Outdoor Research
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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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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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Wind Shirts for Backpacking
Wind shirt performance – design, technology, features, standardized breathability and air permeability data (MVTR and APR testing).
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Staff Picks 2024
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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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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Episode 96 | Building Resilience for Backcountry Adversity
Listen Summary In episode 96 of the Backpacking Light podcast we’re going to learn how to build resilience in the backcountry. In this Episode: What’s New at Backpacking Light? Thriving…
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By The Numbers Fabric Air Permeability and MVTR are Closely Related, Just Not How You Might Expect
This work explores the relationship between air permeability and MVTR in fabrics that do not include a waterproof membrane.
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Outdoor Research Flurry Sensor Glove Review (Updated)
The Outdoor Research Flurry Sensor Glove (2.5 oz / 71 g, $40) is the warmest glove I’ve found that I can use effectively with a smartphone.
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By The Numbers – How Much Wind Penetrates Your Air Permeable Outer Layer at Hiking and Running Speeds?
Stephen Seeber helps us answer the question, “do air-permeable garments allow a noticeable amount of ventilation while hiking or running?”
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Episode 89 | Fall Layering Systems
In episode 89 of the Backpacking Light Podcast, we are going to talk about fall layering systems.
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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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Outdoor Research ActiveIce Chroma Sun Gloves
Gear reviews from our staff and members, buy/sell used, shopping tools, and more about the Outdoor Research ActiveIce Chroma Sun Gloves.
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By the Numbers: the Search for a High-MVTR Waterproof Breathable Shell Jacket
A high MVTR waterproof-breathable shell jacket may be the holy grail that can replace both a wind shirt and a rain jacket. Do they exist, and where do we find them?
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Ultralight Rain Mitts for Backpacking: Reviews & Gear Guide
In this gear guide, we review 16 models of waterproof mitten shells (“rain mitts”) weighing less than 4 ounces (113 g) within the primary context of 3-season backpacking.
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Outdoor Research Revel Shell Mitt
The Outdoor Research Revel Shell Mitt is a durable and full-featured rain mitt – long gauntlet, wrist and cuff adjusters, and grippy palm.
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Outdoor Research Helium Rain Jacket
Ultralight rain jackets are everywhere now, and this is a difficult market to sort out. The Outdoor Research Helium Rain Jacket is a classic that remains one of the best…
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Outdoor Research Rocky Mountain High Gaiters
Ultralight gaiters suffer a variety of limitations, not the least of which are durability, maintaining long-term water-resistance, and closure failures. If you abuse gaiters via bushwhacking, mountaineering, or snow travel…
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Outdoor Research Flurry Sensor Gloves
Lofty, warm, weather-resistant, with effective fingertip sensors for tapping, swiping, pinching, and typing on a smartphone screen. Outer shell is a water-resistant wool-nylon blend, inner lining is a soft brushed…
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