REASONS TO BUY
Great price
Lightweight
Simple
REASONS TO AVOID
Half zip can be claustrophobic
Low-quality down
Sierra Designs Get Down 20 - Women's Review
This simple down filled bag is lightweight and relatively comfortable at a great price
The Sierra Designs Get Down 20 Women's
Credit: Jessica Haist
RELATED: Best Sleeping Bags for Women of 2024
Our Verdict
We were a bit flabbergasted when we saw the price tag on the Sierra Designs Get Down 20. This is a decent down-filled sleeping bag at a very reasonable price, making it a great way to add some down to your sleeping kit without breaking the bank. It's not the highest quality material or the lightest weight, but the Get Down is lighter than many others in this review and decently designed. All in all, it's a respectable and comfortable product to get you out backpacking for the summer and possibly some of the spring and fall seasons, too.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Sierra Designs Get Down 20 - Women's | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Value for a Down Sleeping Bag | Best Value for a Synthetic Sleeping Bag | |||
| Price | $220 List | $285.00 at REI | $169.00 at Backcountry Compare at 2 sellers | $260 List $259.95 at Amazon | $125.93 at REI |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | "Get Down" with this extremely well priced sleeping bag that will work for short to medium length backpacking trips in the summer | A good sleeping bag that fights off cold weather well, though it doesn't pack as small as more expensive models | This synthetic model offers snug fitting design that is surprisingly compressible and a good choice to keep you warm in wet conditions | Ringing in at a decent price, this bag is comfy and has high quality down fill but it's heavy and we wouldn't want to carry it with us backpacking | Too heavy and bulky for backpacking but a great choice for car camping comfort |
| Rating Categories | Sierra Designs Get... | Mountain Hardwear B... | The North Face Cat'... | Kelty Cosmic Ultra... | Marmot Trestles Eli... |
| Warmth (25%) | |||||
| Weight (25%) | |||||
| Comfort (20%) | |||||
| Packed Size (15%) | |||||
| Features (15%) | |||||
| Specs | Sierra Designs Get... | Mountain Hardwear B... | The North Face Cat'... | Kelty Cosmic Ultra... | Marmot Trestles Eli... |
| EN Temp Rating (Lower Limit) | 23°F | 15°F | 20°F | 25°F | 20°F |
| Insulation | 550 FP DriDown RDS | 650 FP Down | Recycled synthetic | 800 FP DriDown | HL-ElixR synthetic fibers |
| Measured Weight | 2.36 lbs | 2.48 lbs | 2.50 lbs | 2.9 lbs | 2.75 lbs |
| Female-Specific Features | Women's specific cut | Additional insulation | Available in a "Short" length, which is a standard women's size | Women's specific cut, extra insulation in the upper body and footbox | Women's specific fit |
| Fill Weight | 25.0 oz | Unspecified | 38.9 oz | 24.69 oz | Unspecified |
| Material | 20D polyester | 20D ripstop nylon | 20D ripstop nylon, taffeta | 20D nylon shell and liner | 20-denier recycled ripstop polyester |
| Neck Baffle | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Small Organization Pocket | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Sleeping Pad Sleeve | No | No | No | No | No |
| Zipper Length | 39.5 in | 66 in | 34.5 in | 59 in | 53/15 in |
| Shoulder Girth | 58 in | 60 in | 60 in | 57.9 in | 58 in |
| Hip Girth | 56 in | 50 in | 55 in | 57.9 in | 58 in |
| Foot Girth | 40 in | 40 in | 41 in | 38.2 in | 45 in |
| Compression or Stuff Sack | Stuff sack and storage bag | Stuff sack and storage bag | Compression sack and storage bag | Stuff sack | Stuff sack and storage bag |
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Our Analysis and Test Results
You'll be able to get into the market of down-fill sleeping bags with the Get Down, an all-around decent product at an amazing price.
Performance Comparison
The Sierra Designs Get Down is roomy enough to add extra layers for when the temperature goes below freezing.
Credit: Brigitte Denton
Warmth
The Sierra Designs Get Down is EN comfort rated to 23 degrees. However, we wouldn't recommend taking this out when temperatures are supposed to dip below freezing unless you have some extra layers with you. If Sierra Designs could fill it with slightly higher fill power (and higher quality) down, that temperature rating could be spot on — but right now, because the down isn't very lofty and somewhat heavy for what it is, we advise caution taking it out in 20-degree temperatures.
The Get Down has a half-length zipper. This will help keep sleepers somewhat warmer as there are no drafty spots through the zipper for cold air to get in. But it also means that you're not able to vent your feet if they're hot or sweaty, and you're not able to drape the bag over you like a quilt if it's warm out. These are things we didn't realize we missed about a full zip sleeping bag until we used the Get Down. Still, if you plan to mostly be sleeping in cooler areas, the mummy-style shape and hood that cinches down tight around your face will help keep cold air out and warm air in.
