Fall is the single best season for camping. Don’t come at me with your arguments for spring or summer; they’re all invalid. Everyone knows the outdoors are best when there’s a chill in the air, campfires feel good in the evening, and the leaves are changing colors.

I adore fall camping. All the above and a relative lack of people on the trail and in the campground make it that much easier to “get away.”

Ironically, though, that last one isn’t quite true this year. In the Year of the Pandemic, quite a lot of y’all have decided to do a LOT more hiking and camping than normal.

In any case, this was also the year I decided to FINALLY upgrade my sleeping bag. I’m on record admitting my weakness for shiny new outdoor gear, but even though I’ve recently fallen prey to new tents, camp stoves, water filters, and backpacks… I, for some reason, have resisted replacing my sleeping bag.

I’m not sure why. It’s ancient. It’s heavy. And it’s bulky. But it also carries a lot of memories. I got it… sheesh, 22 years ago in college when I set off for a archaeological field school in Tanzania. I know what you’re thinking – a 3-season mummy bag in equatorial Africa? I also took it to the peak of Mt. Kilimanjaro where it came in pretty handy.

But, over the last couple years, as the rest of the family has gotten new sleeping bags that are way lighter and more efficient than my old Marmot bag, I clung to that memory-filled monstrosity. But it was finally time. And after doing a fair bit of research, my gear lust quickly focused on REI’s Magma.

Shopping for high-quality outdoor gear – sleeping bags, especially – inevitably leads to sticker shock. It costs how much? But think about it, your sleeping bag is your first line of defense against the elements. Sure, the tent will keep the rain away, but your sleeping bag keeps the COLD away. And honestly, that’s probably more important.

Just as you don’t want to skimp on the brakes when it comes to your car, you don’t want to cut too many corners when it comes to your sleeping bag. Both are directly responsibly for keeping you alive.

So when it comes to new sleeping bags, the biggest considerations you’ll face are price and weight. Are you looking for a relatively inexpensive (but still effective) bag with synthetic insulation? Or are you willing to spend a little extra for a more lightweight bag with down insulation? (REI does a great job of comparing the two types of insulation here.)

Personally, weight and compressibility were important factors for me, which is what first led me to the Magma 30. At only 22 oz (for a 78-inch “long” bag) – and less than 20 oz for a 72-inch regular – the Magma is REI’s lightest down bag.

It’s also incredibly comfortable and efficient.

The Magma (on the right) vs my ancient (and way less efficient) bag

The 30 in the Magma 30’s name indicates that the bag is rated for use at a lower limit of 30 degrees F (with a tested “comfort” level of 39 degrees F). How does it actually fare in temperatures that low? Well, I’ve taken it out in nights that dipped into the lower 40s, and I wasn’t even chilly. In fact, I had to unzip the bag a bit because I was so warm. And that’s not a bad problem to have in the fall.

Is this bag the warmest of the more than a half-dozen we have in the family arsenal now? Without a doubt. It also might just be the coziest. If you’re unfamiliar with down (or with products made with down), you might also be unfamiliar with the term down fill power. In short, it’s a number that indicates the quality of down (and is a measurement of how many cubic inches of loft one ounce of that down fill produces).

The higher the number, the better the insulating efficiency. A rating of 900 is about as good as down gets. The Magma has 850 fill power down. It’s a beast.

But I won’t lie – the 15-denier ripstop nylon shell and liner) feels intensely fragile. It’s incredibly thin, and even though I know it won’t, it feels like it’ll rip on a jagged fingernail. (Find a good storage spot away from cats, though, as a precaution.)

All this technobabble can really be summed up thus: the Magma is a top-of-the-line, high-quality sleeping bag that will keep you warm, comfortable, safe, and happy almost every month of the year.

I might recommend checking out the Magma 15 – which is rated for 16 degrees with a tested comfort level of 28 degrees – if you’re planning to be out in colder weather or more extreme conditions. The 15 has many of the same specs as the 30, but it’s slightly heavier at 30 oz (long) and 28 oz (regular). It also retails for $50 more.

Both the Magma 15 and the Magma 30 come in men’s and women’s versions (with increased hip room and decreased shoulder room for improved thermal efficiency).

So is this the one bag to rule them all? Meh, there’s not really such a thing. Everyone has unique needs and will be using their gear in unique ways.

For example, this might not be the ideal bag in the middle of summer, when nights hover in the 70s – though you can certainly still use it. Despite all that down, the Magma is still fairly breathable. You just won’t want to be cocooned up in it.

Frankly, though, I’m not sure who would regret buying REI’s Magma bag. It’s a bit on the spendy side, but it’s an ultralight bag that compresses down to an impressively small size (the 15 fits inside my smallish 35-liter overnight backpack; the 30 is even more packable). It’s a true 3-season backpacker sleeping bag that will last you many, many seasons and hundreds of trail miles.

One more thing: if it matters to you, the down in the Magma is RDS (Responsible Down Standard) certified, which safeguards the welfare of geese and ducks and indicates that the down comes from animals that have not been subjected to unnecessary harm. It’s also bluesign® approved, which means the material meets certain standards meant to protect the health and safety of the environment.