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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
Introduction Chris Wallace joined our team as Backpacking Light’s Wilderness Trekking School Manager in 2010. We’re pleased to welcome him aboard as our new Gear Editor to see us through...
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.
Lightweight Alternative Rainwear: State of the Market Report – Part 2: Overview of Individual Products
Further discussion on the four individual categories, a review of the products tested within the context of each category, and a brief conclusion of ways in which various alternative rainwear products can be combined, both with each other and with WPB garments, to suit various hiking environments and conditions.
Lightweight Alternative Rainwear: State of the Market Report – Part 1: Introducing and Defining Alternative Rainwear
An unruly, heterogenous group, Dave divided it into four categories: simple poncho-tarp, complex poncho-tarp, alternative upper-body wear, and alternative legwear.
Seek Outside VersaShelter 6-Person Tipi
This single-wall, three/four-season, tipi-style shelter is the largest tipi in the VersaShelter line. A significant amount of the weight savings comes from the use of an all carbon fiber pole.
Kahtoola MTN 28 Snowshoe Review
Incorporating a stand-alone trail crampon that works along with the snowshoe itself, the Mountain 28 eliminates the need to carry a separate traction device for conditions that call for grip, not float. Intriguing in theory, how did it work in practice?
Field Testing Air Permeable Waterproof-Breathable Fabric Technologies Part 3: Discussion, Conclusions, and Performance of Individual Jackets
In this final part of the series we assemble the information gleaned from our field testing into an informative discussion with down to earth conclusions. We also present field test data for each individual jacket, comment on its utility, and identify standouts.
Sunshine in the Sierra
Everything about the Sierra portion of the PCT was harder this year. Balls and Sunshine faced record-setting snow, low food, dangerous water crossings, injuries, and a markedly slower pace.
Nemo Pentalite Review
A versatile shelter with a unique design, the Pentalite manages to bring something new to the realm of pyramid tent design: a large floorspace and optional full bug protection without a full-height inner bug net. The size, weight savings, and flexibility of this design make it a good candidate for a group backpacking, car camping, or base camp use. So far, so good, right?
CAMP Xenon 4 Pole Review
These highly anticipated poles made quite a splash at 2011 ORWM. The Xenon 4 Trekking Poles are light, compact, easy to use and reasonably priced. How did they stand up to testing?
Field Testing Air Permeable Waterproof-Breathable Fabric Technologies – Part 2: Are There Detectable Differences Under Real World Backpacking Conditions?
Manufacturers make lofty claims for the enhanced breathability of the new fabrics. I tested ten jackets under challenging and forgiving backpacking-type conditions, while recording temperature and humidity inside and outside the jackets, and reported my findings. Perhaps I didn’t experience “air and water vapor permeability so shocking you’ll swear it's magic,” but I did identify some standouts and some promising trends of interest to backpackers.
MSR Twin Brothers Shelter Review
On paper, the palatial space and bare-essentials engineering of this tent make it appear like a dream come true for ultralight group travel. How does it actually perform in the real world?
