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
GoLite Galaxy Backpack REVIEW
Lightweight for the volume, plenty of weight-carrying capacity, and user-friendly features, although the water bottle pockets could be more easily accessible.
Mountain Laurel Designs Spinntex Pro Poncho Tarp REVIEW
A poncho/tarp is a good choice for SuperUltraLight backpacking. With this one you get a good shelter, rainwear, and pack cover for only 7 ounces.
Mountain Laurel Designs Silnylon Pro Poncho Tarp REVIEW
Why use a silnylon poncho/tarp when spinnaker is lighter? The answer may surprise you.
Mountain Laurel Designs Prophet 25 Backpack REVIEW
A well-designed, low volume 4.4-ounce pack for dayhikes or SuperUltraLight overnights.
Fanatic Fringe Thompson Peak Backpack REVIEW
Improves on the classic (now discontinued) GoLite Breeze, and cuts the weight by a third.
Gossamer Gear G5 Hyperlight Backpack REVIEW
It’s made of spinnaker fabric and must be "handled with care," but the volume to weight ratio will knock your socks off!
GoLite Cumulus Jacket REVIEW
A comfortable and lofty 14-ounce jacket with some nice features, but missing ultralight appeal.
Gossamer Gear Spinnshelter REVIEW
Full three-season (non-bomber) weather protection for one person for only 11.2 ounces including guylines and stakes.
Gossamer Gear Whisper Uberlight Backpack REVIEW
Minimal features and prone-to-abrasion-damage spinnaker fabric make this the lightest 2000-cubic inch backpack on the market.
GoLite Feather-Lite Sleeping Bag REVIEW
We found a “sleeper” - the Feather-Lite has 1.5 inches more loft than specified.
MontBell Down Inner Jacket REVIEW
The MontBell Down Inner Jacket is only $139, but lacks the loft of the leading jackets.
MontBell U.L. Down Inner Jacket REVIEW
The lightest down jacket on the market.
2006 Osprey Aether 60 Backpack REVIEW
What a conundrum! The upgraded pack has some great improvements, and is now an outstanding value, but (darn it) it's also heavier.
Macpac Epic 150 SF Sleeping Bag REVIEW
A waterproof sleeping bag may sound like overkill, until you think about the possibilities – like sleeping under the stars without getting damp or wet insulation, and leaving the bivy sack at home.
Western Mountaineering Flight Down Jacket REVIEW
Lofty, light, warm, and durable for its weight - although it does lose a few feathers at the seams.
Atlas 10 Series All Mountain Snowshoe REVIEW
Not the lightest snowshoes we tested, but wonderful performers.
Gossamer Gear NightLight Sleeping Pad (Torso Length) REVIEW
Durable, resistant to compression, and very comfortable for the weight, but a couple of extra inches would be nice.
Northern Lites Elite Snowshoe REVIEW
The lightest snowshoes on the market, but with less traction than heavier shoes.
Crescent Moon Gold Series 9 Snowshoe REVIEW
Nice innovations including a shape that allows a more natural walking gait, but heavy.
Tubbs Elevation Snowshoe REVIEW
Clever, simple, user-friendly, and durable; but heavy.
