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 • Market Reports
- 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
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.
Western Mountaineering Flight Down Jacket REVIEW
Lofty, light, warm, and durable for its weight - although it does lose a few feathers at the seams.
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.
Tubbs Elevation Snowshoe REVIEW
Clever, simple, user-friendly, and durable; but heavy.
Tarptent Virga 2 REVIEW
This upgrade to the classic Virga is a quarter pound heavier and includes some nice improvements, and some changes that need more tweaking.
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.
Jacks ‘R’ Better No Sniveller Universal Quilt REVIEW
Puffy down quilt/underquilt/poncho - so nice! Just trim the footbox please.
Dion Model 168 Rec/Fitness Snowshoe REVIEW
Modular design allows you to customize these snowshoes to the person and snow conditions, or upgrade instead of buying new snowshoes.
Jetboil French Press and Companion Cup REVIEW
Two accessories to add utility to your Jetboil Personal Cooking System.
Crescent Moon Gold Series 12 Snowshoe REVIEW
A sprinter's dream with lightweight - although less durable - materials, narrow tapered tails, and an aggressive toe cleat.
Tubbs Catalyst Snowshoe REVIEW
An asymmetric frame and lightweight durable materials - like titanium crampons - give these racing shoes a lot of attitude, but they're not cut out for general backcountry use.
advertisement
Garage Grown Gear Hidden Gems
Discover under-the-radar ultralight gear from small brands.
