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Staff Picks 2025
Our staff selects their favorite hiking, backpacking, and other backcountry gear that they’ve used over the past year – the next edition of our infamous Staff Picks!
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Episode 141 | Hiking at Night in a Blizzard
Critical winter layering, handwear, footwear, lighting, and navigation systems for safely hiking out through a sub-freezing blizzard at night.
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Episode 138 | Plan-Focus-Trust
Learn the Plan–Focus–Trust framework and discover how preparation removes fear, presence builds clarity, and trust turns small wins into lasting confidence – a mindset for wilderness travel and life goals.
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Backcountry Lighting (Flashlights and Headlamps)
Comprehensive guide to backcountry lighting technology and products. Learn about headlamps, lumens, battery types, and the best models for hiking and camping.
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Handwear Systems for Backcountry Travel: Protecting Your Hands in Sun, Cold, Rain, Snow, and Wind
Learn how to build a lightweight, versatile handwear system for backpacking that protects your hands from sun, wind, rain, snow, and cold. This guide covers layering strategies, material science, field-tested tips, and real-world lessons to keep your hands functional and protected on the trail.
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Episode 124 | Fastpacking Pack Design with Black Diamond
An in-depth discussion with Black Diamond’s Joe Grant and Derick Noffsinger on the design evolution of hybrid packs for fastpacking and mountain travel.
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Wind Shirts for Backpacking
Wind shirt performance – design, technology, features, standardized breathability and air permeability data (MVTR and APR testing).
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Episode 123 | The 5 Fs of Fastpacking
In episode 123 of the Backpacking Light podcast, we’re going to learn about Fastpacking – the art of traveling long distances with very little gear in a short amount of time
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Traction Spikes
An in-depth guide to traction spikes for hiking, backpacking and running in all seasons. Compare models, materials, and performance attributes with insights from field testing to find performant options for different use cases.
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Episode 118 | Traction Spikes
In episode 118 of the Backpacking Light podcast we’re going to learn about traction systems for snow travel.
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Avalanche and Winter Safety Tools
A guide to tools used to manage risk in avalanche terrain – transceivers, shovels, probes, safety backpacks, saws.
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Ultralight, Ultra-Performance Backcountry Electronics (Revised and Updated)
In this updated gear guide, I’ll provide some insight into the backcountry electronics I use, discuss their use cases, and explain why I chose those brands and models.
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Shell Game: Wind and Rain Jacket Breathability Tests vs. Trail Performance
I sent several top wind and rain shells to the lab to measure breathability and then took them on the trail for real-world testing.
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What Properties Influence the Air Permeability of Wind Shirt Fabrics?
The purpose of this report is to investigate the relationship between air permeability, fabric porosity, weave type, and yarn structure via photomicrography and image analysis. This is not an exhaustive research study, but rather, an exploration of some of the fabric design attributes that have an impact on air permeability rates.
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Black Diamond Moji R+ Lantern
Gear reviews from our staff and members, buy/sell used, shopping tools, and more about the Black Diamond Moji R+ Lantern.
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Minimalist Footwear and Trail Running Shoes for Hiking and Backpacking
A curated guide to Backpacking Light resources about minimalist footwear (e.g., trail running shoes for hiking and backpacking) – gear, skills, podcasts, forums, research, education, product recommendations, and more.
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Staff Picks 2022
Updated: Click here for 2023 Staff Picks. Each year, our staff selects their favorite backcountry gear from the past year, and we look forward to you sharing your favorite gear of the year as well in the forum comments below!
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Black Diamond Spot 400 Headlamp
Gear reviews from our staff and members, buy/sell used, shopping tools, and more about the Black Diamond Spot 400 Headlamp.
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2022 Backpacking Light Members Choice Awards
First annual Members Choice Awards – what gear do our members use and love as we near the end of 2022?
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Black Diamond Raven Ice Axe
Gear reviews from our staff and members, buy/sell used, shopping tools, and more about the Black Diamond Raven Ice Axe.
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