While Lowe Alpine’s AirZone Trek 45:55L pack is not new (the redesigned version hit Aussie shores earlier this year), I only recently got around to trying it out. Perhaps I should have sooner. The thing is, I’m not always convinced by mesh-panelled, ventilated pack designs; by moving the load further from your back, if the system isn’t designed well, the load gets levered away from your centre, which in turn makes the pack feel heavier. If, I said, the system isn’t designed well.

As part of the ultralight (UL) revolution, backpacking quilts have become increasingly popular among adventurers seeking light and roomy alternatives to sleeping bags. That’s especially so in the US, where the massive UL thru-hiking scene means there are loads of quilt manufacturers to choose from. In Australia, though, that’s not the case, but a rising number of Aussie-owned small businesses are entering the fray: Neve Gear, based in NSW’s Port Macquarie, is one such company.

Having recently relocated to Victoria, and hungry for winter explorations in the alps, I needed a warmer sleeping bag. Neve’s Feathertail Quilt caught my attention. Weighing in at 870g and boasting a -12°C comfort rating, on paper the Feathertail ticked all the boxes: light, warm, and affordable. On delivery, my initial impression was that the Feathertail’s build quality looked exceptional. Slick, no threads, and the 10D shell felt surprisingly tough. My second thought was: 900 fill power is seriously lofty!

Since then, I’ve taken the Feathertail on two trips, in -2°C and -4°C temps respectively. While neither would be considered frigid by Vic Alps’ standards, both myself and my wife are cold frogs; nonetheless, we’ve slept soundly using the Feathertail. I believe four main features are to thank for this: the two included pad straps, which effectively wrap the sides around you, reducing the escape of warm air, and helping maintain its position on your sleeping mat; the comfy neck collar and associated drawcord that limit cold draughts from entering; the sewn foot box to keep your tootsies toasty; and the 640g of RDS-certified 900 fill goose-down is quite respectable, especially for a quilt.

The Neve Feathertail’s pros don’t end there, though: It’s super compressible for its weight; it comes with a dry stuffsack; it’s also available in 0°C and -6°C comfort ratings; the price, at just $550, is great; and to cap it off, it’s made by a small Aussie business!

While I’ve been thoroughly impressed with my -12°C Neve Feathertail so far, I’m healthily sceptical of its claimed comfort rating, as I am with most manufacturers. Numerous factors contribute to a cosy night’s sleep, and I’d warn against blindly expecting to be comfy in this quilt (or any similarly rated bag, for that matter) at -12°C. Look, you might be fine, but that won’t be the case with everyone. And in temps like -12°C, the lack of a hood is a limiting factor; because quilts don’t fully enclose at the back, cold air can potentially enter, although using a high R-value pad with a closed-cell mat or emergency blanket underneath will bolster the likelihood of luxurious sleep. Moreover, if you’re in -12°C temps, you’ll likely have plenty of warm clothes to rug up in anyway. And then, when you consider the fact that the -12°C Feathertail is a smidgeon over half the weight—and is a fraction of the price—of a comparably rated winter sleeping bag, these limitations seem more than acceptable.

All in all, if you want an example of top-notch Aussie gear manufacturing, the Neve Feathertail is hard to beat; it’s lightweight, warm, well-built, and surprisingly affordable.

NEED TO KNOW

PRODUCT CLASS: 4-season quilt
Temp rating: -12°C
Fill: 650g of 900 fill goose down
WEIGHT (AS TESTED): 870g (incl straps and dry sack)
RRP: $550
MORE INFO: nevegear.com.au