Boulder, CO – Sierra Designs has barely tipped the scales with its new Vapor 15, which at a skimpy trail weight of 1 lb. 11 oz. qualifies as the lightest 15ºF-rated sleeping bag on the market.
Filled with high-quality 850-fill goose down, the Vapor 15 has slimmed down by using only a 25-inch offset partial left side zipper, and employing a jacket zipper style rather than the heavier traditional sleeping bag zipper. It also saves weight by using a jacket-style hood rather than a more typical mummy hood. The liner and shell are both constructed of 15D nylon, and an item that we feel should be standard on every sleeping bag — sleeping pad straps — are standard on the Vapor 15.
 
The Vapor 15 sleeping bag from Sierra Designs qualifies as the lightest 15ºF-rated sleeping bag on the market. |
We spent this past spring and early summer testing the Vapor 15 in the wilds of Utah. We found the Vapor 15 temperature rating to be accurate, and it would therefore serve as the perfect sack for late winter and spring backcountry ski outings as well as summer backpacking trips at high elevations. As a down product, however, it’s essential to keep the Vapor 15 dry to maintain its insulating qualities. It’s 850-fill down provides the ultimate in compressibility to keep pack size small, about the size of a Nerf football when fully compressed. We were a bit underwhelmed by the included compression sack, but that’s easily remedied for picky folks like us by purchasing a beefier model. We found the foot box to be sufficiently roomy for comfort. The baffle construction kept the insulation right where it should be.
In addition to the aforementioned compression sack, the Vapor 15 comes with a compression sack and mesh storage bag, and is priced at $419.95. It comes in regular, short and long styles, and is currently available from outdoor retailers nationwide.