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Marmot Sawtooth 15 – Is it any good?

Tamara Avatar By: Tamara | Last updated March 1, 2019

blue marmot sawtooth 15 sleeping bag


Nature trips can be really fun, as long as you’re prepared for them properly. There are some essentials every camper should have in their outdoor ‘kit’: a reliable tent, a good sleeping bag, appropriate clothing.

When putting together your camper’s kit, there a few aspects you have to consider: your budget, space, weight, comfort, durability.

What are the main types of sleeping bags?

As a backpacker or camping enthusiast, your sleeping bag is one of the most important items you have to buy. Your sleeping bag will be your bed away from home, so it needs to be comfortable, warm and durable enough to put up with all of nature’s challenges: mud, snow, rain, etc.

There are several types of sleeping bags you can get. Here are the most common ones:

  • Mummy bags – mummy-shaped sleeping bags are among the most common ones you can find; once you’re inside them all zipped up, you look like a…well…mummy, hence the name. They are usually made for a single person and they keep you very warm, but they are a bit narrow, so don’t expect to have a lot of space in them
  • Rectangular sleeping bags are also very popular. They are more spacious than mummy sleeping bags but as far as heat retention goes, they are not as effective as mummy shaped bags. Rectangular sleeping bags can often be combined through their zippers so you can make them even longer and roomier than they already are
  • Semi rectangular sleeping bags – they are a combination between the aforementioned ones; they are also called ‘barrel shaped’ sleeping bags. Space-wise, they are more spacious than mummy bags but less roomy than rectangular ones
  • Double bags – as their name suggests it, they are the widest type and most of them can comfortably fit 2 people in them

What to look for when buying a sleeping bag

While there are a lot of factors to consider when shopping for a sleeping bag, and each person has their own needs and preferences, there are some general aspects to have in mind:

  • Your budget – while you can find sleeping bags for even $20, we firmly advise you not to get one of those; a decent sleeping bag will cost you around $150, but if you want true premium quality, expect to pay even $500 or more
  • Usability – more specific, for which season is the bag recommended? Is it a 2 –season, 3-season, 4-season bag? Is it warm enough to be used during the winter or is it just usable during the summer, when the temperature is relatively high?
  • Temperature rating – Try to pay attention to the comfort rating and not the lower limit; winter sleeping bags usually have a temperature rating of +10 degrees F and summer sleeping bags a temperature rating of +35 F
  • The type of insulation: you can opt for synthetic bags or down insulation; the first type is more affordable and non-allergenic but these bags are quite heavy and don’t keep you that warm. Down-insulation bags are more expensive and made of goose or duck feathers. They are light, really warm but usually not great when it comes to moisture. There are treated, water-resistant down bags on the market as well, but they are even pricier

Read more about down vs. synthetic insulation.

Find out more about sleeping bags and how to choose the best one for your needs.

Marmot Sawtooth 15 – is it a good sleeping bag to consider?

Marmot is a very renowned brand specialized in outdoor equipment. The company (Marmot Mountain Works) was founded in 1974 in Colorado. The company is currently based in California and it is a part of Newell Brands.

Marmot manufactures a lot of sports/outdoor products, from clothing to sleeping bags, backpacks and more.

The Marmot Sawtooth is a very popular 3-season sleeping bag that comes in regular, long and Long X Wide sizes.

Price: The regular size has a price of $239, the long Sawtooth is $259 and the long X Wide version is $279.

If you also want a medium stuff sack, it will cost you an additional $15.

Features

The Sawtooth 15 is a 3-season sleeping bag and it is a bit on the heavy side. It has a temperature rating of 15 degrees F and the regular one has the following specifications:

  • Temperature rating: 15F
  • Weight: 2lbs8oz
  • Lining: 20d 100% Nylon Plain Wave
  • Insulation: 650 Fill Power Down with Down Defender
  • Pack volume: 421.1ci

As you can figure out from the specs, the Sawtooth bag has a down insulation. The 650 fill down keeps you really warm, as does the relatively narrow, mummy shape of the bag and the Nautilus multi-baffle hood. However, compared to other more expensive down bags, the Sawtooth is a bit heavier and doesn’t pack as well. However, the ‘down defender’ means the bag is water resistant and behaves relatively well in damp conditions.

The Sawtooth is equipped with a two-way zipper with draft tube, which helps in minimizing heat loss. The Sawtooth also has an internal foot warmer pocket which can be really useful if you use toe warmer packets. So in terms of warmth, this is a great sleeping bag to consider for the price.

Comfort-wise, the Sawtooth is surprisingly comfy. The fabric is soft and the foot box allows you to move your feet around and still stay warm.

The Sawtooth has internal pockets and comes with a storage sack.

Marmot is renowned for its high quality sleeping bags and the Sawtooth makes no exception when it comes to durability.  

The Sawtooth is a great sleeping bag even for winter use, as long as the temperatures don’t go much below the freezing threshold. Considering its construction, materials and comfort level, we think it is very reasonably priced and a good value for the money.

The only aspect in which the Sawtooth loses some point is weight, as it is not among the lightest down bags we’ve reviewed.

Check out other great sleeping bags to consider for your backpacking needs.

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