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Snugpak Softie 3 Merlin Sleeping Bag
Initial Report - November 20, 2003
Contents
Reviewer Information [return to top]
Name: Chuck Kime
Nickname: Fuzzy
Age: 37
Gender: Male
Height: 5'8" (1.72 m)
Weight: 229 lb (104 kg)
Email address: ckime AT nelsononline DOT com
City, State, Country: Norwood (Philadelphia suburb), PA, U.S.A.
Date: November 20, 2003
Product Information [return to top]
Manufacturer: Snugpak
Model: Softie 3 Merlin
Year of Manufacture: 2003
URL: http://www.snugpak.com
Listed weight, total: 26.5 oz / 1 lb 10.5 oz (750 g)
Measured weight, total: 31.7 oz / 1 lb 15.7 oz (899 g), scale accurate to 0.1 oz
Measured weight, bag: 29.0 oz / 1 lb 13 oz (822 g)
Measured weight, stuffsack: 2.7 oz (77 g)
Color: Cranberry
Other Colors Available: Olive, Black
MSRP: None Listed
Features (from web site) [return to top]
- Compression stuffsack
- Layering capability
- Snugfit hood
- Zip baffle
- Circle foot
- Hanging dry tabs
- Anti-snag zip two way zip
Arrival [return to top]
Merlin arrived without the fanfare usually accorded a great wizard, in a plain brown box, roughly 14 in x 11½ in x 8½ in (36 cm x 29 cm x 21 cm) – substantially larger than I expected. Attached outside was a packing slip from Snugpak’s distributor in Miami. After (carefully) cutting the box open I discovered a significant amount of newspaper packing, within which I found the bag neatly rolled into its stuffsack. Underneath the bag was a multi-folded heavy-grade poster containing material and sizing information on all Snugpak sleeping bags and accessories – some of it more detailed than the website, some a little less, but nice to have in one handy place. In checking out the data on the poster, I discovered a discrepancy between the information on the poster and the information on Snugpak’s website: the chest measurement for the entire Softie line is given on the website as 165 cm (65 in), while the poster gives it as 150 cm (59 in) for the smaller half of the line. This concerned me, as I require approximately 62 in (158 cm) in a sleeping bag to be able to close it. I will address my findings below.
Description [return to top]
The Softie 3 Merlin is the lightest of Snugpak’s Softie lineup, rated for a low of 0 °C (32 °F) and a comfort level of 5 °C (41 °F). For reference, the heaviest in the line is the Softie 15 Discovery, rated for a low of -20 °C (-4 °F) and a comfort level of -15 °C (5 °F), which weighs 3 times as much as the Merlin.
According to Snugpak, the Softie is constructed of Pertex/Pertex Infin8t, which incorporates a special weave designed especially for Snugpak. This looks to me similar in appearance to ripstop, but with a hex-shaped pattern. The Pertex is quite soft and comfortable to the touch. The Softie 3 also includes Reflectatherm, which, according to the poster mentioned above, is a metalised fabric designed to reflect heat and retain warmth. Reflectatherm is a “highly breathable material, which adds little to the weight or packsize, yet provides at least 15% additional warmth.” The top of the bag is Cranberry (bright red, to me) in color, with all other materials and components being black. The bag is a mummy design, and has a full 2-way zipper (left zip, in my case), with anti-snag webbing only on the bottom side of the opening, and a cinchable hood with a draw cord and toggle lock (on the right side, opposite the zipper). The tab on the zipper pull, which may be operated from inside or outside the bag, has a ribbon attached with the Snugpak name embroidered on it. There is a draft tube, attached to the top portion of the bag, and made from the shell material, that runs the length of the inside of the zipper.
The insulation used in the Merlin is what gives the Softie line its name. “Softie is a combination of fibres with different crimp systems and surface finishes. The random nature of the process results in a product that closely resembles the structure of natural down and the way it performs. Softie is extremely lightweight, and has excellent re-loft abilities, when unpacked.” There are several claims made in that statement, only two of which I can address: performing like down (well, I’ve never slept in down, so I can’t compare directly, but…), and re-loft abilities. I will be alert to these claims during testing. A warning note was also included on the poster, just below the Softie description, which I will be aware of during testing:
| Due to the ultra fine ‘down like’ nature of our filling and the ultra light fabrics we use, some percolation of the fibre through the casing is inevitable.
