If these thoughts conjure up the kind of outdoor sleep you like, and you spend a lot of time out in cold weather, then the Aiguille Dryloft -5 degree sleeping bag from Marmot may just be your ideal sleeping bag.

When I took my first look at this world class sleeping bag, my first thought was how cool it looked, and secondly, that this was one tough, mean, sleeping bag. And was I ever right.

Here's why the Aiguille Dryloft is one keen sleeping bag:

• The 800 goose-down fill bag is rated at -5 degrees. And this is a conservative figure. With the proper base layer, you can get -10 to -15 degrees out if it, without even breaking a sweat. The huge loft will easily keep away your chills.
  
   
• The shell is made out of TwiLight DryLoft N-143R fabric with a DWR finish. While you probably won't experience a lot of moisture while winter camping (unless you like to sleep in ice caves), if you do, the down will be well protected from most moisture by the Gore DryLoft fabric. In addition, DryLoft is breathable, helping to expel perspiration from the bag if you get too warm. This material is also very tough and should last for many years.
  
   
• While the bag has a slim, sarcophagus-like cut to minimize weight and maximize warmth, it is not confining. The standard size (for people up to 6') bag's internal dimensions are 64" for the shoulder, 60" for the hip, and 42" for the feet. The long (for people up to 6' 6") bag's  internal dimensions are 66" for the shoulder, 62" for the hip, and 44" for the feet. This is more than enough room for most people, and more that many competitive sleeping bags.
  
   
• The hood is comfortable and fits well around your head and face. It closes tightly around your face and doesn't have any irritating material, such as Velcro, to rub you when you sleep.
  
   
• The draft tubes, top and bottom, are large and prevent warm air from leaking. In addition, the entire zipper is lined with a draft tube to prevent drafts and keep in warmth.
  
   
• The zipper are relatively well-protected from getting caught in the shell material, although not perfect. As long as you are careful, you will be OK.
  
   
• The footbox is large, leaving enough room for your feet without them being awkwardly bent by lack of space in the bag. In fact, there is plenty of room for water bottles or boot liners if you don't might sharing your space.
  
   
• The standard size bag weighs just 3 pounds 12 ounces, and the long bag weighs four pounds 1 ounces. It also comes with both a storage and stuff bag. As you can imagine, being made out of 800-fill goose down, it compresses well.
  
   
• This bag just exudes quality, everywhere you look. I wish I could mount it on my wall to show it off to everyone. (Yea, that is a little geeky to say, but what the heck, we are all friends here.)

I just love this sleeping bag. Now if only I can convince my wife to let me turn off the heat in our house, then I could use it all the time. "What do you say Hon?"

Using the Marmot Aiguille Sleeping Bag in the Real World

Based on my experience so far, the Aiguille is comfortable from about +35 to -10 degrees, depending on what you are wearing while sleeping. It is a great three season (fall, winter, and spring) bag, as long as you don't do any extreme winter camping. Also, on the cold end of the scale, you will probably want to use two sleeping pads, such as one self-inflating mattress on top of a closed-foam mattress for the greatest comfort.

While the shell material is very water-resistant, it is not waterproof, so you will need some protection from the elements, such as a tent or bivy. In cold weather, moisture buildup in the bag should not be any problem, but toward the warmer end of the scale, 30 degrees and up, the bag can build up moisture inside. The best way to deal with this is to vent it with the zipper.

Recommendation

If you spend a lot of your time on cold weather outdoor adventures, and you need a bombproof sleeping bag, you can't go wrong with the Marmot Aiguille.

Product Notes

The Aiguille is available with either left or right zippers, and is only available in a single color, which is a two-tone charcoal grey and black. The MSRP for the standard bag is $499.00, and the MSRP for the long bag is $519.00.