Sierra Designs Zissou 15

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.

It lofts like a dream, and the hydrophobic coating on the down really does work. I camp with a single wall tent that is dripping with condensation some nights, and the Zissou has stayed dry, warm, and cuddly. The zippers are easy to see at night and the little pocket is handy for chapstick and a headlamp. Sometimes I use it in my apartment at night--it's that comfortable!

It lofts like a dream, and the hydrophobic coating on the down really does work. I camp with a single wall tent that is dripping with condensation some nights, and the Zissou has stayed dry, warm, and cuddly. The zippers are easy to see at night and the little pocket is handy for chapstick and a headlamp. Sometimes I use it in my apartment at night—it's that comfortable!

I'm a warm sleeper, but I've lent it to the cold-bloodest friends—and everyone agrees that it is warm to its temperature rating. The hood functions well, and the fit is great for me (an thinner woman), but I could see it being a little tight for a larger man. The side zipper zips down really far, allowing easy entry and exit.  

It compresses and packs well, and the light weight is a huge plus. I love that I don't have to compromise the warmth and packability of down with the ability to handle water and humid conditions that synthetic brings. The Dri-down really works.  

I've used it in warm weather, unzipped in a camping hammock, in 27 degree and below nights in a single wall tent meant for two, with three people and a dog crammed in—talk about condensation! But the Zissou stayed dry and warm.  

Warm, but not without problems.

Quite warm overall but leaks feathers like a sieve. I used it first on a trip in BC and it rained like mad but no issues there. The feathers are constantly coming out though, often in big clumps. Kind of frustrating for such an expensive bag. Agree about the zippers being obnoxious.