Marmot  Phase 20 Sleeping Bag

Great, beautifully made ultralight bag. Zipper may not be the best, but not that bad and nowhere near a deal breaker for me. First reviewer sounds like such a pouter. Zipper is full length, opens from bottom for venting. This is my 3rd down bag in 15 years and it's BY FAR superior to others I've used. I love it. You probably will too!

This is a beautiful ultralight sleeping bag. It is well constructed, light, and lofty. ...but the poor zipper function may be a deal-breaker. The quality of the construction and materials is immediately evident--as is its almost insubstantial (lack of) heft. After being stuffed all day, the bag quickly expanded to completely fill the large mesh storage sack. The cut is nice... BUT THE ZIPPER! Oh, the zipper. Sigh. There are some narrow flexible stiffening tapes on either side of the zipper--but they don't seem to keep the zipper from gobbling up the light 10D cover fabric. In order to get into the bag I had to carefully guide the zipper pull up--and it still wanted to grab the fabric when it turned the corner by my shoulder. The big problem, though, comes when you need to exit the bag. I encountered repeated and persistent difficulty in unzipping the bag. I thought for a while that I would not be able to get out without damaging something. I tested the zipper from outside the empty bag and it was still quite challenging to operate it. I cannot imagine that I would fail to tear the bag after a week of using this zipper--and I would be afraid to zip it to my chin; lest I be unable to get out. The zipper design is a big let-down for me. The zipper is the key to using a sleeping bag--and you have to get it right. I may have to return this bag...which would be sad. Design: The hood is a fabulous design! It provides excellent protection without trying to smother me and it has room for my Sea-to-Summit Aeros Pillow to snuggle inside. The draft tube is big and round. The baffles seem to keep the down from shifting (as least with new, dry down). It fits into the included stuff sack (with a little work), and would clearly compress smaller, if you desire. Durability: This is definitely an ultralight bag! The fabric, though tough for its weight, is very light and will require a little bit of care to protect. I think most users would be better served by the slightly roomier cut and secondary zipper (along with the more durable fabric) of the Marmot Helium. ...but this bag is 9 ounces lighter than the Helium (which is why you are looking at it, right?) and I have been craving a lighter full-featured three-season bag. Temperature Rating: I am an average (or slightly warm) sleeper, and my limited testing, as well as side-by-side comparisons to other bags with known characteristics, suggests the Phase 20 is true to rating. I think I would be comfortabIe to 25 degrees or below in the Phase 20. It is not as warm (nor as lofty) as the older Marmot Aspen 20 (which weights 43 ounces in regular length) I have used for years--I consider that a very warm 20 degree bag. It seems a little bit warmer than the REI Igneo. Sizing: I am 6'1" 190lbs with wide shoulders and wide hips. I ordered the Long for the extra width. I have enough room in the bag to move not feel confined. It's not as trim as the REI Igneo; which I found just a little too tight for me. I would say it is not quite as roomy as the Marmot Helium--and the secondary zipper that lets you open up the chest/neck section of the Helium makes it feel much easier to enter and exit. But the Phase does not compromise usability for weight-savings. I think Marmot got the sizing right.