Marmot Trestles 30 Review
Our Verdict
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Marmot Trestles 30 | |||||
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Awards | ![]() | ![]() | |||
Price | $65.45 at Amazon Compare at 2 sellers | $245 List $183.75 at Backcountry | $130 List | $190 List $179.99 at Amazon | $116.19 at REI Compare at 4 sellers |
Overall Score ![]() |
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Star Rating | |||||
Pros | Lots of insulation, great venting options with the accessory zipper, durable construction | Decent weight, respectable warmth, awesome bargain | Super warm, cozy liner fabric, clever hood design, great value | Extra-long zipper, lightweight, packs small, unzips into a quilt | Inexpensive, burly, decent warmth, roomy fit |
Cons | Really heavy, not very compressible, stiff lining fabric, heavy stuff sack | Average materials, limited features, basic design | Nearly too heavy for backpacking, bulky, awkward stuff sack shape | Colder than its warmth rating, no draft collar or stash pocket, unpleasant smell | Heavy, limited versatility, no storage sack, no compression sack |
Bottom Line | This bag's mediocre performance fails to justify its considerable weight | An exceptional deal for a capable and sturdy backpacking sleeping bag for those looking to get outside without breaking the bank | A warm and affordable sleeping bag with exceptional comfort and an unfortunate weight problem | Lightweight and packable, but minimal insulation | A bargain backpacking sleeping bag with mixed performance characteristics |
Rating Categories | Marmot Trestles 30 | Mountain Hardwear B... | Big Agnes Husted 20 | Klymit KSB 35 | Kelty Cosmic 20 |
Warmth (20%) | |||||
Weight (20%) | |||||
Comfort (20%) | |||||
Packed Size (15%) | |||||
Versatility (15%) | |||||
Features & Design (10%) | |||||
Specs | Marmot Trestles 30 | Mountain Hardwear B... | Big Agnes Husted 20 | Klymit KSB 35 | Kelty Cosmic 20 |
Measured Weight (Size Long) | 3.54 lbs | 1.98 lbs | 3.14 lbs | 1.91 lbs | 2.83 lbs |
Manufacturer claimed weight (Size Regular) | 3.06 lbs | 1.79 lbs | 2.75 lbs | 1.90 lbs | 2.63 lbs |
Temperature Rating | 30 F | 30 F | 20 F | 35 F | 20 F |
EN lower limit (rating for men)/ EN Comfort Rating (rating for women) | 26 / 36 F | 30 F | 19 F (lower) | 21 / 32 F | 21 F |
Compression/Stuff sack weight | 4.2 oz | 1.6 oz | 1.6 oz | 0.8 oz | 0.6 oz |
Measured Compressed Volume (Size Long) | 13.1 liters | 7.5 liters | 13.4 liters | 7.0 liters | 9.2 liters |
Insulation | Synthetic - Spirafil | 650 FP Down, RDS-certified | Synthetic - Fireline Pro | 650 FP Down | 550 FP Duck Down (75%) / Polyester (25%) |
Hydrophobic down? | N/A | No | N/A | No | No |
Fill weight (Size Regular) | 33.8 oz | 15 oz | 30.5 oz | 14.1 oz | 16.4 oz |
Shell material | 70D Polyester | 20D Nylon Ripstop | Polyester taffeta | Sil-Nylon | 20D Nylon Taffeta |
Neck baffle | No | No | Yes | No | Yes |
Small organization pocket | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
Zipper | Full-length / Side | 3/4-Length / Left Side | Full-length / Side | Full-length / Side | Full-length / Right Side |
Shoulder Girth (Size Regular) | 62 in | 62 in | 60 in | 60 in | Not listed |
Hip Girth (Size Regular) | 57 in | 53 in | 54 in | 60 in | Not listed |
Foot Girth (Size Regular) | Not listed | Not listed | 36 in | Not listed | Not listed |
Stuff or Compression Sack Included | Compression | Stuff | Stuff | Stuff | Stuff |
Storage Sack Included | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Water resistant shell | No | Yes | DWR | DWR | Yes, CO and PFC-free |
Our Analysis and Test Results
Marmot offers sleeping bags across the full price spectrum. The bargain basement Trestles 30, however, didn't fare super well in the budget backpacking sleeping bag category. Read on to learn why we think Marmot is better at premium bags.
Performance Comparison
Warmth
The Trestles is filled with 33.8 ounces of synthetic Spirafil insulation. This amount of insulation is substantial compared to other budget backpacking sleeping bags. However, on the industry standard EN test it receives a modest 26°F lower limit temperature rating. Our testers think this rating is accurate, which makes this bag well suited for all but the coldest 3-season conditions.
Weight
A consequence of this bag's substantial insulation is correspondingly substantial total weight. On our scale, a size long weighed a whopping 3.54 pounds. This figure is heavier than most budget sleeping bags. We thus believe the Trestles provides a subpar warmth-to-weight ratio, even after you factor in its affordable price.
Comfort
Often heavier sleeping bags are heavier because they're designed to be more comfortable. But that's not necessarily the case with the Trestles. Its 62-inch shoulder girth is fairly generous but not the largest of the category. Its durable fabrics are unfortunately stiff and not as soft as some of the other budget sleeping bags. The Trestles thus scores slightly below average in overall comfort.
Packed Size
This bag comes with a large sack that doubles as a compression and storage sack. In both these functions, it performs adequately, but at 4.2 ounces, it's on the heavier side. In our packed size test with an aftermarket compression sack, the Trestles achieved a minimum volume of 13.1 liters. This bag is fairly large and will take up a substantial portion of all but the biggest backpacking packs.
Versatility
Versatility is the one area where this bag shines. You can count on its synthetic insulation to keep you warm even if it gets soaked. The ¼-length accessory zipper is also great for venting excess heat on warmer nights. We only wish this accessory zipper was a smaller size to cut down on the bag's overall weight.
Features and Design
Although we like the venting options that the accessory zipper offers, we believe this additional zipper would be more useful if it were tacked on to make the main zipper longer. Then the bag could be fully unzipped into a quilt. The accessory zipper location also requires there be separate drawstrings to tighten the chin and forehead regions of the bag's hood — a minor convenience and slight weight increase. Our testers were still able to appreciate the Trestles convenient stash pocket, but there appear to be a few ways its design could be better.
Value
The Trestles is one of the cheaper sleeping bags marketed for overnight backpacking. It has a few features that we like, but its considerable weight isn't ideal. The Trestles, therefore, is not a particularly great value.
Conclusion
When you're sleeping in it, the Trestles performs pretty well. Its accessory zipper, in particular, is great for adjusting your warmth as temperatures and your metabolism fluctuate throughout the night. Its substantial weight and packed size, however, make it less than desirable for if you hope to carry it into a real backcountry camp.
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