Marmot Pinnacle

Review Date
August 17, 2004

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5, 4 votes

Reviewed by: hikerchap ,  Backpacker

Price Paid:  $330.00 at REI

Summary:
I splurged and bought this puffy thing. It looks smashing in the blue and black interior-it feels like 330 bucks. There are a bunch of details that show Marmot really engineered this bag-it is worth the dough.
I was disappointed in the size of the packed bag-it does not compress incredibly, but tolerably. Smaller than my LL Bean synthetic bag, which was only good to maybe 45 degrees. The footbox on the Marmot is like 18 inches tall-everything is very puffy and warm.
I have the Pertex shell-not DryLoft. I was sleeping in a Toyota 4Runner w/ windowns down. Rain came in, but failed to wake me. Foot of bag was completely soaked-but my feet weren't. The down did not get wet-only the shell. That was impressive. Overall, the shell seems very tough. The zipper is the least snaggy of any zipper on anything I've ever used. Overall, the Pinnacle is a great bag for all-rounder use. Is waaaay too much for summer camping, but aw well. I have yet to zip it up more than halfway.

Customer Service:
REI makes everyone but Bean look bad, as usual.

Similar Products Used:
L.L. Bean Polarguard 3D 20 degree bag. Goes from a bit pufffy to flaaaat in 4 years. Synthetics are a waste of money.

Review Date
September 5, 2003

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Reviewed by: Acrophylos(Unregistered User) ,  Backpacker , from Bozeman, MT

Price Paid:  $230.00 at backcountrystore.com

Summary:
I just spent most of 2 weeks in my new Pinnacle. It got down to mid-twenties but I stayed plenty warm, even sweating. Without a doubt this is the most comfortable bag I've used. I like the draw cord design and really like the nylon stiffner that keeps the zipper from snagging. The down seems to give a much wider comfort range than my synthetic TNF snowshoe and packs MUCH smaller.

Customer Service:
Haven't needed it. They have recently done a nice job of updating their web site. Backcountrystore.com was fine to deal with - shipped promptly and LiveChat quickly answered a few questions I had.

Similar Products Used:
TNF Snowshoe (comfort range is 40-45, bag is heavy and large).

Review Date
April 1, 2003

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Reviewed by: TWiggins(Unregistered User) ,  Backpacker , from Central California

Price Paid:  $225.00 at Northern Mountain Sp

Summary:
Quite simply put, this is the finest bag that I have ever owned. This will be the third season that I have used it. On the average I sleep out about 10-12 nights per year. I have used this bag at elevations exceeding 10,000 feet, and have woke up in the night bathed in sweat only to step outside the tent and find the ground frozen with a hard frost. In fact, in the summer this bag is best used by unzipping it and throwing it over you like a blanket. It compresses VERY well and it shows very little wear after the 30+ nights that I have slept in it. I expect it to last for several more years. Dryloft is worth the extra money.

Customer Service:
Not used yet

Similar Products Used:
Marmot Coluior, also a great bag. Coleman mummies, don't waste your money.

Review Date
January 13, 2003

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 3 of 5

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1 votes

Reviewed by: Dan (Unregistered User) ,  Backpacker

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
I've used my Pinnacle long about 50 nights. I've never had more than the most superficial zipper snags on the draft tube. The non-velcro double snap closure on the draft collar is a feature I can never quite master, but I find it preferable to a velcro closure, especially when trying not to wake tent-mates when sneaking out for late night relief. The draft tube and the draft collar don't contain a lot of down, but I've never noticed either causing cold spots. I fall into the "average sleeper" category when it comes to temperature ratings. The 15 degree rating is right on. I slept out in this bag recently on a 5 degree night in nothing but underwear, and it was only toward dawn that I had to add socks, a windshirt, and fleece bottoms to be perfectly comfortable. If you sleep with this bag in a tent, you should expect it to be good to 5 to 10 degrees, and if you add fleece and socks, you're looking at -5 to zero.

Review Date
November 26, 2002

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Value Rating
 2 of 5

Visitors rate this review
1.00 of 5, 2 votes

Reviewed by: Rudy Ortiz(Unregistered User) ,  Backpacker , from Mancos, Colorado, USA

Price Paid:  $325.00 at Tent City in Boston

Summary:
Let me start by saying I am a Marmot fan and use many of Marmot's products. That being the case, I bought Marmot's Dry Loft Pinnacle in September of 2002 as I was going to Chicago Basin in the Weimenuche in Colorado. I have an REI -20 Down bag but it is too hot and weights too much for the conditions I was going to be in (25+).

The bag is very comfortable and have slept in 5+ weather with only minimal amount of clothing and was only a little cold early in the morning. 10+ sounds about right for complete comfort.

The liner material is NOT "down-proof" what so ever! I can never use it that there isn't several feathers sticking out. One night I laid back quickly and heard a loud POP and suspect a baffle exploded. The amount of down fill on the collar, which is critical to keeping warmth in, is an absolute joke! The draft tube needs a little more filling. The 2 snap closer on the collar is not wonderful. The zipper catches almost every time unless you are VERY careful.

The Dry Loft works extremely well and bought it as I hate condensation (which is why I also have a Bibler Tempest).

I originally looked at a Western Mountaineering bag but as the Dry Loft version was $100 more, I went with the Marmot Pinnacle. While the Pinnacle is a good bag, in hine-sight, I wish I had sprong for the Western Mountaineering bag or the North Face Hot Tamale. Both are definitely better bags than the Marmot Pinnacle, with the Western bag being a little better than the North Face but costing more.

To say the least, I'm disappointed with Marmot's sleeping bag efforts or lack of it.

Customer Service:
Spoke to Customer Service and they said to send bag in. But as they didn't give me a reference number and seemed very casual about my comments, I figured they probably wouldn't do anything and I would spend money shipping and maybe not get my bag back. I'm having a local repair guy in Durango(Gear Doctor)make the modifications to bring this expensive bag up to snuff.

Similar Products Used:
REI Down Time -20 bag. Looked At TNF Hot Tamale & Western Mountaineering bags but have not slept in them.