If you have ever felt too cold in your sleeping bag while tent camping, then you know how miserable it is to spend the night shivering and counting down the minutes until sunrise. I previously used a 30-degree car camping sleeping bag for backpacking trips, but it was bulky, heavy, and provided no warmth whatsoever.
Since I didn’t have a quality sleeping bag designed for backpacking, it took up a ton of room in my pack and added unnecessary weight to my load. I had gotten used to putting on extra layers before hitting the hay, but even with these warm clothes, I would often wake up freezing throughout the night.
I recently tested the new REI Magma 15-degree Sleeping Bag on a backpacking trip to Havasu Falls as well as a Spring car camping trip in Colorado. At Havasu Falls in early March, the forecast predicted wind, rain, low temperatures in the 20s, and surprisingly, even a chance of snow. So I wanted to pack a sleeping bag to keep me warm in these conditions. Plus, since I had a 20-mile trek with my backpack, I wanted a sleeping bag that was light and compact.
This sleeping bag was a game-changer for me. It fit in my pack with room to spare, and I didn’t need the extra layers or hand warmers I brought for nighttime. I had some of the best nights of sleep I’ve ever experienced while tent camping.
This review demonstrates how the new and improved REI Magma Sleeping Bag lives up to its name, keeping you as warm as magma even on chilly nights. In this REI Magma Sleeping Bag review, I share the pros and cons, details on the technical features, and my personal experience using the 15-degree version of this sleeping bag.
Sponsored by REI Co-op
REI Co-op is our favorite outdoor gear retailer and a long-time supporter of our work here at Bearfoot Theory. We appreciate their 1-year return policy, their Member-only coupons, and the fact that REI Members receive 10% back on their purchases every year. We only recommend products we truly love and think you will love too.
REI Magma Sleeping Bag Overview
Although the REI Magma Sleeping Bag is not brand new (Kristen, BFT’s Founder, hiked with an earlier version on the John Muir Trail), it has been recently updated in both 15-degree and 30-degree. It now comes in unisex versions that include more sizes and fit more body types. REI’s goal with the rerelease of the Magma Sleeping Bags is to help more people find sleeping bags that fit them properly so they can comfortably sleep in a tent while enjoying the outdoors.
Why is the perfect fit important? If a sleeping bag is too big or loose, you’ll feel cold. I’m 5’9″, which often puts me in between sizes for sleeping bags. Having to size up means I have too extra room at my feet resulting in my feet getting cold. It also means carry a bigger bag than I need, which adds more weight and wastes precious room in my backpack.
On the other hand, if your sleeping bag is too small, you won’t fit in the bag. Your shoulders might not be fully covered, and you won’t have room to move around properly.
Finally, not all women fit in what would be considered a women’s bag, and the same is true for men. This new unisex sizing structure is a huge improvement for getting a custom fit no matter your gender or size.
REI Magma 15-degree Sleeping Bag
What I love
What I don’t like
Download this FREE Backpacking Packing Checklist
Make sure you don’t forget anything on your next backpacking trip! Enter your email below for access to this printable PDF.
Subscribe
.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] *{box-sizing:border-box;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”]{-webkit-font-smoothing:antialiased;-moz-osx-font-smoothing:grayscale;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] legend{border:none;font-size:inherit;margin-bottom:10px;padding:0;position:relative;display:table;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] fieldset{border:0;padding:0.01em 0 0 0;margin:0;min-width:0;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] body:not(:-moz-handler-blocked) fieldset{display:table-cell;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] h1,.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] h2,.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] h3,.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] h4,.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] h5,.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] h6{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-weight:inherit;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] h2{font-size:1.5em;margin:1em 0;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] h3{font-size:1.17em;margin:1em 0;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] p{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-weight:inherit;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] ol:not([template-default]),.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] ul:not([template-default]),.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] blockquote:not([template-default]){text-align:left;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] p:not([template-default]),.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] hr:not([template-default]),.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] blockquote:not([template-default]),.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] ol:not([template-default]),.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] ul:not([template-default]){color:inherit;font-style:initial;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] .ordered-list,.