Reviews You Can Rely On

Kelty Callisto 30 Review

This bag is ready to go and up for many adventures, giving you a lot of performance per dollar
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Kelty Callisto 30 Review
Credit: Kelty
Price:  $65 List
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Manufacturer:   Kelty
By Jason Wanlass ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  May 14, 2020
69
OVERALL
SCORE
  • Warmth - 35% 7.0
  • Comfort - 25% 6.0
  • Features - 25% 7.0
  • Packed Size - 15% 8.0

Our Verdict

The Kelty Callisto 30 is an all-synthetic, well-made camping bag with an appealing price tag, earning it our Best Buy Award. Perfect for many outdoor adventures, it's a cozy general-purpose bag that is just warm enough to be an excellent lightweight option for car camping, outdoor concerts, backyard campouts, movies in the park, and more. Despite its lower price, Kelty didn't cut any corners. This bag boasts CloudLoft insulation, double-layered, offset-quilted construction, and a few other features that make it an incredible value.
REASONS TO BUY
Well-made
Comfortable fabric allows for ease of movement
Good warmth to weight ratio
REASONS TO AVOID
Warmth rating may be a little inflated

Our Analysis and Test Results

Rated at 30-degrees, the Callisto is good for basic camping from late Spring to early Fall. Wider than many more expensive bags we've looked at, the Callisto offers adequate space to find your sweet spot. It then surrounds you in a premium polyester taffeta liner and shell.

Performance Comparison


kelty callisto 30 - the callisto is perfect for warmer-weather camping, but also has...
The Callisto is perfect for warmer-weather camping, but also has enough grit to stave off temps and make any morning pleasant.
Credit: Jason Wanlass

Warmth


We spent chilly evening's in Utah's Rocky Mountains examining this bag for warmth. In the end, we gave it above-average scores, but we feel its 30-degree F rating is a little generous. With nighttime temps at exactly 30-degrees F, this bag was tolerable, but that's about it. However, that doesn't change our overall high opinion of the bag. One thing we noticed about the Callisto is the thickness of its CloudLoft insulation. It adds to the bag's warmth and its overall coziness.


kelty callisto 30 - a full-length draft tube helps retain heat. kelty also went the...
A full-length draft tube helps retain heat. Kelty also went the extra mile by stitching the top of the tube to help reduce zipper snags.
Credit: Jason Wanlass

Kelty also went the extra mile with double-layer, offset-quilted construction. Basically, this is a fancier way of saying their quilting is layered and stitches do not go all the way through the bag. In part, this reduces heat loss through hundreds of tiny needle puncture holes. Offset construction is more time-consuming and more expensive, making this bag even more valuable when we consider its price tag. For basic camping, in comfortable to slightly chilly temperatures, this bag is an ideal choice for campers who don't want or need the bulk, weight, or warmth of larger bags. An average, tent-dwelling camper would stay comfortably warm in this bag down to a nighttime temperature of 40 to 45 degrees without putting on extra clothing layers.

kelty callisto 30 - the callisto's liner and shell are 190t polyester taffeta material...
The Callisto's liner and shell are 190T polyester taffeta material, giving them a pleasant, silky feel. We also loved how the white, offset stitching pops against the darker fabrics.
Credit: Jason Wanlass

Comfort


We gave the Callisto higher than average comfort scores. This bag is a few inches wider than many other bags, making it easy to move around in. It's also chock full of CloudLoft insulation, creating a thick, cozy environment to snuggle up in.


Overall, it's comfortable and exactly what a basic bag should be — simple, warm, and easy to grab and go. Additionally, we liked the feel of its 190T Polyester Taffeta lining and shell. This fabric is thick and rugged, but soft and silky.

kelty callisto 30 - it doesn't have a ton of features, but for the price, the callisto...
It doesn't have a ton of features, but for the price, the Callisto offers far more extras than many of its peers.
Credit: Jason Wanlass

Features


At first glance, you would probably consider the Callisto a basic, no-frills bag — and for the most part, you'd be correct. However, it has enough of the basic features we look for to still score a little above average in this metric. Features include a full-length zipper draft tube, an interior storage pocket, a double zipper, lifetime warranty, and a water-resistant shell. It also has exterior loops for hanging and white stitching that pops against the darker colored shell and liner fabrics.


kelty callisto 30 - the callisto packs up easily and relatively small, making it a...
The Callisto packs up easily and relatively small, making it a perfect grab-and-go bag, that could even be strapped to a backpack in a pinch for a short distance overnight.
Credit: Jason Wanlass

Packed Size


We shoved our Callisto into its stuff sack more times than we can count, and we can say with confidence that its 190T Polyester Taffeta shell packs up like a dream.


For our packed size scores, we also asked ourselves whether the bag's stored size and weight would allow someone to use it in a pinch as a backpacking bag. The answer is somewhere closer to yes than to no. It doesn't have the smallest packed size, but we feel the Callisto packs up small enough and is relatively light enough to double as backcountry bag in a pinch for a weekender in the backcountry, but we wouldn't choose to use it this way regularly.

kelty callisto 30 - the callisto's generous stuff sack and silky taffeta material makes...
The Callisto's generous stuff sack and silky taffeta material makes packing up a breeze.
Credit: Jason Wanlass

Value


The Callisto earned our Best Buy Award. Its quality, general warmth, comfortable fabric, size, weight, and its straightforward utility, make the Callisto an absolute bargain. There are cheaper bags on the market, but there is a moment when cheaper isn't worth it. If you're that price-conscious shopper looking for value — you've reached that moment. Buy a Callisto.

Conclusion


We said it earlier in the review, and we'll say it again: There's not much about the Kelty Callisto 30 that we don't like, and that doesn't happen very often with our discerning testers. Recently re-designed, this newest version of the bag is wider, more stylish, warm, comfortable, and perfect for basic adventures when a basic sleeping bag is needed. It's a near-perfect general purpose camping bag, making it our hands-down winner of the Best Buy Award.

kelty callisto 30 - the callisto is one of the most affordable, general-purpose sleeping...
The Callisto is one of the most affordable, general-purpose sleeping bags on the market. Ready to bring warmth and comfort to any adventure.
Credit: Jason Wanlass

Jason Wanlass