REASONS TO BUY
Lots of insulation
Great venting options with the accessory zipper
Durable construction
REASONS TO AVOID
Really heavy
Not very compressible
Stiff lining fabric
Heavy stuff sack
Marmot Trestles 30 Review
This bag's mediocre performance fails to justify its considerable weight
Credit: Backcountry
Our Verdict
Backpacking sleeping bags can be extraordinarily expensive. The Marmot Trestles 30 is fortunately not. Our testers appreciated its ample insulation and accessory zipper that together extend the range of temperatures in which it can comfortably function. Both of these features, however, contribute to is heaviness and poor compressibility. The Trestles still provides a lovely sleep, but these qualities make it less fun to carry to camp. We, therefore, only recommend it to shoppers who will take full advantage of its wide temperature range during short trips close to the trailhead.
Our Analysis and Test Results
Marmot offers sleeping bags across the full price spectrum. The bargain basement Trestles 30, however, didn't fare super well in the budget backpacking sleeping bag category. Read on to learn why we think Marmot is better at premium bags.
Performance Comparison
Several bags in this review, including the Trestles 30, are advertised as backpacking sleeping bags but they're really better suited for car camping due to their substantial weight.
Credit: Jack Cramer
Warmth
The Trestles is filled with 33.8 ounces of synthetic Spirafil insulation. This amount of insulation is substantial compared to other budget backpacking sleeping bags. However, on the industry standard EN test it receives a modest 26°F lower limit temperature rating. Our testers think this rating is accurate, which makes this bag well suited for all but the coldest 3-season conditions.
This sleeping bag's EN temperature ratings are about average for a 3-season model.
Credit: Jack Cramer
Weight
A consequence of this bag's substantial insulation is correspondingly substantial total weight. On our scale, a size long weighed a whopping 3.54 pounds. This figure is heavier than most budget sleeping bags. We thus believe the Trestles provides a subpar warmth-to-weight ratio, even after you factor in its affordable price.
Comfort
Often heavier sleeping bags are heavier because they're designed to be more comfortable. But that's not necessarily the case with the Trestles. Its 62-inch shoulder girth is fairly generous but not the largest of the category. Its durable fabrics are unfortunately stiff and not as soft as some of the other budget sleeping bags. The Trestles thus scores slightly below average in overall comfort.
The Trestles dual compression/storage sack is pretty good at squeezing down to minimum volume. It's a little tight, however, for long-term storage.
Credit: Jack Cramer
Packed Size
This bag comes with a large sack that doubles as a compression and storage sack. In both these functions, it performs adequately, but at 4.2 ounces, it's on the heavier side. In our packed size test with an aftermarket compression sack, the Trestles achieved a minimum volume of 13.1 liters. This bag is fairly large and will take up a substantial portion of all but the biggest backpacking packs.
The Trestles' 1/4-length accessory zipper certainly improves ventilation. However, we believe there are lighter and more effective ways to improve overall versatility.
Credit: Jack Cramer
Versatility
Versatility is the one area where this bag shines. You can count on its synthetic insulation to keep you warm even if it gets soaked. The ¼-length accessory zipper is also great for venting excess heat on warmer nights. We only wish this accessory zipper was a smaller size to cut down on the bag's overall weight.
Features and Design
Although we like the venting options that the accessory zipper offers, we believe this additional zipper would be more useful if it were tacked on to make the main zipper longer. Then the bag could be fully unzipped into a quilt. The accessory zipper location also requires there be separate drawstrings to tighten the chin and forehead regions of the bag's hood — a minor convenience and slight weight increase. Our testers were still able to appreciate the Trestles convenient stash pocket, but there appear to be a few ways its design could be better.
The Trestles has a convenient stash pocket next to the main zipper for storing a phone or headlamp.
Credit: Jack Cramer
Value
The Trestles is one of the cheaper sleeping bags marketed for overnight backpacking. It has a few features that we like, but its considerable weight isn't ideal. The Trestles, therefore, is not a particularly great value.
Conclusion
When you're sleeping in it, the Trestles performs pretty well. Its accessory zipper, in particular, is great for adjusting your warmth as temperatures and your metabolism fluctuate throughout the night. Its substantial weight and packed size, however, make it less than desirable for if you hope to carry it into a real backcountry camp.
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Jack Cramer