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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.
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Backpacking Light x REI Gear Guide
Lightweight and ultralight backpacking gear at REI – updated with recommendations, limitations, disclaimers, and consumer advocacy.
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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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Backpacking Chairs: A Comprehensive Guide to the Science of Seated Recovery, Ultralight Chair Design, and Market Landscape
In ultralight backpacking, chairs are often dismissed as luxury. This guide reframes them as recovery tools — exploring their impact on performance, biomechanics, and thermal management. From sit pads to suspended seats, we analyze the design tradeoffs and field use cases that shape the modern camp seating landscape.
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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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Down-Filled Backpacking Quilts (Market Survey and Gear Guide)
This comprehensive market survey features 60+ models of down-filled backpacking quilts, 27+ brands across North America and Europe. Includes analysis (warmth, weight, value), expert recommendations, market overview, and more.
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The Dirt Catwalk: Modern Layering Ensembles for Backpackers
In this article, I discuss some of the challenges that an effective layering system needs to address. In addition, I highlight a handful of the layers that I use the most and how I combine them into various ensembles for different use cases.
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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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U.S. National Parks Pass
Gain access to every US National Park and other public lands managed by the Department of Interior for one year. Makes a great gift!
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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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REI Gift Card
Give the gift of an REI gift card to say “thank you”. You’ll make someone’s day. Online and physical cards available so you can get an electronic gift card send…
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REI Co-Op Membership
A lifetime REI Co-Op Membership makes a great gift, and supports one of the leading organizations that helps us maintain our trails and access to public lands. An REI Membership…
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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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REI Minimalist GTX Rain Mitts
The REI Minimalist GTX shell mitten is a waterproof-breathable shell mitt intended to be layered over a light insulating glove or mitten for rain and wind protection.
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REI Flexlite Air Chair
The higher leg angle of the REI Flexlite Air Chair (relative to the Helinox Chair Zero), combined with its deeper seat, cradle your hips and body more comfortably, while in…
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REI Flash Carbon Trekking Poles
The REI Flash Carbon is a well-built pole with virtually no vibration or rattle, and has the stoutest tip of any carbon pole we’ve reviewed, which helps protects the lower…
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REI Base Layer L/S Crew
If merino wool is not your game and you’d rather wear a synthetic base layer, check out the budget-friendly REI Base Layer Long Sleeve (L/S) Crew. It’s not the lightest…
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REI Magma Trail Quilt
When we first reviewed the REI Magma Trail Quilt, we were most impressed by its use of premium ultralight fabrics and high-fill down, while still maintaining a price point below…
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