REI Magma 30 Quilt: An In-depth Evaluate

The REI Magma 30 Down Path Quilt is a light-weight backpacking quilt with a zippered footbox that permits you to open the quilt flat like a comforter. It’s conservatively temperature-rated to 30F, makes use of waterproof down, and has draft collars at each the neck and footbox-cinch ends.

Whereas quilts have been used for many years within the ultralight backpacking group, most of them have been made by cottage producers or had been do-it-yourself. Finally, a few of these ultralight cottage producers grew properly past the cottage stage. REI’s Magma 30 Down Path Quilt sequence exhibits that the mainstreaming of backpacking quilts has occurred, which can hopefully expose much more new backpackers to the consolation, light-weight, and compressibility advantages of quilts.

We beforehand reviewed an earlier model of this quilt when REI first launched it. This new model is a big improve field baffling and with a footbox that may be unzipped and vented. The older model had an inferior sewn-thru building and a closed footbox. Sadly, REI didn’t rename the brand new product, which is certain to create confusion for shoppers.

Philip has written about urging outside retailers to incorporate the mannequin 12 months within the product title, particularly once they change the design from 12 months to 12 months. REI is infamous for utilizing the identical product title for various merchandise from 12 months to 12 months (like the assorted Flash Air tent fashions), which creates lots of client confusion. They do that to idiot Google’s search algorithm and never as a service to “members”.

Specs at a Look

• Temperature Ranking 30F / -1C
• Weight: (producer) 1 pound, 6.3 oz (medium vast)
• Weight (examined): 1 pound, 6.6 oz (quilt alone); 0.5 oz (stuff sack); 0.9 oz (2 pad straps)
• Insulation: 850 fill energy, bluesign-approved goose down
• Water-Resistant Down: Sure
• Insulation weight: 12.6 oz
• Baffle building: Field baffled (not sewn-through)
• Sizes: Medium Large (Medium, Lengthy and Lengthy Large additionally out there)
• Suits as much as: 71″ in top; Shoulder / Hip Girth: 64″ / 60.5″ (Medium Large)
• Dimensions (producer): 73.2 x 54.3″ (Medium Large)
• Dimensions (examined): Size: 72″; Width: 50” at neck, 58” at shoulders, tapering right down to 41” (foot)
• Stuffed quantity: 3.7 L (Medium Large)
• Exterior shell: 15d recycled ripstop nylon, bluesign accredited
• Lining: 15d recycled ripstop nylon, bluesign accredited
• Included equipment: stuff sack, mesh storage sack, 2 pad straps
• Footbox: Zippered Convertible

To start, it’s essential to handle an issue with the advertising copy for the Magma. REI says that this quilt ”converts right into a mummy bag.” It doesn’t. It’s a quilt with a footbox that may be unzipped so the quilt lays flat. The footbox is the one factor that zips and unzips. I hope REI adjustments this as a result of there ARE convertible quilts, just like the Enlighted Gear Convert which have a full zip to turn out to be a sleeping bag, however this isn’t certainly one of them.

The development of the convertible footbox has three components: a zipper, a drawcord that spans the width of the foot finish, and a baffle alongside the size of the drawcord. On hotter nights, you may unzip the footbox and loosen the drawcord and also you’ll have a flat comforter that’s simple to kick a leg out from if you overheat. On cooler nights, zip up the footbox and cinch up the draw twine, ensuring to drag out the baffle as you cinch to plug up the top gap. This baffle is a pleasant function to reduce warmth loss with out having to plug up the outlet with a spare sock.

Field Baffle Design

The REI Magma 30 is constructed with field baffles, not sewn-through, which is a win for heat. Sewn-through is quicker, simpler, and cheaper, however can even let in chilly air alongside the stitching line the place there isn’t any insulation. The baffles are oriented vertically on the torso, to stop down from settling across the sides away from the highest, and horizontally on the underside.

Draft Collar

The REI Magma Quilt has a draft collar on the neck, which is a tube of down that may be snapped collectively at its ends and cinched as much as insulate blood circulate there and stop warmth loss. The drawstring is situated on the heart of the draft tube on the within of the quilt, so you may regulate it with out eradicating your arms from beneath the quilt, and the twine is captured with a loop of cloth that stops the twine from changing into a tangle hazard.

