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.
We publish three main types of reviews: performance, limited, and first looks. Learn more about review rating and gear awards program and review our affiliate disclosure. If you represent a brand and would like to submit a product for review, go here.
- GEAR • Gear Reviews
- GEAR • Gear Guides
- GEAR • Gear Checklists
- GEAR • Make Your Own Gear
- GEAR • Gear Testing & Research
- SKILLS • Tips, Tricks, and Hacks
- SKILLS • Wilderness Skills
- SKILLS • Training
- SKILLS • Trip Planning
- SKILLS • Food Preparation
- PLACES • Trips
- PLACES • Routes
- CULTURE • Essays
- CULTURE • Stories
- CULTURE • Issues
- CULTURE • People
- CULTURE • News
- CULTURE • Media Reviews
- ARCHIVES (Before 30.Nov.2015)
- SEARCH LIBRARY
- TRAILHEADS
Latest
Mountainsmith Fusion 35 Backpack REVIEW
An all-day, off-piste or hut-to-hut snow sport pack with features that might just validate the weight.
Redfeather Alpine 30 Snowshoe REVIEW
A heavy, all-purpose snowshoe with an excellent crampon system.
EMS StarLight II Tent REVIEW
Not the lightest two-person double wall tent we've seen, but a good value nonetheless.
Dunham Cloud Contrail-Mid Boot REVIEW
Lightweight, comfortable, and supportive - yes. Live up to all the manufacturer's claims - no.
Redfeather Trek 30 Snowshoe REVIEW
Lightweight snowshoes at a great price, but there are issues.
MontBell Monoframe Shelter Hexagon Tent REVIEW
Two-person double wall tent that nearly breaks the 3-pound barrier but gives up some features.
Lightwave zrO cylq Tent REVIEW
Double wall tent that weighs 3 lbs, fits 1.5 people and does well keeping rain out, but...
Vaude Hogan Ultralight Tent REVIEW
Two-person semi-freestanding double-wall tent that weighs less than 4 lbs but sacrifices in some areas to achieve that weight.
Big Agnes Seedhouse SL2 Tent REVIEW
Double-wall, two-person tent with a minimum weight of 3.5 lbs, good usable space, and an innovative design with some nice features but also a couple of drawbacks.
Vaude Taurus Ultralight Tent REVIEW
Lightweight double wall three-season, two-person tent that can handle a serious downpour, but its cramped interior may cause cabin fever.
Vaude Ferret 1 Ultralight Tent REVIEW
Two-person, double wall tunnel tent with one small door, good usable space, and high quality construction at just over 4 lbs.
MSR Lightning 30 Snowshoe REVIEW
Wanna be Spider Man on snow? Here’s part of your outfit.
Lightwave t1 cylq Tent REVIEW
Although trim in usable space, this lightweight 4-pound tent is capable of handling a storm as well as many four-season tents.
Sierra Designs Lightning Tent REVIEW
Lightweight, freestanding double wall tent with Easton FX Carbon poles. Is this the ultimate compromise in a do-it-all three-season tent?
Exped Vela II Extreme Tent REVIEW
Not the lightest double wall tent at nearly 6 lbs, but it's storm-worthy and can shelter two people and loads of gear.
Big Agnes Seedhouse SL1 Tent REVIEW
A 3.3-pound double wall tent that uses an innovative Y-pole design to maximize interior space. The full mesh inner walls are good...and bad.
Oware Cattarp 1.1 Tarp REVIEW
Solo silnylon catenary ridgeline tarp at a nice weight, size, and price but it requires a lot of room to pitch.
MontBell Monoframe Diamond Tent REVIEW
Double wall tent that weighs only 2.5 lbs; fly and pole weigh 1.5 lbs and can be pitched as a tarp. Of course, there's a drawback to these light weights.
Vaude Cross Ultralight 35 Backpack REVIEW
For those with short torsos, this is a lightweight and durable pack, with some clever design features.
GoLite Team Backpack REVIEW
Lightweight, frameless, water-hauling, 3300 ci backpack with lots of features - too many for non-adventure racers.
