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True Lemon and True Lime Spotlite Review
Bored with water in the backcountry? Need to make hydration more appealing for your group? Add some flavor to your water, and vanquish any fear of dehydration or scurvy.
Backpacking: Baby on Board – Part 2: Trekking with a Toddler
In Part 1, Fany and Nick embarked on a challenging journey with an unlikely companion: their 3 month old. Two years and another 750 km later, 30 month old Flora has completed the entire traverse. Thru-hiking with a toddler can be as rewarding as it is challenging.
Pack-and-Paddle Wilderness Route Planning: Predicting Stream Flows
Guidelines for evaluating watershed geography and streamflow to help ask the question: is this creek runnable in a packraft?
How Safe Is Your Food? Investigating the effectiveness of odor-proof bags
Do odor-proof bags work? How do supposedly "odor proof" plastic bags for backpacking hold up to the keen nose of a Police K9?
SOTMR: Two-way Satellite Communications for Backpacking: Part 3: Satellite Texting
Part 3 in our series on satellite communications focuses on the currently available two-way texting devices suitable for lightweight backpacking.
New Balance 889 Multisport Review
These new trail shoes have gone the way of the Vibram sole. How does this development affect performance?
Spring Raftpacking (and Packrafting)
In the high country, runoff doesn’t always coincide with what we all consider to be backpacking season, where trails are dry and the days are sunny. That being the case, here are some tips for trekking, packrafting, and camping in the spring snow and muck.
SOTMR: Two-way Satellite Communications for Backpacking: Part 2 – Satellite Phones
Part 2 in our 3 part series on satellite communications focuses on the currently available sat phones suitable for lightweight backpacking.
Packing for Adventure Travel: Ultralight Tips to Integrate Wilderness and Urban Kit
Packing to combine adventure travel and wilderness recreation.
SOTMR: Two-way Satellite Communications for Backpacking: Part 1 – Introduction
Part 1 in our 3 part series on two-way satellite communications for lightweight backpacking.
Spring Snow Trekking Gear List
Ryan shares his ideal gear list for late-winter, early-spring trekking. By utilizing a snow shelter and making a few adjustments to your kit, you can push the limits of your conventional 3-season gear.
Recent Developments in Canister Stoves
Recent developments in canister stoves have the potential to upset a lot of the industry, as the leadership seems to have passed out of the hands of Western brands and into Asia. Stoves that were trumpeted as the state of the art by well-known Western brands now look a little old, tired, heavy and, well, clunky. We look at a few of the leading edge stoves from 2012 to see where things are going.
Mountain Hardwear SuperMegaUL 2 Review
Mainstream manufacturers are catching on, and competition in the ~2lb tent range is fierce. The SuperMegaUL2 is a brilliant addition to this growing field.
Thermal Feedback in Upright Canister Stoves
Different upright canister stoves seem to work with differing levels of success in very cold weather, and one wonders why. Claims for pressure regulator stoves are especially problematic, with marketing spin being extreme in some cases. We examine just what is going on here, with an in-depth analysis of some aspects of both upright and remote canister stoves, to unravel some critical factors.
Impact of Wind on Insulation Loft
During a winter storm, strong winds can render your lightweight puffy useless. This article examines the effect that compression can have on various types of insulation, and presents recommendations for staying warm and alive.
Mountain Hardwear Speed 32 Sleeping Bag Review
A predominantly well engineered sleeping bag that suffers from a small, yet serious design flaw.
Winter Firebuilding Techniques (Video)
Ryan Jordan presents some tools and techniques for dealing with wet wood for firebuilding in winter conditions.
Deuter ACTLite 40+10 Spotlite Review
SpotLite Review of Deuter's new clean, yet multi-featured pack - perfect for thru-hiking in the Alps.
Notes from the Field: The Wintry Fringe Season in the Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness
Gear notes and more from a trek in the Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness in late October and early November, 2012.
Easton UL Carbon 3 Trekking Poles Spotlite Review
How do these 3-section poles hold up to the rigors of thru-hiking?
Ibex Clothing Review
A merino wool layering system to keep you dry and comfortable on cool summer nights.
"Simplify, then add lightness." - Colin Chapman
New Gear with Aluula FabricsLighter, stronger, more abrasion-resistant, and highly water-resistant - explore ultralight backpacking gear made with ALUULA Graflyte fabrics. Engineered for exceptional strength, durability, and lightweight performance, ALUULA Graflyte helps reduce pack weight without sacrificing reliability, making it ideal for demanding backcountry adventures.
