Therm-a-Rest Space Cowboy
The Therm-a-Rest Space Cowboy is an appropriately named synthetic insulation, fast-drying sleeping bag that’s good for cowboy camping under the stars in warm weather.
Therm-a-Rest Space Cowboy Specs
MSRP:
- Small: $199.95
- Regular: $209.95
- Long: $219.95
Weight:
- Small: 1 pound, 10 ounces
- Regular: 1 pound, 12 ounces
- Long: 1 pound, 14 ounces
Outer Shell: 100% recycled ripstop nylon with a durable water repellent (DWR) coating.
Lining: 100% recycled ripstop nylon.
Temperature Rating: Comfortable for sleeping to 52F; the lower limit is 45F; the extreme limit is 21F.
Insulation: The eraLoft polyester fibers are spun with a hollow channel at their core, trapping more heat than solid fibers and shedding weight.
About the Therm-a-Rest Space Cowboy
The Space Cowboy is the sleeping bag I want to take for warm summer backpacking trips when I can spread it out under the stars and enjoy the shimmering lights above. (Space Cowboy is also the name of a Steve Miller song, but that’s for another story.) The eraLoft hollow fiber insulation holds in my body heat even on dewy nights, and dries fast in the morning sun. And the Space Cowboy has Therm-a-Rest’s trademark SynergyLink Connectors that keep my sleeping bag from sliding off my air pad.
Space Cowboy Features
Shell: 100% recycled nylon ripstop with a durable water repellent coating. The lining is also recycled nylon but without the DWR coating.
Insulation: Therm-a-Rest’s eraLoft synthetic insulation uses hollow polyester fiber that retains heat even when wet and keeps the Space Cowboy lightweight. The bag is insulation heavy on the top and sides, with less insulation on the bottom. The idea is that less insulation is needed on the bag’s bottom if it’s strapped to an insulated sleeping pad, which I’ve found to be true in Therm-a-Rest 0F, 20F, and 45F sleeping bags.
Anti-Snag Zipper: The two-way, three-quarter length zipper has beefy anti-snag protection, and can open at the bottom for ventilation.
Draft Collar: A draft tube runs the length of the side zipper and around the hood.
Hood: Large enough to fit my inflatable pillow inside. A drawcord on the right side tightens the hood around my face and shoulders while a snap keeps the hood closed and the zipper from sliding down.
Warmth: I slept comfortably in the low 50s, which fits with the sleeping bag’s temperature rating.
SynergyLink Connectors: I am sold on these straps that hold the Space Cowboy flat to my air pad. And they are important to use because most of the Space Cowboy’s insulation is on the top and sides. Does this mean you have to be a back sleeper to use the Space Cowboy and the straps? Not in my experience. I still toss and turn inside the bag while the straps keep the bag stable and flat on my air pad. Therm-a-Rest says the straps work best with air pads that are at most 3 inches thick, which I’ve found to be accurate.
Stuff Pocket: There’s no pocket in the bag to hold a phone or other temperature-sensitive gear, but because I sleep within the bag’s comfort limit of 45F—well above freezing—I leave my phone, water filter, and satellite communicator outside the bag at night.
Color: True to its under-the-stars theme, the Space Cowboy comes in one color: celestial.
Storage Sack: The Space Cowboy comes with one stuff sack that doubles as a long-term storage bag and a backcountry compression bag.
Warranty: Therm-a-Rest will repair or replace gear found to be defective within the first two years of purchase.
Space Cowboy 20 Pros
Weight: 1 pound, 12 ounces for the regular length bag that I tested. Light, but not ultralight.
Warmth: I’m warm sleeping to about 50F in the Space Cowboy.
Zipper: The anti-snag zipper slides easily, although it is not entirely snag-free. The two-way zipper provides good ventilation on warm nights.
Sleeping Pad Straps: These are one of my favorite features of Therm-a-Rest sleeping bags. The straps connect the sleeping bag to the pad, ending my sometimes nightlong struggles to stay on the pad. Plus they keep the bottom of the bag, which has less insulation, flat against my insulated air pad.
Easy-to-Use Hood Drawcord: I like the single cord that draws the hood close to my head.
Space Cowboy Cons
Stuff Sack: It’s not a deal breaker, but the Space Cowboy comes with a combined storage/trail stuff sack that tries to do two things without either being satisfactory. I hang my bag for storage and use a water-resistant, compressible stuff sack on the trail.
Rough for Side Sleepers: Less insulation on the bottom of the Space Cowboy means that side sleepers expose their backs to cold air if they don’t use the Synergy Link Connectors. I attach the straps to my air pad and toss from side to side inside the bag while it stays flat on the pad.
Overall Value
At $209.95 for the regular size, the Space Cowboy’s price is on the high side for a warm weather, synthetic insulation sleeping bag. The same goes for the sleeping bag’s weight, which is slightly more than comparable ~45-degree synthetic bags. If the slightly higher price and weight aren’t deal-breakers, the the Space Cowboy is a good choice for summer nights under the stars.
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This product was donated for purpose of review.