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] .unordered-list{list-style-position:outside !important;padding-left:1em;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] .list-item{padding-left:0;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”][data-format=”modal”]{display:none;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”][data-format=”slide in”]{display:none;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”][data-format=”sticky bar”]{display:none;}.formkit-sticky-bar .formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”][data-format=”sticky bar”]{display:block;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] .formkit-input,.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] .formkit-select,.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] .formkit-checkboxes{width:100%;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] .formkit-button,.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] .formkit-submit{border:0;border-radius:5px;color:#ffffff;cursor:pointer;display:inline-block;text-align:center;font-size:15px;font-weight:500;cursor:pointer;margin-bottom:15px;overflow:hidden;padding:0;position:relative;vertical-align:middle;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] .formkit-button:hover,.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] .formkit-submit:hover,.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] .formkit-button:focus,.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] .formkit-submit:focus{outline:none;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] .formkit-button:hover > span,.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] .formkit-submit:hover > span,.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] .formkit-button:focus > span,.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] .formkit-submit:focus > span{background-color:rgba(0,0,0,0.1);}.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] .formkit-button > span,.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] .formkit-submit > span{display:block;-webkit-transition:all 300ms ease-in-out;transition:all 300ms ease-in-out;padding:12px 24px;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] .formkit-input{background:#ffffff;font-size:15px;padding:12px;border:1px solid #e3e3e3;-webkit-flex:1 0 auto;-ms-flex:1 0 auto;flex:1 0 auto;line-height:1.4;margin:0;-webkit-transition:border-color ease-out 300ms;transition:border-color ease-out 300ms;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] .formkit-input:focus{outline:none;border-color:#1677be;-webkit-transition:border-color ease 300ms;transition:border-color ease 300ms;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] .formkit-input::-webkit-input-placeholder{color:inherit;opacity:0.8;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] .formkit-input::-moz-placeholder{color:inherit;opacity:0.8;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] .formkit-input:-ms-input-placeholder{color:inherit;opacity:0.8;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] .formkit-input::placeholder{color:inherit;opacity:0.8;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] [data-group=”dropdown”]{position:relative;display:inline-block;width:100%;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] [data-group=”dropdown”]::before{content:””;top:calc(50% – 2.5px);right:10px;position:absolute;pointer-events:none;border-color:#4f4f4f transparent transparent transparent;border-style:solid;border-width:6px 6px 0 6px;height:0;width:0;z-index:999;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] [data-group=”dropdown”] select{height:auto;width:100%;cursor:pointer;color:#333333;line-height:1.4;margin-bottom:0;padding:0 6px;-webkit-appearance:none;-moz-appearance:none;appearance:none;font-size:15px;padding:12px;padding-right:25px;border:1px solid #e3e3e3;background:#ffffff;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] [data-group=”dropdown”] select:focus{outline:none;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] [data-group=”checkboxes”]{text-align:left;margin:0;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] [data-group=”checkboxes”] [data-group=”checkbox”]{margin-bottom:10px;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] [data-group=”checkboxes”] [data-group=”checkbox”] *{cursor:pointer;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] [data-group=”checkboxes”] [data-group=”checkbox”]:last-of-type{margin-bottom:0;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] [data-group=”checkboxes”] [data-group=”checkbox”] input[type=”checkbox”]{display:none;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] [data-group=”checkboxes”] [data-group=”checkbox”] input[type=”checkbox”] + label::after{content:none;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] [data-group=”checkboxes”] [data-group=”checkbox”] input[type=”checkbox”]:checked + label::after{border-color:#ffffff;content:””;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] [data-group=”checkboxes”] [data-group=”checkbox”] input[type=”checkbox”]:checked + label::before{background:#10bf7a;border-color:#10bf7a;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] [data-group=”checkboxes”] [data-group=”checkbox”] label{position:relative;display:inline-block;padding-left:28px;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] [data-group=”checkboxes”] [data-group=”checkbox”] label::before,.