You’d be forgiven for not realizing who, or what, Outdoor Vitals is. Heck, I didn’t — however a wintry in a single day hike into and out of Zion National Park earned the burgeoning model a spot on my roster (and in my gear closet).
The plan was to get to spend a few days with the model’s ultralight backpack, one-person trekking pole tent, and a prime quilt. To a lesser diploma, I’d have some attire to check too. However, the forecast modified and attire turned a larger curiosity.
I spent the in a single day ensconced in Outdoor Vitals attire from head to toe, due to an insulated balaclava and booties. I gained’t go into element about all the attire, however under are key items which can be value your consideration, particularly in case you’re constructing an ultralight mountaineering setup.
As a direct-to-consumer model, you should purchase a backpacking bundle (60L backpack, one-person trekking pole tent, and a prime quilt) with a mixed weight simply north of 5 kilos for $785. And that doesn’t embody the membership reductions.
Outdoor Vitals led my cohort of journalists on a 2-day hike. It was overcast and windy as we descended right into a red-rock canyon. We arrange our tents in a gradual rain and awoke to a light-weight layer of snow. The hike out started with bluebird skies adopted by grey clouds stuffed with snow. Such spastic climate circumstances aren’t my favourite, however they’re nice for testing gear.
I perceive the aim and satisfaction thru-hikers have in assembling the lightest setups. Personally, I want to tackle just a few ounces extra of workhorse backpacking gear and save weight on what I pack.
In quick: Hiking gear all the time includes a calculus of weight, sturdiness, performance, and pricing. Outdoor Vitals gear tends to hit light-weight with an eye fixed on sturdiness slightly than competing for the crown of lightest available on the market.
First Look Review: Outdoor Vitals Backpacking Essentials
Shadowlight Ultralight Backpack 60L
The spine of the Shadowlight Ultralight Backpack 60L backpack is a 24-inch aluminum body to unfold the load. I hiked with it stuffed to the brim, and it distributed the burden comfortably. The dense foam again panel protected my again from any protrusions contained in the pack.
Its streamlined design places it within the ultralight class (1 pound, 15.5 ounces), with a novel Spectra/ROBIC ripstop cloth making up a lot of the physique. It doesn’t really feel fragile and I’d guess it could stand up to loads of lengthy hikes in tough terrain. It’s additionally quieter than another ultralight materials.
In quick: The Shadowlight backpack balances light-weight with a lot of storage and adjustable/elective storage and help. Its ease of entry gained me over and I’d select it over lighter, extra streamlined packs. I plan on getting rather more mileage out of this backpack.
Fortius 1P Trekking Pole Backpacking Tent
I pitched the Fortius 1P Trekking Pole Backpacking Tent in a bowl-shaped impression underneath the boughs of an evergreen. The tent was bigger than I had eyeballed the house, and I used to be cramped whereas guying it out in addition to after I got here and went. However, I used to be not cramped contained in the tent.
In quick: This tent is finest for minimalists and thru-hikers who anticipate a bit snow or wind throughout their journeys.
StormLoft Down TopQuilt
Top quilts have turn out to be the bedding of alternative amongst most weight-conscious thru-hikers. Some of the extra minimal designs can depart you combating drafts and different discomfort when the climate is something however heat.
As a aspect sleeper, I are likely to toss and switch rather a lot. It’s for that purpose, greater than weight financial savings, that I want alternate options to the normal mummy bag.
In quick: This zero-degree prime quilt provided a number of heat throughout a chilly night time, which is all the time definitely worth the weight. There are lighter variations within the 15-degree and 30-degree vary that most likely take advantage of sense for individuals who primarily camp in summer time.
Outdoor Vitals Apparel: Impressions
Tushar Rain Jacket
For the day one hike right into a canyon round Zion National Park, I wore the Tushar Rain Jacket over the Tern Ultralight Merino Wool Hoodie. The pairing labored properly as a result of like most arduous shells, the Tushar trapped sufficient warmth and the wool hoodie saved me dry. I ended the day with solely a patch of again sweat trapped by the pack.
In quick: This is a rain shell that may maintain you transferring down the path in moist circumstances in additional arid environments. One it’s best to put on to trip out storms, slightly than day by day use within the Pacific Northwest.
Tern Ultralight Wool Hoodie
I used to be extra impressed by the match and efficiency of the extra-stretchy Tern Ultralight Merino Wool Hoodie, which I by no means took off through the journey. It makes use of Nuyarn, which loops merino wool over a nylon core. In reality, I’d packed a Black Diamond Rhythm Tee for the journey (my favourite working shirt), which makes use of Nuyarn with a unique ratio of nylon and wool for a lighter, airier really feel.
In quick: The Tern hoodie is amazingly versatile, and its stretch is welcome whereas hefting a pack or rolling over in your sleeping bag. Put merely, there’s little purpose to take it off.
NovaProfessional Jacket
The Ventus Hoodie has introduced the model essentially the most accolades, however I opted as a substitute for the insulated NovaProfessional Jacket, given the forecast of snow and wind.
In quick: I’ve worn the jacket on a number of fall and winter hikes in Colorado and are available to like its wind-fighting heat sufficient to provide it a full overview.
Brand Philosophy
Before and through my hike I talked with members of the Outdoor Vitals workforce, together with its founder, designer, and head of promoting. In some methods, I felt like I used to be tagging alongside on one of many model’s month-to-month journeys, which provides them time to hike and camp and permits for casual interactions just like the proverbial workplace water cooler.
Tayson Whittaker based the model in 2014, largely bulk-buying tenting staples with minor tweaks. It was in 2018 that the model took a step ahead to what he calls “Outdoor Vitals 2.0.” That’s when the model expanded its workforce and leveraged its success with Kickstarter initiatives as a approach to acquire new partnerships.
Then got here the addition of Brigham Crane because the lead designer, who labored with the brand new ingredient companions to develop among the model’s standout merchandise coated above.
Whittaker cites the direct-to-consumer enterprise mannequin for conserving its costs down in comparison with gear of comparable high quality accessible at retailers. That enterprise mannequin additionally assists with high quality management since each return is processed internally, with notes taken, and finally shared with the design workforce.
As an moral precept, Whittaker has eschewed enterprise capital because the model’s inception. He stated he’s seen different manufacturers lose their soul as soon as they had been compelled to give attention to financial benchmarks.
Outdoor Vitals has moved from crowdfunding websites to tapping its viewers for what it calls a store-credit membership. “That allows us to roll some investments forward, give our die-hards advantages with member perks,” Whittaker stated.