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Nemo Equipment Kunai 3-4 Season Backpacking Tent Review
The Nemo Kunai 2P Tent ($499, 4 lb 5 oz / 1.96 kg) is a four-season shelter capable of withstanding moderate storms and offers ample headroom and good ventilation.
Standards Watch: Mike Cecot-Scherer on Tent Design
Rex Sanders interviews long-time gear designer Mike Cecot-Scherer about tent design. This is part two of a three-part series.
How Can Cheap Butane Canisters be Modified to Work With Canister Stoves?
Roger Caffin discusses how you can modify and use cheap butane canisters with canister stoves in this MYOG article.
The Overlook: Backpacking in a Time of Uncertainty
Is backpacking suddenly...hard? Ben Kilbourne understands, and discusses how to deal with it during uncertain times.
Life in the Dog House: A Survey of the One-Person Tent, With History
Some observations on cheap one-person shelters, including on their design, proliferation, and history, and comparison between some shelters.
Learning Curve: Learning to Suffer
BPL columnist Maggie Slepian unpacks suffering in endurance sports.
Gratitude and Recovery After Outdoor Trauma
BPL author Rex Sanders meditates on gratitude and 2020 as he recovers from a traumatic brain injury during the time of COIVD and wildfires.
Salamander Song
Rediscovering the Great Smoky Mountains by lens and brush.
Ultralight, Ultradurable, Ultracheap: A Backpack Made From Car Airbags
Greg Perhson details the process of creating your own, lightweight (19.5 oz), MYOG backpack from vehicle airbags!
Helly Hansen Odin Minimalist 2.0 Jacket Review
The Helly Hansen Odin Minimalist 2.0 jacket (180 g / 6.35 oz, $220) is a lightweight 2.5-layer rain jacket with a well-designed hood and minimal features.
Unpacked: When Gear Owns You
A recent multi-sport adventure got BPL columnist Mark Wetherington thinking about gear and our relationship to it.
Staff Picks 2020
Backpacking Light staff and contributors give their 2020 staff picks - their favorite backpacking and hiking gear of the year.
Standards Watch: Tent Designer Mike Cecot-Scherer Talks Standards
Rex Sanders interviews long-time gear designer Mike Cecot-Scherer about a range of common gear standards.
Episode 33 | Digital Route Planning
Andrew and Ryan discuss some digital tools useful for planning your route effectively. Also: An interview with FATMAP founder Misha Gopaul.
The Overlook: Understanding Livestock Grazing in Wilderness Areas
BPL columnist Ben Kilbourne uses a close encounter to examine the practice of livestock grazing on public land.
A Gear Confession
Chances are, you've got something in your pack that could be lighter, but it works for you. Maggie Slepian shares her heaviest items.
Learning Curve: A Shoulder Season Reminder
BPL columnist Maggie Slepian reminds new and old hands alike to prepare for shoulder-season backpacking accordingly.
Escape from COVID-19 at Corona Ridge
Longtime Backpacking Light author Emylene VanderVeldon takes on a suspiciously-named untraversed route, one of the most difficult she’s ever attempted.
By the Numbers: Patagonia Worn Wear Micro Puff vs. New Micro Puff
In his new column for Backpacking Light, Stephen Seeber runs thermal testing on used and new Patagonia Micro Puff jackets.
Winter Backpacking When There’s No Snow?
My shelter, sleep, clothing, water, and cook system for when temps drop but full-on winter snow and wind hasn't yet arrived.
How to Get Water Out of a Frozen Stream Where the Ice is Several Inches Thick
We invited this challenge from our community on the forums and Instagram. Here's our solution - thanks for your feedback and suggestions!