We would not recommend taking the Get Down out in below freezing temps - we were a bit cold.
Credit: Jessica Haist
Weight
Weighing in at 37.7 ounces, the Get Down is in the middle of the pack in terms of weight. It is not the heaviest of the down models we've reviewed, and there are many significantly more expensive models that weigh more.
As we've mentioned before, if Sierra Designs could up the quality of the fill power a bit (for example, to a 650 fill power instead of 550), this would shave a few more ounces from this bag while retaining the same warmth (or it would be even warmer if they kept the same fill weight). The Get Down is light enough to take on medium to short-length backpacking trips, but we wouldn't haul it along on thru hike trips like the AT or PCT.
The Get Down is EN comfort rated to 23 degrees F. We would not recommend taking it out in temperatures this low.
Credit: Jessica Haist
Comfort
This bag is a standard mummy shape and standard women's size — good for someone around 5'5" in height. It is roomy enough to move around in and to be able to add a few layers of clothing. It is not as narrow in the shoulders as some of the other mummy-style bags we tested.
The shell and liner materials are not as soft or cozy feeling as some of the other top products in this review. The materials feel cheaper and a bit rougher, but they seemed to soften up with more use over time. Otherwise, the Get Down has few additional features in the comfort realm — there are no extra zippers to open it up or things like foot vents. This bag is just a tube with a half-length zipper. Some folks might find the half zip slightly more claustrophobic because you can't stick your feet out or open the bag up fully. You also can't zip it together with another model if you have a friend you want to get cozy with.
The Get Down's half zipper saves some weight, but it detracts from the comfort of the bag because you can't vent your feet, or zip it together with another bag.
Credit: Jessica Haist
Packed Size
The Get Down comes with a lightweight stuff sack that is relatively small. However, because it is down-filled, the bag can compress much smaller than the size of the included stuff sack.
If you purchase an after-market compression sack, you'll be able to get this little number much smaller to save room in your pack. The Get Down also comes with an included mesh storage sack, although we wish it was slightly larger because some of the down is still being compressed when you put it in this bag (something you should avoid for long-term storage).
The Sierra Designs Get Down in its included stuff sack. This bag could be compressed much smaller with a compression sack for an even smaller packed size.
Credit: Jessica Haist
Features
As we mentioned above, the Get Down is pretty much a tube. There are not a lot of notable features with this sleeping bag. Sierra Designs says it has a “snag proof” zipper, although it looks like a regular old zipper to us, not like the big plastic snag-proof zippers that come standard with most bags. The down fill power is also nothing to write home about, being the lowest in this review, meaning that it is heavier and bulkier for the same amount of warmth.
This bag has DriDown, meaning the feathers are coated with a water-resistant coating. This will help it retain some of its loft if you're using it in wet conditions. It also has a strange open-style pocket by the top of the zipper, advertised as a “hand pocket to use the bag like a blanket for bed-like comfort.” We don't buy it. This feels like an unnecessary gimmick that most people won't use. The pocket is only on one side, and the bag would have to be unzipped to use it. Still, the lack of features is just fine — it means the Get Down is simple and streamlined with no extra weight added.
The Sierra Designs Get Down has a strange and unnecessary “hand pocket” inside the top of the bag. We don't think we'd ever use it for our hand, and it won't hold anything else.
Credit: Jessica Haist
Should You Buy the Sierra Designs Get Down 20?
If you're looking for a great value down bag, this area is where the Get Down shines. We were surprised to see such a low price tag for a down product from a reputable manufacturer like Sierra Designs. Because this bag is warm and light enough to bring on summer backpacking trips (and possibly stretching to the edge of spring and fall seasons), it wins our praise. We do wish the down fill was slightly higher quality, which would give it even more bang for the buck. That said, no other down product we tested checks as many boxes as the Get Down at such a low price. But if you're looking for a high-end, high-performing product, this is not the one. The higher-end products in this review come with a higher price tag and also score higher for a reason. You can find a much warmer, lighter, and more versatile product if you spend more money.
Two award winning Sierra Designs Bags, the Get Down (left) and the Backcountry Bed (right).
Credit: Jessica Haist
What Other Sleeping Bags Should You Consider?
If you have the cash to go with one of the aforementioned higher-end down models, check out our very favorite, the Feathered Friends Egret UL 20. This bag has a super high fill power, meaning it's very warm and lofty and way lighter than other models. If you're in the market for a synthetic fill bag because there's the chance you and your stuff will get wet, check out the The North Face Cat's Meow, a great synthetic bag for a smaller person, and only a couple ounces heavier than the Get Down.
—
Jessica Haist
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