Marmot Arroyo

“Has anyone had any experiences with this bag? I was reading reviews about it and it received some mixed ones. I have the Marmot Helium 15 degree bag and I've slept in it almost down to its temp. rating and, surprisingly enough, was plenty warm. Any first hand experiences you've had with this bag would be helfpul.

Also, I know several of you have lightweight down bags in/and around this temp rating. What bags are you using and do you trust em?”

“I have a Western Mountaineering Summerlite weighing in at 1lb 3oz with a 32* temperature rating. I am fine down into the mid thirties with it, after that I get cold, but I am a cold sleeper anyways.

I used to have a Western Mountaineering Highlite (1lb 35*) and was good until the upper 30's. I ended up getting rid of it because it didn't have a full length zipper or draft tube, but other than that I was happy with it.

I also have a Mountain Hardware X-Country (Polargard 3D, 1lb 12oz 40*) and although it isn’t a bad summer loaner bag, I have frozen my butt off in the upper 40’s with it.

One of my good friends has a Marmot Atom (older 900 fill version 1lb 40*) and he loves it. It looks like a nice bag also.
last edited: 4/29/08 12:46:59 PM”

“OM has one that I sold her. Very nice, it just zipped on the wrong side for me. I think you can now purchase one lighter with no zipper. yo bear!”

“i thought you said you were allergic to down. isn't that a down bag?

..anyway...

also it's sewn-through so i would take a pass on it. sewn-through bags are cheap to build because... they don't work as well. if you sleep cold then this bag won't help matters. spend the extra dough and get a WM bag with box baffles. a wm megalight will be one-hundo more -but- is box baffled and will keep you warm -and- last a very, very long time. it will be the best extra hundo you ever spend on a sleeping bag. if you pay a little extra and get it overstuffed it's an amazing sleeping bag... as far as sleeping bags go.
last edited: 4/29/08 2:15:09 PM”

“I am allergic to down...which is why I sorta wanted to steer away from it, but finding a good synthetic bag that isn't too heavy that will compress is freakin hard...so unless you have a better idea, I guess I'm looking at down agian.

Thanks for the info on the sewn through thing...I was wondering about that...”

“the marmot pounder plus is a good bag. i could lend you mine and you could give it a shot. i never use it except kayaking. it's clean and everything.
last edited: 4/29/08 2:21:13 PM”

“I was under the impression that today's hypoallergenic down didn't bother many people. Does your Helium give you problems?”

“For Synthetic Bags I would look at:

Integral Designs Andromeda Strain 40*, 1lb 14oz, $210 (ID is known for conservative ratings)
http://www.integraldesigns.com/product_detail.cfm?id=720&CFID=247226&CFTOKEN=61530754&mainproducttypeid=1

Montbell U.L. Alpine Burrow Bag #3 30*, 2lbs, $179
http://www.montbell.us/products/disp.php?cat_id=32&p_id=1121757

Montbell U.L. Alpine Burrow Bag #5 40* 1lb 8oz, $159
http://www.montbell.us/products/disp.php?cat_id=32&p_id=1121759

Marmot Pounder Plus Women’s 25* 1lb 15oz $199
http://marmot.com/spring_2008/equipment/sleeping_bags/synthetic_-_ultralight/womens_pounder_plus_25f_reg/details

Mountain Hardwear Women’s Ultralamina 32 32*, 1lb 14oz, $180 http://www.mountainhardwear.com/Product.aspx?top=1245&prod=2612&cat=1298&viewAll=False


If you can go down there are many great choices, but I would start with:

Western Mountaineering Summerlite 32* 1lb 3oz $300
http://www.westernmountaineering.com/index.cfm?section=Products&page=Sleeping%20Bags&cat=ExtremeLite%20Series&viewpost=2&ContentId=69

Western Mountaineering Caribou 35* 1lb 4oz $260
http://www.westernmountaineering.com/index.cfm?section=Products&page=Sleeping%20Bags&cat=Microfiber%20Series&viewpost=2&ContentId=23

Marmot Hydrogen 30* 1lb 9oz $309
http://marmot.com/spring_2008/equipment/sleeping_bags/ultralight/hydrogen_reg/details

Mountain Hardwear Women’s Phantom 32 32* 1lb 6oz $250 (last years version on sale at REI Outlet for 179.93 Long only – the only thing different is the color)
http://www.mountainhardwear.com/Product.aspx?top=1245&prod=2983&cat=1297&viewAll=False

Feathered Friends Grouse 30* 1lb 8oz $318
http://www.featheredfriends.com/Picasso/Bags/Product/30Degree.html

Montbell U.L. SS. Down Hugger #4 35* 1lb 5oz $255
http://www.montbell.us/products/disp.php?cat_id=28&p_id=1121730

I have 2 M bags and can attest to their quality. I also have a MH Phantom 0 that I have been very happy with. I have never had a Mont-Bell bag, but I do have some other Mont-Bell products that have been very well made. Integral Designs makes very good gear, and although I have no experience with Feathered Friends, they have a great reputation.”

“The baffles are essential. I wouldn't look at a bag that wasn't especially for cold weather. Look for a differtial cut. Most baffled bags are differential cut but not all. That means the inside of the bag is smaller than the outside allowing fuller loft. The foot box can make a huge difference too. I have very painful feet so a tapezoidal foot box is important to me. It is boxy and shaped so I don't get a lot of pressure on my feet. I slept for about one and a half years in my sleeping bag on my bed because I couldn't take the weight and pressure of the covers on my feet.

All these features cost money in a down bag, less so in synth but still add to the cost. But the extras can really be worth the expense if they are important to you.”

“I have the Marmot Arroyo and LOVE it.
It's rated to 20* and I've been down that low and was very comfortable.
I like it so much that when I wanted a synthetic bag for snow camping I'd only look at Marmot.
In short; I can't say enough good things about it.”

“Thanks for all the info. OH the decisions! lol.”