“Down versus synthetic is one of hte greatest back-and-forth rivalries of our time: tougher and more evenly matched than Agassi-Sampras.  The battle has heated up this year as two companies have enveiled products containing down that aims to take away synthetic’s ace serve: that it remains insulating even when wet.

Sierra Designs has developed a proprietary process for applying a water-resistant, polymer to down feathers.  The company claims this DwrDown will keep the feathers dry seven times longer than regular down in the presence of moisture.  Further, the treated feathers will dry three times faster, and retain more loft.

I hoped these lofty claims were true because I prefer down to synthetic.  High-quality down is lighter and packs better.  Mostly, I find it more comfortable.

I’ve been testing the 15-degree Zissou sleeping bag, camping in environments where mild moisture absorption is most common: through tent condensation, or open bivies beside rivers or lakes, where the increased moisture soaks the bag and freezes you by 5 a.m.

Man, is the Zissou comfortable!  The fluffy bag swaddled me to sleep, and kept me happily adrift in Queen Maud Land throughout the nights, despite the presence of condensation and moisture.  The Zissou retained its loft surprisingly well, and I never got the same bivy shivers I’ve experienced in other similar down sleeping bags.  Clearly, DwrDown has an edge on regular down.”