Since our last test period, Marmot has updated the Never Summer, as shown in the lead photo above. The newer version has an updated color scheme and features a foot box zipper to provide extra foot space if needed.
April 2022 This Product
Marmot Never Summer 0 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Overall Winter Sleeping Bag |  Best Simple Design with Weather-Resistance |  Best Bang for Your Buck | ||
| Price | $315.81 at Amazon Compare at 2 sellers | $835 List $730.00 at Backcountry | $600 List | $325.00 at REI Compare at 2 sellers | $154.95 at Amazon Compare at 3 sellers |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | For those who expect to sit out a storm and play cards or want an inexpensive throw bag for car camping, this is an economical option | This bag is the cream of the crop when it comes to loft and comfort | This lightweight sleeping bag comfortably cradles you with warm, lofty down | This budget bag offers protection from the elements via a large draft tube and plush draft collar | While this model is warm, its large packed size and heavy weight do not compare well against competing models |
| Rating Categories | Marmot Never Summer 0 | Western Mountaineer... | The North Face Infe... | Mountain Hardwear B... | Kelty Cosmic 0 |
| Warmth (20%) | |||||
| Weight (20%) | |||||
| Comfort (20%) | |||||
| Packed Size (15%) | |||||
| Weather Resistance (15%) | |||||
| Features (10%) | |||||
| Specs | Marmot Never Summer 0 | Western Mountaineer... | The North Face Infe... | Mountain Hardwear B... | Kelty Cosmic 0 |
| Measured Weight (size Regular) | 3.19 lbs | 2.85 lbs | 2.68 lbs | 3.13 lbs | 4.56 lbs |
| Fill Weight | 36.2 oz | 30.0 oz | 29 oz | 35.0 oz | 39.5 oz |
| Type of Down Fill | Down | Goose Down | Down RDS Certified | Down | Duck Down |
| Fill Power | 650 | 850 | 800 | 650 | 550 |
| Material Weight (excludes down filling) | 14.9 oz | 15.7 oz | 13.9 oz | 15.1 oz | 39.5 oz |
| Temperature Rating | 0°F | 0°F | 0°F | 0°F | 0°F |
| Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Shoulder Girth | 62" | 66" | 64" | 62" | 62" |
| Hip Girth | 57" | 57" | 60" | 53" | 58" |
| Foot Girth | 48.5" | 41" | 44" | Not listed | Not listed |
| Shell Material | 20-Denier ripstop nylon | MicroLite XP | 15D recycled nylon, 30D nylon taffeta | 20-Denier ripstop nylon | 20D Nylon |
| Continuous Baffle | Yes | Yes | Not listed | Yes | Yes |
This is a great first winter bag or a step-up replacement from that old cotton-filled bed roll your grandpa left you. Our testers stayed warm and dry on multiple early winter outings and adventures. A few extra features and evenly spread, plush down fill make this a good bag for the price and a little extra weight. An extra zipper makes sitting up easy and keeps your legs warm while you hang out in camp. The ripstop shell held up well during months of testing and the down kept its loft. This model is great for car camping or short winter missions in the backcountry.
The Never Summer is stacked with 36.2 ounces of 650 fill down and tricot stretch baffles to prevent the bunching of the material. After nights of tossing and turning to try to shake and clump the down, we were unable to decrease the loft and dispersion of the fill. The bag does feature a draft tube and even an accessory zipper on the opposite side of the full-length zipper to allow for ventilation. The baffled hood draws snugly over your head and the collar baffle keeps the warm air in the bag if you are shifting positions. The full-length two-way zipper allows for further venting at your feet if you get too hot.
There isn't a lot of room in this mummy bag to wiggle around which means there is less dead air space to heat up. Unfortunately, our testers found the zipper baffle insufficient to keep all the drafty cold air out when sleeping outside the tent. This wasn't as much of an issue in the cozy abode of our tent but worrisome all the same. The loft fell in the middle of our lineup for plushness but was evenly spread throughout the bag. The hood closes over your face and keeps a naked head fairly warm though we would have preferred a bungee style drawstring to the thin static cord to allow some play when shifting positions.
The Never Summer is on the heavier end of our line up weighing in at three pounds and three ounces. This bag is better suited for short hikes, ski tours, or car camping. Those that aren't shy to carry extra ounces to save money won't bat an eye. Still, this is a very competitive weight for its class and price point. Extra zippers and materials do add up in weight and 20 denier fabric can help protect a fragile down bag if you are forgoing the tent to save weight on an excursion.
A lot of comfort preference depends on what type of sleeper you are. Side sleepers or spreaders may feel a bit confined in the tight mummy shape. It features 57 inches in the hips which is snug but not uncomfortable for our larger testers. The weight savings are monumental and the added warmth of this design is equally important. For back sleepers and stomach sleepers, this shape is not an issue. We tested side sleeping and drawing our legs as well. While it is a snug bag, it did not limit movement in six-foot, two hundred-pound testers in the regular size. The hood is tight compared to other models but this was only for those at the upper height limit of the size. If you settle on this bag, consider sizing up for extra room to stretch out.
For being slightly over three pounds and a zero degree bag, the Never Summer compresses as small as other competitors in its class. We tested each bag by stuffing it into a Sea to Summit 20L compression sack and were able to cinch the drawcords all the way down.
Unfortunately, the bag does not come with a compression sack which we would have liked but simply comes with a stuff sack. It is important to remember that the 650 fill down is more susceptible to damage after continually being compressed; so, if you like to squeeze your bag into the size of a tuna can, consider upgrading to a higher fill rating.
The Never Summer features a full-length draft tube and neck or draft collar to keep warm air in and cold air out. The zipper is lined with a tougher durable material to prevent snagging but is only one inch wide. Our testers found that the softer liner material was still able to fold around this and get caught in the zipper. The anti-snag slider did help a little, too, but holds the teeth at a more obtuse angle and decreases the ease of drawing the zipper without holding the distal end taught.
The zippered stash pocket is big enough for a phone, knife, or headlamp. If you're forceful, maybe all three together. The zipper has a little fabric cover so it doesn't rub on you if the pocket is empty. We appreciated that the zipper guard is orange against a backdrop of gray material to make locating the zipper super easy in a hurry.
The accessory zipper on the opposite side of the full length (we tested a left zipper so it was on the right) is a welcome feature. This short zipper allows for ventilation or our preferred use was sitting up with a hot drink and enjoying symmetrical coverage. Not necessary but fun and unique.
In light rain and submersion testing, the 20 denier ripstop held up reasonably well. The shell material is treated with Down Defender which performs nearly as well as DWR treatments on other similar products we tested. We allowed the water to pool up on the surface and only after ten minutes did the material begin to show signs of saturation. The zipper is much more susceptible to soaking and leaking in a deluge.
This product offers pretty good value. While it's not a steal, it's certainly a fair grab for the price. It scored slightly lower in some key metrics such as warmth due to the narrower draft tube but overall it is an impressive product for the price. This bag performs well at its stated rating and withheld months of use and abuse, in and out of the tent.
This bag lands in the middle of the road for our testing categories. Not the cheapest bag but made with sturdy materials and quality construction. Our testers found bags that scored higher but for higher cost and a few that scored marginally better at a competitive price comparatively. We like the extra zipper for comfort while sitting, so if you plan to hang out and write or read in a tent for days waiting out a storm for the perfect weather window, this may be the perfect bag for you.
