Culture

A “Speshul” Hiker: Junaid Dawud and the Colorado 14ers Thru-Hike

Junaid “Speshul 41” Dawud may have cut his teeth on the Pacific Crest Trail - twice - but he earned one of the top ten FKTs of 2013 for completing his "14ers" thru-hike. This route links all 58 of the 14,000-foot peaks in Colorado.

Calendar / Updates (Unlimited Members Only)

Unlimited-members-only updates: editorial calendar, podcast, new Unlimited Members benefits, the new webinar series, and Guide's Training course in Montana.

What we have done about your customer service complaints

Over the last 12 months, Jessica has received a "Great" rating from 92% of our customers who have filed support issues and decided to write a review.

BPL-v5 Vision (Sneak Peek) – Updated Dec 22 ’17

Initial home page mockup of BPL-v5, with some vision behind what we're planning to do with the site menu, ads, and more.

71g BlackYak Emergency Jacket Provides Waterproof Protection at Lightest Weight Possible

The BlackYak Emergency Jacket is a waterproof shell that weighs 71 g (2.5 oz), is made with DSM, and probably costs a fortune.

Now

I'm inspired by Derek's Now concept, and I think it may provide some value to you. Here's what we're doing now.

Website Page Load Time Updates

Along the Lewis and Clark Trail with Buck Nelson

Adventurer and author Buck Nelson reflects on his incredible adventure on the famed Lewis and Clark Trail - a grand western adventure!

Update: New Server Performance & Migration Schedule

This post from the Publisher’s Blog (available to Unlimited Members only) shares insight into the speed improvements that our new server framework is expected to deliver, as well as a tentative date set for the migration.

Will Backpackinglight.com Publish a Podcast?

This post from the Publisher’s Blog (available to Unlimited Members only) shares results from our Members Podcast Interest Survey, and gives you the inside scoop asking the question: "Is Backpacking Light going to publish a podcast?!"

Design Notes: Towards the Limits of Ultralight

This post from the Publisher’s Blog (available to Unlimited Members only) offers some comments on the nature of ultralight design and the opportunities that await designers and manufacturers of ultralight gear.

A Glimpse at the Content Queue

This post from the Publisher’s Blog (available to Unlimited Members only) offers a peek into our content queue - what's coming in the next several weeks?

What’s Happening Behind the Scenes with the Backpackinglight.com Website?

This post from the Publisher's Blog (available to Unlimited Members only) takes a behind-the-scenes look at what we're doing to cut our page load times by half in 2017.

The State of Lightweight Backpacking in Europe

Lightweight backpacking is growing in Europe. What makes it unique and what are the similarities to lightweight backpacking in the US?

SPOT Gen3 Insures Rapid Emergency Rescue When Needed

SPOT Gen3 provides location-based messaging and emergency notification technology that allows you to communicate from remote locations around the globe. It offers custom tracking interval options, motion-activated tracking, long-life battery and more. Learn how one hiker used his SPOT Gen3 in a life-saving rescue involving another hiker with a heart condition.

Getting to know “Buck” Nelson: Modern Mountain Man

"Buck" Nelson might be the closest thing to a modern mountain man. Read Jorgen Johansson's interview with the man who loves the outdoors.

Hiking with my Dad

Hiking with your father - or if you're a dad, hiking with your kids - is restorative, healing, and builds strength in your relationship.

Rudow & Atwood Complete Grand Canyon Rim Traverse

Traversing the Grand Canyon's Rim is one of the hardest outdoor feats. Read how some friends turned this dream into a reality.

January 2016 Backpackinglight.com Strategic Update (Screencast, Unlimited Members Only)

This 27-minute screencast offers an update for Unlimited Members about the strategic direction of backpackinglight.com in 2016.

Faces: Paul “Mags” Magnanti

Paul "Mags" Magnanti is an active Backpacking Light contributor, a writer for Trail Groove Magazine, and a blogger. Learn more about Mags in this interview!