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PHD Minim 400 Sleeping Bag Review
This zipperless down mummy-style 23 F rated sleeping bag is elegant for its simplicity, light weight, and high loft-to-weight ratio.
Petzl Tikka XP2 and Tikka Plus2 LED Headlamp Reviews
Petzl has been busy upgrading and gives us two new versions of an old stand-by.
PHD Mountain Software Ultra Down Pullover Review
The ultimate down jacket for ultralight backpacking and lightweight cold weather pursuits.
Be Prepared, Not Equipped
The main reason my pack got lighter was because I realized that being prepared had little to do with the equipment I carried.
Sierra Prime: Off Trail in California’s High Country
The greatest rewards come when you choose to get off the beaten path and build a personalized hike that mixes challenge and fun at whatever level works for you.
MontBell Ex Light Women’s Down Jacket Review
The lightest down jacket to be found, but the women’s version doesn’t have as much loft and warmth as the men’s version.
Mountain Hardwear Nitrous Jacket Review
An ultralight down jacket that performs well in active pursuits, but it’s not the best choice for ultralight backpacking.
Seven Days on the Katy
I went looking for a long-distance hike in the midwest and found the 225-mile Katy Trail. No time like the present to try out my first thru-hike!
Marmot Hydrogen Sleeping Bag Review
The Hydrogen is a well designed, high loft, roomy, warm, mummy-style down 30F-rated sleeping bag, but its shell fabric is heavy and wets out too easily.
Backyard Wilderness: The New England Trail
600 miles of trail and it's not the Long Trail or the AT! Sure, it's got some rough spots, but it's a nice taste of something different when you want to cover some mileage in the northeastern U.S.
2009 Backpacking Light Staff Picks
Backpacking Light staff pick their favorite gear of 2009.
Lowrance Endura Sierra GPS Review
Lowrance adds touchscreen functionality with its top of the line Sierra GPS. With a plethora of multimedia options, it comes across as more entertainment device than a dedicated navigational aid. How does it work for backpacking?
Big Agnes Fly Creek UL2 Tent Review
Big Agnes raises the bar for two-person double-wall tents by creating their lightest offering ever. In fact, it is the lightest tent in this category from any manufacturer. Will it Fly high, or leave us up a Creek?
Lighten Your Heaviest Gear: You!
As lightweight backpackers, we obsess over the weight of every piece of gear we carry, but many of us give little thought to the weight of the heaviest piece of gear of all: ourselves. How do we begin to treat our own weight with the same care that we treat the weight of our gear? By doing what we already do well: going light.
Denali Light: The 2009 Attempt
A light and kind-of fast expedition on one of the world’s great mountains.
MontBell UL Spiral Down Hugger Sleeping Bag Review
A lot to like and a great value for a 30 F rated down mummy bag weighing only 19 ounces.
Denali Light: The 2007 Attempt
Lightening up on Alaska’s classic mountaineering route.
Wilderness Trekking II: Long Distance Backpacking
The stated goal wasn't to make everything else a little bland, but this trip was beyond the pale. And yes, everything else IS just a little bland afterwards.
Pak-Rifle Review
My expectation for a small game rifle is to be able to shoot a very small and compact group on a target at 25 yards or less, and the Pak-Rifle makes my heart beat faster.
Olympus E-P1 Camera Review
Sure, it's lighter than its DSLR brethren, but it's also heavier and bulkier than its compact cousins. Does it offer improvements to justify carrying the additional weight and bulk?
Backpacking Light 2009 Reader Photo Contest Results
We are pleased to announce the winners of our 2009 Reader Photo Contest!
