Thoughts on Sierra Designs Dridown sleeping bags?

[2ski]

I see they are going to be 25% off at REI starting on Friday. I was thinking of a WM bag eventually and if we're talking the SD bags in the $500+ range, I'm guessing WM is the way to go, although 25% off is a ton of change on a bag that expensive. But SD has a couple bags in the $300 range as well. $75 off is a great deal too. Should I keep saving for the WM or go with the SD?

By the way, I see in the same flier that they will have the Pategonia nanopuff for around $140 down from $199 too if anyone is in the market for one of those.

 

[Brodie]

I'm looking forward to trying one.
I ordered a zissou 23 from campsaver. com for 20% off and free shipping (REI costs to much to canada). Will cut at least 2 lbs off compared to my current MEC synthetic bag.

 

[cmeier117]

I just got the Zissou 12 degree bag in the mail last week. So I don't have any time in the bag. But I think Aron's article in extreme elk, he says it is a great bang for the buck. So far I like the cut, loft and the zippers. Seems to be a well designed bag. I will say it doesn't seem to have the loft of my Montbell UL Super spiral down hugger though, and that is a 15 degree bag. Must be the 700 down instead of 850+.

 

[cmeier117]

Maybe Aron will see this and comment.

 

[Backpack Hunter]

At this time I wont pay the extra for the dridown till I see how long it will last.
You can always pick up a standard down bag with a dwr finish to protect it, and know how long that will last.

 

[cmeier117]

That is the thing. None of these bags are any more expensive. I know Sea to Summit doesn't give you the choice, all their bags now come with dridown. Or there version of it.

 

[Backpack Hunter]

I should have been more clear. I guess what I am saying is I would rather pay the same price for "regular" down with a dwr finish because I know how long it will last and exactly what I am getting. With dridown, I'm paying the same price but possibly run out of the dry aspect in 2?, 3?, 7 years?

In my mind I just don't see the drastic step forward in functionality, but I do see a potential failure down the road. It's not any lighter, not any warmer, not any more water resistant, but it is potentially (and maybe only that) less durable.

 

[huntndad]

I have the Zissou 12, but only used it once camping in the yard. Temps reached a low of about 40, so I never really got a chance to test the bag. Zippers seemed to work fine. I purchased the bag because, for me, it offered the best cost to weight to EN temperature rating, especially with a 40% off deal. If the dridown works, that's just a plus.
My bag weighed in at 2lbs 5 oz.

 

[2ski]

I should have been more clear. I guess what I am saying is I would rather pay the same price for "regular" down with a dwr finish because I know how long it will last and exactly what I am getting. With dridown, I'm paying the same price but possibly run out of the dry aspect in 2?, 3?, 7 years?

In my mind I just don't see the drastic step forward in functionality, but I do see a potential failure down the road. It's not any lighter, not any warmer, not any more water resistant, but it is potentially (and maybe only that) less durable.

You make a very good point. Down lasts a lot longer than synthetic. Who knows how long dridown will last in its waterproofness, loft, and temp rating.

 

[cmeier117]

I should have been more clear. I guess what I am saying is I would rather pay the same price for "regular" down with a dwr finish because I know how long it will last and exactly what I am getting. With dridown, I'm paying the same price but possibly run out of the dry aspect in 2?, 3?, 7 years?

In my mind I just don't see the drastic step forward in functionality, but I do see a potential failure down the road. It's not any lighter, not any warmer, not any more water resistant, but it is potentially (and maybe only that) less durable.

I understand what you are saying, I guess time will tell. I never thought of that before.

 

[Matt Cashell]

I should have been more clear. I guess what I am saying is I would rather pay the same price for "regular" down with a dwr finish because I know how long it will last and exactly what I am getting. With dridown, I'm paying the same price but possibly run out of the dry aspect in 2?, 3?, 7 years?

In my mind I just don't see the drastic step forward in functionality, but I do see a potential failure down the road. It's not any lighter, not any warmer, not any more water resistant, but it is potentially (and maybe only that) less durable.

What is the risk?

DriDown is just regular down with a DWR applied to the actual feathers. So when (if?) the DWR wears off, you are just left with a regular down bag. There is no additional monetary cost, and the bag's shell still comes with its own DWR finish, just like the regular down bags.

So what you get is a down bag with a little more water resistance insurance built in. They have tested the DWR down to show that it is more water resistant than regular down, and dries faster when wet. This seems like a good thing.

 

[cmeier117]

What is the risk?

DriDown is just regular down with a DWR applied to the actual feathers. So when (if?) the DWR wears off, you are just left with a regular down bag. There is no additional monetary cost, and the bag's shell still comes with its own DWR finish, just like the regular down bags.

So what you get is a down bag with a little more water resistance insurance built in. They have tested the DWR down to show that it is more water resistant than regular down, and dries faster when wet. This seems like a good thing.

This is a good point, and the weight penalty is nothing, meaning the process adds such a little coating to the down that it basically isn't there. As far as I know about down and getting it ready to put in bags they have to wash it anyways and then dry it. I could be wrong but the down coating process is done somewhere in the washing process anyways.

 

[Backpack Hunter]

What is the risk?

DriDown is just regular down with a DWR applied to the actual feathers. So when (if?) the DWR wears off, you are just left with a regular down bag. There is no additional monetary cost, and the bag's shell still comes with its own DWR finish, just like the regular down bags.

So what you get is a down bag with a little more water resistance insurance built in. They have tested the DWR down to show that it is more water resistant than regular down, and dries faster when wet. This seems like a good thing.

Well, we know the dwr will wear off (all do eventually), the question to me becomes when, and how.
How will the application affect the down years down the road? Will it act like an inhibitor (like any normal application does)? Will it retard its warmth capturing capabilities? Will it retard it enough to be noticeable? Will it "seal" the down (I'm using that term loosely) over time creating a vapor barrier inside the bag?

I'm merely taking a wait and see approach. For all I know I'm making much a big deal about nothing.