All Articles

Crossing Rivers and Water Shoes

Crossing rivers "ultralight style" - that's when you simply walk through the water wearing your hiking shoes and keep walking on the trail once you get to the other side.

What is ultralight backpacking? (how we talk about ultralight)

To me, ultralight backpacking is the idea that one should solve a problem using as little as possible, but that which is used to solve the problem should be as effective as possible. Defined as such, the actual weight of individual pieces of gear, or one's pack, matters less, and takes a back seat to the performance-to-weight ratio of a piece of gear.

How to choose backpacking footwear so you can keep hiking until you die

Most advice about minimalist footwear can be rejected outright. Often, the advice is given by hikers who haven't put in the time required to understand the complexity and depth of foot biomechanics and the long-term effects of overuse that is endured by walking for decades. Here are some guiding principles if you want to keep hiking into your sunset years, so you can delay the inevitable onset of overuse conditions like hallux rigidus.

Episode 13 | Tent-bound in a Storm

In this episode, Ryan offers some practical guidelines for managing wet gear, condensation, and camp chores if you have to be holed up in a tent during a prolonged period of inclement weather.

Exploring Wyoming’s Medicine Bow Range

A quick, weekend trip into the Medicine Bow Range creates the background for this story of navigation technique and philosophy.

Episode 12 | Lightweight Chairs & Seats for Backpacking

In this episode longtime BPL author Doug Johnson gives us a run-down of his favorite ultralight backcountry seating options reviewed in our new gear guide.

Hyperlite Mountain Gear Junction Backpack Review

This Hyperlite Mountain Gear Junction Backpack Review features a pack with a lightweight Dyneema Composite Fabrics body, Hardline woven fabric side and hip belt pockets for durability, and a mesh back pocket for storing wet gear.

Raidlight Hyperlight MP+ Waterproof Rain Jacket Review

The RaidLight HyperLight MP+ Waterproof Jacket is one of the lightest no-frills rain jackets on the market.

Episode 11 | Upright Canister Stove Reviews

This episode of the Backpacking Light Podcast features highlights from our recent round of canister stove reviews.

Field Notes: Wet, Snowy, Cold – Spring Backpacking with my Son in Wyoming with Lightweight Gear

Unseasonably cold May temperatures and a winter storm warning were too much to pass up, so we set out for an overnighter in SE Wyoming.

Lightweight Backpacking Chairs: REI Flexlite Air Chair vs. Helinox Chair Zero

The purpose of this article is to compare (review) the design and performance of the Helinox Chair Zero and the REI Flexlite Air Chair.

Episode 10 | StoveBench: A Protocol for Comparing the Performance of Backpacking Stoves

In this episode, we talk about StoveBench: Backpacking Light’s new protocol for standardizing stove performance comparisons.

Sawyer Micro-Squeeze Review (First Looks)

The Sawyer Micro Squeeze combines the flow-rate of the Sawyer Squeeze with the weight savings of the Sawyer MINI.

REI Quarter Dome SL 1 Review

The REI Quarter Dome SL 1 is a single person, side entry, single side vestibule, double wall, mostly mesh inner, semi-freestanding tent.

Upright Canister Stove Reviews, StoveBench Tests, and Gear Guide

This article features upright canister stove reviews that include extensive test data in inclement conditions and market analysis.

Therm-A-Rest Vesper Quilt Review

A detailed review of the Therm-a-Rest Vesper 20F Sleeping bag over 3 seasons of use including detail commentary.

Nemo Siren Review (First Looks)

This Nemo Equipment Siren Quilt review covers a warm-weather backpacking quilt that packs a feature rich, ultralight punch.

Hyperlite Mountain Gear Dirigo 2 Tent Review

The Hyperlite Mountain Gear Dirigo 2 is a two-person, hybrid single/double wall, two-vestibule Dyneema Composite Fabrics (DCF) tent that can be pitched with two trekking poles. This review assesses wind loading, snow loading, rain, condensation resistance, ease of setup, livability.

Field Notes: Retreat from a Spring Alpine Storm

On the leading edge of the last bomb cyclone storm cycle that hit the Rockies and Midwest this spring (April 2019), I was hoping to get in a quick 24-hour trip up in the high country of Wyoming's Snowy Range.

Timmermade Waterbear Hood Review (First Look)

Fatbiking Iceland’s Volcanoes

My intention was to link the most active volcanoes of the island. I would travel 410 miles on my fat bike, carrying all of my own food and gear, combining mountaineering and fat biking in the traverse.