So I cant decide between a marmot never winter 30 deg down bag and the Wasatch for my second bag. My main bag is a North Face Snowshoe zero degree synthetic, which I love but is cumbersome(9.5"x18") to pack in the summer and HOT. Obviously the Marmot is 2 times the price, but I have heard it is more of a 40 degree bag than a 30. My main concern is stuff size. The marmot comes with a 7"x15" stuff sack and the Wasatch is similarly listed above(7.5"x13"?). Has anyone tried to get this thing smaller with an aftermarket compression sack?
The goal is to have a above freezing and below freezing bag. Will the Wasatch be warm down to 32 with a good liner? Any recommendations for super compressible warm liner?

Hoping to save some cash by going with this bag over a marmot down bag. Thanks, sorry for the long post

Jeff

Hi Jeff, Here's my take on a few of the things you mentioned. The Marmot is an extra $100. Is it worth it you? Looking at the EN ratings, Marmot's 30º rating is pretty good. Perhaps, before the EN standard, they were using less fill in this bag so it was more of a 40º bag. On paper, it looks good. I'll go out on a limb and say the Marmot will compress more. Mostly because down compresses better than synthetics. But with 600 fill down, I don't think these bags will be vastly different in their compressibility. What you will notice, though, is the Wasatch will wear down from compression much faster than the Marmot – synthetics are not as resilient as down, so it will wear faster. I've never liked liners. Instead, wear the layers that you already have packed. Especially if you have good puffy garments. Liners, in my experience, are more hype and placebo than actual warmth. If you're looking to save the $100, and especially if you don't camp too often in warm weather, the North Face isn't a bad bag. Overall, it's a solid bag, and a great value at its price. The Marmot is likely a better bag, but not $100 better. Phil and Kevin made good points about a 40º bag, but ultimately, your situations may be different from theirs. Where you go affects what you should take. 40º bags have their place, but, as they say, you may be better off with a 30º bag after all.

Compressibility - Most bags come with a stuff sack, I always use a compression sack instead. I also prefer the Granite Gear Rock Solid compression sack. While down will always compress easier and smaller while still lofting up nice and big, you can compress a synthetic bag down extremely small as well. GET A COMPRESSION SACK! Temperature - I agree with Phil on this one. I can see how toting around a zero degree bag, (especially without a compression sack) would be cumbersome, but I would still shy away from a 40 or even 30 degree bag unless I knew I would be doing lots and lots of camping when nigh time lows are above 50. I am a 20 degree guy. You will find that with a compression sack you can get a 20 degree bag very small and it will still be comfortable right around 30 without much of a base layer on, yet in warmer temperatures you can just unzip it a little and still be perfectly comfortable. Price - I used synthetics for my first several years of backpacking. Simply put, they worked and I had little to complain about. I finally made the switch to down and I can't imagine going back to synthetic, but I was a happy camper for all of those years with synthetic, so if money is a huge issue, stick with synthetic, because it does work. When you make the switch to down, you will be glad you did, but there is a time for everything. Good Luck!

Hey Jeff, And here's a long answer. If you're looking for a simple compression sack that's not waterproof, check out the Granite Gear Rock Solid (item# GRG0085). Either a small or medium will get you as compressed as you're going to get. In a waterproof compression sack, check out the Sea To Summit eVent Compression Sack (item# STS0002) . In this one, you'll want to at least go with a medium. Either way, it'll be much smaller, but also really solid. In my opinion, a 40 degree bag is going to be very specific and limited in where and when you can use it. It'll work, but you're pushing the insulation rating to the edge of any control you're going to have in warmth and comfort for a good sized range of temperatures that a 30 degree bag might otherwise get you by in , and whether you personally "sleep warm" or "sleep cold " is going to make all the difference. Sure a liner will extend the range to some extent, but it's also nice to have each piece of gear stand on it's own, without relying on something else to make it work to your needs and expectations (not really a liner guy myself). I also think it's preferable to be able to say to yourself "I'm too hot, think I'll open the zipper and cool down." instead of having to layer up to sleep comfortably. Minimum rating I carry, ever, is +30. Generally a good summer rating, seldom sleep in more than boxers and a t-shirt. Too hot, and I'm out of it. Too cold, and I simply pull my capilene and hat out of my stuff sack/pillow, then go back to sleep. Still, all that said, my favorite bags are rated for +15. Anyway, hope that helped you out.