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Snugpak Softie 3
Merlin Sleeping Bag - Initial Report
November 14, 2003
Thomas Vickers
35 years old
Male
5 feet 11 inches tall (1.8 meters)
170 lb (77 kg)
redroach@pobox.com
Southeast Texas, Houston Area
Background:
I grew up in the piney woods
of southeast Texas. Camping was a quick trip into the mosquito-infested woods behind the
house. I started hiking in my college years
and my style has evolved over the past 17 years - from my discovery, heavy gear period
(internal frame packs, sleeping bags and tents) to - believe it or not - heavier, more
expensive gear. Over the last 3 or 4 years, I
have begun to take a lighter weight approach to hiking gear (I still use sleeping bags and
tents, just lighter versions) and I have rediscovered the pleasure that can be involved in
being outdoors with your gear. While I have flirted
with lightweight hiking, I feel that I am more of a mid-weight hiker now. My philosophy is
one of comfort, while carrying the lightest load possible
Manufacturer Details:
Website: www.snugpak.com
Weight: 26.5 ounces (750 g)
Colors: Cranberry, Olive, Black
Length: 87 inches (220 cm)
Chest: 65 inches (165 cm)
Zip: Side
Stuffed Size: 11 x 5.5 inches (28 cm x 14 cm)
Temperature Rating: Comfortable: 41 degrees F (5 degrees C)
Low: 32 degrees F (0 degrees C)
Year of Manufacture: 2003
Measured Product Details: (all measurements are approximate)
Length: 87 inches (220 cm)
Chest: 56 inches (142 cm)
Zip: Right
Color: Olive
Weight: 1 lb 13.4 oz (833 g)
Stuff Sack Weight: 3.6 oz (87 g)
Stuffed Size: 10 inches x 6 inches (25 cm x 15 cm)
Additional Tester Measurements:
Shoulder Girth: 49 in (124 cm)
Chest: 38 in (97 cm)
Waist: 34 in (86 cm)
Hips: 39 in (99 cm)
Initial Impressions
The Snugpak website was very informative and easy to navigate. It provided a large amount
of information about the Snugpak Softie 3 Merlin and after reading the information there,
I was looking forward to this test.
Arrival/Description
I arrived home to find a small brown box waiting on the doorstep. It had to be the Snugpak
Softie 3 Merlin, so I took it inside and began ripping it open. Inside the box was a
catalog of Snugpak merchandise, a compression stuff sack, and the Snugpak Softie 3
Merlin.
After browsing the catalogue, I began to work the straps on the compression sack so I
could get the Snugpak Softie 3 Merlin out. It was quite a chore to pull the Snugpak
Softie 3 Merlin out of the compression sack. I was not sure that I could get it back
into the compression sack. (I have since been able to re-stuff the Snugpak Softie 3
Merlin into the compression sack on several occasions.)
Inside the stuff sack was an olive colored mummy shaped sleeping bag. It has a
full-length zipper on the right-hand side of the sleeping bag. There is full
coverage hood and a draw-cord with toggle to cinch the hood tightly around the face of the
sleeper. The draw-cord and toggle are accessible on the left-hand side of the hood,
which I like because it separates it from the zipper pull. Confusing the two in the
night can be a problem if they are located on the same side.
The Snugpak Softie 3 Merlin also has a full-length zipper baffle on the inside of the
zipper and it has two extra long tie out loops located on the end/footbox of the sleeping
bag. The loops appear to be made from para-cord and are each 7.5 inches (19 cm) long
(loops are a contain a total of 15 inches (38 cm) of cord each.
Concerns
My first concern is the fit. I have slid inside the Snugpak Softie 3 Merlin on several
occasions and I am worried that the fit may be too tight. I am not the largest person, so
fitting in this bag should not be an issue. Another concern is about the slipperiness of
the Pertex nylon shell. I am not that familiar with Pertex, but some of the nylon
coverings on other bags I have owned have been very slippery. The slippery factor can
cause problems on sleeping pads whether it is sleeping or trying to slide into a bag at
the end of the day.
Overall Impressions
The Snugpak Softie 3 Merlin is very well constructed. Unlike other synthetic bags in
this weight/temperature range that I have owned, the Snugpak Softie 3 Merlin doesn't seem
to have 'lumpy' filling material. The Softie fill material is very well distributed
throughout the bag. The non-quilted construction of this sleeping bag is unique and so far
I have had no problems with the Softie filling shifting and creating cold or hot zones
within the bag.
I have already spent two nights in the Snugpak Softie 3 Merlin using a Therm-a-rest
full-length Ultra Light sleeping pad. The temperature on both nights dropped to about 55
degrees F (13 degrees C) and there was 100% humidity. I am happy to report that I
slept very well in my briefs and tee shirt on both evenings. I kept the Snugpack
Softie 3 Merlin zipped up to my chin, with the hood folded out of the way. The
Pertex outer shell resisted a prolonged bout of drooling on the second night and I was
very happy with the way the sleeping bag fit my body.
Testing
My test is going to take place in southeast Texas. The temperatures should
range from about 75 degrees F to 35 degrees F (24 to 2 degrees C). There will
be little or no altitude gain since I will be staying very close to sea level during the
duration of this test. I am also hoping for some differences in humidity here,
but for the most part the humidity stays in the 80-100 % range year round.
The rest of my test plan is simple.
1. How large is the bag? Is comfortable for an 'average' sized person to sleep in without
being claustraphobic?
Without the bag being 'barn-like'? How much can the bag comfortably hold? (a
combination of what size sleeper and how much clothing can the bag comfortably hold?)
2. Does the "no quilting" construction allow me to shift filling? Will the
filling shift accidentally?
3. How slippery is the Pertex outer shell? I will be using several different
sleeping pads with this sleeping bag to test this issue.
4. How comfortable is the bag as it approaches its "extreme" temperature rating?
Can the bag be slept in comfortably below this rating?
5. How comfortable is the bag above 75 degrees F (24 degrees C)?
6. How moisture repellant/resistant is the Pertex outer shell?
7. How well does the bag retain/regain loft after being compressed?
There are probably more items that will arise during the test, but this list should
outline my basic approach to this test series.
Read more reviews of Snugpack gear
Read more gear reviews by Thomas Vickers
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