Two sleeping bags worth lining up side by side. Both are solid; the right one depends on the specs you care about most.
| Marmot Helium 15 | Western Mountaineering Apache MF | |
|---|---|---|
| GearScore | 84✓ | 65 |
| Comfort rating | 27 °F | 25 °F✓ |
| Weight | 2 lb 2.7 oz | 32.0 oz✓ |
| Warmth-to-weight | 4.4 /100g | 5.0 /100g✓ |
| Packed size | 9.2 L | n/s |
| Fill power | 800 FP | 850 FP✓ |
| Price | $499 | n/s |
| Fill | Down | Down |
| Style | Bag | Bag |
| Shape | Mummy | Mummy |
Highlighted cells mark the better spec: Helium 15 in blue, Apache MF in amber. A blank spec is never counted as a win. A lower comfort rating in °F means a warmer bag, so the warmer bag takes that row. GearScore is the overall rating (0 to 100); re-weight it on the full bag comparison. Prices are current MSRP.
The Marmot Helium 15 and Western Mountaineering Apache MF take different routes to the same job. The Helium 15 wins on balance, and the Apache MF pushes back on warmth and low weight.
The Apache MF is warmer (rated 25°F vs 27°F), 3 oz lighter, and stronger on warmth-to-weight. On the default GearScore the Helium 15 leads 84 to 65.
Pick the Helium 15 if you care most about the overall package. Pick the Apache MF if warmth and low weight matter more to you, or you are focused on colder nights and shoulder-season trips.
The Western Mountaineering Apache MF. It is warmer (rated 25°F vs 27°F) than the Helium 15.
The Western Mountaineering Apache MF. It is 3 oz lighter than the Helium 15.
The Marmot Helium 15, 84 to 65 on the default algorithm. You can re-weight the factors to match your trip.
It depends on your priorities. Go with the Helium 15 for the overall balance, or the Apache MF for warmth. The spec table above shows exactly where each wins.