Facebook Twitter Instagram
    FeedTheHabit.com
    • Home
    • Gear Reviews
      • Mountain Biking
      • Road Biking
      • Bike Commuting
      • Trail Running
      • Skiing
      • Outdoors
      • Water Sports
      • Vehicles
    • News
    • Trip Reports
    • Videos
    FeedTheHabit.com
    Gear Reviews

    Sierra Designs Tov DriDown Puffy Jacket Review

    Kevin GloverBy Kevin GloverJanuary 2, 20131 Comment6 Mins Read

    Down – long regarded as God’s gift to cold people, the insulating power of goose feathers is hard to match.  Contradictory to its origin on the backs of our waterfowl friends, though, down jackets fall flat in wet conditions.  Sierra Designs’ new DriDown technology could potentially eliminate down’s only major performance drawback, and they’ve packed it into their Tov puffy jacket. After a month of testing in the Pacific Northwest’s rain it’s time to decide, does DriDown live up to its hype?

     Sierra Designs Tov DriDown Jacket Features:

    • 2 Zipper Hand Pockets
    • 1 Interior Dump Pocket
    • 1 Interior Zip Pocket
    • Fitted, Adjustable Elasticized Hood
    • Elasticized Cuff with Thumbhole
    • Hung Lining for Warmth
    • Includes Stuff Sack
    • 600 Fill DriDown
    • 1 lb. 5oz. total weight
    • 5.8oz. fill
    • MSRP: $259

    527_1_snorkelfusion

    My Experience

    Sierra Design’s Tov is a midweight puffy jacket that elegantly blends style and performance.  The Tov’s cut is strictly in the middle – it’s not an annoyingly oversized puffy jacket, but it’s also not cut too tight.  The jacket features a drop trail that is wonderful when sitting around the campfire to keep one’s lower back warm.  Cushy thumbholes in the sleeves are a valuable feature at any time and I was glad Sierra Designs included them.  The Tov is a very comfortable piece to wear and it manages to feel streamlined, an accomplishment that few puffy jackets can match.

    Sierra Designs chose a diamond baffle pattern coupled with a hung liner for warmth, and this combination does a surprisingly good job holdiing in heat for the jacket’s weight and class.  The jacket is definitely a midweight jacket – not strictly a layering piece, but not a monstrous one-piece-warmth solution.  Indeed, the Tov’s performance in the rain makes it a solid choice for an outer layer in conditions that few down jackets could survive in.  The Tov is special because, as trim as it is, it manages to be startlingly warm.  Coupled with a fleece baselayer I easily took this jacket down to the high teens in relative comfort.  The wind blows right through the sewn-through baffles which is quite a shame because it’s the only thing that takes away from the Tov’s warmth and comfort.

    The Tov also touts a lot of great features that virtually everyone will enjoy.  The adjustable hem’s drawstrings run through grommets into the pockets so the hem can be adjusted without you ever having to take your hands out of the downy warmth.  Moreover, the collar and hood are remarkably comfortable – the zipper garage makes the collar completely smooth, and on me it was just loose enough to be comfortable without losing heat.  The hood features an elasticized opening and adjustable drawstring, making it very comfortable to wear.

    Just check out this zipper pull - sure, it's a little detail, but it's easily the neatest one I've seen.
    Just check out this zipper pull – sure, it’s a little detail, but it’s easily the neatest one I’ve seen.

    I have mixed feelings about a few of Sierra Design’s choices, though.  The diamond baffle design is nice because it keeps the Tov’s wiley 600 fill down strictly in place, but the overabundance of seams exacerbates down leakage.  Moreover, it’s a lot harder to pull plumes back into down jackets when they’re very close to a seam, and the Tov’s design has so many tight corners that plumes are frequently in a tough spot.  On the other hand, the generous patch of down right over the pockets eliminates any cold spots for the hands, and this big cushion of down is a much-appreciated feature when you need to stuff your hands somewhere warm.

    Sierra Designs’ Tov is an awesome puffy jacket by any standards, but there’s an elephant in the room that has yet to be addressed – DriDown!  I was fortunate to spend the fall testing this technology around the rainy Pacific Northwest.  In my experiences, DriDown does an awesome job at what it’s designed for, which is thwarting down’s reputation as a poor choice for rainy weather.  The Tov simply stays lofty in the rain longer than traditional down jackets; DriDown, coupled with the DWR on the ripstop nylon, can handle mild to moderate rain for a couple of hours without many complaints.  Mind you, the Tov definitely lets some moisture through in its plethora of seams, but the bulk of the down will remain lofty and dry far longer than traditional down insulation.

