Dan's Outside

New Sleeping Bag

For the past few years – actually, longer than I had realized – I have most often used my Marmot Arroyo sleeping bag on Sierra summer pack trips. This is a lightweight bag (1 lb. 8 oz.) rated to 30 degrees. It has been just enough warmth for typical summer use – as long as I was ready to reinforce it by wearing extra clothes during colder weather.

However, this summer I learned that a 30-degree bag (leaving aside for a moment the question of what that rating really means) is only a 30-degree bag when first purchased. As it is used it loses loft and, as a result, warmth. This summer I was a bit cold on a significant number of nights, especially at elevations well above 10,000. On a couple of nights I never did get comfortably warm.

I’ve been eyeing the Marmot Helium 15-degree bag for a few years. This bag uses “900 fill down” which lofts much more per ounce. (Typical down is 550-650 fill.) Because of this, along with the use of lighter fabric and a half-length zipper, it weighs only 1 lb. 13 oz. – only a few ounces more than my Arroyo – and stuffs almost as small.

Despite the gear lust induced by this piece of equipment, I have managed to resist, partially because the old bag had been performing OK, and partily because the Helium retails for about $380. (Careful shoppers can find decent down bags on sale for half this price.)

Last week I found the Helium on sale for about $250 and couldn’t pass it up. I’ll post more about this bag after I have a chance to use it in the field.
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August 25, 2005 Posted by gdanmitchell | Equipment | Comments Off on New Sleeping Bag