Name: John (Jack) Corrigan

Age: 40 years old

Gender: Male

Height: 5 feet 10 inches (1.8 meters)

Weight: 175 pounds (79 kilograms)

Torso: 20 inches (51 centimeters)

Email: jack@jackquest.com

Region: Fredericksburg, Virginia (Spotsylvania County)

Report Date: 7NOV2003

Background:

I have always been one to do the outdoor thing as compared to the organized sport thing. It started as a youngster in the Boy Scouts and continues today as an adult. The majority of my experience has been in Pennsylvania but I have hiked, camped or paddled in New York, California and even Alaska. I am also currently a volunteer search and rescue canine handler. Although search and rescue doesn't always result in an overnight or multi-day trip, I am required to be prepared, equipped and trained for it. Training a search dog results in many hours of trekking through the outdoors.

My "style" is best described as recreational camping, mid-weight backpacking (2-3 day treks), day hiking, flat water paddling, hunting and canine search and rescue activities. My last extended (more than 1 week) outing was the summer of 2001, as a volunteer for the Armed Forces Eco-Challenge in interior Alaska. I also include two of my four dogs in most of my outdoor activities.

Product Information:

Manufactured By: Snugpak

Manufactured Date: 2003

Manufacturer URL: http://www.snugpak.com

Listed Weight: 750 grams (26.5 ounces)

Delivered Weight:
sleeping bag- 30 ounces (850 grams)
stuff sack- 3 ounces (85 grams)

Note: Weighed on a digital 0-25 pound postal scale.

Additional Product Information:

Temperature Rating:
Comfort 41°F (5°C)
Low 32°F (0°C)

Color: Olive (Code Green Range)

Listed Length: 220 centimeters (87 inches)

Delivered Length (measured centerline flattened sleeping bag from bottom/foot edge to top/hood): 87 inches (221 centimeters)

Listed Chest: 150 centimeters (59 inches)

Delivered Chest (measured across flattened sleeping bag 15 inches/38 centimeters from top/hood edge): 59 inches (150 centimeters)

Listed Pack Size (uncompressed): 28 x 14 centimeters (11 x 6 inches)

Delivered Pack Size (uncompressed meaning there is no compression from the stuffsack's compression straps): 6 x 12 inches (15 x 30 centimeters)

Construction: Single Layer, Quilted

Insulation:
Synthetic Softie
Reflectatherm

Outer Material:
Paratex (as stated on hangtag)
Pertex Infin8T (as stated on product brochure)
Infin8T (as stated on the manufacturer's website)

Inner Material:
Pertex (as stated on hangtag)
Pertex (as stated on product brochure)
Pertex (as stated on the manufacturer's website)

Zip: Right Hand (laying in the sleeping bag)

Location:

For the most part, the proposed testing locations will be in the Mid-Atlantic region primarily northern Virginia and northeastern Pennsylvania. Base Camp VA (home) is conveniently located near many local, state and federal recreation areas. In addition the Appalachian Trail and Shenandoah National Park are only a few hours away. Base Camp PA (cabin), which is located in the Endless Mountain Region of Pennsylvania is also located near state parks and state forest areas, as well as lesser known trail systems such as the Loyalsock Trail.

Now that I am living in Virginia trips to our cabin are less frequent, maybe once or twice every three or four months. But Shenandoah National Park, Washington National Forest and Jefferson National Forest are soon to be regular trekking spots.

Description of Location:

The terrain of the proposed testing locations is varied, and ranges from flat low grass and lightly forested regions to mountain "elevations" of 200 to 3500 feet (60 to 1100 meters). Trail systems range from established foot paths to undeveloped logging roads and even the occasional bushwhack.

Weather Conditions:

This test series (initial report through long term report) will be conducted from approximately November through May.

I am not as familiar with the weather in Northern Virginia as I was with the weather in Pennsylvania. I am anticipating hot and humid conditions continuing into early fall, extended mild temperatures into early winter with brief cold periods during mid to late winter. Then again, I'm not a meteorologist! However, I am an all season, all weather tester and will record actual weather conditions in the specific test reports.

After some weather research I will offer the following sample temperature data points for the Upper Piedmont/Northern Neck region of Virginia:
November (47°F/8°C)
December (37°F/3°C)
January (35°F/2°C)
February (37°F/3°C)
March (45°F/7°C)
April (56°F/13°C)

Product Experience:

The Snugpak Softie 3 Merlin arrived rolled and partially compressed in its compression stuff sack. A card stock product brochure/poster of the entire Snugpak sleeping bag line was also included. Attached to the stuff sack was a hang tag which listed specific Softie 3 Merlin information. Initial inspection did not show any defects or damage.

The Merlin is pretty much what I expected with one exception, it is much thinner (less loft, if any, after being unrolled) than compared to my other synthetic sleeping bags with similar temperature ratings. Although the other bags are also synthetic, the fill material is different. The manufacturer's documentation describes all the materials used in the Snugpak product line.

The stuff sack is a compression sack. Two perpendicular straps that are permanently attached at the bottom. The straps are adjusted with plastic/nylon slide buckles. The strap ends are folded over and stitched to prevent sliding through the buckles. When the straps are fully extended, they can be slid off the top allowing access to the sack through a drawstring opening. The first "take out and put back in" test was successful. I usually have trouble restuffing something that was stuffed at the factory, but this was not the case with the Merlin.

Listed as a two season, lightweight sleeping bag, the Snugpak Softie 3 Merlin can be layered with another sleeping bag for colder conditions. This sleeping bag has a Snugfit hood, zip baffle, circle foot, hanging dry tabs and an anti-snag two way zip. The initial fit test with everyday street clothes on was comfortable.

I plan to use the Snugpak Softie 3 Merlin in both a tent and a hammock along with a foam pad, self inflating pad, and an air core type air mattress. I hope to duplicate each scenario/combination at different temperatures over the course of the entire test period to determine if there are any ideal gear combinations.

TEAM JackQuest
http://www.jackquest.com

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Reviews > Sleep Gear > Sleeping Bags > Snugpak Softie 3 Merlin > Jack Corrigan > Initial Report