    My favorite performance benefit is how quickly DriDown dries out; to me, this was the most startling benefit because I could hang up a moderately damp jacket to dry and then pull it on, completely dry, in two hours.  DriDown’s benefits are completely tangible and it definitely lives up to the hype.  Put simply, DriDown stays warmer, longer, in wet weather.

    The DWR is a solid barrier before DriDown even has to start working.
    The DWR is a solid barrier before DriDown even has to start working.

    The Good:

    • DriDown is the coolest thing since sliced bread
    • DWR and DriDown work together for a very resilient jacket in wet weather
    • Comfortable, moderate cut for a puffy jacket
    • Surprisingly warm for a midweight down jacket
    • Diamond baffle design holds down in place well
    • Smooth zipper action, both up and down
    • Packed with quality features

    The Bad:

    • 600 fill down tends to leak due to pokier stems
    • Diamond baffles have extra seams, leads to more feather leakage
    • Sewn-through seams let the wind in
    • At 1 lb. 6 oz. it’s a tad heavy for backpackers

    The Bottom Line

    Wrapping things up, all the details of a good jacket are here:  smooth zipper, goggle pocket, thumbholes and beautifully crafted zipper pulls put the finishing touches on a very fine product.  If I could have but one wish granted to me, it would be for an iteration of the Tov in 8oo fill down: feather leakage would be mitigated and let’s be honest, who doesn’t love 800 fill down?  As it is, the 600 fill down performs well while keeping price in check.  The Tov is a great contribution to the puffy jacket field but the addition of DriDown really puts the Tov ahead of the pack; Sierra Designs has a champ on their hands.

    Buy Now:  Available at Altrec.com

    14
    SHARES
    ShareTweet
    jackets sierra designs
    Previous ArticleMammut Shirko Jacket with GORE-TEX Active Shell Review
    Next Article RockShox Reverb Adjustable Seatpost Review
    Kevin Glover
    • Website

    Kevin Glover lives, climbs and backpacks out of Spokane, WA. Originally from the Nevada high desert, he moved to the PNW ten years ago and has worked as a glacier and rock guide in the Washington Cascades. When not testing gear, he is a medical student at the University of Washington and will gladly check that rash out for you.

    You Might Also Like

    Arc’teryx Rush SK 16 Backpack Review

    March 20, 2023

    Giro Montaro MIPS II Helmet Review

    March 15, 2023

    Outdoor Vitals Vario Jacket Review

    March 13, 2023

    1 Comment

    1. Pingback: Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer Down Jacket Review - FeedTheHabit.com

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    Most Popular

    Montec Fawk Ski Jacket and Bib Review

    February 28, 2022

    Wahoo ELEMNT Rival Multisport GPS Watch Review

    March 9, 2022
    8.9

    Zipp 303 S Carbon Wheelset Review

    November 4, 2021
    8.5

    Canyon Lux Trail CF 7 Review

    November 28, 2022
    9.2

    SRAM Rival XPLR eTap AXS Groupset Review

    August 12, 2022

    SRAM Rival/GX AXS Mullet Gravel Kit Review

    September 17, 2021
    9.1

    Bontrager Aeolus Pro 37 TLR Wheelset Review

    June 18, 2020
    9.4

    Roval CL 50 Disc Wheelset Review

    September 13, 2019
    9.1

    Bontrager Aeolus Pro 51 TLR Wheelset Review

    September 9, 2021

    Santini Gravel Bib Tights Review

    March 8, 2023
    Follow Us
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    Advertisement
    Our Latest Posts
    • Arc’teryx Rush SK 16 Backpack Review
    • Giro Montaro MIPS II Helmet Review
    • Outdoor Vitals Vario Jacket Review
    • Santini Gravel Bib Tights Review
    • Sportneer K1 Massage Gun Review
    • Review: Giro Latch Mountain Bike Shoes
    • Rapha Pro Team Long Sleeve Gore-Tex Infinium Jersey Review
    • Rab Xenair Alpine Light Insulated Jacket Review
    • Fresh Wheels: ENVE Releases MOG Gravel Bike
    • Scarpa Ribelle Run Kalibra G Review
    About Us
    About Us

    Since 1999, we have delivered in-depth gear reviews, articles and content. We feature a small staff of savvy, experienced writers who love to review outdoor gear.

    External links to Amazon, REI, Backcountry and other retailers include affiliate codes that give us a small commission on each sale.

    To contact us or learn more, go to our About Us page.

    © FeedTheHabit.com 1999 - 2023. All rights reserved.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.