Kelty Galactic 30 Review

Feathers and fabric: There isn't much to it, but that's the whole point. The simple, down-insulated design makes the Kelty Galactic incredibly practical, very warm for its weight, and relatively friendly to the pocketbook (when you consider it's a down bag). We feel its simplicity makes this bag very versatile.

Warmth

The Galactic received generous marks for warmth. Our reviewers found the bag's down insulation to be entirely adequate for its 30-degree rating. In fact, we feel the bag outperformed its warmth rating. It's important to note that the main warmth advantage could also become its greatest disadvantage. By nature, down loses nearly all of its capabilities to insulate when it becomes saturated with water. Although rare for this to happen, it is one potential drawback to down insulation.

It's not the widest bag on our list, but we like that the Galactic has enough room to slip in a combination of a down puffy jacket and base layers to considerably increase the bag's warmth. The Galactic isn't the warmest bag on the market, but it isn't designed to be. Down insulation makes it lightweight and allows it to easily compete against its larger and heavier synthetic peers for warmth. A very effective drawstring enables the bag's opening to cinch tightly around the neck and shoulders. We found this feature particularly helpful when camping in colder weather.

A full-length draft tube is another feature that helps the Galactic keep you warm at night. Although less insulated than we would prefer, the draft tube is quite wide, which allows it to effectively cover the zipper from the top of the bag to the end of the foot box. Although often overlooked, this quality feature works to block cold air from permeating the zipper and chilling your backside.

The down walls of the Galactic are thin, making it the lightest bag in our lineup. However, this, and its 30-degree rating, also means it doesn't hold as much body heat as larger, thicker bags. During our controlled tests, we measured the bag's interior temperature after lying in it for 5 minutes. As predicted, its 87.8-degree measurement was the lowest on our list, meaning the Galactic doesn't hold in as much body heat as the rest of the bags we tested. That said, this bag is still warm enough to be one of our first grab-and-go options for nearly any summertime getaway.

Comfort

Given its thinner design, the Galactic has minimal natural padding. Therefore, sleeping right on the ground with this bag most likely isn't your best option. However, when combined with an RV bed or sleeping pad, this bag's down design creates an incredibly cozy sleep system. When compared to synthetic insulation, we found the Galactic's down system offers a more pleasant feel. Down is softer, cozier, and tends to encapsulate the shape of individual body types more easily.

One minor drawback we discovered is the bag's overall width of 34 inches. Many of the bags we tested have this same width. However, given the fact that down is much lighter, we feel the manufacturer could have made the bag a little wider without adding much weight or volume. Many of our testers felt a wider Galactic would simply offer a nicer, all-encompassing, luxurious fit.

Features

We've already hinted at the fact that there isn't much to this bag in terms of features. It offers a very simple, lightweight design. There is an ample, full-length draft tube, which effectively blocks cold air from entering through the zipper. The Galactic also has a drawstring opening, which allows users to cinch the top of the bag tightly around their shoulders and necks.

We still gave this bag relatively high marks for features based solely on the fact that it's insulated with 550-fill duck down. The fact that the Galactic is one of only a handful of traditional, rectangle bags that incorporates duck down fill makes it a rare find and very unique. And even better, during our water tests, we found its exterior shell to be quite water-resistant.

This bag is simply amazing when it comes to its applications. Perfect for everything from a backyard sleepover to an occasional backcountry trip, the rugged exterior and down insulation of the Galactic make it a perfect stuff-and-go bag for many occasions. This bag is not designed for cold-weather camping but is a perfect bag for late spring, summer, and early fall. It is also a viable option for summertime backpackers who desire a down bag but don't like the confinement of traditional mummy bags. When assessing its drawbacks, we feel this bag is a little shy on width. Users with larger body types will most likely find this bag's 34-inch width to be a little confining. It also lacks an internal storage pocket. We feel this is a simple addition that the manufacturer should have considered.

Packed Size

Lightweight, compressible down almost always equals high scores for packed size. Weighing in at just 2.9 pounds, this sleeping bag is a dream to pack up, carry, and store.

Designed by the manufacturer to be ideal for car camping or backpacking, this bag has the smallest packed size of any traditional rectangle bag we've ever tested. The Galactic has very few, if any, rivals in this area.

We did find the stuff sack to be a little on the tight side, requiring a bit of extra effort to pack the bag away. That said, once the bag is completely stuffed, it can be compressed even further through the use of a compression sack, making it a legitimate backcountry bag for backpackers who don't like the constrictive design of mummy bags.

Should You Buy the Kelty Galactic 30?

Warmth, size, and weight make this a nearly perfect grab-and-go sleeping bag. It packs up small, so if you need a decently warm bag that is easy to transport and doesn't take up a ton of space, this bag may be your favorite. It will especially appeal to down lovers of feather-filled sleeping bags, who like the extra space that a traditional rectangular bag offers. The Galactic is extremely portable, which makes it perfect for nearly any warmer weather camping adventure, but its size and weight also allow it to be easily thrown into airline luggage, strapped to a backpack, or loaded into a kayak (we suggest a dry bag).

What Other Camping Sleeping Bags Should You Consider?

The Kelty Catena 30, The North Face Wawona Bed 20, and Coleman Kompact 20 are three additional lightweight options. They don't pack up as small at the Galactic, but they are decently warm, use synthetic insulation, and weigh in at less than 5 pounds. If you need a bag that is a bit warmer, try the Coleman All-Weather Multi-Layer, Teton Sports Polara 3-in-1, or our overall favorite bag, the Alps OutdoorZ Redwood. However, all three of these bags, especially the Alps, have much larger packed sizes.