0F winter bag: LL Bean vs. Marmot

I'm looking at getting a winter bag rated at 0F with around 600 fill power down and a max budget around $270. The LL Bean 0F down bag seems like a good price, but I'm guessing that the comparable Marmot Never Summer bag quality is higher?

Anyone have experience or insight into LL Bean down bag quality? They don't publish detailed specs like loft and fill weight, so that makes me suspicious. I'm leaning toward the Marmot.

I have a Marmot bag that has been in steady use since 1983 and it has served very capably. It is a little worn now, but I still take it on backpack trips. Marmot gear is very high quality.

I have not used a "bean bag," but their items that I have used have been very good. They have an iron clad guarantee, so you could probably return it with no problems.

Which is the lightest? That would be crucial for me.

I have never used an L.L. Bean bag, but have heavily used a 0° Marmot bag for 15 years, in all seasons. It is still in perfect condition, huge loft, and ferociously warm.

I recently replaced it, to shave off a pound of bag weight, with a new 0° model from Marmot.

L.L. Bean's offering would have to be a very high quality product to compare well to Marmot.

Ohiohiker

Quality is a difficult thing to put a finger on. I have LLbean full zipper packlite pants that are very light, rugged, have never failed me and are my constant winter companion. I like their guarantee. Marmot gear is also excellent, BUT I have had 2 marmot jackets (expensive ones) delaminate and they replaced one, can't replace the other but they did offer to try, and one Marmott coat made in China was made with an inferior zipper apparently substituted in China, they replaced the zipper.

BUT what you want to know is 2 things - what is the loft of the bag since thickness = warmth almost, and which bag will fit you the best since your body size and how it fits the bag is absolutely as important as brand, loft, or the value of the down, OR ITS TEMP RATING. I can attest that 550 down can be very warm and rugged. I also had a US mountain regular military bag with a fill of "chicken and water fowl feathers" that had a militarized cotton shell, and is was perhaps one of the warmest most comfortable bags I've owned.

Look for a bag with a good "foot box", any quality bag will have good one designed to contain feet without them pushing into the bag and freezing your toes. If you need to wear socks in your bag in conditions warmer than its rating, keep looking.

Also these bags last forever unless someone destroys it washing it in detergent and a used bag 10 years old may still be an excellent bag.
Jim

Thanks for the feedback everyone.

LL Bean doesn't state loft or fill weight, but I called them, and they were able to come up with a fill weight after keeping me on hold for a few minutes. The LL Bean down seems to be slightly higher quality if their claimed fill power number is accurate--who knows though. The Marmot bag is EN 13537 tested. One reviewer on Bean's site complained about the zipper on another Bean down bag getting stuck on the draft tube all of the time.

Marmot Never Summer:
Weight: 3 lbs, 9 oz
Fill weight: 30 oz
Down fill power: 600+ goose down

LL Bean 0F:
Weight: 3 lbs, 1 oz
Fill weight: 30.35 oz
Down fill power: 650 goose down

Bean also has a -20 F bag for 1 lb/$90 more which is looking like an attractive option too.

I can't speak to the quality of Bean's regular bags but I have an older North Col bag from them. It is rated to -10 and I have been comfortable down to -15F. All the rest of the gear I have gotten from them has been the highest quality. It is not necessarily the lightest weight but well built and reasonablly priced for the quality.

Since there are a number of different levels involved in EN13537 ratings, it doesn't help when the company just states one temperature rating and doesn't say which one it is.

Here are the levels:


For me I'd want the "Standard Woman," plus another 5* F.

Most sleeping bag ratings in the US are, IMHO, fictional. I have done well with Western Mountaineering, though.

If you poke around the interwebs, there are some good clearance deals on the Golite Venture 0, a 800 fill bag, 3lbs 1oz reg (3lbs 3oz long), 7inches loft.

I just picked one up for $275, but have not tested it. Construction looks good, zippers alright, not great. But if it were me, for the same money, same weight,I would expect the 800 fill to out perform 600, leading me to think the LLBean is probably over rated.

I have the LL Bean Katahdin Climashield Sleeping Bag, Semi-Rectangular 40°.

I've only used it a couple of times, but it was warm, light, and seems generally well constructed.