REI Magma 15 Degree Sleeping Bag

This was my first “ultra-light” backpacking sleeping bag and I’ve been using it for years now. Not everyone can spend hundreds of dollars on an expedition sleeping bag they may use once or twice a year, so I thought long and hard about this one. The fact it was an REI product made the choice a little easier, I’ve found they stand behind their products and have a very easy return process.  Oh, and I use it a lot more than I expected.

Highs

• · Weight, the bag weighed 30.5 ounces so it came in only a half ounce over what was listed on the website when I purchased it.
• · Aesthetics, this is a good looking bag. I like the Asphalt exterior color since it does not show dirt or stains easily and the orange interior color makes it easy to see items you dropped overnight or debris/dirt that needs to be removed. 
• · Ease of use, this bag compresses smaller than most of my other bags and has quality hardware. I have seen other reviews stating the zippers are hard to use, I’ve not experienced this. The zipper can snag, but if you are careful and keep a finger between the zipper and the interior it rarely snags
• · Draft collar and hood, I have too many bags and this is my favorite hood. It just fits. And it is roomy enough that I can stuff a puffy vest or similar item into the hood to supplement my beanie on really cold nights plus an effective draft collar.
• · Durability, years in and still no snags, rips or pilling on the fabric. 
• · Quick lofting down, when I reach my destination and pull this bag out it lofts faster than any of my other bags.

Lows

• · Sleeps colder than rating leads you to believe. When I purchased this bag it was rated at 14 degrees, it is rated at 16 degrees on the website now and an REI employee told me it used to be rated at 12 degrees. The comfort rating is 28 degrees but I feel 35 degrees would be a more accurate rating.
• · A little tight, even for a mummy bag. I am 5’7” 170 pounds with pretty wide shoulders and it can get a little tight, but in fairness I am a side sleeper and move around a lot.
• · Availability, this is often an issue. The bag is currently listed as “Unavailable” and I’ve seen this often over the years. There are a lot of reviews on the REI website by people complaining that they can’t get this bag. That is probably a sign it is a great bag despite the complaints. 

This is definitely not a 15 degree comfort rating bag, at 15 degrees (or 25 for that matter) you will be really cold but you will survive! The 28 degree comfort rating is on the optimistic side as well, it is comfortable sleeping above 35 degree though. On my first cold weather trip using this bag I was left sleeping two nights in below zero weather, luckily I had a Sea to Summit Thermolite Reactor sleeping bag liner. With the liner in the bag, my puffy vest and coat between the bag and the pad plus wearing several layers I slept cold but safe  at -8 degrees.  This should be a 25 degree bag with a 35 degree comfort rating in my opinion. All that being said I love this bag and highly recommend it as long as you know you will be cold below 35 degrees.