Marmot Lithium - Any comments?

[Rightfoot]

I am looking at the Marmot Lithium 0 degree bag. Anyone have any first hand reviews or comments?

Regards

[Dogwood]

Been around awhile, it seems. Maybe it's just me? :) Considered it in my O* high end $$ $ sleeping bag choices for Iceland, mountaineering, wet LD backpacking/hiking, and early /late shoulder season bivying at one time about 7 longs yrs ago. How much is the one you're looking at? From all my observations and uses with it if you can nail one for sub $500 it's an excellent well made bag that with a modicum of decent care should last for many yrs. I wound up not buying one for myself because I usually have no issue borrowing my bros. :D Last time I looked at a Membrane variety was before the hydrophobic down versions were offered which Marmot calls "down defender." I could have picked one up new for a tad under $400 about five-six yrs ago. Then, I pinched myself when a pr went up for sale on Backpackinglight I passed on that I could have nailed for $350 each new. http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=54720

I considered the Marmot Lithium a beefy lower temp rated Marmot Helium 2006 version which from all I could tell was based off the same design so PERHAPS you can get a feel for the Lithium by researching the abundance of Helium reviews too. Don't know the model yr my bro has; I should look, but it's at least five yrs old so hesitate to make absolute recs based on Lithium newer model versions that MAY be very slightly different that you are prolly looking at. I loved absolutely loved the Marmot Helium 2006 version in Long I had that serviced me well on many a chilly night atop summits and LD backpacking up until about three yrs ago when I strongly suspect a tweaker s---bag stole it from a shopping cart, AND MY ENTIRE BACKPACK, while in a Reno Walmart.

One thing about Marmot is that I have always had excellent customer service. Additionally, very important to me, has been Marmot's transparency. They, like several other top end sleeping bag manufacturers, have always been straight shooters. The specs are always there. I know what I'm getting. I can trace back the sources. Some may not remember but I surely do. Marmot had accurate sleeping bag temp ratings well before sleeping bags regularly carried EN ratings. That tells me some things I want in a gear company: high quality, above avg design and construction, reliability, traceability, and support. Plus, I like the story of enterprising Americans, adventure/climbing/hiking, skiing junkies, working hard to put out a superior product from the start. http://marmot.com/content/about-us/our-story In short, I've always spent many a night in WELL MADE HIGH END DOWN Marmot sleeping bags, the Helium and Lithium being the two models I have the most familiarity. Marmot, IMO is CHOICE in this regard!

Plenty of reviews online. It was a backpacker Editor's Choice Gold Award for the late 2000's. Check out what the wonks over at BPL say too. Those folks always have something good to say in reviews.

http://www.backpacker.com/gear/sleeping-bags/gear-guide-2009-marmot-lithium-sleeping-bag-review/

http://www.outdoorgearlab.com/Sleeping-Bag-Down-Cold-Weather-Reviews

http://www.outdoorgearlab.com/Sleeping-Bag-Down-Cold-Weather-Reviews/Marmot-Lithium

http://backpackingsamurai.com/the-top-5-down-sleeping-bags-weight-warmth-important/

[4shot]

I'll agree with Dogwood. I have 2 marmot bags - a 40* and one a 15*. you can trust the ratings. My 15* bag will get me down to 0* (I know from experience). I am not a "warm" sleeper either. It was common for me to be uncomfortable (cold) prior to switching to Marmot. There may be one or two other makes that are the equivalent of Marmot sleeping bags, but none that I believe to be superior.

[saltysack]

I've been using the 15* helium for about 5 years now...I find it true to rating. The coldest I've used it was around 10* with mid weight capilene only...my pup had my down jacket and shell. I wasn't warm but wasn't uncomfortable either. I tend to sleep a little cool. I paid around $275 so for the $$ it's a good bag. If I had $$ I'd try a WM bag though...


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[garlic08]

As Dogwood observed, Marmots tend to go on sale once in a while. If can wait a season and do a lot of searching, you might find a great deal somewhere and save hundreds.

I've also had the Helium 15 down into low single digits, and would extrapolate that all their ratings are very conservative. I've been very happy with Marmot bags--I've used them over over 10,000 trail miles. I used my first one for over 7,000 of those miles and was even able to sell it as a usable, though de-rated, bag.

[squeezebox]

My 2 enlightened equipment quilts weight and cost about the same as the lithium, even if I spring for a puffy hood.
Something else to consider.

[Venchka]

Western Mountaineering Versalite or Antelope MF. Lighter & less expensive. Conservative temperature ratings. Both made in the USA. With R-5 minimum between you and the ground.

http://www.backcountrygear.com/western-mountaineering-gear/western-mountaineering-versalite-super.html
http://www.backcountrygear.com/microfiber-sleeping-bags/western-mountaineering-antelope-mf.html

Look at the Lithium EN numbers. Average the men's lower limit and women's comfort numbers. Then tell me if you think the Lithium is really a 0 degree bag.

Wayne

[Goatgas]

Marmot neversummer 0 deg bag has worked well for me.

[Mtsman]

+1 on Marmot as a company. I have yet to find myself unreasonably cold in my Marmot Plasma 15* at or slightly below its rating.

http://marmot.com/products/details/plasma-15-new This is the new version. My old one says plasma 900. I don't know when they kicked it down to 875+. The difference for me is the baffle adjustments, the quality of the product, and the thought that goes into each feature while still being lightweight.

[cmoulder]

My Plasma 15 also says 900FP. It's about 3 yrs old.

Definitely an accurate rating. I've used it down to zero no problem at all wearing down parka and pants. I got Plasma in wide/long just for this purpose; normally I'm reg/reg.

[peakbagger]

I have a Marmot Helium and I find that the rating is spot on or even conservative. The big issue is that it is not sized for folks with big shoulders. Western Mountaineering makes a few more options with more shoulder room. When I can justify replacing a bag (I mostly day hike these days), I will probably go with a WM due to the size issue

[Kerosene]

My first high-end sleeping bag was the 15F Marmot Helium. Great bag, but I ended up replacing it with a much lighter (and much more expensive) 20F Western Mountaineering UltraLite.

Important point mentioned earlier but worth re-emphasizing: Make sure that you have a sufficiently insulated sleeping pad (R-value) for the temperatures you expect to encounter. A sufficiently warm sleeping bag without the right under-insulation won't be up to the task.

[cmoulder]

>>>A sufficiently warm sleeping bag without the right under-insulation won't be up to the task.

This is probably the root of the problem for a lot of folks who are 'cold sleepers'. Not saying it doesn't exist—it's well established that women usually do sleep colder due to metabolic differences—but even so it seems the evaluation of the ground pad system gets short shrift.