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Lightweight Frameless Backpacks State of the Market Report 2011: Part 1 – Choosing and Using a Frameless Pack
One of the most important items in an ultralight gear kit is a frameless backpack, and it’s important to do your research and choose wisely. This five-part manifesto on frameless backpacks (including those with removable stays) is based on two years of field testing and weeks of lab testing. We compile data on all of the packs currently available and evaluate them in groups according to their appropriate use. Part 1 focuses on the intricacies of selecting and using a frameless backpack and provides a master list of frameless backpacks that meet our selection criteria.
Ultralight Adventure Equipment (ULA) CDT Backpack Review
The CDT is a really nice frameless backpack that would be even better with a few revisions. And there is one thing you really need to know…
The Global Test III: Trekking in Russia
From the Gulag Archipelago to the Pearl of Siberia: between gear choice mistakes, gear failure, corrupt officials, and aggressive cows, at what point does backpacking cease to be fun?
Big Sky International Evolution 2P Tent Review
Creation vs Evolution: one of the thorniest questions ever and one I prefer to stay away from most of the time. But Bob Molen’s latest creation is the ever-evolving Evolution 2P, and one I feel comfortable tackling. It is almost divine...
Global Test Main Page
Danny Milks and Kristin Tennessen left California in September 2009 to embark upon a two-year international backpacking adventure. Follow their travels, break down their gear lists, and step into their photos for a global adventure like nothing you've ever seen!
Field Notes of a Family Man: How to Nurture Your Family and Your Backpacking Obsession
How do we balance being a good parent, spouse and professional [insert your career here], while also embracing the side of us that wants to walk out the door and hike across the planet?
Primus Eta Solo Stove Review
A heat exchanger stove in the now fairly standard upright format. Does the Primus Eta Solo outperform the competition?
MYOG: Group Pot Stand and Windscreen
What's better than a communal, one-pot meal between hiking buddies under the stars? Learn how to make a pot stand/windscreen that's sturdy enough to hold a large pot filled with dinner and light enough to not bow your backpack.
The Global Test Part II: Evaluating System Efficiency for a Round-the-World Journey
In Part 1, we answered the question "What should you pack?" Mid-way through our global trek, we now visit the question "How's that working out for you?"
MSR Carbon Reflex 3 Tent Review
Dropping two full pounds from my current tent weight to use a sub-five-pound three-person double-wall tent all summer sounded too good to be true. How did MSR's lightest 3P shelter work for the Estrella family?
24-Hour Gear Lists
See the winners of our recent contest and download a zip file of all the submissions. Use your favorite to plan YOUR next trip!
Lightly Burdened Pilgrims: Trip Report and Photo Essay
My wife and I retraced the steps of Martin Luther on the 500th anniversary of his famous pilgrimage to Rome... it wasn't quite the thru-hike I had anticipated, but it had a satisfaction all its own.
Keeping it Real in Bolivia’s Cordillera Real: Global Test Photo Essay
Lightweight backpacking in Bolivia's northern Andes.
Apparatus for Testing Thermal Insulation Properties
When it comes to assessing things like air mats, foam mats, and other insulating things, the common measurement is called an R-value - meaning thermal resistance. We describe equipment designed and built to provide calibrated measurements of R-value for BPL articles.
Tall Tales from Colca Canyon, Peru: Global Test Photo Essay
Trekking in one of the world's deepest canyons.
MYOG: eVent Rain/Wind Jacket
Turning 2.5 yards of high performance fabric into a lightweight, breathable rain jacket.
Hiking the Santa Cruz Loop in Peru’s Cordillera Blanca: Global Test Photo Essay
Escaping the "boxes" of modern society in the heart of the breathtaking Peruvian Andes.
Interview with Mike Clelland!
A lively chat to introduce a new feature coming up on Backpacking Light: Mike's Ultralight Tip of the Week!
Eleven Years Old on the PCT
Recently unemployed, with a daughter itching to complete a thru-hike, what's a dad to do? Get sponsors and yank her from school, of course!
Integral Designs eVent Pullover Review
Does the strong appeal, on paper, of the Integral Designs eVent Pullover materialize in real-world use?
7 Myths about the Continental Divide Trail
At first glance, doing a round-trip (a yo-yo) on the Continental Divide Trail (CDT) seems like a waste. Why not hike a different trail instead of hiking the same one two times? However, unlike the Appalachian Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail, the CDT is never the same trail twice.
Thursday, February 27 through Saturday, March 1 - Registration is Free.Trail Days Online! 2025 is this week:
