage the bag.

Things I like [return to top] Light. Comfortable. Packs fairly small. Things I don't like [return to top] Some difficulties getting into the bag. This may be alleviated with experience.

Backpacking Background [return to top] My family started car/trailer camping when I was about 5. I spent 17 years in the Army Reserve fine-tuning my packing methodology – when I got out I was down to a fairly respectable 75-80 lb (34-36 kg) load in my ALICE pack. Advancing age, arthritic knees and a car accident have led me to seriously rethink my gear choices, experiment with tarps and hammocks, make some of my own gear, and take a closer look at my ‘toys’ with an eye for multi-use and light weight. I now have a sub-30 lb (14 kg) 3-season load, and should be able to reduce it to 20 lb (9 kg) – before food, fuel and water – without much more effort.

Thank you for your time. Chuck Kime a.k.a. Fuzzy

Reviews > Sleep Gear > Sleeping Bags > GoLite Feather Sleeping Bag > Chuck Kime > Initial Report