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Marmot have a long history in the outdoor industry and they have been pushing the boundaries for sleeping bags for the majority of the time.
In April 1971, University of California Santa Cruz students Eric Reynolds and Dave Huntley were in Alaska's Juneau Icefield on a school Glaciology project. It was there on a glacier that the idea of a Marmot Club began. The name 'Marmot' refers to a group of highly social, large ground squirrels that live in mountainous areas.
Throughout that summer and over the next two years, Eric and Dave also began making prototypes of down products in their dorm room. Their first products were a down vest, a sweater and a parka and, later, three down sleeping bags. The warmest bag, the PIKA (now known as the CWM) was rated at -45 degrees F.
In 1976, a meeting would change the future of Marmot when Eric met Joe Tanner of W.L. Gore & Associates. Eric was one of the first in the U.S. to see a new concept in outdoor performance fabrication called Gore-Tex. He was intrigued, and within a couple weeks had sewn prototype sleeping bags using the new Gore-Tex fabric for field testing. He and Dave proceeded to spend seven nights in a commercial frozen meat locker comparing bags with and without the Gore-Tex fabric as well as testing the bags under fire sprinklers. They liked what they saw and immediately changed everything in the line to Gore-Tex fabrications. Today, Marmot is the oldest customer of W.L. Gore in the world outdoor market.
The Marmot range of sleeping bags has something for everyone. There is a fantastic range of bags for different adventures that allow you to pick the most suitable bag for you. With a wide range of temperature ratings, weights and prices this guide aims to help you decide which bag best suits your needs.
The Phase range are high performance bags with a focus on low weight and small packsize. There is no sacrifice in warmth or comfort for this weight which makes them perfect bags for backpacking. They are ideal for trips when weight and space are crucial. The Phase comes in a 20, 30 and Women's specific 20 each with different weights and temperature limits. The Women's Phase 20 has a women's specific fit and includes more insulation in key areas.
The Phase bags feature:
The materials used are:
As with many of the Marmot sleeping bags they have been tried and tested by our staff. For a full review of the Phase 30 you can read it here.
This range of bags is named after the first three elements in the Periodic Table. These bags can be just as essential as the elements depending on the conditions. The Hydrogen, Helium and Lithium provide the best combination of weight, warmth and value. Reintroduced for this year is the Atom which is the lightest weight bag in this range and it is ideally suited to summer camping. The whole range has been updated with 100% recycled fabrics which is certainly in line with Marmot's green credentials.
The Hydrogen in particular has been a stunning success delivering top class performance at such a reasonable price, to the extent that it's difficult to find a better bag anywhere for this level of performance and price. This range is perfect for a wide range of outdoor activities from remote multiday treks to campsites and the bags cover a serious temperature range.
These bags feature:
The materials used are:
With the success of this series in balancing weight, warmth and price this has been a favorite with our staff too. For a full review of the Hydrogen you can read it here.
The Ultra Elite range are an outstanding set of synthetic sleeping bags designed to compete with the down bags in terms of weight, warmth and packsize. Traditionally synthetic bags have been heavy and very bulky compared to down but recent advances in technology have narrowed the gap. There is sill a difference but the Ultra Elite is a great example of how good synthetic bags now are. The use of synthetic insulation means that these bags excel in damp conditions so sleeping under a tarp or in a bivy in mixed conditions allow .
The Ultra Elite bags feature:
The materials used are:
We regularly send gear to some of our partners to review and we like to see key pieces put to the test. To read a full review of the Ultra Elite 30 by Trek Scotland you can find it here.
The Paiju is a standout bag in terms of warmth and protection for the winter. Not only does the Paiju come in -13°C and a -20°C versions but the materials used are unique to this range. The use of Pertex Quantum Air 20D 100% Nylon Ripstop brings a serious amount of water and wind resistance whilst increasing the level of insulation.
The Paiju bags feature:
The materials used are:
Specifications
Temperature Ratings
Specifications
Temperature Ratings
