Neve Gear

The fledgling outdoor industry was really defined by a single ethos: if you can’t find what you need, make it yourself. In the early days, there was no marketing strategy, no retail concept; just a small band of dedicated hikers, backpackers and climbers turning out apparel and equipment from their own back bedrooms, garages and kitchen tables.

Times have changed but luckily, that DIY spirit is still alive and kicking in Australia. Back in 2022, it provided the impetus for Neve Gear. The brainchild of Ryan Barth, the brand was founded after a fruitless search for an ultralight backpacking quilt before tackling the Great North Walk, a 260km bushwalk through New South Wales. Existing domestic brands either had crazy lead times, limited production or next to no product choice, whilst getting anything imported proved astronomically expensive once you added shipping, duties and taxes.

Solution? He went away and developed the Waratah quilt: meticulously designed, ethically manufactured and fairly priced. From the start, Neve Gear never cut corners when it came to production either. In fact, their down quilts come out of the same trusted factory as products from major brands like Sea to Summit and Mammut.

The Waratah and Waratah Pro trade punches with these big names and more. In fact, we truly believe they are best in class: ultra-premium Muscovy down fill, superlight yet tough nylon shells, user-specific sizing and some of the best warmth for weight on the market.