My initial impression of the Snugpak Softie was how soft it was. The fabric felt "silky soft".  The lack of baffling common to other bags was also something that I noticed immediately.  The bag  is a cranberry red color on the top with black on the bottom and foot box.  The top of the bag near the zipper start has a black triangle with the Snugpak name embroidered in the fabric.  Overall the bag is very nice looking with quality stitching and zippers. 

The Snugpak Merlin 3 Softie is constructed of some very interesting fabrics. The fabric used on the inside and outside of the bag is Pertex which is the brand name for Perseverance Mills, UK.  Pertex feels like silk but is a type of nylon that uses thousands of microfine yarns woven in a manner to create capillaries that actively draw moisture to the surface allowing it to evaporate.  The other fabric used in construction is Infin8T which is a new fabric that is used in Snugpaks Softie bags.  Infin8T is stated to have a luxurious texture which could be the reason that the bag feels so soft.

The Merlin 3 Softie is filled with a synthetic fiber yet is not quilted as other bags.  Sungpak calls this Profiling.  Profiling is stated to add 30% more loft without affecting weight or pack size.  The Snugpak pamphlet claims that the fibers have such a "remarkable degree of strength" that the fibers are able to support themselves with out the need for quilting to keep them in place.   The  filling itself is a combination of  fibers that have different crimp and surface finishes similar to natural down. 

Reflectatherm is used in this bag to reflect heat and retain warmth.  It is a metalised fabric that is very light and adds 15% additional warmth.

The Merlin 3 Softie is in the typical mummy bag shape.  It has a generous foot box measuring 10 x 15 inches (25 x 37 centimeters).  Attached to the outside of the foot box are two loop cords for hanging the bag in storage.  The zipper is protected on one side by a flat nylon strap that runs the entire length of the zipper.  I think that this is to prevent the zipper from jamming on the fabric, or to prevent drafts where the zipper closes.  The zipper can unzip from the bottom as well as the top allowing ventilation and access to the bottom of the bag.  The hood is slightly boxed across the top and is tightened by an elastic draw cord.   

The stuff sack is made of some sort of nylon and may be Pertex but I am not sure.  The sack is black, decorated with the Snugpak logo.  It has two compression straps that are anchored to the bottom of the sack and arch over the top.  Four nylon tension buckles are attached near the bottom of the sack.  There is another nylon strap that is stitched around the circumference of the sack near the open end, it does not tighten.  The sack has a flap of fabric that covers the opening after the sleeping bag has been stuffed inside.  The   Compression stuff sack works well to compress the bag, however even when I kneel on the bag and pull the straps with all my strength I can not duplicate the picture on the Snugpak advertisement of the neat little ball resting on the open hand.  I will continue to pursue and improve my compressing abilities.

 Completeness

The Snugpak Merlin 3 Softie arrived ready to use. The sleeping bag and compression stuff sack were intact with all stitching, zippers, and draw cords intact and operational.  There is a large fabric care tag inside of the sleeping bag with details about how to launder the bag.

Set up

I tried out the sleeping bag on the floor and was pleased at how much it felt like a down bag.    The bag is a size long, so it is much longer than I need but I like long bags as the excess makes a great pillow.  The zippers worked easily both at the top and to access the bottom of the bag.

Test Strategy     

 Over the next six months I plan to test the Snugpak Merlin 3 Softie under a variety of conditions.  Its first test will be in a few weeks on a backpack trip to Cumberland Island National Seashore.  This will be a great area to test the bag in how it handles an extremely humid environment.  Olympic National Park, Western North Carolina, and Florida  are areas that I plan to use the Merlin 3 Softie in the testing period.  The bag will always be used in a tent with a footprint and on a Big Agnes REM sleeping pad.  Throughout the test period I will evaluate the sleeping bag for durability, comfort, moisture control, warmth and fill migration.  I will evaluate the compression stuff sack for durability and how well it keeps the bag compressed while packed.

Outlook      

I am thrilled at the opportunity to test the Sungpak Merlin 3 Softie.  The bag is the lightest I have ever tried and is a soft as my beloved down bag of years past.  This will be a fun product to evaluate.