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
Arc’teryx Nuclei AR Review
Our Arcteryx Nuclei AR Review found that this jacket has impressive water resistance and, thus, is the best belay jacket for alpinists.
Patagonia Nano Air Light Review (Hoody)
This Patagonia Nano Air Light Review features one of the highest performing hoodies on the market, especially for active use in cool conditions. This one's a fleece-killer.
Arcteryx Proton LT Hoody Review
Our Arcteryx Proton LT Hoody Review found that the Proton LT's durability, features, and warmth make it an ideal winter activewear choice.
Black Diamond Heat Treat Hoody Review
Our Black Diamond Heat Treat Hoody Review determined that the jacket is an all-purpose winter jacket for around town and some winter sports.
LLBean Packaway Review (Primaloft Hooded Jacket)
This LLBean Primaloft Packaway Hooded Review concludes that this jacket offers excellent performance for a very good price.
Rab Nimbus Review
This Rab Nimbus review summarizes the jacket's performance and compares it to others in its class while using it on a number of mountaineering and trekking expeditions in Alaska and other parts of North America.
Patagonia Nano Air Hoody Review
The Patagonia Nano Air Hoody was released in July 2014 and was the best performing all-purpose active insulation jacket at that time. Does it hold up to the current crop of insulated jackets?
Outdoor Research Uberlayer Review
This Outdoor Research Uberlayer Review features an active insulation jacket that weighs about four ounces more than similar jackets but does not make up for the extra weight with added comfort, durability, warmth, or lower cost. The Uberlayer performed reasonably well in our tests.
Montbell Thermawrap Guide Review
Our Montbell Thermawrap Guide Review found this great value synthetic insulated parka has a reliable ultralight waterproof shell fabric.
Rab Xenon X Review
The Rab Xenon X used to be the best all-purpose lightweight synthetic insulated jacket on the market. Over the last seven years, the author has used the Xenon and Xenon X for some fantastic outdoor adventures: a 35-day traverse of Alaska's Brooks Range, climbing Denali, Half Dome, and El Cap, and other things. Though the Xenon X performs above average in our tests, a variety of other jackets now offer superior performance.
Arc’teryx Kappa Hoody Review
This Arc'teryx Kappa Hoody Review features a jacket with high levels of durability and inclement weather resistance, but a mediocre warmth:weight ratio.
Enlightened Equipment Revelation APEX Quilt Review
This Enlightened Equipment Revelation Apex Quilt Review features one of the most customizable and lightest weight synthetic quilts ever made.
Good To-Go Herbed Mushroom Risotto Review (Video)
This Good To-Go Herbed Mushroom Risotto review features one of the best packaged backpacking meals I've ever eaten.
Crescent Moon EVA Snowshoes Review
This Crescent Moon EVA Snowshoes review addresses the use of foam as a snowshoe material, combined with a fixed shoe binding.
A Micro-Utility Knife: The Backnife Review
In this Backnife Review, we focus on the comprehensive (sic) blade technology in this detailed analysis of a cutting tool ;)
(Archives) – 2017 Alpacka Scout
This archived article and video feature the 2017 model Scout.
Asolo Plasmic Shoe Review – Off-Trail Performance
This Asolo Plasmic Shoe Review identifies how this shoe performs. Our take is that it performs well in boulders, scree, and in the forest.
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Stuff Sack Pillow Review
This Hyperlite Mountain Gear Stuff Sack Pillow review features a waterproof stuff sack by day, and a pillow by night.
Seek Outside Tipi Review: An Ultralight Stove Tent for Cold Weather Backpacking with a Group
This Seek Outside Tipi Review investigates a shelter that is more like a cabin with a stove, increasing comfort during cold nights.
Katadyn BeFree Review: The Light and Fast Water Bottle Filter (First Looks)
This Katadyn BeFree Review features a video discussing the highlights of this water bottle filter technology that's both ultralight and fast.
