Better than most, a few issues

By Radio Backpacker Ranked #144 - 25 to 5 Degree Down Bags January 10, 2011

The Helium is marketed as an ultralight sleeping bag at 1lb 13oz but ended up weighing 5oz over spec bringing it to 2lb 2oz, the included stuff sack weighs less than an ounce. Accurate temperature rating of 15*F but that is only if you have a well insulated sleeping pad. I found that the zipper snags occasionally.

Fit wise, I am a skinny 5' 9" and had tons of excess room to heat. I personally roll around a lot a night and don't like having the hood cinched down, not having a true draft collar allowed air to flow in and give me chills. Also found that through the night the hood creeps up over my mouth and nose, thus causing me to breath into the bag and creating ice crystals by morning. The fabric seems to shed frozen condensation well, it shakes right off. The bag never got real wet so I cannot comment as to how water resistant the fabric is.

Backcountry lists it being made in Barbados but the Helium shell, stuff sack, and storage bag are made and sewn in China while the bag filled with down and finished in the USA.

It does stuff down tiny like the photos above but I found it very difficult to cram into the included stuff sack, almost to the point of over compressing the bag. I recommend getting a dry sack in the 13L range. Be sure to store it in the included cotton sack. This thing does loft up quick to around 6" and explodes out of the stuff sack when removed.

On one night I did take it down to single digits wearing insulated pants and a down parka and was comfortable enough to get some sleep.

Overall, I would recommend it to broad shouldered individuals or those who want lots of extra room if skinny. There are some shortcomings as mentioned but is still a very high quality bag compared to most on the market. I would probably keep it if it had a real draft collar.

I replaced it with a Western Mountaineering Apache and found it to be a somewhat superior product compared to the Helium. Measured weight is lighter, has a real draft collar, better fitting hood (at least on me), extremely well made in the USA, right zipper option (Helium only comes in a left zip), and less room that is better suited to slimmer people.

View Details: Marmot Helium Sleeping Bag: 15 Degree Down

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