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Book Review: “The Cold Vanish: Seeking the Missing in North America’s Wildlands”
Backpacking Light columnist Mark Wetherington is no stranger to risk assessment. But this non-fiction account of search-and-rescue operations in North America gave him chills.
Q & A with Shilletha Curtis
Shilletha Curtis was awarded a Backpacking Light Diversity Grant in 2020 to help her prepare, acquire gear, and train for her next dream: hiking the Triple Crown. We caught up with Shilletha for a quick interview.
Ultralight Water Treatment Options for Backpacking
The purpose of this article is to present three ultralight water treatment options for backpacking. We chose these three for their diversity and efficacy, and they include a chemical method, a physical method, and an electro-ultraviolet method. We included a video to demonstrate each technology in the field.
Unlimited Podcast 002 | Sleeping Bag Temperature Ratings
In this Unlimited video podcast, Rex Sanders and Ryan Jordan discuss sleeping bag temperature ratings, the ISO 23537 temperature rating standard, and how consumers can interpret the standard to make better buying decisions.
GPS: The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly
BPL author Rex Sanders tackles the pros and cons of navigating by GPS in a short blog post that includes links for further info.
Seek Outside Flight One Review
The Seek Outside Flight One (36 oz/1.02 kg, $299 - $319) is a lightweight, minimalist pack designed with comfort and durability in mind.
Learning Curve: In Over Your Head
The Learning Curve is a new column by outdoor journalist Maggie Slepian. In this installment, she talks about how easy it is to find yourself in over your head in the outdoors.
CS Instant Coffee Review
CS Instant Coffee is a small instant coffee product designed to compete with Starbucks Via and other popular backcountry coffee solutions.
Episode 31 | 40 Days Unsupported in Russia
In this episode of the Backpacking Light podcast: National Public Lands Day, transitioning from summer to fall gear, UV light as a water treatment technology, an interview with adventurer Tully Henke about his epic trek through the wilderness of eastern Russia, and attempting to answer the question: "why do I walk?"
The HydraPak Flux 1L – A Smartwater Bottle Replacement?
The HydraPak Flux 1 L (2.7 oz / 77 g, MSRP $20) is a soft-sided, collapsible, 42 mm threaded, reusable water-bottle aimed at the single-use Smartwater or sports-drink bottle crowd.
Standards Watch: Sleeping Bag Temperature Ratings
In this installment of Standards Watch, Rex Sanders tackles sleeping bag ratings: the standard, the pros, and the cons.
Keeping Gear Handy on the Trail with Multi-Use Accessory and Utility Pouches
Having accessible "pockets" on your pack is useful for keeping little bits of gear handy without taking off your pack. But consider a multi-use pouch that can also be worn as a standalone fanny-style pack.
Improving R-values For Consumers
Sleeping pad R-values are not useful for many consumers, and the guidance from pad makers, retailers, and gear reviewers is inconsistent and prone to misinterpretation. This is a proposal for improved labeling and marketing of R-values.
Why I Walk
It’s four-thirty in the afternoon and I’m feeling a sleepiness only caffeine, napping, or walking can fix. English tea time. Spanish siesta. Utah amble.
NEMO Hornet Elite 2P Review
The NEMO Equipment Hornet Elite 2P (33 oz / 935 g, $499.95) is a semi-freestanding, double-walled, ultralight tent. It features design touches meant to increase the volume of the tent while not adding additional weight.
Land of Fur and Fire: the Yellowstone Caldera Loop
With Covid-19 necessitating an unsupported hike, we undertook an ambitious loop through the geysers and lakes of the Yellowstone Caldera.
Standards Watch: Introduction
Standards Watch will be a monthly column that explains important backpacking product standards, interviews key people, and describes how the industry uses, abuses, or ignores tests and standards.
Episode 30 | Journalist Adam Federman on the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Part II
In this episode of the Backpacking Light Podcast, Andrew follows up with journalist Adam Federman about the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Jeff Garmire is Attempting an Unsupported FKT of the Colorado Trail
Jeff Garmire is attempting a Colorado Trail FKT (fastest known time). Here's his approach, gear, tracking info, and more. He started today.
Can Wilderness Include Humans?
Am I willing to temper my desire for the pristine with an awareness that the pristine is a cultural construct?
Xero Shoes Mesa Trail Review
The Xero Shoes Mesa Trail (8.5 oz / 241 g, $119.99) is a minimalist trail runner best used for fastpacking. Huarache-inspired straps on the midfoot and instep allow for precisely dialed fit without causing compression.
