M Commentary on the State of Declining Backcountry Wilderness Activity Participation by End Users

Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) released its state of the market report suggesting that wilderness activity participation is on the decline. Find out what industry leaders from GoLite, Cascade Designs, and MontBell have to say about it, and what they are doing to respond to the trend. More…

M Pacific Outdoor Equipment Announces 8 Ounce Self-Inflating Sleeping Pad and Blends Hybrid Self-Inflating and Closed Cell Foam Technology for 2005

One of the biggest innovations in lightweight backpacking gear at Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2004 comes from Pacific Outdoor Equipment, manufacturer of the Bozeman Mountain Works 10-ounce TorsoLite self-inflating pad and the Insul-Mat line of sleep comfort products. POE continues to innovate with the introduction of the market’s first hybrid self-inflating foam technologies and radical new pad shapes to decrease the weight of both self-inflating and closed cell foam pads for hardcore ultralight enthusiasts. More…

M New GoLite Shelters Fill Gaps in Existing Product Line

GoLite is expanding their line of lightweight shelters across the board, introducing models that fill in much needed gaps in their existing product line. We had the opportunity to test and perform a first looks review of the new shelters out prior to Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2004. New models include the GoLite Hut 1 and 2 floorless shelters that address limitations of the Integral Designs Silshelter; the GoLite Trig 1, a smaller brother to the existing GoLite Trig 2, and the GoLite Eisenhower Tunnel Tent, or more simply, the GoLite “Ike”, a Den 2 on steroids built for more severe weather conditions. More…

M Wookey Dragonfly Ultralight Pack Skin

Imagine a pack skin made of durable, but lightweight materials, suitable for rigging your own packbag or dry bag, carrying an elk quarter, or even a kayak? All this for 19 ounces? Check out an inaugural lightweight product from Wookey of Bozeman, Montana. More…

New Lightweight “Done-in-a-Day” Backpacks Announced

There is a huge crop of light packs in the 30 to 45 liter range (1800 to 2750 cu in). It seems like every pack manufacturer is in the business of making “one-day/one-night” packs in the two to three pound range with durable materials and good load handling characteristics. See product specs and photos of new packs from Osprey, Marmot, Lowe Alpine, Black Diamond, and Arc’Teryx. More…

Education as a Means to Foster an Appreciation of Lightweight Strategies for Backcountry Travel

It’s no secret that pushing ultralight technique and gear to its limits requires a significant amount of consumer education. Few people simply drop their fifty-pound packs mid-way through a PCT thru-hike and exchange their kit at wholesale for a pocho-tarp and beanie hat when the monsoon season looms in the Oregon Cascades. It’s also no secret that there is a perception among core enthusiasts in the lightweight community that manufacturers are unwilling to promote the more technical education that is often required to push ultralight to its fringe limits, or at least to understand how and why it works. How do education needs and strategies differ between large manufacturers such as MSR and GoLite, and small manufacturers such as ULA Equipment or Six Moon Designs? Find out what these companies are doing to promote technical education among its customers. More…