Cosmic 20 Series

If you can fit into a women's size bag consider the Cosmic Ultra, it's basically the same thing as the regular cosmic down but with better quality down. https://a.co/d/01ERuBBU If you actually need a 15 degree (limit) bag I can't recommend the Mobile Mummy 15 enough. I love this bag. It's currently out of stock but it comes and goes from this website. https://www.kaviso.com/products/sierra-designs-mobile-mummy-15-degree?variant=45495009935588

Some tent options https://www.kaviso.com/collections/tents-shelters/products/sierra-designs-full-moon-2p-3p-tent https://www.campsaver.com/kelty-late-start-2p-tent.html https://www.naturehike.com/products/mongar-2-person-ultralight-backpacking-tent Sleeping bag: You're not going to find a sleeping bag that keeps you warm at 20°, packs up to a reasonable size, and costs less than $75. Your best bet is to hope for a deal on marketplace or get a down camp blanket and use it with your current sleeping bag. Sleeping pad: https://www.backcountry.com/therm-a-rest-prolite-plus-sleeping-pad-womens https://www.als.com/sea-to-summit-camp-self-inflating-sleeping-pad-10350624/p https://www.walmart.com/ip/Featherstone-El-Cordion-Insulated-Closed-Cell-Foam-Sleeping-Pad-for-Camping/167563817

Do you actually need a bag that keeps you warm at 20F or are you just looking for a 20F bag? for context most bags are named for their limit rating, where you'll start to feel pretty cold. So for example a Kelty Cosmic Down 20F will keep you warm down to about 32F, that temperature is the comfort rating. The reason I ask is that bags really start to ramp up in price when the comfort ratings get below 32F. 20F limit rating bags (bags that will keep you warm to 32F) are common, 5-10F limit rating bags (what you'd need to be warm at 20F) are not as common

No problem at all. My personal favorite cold weather sleeping bag is the Sierra Designs Mobile Mummy 15, which I've used into the low 20s but I don't think they sell it anymore. You could go two ways with it, you could get one bag that would keep you warm by itself down to 20F, or you could get a sleeping bag and a camp blanket. The sleeping bag would keep you warm down to freezing, then when you add the blanket on top it would give you another 5-10 degrees of warmth. That would also add more flexibility for temp ranges. If you want to go the first route this is the best bang for buck I could find, the upsides are that it's down which means it will pack much smaller than any comparable synthetic insulated bag and is lighter than a 2-bag system. the downsides are that it will probably be too hot for warmer weather camping and since it doesn't have a hood you'll have to wear something on your head to keep it warm at night: https://www.kaviso.com/collections/sleeping-bags/products/kelty-supernova-0-degree-sleeping-bag?variant=45681345462500 If you want to go the second route here are the good bang for buck sleeping bags I found: https://www.rei.com/product/C00655/mountain-hardwear-lamina-eco-af-15f-9c-sleeping-bag https://www.rei.com/product/250709/marmot-sawtooth-sleeping-bag-mens https://www.pariaoutdoorproducts.com/collections/affordable-backpacking-gear-sleeping-bags-pads/products/thermodown-15-backpacking-sleeping-bag?variant=11778285191 The first is synthetic, the second two are down. If you get one of those add a cheap camping blanket from Amazon. Here are some examples, the first one I have and was pleasantly surprised by the quality, the second one I know nothing about but I like the foot drawcord, and the third is one I've heard someone else say they like: https://a.co/d/0bSS6yGR https://a.co/d/0bxxSp2f https://a.co/d/01kbAOW2 It goes without saying that you should do your own research into any of these bags before pulling the trigger, I've only done a cursory review of each.

I bought 2 sleeping bags this year. I'm just not a quilt person. However my summer bag (37°), bought a Chinese brand Qezer on Amazon under $100. My winter down bag Kelty Ultra Cosmic 20 also on Amazon for under $160. Now I'm not suggesting these are the best or necessarily for you, but I'm satisfied with both of them and don't feel that they broke the bank. However, they are both made of down, significantly lighter than synthetic, and pack down to a reasonable size for my pack.

Well I don't have experience with the katabatic and haven't touched one. But I did research them and the strap system was the selling point for me along with the cost all other things comparable. I feel like the quality is great. Like I said zero buyers remorse. I was coming from a Kelty Cosmic Ultra 20 mummy bag which I felt underperformed this winter. I shaved almost a pound of gear weight and at 30 degrees F (the coldest I've had the waratah out in so far) I was much warmer than I've experienced being in the Kelty, which I would have had to pair with a fleece liner at that temperature.

You're likely to get all kinds of different advice, but the Kelty is a solid budget bag I think. They also have a Kelty Ultra Cosmic 20 that is 800 fill down and it packs down smaller than the regular Cosmic 20, and it's also under $200.

You're likely to get all kinds of different advice, but the Kelty is a solid budget bag I think. They also have a Kelty Ultra Cosmic 20 that is 800 fill down and it packs down smaller than the regular Cosmic 20, and it's also under $200.

I love my Kelty Cosmic Synthetic 20F

All of these suggestions are really junky except maybe the mat though. It's not like you couldn't go backpacking with them, but you could go much lighter without paying that much more. Borah bug bivy + 7x9 tarp: $184, ~15oz 3FUL Qidian Pro pack: $92, ~31oz CCF pad, whatever is cheapest around R2: ~$30 Ice flame quilt: $100-200 depending on rating You'll be out the door around $400-500 for the big 3, with a weight that should be well under 5 lbs, and nothing that you'll end up with zero use for later once you upgrade a bit.

Yeah I agree with you on the tent, it's a lot more comfy for most beginners. The 1/8" ground sheet is a solid idea too, though I do also think the eggcrate CCF pads are also great in combination with an inflatable, since they provide a more comprehensive backup in the case of inflation failure, and they also function as a sit/kneeling pad. Tons of ways you could go as a beginner. The right idea is to buy stuff which won't immediately become obsolete once you decide to throw a bit more money at the hobby.

I agree that these are reasonable suggestions, and that a Kelty sleeping bag, let alone an Ozark trail tent, is not. Though for a novice (who hasn't expressed interest in UL) I would probably guide them to an actual tent, like something in the lanshan series. Or a SMD gatewood Cape if she/he may go in the ultralight direction I'd also suggest going in the multi-use direction from the start. Get a 1/8" foam pad and one of it's many uses is under the tent as a ground sheet. Then a light/cheap inflatable pad (https://www.amazon.com/Sleepingo-Camping-Sleeping-Pad-Backpacking/dp/B07FP4Z3RZ/) inside the tent on top of it will round out the comfort/warmth equation for about the same price (later, when the ul bug strikes, you can cut down the inflatable to torso length, weld it shut with a clothes iron, and use your pack under your feet) But this is more preference than right/wrong compared to your list