REI Co-op - Magma 30

Took a deep dive the last couple days into sleeping bags while looking for a new one for my lovely wife. The rating are complete horse manure. There are some sites, like REI, that do a nice job of showing fill weight, total weight, comfort temp and limit temp (both EN ratings). So I built a table of women's bags, and after doing so, realized that there is very little weight variance manufacturer to manufacturer. In other words, if you hold down fill power reasonably consistent (within 50) and fill weight also reasonably consistent, the EN temp rating ends up being about the same and total weight ends up being about the same - within maybe a few oz at most. For example, Sea to Summit has a Spark 15 Women's bag that's supposedly a super lightweight bag. 25.7 oz. Problem is the comfort rating on it is actually 30 degrees, not 15. Compare that to an REI magma 30 with a comfort rating of 34 and a weight of 24.4, Similar, but totally misnamed. And by the way, the Feathered Friends Egret, which is not EN tested so can't "really" be compared to the EN bags, has a fill weight slightly less than the Spark, and fill power 100 higher, and a total weight about the same, which would mean that it should perform, at best, only very slightly better than the 30 degree EN comfort rating of the Spark. Marketing crap all around. Another example in warmer bags: Compare the Neutrino 600 10 degree bag from RAB. 34 oz. That 10 degree bag is actually an EN comfort rating of 23. The BA Torchlight W UL 20, REI Magma 15 (unisex), MH Phantom 15 (men's) and Sierra Designs Nitro 800 20 all have comfort ratings between 20-23, 800-850 fill power, 19.2-20.9 fill weight, and total weights between 33.2-37. Nearly identical despite the names and claims. The 3.8 oz difference is almost entirely attributable to features and size (37 oz torchlight has collapsible baffles and can expand to the largest width, 33.3 Phantom is the thinnest cause it's a tight men's cut). So this is half rant, half PSA - there are no silver bullets for lightweight sleeping bags. There are no bags that really outperform others, and same with quilts. Pick your sleeping system style (quilt or bag, mummy, etc.) then find a reasonably high power fill (the higher the better to shave an oz or two), then get a fill weight that fits your temp range, then find your shape you like, then find the cheapest thing you can get that fits those parameters. No manufacturer has any secret sauce. I want my two days back. Frustrating marketing BS. Edit to point out an error - the Spark 15 women's bag is actually a 15 EN rated comfort level bag. Which makes it a pretty light bag for the temp performance - one of the best performers. And that's what we ended up purchasing, so we'll see how it works in real life...

Just for the general knowledge of the group, that's not true at all, and doubly not true with women's bags. Men's bags are more usually listed at the limit number, women's are more usually listed at the comfort number, but there are many exceptions to both. For example, these all have EN Comfort ratings between 30-32. Their lower limited is listed next to them. S2S Spark 15 (15) Therm Hyperion 20 (20) RAB Neutrino 400 20 (19) REI Magma 30. (24) So some don't follow the rules. And it gets nuttier with women's bags: S2S Spark 15 W (5) BA Torchlight 20 UL (12) Nemo Disco 15 (4)

Yup! This is why you update your pack last. Or update it early, but get a standard, modern hauler. It really is wild how much gear has improved, though. I thought “a moderndown sleeping bag can’t be that much lighter, right?” I was using my dad’s old 10 degree Northface. A great bag, but I was born in 1990 and he got it in 88. But it has 700 FP down, and surely that’s where most of the weight is, right? WRONG. I was saving up for a cottage gear quilt or really nice down backpack, and happened to see a once-used REI women’s magma at a garage sale for $130. I grabbed it. Holy shit. I had never weighed my old bag, but after I got my new one, I did. It was SEVEN POUNDS. My new one was under two. Similarly, I went from my children’s 50L Osprey to a 65L REI Traverse a few decades ago, and it dropped my load another three pounds without losing comfort. All to say, fabric tech has gone a long way, and if you’re upgrading from much older gear, it can feel like you’re getting ultra-ultra-light products when they’re just ordinary gear.

