REI Co-op Trailmade 20 Review

The Trailmade 20 is part of a whole series of "Trailmade" products from REI, including other camping gear and clothing. The prices for things in this line are reasonable, and at least when it comes to this sleeping bag, shoppers get a good value for that price. This is what separates this bag from other models in our test — the features and performance are decent, and the price is great.

Performance Comparison

Warmth

Warmth is the number one thing we backpackers need from a sleeping bag. The Trailmade 20 boasts 35 ounces of recycled polyester insulation. This is some of the most insulation of any synthetic sleeping bag we reviewed, giving it an EN Lower Limit rating of 21 degrees Fahrenheit.

In our testing experience, we found that the coldest of sleepers can be a little chilly in this sleeping bag at 20 degrees F. Backpackers who tend to run normal-to-warm did not experience this. If you know you run cold, be sure you're going to sleep well fed, and consider wearing an extra layer and perhaps bringing a hot water bottle to bed.

Down sleeping bags use baffles to contain the down and shape the bag. The nature of synthetic insulation gives designers more flexibility. In the Trailmade 20, the insulation is quilted to the shell and interior fabric. Where the insulation is sewn is alternated such that stitches in the shell and interior do not line up. This design choice helps prevent cold spots.

Weight

The Trailmade is heavier than all of the down bags in our review. However, it's pretty average for the synthetic bags we tested. A size regular clocked in at 3.2 pounds (1.5 kilograms).

We don't expect any bargain product to be very competitive in this metric. This is in large part due to the synthetic insulation and heavier fabrics for the shell and liner. However, these heavier options have their advantages. Aside from just lower costs, synthetics provide more insulation when wet than down does when wet. Heavier fabrics, like the shell and liner of theTrailmade, generally also last longer than lighter ones.

Comfort

The REI Trailmade 20 is about average when it comes to comfort. The main determining factor regarding the comfort of a sleeping bag (aside from warmth, covered above) is how roomy or restrictive it is. Only those who sleep like the dead could make do with a bag that's too snug. The rest of us — especially our restless sleeping lead tester — need some space to move around.

The Trailmade boasts 62 inches of space around the shoulders. This is about average for the bags we reviewed and will work well for many backpackers. Those who are a little bigger or need more space to sleep well should at least try this bag out at their local REI.

Backpackers should be aware that even though a more snug fit is less comfortable, it can be warmer. This is because empty space in the sleeping bag must be heated by your body, so less empty space usually means a warmer night.

Packed Size

Just like a heavy pack, a big bulky sleeping bag is not that much fun to hike with. Not only can a sleeping bag that packs small help a backpacking trip be more fun, but it also leaves more room in your pack for treats or gear. Even using our compression sack testing method, the smallest we could get the Trailmade was about 9 liters.

This 9-liter volume was achieved with a compression sack. The Trailmade comes with a standard stuff sack, so hikers who want the most free space in their pack will need to purchase a separate compression sack. While this was one of the bulkier bags in our review, that's not a surprise, given its low price and synthetic insulation. Also of note: the spread between the smallest packing and bulkiest sleeping bags in our test was relatively small.

Features

The Trailmade 20 keeps it simple and functional when it comes to features and avoids any unnecessary gimmicks or doodads. The zipper is one of the main things our testers look at for this metric. The zipper on this model sports zipper pulls on both sliders — fairly rare in our test. The main slider is also the anti-snag type, which is a nice touch.

A few other nice touches on this bag include brightly colored liner fabric, which makes it easier to find small items that you may have put inside. The hood drawstring is split into two parts — the part near the chin is thin webbing, and the part that goes past the forehead is stretchy cord. We found that the stretchiness makes the hood more comfortable, and we like how the different materials made it easy to customize the tension in the hood, even in the dark. We also really like that both the shell fabric and the synthetic insulation are recycled.

We do wish the zipper was a bit longer in order to facilitate ventilation or to be able to open the bag up to use as a blanket. We also noticed that despite the anti-snag zipper pull, the zipper still occasionally got hung up. We think this is because the draft tube doesn't have any special construction or materials to prevent this.

Should You Buy the REI Co-op Trailmade 20?

In terms of performance, the Trailmade isn't great compared to most down bags and is a bit above average compared to other synthetics. However, it performs really well for a bag in this price range. We think it could be a great choice for a hiker who only goes on the occasional overnight. It could also work well paired with a fancier model as part of a sleeping bag quiver.

What Other Backpacking Sleeping Bags Should You Consider?

Backpackers who are looking for a high-value sleeping bag but want a model with down insulation should take a look at the Mountain Hardwear Bishop Pass 15. Though it costs more, it's still a low price for a down bag, and it outperforms the REI Trailmade 20 in every way. Folks looking for the highest performance in a sleeping bag should check out the light and warm Western Mountaineering MegaLite.