
Ben Kilbourne
Latest
Zpacks Free Duo Tent Review
In this Zpacks Free Duo Tent review, we dive into its pros (freestanding, Dyneema Composite Fabric) and its cons (low livability, poor storm performance).
Exploration, An Act of Imagining
The horizon is our reminder that the way things are now is not the way things have to be. Exploring, even just backpacking into the hills at the edge of town, expands the known and opens us up to the possibility of more.
Going Home
The transitions from the simple discomfort of the trail to the chaotic comfort of life at home happen by degrees. What can I learn from the trail that will allow me to experience home life in a new way?
What is a Backpacking Trip Failure?
Some things actually suck. We can still learn from them.
The Blue Lights of the San Rafael Swell
Sometimes we backpack to get a taste of the unknowable: blue lights and pictographs in the San Rafael Swell.
Durston X-Mid 2P Review
The Durston X-Mid 2P is a 2-person, double-wall, dual side-entry, silpoly shelter with two vestibules that weighs 40 oz (1134 g).
Finding Meaning on the Green River
Ben Kilbourne hikes and packrafts along the Green River in Wyoming.
It’s Time to Talk About Campfires
Why do so many of us still feel compelled to have fires?
YAR.gear Mountain Drifter 38L Review
The YAR.gear Mountain Drifter 38L (~18 oz / 510 g, MSRP $200) is a light and modular fastpacking pack that can accommodate heavier loads for short distances if need be.
The Overlook: Observing Transition Season
Ben Kilbourne uses the writing of Aldo Leopold to examine his interaction with nature.