REASONS TO BUY
Warm
Awesome comfort
Great warmth to weight ratio
REASONS TO AVOID
Expensive
Western Mountaineering Kodiak MF Review
For temps down to zero degrees, you can't beat this lightweight but very warm bag
Credit: Backcountry
RELATED: Best Winter Sleeping Bags
Our Verdict
The Western Mountaineering Kodiak MF is our test team's absolute favorite sleeping bag. A perfect balance of warmth, weight, and comfort, the Kodiak has all the same great features as other western bags, but adds several inches of girth in the shoulders and even more down insulation. We look at the specs on this bag and find it hard to fathom how a sleeping bag can be so light and compressible and still so warm. The Kodiak compresses as small as bags that aren't as warm, and lofts back to an incredible seven fluffy inches whenever you unpack it. Packability, warmth, roominess, and the quality most folks expect from the manufacturer put this model ahead of the pack, winning our Editors' Choice Award. Check out our article on the best sleeping bags for winter to see how it ranks versus competitors.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Western Mountaineering Kodiak MF | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Overall Winter Sleeping Bag |  Best Simple Design with Weather-Resistance | Best for Fast and Light Winter Camping | Most Comfortable Design |  Best Bang for Your Buck |
| Price | $835 List $730.00 at Backcountry | $600 List $353.93 at REI | $680 List $640.00 at Backcountry | Check Price at Backcountry Compare at 2 sellers | Check Price at Backcountry Compare at 2 sellers |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | This bag is the cream of the crop when it comes to loft and comfort | This lightweight sleeping bag comfortably cradles you with warm, lofty down | Excellent for moving in the mountains in cold weather, this model is lightweight, packs small, and stays true to its temperature rating | Loaded with features, this bag is great for those looking for a little luxury in the backcountry | This budget bag offers protection from the elements via a large draft tube and plush draft collar |
| Rating Categories | Western Mountaineer... | The North Face Infe... | Mountain Hardwear P... | NEMO Sonic 0 | Mountain Hardwear B... |
| Warmth (20%) | |||||
| Weight (20%) | |||||
| Comfort (20%) | |||||
| Packed Size (15%) | |||||
| Weather Resistance (15%) | |||||
| Features (10%) | |||||
| Specs | Western Mountaineer... | The North Face Infe... | Mountain Hardwear P... | NEMO Sonic 0 | Mountain Hardwear B... |
| Measured Weight (size Regular) | 2.85 lbs | 2.68 lbs | 2.68 lbs | 2.95 lbs | 3.13 lbs |
| Fill Weight | 30.0 oz | 29 oz | 29.6 oz | 24.0 oz | 35.0 oz |
| Type of Down Fill | Goose Down | Down RDS Certified | Goose Down RDS Cert/Fluorine Free | Down RDS Certified | Down |
| Fill Power | 850 | 800 | 850 | 800 | 650 |
| Material Weight (excludes down filling) | 15.7 oz | 13.9 oz | 13.3 oz | 23.3 oz | 15.1 oz |
| Temperature Rating | 0°F | 0°F | 0°F | 0°F | 0°F |
| No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Shoulder Girth | 66" | 64" | 58" | 61" | 62" |
| Hip Girth | 57" | 60" | 52" | 58" | 53" |
| Foot Girth | 41" | 44" | Not listed | 53" | Not listed |
| Shell Material | MicroLite XP | 15D recycled nylon, 30D nylon taffeta | 10D Nylon Ghost ripstop, DWR finish | 20D nylon ripstop, DWR treatment | 20-Denier ripstop nylon |
| Continuous Baffle | Yes | Not listed | No | Yes | Yes |
Show full specification details ▼Hide full specification details ▲
Our Analysis and Test Results
Performance Comparison
Somewhere in all that lofty goodness is a very warm human. The Kodiak employs 30 ounces of 850 fill down, giving it one of the best warmth to weight ratios out there.
Credit: Matt Bento
Warmth
What does 30 ounces of 850 fill down look like? When unstuffed, laid out and fully lofted, it creates 7 inches of insulated space on top of your body, making this bag exceptionally warm. Western Mountaineering doesn't use EN ratings or give any sort of comfort range. Their website just states that the Kodiak is a zero degree bag. After testing many brands, we feel that Western Mountaineering is conservative with their temperature ratings. Upon learning that the Kodiak had a similar rating as some other 0 degree bags, one of our testers couldn't stop laughing.
The extra room in the Kodiak's interior that makes this bag so comfy does decrease it's thermal efficiency, since there is more uninsulated dead space in the bag, especially if you're a smaller person. If you're in cold weather, you're likely to have a puffy down jacket and other insulating clothes with you to fill that extra space. If you're an alpinist or Ultralite Backpacker, check out a smaller, more efficient bag.
