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Autumn in Cairngorms National Park, Scotland
Reminisce about the warm colors of the fall with Chris Townsend's evocative photography.
Dana Parnello on Controlled Product Testing at REI
Dana shares his thoughts on lightweight trends, gear testing, breakthrough products and assorted other topics.
Reflection on the Wild Coast: A Photo Essay
Adventurers Erin McKittrick and Bretwood Higman summarize their 4000-mile trek in photos and prose.
The Journey’s End: Summarizing 4000 Miles Along the Wild Coast (Podcast)
A few weeks after completing their 4000-mile journey by foot, ski and packraft from Seattle to the Aleutian Islands, Erin and Hig share a tale of a destructive bear encounter, their favorite gear, future plans, and why being good at transitions was a vital ingredient to the trip's success.
2008 Backpacking Light Staff Picks
Backpacking Light staff pick their favorite gear of 2008.
Mountain Magic on the Pyrenean High Route
Backpacking Light member David McClure's forty-two-day traverse of the French/Spanish border mountains.
Exposure Lights – Joystick MaXx and Enduro MaXx Review
The Exposure Lights Joystick MaXx and Enduro MaXx are rechargeable lights with excellent versatility for multi-sport pursuits. They can go from the bicycle to the backpack very easily, offering exceptional brightness, light weight, and a weatherproof design.
Gear Suited for Wet, Cold Weather Hiking
Cold & wet: really only good when it describes your dog's nose. But you can still be comfy in these conditions with the right (lightweight) gear.
Lightweight in Wonderland
Circumnavigating Mount Rainier's premier walk with lightweight gear has J. Sinclair Oal grinning like the Cheshire Cat.
Podcast: Carol Crooker Puts Waterproof Footwear to the Allegheny Test
Four footwear systems in as many days: Carol does her best to get cold feet.
Paramo Waterproof Directional Clothing
Waterproof clothing without coatings or membranes: how they do it and how it works.
Osprey Exos Backpack Review
Osprey's new Exos 46 and Exos 58 backpacks are designed specifically for lightweight backpacking, and, at just over 2 pounds, set a new weight standard for an internal frame backpack with a built-in frame. Plus, they're durable and full-featured.
Podcast: Journey on the Wild Coast – Raising an Adventurer
Erin and Hig's mothers weigh in with childhood anecdotes that give us a glimpse of young explorers in the making.
Wanderlust: Backcountry Meandering with My Family in the Wallowa Mountains
Join Regina WB for her annual family trek to Blue Lake in the Eagle Cap Wilderness, Wallowa Mountains.
State of the Market Report: Single Wall Tents (2008)
Veteran gear editors Chris Townsend and Will Rietveld unlock the mystique of the single wall tent - identifying their advantages and disadvantages, evaluating designs and technologies, listing specifications on the lightest ones available, picking their favorites for a range of applications, and speculating on future trends.
AntiGravityGear O2 Tent Review
This new single wall tent provides convenience and ventilation, plus loads of room for one person and gear and can accommodate two people when needed.
MontBell Crescent 2 Tent Review
Two-person single wall tent with a twist: one side is double wall, so the fly can be rolled up in good weather for extra views and ventilation.
BPL Launches Wiki as Lightweight Backpacking Reference
The new BPL Wiki hosted by Backpacking Light!
Photon ReX Review
The Photon ReX looks like another one of those little button-cell LED lights, but it has a couple of very nice surprises - and it even works well. Testing it presented some difficulties, but these were generally easy to overcome.
Podcast: Journey on the Wild Coast – Maintaining Health and Preventing Injury
Erin and Hig discuss their minimal first aid kit and strategies for staying alive and well throughout a year of wilderness trekking.
PHD Design Your Own Sleeping Bag
Chris Townsend walks us through the PHD Design Your Own Bag feature online.
