Gear Reviews
Backpacking Light has built a hard-won reputation for comprehensive and fair product reviews, reflecting our Editorial Values of Objectivity, Trust, Authority, Inclusivity, and Clarity.
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Latest
White Box Stove REVIEW
While not the lightest around, this simple pressurised alcohol stove is remarkably robust.
SteriPEN Adventurer Water Purifier REVIEW
A reasonably light and very effective means of purifying water to EPA purifier standards.
Montane Prism Jacket REVIEW
The lightest hooded synthetic fill jacket on the market.
GoLite Jam2 Backpack REVIEW
GoLite makes some significant improvements on an old favorite – without increasing the weight!
Osprey Talon 33 Backpack REVIEW
High performance sub-2-pound, 2000 ci frameless pack for active light pursuits.
GoLite Quest Backpack REVIEW
Right on target for the lightweight backpacker: 70-liter, 3-pound internal frame pack with the right load-carrying capacity and feature set.
Origo Rendezvous Peak Multi-Function Watch REVIEW
User friendly and useful as an outdoor navigational aid – if you master its functions and keep it calibrated.
La Sportiva Trango S EVO GTX Mountaineering Boot REVIEW
Ultralight mountaineering boots that are great on rock and ice as well as long approaches on the trail. But are they durable and warm enough?
Wingnut Adventure 2006 Backpack REVIEW
Small volume (1600 ci, 26 L) adventure racing pack that is ideal for biking and adequate for hiking.
Western Mountaineering Summerlite Sleeping Bag REVIEW
Hooded, down mummy bag rated to freezing that weighs a mere 19 ounces.
CiloGear 60 Liter WorkSack Backpack REVIEW
Durable and adjustable, but initially confusing to set up.
Petzl e+LITE Headlamp REVIEW
One ounce of fresh innovation: rotary switch, white-and-red LED array, modular form, storage capsule, waterproof. But not perfect - our tests reveal some weaknesses.
Princeton Tec Quad LED Headlamp REVIEW
Waterproof, four-LED headlamp with a wide, regulated beam.
Grand Shelters Icebox Igloo Building Tool REVIEW
The Icebox does the igloo engineering for you, but you still have a steep learning curve. Once you master the technique, you may discover a new and fun wintertime activity.
Tarptent Double Rainbow Tent REVIEW
Introduces some major advancements in single wall tent design and provides user friendliness not seen before in a single wall tent, but there are a few details that could be refined.
Big Agnes Seedhouse SL3 Tent REVIEW
A lightweight double-wall three-person tent with full storm protection and great views - but is it really sized for three?
Valandré La Fayette Sleeping Bag REVIEW
A four season bag that offers excellent loft for the weight. The center zip has advantages, but is it the right solution for you?
Tarptent Rainshadow 2 Tent REVIEW
Ultralight (just over 2 1/2 pounds) single wall tent with a bathtub floor and plenty of space for three adults - or maybe the whole family.
Hilleberg Rajd Tent REVIEW
Lightweight single wall, two-person shelter with lots going for it: quality materials and construction, ease of set up, interior space and headroom, and storm worthiness – but it has one major problem.
Gossamer Gear / Tarptent Squall Classic Tent REVIEW
At just over 1 ½ pounds, the Squall Classic improves on the original Tarptent Squall design with bathtub floor, spinnaker cloth construction, Easton aluminum stakes, and guyline adjusters. It drops significant weight from the Tarptent Squall 2 but does it go far enough to justify the cost?
