Backpacking Light accepts unsolicited submissions of stories, skills, or gear info to share with our community.
Honoraria
- Less than 1,000 words – $50
- More than 1,000 words – $100
In addition, active contributors are invited to participate in our annual Staff Picks, gain free access and invites to our events and treks, and receive a complimentary Unlimited Annual Membership.
Topic areas and example articles
| Narrative Gear Reviews | • MSR Pro Bivy Sack Review |
| Make Your Own Gear | • MYOG: SUL Remote Inverted Canister Winter Stove Version 7 • MYOG Tunnel Tent (The Frankenstein Tent: Old Materials Come Alive Again) |
| Backpacking Skills | • How to Use Gaia GPS to Find Hidden Backcountry Routes • Handling the Heat: How to Use Your Palms to Stay Cool |
| Trip Reports | • Mantras, Mandalas, and Meditations: A Hike through the Hidden Tibetan Kingdom of Nepal – the Nar Phu Valley and Upper Mustang Regions • The Gift of Surprise in the Rawah Wilderness • Home Range: A Place that Keeps the Wild in Your Life |
| Essays | • On Finding and Claiming Femininity in the Backcountry • Unresting Event |
Editorial guidelines
Editorial statement: Learning about outdoor gear and mastering outdoor skills online is difficult because so much information is created with commercial bias or by people who lack expertise or experience. Backpacking Light creates content that reflects trusted expertise so outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy the backcountry with confidence.
Learn more: About Backpacking Light | Our Values | Editorial Disclosure
Manuscript submission, payment, and publication process
We review unsolicited article proposals on a quarterly basis. Our editorial team will review submissions and notify authors within two weeks after the deadline (see deadline dates in the table below). Once your story proposal is accepted:
- You will have 2 months to submit a completed draft of your manuscript.
- You may be asked to make one round of revisions to your manuscript.
- Once your final draft has been accepted, payment will be issued within 10 business days and your work will be assigned a publication date.
Disclaimer: Backpacking Light may delay (and, in rare cases, cancel) the publication of an article, but this will not impact if or when the author is paid.
Key Dates
| Application Due | Notice of Acceptance | First Draft of Article Due | Publication Date |
| January 1 | January 14 | March 10 | Quarter 2 (April – June) |
| April 1 | April 14 | June 10 | Quarter 3 (July – September) |
| July 1 | July 14 | September 10 | Quarter 4 (October – December) |
| October 1 | October 14 | December 10 | Quarter 1 (January – March) |
Submit your story idea or manuscript