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] [data-group=”checkboxes”] [data-group=”checkbox”] label::after{position:absolute;content:””;display:inline-block;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] [data-group=”checkboxes”] [data-group=”checkbox”] label::before{height:16px;width:16px;border:1px solid #e3e3e3;background:#ffffff;left:0px;top:3px;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] [data-group=”checkboxes”] [data-group=”checkbox”] label::after{height:4px;width:8px;border-left:2px solid #4d4d4d;border-bottom:2px solid #4d4d4d;-webkit-transform:rotate(-45deg);-ms-transform:rotate(-45deg);transform:rotate(-45deg);left:4px;top:8px;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] .formkit-alert{background:#f9fafb;border:1px solid #e3e3e3;border-radius:5px;-webkit-flex:1 0 auto;-ms-flex:1 0 auto;flex:1 0 auto;list-style:none;margin:25px auto;padding:12px;text-align:center;width:100%;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] .formkit-alert:empty{display:none;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] .formkit-alert-success{background:#d3fbeb;border-color:#10bf7a;color:#0c905c;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] .formkit-alert-error{background:#fde8e2;border-color:#f2643b;color:#ea4110;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] .formkit-spinner{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:0px;width:0px;margin:0 auto;position:absolute;top:0;left:0;right:0;width:0px;overflow:hidden;text-align:center;-webkit-transition:all 300ms ease-in-out;transition:all 300ms ease-in-out;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] .formkit-spinner > div{margin:auto;width:12px;height:12px;background-color:#fff;opacity:0.3;border-radius:100%;display:inline-block;-webkit-animation:formkit-bouncedelay-formkit-form-data-uid-71a0acf05f- 1.4s infinite ease-in-out both;animation:formkit-bouncedelay-formkit-form-data-uid-71a0acf05f- 1.4s infinite ease-in-out both;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] .formkit-spinner > div:nth-child(1){-webkit-animation-delay:-0.32s;animation-delay:-0.32s;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] .formkit-spinner > div:nth-child(2){-webkit-animation-delay:-0.16s;animation-delay:-0.16s;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] .formkit-submit[data-active] .formkit-spinner{opacity:1;height:100%;width:50px;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] .formkit-submit[data-active] .formkit-spinner ~ span{opacity:0;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] .formkit-powered-by[data-active=”false”]{opacity:0.35;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] .formkit-powered-by-convertkit-container{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;width:100%;z-index:5;margin:10px 0;position:relative;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] .formkit-powered-by-convertkit-container[data-active=”false”]{opacity:0.35;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] .formkit-powered-by-convertkit{-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;background-color:#ffffff;border:1px solid #dde2e7;border-radius:4px;color:#373f45;cursor:pointer;display:block;height:36px;margin:0 auto;opacity:0.95;padding:0;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;text-indent:100%;-webkit-transition:ease-in-out all 200ms;transition:ease-in-out all 200ms;white-space:nowrap;overflow:hidden;-webkit-user-select:none;-moz-user-select:none;-ms-user-select:none;user-select:none;width:190px;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-position:center;background-image:url(“data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf8,%3Csvg width=’162′ height=’20’ viewBox=’0 0 162 20′ fill=’none’ xmlns=’http://www.w3.org/2000/svg’%3E%3Cpath d=’M83.0561 15.2457C86.675 15.2457 89.4722 12.5154 89.4722 9.14749C89.4722 5.99211 86.8443 4.06563 85.1038 4.06563C82.6801 4.06563 80.7373 5.76407 80.4605 8.28551C80.4092 8.75244 80.0387 9.14403 79.5686 9.14069C78.7871 9.13509 77.6507 9.12841 76.9314 9.13092C76.6217 9.13199 76.3658 8.88106 76.381 8.57196C76.4895 6.38513 77.2218 4.3404 78.618 2.76974C80.1695 1.02445 82.4289 0 85.1038 0C89.5979 0 93.8406 4.07791 93.8406 9.14749C93.8406 14.7608 89.1832 19.3113 83.1517 19.3113C78.8502 19.3113 74.5179 16.5041 73.0053 12.5795C72.9999 12.565 72.9986 12.5492 73.0015 12.534C73.0218 12.4179 73.0617 12.3118 73.1011 12.2074C73.1583 12.0555 73.2143 11.907 73.2062 11.7359L73.18 11.1892C73.174 11.0569 73.2075 10.9258 73.2764 10.8127C73.3452 10.6995 73.4463 10.6094 73.5666 10.554L73.7852 10.4523C73.9077 10.3957 74.0148 10.3105 74.0976 10.204C74.1803 10.0974 74.2363 9.97252 74.2608 9.83983C74.3341 9.43894 74.6865 9.14749 75.0979 9.14749C75.7404 9.14749 76.299 9.57412 76.5088 10.1806C77.5188 13.1 79.1245 15.2457 83.0561 15.2457Z’ fill=’%23373F45’/%3E%3Cpath d=’M155.758 6.91365C155.028 6.91365 154.804 6.47916 154.804 5.98857C154.804 5.46997 154.986 5.06348 155.758 5.06348C156.53 5.06348 156.712 5.46997 156.712 5.98857C156.712 6.47905 156.516 6.91365 155.758 6.91365ZM142.441 12.9304V9.32833L141.415 9.32323V8.90392C141.415 8.44719 141.786 8.07758 142.244 8.07986L142.441 8.08095V6.55306L144.082 6.09057V8.08073H145.569V8.50416C145.569 8.61242 145.548 8.71961 145.506 8.81961C145.465 8.91961 145.404 9.01047 145.328 9.08699C145.251 9.16351 145.16 9.2242 145.06 9.26559C144.96 9.30698 144.853 9.32826 144.745 9.32822H144.082V12.7201C144.082 13.2423 144.378 13.4256 144.76 13.4887C145.209 13.5629 145.583 13.888 145.583 14.343V14.9626C144.029 14.9626 142.441 14.8942 142.441 12.9304Z’ fill=’%23373F45’/%3E%3Cpath d=’M110.058 7.92554C108.417 7.88344 106.396 8.92062 106.396 11.5137C106.396 14.0646 108.417 15.0738 110.058 15.0318C111.742 15.0738 113.748 14.0646 113.748 11.5137C113.748 8.92062 111.742 7.88344 110.058 7.92554ZM110.07 13.7586C108.878 13.7586 108.032 12.8905 108.032 11.461C108.032 10.1013 108.878 9.20569 110.071 9.20569C111.263 9.20569 112.101 10.0995 112.101 11.459C112.101 12.8887 111.263 13.7586 