Rei Travel Sack +55 Sleeping Bag

My first time using this sack was at my girlfriend's friend's brother's apartment in Denver, CO. This sack held up wonderfully considering we were in rugged Colorado. There was a cat in the crib and I am allergic to cat's. The bag shielded me from all allergens!
On another trip in which I was traveling on my motorcycle I was very pleased with it again. The bag compressed so small that I had room in my saddle bag for not just a six pack, but a six pack of tall boys! This was helpful because I like a good buzz before going to sleep.
This bag isn't all that great it does have a con. I went camping this past summer on a weekend where the low at night was 95 F. I certainly don't recommend ever camping in such weather but you would think that a 55+ would keep you comfortable. NOT! The manufacture should put a range on the temperature because I was sweating so bad in that bag I just ripped it off and slept without it... naked.
Whenever I leave town I always pack this bag. When sleeping in my car this bag works perfect as a blanket. When sleeping in a sleazy motel room it shields me from the stuff that makes it a sleazy room. And when crashing on someones couch it makes you look somewhat self sufficient.
My future plans for this bag are big. I would like to do service work in the Philippines and Kenya now that I know the sack can hold up to whatever is thrown at it.

I got this bag prior to doing a bit of travel after being stranded in some chilly airports. The size and weight were big pros for me, and the price wasn't bad either. Usually I don't go for synthetic fill bags because I know how to keep my gear dry, but the design intrigued me. The bag is comfortable for crashing just about anywhere, and the insulation is perfect for warm weather. It packs down small enough to take it with you just in case without worrying about the extra space or weight.

That said, I did have a few complaints. The arm hole on the left side is pretty hard to get open when you're in the bag, and the positioning of the hole would be better if it was moved slightly forward of the seam as I don't sleep with my arms straight out to my side. Also, if the zipper was a bit longer it might be easier to get an arm in and out. I have fairly wide shoulders, and while I could fit in the bag, the fit was a bit tight when it was completely zipped up. Items in the chest pocket tend to migrate.

Overall I think I'll keep using the bag for travel and summer backpacking, but I think they could tweak the design a bit in future year models.

I picked up this bag for a 10 week trip across Asia in Fall 2008, and it quickly became my home away from home. From shady hostels to cozy living rooms, this sleeping bag gave me peace of mind every night. At the time this was the smallest sleeping bag I could find... the tiny size still blows my mind when I get it into the stuff sack (its about the size of a football)!

The bag is breathable and comfy (I'm 5'10"), but relatively thin, so you may want to consider a sleeping pad when you're on a surface harder than a carpet. Also, while the bag works well within the stated limits, do not expect to stay warm in cooler temperatures (even indoors where there is no wind). I woke up cold on the floor of my apartment the night before I moved out this past February at about 50 F, and I was using a silk liner. If you're going to push it, just make sure you have access to reinforcements where ever you are staying (blankets or a heater). I personally would use this outdoors only when I know the temp will stay above 55 F.

A great, ultra-portable bag that delivers on its specs. Well made, easy to setup/stow. Perfect for couchsurfing and "Grand Tour" type backpacking.

I just used one of these on a 2 week motorcycle trip and it worked out great. I'm kind of hot natured so I didn't want to take the bulk and "heat" of a cold weather bag. I bought this bag on the reccommendation of REI store personnel. The bag stuffs down to be a little smaller than a football, and doesn't weigh much either. The only real complaint I have is that it's definitely made for really slim people with narrow shoulders. I'm shaped a bit like a fire hydrant (5'9", 250lbs) and my shoulders barely fit inside. It was a bit like a straight jacket the one time I actually zipped it up all the way. Temps were in the 50's-60's at night and the bag kept me plenty comfortable, I only zipped it up all the way once, and that was just a test, most of the time I slept with it partialy unzipped. It's a 4 instead of a 5 mostly due to the size issue. Not all hikers and campers are skinny, no-shoulder teenagers, some of us old broad shoulder, bull-neck types like to also. I'd not only refer this to a friend, I'm buying another one for my son instead of a kids bag so that I won't have to replace it in a few years.

This is a fine bag to take naps under at the house. Keeps the temps just right when unzipped as a comforter. We have a regular down comforter on the bed, and that mug is just too hot. Plus, der Travel Sack is wispy light. If you like you some naps, pony up the cash, friend!

