Reviews You Can Rely On

NEMO Aya 15 Review

Nemo's lightest backpacking bag. If you're a small woman who wants a close fitting bag, this could be for you
gearlab tested logo
NEMO Aya 15 Review
Credit: Backcountry
Price:  $390 List
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Manufacturer:   NEMO
By Jessica Haist ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Oct 30, 2019
74
OVERALL
SCORE
  • Warmth - 25% 7.0
  • Weight - 25% 8.0
  • Comfort - 20% 6.0
  • Packed Size - 15% 8.0
  • Features - 15% 8.0

Our Verdict

The Aya 15 is Nemo's high-performance mummy shaped backpacking bag. It is the lightest weight women's bag in their line, although we would not call it “Ultralight” as it is not as light as several other products we tested. We appreciate Nemo's effort to trim down their often over-built products, and it seems that they swing from one end of the spectrum to the other in terms of comfort and fit of their bags. The Aya is a very snug fit and one of the more uncomfortable bags we tested, but it has high-quality materials and is warm. We think that paired with a decent sleeping pad, the Aya will keep you warm and comfortable from late Spring to early Fall in all environments.
REASONS TO BUY
Lightweight
Compressible
Included compression sack
REASONS TO AVOID
Fits small
Hood fits close so not very comfortable

Our Analysis and Test Results

This svelte, lightweight product is the lightest of Nemo's line, but not as light or comfortable as other products in this review.

Performance Comparison


nemo aya 15 - we take each product into the backcountry to explore their strengths...
We take each product into the backcountry to explore their strengths and weaknesses. And we have a good time doing it.
Credit: Jessica Haist

Warmth


The snug, tapered fit of this bag helps it be as warm as it can be. With its 19 ounces of high loft, 800 fill power down insulation, the Aya is a warm sleeping bag and will keep you cozy on cool summer nights in the alpine. NEMO rates this bag to 15 degrees Fahrenheit, although when compared to others in this rating range we'd probably call it somewhere closer to 20F. Still, the tapered hood design and draft collar along with its snug fit help keep all that warm air inside the bag.

nemo aya 15 - the nemo aya is very warm because it is so form fitting and...
The NEMO Aya is very warm because it is so form fitting and eliminates room for cold air.
Credit: Ian McEleney

NEMO uses “Thermo Gills” that are supposed to help vent when you're getting warm, without letting cold drafts in. We didn't find that they affected our temperature very much when open or closed, and feel like they are potentially a weight-adding gimmick.

nemo aya 15 - we stayed warm on cool evenings in the nemo aya.
We stayed warm on cool evenings in the NEMO Aya.
Credit: Jessica Haist

Weight


We commend NEMO for making a lightweight sleeping bag, although it is not “ultralight.” Weighing in right at 2 pounds, it is on the lighter side of all the products we tested. We appreciate the high fill power down and lightweight materials. Other NEMO products we've reviewed have been up to a whole pound heavier than the Aya and have had a lot more features we found unnecessary.

nemo aya 15 - the sea to summit flame and the nemo aya are two of the lightest...
The Sea to Summit Flame and the Nemo Aya are two of the lightest additions in this review.
Credit: Ian McEleney

Comfort


NEMO seems to take the shape and fit of its bags from one extreme to the other. In comparison to other “Spoon shaped” bags in their product line, the Aya is not as comfortable and seems much more restrictive than other mummy shaped bags in this review. It has a snug fit all around, tapers in at the neck to isolate your head, helping to prevent drafts. It is very warm but also feels very claustrophobic. The regular size, which the manufacturer recommends for up to 5'6, felt very restrictive for our 5'5 tester and was very snug in length, shoulder and leg girth. If you're near the cusp of the regular size, we'd recommend sizing up - or going with a different bag.

nemo aya 15 - his and her nemo bags, one with gills open and one with gills closed.
His and her NEMO bags, one with gills open and one with gills closed.
Credit: Ian McEleney

Packed Size


The Aya is very compressible and comes with a great compression sack. Packability is one area in which the Aya exceeds. The Aya is right behind its competitors at the top for being the most compressible!

nemo aya 15 - we like the aya's included compression sack which makes the bag pack...
We like the Aya's included compression sack which makes the bag pack down very small.
Credit: Ian McEleney

Features


As we mentioned before, NEMO likes adding in bells and whistles to their products, which generally add unwanted ounces. The main additional feature the Aya has are the Thermo Gills, which we found relatively unremarkable. We did notice that the tiny zippers do catch when trying to do the gills up, and compared to other bag zippers with anti-catch pulls, the Aya's zipper seems cheap and catches a lot.

nemo aya 15 - we like the aya's small stash pocket for essential items.
We like the Aya's small stash pocket for essential items.
Credit: Ian McEleney

nemo aya 15 - the aya has nemo's "gills" that ares supposed to help ventilate your...
The Aya has NEMO's “gills” that ares supposed to help ventilate your bag without letting in drafts. We are skeptical about how well they work and did not notice much of a difference.
Credit: Ian McEleney

Value


The Aya retails at the higher end of the pack. We think this is a decent value if the bag is the right fit for you. It has high-quality materials and is relatively light.

nemo aya 15 - chelsea in her nemo aya, waiting for the snow to warm up on a...
Chelsea in her NEMO Aya, waiting for the snow to warm up on a backpacking trip in the alpine.
Credit: Jessica Haist

Conclusion


The Aya is a good all-around bag for someone looking to go light on their backpack trip. It is a very snug fit mummy-style bag, and we'd recommend trying it out before committing. We appreciate the quality materials and thought put into the design of the Aya, and think it's a decent value.

Jessica Haist