I got an REI Magma 30 on sale last year for like $230. I absolutely love it and it weighs in at least than 1.5 pounds. I haven't really tested the limits of the quilt by itself, but it's definitely warm enough to wear lightweight sleep clothes down to about 40F. With warmer base layers I could probably nudge it down to freezing.

REI magma 30. It’s down so packs small and it’s <$400. If you have a larger budget, go with the other posters recommendation.

Seconding this one. I just got one this year and really like it.

I just got myself a Magma 30 which I believe is now a good price for what you get. Maybe look at it if you will be hiking. It's light for the temperature rating.

You will likely be fine in a sleeping bag rated to 30 degrees (that means comfortable down to about 40. I know this doesn't make sense, but it's true). I'd go with down insulation unless you are certain you are going to be in a continually wet area (I doubt this considering your job, but what do I know?) Down compacts more, is lighter, warmer by weight, etc. I own 4 sleeping bags, and only take the synthetic when I'm heading into the rain. Think: Olympic National Park coastline in shoulder seasons. I'd look at: * Mountain Hardwear Bishop Pass 30 * Kelty Cosmic 20 * REI Magma 30 * Big Agnes Torchlight 20 * Nemo Disco 30 * Thermarest Parsec 32 * Sea to Summit Trek 30 Those range from $150 to $300. A synthetic bag of course will work and save you money, just not as versatile, won't compress as well, and will be heavier. If you go synthetic, I'd look at the Mountain Hardwear Lamina 30. See my other post on Pro Deals, and signing up with [Expert Voice](https://www.expertvoice.com/). I cannot recommend this enough. Foam pads (I presume you mean closed cell - no air) are durable as can be, but they are not compact at all. Not very comfortable either. But they are cheap and almost indestructible.

Three seasons where exactly? A better question may be will your trips ever have nights below freezing? You did say "at least..." so I imagine yes? If so, I'd look at the REI Magma 15. If not, try the Magma 30, or Magma quilt. There are plenty more options from really good companies, but since this is a REI subreddit, I thought I'd mention them. Make sure you have a good, warm sleeping pad. And I'm a fan of liners. Keeps the bag clean, and add some warmth too.

I just order a used Magma 30 from REI re/supply last night for $196! So excited to have a lightweight down sleeping bag after carrying around my massive synthetic one for a decade lol.

Magma 30 is pretty good. Make sure you have a good sleeping pad, r value of at least 3.

If you want light weight, small packed size and good temp rating… the magma by REI is the best bang for the buck… because of the size choices. If that is to much… The Trailmade is super inexpensive, and comes in a variety of lengths and widths. It is not as light, nor as compactable. If you were in the store, I would ask a whole bunch of questions… side, back or stomach sleeper? Do you roll? Where do you normally get cold? What is the likelihood of the bag getting wet? Etc… etc… I’d ask because there are so many options and each kind of sleeper works with a different kind of bag. But if you want the lightest and most compact… and best bang for the buck… the magma is the way to go? also do not forget to buy or make a liner. No sleeping back should be used without one!

Remember that you can move your legs around all you like by moving the sleeping bag with them. I sleep in the fetal position in a very narrow bag because I curl the bag into that position with me. (I have REI's magma and it's extremely toasty)

Try a quilt. I recommend the sierra designs 20(?) or rei magma

I have also gone to ground. I took my quilt with me and love it. I have used a sleeping bag, and it just isn’t as nice. My quilt is the Warbonnet Diamondback, and my sleeping bag is the REI Magma. I have never had cold sleeping problems, I just enjoy the quilt more.

I went with the Magma and a Nemo Tensor wide sleeping pad. Thanks for the recommendation

The REI Magma mens/women's bags zip together and are wonderful. They have both 15⁰ and 30⁰ bags.

My order of preference, without prying more info out of you would be: 1. Magma 2. Radiant 3. Nemo … anyone giving you numbers after the name of the bag is guessing because you never mentioned what temperature rating you need and what geography we are talking about. In terms of r-rating we would need to know what mattress pad you are shlepping too…