|
Hmmm…
The compression stuffsack included with the Merlin is constructed of a black nylon fabric, coated on the back side, with yellow/gold colored printing of the Snugpak logo regularly located on the fabric. On the bottom panel of the stuffsack, also printed in yellow/gold, are the logo, the name of the bag, and the two temperature ratings (Comfort and Low). There are four compression buckles located radially around the bottom edge of the sack, two attached to a web strap that crosses the bottom panel and the other two sewn into the seam that attaches the bottom panel to the side panel. Two web straps each run through one of the buckles, across the top of the sack, and back through the opposite buckle, with the straps crossing over the sack’s opening. About 2½ in (7 cm) down from the opening of the sack is another web strap, which wraps all the way around the sack, providing slots to guide the compression straps so they stay in place. There is a draw cord with a toggle at the opening of the stuffsack, and a flap of the body material sewn to the inside of the opening to close off the sack when cinched shut. The compression straps need to be fully loosened and their centers moved out of the way to effectively stuff the Merlin into the sack, a procedure I am sure will become easier with practice, as I have never used a compression sack before. A final, finer investigation of the stuffsack revealed additional fine details: three “tags” sewn into the bottom seam – one labeled “ZIP L” in white letters on black (the bag is left zip), and the other two smaller ones seemingly made from the two different shell fabrics (cranberry and black).
DIMENSIONS - CLAIMED vs. ACTUAL
| DIMENSION |
CLAIMED MEASUREMENT |
ACTUAL MEASUREMENT |
| Weight - Total |
26.5 oz (750 g) |
31.7 oz (899 g) * |
| Weight - Bag |
None given |
29.0 oz (822 g) |
| Weight - Stuff Sack |
None given |
2.7 oz (77 g) |
| Length |
87 in (220 cm) |
83½ in (212 cm) |
| Width |
65 in (165 cm) **
59 in (150 cm) *** |
29*2=58 in (147 cm) **** |
| Packed Length |
11 in (28 cm) |
11½ in (29 cm) |
| Packed Width |
5½ in (14 cm) |
5½ in (14 cm) |
| Compressed Length |
6¼ in (16 cm) |
7 in (18 cm) |
| Compressed Width |
6¼ in (16 cm) |
6 in (15 cm) |
* This is nearly 20% higher than claimed. I will re-weigh on another scale.
** According to website
*** According to poster
**** Measured across widest part while stretched, then doubled |
First Impressions [return to top]
Well, let’s see. This is a nice looking bag, well made with no apparent manufacturing defects. It feels lighter than anything I’ve ever slept in, including a wool blanket – and without the itch. It doesn’t seem to have much loft at all, although it certainly has more while laying out than it does in the stuffsack, so I suppose it re-lofts appropriately. I lay down inside the bag when I first opened it up to get a feel for the sizing (more on the size later) and couldn’t stand being in it for more than a minute, due to the heat buildup. Of course, it was a little over 70 °F (21 °C) in the room. The lining in the Softie 3 is quite comfortable against my skin, and I will be curious to see if it sticks to me when the humidity goes up.
Sizing concerns were next. As mentioned above, the Snugpak website and the poster included with the Merlin were in disagreement regarding the shoulder measurement of the bag. My measurement, taken across the widest portion of the bag while stretched out flat, came in just under the smaller of the two given by Snugpak (the one from the poster), at 29 in (74 cm), which doubled to 58 in (147 cm). The bag I most recently tried stated its width (shoulder) at 31½ in (80 cm), which would result in a girth of 63 in (160 cm). I found this bag to be just large enough to allow me to zip it. I got into the Merlin, sliding all the way to the foot, and managed to zip it quite easily all the way up, even though I was not in the widest part of the bag. Either the dimensions on my other bag were wrong (which I can’t check at this point, since I have loaned out the bag) or the Merlin just ‘gives’ more, as I found there to be no room issues in the top half of the bag. I did find the bottom half of the bag (particularly around my calves) to be just a bit snug, but I like a little space between my legs and I was all the way down in the bag. While there is no room to bring my legs up inside the bag, the bag is certainly fluid enough to move with me into whatever position I choose.
With the bag stuffed and compressed, it fits (snugly, but it fits) in the bottom compartment of my Deuter Futura 32 along with my AntiGravityGear Mama’s Kitchen Cook Set, leaving lots of room in the rest of the pack for everything else. Woo hoo!
