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Backpacking Light Magazine Seeks Nominations for Outdoor Industry’s Most Stringent Product Award Program

Introducing the Lightitude Award for the Best Gear of 2005

Lightweight Trekking Poles REVIEW SUMMARY and GEAR GUIDE OVERVIEW

Comprehensive review of lightweight and ultralight trekking poles used for backpacking.

Pacific Crest Trail Kickoff 2005: The Scoop!

Report from the Annual Day Zero PCT Kickoff 2005.

First Annual Energy Bar Test

Backpacking Light staff members rate six "natural" energy bars on taste and nutrition.

Alcohol Stoves REVIEW SUMMARY and GEAR GUIDE OVERVIEW

Comprehensive review of lightweight alcohol stoves used for backpacking.

2005 High Loft Synthetic (Belay) Jackets REVIEW SUMMARY and GEAR GUIDE OVERVIEW

Comprehensive review of high loft synthetic insulated jackets (belay type) used for backpacking.

Lightweight Canister Stoves REVIEW SUMMARY and GEAR GUIDE OVERVIEW

Comprehensive review of lightweight and ultralight canister stoves used for backpacking.

Meridian Design AquaStar Portable UV-C Water Purifier First Look (Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2005)
Ultraviolet irradiation has been used for some time in industrial and home water purification systems, but is new to the portable arena. Meridian Design introduces a portable UV-C purifier that...
Fisher Space Pen The Stowaway First Look (Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2005)
For those of you who thought the Inka pen (Day 1 dispatch) was too heavy at 0.6 ounces, how about the Stowaway at 0.2 ounces! It uses the same pressurized...
Petzl Updates Tikka with the Tikka XP First Look (Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2005)
Learning a lot from their 3-watt single LED MYO XP, Petzl completely redesigned the Tikka. They call it “a compact, yet powerful headlamp offering both a long-range, focused beam and...
Granite Gear Technical and Ski Packs First Look (Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2005)
Based on the award-winning Vapor Trail pack, Granite Gear creates the Alpine Vapor Technical Pack. The Alpine Vapor uses the Vapor Trail suspension, but is built with High Tenacity 210...
Gregory G Pack First Look (Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2005)
Gregory has revamped their G Pack for 2005. It is slightly smaller, fabric durability has been improved, the front mesh pocket is now segmented, and a new Wraptor stabilizer has...
Patagonia Improves R2 fleece First Look (Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2005)
One of the standard fabrics in an ultralighter’s arsenal just got better. My R2 vest has been on three out of my last four trips. Patagonia introduces a lighter and...
Two Petzl Axes – Cosmi’tec and Snowscopic First Look (Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2005)
The 470 g (16.5 oz) Cosmi’tec is new to the Winter OR show. It’s a classic mountaineering and glacier travel axe. But with its slightly curved shaft and tapered and...
Icebreaker and Ibex Superfine Wool Crews First Look (Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2005)
Icebreaker figures they’ve pretty much got their Superfine190 (190 g/m2) long sleeve crew design dialed in. I agree (see my 2004 Staff Pick)! This spring they bring out a limited...
New Gear from Integral Designs – Sil Wing Tarp, Insulated Silcoat Stuff Sacs, Basic Bivy Bag, Wrist Warmers, and ParaLiner First Look (Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2005)
The Sil Wing is a fully catenary cut tarp (both ridge line and edges). Edges are taped. 8 feet by 7 feet. Eight reinforced tie out loops. Weight 12 ounces....
Komperdell All Carbon-Fiber Shovel and Probe First Look (Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2005)
Komperdell showed us an all carbon-fiber shovel, which includes a carbon-fiber blade and two-piece adjustable carbon-fiber shaft. The only non-carbon-fiber elements are a stainless reinforcement to the shovel blade edge...
Update on Big Agnes Sarvis Tents First Look (Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2005)
See our previous post on the Sarvis tents The usual production delays, but Big Agnes seems close to getting the Sarvis tents to market. Big Agnes expects silnylon models in...
The Travel Hammock Ultralight Hammock First Look (Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2005)
The Ultralight hammock is light and cheap – great to satisfy your curiosity about hammock camping. The combination of weight (10 ounces), price ($19.99), and length (9 feet) is hard...
Montbell Revamps Ultralight Thermowrap High-Loft Garment Line First Look (Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2005)
Montbell is obviously enthused with the success of their Thermowrap line. They’ve added pants, a hooded parka, and revised their existing garments. The biggest story is the new 10 oz...

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