Reader Reviews

Rating: 4 / 5

(gets a 4.5/5)

Weighing in at 18.4oz/530g the Marmot Atom packs big warmth in a small package.(Did that sound like a Backpacker magazine tagline??) Actually it's true, this bag is warm. It is rated at 40F/5C and I concur. I find it comfortable, with adequate clothing, at 40' and survivable at 30F/0C. By survivable I mean no hypothermia, most bodyparts warm enough, but not always a comfy nights sleep. This is my first bag that has lived up to its temp rating! Sewn through baffles limit the bags warmth, but the lack of side baffles make up for that. I have moved most/all of the down from the bottom to the top essentially creating a nice and puffy top bag.

Positive features: silky-soft interior fabric, water-resistant exterior fabric, 900 fill down(material listing downgraded to 850+ as of this year hmmmm), no side baffles allows down to be shifted for temp regulation, no snag zipper, tapered cut for a close fit, full hood, quality construction, no extraneous features, hot red color makes me feel like I'm going fast while sleeping, turns rocks into marshmallows while conquering mother nature's deadly onslaught(oops, that was Backpacker magazine copy again.)

Drawbacks: 1/2 zip is lighter but not as versatile in warmer weather, hood drawcord needs some redesign, tapered cut won't fit everyone, slightly heavier than advertised 16oz vs 18.4oz, when I first got the bag there were numerous loose threads that needed trimming as if the seamstress didn't finish the job

Edited by happycamper on 02/07/2007 22:02:45 MST.

Rating: 5 / 5

A nice sleeping bag that can be adapted for much colder conditions than it's 30F rating. I've recently slept warm in it at 9F utilizing a few additions: silnylon VBL, down vest, fleece cap, a down balaclava (Nunatak),light clothing & 2pr of socks). The half zipper does limit your warm weather options, but to have a bag this light--about 22oz is worth it.

Rating: 3 / 5

I used the 40 degree Marmot Atom once, before deciding the extra two ounces in the 30 degree Hydrogen was worth it. The biggest difference is not fill weight; it is that the Atom is sewn through while the Hydrogen has short baffles sewn between the inner and outer shells to create tubes of down. This means the Hydrogen has no zones where the layers pinch together to exclude the down, and no stitch holes straight through. The added complexity adds a hundred dollars to the price. It is marginally more bulky as well. Because of the super thin Pertex, there is always a down feather or two poking its way through the fabric.

I also have the 0 degree (Lithium?) in the same Marmot 900-fill down series. Besides the appeal of their names for this chemistry teacher, these are true ultralight bags at mass-produced prices. In addition to my 0 deg down, old 20 deg wet-weather synthetic, 30 deg down, my warm weather bag is an Adventure Medical Kits ThermoLite bivy with a silk travel liner, together 10 oz for $75, more compact than down and the liner can be used alone on hot nights. The bivy is a bit sticky because it doesn't breath, but maybe that retards evaporative heat loss.

Edited by sidmanac on 10/18/2006 12:52:14 MDT.

Rating: 5 / 5

At 16oz this is an excellent option for warm weather 3 season backpacking. The compressibility of this bag is phenomonal. It is unusual to find a summer oriented bag with a full hood & draft collar, making it very efficent at keeping you warm.

The build quality is on par with all of the other high end bags out there.

It is pricey, but that is to be expected for the level of craftsmanship and materials involved.

I think this bag was very conservatively rated as I normally sleep very cold but have been very comfy in down to 35 degrees with just a baselayer.

Rating: 5 / 5

Let's get down to the facts:

- Temp rating: 40 degrees
- Size Long (6' 6") Weight: 20 oz on the box, 22 oz in my kitchen.
- Shell: Pertex Quantum N-090 Ripstop
- Lining: Pertex Quantum N-090 Taffeta
- 850+ fill goose down
- 4" of loft "out of the box"
- 1/2 length zipper
- Mummy hood that fits very well

As an added bonus it comes in any color you want as long as it's red.