Field Information [return to top]
Our Boy Scout troop camps monthly. Almost all of these outings include a minimum of 2 nights of camping, with temperatures expected to be from lows around 25 to 30 ºF (-4 to –1 ºC) to highs around 95 to 100 ºF (35 to 38 ºC), although I don’t expect it to be this warm during the testing period for this bag. Elevations will range from sea level to approximately 2,000’ (610 m). We have two cold-weather trips definitely on our schedule so far for this winter: Thanksgiving weekend, and a Winter Survival campout that is usually held the first weekend in January. Temperatures last year for these events were perfect for testing the temperature range of the Merlin with and without extra layers, with Thanksgiving weekend ranging from a low of 23°F to a high of about 43°F (-5 to 6 °C) outside – maxing out at 50°F (10 °C) indoors – and Winter Survival ranging from a low of 21°F to a high of about 31°F (-6 to 0 °C). Temps this year should be comparable. I am also trying to talk the troop into attending the Valley Forge Pilgrimage and Encampment in February, where conditions are historically (pun only slightly intended) as bad as when Washington was there over 200 years ago, generally with a fair amount of snow on the ground, if not actually falling during the event.
My experience with sleeping bags – to date – has mostly been with U.S. military issue bags, both Intermediate Cold and Extreme Cold varieties. These bags are one-size-fits-all, so they are sized to fit almost anyone. They fit me with some room to spare, but are terribly heavy at 10-12 lb (4.5-5.5 kg). In looking for a lightweight replacement, I quickly learned that sleeping bags come in different girths, and many just do not fit me. The Merlin seems to be just the right size to fit me.
The Merlin’s comfort rating of 41 ºF (5 ºC), and low rating of 32 ºF (0 ºC), should make it somewhat comparable to my Intermediate Cold military bag. I am a warm sleeper, and have taken this bag down to around 10 ºF (-12 ºC) with extra layers. To perform similarly, the Merlin should be able to comfortably take me, nude, easily down to the mid 30’s ºF (2-3 ºC), and even lower with a few extra layers. This will be tested in both tent and tarp situations.
I will be attentive to and/or test the following:
- Fit. Does it fit me? I may not be tall, but I’m pretty wide. Will I be claustrophobic? Does it move well with me? Does it restrict my sleeping positions?
- Hood. Is the Snugfit hood truly snug? Does it cinch easily, and comfortably, down to fit my face/head?
- Fabric. Does the Pertex breathe well?? Is it water resistant (definitely going to want to test this)? Is it wind resistant (important with a tarp)? How durable is it? Is it comfortable against my skin? Does much insulation percolate through?
- Insulation. The Merlin is an unquilted bag. Will there be cold spots due to shifting? Does the bag regain loft well/completely after unpacking?
- Warmth. How cold can it get and still keep me warm, or, at least, comfortable? I may attach a keyring thermometer to the zipper, just so I don’t have to wonder.
- Packability. How packable is the bag? I will attempt to pack this bag as part of my 3-season load in/on (preferably in) my Deuter Futura 32. At just over 6¼ in (16 cm) stuffed, it shouldn’t be too difficult.
- Washability. I have always been hesitant to wash sleeping bags, but the care label says warm wash, tumble dry low. If/when Merlin needs a bath, I will report on the results.
- Stuff sack (not mentioned specifically on the web site). From what material is it made, and how well does the bag fit in it? Is it easy to compress? Waterproof
?
Things I like [return to top]
- Lightweight.
- Compact.
- Color. Hey, I like bright red.
Things I don't like [return to top]
- The dimensions and weight given were quite a bit different from the ones I obtained. I will investigate these discrepancies further.
Backpacking Background [return to top]
I started car/trailer camping with the family when I was about 5. I enlisted in the Army Reserve during my first year of college and spent 17 years fine-tuning my packing methodology - by the time I separated from the service, I was down to what I thought was a respectable 75-80 lb (34-36 kg) load. When my son started Cub Scouts, I brought my 60 lb (27 kg) ALICE pack for a weekend. We got to Boy Scouts in the Spring of 2002 and now camp monthly in locations ranging from the Chesapeake Bay area (flat and lightly wooded), to the Pocono Mts (flat spots hard to find and very wooded), and in all seasons.
Lightweight (and ultralightweight) sites, along with a day hike up Pikes Peak in July 2003, have led me to seriously rethink my gear choices. I plan to start doing more hiking/backpacking on our monthly scout trips, taking along as many scouts as are willing, to a) get in shape (yeah, yeah, I know… round IS a shape), and b) determine what I really need to take along. I am relatively confident that I will be able to reduce my 3-season pack to 20 lb (9 kg), before food, fuel and water, by the time this season is over.
Thank you for your time.
Chuck Kime
a.k.a. Fuzzy
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