Outdoor Vitals Summit Down 15 Sleeping Bag Review
Choose the Outdoor Vitals Summit Down 15 for a very generously filled, warmer-than-average, less-expensive-than average, premium lightweight sleeping bag.
- Weight: 29.0
- Price: $375
- Down: 800 fill power hyperdry duck down
- Fill Weight: 19.4 oz
- Fabric: 10D Toray Ripstop Nylon
- Estimated Comfort: +25 F
- Pros: Lightweight. Generously filled. Warmer than average. Horizontal/vertical baffle split. Draft collar.
- Cons: Duck down is inferior to goose. Light not ultralight. Overfill increases bulk. Center creates minor cold spot issue.
Construction & Features
First thing first, this sleeping bag has more down stuffed into its baffles than you’ll find in most of its competitors at a similar temp rating And overfill is a good thing. It prolongs the ability of the baffles to loft as the plumes degrade over time with each compression cycle. Overfill adds only minimal weight, however, it definitely increases bulk.
Note, this is duck is duck down, not goose down. It doesn’t make a huge difference, 800 fill power is still 800 fill power. But duck down plumes are regarded as less durable, and smellier when wet. But generally speaking, it doesn’t matter much.
There are a few more notable features are worth calling out. The 3/4 length center zipper means lefties will never get hosed, but it may take some getting used to if you are coming from a side zipper. The obvious downside to center zippers is that they create a cold spot on the very top of the bag, not ideal. However, this comes with a boxed zipper baffle flap. This mostly reduces, but does not entirely eliminate the cold spot issue.
We also nod to the pillow-style draft collar baffles, which seal heat in at the face gap. You can get real cozy in this bag. They also note a differential cut, meaning the interior shell is smaller than the outer shell, which allows down to stay lofted as you move around inside and compress against the liner. Most premium sleeping bags have this, but it’s nice to see them spell it out for transparency.
Verdict
The value proposition on this lightweight sleeping bag is simply excellent. It’s warmer and less expensive than average, yet still lighter than most other options on the market.
Outdoor Vitals Summit Down Construction & Features
First thing first, this sleeping bag has more down stuffed into its baffles than you’ll find in most of its competitors at a similar temp rating And overfill is a good thing. It prolongs the ability of the baffles to loft as the plumes degrade over time with each compression cycle. Overfill adds only minimal weight, however, it definitely increases bulk.
Note, this is duck is duck down, not goose down. It doesn’t make a huge difference, 800 fill power is still 800 fill power. But duck down plumes are regarded as less durable, and smellier when wet. But generally speaking, it doesn’t matter much.
There are a few more notable features are worth calling out. The 3/4 length center zipper means lefties will never get hosed, but it may take some getting used to if you are coming from a side zipper. The obvious downside to center zippers is that they create a cold spot on the very top of the bag, not ideal. However, this comes with a boxed zipper baffle flap. This mostly reduces, but does not entirely eliminate the cold spot issue.
We also nod to the pillow-style draft collar baffles, which seal heat in at the face gap. You can get real cozy in this bag. They also note a differential cut, meaning the interior shell is smaller than the outer shell, which allows down to stay lofted as you move around inside and compress against the liner. Most premium sleeping bags have this, but it’s nice to see them spell it out for transparency.
Outdoor Vitals Summit Down 15 Sleeping Bag Review Verdict
The value proposition on this lightweight sleeping bag is simply excellent. It’s warmer and less expensive than average, yet still lighter than most other options on the market.
