Overland travel can impose an array of demands on equipment, making it challenging to find gear that is both versatile and excels across conditions. As a traveler who journeys from the tropics to the Arctic and coasts to mountains, a sleep system that is comfortable in most of those environments is my Holy Grail, and the quest to find it ended with the Feathered Friends Flicker 20° sleeping bag and Geoduck pillow.
Flicker 20° Sleeping Bag
The premise is simple: an ultralight-down quilt that transforms into a mummy sleeping bag. In warm conditions, you can lay the Flicker completely flat (the wide version is big enough to cover two close friends). In cooler conditions, you can cinch the footbox and neck with drawstrings and zip the bag into an efficient mummy or any permutation in between.
In late autumn in Washington’s central Cascades, I found the bag delightfully comfortable in all configurations. The lightweight fabric and 900+ fill power down draped over me like a cloud, and the bag was wide enough to cover my large frame without letting in drafts. At higher elevations with temperatures in the thirties, the fully-zipped mummy was toasty and felt like it had warmth to spare. A welcome touch is a draft collar that encircles the neck opening, retaining heat.
The design differs from traditional mummies in that the zipper runs up the center of the bag (rather than along the side), and it has no hood. The innovative zipper negates the need for a draft tube, saving weight and bulk while retaining thermal efficiency. Wearing a hooded parka inside the bag increases its comfort range in colder temperatures. Although the Flicker is not designed as a winter bag, it punches well above its weight.
Speaking of weight, a regular-length Flicker in UL fabric is under 26 ounces—lighter than most comparable mummies—and compresses to 8 liters. I prefer the Pertex YFuse fabric (YF) over the Pertex Endurance UL; the YF adds 2 ounces, more durability, and better water resistance with a lower price tag. This is still an investment, but if you appreciate that spending more on a superior product that will perform well for a long time is a good value, the Flicker will be a worthy lifetime companion. Handmade in Seattle, Feathered Friends has a well-deserved reputation for quality—their other bags I own still loft up like new after 18 years of service.
$439
Geoduck Pillow
A companion piece for travel comfort is the Geoduck. Pronounced “gooey duck,” this compact pillow compresses into an integrated stuff sack and quickly lofts up to cushion your head with 800+ fill power down. If you want a cushier option to sleep on than rolled-up trousers or a fleece jacket wadded under your head, consider the Geoduck more than an extravagance.
Weighing 6 ounces, this pillow packs small enough to fit into a carry-on for air travel or squeeze into a void in your vehicle storage system. The nylon shell is soft against your face and is easy to wash, although the smooth surface can slide around a bit. Don’t expect the Geoduck to provide as much support as a regular pillow, though. Given its size and materials, it tends to compress under the weight of your head, but for what it is, this accessory adds a touch of luxury.
$45
Read more: Expedition Portal’s Last Minute Gift Guide
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