REASONS TO BUY
Tempting price
Nice venting possibilities
Decent weight and packed size
REASONS TO AVOID
Warmth doesn't live up to temp rating
Uncomfortably narrow
Unpleasant hood closure
Outdoor Vitals Summit 15 Review
A tempting sleeping bag deal that doesn't quite meet the advertised performance
Credit: Outdoor Vitals
Our Verdict
We continue to broaden our search for the best backpacking sleeping bag at an affordable price. Our testers were excited about the advertised specs for the Outdoor Vitals Summit 15. The marketing promised 800FP down in a lightweight package at an affordable price. Unfortunately, hands-on testing revealed that its actual performance didn't quite match the claims. The biggest discrepancy arose with the temperature rating. Our testers got chilled in overnight temps 20 degrees above its 15F rating. We are also not fans of the narrow foot box and hood, which both felt uncomfortably constrictive. On the plus side, we do offer some praise for the center zipper because it allowed better venting on warm nights. The Summit 15 is certainly a solid deal, but we don't think it's a good enough value to warrant a Best Buy Award.
Our Analysis and Test Results
Summit 15 Updated — May 2023
Since we last slumbered in this bag, Outdoor Vitals gave it some upgrades. New features include Toray ripstop materials, hydrophobic down, and an upgraded baffle system designed to keep the down in place. They also state they have increased the depth and volume of the head area and that the footbox is tapered to be more comfortable. Above, compare the two bags; the one we tested is on the left, followed by the updated bag on the right.
Since we last slumbered in this bag, Outdoor Vitals gave it some upgrades. New features include Toray ripstop materials, hydrophobic down, and an upgraded baffle system designed to keep the down in place. They also state they have increased the depth and volume of the head area and that the footbox is tapered to be more comfortable. Above, compare the two bags; the one we tested is on the left, followed by the updated bag on the right.
Outdoor Vitals is one of a few companies promising high-performance sleeping bags at bargain prices. During testing, we were pleasantly surprised to find the Summit 15 was a capable sleeping bag for backpacking, but we were somewhat disappointed with its overall value.
Performance Comparison
Backpacking sleeping bags emphasize lightweight and minimal packed size to help you sleep comfortably miles from the trailhead.
Credit: Jack Cramer
Warmth
The Outdoors Vital Summit 15 is advertised with 20 ounces of 800FP premium down. Although GearLab is not able to test the actual fill power of down, we couldn't help but notice that this insulation did not appear to achieve any more loft than a competing model from another brand with 15 ounces of 800FP down. Ordinarily, we would expect to see substantially more loft from a bag with 33% more of the same insulation.
The Outdoor Vitals Summit 15 incorporates an unusual auxiliary baffle that you can velcro across your chest to boost warmth.
Credit: Jack Cramer
We were also disappointed because this bag was not able to live up to its 15F temperature rating in our tests. Instead, we believe that it provided warmth similar to the average bag with a 30F rating. It's worth noting that, unlike many sleeping bags, this model is not temperature rate according to the industry-standard EN test. Instead, its 15F is merely the best estimate by that manufacturer. After our testing, we think that estimate is inaccurate.
Weight
This model tipped our scale at 2.08 pounds for a size long. Although that would be a fairly impressive weight for a 15F sleeping bag, the actual warmth we observed seemed closer to most 30F bags. When compared to bags with that warmth, the Summit 15's weight becomes rather disappointing. It's certainly still light enough for backpacking, but there are other models that offer a better warmth-to-weight ratio for less money.
Comfort
Our testers appreciated this bag's smooth 10-Denier Nylon lining and fluffy down insulation. Together they combined to provide a soft feel to the sleeping bag's material. On the other hand, our testers didn't like the tight sizing of the hood and the pair of hood drawcords which are positioned to dangle right on your face. Opinions are more split about an unusual chest baffle secured across your chest using a pair of velcro patches. Some felt that this created a cozy 'hug' that helped seal heat inside the bag. Others, however, found the operation of this baffle awkward and the rough cut edges of the velcro irritating.
This hood felt uncomfortably tight and the pair of drawcords were prone to dangling on our tester's faces.
Credit: Jack Cramer
Packed Size
The Outdoor Vitals Summit 15 comes with a simple drawstring stuff sack. This sack is extremely lightweight at just 0.6 ounces, but many of our testers worried that the 10-Denier material it's made of might not hold up for very long. With our personal aftermarket compression sack, we could pack it down to a volume of 9.5 liters. That's not particularly impressive for a 15F down sleeping bag and a rather large size for a model that seemed to perform more like a 30F bag.
The packed size of the Outdoor Vitals Summit 15 was near-average among bags that provide similar warmth.
Credit: Jack Cramer
Versatility
One area where this model did impress was when it came to versatility. A couple of design features help it achieve a wider range of usable temperatures. For hotter nights, the center zip design is more effective at venting excess heat than the side zipper found on most sleeping bags. We only wish the center zipper extended a little farther so we could open the bag more. On cold evenings, we think the unusual chest baffle does a good job at preventing heat from escaping out of the hood of the collar of the bag.
There is a small accessory pocket on the chest baffle flap. This pocket was big enough for a headlamp but not for most smartphones.
Credit: Jack Cramer
Features & Design
This bag includes most of the features you find on a backpacking sleeping bag including an anti-snag zipper, an accessory stash pocket, and a mummy hood. We really like the operation of the zipper and found that the Y-shaped slide and stiff adjacent fabric were effective at preventing snags. We were disappointed, however, with sharp velcro on the edges of the stash pocket and the poor fit of the hood.
We found the zipper design to be fairly effective at avoiding snags. However, we wish the zipper slides included pull tabs to make opening and closing the bag easier in the dark.
Credit: Jack Cramer
Value
The primary draw of the Outdoor Vitals Summit 15 is its low price. Essentially it's advertised as a premium sleeping bag at a bargain price. Unfortunately, our tests revealed that it performs closer to an average, or even below-average, backpacking sleeping bag. With that level of performance, we don't think it equates to a great value for the price.
The Outdoor Vitals Summit 15 (grey) is marketed to contain 20.6 ounces of 800FP down. However, it didn't seem to achieve any better loft than the 15.3 ounces of 800FP down in the Rab Neutrino 400 (blue).
Credit: Jack Cramer
Conclusion
The Summit 15 is an intriguing sleeping bag entry by a less established company. We found a few things to like about it including a versatile center zipper, a unique chest baffle, and a soft nylon lining. However, we found it hard to get past a level of warmth that did not seem to live up to its 15F temp rating. Some testers also complained about discomfort from a tight hood and narrow foot box. Nevertheless, this bag may still be worth considering, especially if you're able to find it on sale.
—
Jack Cramer
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