110.07 13.7586Z’ fill=’%23373F45’/%3E%3Cpath d=’M118.06 7.94098C119.491 7.94098 120.978 8.33337 120.978 11.1366V14.893H120.063C119.608 14.893 119.238 14.524 119.238 14.0689V10.9965C119.238 9.66506 118.747 9.16047 117.891 9.16047C117.414 9.16047 116.797 9.52486 116.502 9.81915V14.069C116.502 14.1773 116.481 14.2845 116.44 14.3845C116.398 14.4845 116.337 14.5753 116.261 14.6519C116.184 14.7284 116.093 14.7891 115.993 14.8305C115.893 14.8719 115.786 14.8931 115.678 14.8931H114.847V8.10918H115.773C115.932 8.10914 116.087 8.16315 116.212 8.26242C116.337 8.36168 116.424 8.50033 116.46 8.65577C116.881 8.19328 117.428 7.94098 118.06 7.94098ZM122.854 8.09713C123.024 8.09708 123.19 8.1496 123.329 8.2475C123.468 8.34541 123.574 8.48391 123.631 8.64405L125.133 12.8486L126.635 8.64415C126.692 8.48402 126.798 8.34551 126.937 8.2476C127.076 8.1497 127.242 8.09718 127.412 8.09724H128.598L126.152 14.3567C126.091 14.5112 125.986 14.6439 125.849 14.7374C125.711 14.831 125.549 14.881 125.383 14.8809H124.333L121.668 8.09713H122.854Z’ fill=’%23373F45’/%3E%3Cpath d=’M135.085 14.5514C134.566 14.7616 133.513 15.0416 132.418 15.0416C130.496 15.0416 129.024 13.9345 129.024 11.4396C129.024 9.19701 130.451 7.99792 132.191 7.99792C134.338 7.99792 135.254 9.4378 135.158 11.3979C135.139 11.8029 134.786 12.0983 134.38 12.0983H130.679C130.763 13.1916 131.562 13.7662 132.615 13.7662C133.028 13.7662 133.462 13.7452 133.983 13.6481C134.535 13.545 135.085 13.9375 135.085 14.4985V14.5514ZM133.673 10.949C133.785 9.87621 133.061 9.28752 132.191 9.28752C131.321 9.28752 130.734 9.93979 130.679 10.9489L133.673 10.949Z’ fill=’%23373F45’/%3E%3Cpath d=’M137.345 8.11122C137.497 8.11118 137.645 8.16229 137.765 8.25635C137.884 8.35041 137.969 8.48197 138.005 8.62993C138.566 8.20932 139.268 7.94303 139.759 7.94303C139.801 7.94303 140.068 7.94303 140.489 7.99913V8.7265C140.489 9.11748 140.15 9.4147 139.759 9.4147C139.31 9.4147 138.651 9.5829 138.131 9.8773V14.8951H136.462V8.11112L137.345 8.11122ZM156.6 14.0508V8.09104H155.769C155.314 8.09104 154.944 8.45999 154.944 8.9151V14.8748H155.775C156.23 14.8748 156.6 14.5058 156.6 14.0508ZM158.857 12.9447V9.34254H157.749V8.91912C157.749 8.46401 158.118 8.09506 158.574 8.09506H158.857V6.56739L160.499 6.10479V8.09506H161.986V8.51848C161.986 8.97359 161.617 9.34254 161.161 9.34254H160.499V12.7345C160.499 13.2566 160.795 13.44 161.177 13.503C161.626 13.5774 162 13.9024 162 14.3574V14.977C160.446 14.977 158.857 14.9086 158.857 12.9447ZM98.1929 10.1124C98.2033 6.94046 100.598 5.16809 102.895 5.16809C104.171 5.16809 105.342 5.44285 106.304 6.12953L105.914 6.6631C105.654 7.02011 105.16 7.16194 104.749 6.99949C104.169 6.7702 103.622 6.7218 103.215 6.7218C101.335 6.7218 99.9169 7.92849 99.9068 10.1123C99.9169 12.2959 101.335 13.5201 103.215 13.5201C103.622 13.5201 104.169 13.4717 104.749 13.2424C105.16 13.0799 105.654 13.2046 105.914 13.5615L106.304 14.0952C105.342 14.7819 104.171 15.0566 102.895 15.0566C100.598 15.0566 98.2033 13.2842 98.1929 10.1124ZM147.619 5.21768C148.074 5.21768 148.444 5.58663 148.444 6.04174V9.81968L151.82 5.58131C151.897 5.47733 151.997 5.39282 152.112 5.3346C152.227 5.27638 152.355 5.24607 152.484 5.24611H153.984L150.166 10.0615L153.984 14.8749H152.484C152.355 14.8749 152.227 14.8446 152.112 14.7864C151.997 14.7281 151.897 14.6436 151.82 14.5397L148.444 10.3025V14.0508C148.444 14.5059 148.074 14.8749 147.619 14.8749H146.746V5.21768H147.619Z’ fill=’%23373F45’/%3E%3Cpath d=’M0.773438 6.5752H2.68066C3.56543 6.5752 4.2041 6.7041 4.59668 6.96191C4.99219 7.21973 5.18994 7.62695 5.18994 8.18359C5.18994 8.55859 5.09326 8.87061 4.8999 9.11963C4.70654 9.36865 4.42822 9.52539 4.06494 9.58984V9.63379C4.51611 9.71875 4.84717 9.88721 5.05811 10.1392C5.27197 10.3882 5.37891 10.7266 5.37891 11.1543C5.37891 11.7314 5.17676 12.1841 4.77246 12.5122C4.37109 12.8374 3.81152 13 3.09375 13H0.773438V6.5752ZM1.82373 9.22949H2.83447C3.27393 9.22949 3.59473 9.16064 3.79688 9.02295C3.99902 8.88232 4.1001 8.64502 4.1001 8.31104C4.1001 8.00928 3.99023 7.79102 3.77051 7.65625C3.55371 7.52148 3.20801 7.4541 2.7334 7.4541H1.82373V9.22949ZM1.82373 10.082V12.1167H2.93994C3.37939 12.1167 3.71045 12.0332 3.93311 11.8662C4.15869 11.6963 4.27148 11.4297 4.27148 11.0664C4.27148 10.7324 4.15723 10.4849 3.92871 10.3237C3.7002 10.1626 3.35303 10.082 2.88721 10.082H1.82373Z’ fill=’%23373F45’/%3E%3Cpath d=’M13.011 6.5752V10.7324C13.011 11.207 12.9084 11.623 12.7034 11.9805C12.5012 12.335 12.2068 12.6089 11.8201 12.8022C11.4363 12.9927 10.9763 13.0879 10.4402 13.0879C9.6433 13.0879 9.02368 12.877 8.5813 12.4551C8.13892 12.0332 7.91772 11.4531 7.91772 10.7148V6.5752H8.9724V10.6401C8.9724 11.1704 9.09546 11.5615 9.34155 11.8135C9.58765 12.0654 9.96557 12.1914 10.4753 12.1914C11.4656 12.1914 11.9607 11.6714 11.9607 10.6313V6.5752H13.011Z’ fill=’%23373F45’/%3E%3Cpath d=’M15.9146 13V6.5752H16.9649V13H15.9146Z’ fill=’%23373F45’/%3E%3Cpath d=’M19.9255 13V6.5752H20.9758V12.0991H23.696V13H19.9255Z’ fill=’%23373F45’/%3E%3Cpath d=’M28.2828 13H27.2325V7.47607H25.3428V6.5752H30.1724V7.47607H28.2828V13Z’ fill=’%23373F45’/%3E%3Cpath d=’M41.9472 13H40.8046L39.7148 9.16796C39.6679 9.00097 39.6093 8.76074 39.539 8.44727C39.4687 8.13086 39.4262 7.91113 39.4116 7.78809C39.3823 7.97559 39.3339 8.21875 39.2665 8.51758C39.2021 8.81641 39.1479 9.03905 39.1039 9.18554L38.0405 13H36.8979L36.0673 9.7832L35.2236 6.5752H36.2958L37.2143 10.3193C37.3578 10.9199 37.4604 11.4502 37.5219 11.9102C37.5541 11.6611 37.6025 11.3828 37.6669 11.0752C37.7314 10.7676 37.79 10.5186 37.8427 10.3281L38.8886 6.5752H39.9301L41.0024 10.3457C41.1049 10.6943 41.2133 11.2158 41.3276 11.9102C41.3715 11.4912 41.477 10.958 41.644 10.3105L42.558 6.5752H43.6215L41.9472 13Z’ fill=’%23373F45’/%3E%3Cpath d=’M45.7957 13V6.5752H46.846V13H45.7957Z’ fill=’%23373F45’/%3E%3Cpath d=’M52.0258 13H50.9755V7.47607H49.0859V6.5752H53.9155V7.47607H52.0258V13Z’ fill=’%23373F45’/%3E%3Cpath d=’M61.2312 13H60.1765V10.104H57.2146V13H56.1643V6.5752H57.2146V9.20312H60.1765V6.5752H61.2312V13Z’ fill=’%23373F45’/%3E%3C/svg%3E”);}.