User Review: Marmot Never Winter

Marmot Never Winter
Above: The current Never Winter, which may differ slightly from the version reviewed.

Reviewed October 10, 2003 by Anthony

Rating:
Design: Mummy
Fill: 600 fill down
Temperature Rating: 30
Weight: 1lb 15oz
Price Paid: $159

I just got back from a week in the Ansel Adams Wilderness near Mammoth Mountain and took my new Marmot Never Winter bag. The bag packs really small and fit into the bottom of a 2400 cu.in ultralight pack. The stuff sack is appropriately sized and acts like a light duty stuff compresion sack. The bag fits my 5'11", 190 lb frame good. I thought it would be a little tighter fit but the extra room was welcomed.

The overnight temps dropped to 31 degrees and I wore silkweight long johns and a 100 wt microfleece zip-T with wool socks and a beanie. I slept out in the open on top a rock outcropping without a tent, totally exposed to the elements. I never got cold or chilled. In fact about half way through the night I had to loosen the hood to let some heat escape. In the morning the bag exterior was damp from moisture but I was dry inside the bag. The bags DWR repelled the dew without any problems.

Overall the bag was a success, the temperature rating is right on and the compressability is a plus. I would safely say I would have been comfortable down to about 20 degrees with a little more layering or a tent.