Eddie Bauer Flying Squirrel

Soaring among the trees, the flying squirrel was part of the ecosystem around my homestead in Wisconsin. Dropping out of the trees, a squadron of intrepid gliders found the feeder in the darkest of nights. In the same way, this sleeping wrap is more energized than its ground-dwelling cousins. After testing outside of Park City, Utah late this summer, Active Junky’s ready to launch into tree-borne hammock outings into late fall inside this tube of comfort. More a premium down burrito than a foot-binding bag, Flying Squirrel turns 20D Pertex ripstop nylon and premium 850-fill Stormdown insulation into a sublime temperature-management system. At under one and one-half pounds, there’s 280 grams of Allied Feather & Down goodness inside both the bottom, flaps and integrated hood. Sans zippers, even the most restless sleeper (or midnight stroller) moves easily, entering and existing the wrap effortlessly. While Eddie Bauer’s First Ascent series is known for high performance and innovation, the 84”-long Flying Squirrel brings a new level of credibility to the core brand.

Pros: Fast-deployment and repacking into a small stuffsack, nearly-infinite sleeping adjustments, moisture-resisting down

Cons: Learning curve attached to a non-zippered product, pricing reflects Flying Squirrel’s unique design, unparalleled down filling and intelligent construction

Tester Comments: “My first response? Is this sleeper suitable only for car camping, festivals and extra bedding when friends visit? My second response was ‘huh’ (quotable, eh?). Third time around, the genius of eliminating barriers to successful sleeping began to dawn. Even beyond cooler evenings, this one’s joining the kit for winter camping as an inner bag to extend the range of my existing bag. Plus, in the hammock, what’s better than flying through the heavens?”

Key Attribute: Adaptability

Best For: Cooler to warm weather in the hammock, supplemental insulation inside another bag for late fall and winter tent-based outings