Some observations on cheap one-person shelters, including on their design, proliferation, and history, and comparison between some shelters.
Gratitude and Recovery After Outdoor Trauma
BPL author Rex Sanders meditates on gratitude and 2020 as he recovers from a traumatic brain injury during the time of COIVD and wildfires.
A Gear Confession
Chances are, you’ve got something in your pack that could be lighter, but it works for you. Maggie Slepian shares her heaviest items.
Winter Backpacking When There’s No Snow?
My shelter, sleep, clothing, water, and cook system for when temps drop but full-on winter snow and wind hasn’t yet arrived.
How to Get Water Out of a Frozen Stream Where the Ice is Several Inches Thick
GPS: The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly
BPL author Rex Sanders tackles the pros and cons of navigating by GPS in a short blog post that includes links for further info.
Backpacking Trip Planning Resources
Here are some of our favorite trip planning resources. These are curated by our staff and include products we’ve personally used and recommend.
CS Instant Coffee Review
CS Instant Coffee is a small instant coffee product designed to compete with Starbucks Via and other popular backcountry coffee solutions.
The HydraPak Flux 1L – A Smartwater Bottle Replacement?
The HydraPak Flux 1 L (2.7 oz / 77 g, MSRP $20) is a soft-sided, collapsible, 42 mm threaded, reusable water-bottle aimed at the single-use Smartwater or sports-drink bottle crowd.
Keeping Gear Handy on the Trail with Multi-Use Accessory and Utility Pouches
Having accessible “pockets” on your pack is useful for keeping little bits of gear handy without taking off your pack. But consider a multi-use pouch that can also be worn as a standalone fanny-style pack.