All Articles
Latest
Joshua Tree National Park: Nooks and Crannies for Backpackers
Issac Simons dives into Joshua Tree National Park, exploring its nooks and crannies, and finding the places that might interest backpackers.
Episode 105 | Expedition Kite Skiing Across Greenland with Jesse Crocker
In today's episode of the Backpacking Light podcast we're going to learn about traveling off-trail responsibly, a rain jacket that defines new standards for durability and performance, and a kite skiing expedition across greenland with Jesse Crocker.
Why You Should Spend a Few Ounces of Pack Weight on Rainwear Ventilation Features (Updated)
In this article, we make the case for spending some extra weight on rain jackets and rain pants that offer more ventilation features (and durability) than typical ultralight rainwear styles (updated July 2024).
Episode 104 | Outdoor Industry Hiring + Bennett Fisher (Jolly Gear)
Listen Small Business Outdoors: About this Episode Series This episode is part of our ongoing series Small Business Outdoors, a once-a-month series featuring Ryan Jordan (founder, Backpacking Light) and Lloyd...
Cyanobacteria and Cyanotoxins in Backcountry Water Sources
In this video presentation, we dive into a critical topic to raise awareness about the increasing problem of cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae, in backcountry water sources.
Water Treatment and Backpacking Hygiene: Recommended Gear & Supplies
Resources for water treatment and hygiene supplies for ultralight backpacking.
MYOG: SUL Remote Inverted Canister Winter Stove Version 7
Roger Caffin details the process of designing and constructing the newest version of his SUL Remote Inverted Canister Stoves
Episode 103 | Cottage Industry Trends
Ryan Jordan and Lloyd Vogel discuss trends within the Cottage industry in episode 103 of the backpacking light podcast.
Backpacking gear attributes: the relationships between weight, cost, durability, versatility, and performance
Ryan discusses the relationships between weight, cost, durability, versatility, and performance in ultralight backpacking gear.
Backpacking in Grizzly Country
Backpacking in grizzly habitat: considerations and best practices for bear spray use, food storage, safety, and ethical considerations.
Episode 102 | Polartec Alpha Direct
In episode 102 of the Backpacking Light podcast you're going to learn about the origin, evolution, and use of Polartec Alpha Direct in modern ultralight layering systems.
The Dirt Catwalk: Modern Layering Ensembles for Backpackers
In this article, I discuss some of the challenges that an effective layering system needs to address. In addition, I highlight a handful of the layers that I use the most and how I combine them into various ensembles for different use cases.
Hiking with Tripod on the Colorado Trail
Editor’s Note: This story contains descriptions of animal abuse and trauma related to a rescue dog. Introduction: Tripod’s Story Can anyone own a 4-legged canine rescue? Three-legged? Toothless? Hacked off...
New Gear Guides: REI & Cottage Brands (+2024 Sale Info)
Quick reference to information and links to the new REI and Cottage Brand gear guides & 2024 Spring Sales.
Shell Game: Wind and Rain Jacket Breathability Tests vs. Trail Performance
I sent several top wind and rain shells to the lab to measure breathability and then took them on the trail for real-world testing.
What Properties Influence the Air Permeability of Wind Shirt Fabrics?
The purpose of this report is to investigate the relationship between air permeability, fabric porosity, weave type, and yarn structure via photomicrography and image analysis. This is not an exhaustive research study, but rather, an exploration of some of the fabric design attributes that have an impact on air permeability rates.
Member Q&A (Members-Only Livestream)
Join us on our monthly members-only "Q&A" live stream with Backpacking Light owner/founder Ryan Jordan for short presentations + member Q&A.
Episode 101 | Take Less, Do More, With Glen Van Peski
In episode 101 of the Backpacking Light podcast we're going to talk to Glen Van Peski about the life lessons we can learn from ultralight backpacking.
Bear Canisters: Design, Use Cases, and Reviews
We hope this guide will help you understand bear canisters a little bit better. You'll learn about various testing agencies, bear canister design, materials, usability, and user experiences. Lastly, we’ll make some recommendations for bear canisters that reflect unique combinations of value, weight, and capacity.
Episode 100 | Celebrating our Listeners and Gear for Hiking in the Sun
In episode 100 of the Backpacking Light Podcast we're going to celebrate sunshine and the one hundredth episode of the backpacking light podcast featuring stories from our listeners and more.
How to Choose Backpacking Gear (Shelter Case Studies)
In this video, we walk through a framework for making decisions about how to select gear based on benefits, features, and design attributes, with a focus on shelter systems.
Thursday, February 27 through Saturday, March 1 - Registration is Free.Trail Days Online! 2025 is this week:
