REI Nodder +25

Bottom Line

Warm, yet adjustable to your child's height and temperature comfort, the REI Nodder +25 is a sleeping bag built just for kids.

Performance

Made for families. Children sleep well in the synthetic-filled REI Nodder +25, parents say. Some kids enjoy the Nodder so much they use it "to hang around the house," writes Heidi Ahrens on her blog, Outdoor Baby.

Comfort

Fully adjustable. Parents say one of the major selling points of the REI Nodder is its attached stuff sack, fastened on the foot of the bag. This allows parents of smaller children to stuff the excess length in the sack and cinch it closed, eliminating much of the dead air within the bag and assuring a warm, snug fit. The bag's mummy-style hood also adjusts to the child's face so children's ears and shoulders stay warm and sleepers aren't able to wriggle free and wake up too cold. Users report they also like the double side zippers, so children can adjust themselves for ventilation and use of their hands.

Ownership

No bad signs so far. Online reviews indicate no problems with the workmanship or design of the REI Nodder. The biggest complaint found in reviews is that the sleeping bag's synthetic lining and built-in stuff sack stop the bag from packing down very compactly. This makes it difficult for children to fit the bag in their kid-sized hiking packs and carry their own gear. However, using an external compression sack fixes this problem.

The manufacturer recommends the Nodder for children between the ages of 6 and 10. However, users report using the bag with kids as young as 2 and as old as 11. Reviewer Candus Thomson of The Baltimore Sun suggests visiting an REI outlet to test the bag for fit before committing. Dec.