User Review: Sierra Designs DriDown Zissou 15

Summary

Light, warm, and DRI! Get it!? This bag is a great deal and a great entry into this new technology of water-resistant/waterproof down.

At the time I'm reviewing this, I think they have released the newer Zissou 13.  Which explains the insane price I got over the 2012 Holiday season.  They had a 50% off coupon on Sierra Designs website directly, so needless to say, I couldn't pass up this deal. 

The only other sleeping bag I have is an older Kelty Lightyear 3D 25 Degree. It is also light, actually I think a hair lighter than this bag. But it's also a 25 degree bag and also synthetic and doesn't have any of the pros that down bags have. So this is my first down bag. 

I've gone camping once in this bag so far. I somehow convinced my wife to go to Amicalola Falls to stay the night, it just so happened to be pretty cold. Down to 18 degrees in the early morning the next day. She had her Marmot 15 synthetic bag and I was cozied up in my new Zissou 15. No problems! Nice and warm. No drafts. And in addition no wet bag from sweaty feet and condensation. She on the other hand had 3 blankets and was still shivering. Trooper! Last time I'll get away with a trip like that again...

I do wish this bag weighed a little less and also packed down smaller. It's plenty small enough to backpack with, but you'd have to spend some dough to get into the sub 2lb arena, and that's just not my goal any more.

Other complaints are the zippers, they tend to snag or are just frustrating to unzip because you have to do so at a certain angle or it just won't go willingly.

The cut of the bag is good.  I'm 5'10" 190lbs and bought a regular.  Perfect fit. Also a very good material, not as visibly durable at first sight as some of the fabric I've seen on Big Agnes waterproof down bags, but still it's nice.