The draft collar and the hood both have cinch cords to perfectly position the hood. You can keep your face warm and breathe easy without letting cold air into the bag.
Credit: Matt Bento
Weight
The Kodiak tipped our scale at 45.65 oz or 2.85 lbs. There are other bags of similar weight, but when you look at the fill weight compared to the weight of the materials, the Kodiak really shines. Of the 46 oz, a whopping 30 oz is dedicated to down insulation, and a mere 15.65 oz remains as the weight of the materials. The Microlite XP shell fabric, zippers, and drawcords are functionally durable and exceptionally lightweight, though we'd suggest you look before you lay down and keep this bag away from sharp rocks, thorns, and your dog.
Comfort
Western Mountaineering knocks it out of the park with this one, and thanks to 66" of shoulder room and a soft, thick draft collar, the Kodiak earns top marks in our comfort metric. If you're a big dude, the extra room is a must, but smaller folks can really take advantage of the extra space if they're side or stomach sleepers, since there's so much room to move around. You can also use the extra space to keep essentials like water, batteries, and extra clothes warm through the night.
The hood has plenty of loft and stays in place with two cinch cords, creating a nice air hole without letting cold air in around your neck. The two-way zipper allows for venting if you overestimated how cold it might be, and if you unzip the bag all the way, it makes a pretty cozy down blanket for two.
This bag has loads of room to roll around and isn't a bad place to be stuck in if you're tentbound due to bad weather (which isn't the case on the gorgeous day shown here!)
Credit: Matt Bento
Packed Size
With a little work, we were able to fit the Kodiak into the same stuff sack we used for several bags that had higher temp ratings. Despite the extra fabric that makes this bag roomy, it still manages to be competitively packable, leaving plenty of room in your pack for other wintertime essentials. We're still scratching our heads at how the roomiest bag in our review is so compressible.
One compressed Kodiak next to some can we found lying around...
Credit: Matt Bento
Weather Resistance
The Kodiak employs the same Microlite XP fabric as other quality WM bags, a material that our testers have found acceptably water-resistant, having used Western Mountaineering bags for many seasons. Light rain, mist, and frost have never soaked through to the down, and the outside of the bag dries out quickly in the sun. Except for sleeping in an inch of standing water or camping exposed to a downpour, you'll stay dry in this bag.
The down fill doesn't have a hydrophobic treatment. Keep in mind that if you need a zero degree bag, rain isn't the kind of precip you're worried about. Also, if you're excited about dimensions of the Kodiak MF, but you're concerned about wet weather, Western Mountaineering offers a version with Goretex Windstopper fabric, though it's a little heavier and more expensive.
Microlight XP shell fabric does any an excellent job of keeping all that down dry and lofty, but remember that it is very water resistant, not waterproof.
Credit: Matt Bento
Features
We've sung the praises of Western Mountaineering's snag-free zipper action and mega lofty draft tubes in the past, and we're happy to keep the tune going with the Kodiak. The firm seam tape on either side of the zipper does an excellent job of protecting the draft tube from snagging, even during late-night, disoriented unzipping in the dark. The draft tube is huge, preventing cold air from creeping in through the zipper. As we mentioned before, the cinch cords on the hood opening and the draft collar keep the hood in place, only exposing your nose and mouth for a comfortable, oxygenating sleep.
This bag doesn't have a small, zippered pocket. A pocket is nice for holding onto earplugs, headlamps, or batteries inside your bag. With the Kodiak, you'll need to bring a tiny stuff sack for those items.
Like the other Western Mountaineering bags we reviewed, this bag has a thick lofty draft collar and snag-free zippers.
Credit: Matt Bento
With around an inch of firm tape on either side of the two-way zipper, it's easy to open and close in the dark without getting it caught on the draft tube.
Credit: Matt Bento
Value
Owning the cream of the crop is a big investment, and the Kodiak will set you back a hefty wad of cash. This bag, along with several other bags we've reviewed form Western Mountaineering, is one of the best sleeping bags money can by. Several of our testers have owned one for years, storing them in their included storage sack, and they've remained lofty and kept us warm on many adventures. Their warranty doesn't cover normal wear and tear, but if you send them a clean, damaged bag, they can make repairs.
This is our favorite bag for winter camping and ski touring.
Credit: Matt Bento
Conclusion
Western Mountaineering has been at it for a long time, and their product line up doesn't change very often because their designs are so good. With the Kodiak, they created an extremely roomy, warm bag, that is still lightweight for long, human-powered journeys. If you have a larger body frame, this bag is a must. If you're smaller, prepare yourself for the most luxurious nights you've ever spent in the backcountry. We get to test some amazing sleeping bags in this category from great manufacturers, and sometimes comparing them feels like splitting hairs. That being said, the Kodiak is easily our favorite, winning our Editors' Choice Award.
—
Matt Bento
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