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Carbon Fiber Trekking Poles Review Summary and Gear Guide Overview

Carbon fiber construction has made its way into the trekking pole industry in a big way. The result is a bunch of really light poles. Which are better? We put twelve all-carbon and carbon/aluminum hybrid trekking poles through some seriously tough testing and rate their performance and features.

Titanium Goat Take Down Goat Pole REVIEW

Strong, light, fixed-length carbon fiber poles with one useful extra feature - the ability to break the poles down into two sections for easy transport.

Leki Carbon Ergometric Trekking Pole REVIEW

The first carbon trekking pole from Leki - top quality and very expensive.

simBLISSity UnSlack Pack SPOTLITE REVIEW

If your backpack doesn’t have convenience pockets for your camera and snacks, here is a good way to add them.

Integral Designs eVENT Shortie Gaiters SPOTLITE REVIEW

Elegant in their simplicity and functionality, they’re like putting your socks on in the morning.

Life-Link AT Superlight Trekking Pole REVIEW

Super stiff, super strong, these are bomber fixed-length mountaineering and bushwhacking poles!

Titanium Goat, Goat Poles Trekking Pole REVIEW

The Goat Poles rock for simplicity, stiffness, and light weight - but there are a few flaws that need attention.

Pacerpole 2-Section Trekking Pole REVIEW

Unique molded grips add extreme comfort and power to these heavier two-section aluminum/carbon fiber hybrids. But are they worth the weight?

Komperdell C3 Duolock Women Trekking Pole REVIEW

Three-section carbon fiber trekking poles that combine sturdy construction, rigidity, and vibration absorption in a very light and compact package. This “Women’s” pole is sized for most hikers, regardless of gender.

Gossamer Gear Lightrek ‘06 Trekking Pole REVIEW

The lightest poles on the market, now with stiffer shafts and more contoured grips. Are the shafts stiff and durable enough for serious trail usage?

Komperdell C2 Carbon Tour Duolock Trekking Pole REVIEW

Two-section carbon poles that are very light weight, adjust for different size users, and perform great in the backcountry.

Alpkit Carbonlite Trekking Pole REVIEW

Stiff, lightweight, and reasonably priced, the Alpkit Carbonlite poles are the carbon trekking pole value leaders. How did they stand up to months of abuse?

New Balance 872 Off Road Trail Shoe SPOTLITE REVIEW

A superb shoe for ultralight backpacking on-trail. Off-trail, they performed exceptionally well, except for one weakness.

Tarptent Contrail (Sneak Preview) SPOTLITE REVIEW

Tarptent returns to its roots with a new fast and light bivy-weight 1-person tent.

SuperUltraLight Favorites Gear List 2006

Taking a summer, long weekend backpacking trip carrying only 10 pounds on your back is easy, comfortable, and safe with the right gear. Here’s a list of the Backpacking Light editors' favorite SUL gear.

Make Your Own Gear: Five Yards to SuperUltraLight
Part 1, Introduction

Not for the frail at heart, in this article we dive into making a SUL tarp, pack, and stuff sack out of a single 5-yard piece of spinnaker fabric.

John Muir Trail (JMT) Record Attempt – Unsupported, Without Resupply

BPL subscriber, Al Shaver, will attempt to break the JMT speed record for an unsupported hike without resupply. He starts on the full moon, September 7th.

Stoves, Tents and Carbon Monoxide – Deadly or not?
Part 1: Theory

You've read the warnings and heard the horror stories about cooking in your tent. How dangerous is it really? Part 1 of this series describes: how CO is formed, a warning sign of production, and a simple change you can make to your stove setup to reduce CO.

Make Your Own Gear: Multi-Pad-Ground-Sheet Integration System

Complete step-by-step instructions on how to size, cut and glue a tidy sleeping pad system.

Primus Gravity MF Stove REVIEW

Innovative multi-fuel stove for canisters, white gas and kerosene that performs well with canister fuel but is difficult to use with the other fuels.

Coleman Fyrestorm Ti Stove REVIEW

Innovative dual-fuel stove for canisters and white gas and variants that works very well with canister fuel and reasonably well with white gas.

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