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Kelty Ignite DriDown 16

rated 5.0 of 5 stars
photo: Kelty Ignite DriDown 16 3-season down sleeping bag

If you look for a sale, you can get this down bag for an incredible price! It's accurately rated to 16° F (men's EN lower limit). It's a high quality down bag for under $200 — something that's almost impossible to find. Best of all is the fact that the DriDown is as moisture resistant as the manufacturer claims.

Pros

  • Relatively lightweight
  • Compressible
  • Truly moisture resistant
  • True-to-spec temperature rating
  • Adjustable hood
  • Quality construction
  • Breathable

Cons

  • Too heavy for ultralighters
  • Too short for anyone over about 5'10"

Okay, this is one of those products that almost seems too good to be true. First, if you wait for a sale, you can find this bag for around $100 bucks — something nearly impossible for a high-quality down bag! Second, DriDown really is as moisture resistant as the manufacturer claims, while still being breathable. Third, it's really warm!  Fourth.... well, if I keep going you'll be reading this review all day.

So, even the best products are rarely perfect but the only two drawbacks I can see with this bag are, 1) at 2 lb. 7 oz., it's too heavy for anyone looking for ultralight, and 2) it specs at 72" but I'm 5'9" and I don't know how anyone more than an inch or two taller would fit comfortably. Even with these two minor character flaws I couldn't bring myself to rate it anything other than a perfect 5 stars.

I'm a cold sleeper and have a Sea-to-Summit bag liner (separate review) that I carry into the backcountry even during the warmest part of the year. On my first trip out with this bag, the temperature dropped well below freezing and I still needed to ditch the bag liner.

The loft, draft tubes, and hood surpassed my expectations and I didn't have a single cold spot — something I can't say about my other bag. I also had a lot of condensation and while the shell appeared to be wet, the down stayed completely dry (the shell was totally dry after about 5 minutes in the sun).

Other online reviewers seem to have issues with the zipper snagging so I'm either exceptionally gifted (NOT!), or a lot of people seem a bit inept. I haven't had a single issue, even during that desperate OMG-I-gotta-go-now pee trip in the middle of the night.

I honestly don't know how anyone who's done their homework on down bags could go wrong with this one.  Everything about it is exceptional as far as I'm concerned!

Source: bought it new
Price Paid: $110 USD on sale

I worked on a conservation corps trail crew and we camped whenever we were working on a trail, so I used this sleeping bag heavily. It is lightweight and packs pretty small, and is nice and warm.

Some people in my crew had to add layers during the night to stay warm while I slept in shorts and a shirt. Although the zipper can get caught somewhat easily, I still recommend this sleeping bag.

Pros

  • Warm
  • Lightweight
  • Compresses well

Cons

  • Zipper can get caught on the fabric

I used this sleeping bag heavily when I worked on a conservation corps trail crew and loved it. It kept me warm the whole time but the coldest temperatures I used it in were the low 30s. Some people in my crew had to add layers when they slept, but I stayed warm in shorts and a shirt with this bag. The size of the bag was true to their specifications, which I was comfortable in. I think there are tall versions in case you need extra room. 

I took some back country trips and this sleeping bag packed down well for them. The loft comes back relatively quick after being compressed, but I never used it right after unpacking so it had to to rise before I used it.

The Dridown works well, but it is still down. I got rained on twice where water got into my tent and got parts of my bag wet. It wasn't the most comfortable experience, but I was still relatively warm. 

The one problem I could see with this bag was that the zipper can get caught on the fabric. I would have to slowly pull the zipper back and pull the fabric out softly so that it wouldn't tear. Although it was annoying at times, the warmth of this sleeping bag and the fact it was light weight outweighed the inconvenience. 

Overall, I love this sleeping bag and highly recommend it! 

Source: bought it new
Price Paid: $200

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Specs

Price Historic Range: $124.93-$219.98
Reviewers Paid: $110.00-$200.00
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