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Marmot Trestles 0

rated 4.0 of 5 stars
photo: Marmot Trestles 0 3-season synthetic sleeping bag

After doing extensive research on sleeping bag I decided Marmot was the way to go. Their bags are roomy, constructed with care, and attention to detail are in my opinion the best I've seen in my quest for sleeping bags.

This bag is rated for 0 degrees and let me tell you it is one hot bag. I knew I needed a sleeping bag that could keep me warm in colder temps because my boyfriend wants to do winter camping this year plus being a female we tend to get on the chillier side of things. I read on the label the bag will keep you alive to extreme temperatures of -41, now I wouldn't suggest anyone go field test this but from what I could tell this had a lot of insulation to support that claim (more on this later).

A word about sizing, I am a rather tall woman (just under 6 feet) of average build so finding a sleeping bag to fit me was hell. If a man or woman is anywhere close to 6 feet get the tall size!!! I would guess someone who is 5'10 or shorter would be more than happy with a regular sized bag but if you are taller than that opt for a long especially if you like to stuff your clothes in the feet of your bag. I ordered a long and had enough room to feel comfortable but not enough that I was drowning in the bag.

While this sleeping bag was great I did end up returning it due to its LACK OF COMPRESSIBILITY. If you are a backpacker this is a vital piece of information. I have a large pack and this bag no matter how hard we tried would not fit. The bag does come with its own compression sack from Marmot which was well constructed. The bag did not fit in the compression sack and would not even cinch down to a managable size in a Sea to Summit compression sack (an XL size if that gives you any idea how big this bag really is).

Since this bag is rated for 0 degrees you have extra filling on your hands which means added weight. It weighed in at about 5 pounds, if you are concerned with weight and compressibility get the Never Summer by Marmot. My boyfriend has that bag and has nothing but praise for it. It is a down bag so the price tag is a bit higher.

If you are someone who is not overly concerned about the size and weight of your sleeping bag then get this bag, it is great and full of great features (like the double zip on both sides, stash pocket, comfy foot box, etc.). If you are a backpacker who needs to keep weight and size in mind go for a down bag like the Never Summer.

After I returned this bag I wrestled with the idea of buying a Never Summer for myself though decided against it because I wasn't sure I would like backpacking that much to justify the $278 of the cost of just the sleeping bag.

I did end up finding another 0 degree synthetic bag, the Elkhorn made by The North Face. It weighs less and is able to be easily compressed to fit into the bottom compartment of my pack. It still is bulky and a bit heavy at a little over 4 pounds but for the price ($119) it can't be beat.

Overall if you're not worried about the price or damp conditions get the Never Summer, though if you are a car camper or trying to save money go for the Trestles it really cannot be beat.

Design: mummy
Fill: synthetic
Temperature Rating: 0 degree
Price Paid: $116

Nice, reasonably priced, legit 0 degree bag. Comes in reg, long, and long wide versions as well.

Pros

  • Build quality
  • Very warm
  • Comes in XL
  • Price/value
  • Stuff sack works well

Cons

  • Slightly bulky
  • A little heavy

I live in Wisconsin and wanted to winter camp so we looked for true 0 degree bags that weren't going to break the bank. If you are looking for a nice true 0 degree sleeping bag on a reasonable budget, this is a great choice and performs on par with bags costing 2X the money. At $159-$179 the price is right.

This is a synthetic fill bag and as a result is a little bulky, but not too bad and the stuff sack works well. Make sure to "stuff" it into the stuff sack...not roll it. The bag also comes in regular, long, and long wide. All are between 5 pounds 5 oz and 5 pounds 12 oz—a little heavy but I'll figure out how to shave off the extra pound with the $170 I saved with this bag. I am 6'2" and 260 and fit easily in the long wide bag.

Performance: Camped this year in temps down to 13 degrees with just closed cell foam pads and slept great. With a thin base layer on, I actually was too warm and had to vent the bag.

Zippers and drawstrings work easily and well and the zipper does not get caught on the flap. While we have not had the chance to test the 0 degree rating, I'm certain that the bags are more than comfortable at that range.

Overall I'm very pleased and would highly recommend.

Source: bought it new
Price Paid: $159

Definitely warm, roomy.

Pros

  • Warm!!!
  • Roomy
  • Gear pouch inside
  • Includes compression bag
  • Great when damp

Cons

  • Weighty
  • Slip-slidey

Like everything Marmot makes ... it WORKS as described. It also packs a few extra pounds (see my review on my Marmot Swallow tent elsewhere ... totally worth the extra pounds) — each ounce of which is worth it.  

Interior is roomy though, as noted, a little slip-slidey due to the fabric but this is a minor point. Nice zippered gear pouch inside. Dual side zippers are helpful for in/out without full unzipping. And zippers work pretty snag free, no real problems — even fumbling in the dark with cold hands. 

Used it in the mostly-outdoor Guyot shelter in the Whites a couple weekends ago. 8 degree or less outside, without windchill and I was plenty warm ... even after an unfortunate accident with an unclosed water bottle I'd put inside it to keep the water from freezing, the synthetic is worth the weight and loft for that quality — no loss of heat I could see, and I spilled a good pint or so inside.

See my comment on compression — works fine.  Just don't roll it ... wad it. I'm right at 6', and the 6'6" is essential, even without stuffing some clothes overnight in the toes, I think I'd have been cramped in the 6'.

Source: bought it new
Price Paid: $140

This bag is one of the "fairly compressible". It isn't the lightest bag either; however, I recieved a great deal on it and after scrunching it up and successfully fitting it into the bottom compartment of my pack I decided to give it a try. I practice minimalist mountaineering and this bag has kept me comfortable in -5 degree weather for a month in the Cordillera Blancas among many other sojourns. It is also a good survival bag in being just roomy enough to squeeze in an extra albeit small person in an emergency situation.

Design: mummy
Temperature Rating: 0
Price Paid: 100$

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Specs

Regular Long
Price MSRP: $119.00
Current Retail: $110.25
Historic Range: $27.98-$159.00
Reviewers Paid: $100.00-$159.00
Weight 5 lb 4 oz / 2401 g 5 lb 14 oz / 2664 g
Fill Weight 3 lb 15 oz / 1786 g 4 lb 4 oz / 1927 g
Temperature Rating 0 F / -17.8 C 0 F / -17.8 C
EN Comfort 11.5 F / -11.4 C 11.5 F / -11.4 C
EN Lower Limit -2.4 F / -19.1 C -2.4 F / -19.1 C
EN Extreme -41.3 F / -40.7 C -41.3 F / -40.7 C
Fill SpiraFil High Loft Synthetic SpiraFil High Loft Synthetic
Shape Mummy Mummy
Max User Height 6 ft 0 in / 180 cm 6 ft 6 in / 200 cm
Hip Girth 58 in / 147 cm 58 in / 147 cm
Foot Girth 40 in / 101 cm 40 in / 101 cm
Price $119.00 USD $229.00 USD
Product Details from Marmot »

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