Anyone have a Marmot Plasma 30

Rob Atmosphere is getting them. i can let you know when there in.

For the premium in dollars and ounces you seem to pay with the Marmot, it seems at least worth trying the Summerlite. The Montbell UL Spiral #3 seems worth a try, and is lighter than the Plasma. If the Summerlite is too slim, the WM Megalite is only 2 oz heavier than the Plasma 30 and would give you even more room.

I was about to buy the 15 but only rei had them thanks to some exclusive deal with marmot. I live in Texas so rei would have to charge me tax and shipping. Nope! I went with a helium from somewhere else and saved about $200. Sorry to be off the subject, but that was the one factor that kept me out of a plasma.

I saw the Plasma in backpacker as well, looking at the specs vs the Hydrogen they appear to be pretty similar- maybe the Pertex shell makes it more attractive???

Plasma 1# 6oz; 10.4 oz 900
Hydrogen 1# 8 oz; 11 oz 850

Plasma size at hip 58" , foot 43"
Hydrogen size at hip 58", foot 40"

Plasma en rating (male) 33.6F
Hydrogen en rating (male) 29.8F

MSR Plasma $419, Hydrogen $383

Hi. I think the over-stuffed draft collar and hood on the Plasma, the foot box and the Pertex shell might make up the difference. Also the over-all width in the shoulder/chest area allows for more wiggle room without compromising warmth due to the 900 power fill down.

A bit of a topic re-direction: I have not used a Plasma 30, but I do own a Plasma 15. I got mine on sale for $375. I compared it against a Western Mountaineering Ultralite bag, and the Plasma was hands down superior – and this comes for a very happy WM user for the last 10+ years (first generation Ultralite, Highlite and current Summerlite). The Plasma 15 is slightly heavier than the Ultralight, but is decidedly warmer and far more comfortable.

Specifically, the hood design and draft collar on the Ultralite just didn't cut it in comparison. The WM hood is shallow, does not coddle your head anywhere near as nicely as the Plasma, and the Velcro has a tendency to rub against your face. But the real kicker for me was the inferior design of the draft collar in the Ultralite. The cord that helps you snug the collar is positioned such that it lays right over the top of your neck. When you cinch it down, it puts pressure on your neck and is less than comfortable. WM bags are great stuff. Made in the USA. Durable and light weight, but IMO they desperately need to redesign their hoods and draft collars to compete against competitors bags. WM lost a sale to me over these issues.

Anyway… the Plasma 15 is amazing. It offers unbeatable refinement and sophistication and you have to pay for it as it is crazy expensive. I would not have considered it if it were not on sale, but at the price I paid, it was a no brainer. I imagine the Plasma 30 is every bit as nice.

Bout to pull the trigger on a plasma 30 for less than MSRP. Any feedback on this? It doesn't sound like you can shift the down from the bottom (underside) of the bag to the top like I can on my WM and FF bags, but, meh, marmot seems to be ravy about the bag and the reviews I've seen online (albeit.. just 2 or so) rave about the plasma 15/30. I'm 5'8" and 145ish, and have found a slim bag like the WM Ultralite really works fine for me, i stomach sleep and am still. My winter bag actually takes more work to warm up since it has a bit more girth. shoulda had FF make it 2in smaller, o well.

Anyone else want to chime in, in some general gear yappin about the plasma 30? This bag would be my summer-early fall bag for the cascades.

I have a winter bag, this is to replace my aging kelty quasar ultralight 25, which, was fine, but doesn't seem to do the job it once did, even after expert washing. maybe lousy down in there? I'm mailing it back to Kelty but I do not see any wares they have that would interest me today — unless than can put fresh 750+ fill into the quasar

my next step down the line will be a quilt, I'm sure.

thanks

bump

for only $30 less than msrp and that you're considering a quilt- I'd definitely be looking at Katabatic quilts as well before you make your decision

but i am getting it for less than MSRP is what I said.. so somewhere between 250 and 300?

at that point i am finding myself hard pressed to go with other alternatives, even if they may be better–I'd be paying some more serious loot.

My main concern is the down on the bottom, I checked a plasma 15 at the store and there seems to be plenty of down on the underside, its function–i have no idea.. just to get compressed under oneself..

cheers, thanks for response

$250-300 is significantly more than $30 off MSRP :) MSRP is $419- $30 = 389

they tout the ability to shift down on the Plasma, is this not the case?

not sure i said that i could get it for 30 less than MSRP… maybe mixed up in the name 'plasma 30 less than msrp'? :P

yes indeed, cheaper, hence i feel like, well, just go for it, not like I am plunking 400+ on a marmot dealy and not FF or WM.. or katabatic/nunatak quilt if i was spending that much.

Well I didn't mess with the plasma 15 that much at REI today. It seemed plenty lofty, top and bottom. Moving the down to me, doesn't make the most sense, in terms of around on the top– I mean if my feet are cold, my upper body is going to get cold if I try to get a ton of down, down to the feet–just my experience. But moving down from the bottom to the top, makes a lot of sense and I do that on WM and FF bags for sure.

Its the entire point of a quilt–you dont need any down under the pressure points of your body. We'll see how I rate the Plasma 30 — everything I can garner says that it is impeccably made and a great bag, so I'll have to take that word for now and find my own opinion. None the less if I can't shift that down on the bottom at least to get it in around my feet or up near the head in the hood, well, at MSRP or otherwise, you're paying some good coin for 900fp down that doesn't serve much warmth purpose.

yeah I completely misread that- saw "30 less than msrp" :)

for $250-300 I'd probably give it a go, you could easily recoup your investment if it doesn't work for you (then purchase that Katabatic quilt ;) )

I've had a Plasma 30 for about a month now. It's very well made – no complaints on construction! Comfortable cut, snuggly, seems warm.

The lowest I've used it in is the high 40s F, so I can't say anything about performance at low temps.

I also got mine at considerably below MSRP – gotta love a bargain!

So far, I'm delighted with the bag, and expect to be using it for years to come.

FWIW, I decided to go with a mummy bag after using a quilt the last two years. I am a side sleeper, and apparently switch sides all night long. My wife says I am a very "active" sleeper. I found with a quilt that I would often wake up cold, with the quilt all or partially off. I still wanted the light weight of the quilt, and the Plasma seemed about as close as I could get.

Oh, and I also picked up the 15 at the same time for colder weather, but have not had the chance to actually use it. Same as above re construction, etc.

for the vote of confidence! The impeccable construction is a serious plus. It is a summer bag for me in the cascades after all which means I always have a puffy with me. I won't get too hung up on underside down being compressed/immoveable. I'll soon find out, should be available for the 6-7th weekend!

I'll do a review then

Anyone have any recommendations on getting a small pocket in a bag? None of my bags have that and it would be exceedingly helpful for throwing the alarm watch and headlamp into.

cheers