Gear Guide 2009: Marmot Lithium Sleeping Bag Review

Last year's Editors' Choice Gold Award winner stands out again with its minimalist design and excellent fit.

Top Ultralight

An Editor’s Choice Gold Award winner last year (4/08), the Lithium’s recipe–minimalist design, excellent fit, 850-plus-fill down–makes it a perennial go-to bag for cold-weather trips when weight and warmth are equally important. A thick draft collar and zipper tubes seal in heat, and a contoured hood secures without scratchy Velcro. It stuffs magic-trick small (football-size) for a true 0°F bag, yet puffs up quickly even after being crammed in a stuffsack for days.

The shell material is filmy light, but testers failed to tear it in a year of use, and the DWR-boosted water resistance is just enough to keep dew at bay. The down is distributed 50-50 top/bottom, so it’s warm for side sleepers. $459; 2 lbs. 12 oz.; 0°F

Marmot.com

When you buy something using the retail links in our stories, we may earn a small commission. We do not accept money for editorial gear reviews. Read more about our policy.