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REI Co-op Magma 30 Review

A awesome bag at a fair price
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Price:  $329 List | $329.00 at REI
Pros:  Lightweight, small packed size, quality down, nice zipper, cozy fabric
Cons:  Expensive, moderate warmth
Manufacturer:   REI Co-op
By Jack Cramer ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Oct 16, 2019
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71
OVERALL
SCORE

RANKED
#6 of 17
  • Warmth - 20% 5
  • Weight - 20% 9
  • Comfort - 20% 8
  • Packed Size - 15% 8
  • Versatility - 15% 6
  • Features & Design - 10% 6

Our Verdict

Lava deep underground is called magma. A sleeping bag that's unlikely to stay underground is the REI Co-op Magma 30. That's because this awesome bag is poised to become massively popular. On paper it has impressive specs: 850 fill power down in a 30°F bag that weighs just 1 lb 4 oz. Our hands-on test also confirmed that it achieves this low weight and respectable warmth without compromising comfort or versatility. Overall, the Magma isn't as good as our favorite models from Western Mountaineering and Feathered Friends, but it comes close. At the same time, the Magma has a more reasonable price tag, and its availability at REI means that you're much more likely to find it on sale. We thus recommend the Magma for dedicated backpackers or other weight-conscious travelers looking for a good bargain on a top-performing sleeping bag.

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Our Analysis and Test Results

Performance Comparison


A premium sleeping bag doesn't have to come with an astronomical pricetag. Case in point the REI Magma 30.
A premium sleeping bag doesn't have to come with an astronomical pricetag. Case in point, the REI Magma 30.

Warmth


The Magma is filled with 9.7 ounces of 850 fill power goose down. Although this down is undeniably high-quality, that's a fairly small amount for a bag with a 30°F temperature rating. Nevertheless, our testers believe this moderate rating is accurate. Helping it retain body heat is the legit draft collar that seals heat in on cooler nights. The Magma may not keep you lava hot, but it's certainly warm enough for most 3-season uses.

The orange neck baffle shown here is great at preventing warmth from escaping out the hood on cold nights.
The orange neck baffle shown here is great at preventing warmth from escaping out the hood on cold nights.

Weight


A size long weighed in on our scale at 1.39 pounds, impressively light for a 30° mummy bag with a full-length zipper. Its drawstring stuff sack also tipped our scale at an ultralight 0.4 ounces. Together they combine for an overnight combo that's noticeably lighter than several bags that offer similar warmth but cost as much as a hundred dollars more.

A subtle comfort enhancement is the small triangle of grey fabric redirects the zipper away from your slumbering face.
A subtle comfort enhancement is the small triangle of grey fabric redirects the zipper away from your slumbering face.

Comfort


The Magma scores pretty well on comfort. Its 63-inch shoulder girth is almost the widest we tested, and it only tapers modestly toward the foot of the bag. This left our testers with generous interior dimensions to enjoy. We also appreciated this bag's cozy 15-denier ripstop nylon material. Finally, it's easy to overlook the triangle-shaped piece of fabric at the end of the zipper, but the excellent job it does of shielding your face from the cold metal of the zipper's slide should not be ignored.

The upside of the Magma's stuff sack is that its extremely light--just 0.4 oz. The downside is that it doesn't compress the bag particularly well.
The upside of the Magma's stuff sack is that its extremely light--just 0.4 oz. The downside is that it doesn't compress the bag particularly well.

Packed Size


As its low weight would suggest, this bag packs down super well. Stuffed inside a third-party compression sack, we measured its minimum volume at 6.7 liters. That's nearly the smallest in the backpacking sleeping bag field. Unfortunately, you can't achieve this minimal size using the simple drawstring stuff sack that it comes with. So if packed size is important to you, expect to spend a few extra dollars getting a good after-market compression sack.

Versatility


All down insulation underperforms if it gets wet, and the Magma is no different. This limits its usefulness in wet conditions, but in most situations, it's possible to keep it dry and performing well. The range of temperatures you can comfortably use it in is enhanced by the full-length zipper and draft collar. The long zipper lets you vent excess heat on warmer nights while the draft collar helps trap heat inside on colder evenings.

The grey pull tab on the inside of the zipper is a nice touch which ensures that escaping the bag isn't a struggle.
The grey pull tab on the inside of the zipper is a nice touch which ensures that escaping the bag isn't a struggle.

Features and Design


As far as traditional mummy bags go, the Magma is designed pretty well. The strongest evidence for this is the respectable warmth it provides in such a lightweight package. Aside from that, however, it has limited noteworthy features. It lacks a stash pocket to store your phone, and it can't boast of any versatility boosting accessory. We do really like its zipper, which is anti-snag and includes a pull tab on the inside for a more convenient escape.

Value


The Magma is REI's premium sleeping bag offering. Although its price tag is higher than one might expect for a store-brand model, we still think it provides excellent value. Performance-wise there are a few ultra-premium bags from Feathered Friends and Western Mountaineering that we like more, but the Magma costs noticeably less. Its availability at REI also means that you're much more likely to find it on sale.

There a few other sleeping bags that we prefer slightly over the REI Magma 30 but there isn't a better deal on an lightweight premium bag.
There a few other sleeping bags that we prefer slightly over the REI Magma 30, but there isn't a better deal on an lightweight premium bag.

Conclusion


Today, more and more big-name companies are making sleeping bags with 850 fill power down or higher. Our testers have been underwhelmed with the offerings from many of these new entrants, but that's not the case with the REI Magma 30. Although its performance didn't quite reach the pinnacle of the backpacking sleeping bag category, it came darn close. Getting one at REI is also a lot more convenient than a custom order from a specialty manufacturer and improves the likelihood that you could find it on sale. If you're lucky and do find it marked down, don't hesitate to pull the trigger.

— Jack Cramer