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] .formkit-powered-by-convertkit:hover,.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] .formkit-powered-by-convertkit:focus{background-color:#ffffff;-webkit-transform:scale(1.025) perspective(1px);-ms-transform:scale(1.025) perspective(1px);transform:scale(1.025) perspective(1px);opacity:1;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] .formkit-powered-by-convertkit[data-variant=”dark”],.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] .formkit-powered-by-convertkit[data-variant=”light”]{background-color:transparent;border-color:transparent;width:166px;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] .formkit-powered-by-convertkit[data-variant=”light”]{color:#ffffff;background-image:url(“data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf8,%3Csvg width=’162′ height=’20’ viewBox=’0 0 162 20′ fill=’none’ xmlns=’http://www.w3.org/2000/svg’%3E%3Cpath d=’M83.0561 15.2457C86.675 15.2457 89.4722 12.5154 89.4722 9.14749C89.4722 5.99211 86.8443 4.06563 85.1038 4.06563C82.6801 4.06563 80.7373 5.76407 80.4605 8.28551C80.4092 8.75244 80.0387 9.14403 79.5686 9.14069C78.7871 9.13509 77.6507 9.12841 76.9314 9.13092C76.6217 9.13199 76.3658 8.88106 76.381 8.57196C76.4895 6.38513 77.2218 4.3404 78.618 2.76974C80.1695 1.02445 82.4289 0 85.1038 0C89.5979 0 93.8406 4.07791 93.8406 9.14749C93.8406 14.7608 89.1832 19.3113 83.1517 19.3113C78.8502 19.3113 74.5179 16.5041 73.0053 12.5795C72.9999 12.565 72.9986 12.5492 73.0015 12.534C73.0218 12.4179 73.0617 12.3118 73.1011 12.2074C73.1583 12.0555 73.2143 11.907 73.2062 11.7359L73.18 11.1892C73.174 11.0569 73.2075 10.9258 73.2764 10.8127C73.3452 10.6995 73.4463 10.6094 73.5666 10.554L73.7852 10.4523C73.9077 10.3957 74.0148 10.3105 74.0976 10.204C74.1803 10.0974 74.2363 9.97252 74.2608 9.83983C74.3341 9.43894 74.6865 9.14749 75.0979 9.14749C75.7404 9.14749 76.299 9.57412 76.5088 10.1806C77.5188 13.1 79.1245 15.2457 83.0561 15.2457Z’ fill=’white’/%3E%3Cpath d=’M155.758 6.91365C155.028 6.91365 154.804 6.47916 154.804 5.98857C154.804 5.46997 154.986 5.06348 155.758 5.06348C156.53 5.06348 156.712 5.46997 156.712 5.98857C156.712 6.47905 156.516 6.91365 155.758 6.91365ZM142.441 12.9304V9.32833L141.415 9.32323V8.90392C141.415 8.44719 141.786 8.07758 142.244 8.07986L142.441 8.08095V6.55306L144.082 6.09057V8.08073H145.569V8.50416C145.569 8.61242 145.548 8.71961 145.506 8.81961C145.465 8.91961 145.404 9.01047 145.328 9.08699C145.251 9.16351 145.16 9.2242 145.06 9.26559C144.96 9.30698 144.853 9.32826 144.745 9.32822H144.082V12.7201C144.082 13.2423 144.378 13.4256 144.76 13.4887C145.209 13.5629 145.583 13.888 145.583 14.343V14.9626C144.029 14.9626 142.441 14.8942 142.441 12.9304Z’ fill=’white’/%3E%3Cpath d=’M110.058 7.92554C108.417 7.88344 106.396 8.92062 106.396 11.5137C106.396 14.0646 108.417 15.0738 110.058 15.0318C111.742 15.0738 113.748 14.0646 113.748 11.5137C113.748 8.92062 111.742 7.88344 110.058 7.92554ZM110.07 13.7586C108.878 13.7586 108.032 12.8905 108.032 11.461C108.032 10.1013 108.878 9.20569 110.071 9.20569C111.263 9.20569 112.101 10.0995 112.101 11.459C112.101 12.8887 111.263 13.7586 110.07 13.7586Z’ fill=’white’/%3E%3Cpath d=’M118.06 7.94098C119.491 7.94098 120.978 8.33337 120.978 11.1366V14.893H120.063C119.608 14.893 119.238 14.524 119.238 14.0689V10.9965C119.238 9.66506 118.747 9.16047 117.891 9.16047C117.414 9.16047 116.797 9.52486 116.502 9.81915V14.069C116.502 14.1773 116.481 14.2845 116.44 14.3845C116.398 14.4845 116.337 14.5753 116.261 14.6519C116.184 14.7284 116.093 14.7891 115.993 14.8305C115.893 14.8719 115.786 14.8931 115.678 14.8931H114.847V8.10918H115.773C115.932 8.10914 116.087 8.16315 116.212 8.26242C116.337 8.36168 116.424 8.50033 116.46 8.65577C116.881 8.19328 117.428 7.94098 118.06 7.94098ZM122.854 8.09713C123.024 8.09708 123.19 8.1496 123.329 8.2475C123.468 8.34541 123.574 8.48391 123.631 8.64405L125.133 12.8486L126.635 8.64415C126.692 8.48402 126.798 8.34551 126.937 8.2476C127.076 8.1497 127.242 8.09718 127.412 8.09724H128.598L126.152 14.3567C126.091 14.5112 125.986 14.6439 125.849 14.7374C125.711 14.831 125.549 14.881 125.383 14.8809H124.333L121.668 8.09713H122.854Z’ fill=’white’/%3E%3Cpath d=’M135.085 14.5514C134.566 14.7616 133.513 15.0416 132.418 15.0416C130.496 15.0416 129.024 13.9345 129.024 11.4396C129.024 9.19701 130.451 7.99792 132.191 7.99792C134.338 7.99792 135.254 9.4378 135.158 11.3979C135.139 11.8029 134.786 12.0983 134.38 12.0983H130.679C130.763 13.1916 131.562 13.7662 132.615 13.7662C133.028 13.7662 133.462 13.7452 133.983 13.6481C134.535 13.545 135.085 13.9375 135.085 14.4985V14.5514ZM133.673 10.949C133.785 9.87621 133.061 9.28752 132.191 9.28752C131.321 9.28752 130.734 9.93979 130.679 10.9489L133.673 10.949Z’ fill=’white’/%3E%3Cpath d=’M137.345 8.11122C137.497 8.11118 137.645 8.16229 137.765 8.25635C137.884 8.35041 137.969 8.48197 138.005 8.62993C138.566 8.20932 139.268 7.94303 139.759 7.94303C139.801 7.94303 140.068 7.94303 140.489 7.99913V8.7265C140.489 9.11748 140.15 9.4147 139.759 9.4147C139.31 9.4147 138.651 9.5829 138.131 9.8773V14.8951H136.462V8.11112L137.345 8.11122ZM156.6 14.0508V8.09104H155.769C155.314 8.09104 154.944 8.45999 154.944 8.9151V14.8748H155.775C156.23 14.8748 156.6 14.5058 156.6 14.0508ZM158.857 12.9447V9.34254H157.749V8.91912C157.749 8.46401 158.118 8.09506 158.574 