User Review: Marmot Sawtooth

Summary

Worked well enough and kept me plenty toasty on my 2012 Appalachian Trail thru-hike. However if you're looking into a long-distance hike, then look elsewhere. This bag was just far too heavy and bulky.

Normally thru-hikers will carry two sleeping bags: one for winter, and one for summer. I started with the Marmot Sawtooth 15° Long at Springer, switched out to the Mountain Hardwear 45° Long in Pearisburg, and then back to the Marmot in Hanover, NH.

So, let me start with the Marmot. It definitely kept me warm! There were some extremely cold nights starting out, a lot of which has to do with your elevations, but also time of the year. I think the coldest it got was in the 20s, and I was fine. I do normally sleep warmer I think than most, so take that into consideration, but this bag kept me nice and toasty, especially when I wore my long johns to sleep.

My only problem with it, and it’s kind of a big problem, is that it is massive and pretty heavy when packed down. Seriously, it took up about half of my pack. It weighs 3lb 7oz, and packed down to about the size of a newborn baby. Weird analogy?

If you are able to, I’d go with something perhaps more expensive but much lighter, such as a Western Mountaineering bag. Those things are awesome.