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Marmot Lithium MemBrain Review

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marmot lithium membrain sleeping bag cold weather review
Marmot Lithium
Credit: Backpacker.com
Price:  $549 List
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Manufacturer:   Marmot
By Chris McNamara and Max Neale  ⋅  Apr 27, 2011
68
OVERALL
SCORE
  • Warmth - 17% 10.0
  • Weight - 17% 3.0
  • Comfort - 17% 8.0
  • Packed Size - 17% 6.0
  • Features - 17% 7.0
  • Fit - 15% 7.0

Our Verdict

The Lithium MemBrain is No Longer Available as of 2017
REASONS TO BUY
Warm
Comfortable hood
Waterproof-breathable shell material
REASONS TO AVOID
Bad neck baffle
The Marmot Lithium Membrain is discontinued but the Marmot Lithium is still available. It is a high quality, warm, and comfortable zero degree sleeping bag. Its materials are excellent and down top-quality. This bag will endure everything from mountaineering and alpine climbing to backcountry skiing. Unfortunately, it's slightly (5 percent) heavier than the average zero degree bag tested here and, more importantly, has a poorly designed neck baffle that lets cold air in. Because of these drawbacks we recommend the Feathered Friends Snowbunting, a lighter bag that's available in four different cuts, has a better shell material, and a neck baffle that seals out Arctic gusts. For a cheaper, slightly less warm, and lighter bag, get the Western Mountaineering Antelope MF ($470). Because it doesn't have a waterproof shell material, the Antelope is best for use in tents. If you're on the larger side, want something warmer, and have lots of money, get the Valandre Shocking Blue ($709).

Our Analysis and Test Results

Likes


The Marmot Lithium Membrain is an improved version of the company's Lithium sleeping bag. A waterproof-breathable shell material makes it better able to resist frosty condensation, snow and ice, and also and makes it more durable. This is Marmot's best zero degree bag and one of two tested with a waterproof shell material.

The Lithium is stuffed with 28 ounces of top quality 850+ fill down. We believe it's the warmest of all the zero degree bags tested here. The cut is quite average, with 62/58/40 shoulder, hip, foot girths, and accommodates a variety of body types.

One well-designed part of this bag is the hood pull cord, which remains comfortable even fully cinched. Most other sleeping bags place the cord on the outside edge of the hood (it's easier and cheaper), but this is uncomfortable when the hood is fully cinched because the tight cord smashes up against your face. Marmot does a great job addressing this problem. Of the 30-plus sleeping bags we tested, the Lithium has the second most comfortable hood (Mountain Hardwear's Phantom takes first place).

Dislikes


While the Lithium Membrain is constructed with excellent materials, its design lacks a basic feature found on all other bags: a Velcro strip that connects the two parts of the neck baffle. Without this, the neck baffle is essentially useless. There's a drawcord, but without a closure you cannot cinch the baffle tight around your neck. This renders the baffle ineffective at trapping hot air. And, in our opinion, this is a glaring oversight. Consequently the bag is slightly less warm and considerably less comfortable.

At 46 ounces, the Lithium Membrin is the second heaviest heaviest of the cold weather bags reviewed here. There are three reasons for this: 1) 28 ounces of down; 2) a heavier and more durable shell material; and 3) a poorly designed neck baffle. The bag is 3.18 ounces heavier than the average weight of the bags tested in this class. It's also slightly warmer than the average but the difference, matched against the bad neck baffle, isn't enough to warrant a better rating.

This is a very good sleeping bag. It will keep you toasty on frigid and foul nights. But there are other sleeping bags that offer higher performance at the same or lower price.

Best Application


Mountaineering, alpine climbing, backcountry skiing.

Value


The Feathered Friends Snowbunting is a better bag for the same price.

— Chris McNamara and Max Neale
 
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