8.09506H158.857V6.56739L160.499 6.10479V8.09506H161.986V8.51848C161.986 8.97359 161.617 9.34254 161.161 9.34254H160.499V12.7345C160.499 13.2566 160.795 13.44 161.177 13.503C161.626 13.5774 162 13.9024 162 14.3574V14.977C160.446 14.977 158.857 14.9086 158.857 12.9447ZM98.1929 10.1124C98.2033 6.94046 100.598 5.16809 102.895 5.16809C104.171 5.16809 105.342 5.44285 106.304 6.12953L105.914 6.6631C105.654 7.02011 105.16 7.16194 104.749 6.99949C104.169 6.7702 103.622 6.7218 103.215 6.7218C101.335 6.7218 99.9169 7.92849 99.9068 10.1123C99.9169 12.2959 101.335 13.5201 103.215 13.5201C103.622 13.5201 104.169 13.4717 104.749 13.2424C105.16 13.0799 105.654 13.2046 105.914 13.5615L106.304 14.0952C105.342 14.7819 104.171 15.0566 102.895 15.0566C100.598 15.0566 98.2033 13.2842 98.1929 10.1124ZM147.619 5.21768C148.074 5.21768 148.444 5.58663 148.444 6.04174V9.81968L151.82 5.58131C151.897 5.47733 151.997 5.39282 152.112 5.3346C152.227 5.27638 152.355 5.24607 152.484 5.24611H153.984L150.166 10.0615L153.984 14.8749H152.484C152.355 14.8749 152.227 14.8446 152.112 14.7864C151.997 14.7281 151.897 14.6436 151.82 14.5397L148.444 10.3025V14.0508C148.444 14.5059 148.074 14.8749 147.619 14.8749H146.746V5.21768H147.619Z’ fill=’white’/%3E%3Cpath d=’M0.773438 6.5752H2.68066C3.56543 6.5752 4.2041 6.7041 4.59668 6.96191C4.99219 7.21973 5.18994 7.62695 5.18994 8.18359C5.18994 8.55859 5.09326 8.87061 4.8999 9.11963C4.70654 9.36865 4.42822 9.52539 4.06494 9.58984V9.63379C4.51611 9.71875 4.84717 9.88721 5.05811 10.1392C5.27197 10.3882 5.37891 10.7266 5.37891 11.1543C5.37891 11.7314 5.17676 12.1841 4.77246 12.5122C4.37109 12.8374 3.81152 13 3.09375 13H0.773438V6.5752ZM1.82373 9.22949H2.83447C3.27393 9.22949 3.59473 9.16064 3.79688 9.02295C3.99902 8.88232 4.1001 8.64502 4.1001 8.31104C4.1001 8.00928 3.99023 7.79102 3.77051 7.65625C3.55371 7.52148 3.20801 7.4541 2.7334 7.4541H1.82373V9.22949ZM1.82373 10.082V12.1167H2.93994C3.37939 12.1167 3.71045 12.0332 3.93311 11.8662C4.15869 11.6963 4.27148 11.4297 4.27148 11.0664C4.27148 10.7324 4.15723 10.4849 3.92871 10.3237C3.7002 10.1626 3.35303 10.082 2.88721 10.082H1.82373Z’ fill=’white’/%3E%3Cpath d=’M13.011 6.5752V10.7324C13.011 11.207 12.9084 11.623 12.7034 11.9805C12.5012 12.335 12.2068 12.6089 11.8201 12.8022C11.4363 12.9927 10.9763 13.0879 10.4402 13.0879C9.6433 13.0879 9.02368 12.877 8.5813 12.4551C8.13892 12.0332 7.91772 11.4531 7.91772 10.7148V6.5752H8.9724V10.6401C8.9724 11.1704 9.09546 11.5615 9.34155 11.8135C9.58765 12.0654 9.96557 12.1914 10.4753 12.1914C11.4656 12.1914 11.9607 11.6714 11.9607 10.6313V6.5752H13.011Z’ fill=’white’/%3E%3Cpath d=’M15.9146 13V6.5752H16.9649V13H15.9146Z’ fill=’white’/%3E%3Cpath d=’M19.9255 13V6.5752H20.9758V12.0991H23.696V13H19.9255Z’ fill=’white’/%3E%3Cpath d=’M28.2828 13H27.2325V7.47607H25.3428V6.5752H30.1724V7.47607H28.2828V13Z’ fill=’white’/%3E%3Cpath d=’M41.9472 13H40.8046L39.7148 9.16796C39.6679 9.00097 39.6093 8.76074 39.539 8.44727C39.4687 8.13086 39.4262 7.91113 39.4116 7.78809C39.3823 7.97559 39.3339 8.21875 39.2665 8.51758C39.2021 8.81641 39.1479 9.03905 39.1039 9.18554L38.0405 13H36.8979L36.0673 9.7832L35.2236 6.5752H36.2958L37.2143 10.3193C37.3578 10.9199 37.4604 11.4502 37.5219 11.9102C37.5541 11.6611 37.6025 11.3828 37.6669 11.0752C37.7314 10.7676 37.79 10.5186 37.8427 10.3281L38.8886 6.5752H39.9301L41.0024 10.3457C41.1049 10.6943 41.2133 11.2158 41.3276 11.9102C41.3715 11.4912 41.477 10.958 41.644 10.3105L42.558 6.5752H43.6215L41.9472 13Z’ fill=’white’/%3E%3Cpath d=’M45.7957 13V6.5752H46.846V13H45.7957Z’ fill=’white’/%3E%3Cpath d=’M52.0258 13H50.9755V7.47607H49.0859V6.5752H53.9155V7.47607H52.0258V13Z’ fill=’white’/%3E%3Cpath d=’M61.2312 13H60.1765V10.104H57.2146V13H56.1643V6.5752H57.2146V9.20312H60.1765V6.5752H61.2312V13Z’ fill=’white’/%3E%3C/svg%3E”);}@-webkit-keyframes formkit-bouncedelay-formkit-form-data-uid-71a0acf05f-{0%,80%,100%{-webkit-transform:scale(0);-ms-transform:scale(0);transform:scale(0);}40%{-webkit-transform:scale(1);-ms-transform:scale(1);transform:scale(1);}}@keyframes formkit-bouncedelay-formkit-form-data-uid-71a0acf05f-{0%,80%,100%{-webkit-transform:scale(0);-ms-transform:scale(0);transform:scale(0);}40%{-webkit-transform:scale(1);-ms-transform:scale(1);transform:scale(1);}}.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] blockquote{padding:10px 20px;margin:0 0 20px;border-left:5px solid #e1e1e1;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] .seva-custom-content{padding:15px;font-size:16px;color:#fff;mix-blend-mode:difference;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] .formkit-modal.guard{max-width:420px;width:100%;} .formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”]{max-width:700px;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] [data-style=”clean”]{width:100%;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] .formkit-fields{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-wrap:wrap;-ms-flex-wrap:wrap;flex-wrap:wrap;margin:0 auto;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] .formkit-field,.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] .formkit-submit{margin:0 0 15px 0;-webkit-flex:1 0 100%;-ms-flex:1 0 100%;flex:1 0 100%;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] .formkit-powered-by-convertkit-container{margin:0;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”] .formkit-submit{position:static;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”][min-width~=”700″] [data-style=”clean”],.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”][min-width~=”800″] [data-style=”clean”]{padding:10px;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”][min-width~=”700″] .formkit-fields[data-stacked=”false”],.