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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.
Wind River Backpacking: Sawmills, Tenkara, and Trout in the Popo Agie Wilderness
Wind River backpacking and tenkara fly fishing in the Sawmill Creek drainage and Upper Silas Canyon in Wyoming's Popo Agie Wilderness.
Big Agnes Scout 1 Platinum Tent Review
The Big Agnes Scout 1 Platinum (13 oz / 369 g, $349.95) is a single wall, single-entrance, trekking pole-supported, silnylon, one-person tent from Big Agnes. It is one of the lightest shelters in its class.
Getting Lost in an Urban Wilderness
We don’t explore urban landscapes like we explore the wild. But maybe we can apply ultralight backpacking techniques to urban exploration.
Reaching the Summit of Misti: The Challenges of High Altitude Hiking
Misti is one of the three volcanoes you can see from Arequipa, Peru, which is the second-largest city in the country. Part of the Andes mountain range, Misti is located between Chachani and Pichu Pichu. In this article, I’ll tell the story of my Misti summit attempt and share some lessons I learned along the way.
CrazyCap LED Water Purifier Review
The CrazyCap 2 ($59, 1.9 oz/56 g) is an ultraviolet water treatment device that takes the form of a bottle cap. At first glance, this little multi-use item seems like the perfect invention for ultralight backpackers on the fly. But how does it perform in the field with its bottle compatibility issues?
Episode 29 | The Bohohobos’ Big Trek
Ryan and Andrew talk to Aïscha Tomasoa and Jesper Jensen - the Bohohobos - about their epic trek through Scandinavia as novice backpackers.
Vargo Bot 700 Review (First Looks)
The Vargo Titanium Bot 700 is a 0.7-liter cooking pot made of titanium with a watertight, screw-top lid with a silicone gasket.
