(* Note: All weights measured on a Pelouze PE5 digital scale, +- 0.1 oz/2.8 g)

Featuring

• Baffle Construction
• Compression Stuff Sack
• Draft Collar
• DriZone "Waterproof Breathable"
• Dual Draft Tubes
• Glow-in-the-Dark Zipper Pulls
• Pad Locks
• Snag Free Zipper Tracks
• MSRP 339.95 USD

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

The Sierra Designs Cirque sleeping bag is a mummy shaped, winter rated, "outside the tent" bag. Despite its lack of taped seams, its DriZone shell is supposed to be proof against "dew and wind" permitting safe sleeping outside the tent.  It comes with both a compression stuff sack and a cotton "pillowcase" storage bag.

Initial Impression

Opening the box I found the bag shipped in the storage bag (12"/30 cm dia x 14"/35.5 cm tall while in the box). Taking it from the box, I pulled it from the storage bag and found a hang-tag attached to the zipper. It contains similar information as the website (although it states the stuff size is 9" x 19" (23 cm x 48 cm) vs. the website's simple 10"/25.4 cm). Additionally, the tag contains some further information outlining the usefulness of the features noted above. Among the notable claims are some technical info on the DriZone laminated fabric - including the fact that it's a breathable fabric that allows moisture to escape while keeping the rain from coming in. The snag-free zipper tracks are supposed to have been a Sierra Designs innovation ("first in the market") that prevent stuck zippers. It also highlights the draft tube next to the zipper - the Cirque being a 0F (-18C) bag, gets two tubes, top and bottom, and a draft collar for additional warmth. Finally, it states that the bag has baffled construction designed to keep the down from migrating to prevent cold spots. The tag is in both English and French.

So, how does it seem to stack up against these claims? I unrolled it on the floor and fluffed it out. I unzipped the bag and found the compression stuff sack tucked into the foot of the bag. After a quick review, I'm impressed by the pad straps that allow the bag to be attached to a sleeping pad, the included storage bag which I think is a nice touch, and the stuff sack's compression capability. I'm not sure about the usefulness of the glow-in-the-dark zipper pull, and I have a bit of an issue catching some of the inner fabric in the zipper (but it doesn't get stuck, I just zip back down a bit and continue to zip it up). Funny, but the one thing that strikes me as most impressive is the treatment of the Velcro tabs. The bag has a Velcro tab at the top of the zipper and another one inside to bring the ends of the shoulder draft collar together on the left side. Big deal except that Sierra Designs has made the tab long enough to allow it to be folded back on itself where the hook part sticks to a patch of the loop tape. This should keep those fuzzy bits of lint & stuff from embedding themselves in the hook part when the bag is not being used. It's just one of those nice touches that's not obviously necessary but makes so much sense when it's there and makes me think the rest of the bag is as well thought out.

Next I flip it over and check out the "pad locks". These are two straps of grosgrain ribbon at 34" and 56" (86 cm and 142 cm) from the foot of the bag. They have small plastic tensioners to allow the straps to be tightened. I slipped my mummy shaped sleeping pad between the bag & straps and tightened them up. Snugged up I flipped it back over, unzipped and climbed inside. Nice and comfortable, fluffy (5.5"/14 cm of loft), smooth, soft material, and toasty warm. I just wanted to take it outside and sleep under the stars.

But, a tester's work is never done, no time for sleeping now. I pulled out my tape measure and scale and got down to business. In addition to the measurements noted above, I checked the footbox height (8"/20 cm) - plenty of room for my size 9 1/2 feet. When loosely (more or less) stuffed in the storage bag which had been 14" (35.5 cm) long in the shipping box, it measured out to a more down-saving 27 1/2" (70 cm) tall. That should keep it from getting compressed in storage, although to tell the truth I tend to store my down bags hanging rather then bagged.

Being an ultralight/low-volume backpacker I was very interested in the size it will take up in my pack. Stuffing it into the stuff sack, it was a 9.5" diameter 17" long (24 x 43 cm) package. Drawing on the compression straps I was able to squeeze it vertically the full length of the straps' adjustability resulting in a 12 1/2" long (32 cm) bundle. Not overly small but pretty good for a cold rated bag like this. (The stuff sack adds 5.7 oz/162 g to the carry weight of the bag.)

Back out of the sack and fluffed back out again, I checked out the construction with a little more care. The hood has the standard drawcord to tighten it around my head. In addition though, it has a nice little down filled baffle tube on the inside of the cord which keeps the cord from pressing into my forehead. Another nice touch. The zipper has a robust draft tube on both the top & the bottom of the zipper. Doesn't look like there's any chance air is leaking through that construction. The shoulder area also has another draft tube that wraps around the top & bottom (chest & back area) with another drawcord inside. The ends of this tube also has a Velcro tab that closes the ends together to further keep the occupant snug. Another series of nice touches.  

Before I button it back up in preparation for my first trip out, I decide to check out the water resistance of the DriZone shell in the safety of my house. If it's going to leak I want to know that when I'm home, not at 2AM some cold night when the dew or a quick snowstorm wakes me and makes me wish I brought my tent and didn't sleep outside after all. This is especially critical for a down bag. So out comes the hose & sprayer. Sonofagun but it splatters right off! The water that doesn't bounce off, beads on the surface until I shake it off. It puddles in the dips & folds of the bag's loft. I leave it for a couple of hours like that, resting in its water bath. I figure if it doesn't wet out under this treatment I'm willing to risk the elements.

After two hours of the water treatment, it's still beading up and there is absolutely no wetting of the fabric. I'm okay taking this outside. That means I get to leave 3 lbs (1.4 kg) of tent at home. (I'm going to come up with some small square of Tyvek or something I can suspend over my head for the off-chance snow comes dumping, but my winter pack load appears to have just gotten lighter and smaller.

TESTING