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”][min-width~=”800″] .formkit-fields[data-stacked=”false”]{margin-left:-5px;margin-right:-5px;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”][min-width~=”700″] .formkit-fields[data-stacked=”false”] .formkit-field,.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”][min-width~=”800″] .formkit-fields[data-stacked=”false”] .formkit-field,.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”][min-width~=”700″] .formkit-fields[data-stacked=”false”] .formkit-submit,.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”][min-width~=”800″] .formkit-fields[data-stacked=”false”] .formkit-submit{margin:0 5px 15px 5px;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”][min-width~=”700″] .formkit-fields[data-stacked=”false”] .formkit-field,.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”][min-width~=”800″] .formkit-fields[data-stacked=”false”] .formkit-field{-webkit-flex:100 1 auto;-ms-flex:100 1 auto;flex:100 1 auto;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”][min-width~=”700″] .formkit-fields[data-stacked=”false”] .formkit-submit,.formkit-form[data-uid=”71a0acf05f”][min-width~=”800″] .formkit-fields[data-stacked=”false”] .formkit-submit{-webkit-flex:1 1 auto;-ms-flex:1 1 auto;flex:1 1 auto;}
Comfort
I started backpacking several years ago, and although I have tried and owned several sleeping bags over the years, I have never owned one specifically designed for backpacking. There was so much initial backpacking gear to purchase for my new hobby that I overlooked the importance of investing in a quality sleeping bag.
I figured I could wear lots of warm layers to bed and be comfortable. This was a mistake since I always woke up cold throughout the night, and my biggest regret is not getting a technical sleeping bag for backpacking sooner.
I got the best nights of sleep I’ve ever had while tent camping in the REI Magma Sleeping Bag. I move around a lot in my sleep and change positions constantly, but the sleeping bag kept my body comfortable whether I slept on my back, side, or stomach.
The path of the zipper wraps around your chest so you can zip it while lying inside the sleeping bag. The zipper also features a cover to keep it from getting stuck on the fabric. This made for a smooth, quick zip, even when I was zipping it up using one hand.
The Magma Sleeping Bag also feels super soft and plush. I found myself excited to bundle up in the sleeping bag as soon as it got dark outside, and I didn’t want to leave my sleeping bag in the mornings because of how cozy it felt.
It’s comfortable for lounging while reading my book, drinking my morning camp coffee, and organizing my gear inside my tent. Plus, I like how I could easily grab my headlamp or phone from the inner stash pocket as I needed them while hanging out.
Fit
Most sleeping bags come in one standard size for men and another for women. With the new REI Magma Sleeping Bag, this isn’t the case.
REI has redesigned the Magma Sleeping Bag to be nongendered or unisex. The sleeping bag now includes nine different size options so you can pick the best size based on your sleeping preferences and body shape in terms of height, shoulder girth, and hip girth.
There are combinations of three different lengths and widths to choose from. This ultimately allows the sleeping bag to fit more bodies comfortably and provide a night of better sleep for everyone.
To find the right size, I recommend measuring yourself with a tape measure and using the provided size chart to ensure you get the best fit. I am 5’9” and have a standard build, and when I compared my measurements to the chart, I found that a medium would fit best.
The medium fits me true to size and contours to the shape of my body, and I have the perfect amount of extra width in the bottom of the bag to spread my feet apart in the foot box. I slept in this bag for three nights in various positions and never felt like it was too tight or restrictive, or that I didn’t have enough room to move my arms and legs.
I have a standard one-person insulated backpacking sleeping pad and found that the sleeping bag fits perfectly on top of it in terms of length and width. I also used an inflatable pillow and attached it to my sleeping pad with a Pillow Strap underneath the hood and found the set-up quite comfortable.
The hood of the REI Magma Sleeping Bag is contoured and has two different drawcords, allowing for easy adjustments throughout the night. Even inside the sleeping bag, I like how I can cinch the drawcords of the hood if I’m feeling cold. The hood also fits well around my head and doesn’t feel too loose or tight, and if I ever needed to add a beanie for extra warmth on a particularly chilly night, I’d have the room.
The foot box of this sleeping bag allows space for your feet to move. The trapezoidal shape reduces excess space to keep you warmer and decreases the overall weight of the sleeping bag.
The sleeping bag ranges in length from 65 inches to 77 inches, so if you are over 6’5”, it will likely be too short of a sleeping bag for you. It may also feel too long if you are significantly shorter than 5’4”. For this reason, I docked half a star for fit.
If you are between measurements or sizes, you can choose to size up or down depending on how you prefer the sleeping bag to fit. Keep in mind that a sleeping bag that fits tighter to your body provides better insulation, while a looser fit offers more space inside.
If you are a co-op member (I highly recommend becoming an REI member if you’re not already), you can also return or exchange the bag for another size within 365 days of purchase if the size you buy isn’t working.
