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Articles published at Backpacking Light prior to November 26, 2015.
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Latest
Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2011: Day 1 – Let the Hunt Begin!
The show is underway and we are finding loads of new and interesting lightweight gear to report on. Enjoy!
Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2011: The Show Begins With All-Mountain Demo at Solitude Ski Area
New/upgraded snowshoes from MSR, Atlas, Tubbs, and Kahtoola; lightweight Kahtoola crampons; and a new “sidecountry” ski pack from Osprey.
Via Alpina: Not Another Walk in the Woods
Designed as a European cultural itinerary traversing the continent along the backbone of the Alps, you can experience jaw-dropping Alpine beauty, culture, nature, ecology, history and cuisine in whatever region you like!
Valley Hopping in the Cordillera Huayhuash – Global Test Photo Essay
Hopscotch over lakes, skip the main trail, and discover the jewels of Peru.
SUL with My Kid Brother
Planning a 2-day, 20-mile trip with my 11-year-old brother meant going SUL, as he wasn't going to tolerate being babied with a lesser load.
September Around Mount Hood
Trip report and photo essay of a wildflower-filled circumnavigation of Oregon's famed peak.
State of the Market Report: Two-Person Double-Wall Tents (2010)
A lot of designers are moving to add lightweight options in their double-wall tent line-ups. Some have so many advantages and low weights that they may challenge the benefit of choosing a single-wall shelter!
The Effect of Cold on Gas Canisters
Ever tried to use your stove in the cold only to find that it just won't work, even although shaking the canister tells you there is plenty of fuel left? Then, when you check it at home to see what's the matter, it works perfectly. What is going on?
Philmont Redux: A Returning Scouter’s Report
Nearly 40 years after his first visit, Tom brought his son's Troop to experience the magic of Philmont - and the magic of lighter packs!
Fear and Loneliness on the Ozark Highlands Trail
The Ozark Highlands Trail winds through the Boston Mountains of northern Arkansas for approximately 165 continuous miles. Planning to yo-yo it for my first thru-hike, I had to come to terms with adjusted expectations.
Ex-Officio Give-N-Go Briefs Review
Most of us (males) want to wear something under our trousers, but what? Ordinary cotton underpants have several disadvantages: the waist band often conflicts with the hip-belt on the pack, and when they get wet they can take a very long time to dry. The Ex-Officio Give-N-Go Briefs largely solve those two problems.
SteriPEN Opti Review
The SteriPEN UV wands have been through several generations of development, reaching a very satisfactory state with this SteriPEN Opti unit.
Lightweight Internal Frame Packs: a State of the Market Report – Part 2: The Packs
A rundown of all the packs tested in the 2010 Lightweight Internal Frame Pack SOTM.
Hiking The Diablo Trail: A Conservation Success Story
In 1993, Save Mount Diablo, a charity that works to acquire and preserve land on and around the San Francisco Bay Area’s Mount Diablo, proposed a multi-use recreation trail to showcase the region’s cooperation efforts to preserve area land. In 2007, they produced the first map highlighting the thirty-mile trail.
Lightweight Internal Frame Packs: a State of the Market Report – Part 1C: Main Bag & Comfort
We survey lightweight internal frame packs with a maximum weight of 1.6 kg (3.5 lb) and a volume generally in the range 50 L to 75 L.
Lightweight Internal Frame Packs: a State of the Market Report – Part 1B: Theory and Technology
We survey lightweight internal frame packs with a maximum weight of 1.6 kg (3.5 lb) and a volume generally in the range 50 L to 75 L.
Peace Pilgrim: Minimalist Trekker for World Peace
Mildred Norman Ryder intentionally transformed herself from a middle class homemaker to a virtually penniless promoter of peace. She called herself "Peace Pilgrim," and for almost thirty years she wandered North America on foot on a pilgrimage, carrying her only possessions in her pockets.
Lightweight Internal Frame Packs: a State of the Market Report – Part 1A: Testing Overview and List of Packs Tested
We survey light-weight internal frame packs with a maximum weight of 1.6 kg (3.5 lb) and a volume generally in the range 50 L to 75 L.
Aconcagua Photo Essay and Gear List
Tackling big mountains with lightweight gear is becoming our trademark, and it never gets dull!
MYOG Goes to the Mountains
To test his latest creation, a sub-5-ounce pack, Jamie filled it with the rest of his MYOG kit and took to the Great Smoky Mountains.
