Article Library
Article Library4.5+ million words and 2,500+ articles about backpacking gear, hiking and camping skills, gear testing, outdoor technology research, backpacking routes and trips, people, philosophy and ideas, outdoor news and commentary, and more. Premium and Unlimited Members get full access to the entire library.
- GEAR • Gear Reviews
- GEAR • Market Reports
- GEAR • Gear Guides
- GEAR • Gear Checklists
- GEAR • Make Your Own Gear
- GEAR • Gear Testing & Research
- SKILLS • Tips, Tricks, and Hacks
- SKILLS • Wilderness Skills
- SKILLS • Training
- SKILLS • Trip Planning
- SKILLS • Food Preparation
- PLACES • Trips
- PLACES • Routes
- CULTURE • Essays
- CULTURE • Stories
- CULTURE • Issues
- CULTURE • People
- CULTURE • News
- CULTURE • Media Reviews
- ARCHIVES (Before 30.Nov.2015)
- SEARCH LIBRARY
- TRAILHEADS
Dispatches
Rain jackets for mountain minimalism
Ultralight rain jackets are useful, but not universally applicable in all contexts. Here, the author compares ultralight rainwear with mountain rainwear and defines the “mountain minimalist” shell: a simple, 8- to 11-oz, 3-layer jacket built for prolonged exposure, abrasion, and really bad weather without unnecessary features.
Key drivers of activity-related fatigue in the backcountry
Fatigue in the backcountry is not just a subjective sensation of tiredness. It is a cumulative physiological burden that can impair movement quality, physical performance, decision-making, and safety. This article introduces an exposure-dose framework for understanding fatigue accumulation and examines three primary categories: uphill concentric muscular fatigue, downhill eccentric and joint fatigue, and metabolic fatigue. It also considers the interactions among these fatigue types and explains why their recovery and decay occur over different physiological timescales. Two routes with different grade geometries are compared using the TRIPS software platform.
How much body fat will you lose on a backpacking trip?
Backpacking creates large calorie deficits you can’t fully pack as food. This article presents a simple, physiology-based model that estimates fat loss from total trip deficit by capping how much energy can realistically come from body fat, using fat mass, hiking hours, and aerobic-threshold intensity.
Behavioral-Science Foundations of the Backpacking Light Member Gear Review System as a High-Fidelity Trust Signal
Backpacking gear is an experience good: performance and reliability are hard to judge before purchase. This article explains how the Backpacking Light Member Gear Review System creates stronger trust signals by separating recommendation, field performance, and re-use intent, then pairing each review with experience level and days in the field. Product-level aggregates preserve nuance, helping shoppers interpret fit, risk, and credibility.
Podcasts
Episode 147 | Thermoregulatory Debt
Avoid thermoregulatory debt by learning how delayed layering decisions in cold, wet, or windy conditions lead to moisture, heat, and performance debt. Timing is key.
Episode 146 | Dirtbag Rich with Blake Boles
Ryan Jordan interviews Blake Boles, author of Dirtbag Rich, about redefining wealth through time, purpose, flexibility, and outdoor freedom. They explore dirtbag culture, careers, housing, relationships, risk, and the pursuit of a life built around adventure, simplicity, and meaningful time outside before retirement.
Episode 145 | Backpacking at Altitude
How altitude affects backpacking performance, sleep, fatigue, acclimatization, and AMS – with practical strategies for planning safer trips.
Articles
By the Numbers: The Tug of Water – Why Some Layers Hold Sweat and Others Let it Go
Our new test data reveals which hydrophobic and hydrophilic base layers are most effective at liquid water transfer, moving sweat away from your skin during high exertion.
Camping Under Trees: Hazard-Tree Awareness and Campsite Selection for Backpackers
Falling trees pose a fatal risk to backpackers, especially when camping. Learn to identify hazard trees and choose a safe campsite by scanning the fall zone.
REI’s Labor Fight Is a Test of Co-op Trust
Documents show benefit changes, financial pressure, and unresolved legal questions. They also show how little members can verify from public statements alone.
Inflatable Sleeping Pads for Backpacking
The product category of inflatable sleeping pads is trending towards larger, warmer, and more comfortable pads - with very little weight penalty. This market report surveys available products and provides use case guidance, context tips, and feedback heuristics for optimizing comfort.
Why You Should Spend a Few Ounces of Pack Weight on Rainwear Ventilation Features
In this article, we make the case for spending some extra weight on rain jackets and rain pants that offer more ventilation features (and durability) than typical ultralight rainwear styles (updated May 2026).
Backpacking Light x REI Gear Guide
Lightweight and ultralight backpacking gear at REI - updated with recommendations, limitations, disclaimers, and consumer advocacy.