Quilt Temperature Ranking

We discover the REI Magma Quilts, each the earlier model and this one, to be conservatively rated, and correct to the acknowledged temperature. REI Buyer Service states on the product web page that the Magma 30*F score is the Decrease Restrict score when used “with an insulated sleeping pad with no less than a 5.38 R-value and the particular person is carrying a base layer with socks.” The Decrease Restrict score is for the common chilly sleeper (beforehand referred to as the Ladies’s score), the Consolation Ranking (a decrease temperature) is for the common heat sleeper (beforehand referred to as the Males’s score). There may be a few 10F distinction between the 2 rankings.

Many manufacturers use the Consolation Ranking as their naming conference, however I do know way more chilly sleepers than heat sleepers. Since many starting backpackers go to REI as their level of entry, I’m glad REI charges their luggage conservatively. I want the Decrease Restrict score was the usual conference for the naming of sleeping luggage and quilts throughout the business.

I used the Magma Quilt this Spring in temps from 30F as much as the excessive 40s comfortably. On an evening that ranged from 30- 35F, with blended precipitation from rain to sleet to snow, I used to be heat and comfy all night time within the Magma in simply base layers, fleece balaclava, and socks.

Sizing

We examined the medium-wide model of this quilt. There are additionally Medium, Lengthy, and Lengthy Large sizes out there. Whereas a regular-width sleeping bag is commonly high-quality for hammock tenting, due to how the underquilt wraps round you, many customers, together with smaller ones like myself, discover {that a} vast quilt is healthier for floor use to stop drafts, particularly if you’re a rotisserie sleeper. REI says it is a 73.2 x 54.3 inch quilt, but it surely’s tapered. We measured the quilt on the shoulders to be fairly a bit wider than reported: 58 inches, however the size to be barely shorter at 72 inches.

Pad Straps

The 2 included pad straps are loops of static (non-elastic) flat twine with a cordlock to tighten the strap round your sleeping pad, and two plastic toggles to which you connect the loops on both sides of your quilt. The toggles are a decent match within the loops, and, whereas they received’t by accident launch, this additionally means they’re very arduous to unbutton.

I used to suppose that quilt straps had been nugatory for aspect sleepers. They had been restrictive and made me really feel like I had been tied right down to the pad–particularly non-elastic straps like these included with the Magma quilt. As an lively sleeper, it’s essential to have elasticity within the sleep system.

Then, whereas utilizing the ZenBivy sleep system, I made a discovery that I started to make use of with all my quilts once I’m floor sleeping: attaching the quilt to the straps on one aspect solely. This provides me a draft-free aspect alongside my again and I can cosy the quilt round me on the opposite aspect, the aspect I’m going through. It additionally helps maintain the bag from sliding off the pad and makes it tremendous simple to exit within the night time.

Stuff Sack/ Storage Bag

The REI Magma Quilt comes with a big mesh storage sack to maintain the quilt uncompressed at residence, and a small, easy cylindrical drawstring (non-compressible) stuff sack made out of the identical cloth because the quilt’s shell. I discover the stuff sack slightly too small–if you end up attempting to pack up the quilt with chilly fingers it’s a little bit of a battle to get all of it in, and it’s a really tight match, however the small pack measurement is good if you’re carrying it in your backpack.

Suggestion

The REI Magma Quilt 30 is a superb choice for brand spanking new customers to experiment with as their first backpacking quilt, resulting from REI’s return coverage, the conservative temp score, the width, and the draft collar. However it is usually a top quality quilt, and these design options might be appreciated by skilled customers as properly. Really helpful!

Store at REI

Likes

• Temp score is conservative–it was spot-on for a chilly sleeper
• Large choice labored properly for stopping drafts whereas floor sleeping
• Draft collar with an easy-access captured drawcord on the within of the quilt

Room for Enchancment

• Make the pad straps elastic

Disclosure: REI donated a quilt for an trustworthy evaluate.

Concerning the writer