All Articles

What a Beginner Needs for Backpacking: Part 2

Clothing, Footwear, Group Gear (Water Treatment, Stoves and Fuel, Shelter). Basic training for the beginner and/or young backpacker, with a focus on Scouts.

What a Beginner Needs for Backpacking: Part 1

The Lightweight Lesson, Essentials, Backpack, Sleeping Bag and Pad, Personal Kit. Basic training for the beginner and/or young backpacker, with a focus on Scouts.

CAMP Flash Anorak Review

An innovative design makes this wind shell easy to put on and take off.

Crazy for Quilts – How Quilts Became My Sleep System of Choice, PLUS A Review of My Favorite, the Stateless Society Custom Quilt

Take a walk through the backpacking addicted mind of Ray as he explains his journey to custom quilts, and read a review of his favorite model, a 14-ounce beauty made by fellow BPL-er Javan Dempsey.

Backpacking and Hiking with an Umbrella

Francis is an umbrella advocate, eschewing typical rainwear. Find out why he's backpacked over 12,500 miles with an umbrella... and decide if you should follow his lead.

Storm Resistance of Ultralight Shelters

Evaluating the wind and snow loading of shelters for ultralight backpacking in inclement conditions.

Deep Freeze: A Cold, Hard Look at Winter Stoves

Investigating the lightest-weight options on the market and assessing ease-of-use, reliability, fuel efficiency, and time to boil.

Mountain Laurel Designs TrailStar Shelter Review

Simplicity and strength in an all-season shelter.

Clikstand T-2 Alcohol Stove System Review

Can 100% titanium justify the price tag?

Nemo Obi Elite 1P Tent Review

Nemo becomes a serious player in the ultralight tent category. The Obi Elite 1P is a cutting edge one-person double-wall tent that matches the weight and roominess of many single-wall tents.

Prospects for 2012: New and Noteworthy Gear

News from the cottage industry is conspicuously absent from Outdoor Retailer, where even modest booths can be more costly than a serious gear-buying habit. So, here are a few new and noteworthy pieces of gear from smaller manufacturers that were either released late in 2011 or are coming in 2012. Keep these items on your radar as you prepare for the coming season!

Mike Clelland’s Tiny Manifesto of Ultralight Backpacking Tips

Rotating feature with tips and illustrations from Mike Clelland!'s new book: Ultralight Backpackin' Tips

Introducing Chris Wallace as Backpacking Light’s New Gear Editor

MSR Lightning Flash Snowshoe Review

If unlimited traction is what you want in a snowshoe, the Lightning Flash delivers; it can rightfully lay claim to the title of lightest high-traction snowshoe available.

Sony NEX-7 Digital Camera Review

Large sensor. High resolution. Small package. Interchangeable lenses. Is the DSLR finally dead for the backpacking photographer?

Rab MeCo Baselayers Review

Rab's new baselayers blend merino wool and synthetic fabrics - do they achieve the best of both worlds?

2011 Backpacking Light Staff Picks

Backpacking Light staff pick their favorite gear/cool dealio/thingy-dingy of 2011.

Cottage Stagnation and Recent Gems

Commentary on the (lack of) gear you can love from the cottage industry.

O Canada!

The conclusion to Balls and Sunshine's 2011 PCT hike. Is the best yet to come?

Altai Skis: The Hok Ski and X-Trace Universal Binding Review

For fast, easy over-snow travel, combine the traits of a snowshoe and those of a ski. A short, fat ski would keep the maneuverability, packability and hopefully light weight of a snowshoe as well as the glide and easy trail breaking of a ski. How well does this theory play out in reality?

Jacks ‘R’ Better Sierra Stealth Quilt Review

The Jacks ‘R’ Better Sierra Stealth Quilt is an ultralight summer quilt designed “with the ground sleeper in mind.” As the lightest of three wearable quilts available from JRB, the Sierra Stealth has a resealable Velcro head hole in the center that allows the quilt to be used as a serape around camp - eliminating the need for a lightweight jacket in addition to sleeping gear.