First Impressions

The North Face is one of those go to brands for outdoor gear. And the Cat’s Meow has been one of TNF’s go to bags for quite a while. When I was shopping to upgrade the Slumberjack bags that had served my wife and I well in the past, the Cat’s Meow was definitely on the short list to consider. I’m now in my second season of use and continue to be impressed with the product.

Out of the box, these bags were impressive. They boast a 20 degree rating, which was key. The Slumberjacks – although they’d aged well – just couldn’t stand up to the cool Sierra nights any longer. When we made our initial purchases, we went with the women’s long and a standard length men’s. The quality of construction was excellent, as was the choice of materials.

Features

The Cat’s Meow comes in several colors now. We opted for a men’s version in dark blue and women’s in a lighter blue. Both have exterior pockets near the top of the bag for storing a headlamp, glasses or other small items. Zipper pulls glow in the dark, are rugged and work well all the way to the foot of each bag. Compression sacks come with, as does a mesh storage sack.

Specs
Fabric: Polyester Taffeta
Insulation: Climashield Prism Synthetic
Weight: 2 lbs, 10 oz

The women’s bag is the definite feature standout. In addition to all the above, it has a fleece lined toe box (this is the feature that sold my wife on this particular model). It also has a built-in hand warmer pocket. Both of these features should keep women (who, I’m told, sleep colder than men) comfortable as the temperature drops. The men’s version is pretty straightforward in comparison.

Fit

My wife opted for the women’s long, wanting a little extra room. I went for the men’s regular. No complaints on the choice of sizes. We’ve been very impressed with the roominess of these bags, not nearly as constricting as similar products.

Final Verdict

I’m impressed. The Cat’s Meows have kept us warm and dry in the Sierras, on the damp Northern California Coast and elsewhere. They’re handsome, have great fit and finish. The extra little touches on the women’s version are definitely winners. The men’s, although less feature rich, is an exceptional product.

First Impressions:
[Rating:4.5/5] Features:
[Rating:4.5/5] Fit:
[Rating:4.5/5] Final Verdict:
[Rating:4.5/5]

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