Klymit® KSB 20 Sleeping Bag Review

Overview:
If you haven’t discovered Klymit, then you need spend some time getting to know them. These folks are serious about their gear and they have spent a lot of time and energy to understand the outdoorsman’s needs and then exceed expectations.
I have a story to tell about my Klymit KSB 20 sleeping bag, but first, here is a quick feature list for the Klymit KSB 20 sleeping bag:

Just the Facts:
• Temperature Rating: 10F (-12C)
• Weight/Mass: 3.2 lbs (1.45 kg)
• Dimensions: 84.5″ x 31.5″ x 21.7″ (214.6 cm x 80 cm x 55.1 cm)
• Pack Size: 12″ x 6.5″ (30.5 cm x 16.5 cm)
• Includes: Stuff sack and large mesh storage sack
• Fill: Synthetic fibers
• Price is about $225
• Limited lifetime warranty

My Story:
I used this bag with great satisfaction on a couple of short summer overnighters in Utah and Wyoming. I am a side sleeper and so having room and flexibility inside the bag are a huge part of being comfortable and actually getting some rest. This sleeping bag has been engineered both in its cut and in the way its fabrics stretch at the shoulders to accommodate different body positions and movement throughout the night.
Something that Klymit has done with excellence is to design a sleeping package that takes a sleeping bag and a sleeping pad and puts them together into a single unit meant for the serious outdoorsman who needs performance gear, who is sensitive to his total pack weight, and who wants some comfort along the way. I tested this bag with the Klymit Static V Luxe sleeping pad, and you can read about that pad by clicking the link I’ve provided.

LINK TO PAD REVIEW

The KSB 20 comes in a down fill version and a synthetic fill version, the latter being the one I tested. This bag weighed in at a modest 3.2 pounds, compressed down to a very small size. Unpacked and opened in my tent, the bag was evenly baffled with high-performance fill and a generous foot box. I mentioned that it had a lot of room up top and the sleeping pad was just huge—wide and comfortable. I slept well every night.
The middle of the bag is sewn together with flexible baffles that hug your body and eliminate air movement. There is room to spare, providing the option to sleep with a jacket on colder evenings. The KSB 20 synthetic features a mummy hood with a 3/4 length zipper with guard. This bag gave me options to manage weather conditions—tighten things up when colder and open it up when warmer.
This bag was plenty warm. I was sleeping in a tent, so that helped. The coldest nights were mid-to-high 30s . I left the bag partially unzipped and I slept on top of the hood cover because I just got too hot with everything all buttoned down and zipped up.

I give the Klymit KSB 20 sleeping bag the following marks (of a possible 5):
Design – 5
Comfort – 4.5
Weight – 4.5
Warmth – 5
Overall – 4.75

What They Could Do Better
This is a very good sleeping bag. I feel that Klymit has put a lot of thought and design effort into this bag to maximize its comfort, durability, and protection. I like how the bag moved with me and that its baffling system kept the fill evenly distributed.
My suggestion to Klymit on this bag would be to give it a little more upper leg room. I mentioned that I am a side sleeper and I know I move around during the night—from one side to the other. I realized that there might be a few additional ounces added to the bag if this design change were to happen. For me, that extra few ounces would be well worth it because the bag is already a great performer and lightweight by any standard of measure.