The North Face Cat's Meow Review

Overview

The Cat’s Meow has been a fixture of North Face’s sleeping bag lineup for decades, and the current version still follows the same formula: a synthetic mummy bag with a 20°F rating, a fully insulated hood and a price that undercuts most down options. It suits backpackers who want forgiving insulation and a low cost of entry. The trade-off is weight and bulk. At roughly 3 lb, it carries about a pound more than a comparable down bag.

Key Specs

Spec	Detail
Weight	1,347–1,476 g (2 lb 15.5 oz to 3 lb 4.1 oz) depending on version
Temperature rating	20°F / -7°C
EN/ISO ratings	Comfort 32°F, Limit 22°F, Extreme -9°F
Insulation	Heatseeker Eco recycled synthetic, Cyclone vertical-baffle construction
Shell	20D recycled nylon, fluorine-free DWR finish
Zipper	YKK 2/3-length side zipper
Packed size	10 x 16 in (men’s, in the included compression sack); 11 x 20 in stuff sack (women’s)
Shoulder circumference	61 in (regular), 62 in (long)
Pad attachment	Shock cords on the back of the bag
Price	Roughly $190–$220 at REI

Performance

Warmth. The headline number needs translating. The 20°F figure is the bag’s rating, but the ISO figures that sit behind it put the lower limit at 22°F and the comfort rating at 32°F. The limit is the figure for a warm sleeper. The comfort figure applies to a cold sleeper. Owners on Rokslide and other forums have long described the bag as generously rated, with several reporting comfort closer to 25–30°F. Outdoor Gear Lab’s testers said they would hesitate to take it out at its stated temperature, partly because the snug cut leaves little room for extra layers. The practical read: this is a solid bag from spring through fall, and a gamble on a hard freeze unless it is paired with a warm pad and insulated clothing.

Wet-weather behavior. This is where synthetic fill earns its place. Heatseeker Eco keeps insulating when damp, and the fluorine-free DWR on the 20D recycled nylon shell sheds condensation and light moisture. Hunters and backpackers in wet climates cite this as the reason to keep a Cat’s Meow around, even after buying a lighter down quilt. A damp tent wall on a September morning is less of a concern than it is with down.

Weight and packability. Here the bag shows its age against the ultralight field. The men’s long weighs 1,347 g, and the women’s regular weighs 1,476 g. A 20°F down bag in the same category often comes in 400–500 g lighter. Reviewers who have used the bag note that it packs decently for a synthetic bag but not small. The Inertia’s reviewer found it larger than ideal for a dedicated backpacking bag, even with the compression straps. The included compression sack takes the men’s bag to 10 x 16 in, a sizable block in a 40-liter pack.

Fit and features. The cut is a traditional mummy, and the shoulders are the recurring complaint. Longtime owners say recent versions run narrow, and a 6’2” owner of larger build described the shoulders and arms as confining. Side sleepers who like to bend their knees have also noted limited room. In its favor, the insulated hood has a cinch collar, the 2/3-length zipper saves weight over a full-length one, and the shock cords on the back hold a pad in place so it does not wander overnight. That feature does real work for restless sleepers on slick pads.

Durability. Owners tend to keep these bags for years, and several describe decades of use from older models. Opinion is not unanimous. One forum user said a North Face bag wore out in two seasons, and a Trailspace reviewer called the bag overpriced for its materials, pointing to lighter, warmer options from other brands.

Choosing a Version

The two versions covered here differ in more than weight.

Men’s Long (1,347 g). It has an internal length of 83.5 in (212 cm) and fits users up to 6’6”. The bag suits tall sleepers, and it is the lighter of the two despite being longer, because the men’s cut uses less insulation than the women’s. Shoulder circumference is 62 in.

Women’s Regular (1,476 g). It has an internal length of 71.5 in (182 cm) and fits users up to 5’6”. The women’s bag is about 129 g heavier but is built for the sleeper whose comfort rating, not limit rating, matters. Its 11 x 20 in stuff sack is larger than the men’s compressed size. Women under 5’6” get a bag with less dead space to heat, which matters on cold nights.

Sleepers near the height limit of either bag should go up a size. A mummy bag that is too short compresses insulation at the feet and loses warmth.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Synthetic fill keeps working when damp
• Fully insulated hood with a cinch collar
• Pad-retaining shock cords on the back panel
• Recycled shell and insulation, with fluorine-free DWR
• Long track record, and owners report years of service
• Costs much less than a comparable down bag

Cons

• Heavy for a 20°F bag, at 1,347–1,476 g
• Bulkier than down, even with a compression sack
• Narrow through the shoulders, with limited room for layers or movement
• ISO comfort rating of 32°F means cold sleepers should treat it as a 30°F bag
• Lighter, warmer options exist from other brands

Who Should Buy This

The Cat’s Meow fits new backpackers, weekend hikers and hunters who want one bag for three-season trips in damp conditions and do not want to spend down-bag money. It also works as a backup or loaner bag, and as a car-camping bag that can survive the occasional trailhead drive. Thru-hikers counting grams, cold sleepers who want a true 20°F bag, and anyone with broad shoulders should look elsewhere. A down bag or quilt will save a pound or more, and a roomier cut will sleep better.

Verdict

The Cat’s Meow is a dependable, forgiving bag that has earned its long following, but it is a budget workhorse, not a performance pick. Buy it if wet weather and price matter more than pack weight, and treat the 20°F rating as a 25–30°F working range. Ultralight hikers will find better value in down.