The North Face’s Cat’s Meow is a versatile backpacking sleeping bag. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia
I will never forget my first backpacking sleeping bag. Growing up, I always had cheap sleeping bags that I used for weekend camping trips, but my freshman year of college I joined my school’s backpacking club and needed a warmer, lighter, and more compact option. That Christmas, my grandpa gifted me a highly-rated backpacking sleeping bag: The North Face Cat’s Meow ($180).
Fifteen years later, the newest version of the Cat’s Meow still packs a punch for the price, and it made our list of Best Backpacking Sleeping Bags. My original Cat’s Meow, from 2009, accompanied me on many college trips to Big Sur, Lake Tahoe, and the Sierras. Once I graduated, I ventured overseas and hit the trails in New Zealand with my trusty Cat’s Meow. The sleeping bag served me well, even if it was a bit large for backpacking.
My original North Face backpacking sleeping bag is still in good shape, albeit not quite as clean as it was in its heyday, so I decided it was time for an upgrade. To my delight, The North Face still makes the Cat’s Meow, and I was eager to test out the latest version to see how it compared to my 2009 model.
| Pros | Cons |
| Made from recycled materials | Doesn’t pack down very small |
| Shock-cords to attach sleeping pad | Sizing runs short |
| Insulated hood with a cinch collar |
First Impressions
My biggest complaint about my old sleeping bag was its packed size, and the new model didn’t appear to be much more compact. However, the stuff sack has cinch-straps all around the outside, so with some elbow-grease it can be cinched down smaller. When I pulled it out of the stuff sack, the sleeping bag design appeared much the same as my older version, but I had read that the newest iteration was using more sustainable and recycled materials. Despite my hesitations regarding the packed-size, I was ready to test the Cat’s Meow out to see if it was capable of replacing my trusty original.
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The North Face’s Cat’s Meow is a great backpacking sleeping bag. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia
Notable Features
Temperature Rating: 20 degrees (F)
Sleeping Bag Shape: Mummy
Weight: 2 lbs 11 oz
Stuff Sack Size: 10 x 18 inches
Insulation Type: Synthetic
Gender: Unisex
The North Face Cat’s Meow sleeping bag is a unisex bag that comes in four different sizes: Short, Regular, Long, and X-Long. I’m 5’7” and for this review, I tested a Regular (though sizing ran short, more on this below).
Editor’s Note: At the time of publishing, REI does not stock the Short size, but it can be found on The North Face website.
The Cat’s Meow comes with both a stuff-sack and a mesh bag. In general, it’s important to store your sleeping bag in a loose bag to help preserve its loft and therefore its insulation properties, so I was grateful the Cat’s Meow came with a spacious mesh bag. The stuff-sack is the preferred option for traveling and backpacking and has straps on the side that help you cinch it down as small as possible.
The straps on the stuff sack help you pack the sleeping bag down as small as possible for backpacking. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia
One update I was excited to learn about: The North Face Cat’s Meow has undergone a sustainable facelift since my 2009 model. The sleeping bag features a sustainable shell fabric made from a 20-denier recycled nylon. With these updates, the Regular weighs just 2 pounds 11 ounces.
The Cat’s Meow has a lower-limit rating of 20 degrees (F), and comfort rating of 32 degrees (F). The lower-limit, based on male sleepers, is the comfortable temperature limit for a warm sleeper. The comfort rating is based on female sleepers and designates the comfortable temperature limit for a cold sleeper. It’s important to note that these temperature ratings assume that you’re sleeping on a sleeping pad with a minimum R-value of 5.38.
Speaking as a cold sleeper, I’d say those ratings are accurate as I slept okay when temperatures were in the 30s and above but was chilly when it dipped below freezing. This is a great all-around temperature rating, as it maintains versatility in many camping and backpacking conditions.
Cat nap in the Cat’s Meow. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia
Another upgrade I noticed was the addition of shock-cords on the underside of the sleeping bag. These cords allow you to attach your sleeping pad to your sleeping bag to help prevent sliding off it during the night. As backpackers well-know, this subtle detail is incredibly useful for a good night’s sleep in the backcountry.
The synthetic insulation performs well when wet and dry, and the sleeping bag dried out quickly when it got damp. When you’re backpacking, having a sleeping bag that dries quickly is critical, as you typically aren’t spending a lot of time at your campsite, so your gear doesn’t have the opportunity to air-out.
Additionally, the Cat’s Meow has a durable water repellant (DWR) finish that helps keep the sleeping bag dry in mist and small showers. Although I didn’t get caught in any rain showers in the new bag, I did in my old one (I’m infamous for backpacking without a tent) and it kept me dry despite the light rain. Judging by the shell-fabric, I have no doubt the new model will be just as reliable, if not better.
Finally, the Cat’s Meow boasts a fully insulated hood that has a cinch collar. This was a game changer on cold nights, as it allows you to really snuggle up and keep your entire body warm — head included — in the sleeping bag. The North Face Cat’s Meow features a mummy shape, but I still felt like I had plenty of room to roll over.
The Cat’s Meow packs down relatively small but is on the large side for a backpacking sleeping bag. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia
Drawbacks of The North Face Cat’s Meow
As I mentioned in my first impressions, the new Cat’s Meow does not pack down as small as I’d like for a backpacking sleeping bag. It comes with a stuff sack that has straps that allow you to cinch it down, but the synthetic insulation (instead of down — typically more compressible) prevents it from packing down truly small. I’m hoping by the next time I try out an updated Cat’s Meow, that The North Face will find a way to deliver a sleeping bag with the same features but in an even smaller package.
Another complaint about the Cat’s Meow is that the recommended sizing felt off. I’m 5’7” and ordered a Regular, which says it can fit someone up to 72 inches, or 6 feet tall. However, I felt the sleeping bag was a tad short for me, and I’d say 5’7″ is the tallest height that could comfortably use a “Regular” sized bag. If you’re shopping in person, I’d suggest “trying on” the sleeping bag. But, if you’re ordering online, you may want to size up if you’re between sizes.
The cinch-able, insulated hood is a cozy, useful feature of the Cat’s Meow. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia
Final Thoughts
The North Face Cat’s Meow is a classic backpacking sleeping bag that has been around for years. And for good reason: It’s warm, comfortable to sleep in, has shock-cords for attaching a sleeping pad, and has a fully-insulated hood. Although it still doesn’t pack down as small as I’d like, it is still one of our favorite backpacking sleeping bags of the year. Our testing team especially loved the Cat’s Meow’s performance for the sub-$200 price at the time of publishing.
Speaking from experience, it’s a durable sleeping bag that is sure to accompany you on backpacking trips for years to come (maybe even 15!).
CHECK PRICE ON REI Check Price on The North FaceEditor’s Note: Don’t miss the rest of our favorite backpacking sleeping bags. And check out our favorite comfy and lightweight backpacking sleeping pads. Need a something to pack your gear in? Our guide to the Best Backpacking Backpacks can help! For more gear reviews and features on The Inertia, click here.
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