The North Face Cat's Meow

Bottom Line

The North Face Cat's Meow is a classic sleeping bag for casual campers. Lightweight and durable, its synthetic fill allows for a comfortable night's sleep in mild temperatures, even when the weather is wet.

Performance

Quick-drying. The North Face Cat's Meow sleeping bag is a reviewer favorite. On the market for more than 10 years, the bag continues to get good reviews from backpackers for its light weight. "Packs great into the kayak for overnighters, too," one Buzzillions.com contributor says. Its synthetic Climashield fill dries quickly after exposure to moisture and retains users' body heat even when wet.

One Trailspace.com contributor says it's a good option for wet, warm climates where you otherwise would use a down-filled. However, many report the bag not meeting its 20-degree Fahrenheit rating. Campers who may need extra layers with the Cat's Meow even at 40-degree nighttime temperatures.

Comfort

Cozy sizes. The North Face Cat's Meow comes in two sizes, regular and long, and users say the sizes are adequate for campers over 6 feet tall. Users with large feet might find the footbox too constricting, says a reviewer at CheapTents.com who wears a size 13. This is good news for campers who usually have cold feet - less room in the footbox means it warms easily by body heat. Adjusting the bag while inside is easy, say StarCamping.com editors: "The hood was easy to pull up tight around my face without any discomfort."

Ownership

Good for novice or casual campers. The North Face Cat's Meow strikes a balance between affordability and function. "(It's) an ideal piece of kit for someone starting out or indeed anyone looking for a good quality sleeping bag without breaking the bank," says a reviewer at CheapTents.com.

However, the bag's notoriously sticky zippers and mixed reviews for temperature dependability might drive more frequent campers to a lower temperature rating or a down bag, such as the top-rated Sierra Designs DriDown Zissou (Est. $220 and up).

The Cat's Meow is reportedly durable: its synthetic fill keeps its loft (thickness) well over a few years of use. "It is highly compressible and has held its loft for three years so far without being washed," writes a Buzzillions.com contributor. However, a user reviewing the bag on Trailspace.com reminds campers that losing a fair amount of loft "is just a fact of life for synthetics." North Face does offer a full warranty for the lifetime of its products.