Helium 15°

Most all decent quality sleeping bags are very water resistant to droplets, spills, etc. and have to sit in water to wet out. I have a Marmot Helium and held it under the shower when I first got it to test its water resistance and it shed all of the water and stayed dry. I suspect your Trestles is similar. But as someone else said, you would be better off with a down rather than synthetic bag. Marmot currently has a sale but you might find a good quality down bag for less elsewhere. Also, don't switch it out too soon. Lots of thruhikers start switching out their winter gear as early as Damascus and start regretting it almost right away. One of the coldest nights I spent on the trail was on Thomas Knob, not far north of Damascus. If you get a down bag with a full zipper, it will be much more comfortable on those warmer nights before you can safely switch it out for a summer bag.

I’d keep the Helium. If the hugerock appeals to you for being plain and not having to worry about it then it might be worth keeping both. Have a nice one for when things get chilly and a one you can beat up during the summer months.

The Marmot Helium 15 is the keeper if you're only keeping one. Down packs smaller, lasts longer with proper care, and that 15 degree rating gives you flexibility for cooler nights even in Georgia. The synthetic ones are heavier and bulkier for the same warmth. If you want a second as a summer only option the Hugerock is probably fine but honestly the Helium will cover you year round in your climate.

Keep the Helium. It’s probably not as warm as it originally was anyway. I used mine regularly until I got a quilt, or sell them all and buy a nice quilt.

😂That’s an awesome mental picture you gave me. Thank you, seriously. This is the exact quilt I use, albeit I bought mine on sale.[EL Revelation Quilt](https://enlightenedequipment.com/revelation-sleeping-quilt/)

I have a few. Marmot helium is my main one, but I'm looking at getting a ticket to the moon moonblanket pro 850 that'll hopefully be the one I bring on most trips. Besides that I have a Aegismax mini for summer use and I just got a Cuma Gear double quilt for use with the wife.

I have had Marmot down bags since the early 2000s. I paid ~$400 for the most expensive one in 2005. It had 800 fill down and came in under 3lbs for a 15 degree bag, which was pretty good at the time. It was a pretty generous cut in the shoulders and hips, had a well designed footbox and a great hood. I could take it down to about 25 degrees and be comfy in just a base layer. Add a puffy and I'm good to 15 degrees. The zipper snagged the draft tube constantly and there were some loose stitches and it has leaked a few feathers here and there but it was noticeably better quality than comparable offerings at the time. I still love that bag. 4 years ago I bought a 0 degree bag from Western Mountaineering, I paid about $800 for it. I cross shopped mainstream brands and most were in the $600 range. The biggest difference is that the WM bag is made in California, the others I looked at were made elsewhere. But my $800 got me 900+ fill power down and a 0 degree bag that weighs 3oz less than my 15 degree Marmot bag. The cut is still roomy, and every aspect of the design is just a little better. The footbox, hood, draft tube and collar were all just a little more refined. The zipper NEVER snags, every stitch is perfect, every detail is perfect. I just got back from a 4 night trip. The warmest night was 20 degrees, the coldest was 7. I slept in boxer shorts and a smartwool base layer and was comfortable with a nice margin before feeling cold. I absolutely adore this bag. Camping is my passion. I do it year round, all conditions, it's what I do every vacation. My trips are better when I sleep better. Could I have spent less money and been just as warm and comfortable? Yes. Was it worth $200+ to get a bag made in the US instead of overseas? Yes. Does the tangible difference between a WM bag and a high end Marmot or Thermarest or North Face bag justify the cost difference? Probably not. If I could go back in time would I make the same decision? Absolutely. What expensive sleeping bags do better is make you think about them less, which enables you to be more present in the experience. Good gear disappears from your mind because it just works. To me, it's worth the financial cost to think about the coyotes singing or the meteor shower because I'm not thinking about my sleeping bag.

Western Mountaineering, Feathered Friends or Marmot for bags. Enlightened Equipment, Hammock Gear or Katabatic for backpacking quilts. Not cheap but quality and comfortable.