Warmth
I brought the 15-degree Magma sleeping bag on my trip. When I camped, the temperature fell below freezing into the upper 20’s, yet I stayed warm in my sleeping bag and never woke up feeling cold.
The sleeping bag has 850-fill-power goose down, so it keeps me feeling warm at night but never too hot. The bag also features a draft collar, which comfortably fills the space between the neck and shoulder gap to keep heat from escaping. It is adjustable, so I can keep it where I need it.
When I went to bed at night, I wore a base layer, leggings, and wool socks. I did not need to wear my beanie, gloves, or extra pants like I needed to on previous backpacking trips.
Because I was nervous about the nighttime temperatures, I also brought hand warmers and filled my Nalgene bottle with boiling water to put in the foot box of the sleeping bag to keep my feet warm at night. However, I didn’t need to use either of these because the sleeping bag kept me plenty warm and toasty all on its own.
On one of the nights when the low temperature was around 40 degrees Fahrenheit, I unzipped the bag because I got a little too warm. As someone who tends to run cold when sleeping outside, this rarely happens to me, but I was able to easily unzip the bag while half asleep to regulate my temperature.
The shell is bluesign-approved recycled ripstop nylon, meaning it has been manufactured to meet high safety and environmental requirements. It has a durable water-repellent (DWR) finish to prevent moisture from getting inside the bag. If any moisture or condensation were to get inside my tent, I like having the peace of mind that the shell would prevent the insulated part of the sleeping bag from getting wet.
REI used an independent testing protocol (ISO) to establish the Magma Sleeping Bag’s Temperature Rating of 15 degrees Fahrenheit.
The Comfort rating for which this bag will keep the average “cold sleeper” comfortable is 21 degrees Fahrenheit. I can attest that it did its job there! The Lower Limit rating is 9 degrees Fahrenheit – which is the lowest temperature at which the bag will keep the average “warm sleeper” comfortable.
It’s important to note that sleeping bags made for women typically have more insulation (making them 10-15 degrees Fahrenheit warmer) than men’s sleeping bags since women tend to sleep colder than men. This means that on average, women may find the 15-degree sleeping bag suitable for temperatures slightly above 15 degrees, while men may be able to comfortably use it for temps that fall slightly below 15 degrees.
Of course, your body temperature can run hot or cold regardless of gender. Consider all of this information when deciding between the 15-degree and 30-degree versions.
Weight and Packability
The sleeping bag includes a stuff sack for packing on trips and a big mesh sack for breathable storage when you’re not using it at home.
I found that the stuff sack compresses the sleeping bag extremely efficiently for packing. Believe it or not, this 15-degree sleeping bag compresses down smaller than many popular 30-degree sleeping bags designed for backpacking.
The compressed volume ranges from 6 liters to 9.4 liters, with my medium-sized bag at 8 liters. I packed the sleeping bag into the bottom compartment of my 45-liter backpack and noticed I had room to spare, making it easy to quickly stuff the bag in and take it out of my pack. If you pair it with a compression sack, you can get the packed size down even smaller.
Depending on the size you order, the weight of the 15-degree sleeping bag ranges from 2 lbs to 2 lbs 11.3 oz. My medium-sized sleeping bag weighs 2 lbs 3.6 oz which is fairly light for a 15-degree sleeping bag.
To compare, the regular-sized women’s NEMO Riff 15 Endless Down Sleeping Bag weighs 3 lbs 4 oz, a little over a pound more than my medium REI Magma bag. On the other hand, the regular-sized unisex Sea to Summit Spark 15 Sleeping Bag only weighs 1 lb 9.7 oz, though it costs over a hundred dollars more at $549.
The long version of the REI Magma sleeping bag weighs in at 2 lbs 8.5 oz. Although this is comparable to the weight of other long sleeping bags for some brands, it is heavier than others. For example, the long version of the unisex Sea to Summit Spark 15 bag is 1 lb 11.7 oz.
Durability
The REI Magma Sleeping Bag is made durably to last for years of backcountry adventures. Although the sleeping bag material is super soft, it’s tear and snag-resistant.
I appreciate how along the entire length of the zipper, the bag has a strip of fabric designed to prevent the zipper from snagging on the sleeping bag material.
I have always struggled with sleeping bag zippers getting caught on the fabric when adjusting the zipper at night and worried about it tearing or forming holes. It is a relief to no longer have to deal with this annoyance.
To keep the sleeping bag at its best for years of use, I recommend hand washing it as needed. If you must use a washing machine, wash it only on a warm, gentle cycle in a front-load washing machine. Use a gentle, detergent-free cleaner like Nikwax Down Wash Direct designed for washing down products.
To dry, do not wring the sleeping bag. Either air dry or tumble dry in a machine on low. To prevent damaging the delicate material, do not use bleach or an iron.
Once your sleeping bag is clean and dry, store the bag loosely in the provided mesh sack instead of the compression sack. These cleaning practices will help to extend the life of your sleep bag.
Where to Buy
The REI Magma Sleeping Bag is available at REI stores and online, and you can purchase either the 15-degree or 30-degree version. Both of these come in nine different sizes so you can order the best fit for your body. If you prefer a quilt instead of a sleeping bag, check out the Magma 30 Down Trail Quilt.
Frequently Asked Questions
While the 30-degree bag is slightly lighter and more compact, it’s not as versatile as the 15-degree version. You should think about where and what seasons you plan to use the sleeping bag. If you will be high up in the mountains, I’d recommend the 15-degree bag. It’s worth the few extra ounces to ensure your warmth. However, if you plan to use it only in summer in hotter climates, than the 30-degree bag should suffice.
The 15-degree version is $429. The 3-degree version is slightly cheaper at $379.
No, it is not fully waterproof. The lining has a water-resistant coating, but the bag will not stay dry if it’s submerged in water (ie if water is pooling up inside your tent or if you fall while crossing a river with your backpack on)
READ NEXT
New to backpacking? Check out these tips to help you get started.
Save this post to Pinterest
Do you have questions about this REI Magma Sleeping Bag review? If you own this bag, what is your favorite part about it? Let me know in the comments below!
The post REI Magma 15-Degree Unisex Sleeping Bag Review appeared first on Bearfoot Theory.