And, I used this as an overbag rather than a bag liner for my down bag and it warmed me right up. One year at Telluride I thought I might should have gutted a tauntaun to stay warm; the next year, I brought the Travel Sack and slept all cushy-like. The cut is such that it made more sense to put my mummy bag inside of it, and the travel sack was light enough to keep the down loft from compressing. And, paying this price to extend the range of my more expensive down bag made economical sense to me.

It packs small, carries light, and is a great summer bag because you can unzip it entirely. I'm thinking I may buy a couple for my shorties to haul around in their daypacks so they can tote a load without keening like mosquitos when we go backpacking in the summer.

I hammock camp, tent camp, bivy sack camp and everything in between.

This is the best for layering your sleeping bag when added warmth is required. Early spring camping was made in heaven for this product.

While I own sub zero bags, you can't walk around the campsite in them. But with this little baby, I can have added warmth while sitting in my chair.

It opens every which way but loose. And you can even make it loose if you like!

It's a blanket when you need one, a bag inner or outer liner when you need one, a cover for your sleeping pad when you need one, a mobile warmth bag when you need one, and a summer sleep bag when you need one.

The only thing it won't do is fortune tell or read time. By all means get one, I don't know how I lived so long without this bag.

The price is well worth the convenience and utility. This is my idea of a hard working product, versus products that hardly work.

You won't be sorry in the least. Good deal REI !!!

I got this as a Christmas gift after asking for a summer sleeping bag. The only other bag I had at the time was rated to 15degF. This bag is super lightweight and packs small although the stuff sack it came with could be made smaller yet. I would buy a compression stuff sack if I was going to do some lightweight backpacking. I like the pocket inside the bag located by your chest. I use it to put the stuff sack in when I'm sleeping but it could have many more uses.

My only problem is that it is a little cold. I have used it in houses when I'm traveling in the summer and I was chilly during the night. (The house wasn't extremely air conditioned or anything). I would rate it a 60-65deg bag. It does get you sweaty if you use it too far above 80deg.

I have not used it as a liner yet because my other bag is sufficient for now. Hopefully I will do some sub-zero camping this winter and I will use it then.

This is a great bag for the price!

My husband is claustrophobic in a traditional (2 wall) tent, so we got an ultralight tarptent last summer for backpacking. It is a great tent, but along with excellent airflow and ventilation comes cold air and breeze inside the tent. I had been having trouble staying warm in my old 20 degree bag even on nights in the low 50's. I didn't want to buy a whole new sleeping bag since I like the old one and the cold weather bags are so expensive. I got the travel sack to use as an overbag along with my usual bag since it is a little longer and wider than my regular sleeping bag. It works great and adds more warmth than a thin liner would and I don't have the problem of a liner getting all twisted up inside the bag! I like to stash my chapstick in the little chest pocket and look forward to having a lightweight bag on hand for sleeping indoors. It does add weight to my pack, but since our tent only weighs about 2.5 pounds, I feel like I can afford the extra weight to stay warm and comfortable.

I use this bag as a sleeping bag liner. I'm freezing in 65 degree weather. I use this as a liner with my regular sleeping bag and I'm as comfortable as the rest of the family with their one sleeping bag.
My husband loves this product with his hammock tent. Being able to unzip the bottom so his feet touch the ground while he is in the sleeping bag, plus being able to unzip the sides to let his arms out really helps him get into the sleeping bag with the hammock tent.
Warmth - This bag is warm enough alone for him in weather down to 45 degrees. I start adding additional layers when it gets down to 65 degrees - but remember - I'm usually cold at night.
This bag packs down to the size of a football. It packs smaller then the fleece sleeping bags that we have.
It washes up very nicely.
We are both under 6 feet tall so this bag is long enough for us.

Before taking a month-and-a-half long roadtrip stretching from Dallas (along the Gulf Coast) to NYC (Up the Appalachians with a pit stop in Toronto) I had planned on sleeping with a sheet the entire way. Thankfully I decided to get a warm weather bag before leaving.

This little number is fun. The ability to use it as either a bag or a comforter is wonderful. I do feel a bit silly wearing it with my arms poking out through the zipper pockets, but that's a price I'm willing to pay when wandering around through the early morning chill.

Final breakdown -

100 - 70 degrees - comforter style
70 - 60 degrees - mummy bag with vent opened
60 & below - zipped up with layers as needed.

With months spent in this bag, I would strongly recommend it to others. On hitchhiking trips, my pack has this, a compass, a light, a knife, and a Nalgene. I couldn't be happier.