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Articles published at Backpacking Light prior to November 26, 2015.
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Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2010: Day 4 – Cool Finds and Sleep Deprivation
The daily perspective: NEED. MORE. ESPRESSO.
Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2010: New Fabric Technologies Are the Driving Force For Many New Products
Columbia Thermal Reflective, Pertex Quantum GL, Polartec Power Shield Pro, Polartec Yarn applications, and a case against wool for hiking socks.
Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2010: Day 4 – OR Winds Down in the Final Day – But the Good Stuff Keeps Coming!
We present our final lightweight gear finds and summarize the trends we noticed at this Outdoor Retailer.
Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2010: Day 3 – More New, Lightweight, and Exciting Gear
Lightweight gear – no problem. Innovation – yes. Things we would like to see – lots of 'em.
Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2010: Day 3 – Treasure Hunt
The daily perspective: Can I just live here? Hang out and drink... beverages, talking super-tech about gear with the coolest people in the world?
Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2010: Minimalist Footwear – Is It Ready for Backpackers?
Depending on how tuned-in you are to current running trends, you may have noticed that there is a new movement starting to gain traction among runners: barefoot running and minimalist footwear.
Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2010: Day 2 – Another Potpourri of New and Interesting Gear
Another productive day turns up another batch of truly innovative and lightweight gear.
Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2010: Day 2 Blog Tasty Treats
The daily perspective: I wish that everyone could truly understand just how much brilliance and passion go into the outdoor products we buy and use.
Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2010: Day 1 – Lightweight Gold!
OR never ceases to amaze – always something new, something different, and something bizarre! The gear just keeps getting better and lighter.
Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2010: Day 1 Blog Tasty Treats (from the first-timer)
The daily perspective of an industry vet on the show floor for the first time: "A fantastic all-systems overload."
Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2010: Open Air Demo
While the first day of Outdoor Retailer is dedicated to water sport, we found a few products that could carry over for backpacking as well... plus some that are just plain fun, no bones about it!
Outdoor Retailer Summer 2010: Update on Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) Technologies
SPOT and DeLorme introduce the DeLorme PN-60w with SPOT Communicator, and ACR announces the SarLink View. Both allow text messaging via satellite from remote locations, which goes beyond just chatting, enabling you to provide important information to people on the outside.
Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2010: Introduction and Tribute to Small Ultralight Gear Companies not Exhibiting at OR
Summer OR is underway! We begin our coverage with new products from small companies who specialize in ultralight backpacking gear, including some new names.
Lyme Disease: Challenging Old Stereotypes
Mark Bailey knows danger. A now-retired ship’s chief engineer who recounts his life experiences with bright-eyed fervency and an occasional chuckle, Bailey, 61, has circled the world four times. He spent a night in jail in Zamboanga, Phillipines, in 1981 after getting mixed up with communist rebels. He’s been tossed around the Tasman Sea in a small sailboat. In the spring of 2000, a few years after retiring, Bailey set out to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail. He considers it the most dangerous thing he’s ever done.
Ultralight Three-Season Down Jackets State of the Market Report 2010 Part 3
Multi-purpose three-season down jackets balance light weight, warmth, and features. These jackets are designed to please as many people as possible, in as many activities as possible, while keeping the overall weight light enough to impress the average consumer. Our evaluation includes comparative specifications, calculated parameters, warmth testing, ratings, and identifying the standouts for different situations, needs, and preferences.
Benchmade 530 Folding Knife Review
Many walkers find a razor blade adequate, but there are plenty of situations where a bit more is needed. This knife, with a blade over three inches long yet weighing only two ounces, may suit many lightweight walkers.
Ultralight Three-Season Down Jackets State of the Market Report 2010 Part 2
Seriously lightweight down jackets – those most suitable for ultralight backpacking and other lightweight pursuits. Our evaluation includes comparative specifications, calculated parameters, warmth testing, ratings, and identifying the standouts for different situations, needs, and preferences.
Monatauk Gnat Stove Review
A big burner head, simple design, minimal use of materials, and light weight (1.7 oz) put the Monatauk Gnat at the head of the pack for ultralight canister stoves.
Ultralight Three-Season Down Jackets State of the Market Report 2010 Part 1
A state-of-the-art overview of ultralight down jackets – we analyze the components and discuss “baffling” issues like shell fabrics, down quality, fill weight, packing density, loft, and warmth.
Rapids, Wolves, and Winter
With amazingly light loads that included skis, packrafts, dry suits, winter camping gear, and a week’s worth of food, we set out to visit the Frank Church Wilderness in winter to prove a point.