I love this sleeping bag and I'll tell you why in one word: Versatility. I have used this sleeping bag 4 seasons with considerable success. I was on a kick a while ago where I decided it was a waste to pack all that insulation in my sleeping bag so I started use my insulation layers to sleep in. I realize I didn't invent the concept but it was new to me at the time. With a Patagonia Micropuff jacket and Pants I easily kept warm down to zero.

That's saying a lot, of you ask me. The bag is "sewn-through" meaning it has cold spots. The neat thing is that you can fluff the insulation in the baffles and with a little effort can get most of the down on the top of the bag, creating a sort of top-quilt setup.

The taffeta liner is silky smooth and feels great.

As far as the Pertex Quantum shell is concerned, I have tarp camped in it where spray got on the outside of the bag. I don't think the bag lost any more loft than it would have otherwise lost from a nights sleep. That said, the material is clearly compromised where it is "sewn through" so I am sure this could be an issue.

The shell is cool, if that amounts to anything. You can see the feathers inside the bag through it. It's that thin, yet I haven't had a lot of down lost. The shell and liner seem to do a good job retraining the down.

The price is a little steep so look for it used or a used sleeping bag. I got mine on closeout at a great price. It was an impulse buy and I am sure glad I have it.

Rating: 3 / 5

I have one rule for the gear I carry and that is that it had better perform it's job. I tried the Atom one night in mild conditions wearing mid weight long underwear, heavy wool socks and a fleece balaclava and I still felt a little chilled despite a low temp of around 50. The reason? Sewn through construction. The cold air comes right in through the seams. Using good down on a sewn through bag is like getting a great security system for your house and then leaving the front door open. I suppose it would be a decent bag for warm climates but even then it's limited by it's half length zipper.

Pros:

1. Nice hood design
2.Very comfy (silky fabric and roomy interior)

Cons:

1. Left me cold well above listed temp range.
2. Over weight. My bag weighed in at 567g. That's about 1 lb 4 oz. That means a 25% increase over the manufactures listed weight of 16 oz. At that weight you'd be far better off with a WM Summerlite.

Rating: 3 / 5

I haven't spent the night in this bag yet, but I wanted to make a statement about it. Almost all the vendors I looked at list the Atom regular size as a 1 lb. bag and the long as a 1 lb. 5 oz. bag. so when I came across one that listed the regular as a 1 lb. 5oz. bag, I thought they'd confused it with the long.

It turns out that they were the only honest vendor. The regular size Atom weighs 1 lb. 5 oz. The Marmot site lists the correct weight, but I didn't go there until after I weighed my bag. Backcountry.com offered to take it back, but I declined because the true 1 lb. bags appear to cost $100 more. So this is the caveat emptor part of my review. I'll edit and update my rating after a hike.

Based on what I've read here, I'm guessing the 1 lb might have been a spec for an older version of the Atom which may have had 900 fill down bag. My bag also has a full length zipper which would add to the weight.

UPDATE: I've had it on a couple of summer hikes. No surprises.

Edited by herman666 on 01/13/2010 12:41:02 MST.

Rating: 5 / 5

I'm not going to say much since this has been reviewed allready. I just want to say the bag is made with great quality and is very light. The pictures don't show how pretty the red material is. Almost a metallic red look.
Also If you get one and are close to 6 feet tall, get the long. The way it is made without baffles, it kind of draws up about 8 inches shorter than it really is. It will still stretch to full length but next to my sawtooth long(15 degree) it looks almost one foot shorter. My favorite bag for sure.

Rating: 5 / 5

The bag is true to it's 40 degree rating and when I sleep with insulating layers on I have comfortably slept in this bag down to the upper 20's. If you are cold in this bag at 50 then I suspect you are just a cold sleeper. I like the dual direction zips for those of us that like to hang our feet out to stay cool. I am a side sleeper and found the collar to be a nice addition to keep the heat in. Excellent shell material. All in all this is the best bag I have owned.