The North Face Cat's Meow - Short Review

The Cat's Meow has slimmed down on unnecessary features included in previous versions. It's added warmth by putting insulation in all the right places, piling more on top and less on the bottom, making it more effective. This is a good value bag for a tight budget and a good option for wet or humid weather.

Performance Comparison

Warmth

The Cat's Meow is rated at an EN comfort rating of 20 degrees Fahrenheit. That said, we would hesitate to bring this bag out in temperatures that low, especially because, with its tight fit, we can't fit many extra clothing layers on our body inside the bag. It now has only a half-length zipper, which will help keep out cold drafts, but it isn't great for venting if you're too warm.

The North Face has gotten clever with constructing the Cat's Meow. They have moved the majority of the insulation to the top layer and just left a thin layer on the bottom. We think this is super smart and way more efficient. Insulation keeps heat in by trapping air molecules in the loft. The air warms up, keeping you warmer. Any insulation that is under your body is being compressed and won't be lofty, so it is ineffective at containing heat and keeping you warm. Your sleeping pad is what should be keeping you warm and insulating you from the ground, not the insulation on the bottom of your sleeping bag. The Cat's Meow does a great job retaining warmth with its smart design.

Not only that, but the loft is made of synthetic fibers that will retain their warmth even when wet — as opposed to down insulation, which loses its loft when it gets wet. This adds to overall warmth in all types of conditions. Our verdict? This is a warm synthetic option that will keep you cozy in all sorts of environments, down to probably around 30 degrees Fahrenheit.

Weight

Weighing in at 2.5 pounds, the Cat's Meow has slimmed back down to previous, lighter versions — it was a full pound heavier the last time we tested it. This is now the lightest synthetic model in this review. We think it is a decent choice to carry around if you are set on a synthetic-filled bag.

One way to make your load even lighter with this product is to choose a different compression sack. The Cat's Meow comes with a compression sack that weighs 3.7 ounces, which is unnecessary weight. By purchasing a lighter sack, you can shave off the ounces, making this a more viable option for adventures that require lightweight gear. The one weight-saving strategy The North Face uses is a half-length zipper, which probably shaved an ounce or two.

Comfort

We love the soft shell and liner materials on the Cat's Meow. They are very comfortable and feel soft on the skin. It is also nice that this bag still has a thin layer of synthetic on the bottom layer so you don't feel the materials of your sleeping pad below — which can feel cool and/or sticky. Sleeping in this bag is plush and comfortable, offering a nice sleep all night long.

The fit of this bag is very snug. Our 5'5" tester, who is usually exactly the right size for most women's sleeping bags (which often come in a single “women's” size), found that she could barely get her head into the hood (making it feel slightly claustrophobic) and could barely zip it up around her shoulders. We couldn't find any sizing information on TNF's website, but Amazon says that the max height for size Regular would be 5'6". We think it is closer to 5'4" and for folks who are on the slimmer side with narrower shoulders.

Packed Size

As with most synthetic bags, the Cat's Meow is not the most compressible — though it does noticeably improve on past versions.

As we mentioned, the compression sack is huge and bulky. We like the idea of a compression sack for synthetic bags, but it should be smaller and have less weight. We cinched the compression straps all the way down and noted that it could still be cinched smaller. This recent version of the Cat's Meow is way more compressible than previous ones and beats out other synthetic models in this category. Its streamlined design and lack of bells and whistles help it to fit into smaller spaces as well.

Features

We like the large neck and draft tube baffle that keeps warm air in and cold air out. However, the white color of this bag is a bit disconcerting since it is pristine-looking in a world of dirt and will undoubtedly show stains very easily.

We like the small stow pocket inside the insulation and close to the head. It is convenient for keeping a headlamp or phone warm, preserving batteries, or keeping things at hand should they be needed in the night. Almost every other product we tested now has an anti-snag zipper, but the Cat's Meow does not. The non-women's-specific version of this bag doesn't have intentionally placed extra insulation around places where women get colder, like the feet and hips. This bag is simpler and yet not quite as useful for female physiology.

Should You Buy The North Face Cat's Meow Short?

We think the current price makes the Cat's Meow a very good value product if you're in the market for a synthetic sleeping bag. Its insulation will keep you warm when wet, making it a great option for humid or wet weather. It would be a good choice for short backpacking and car camping trips in humid or wet climates, but be sure to try it out before purchasing it as it is a tight fit for average-height humans and those who are narrow in the shoulders.

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