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
2007 Black Diamond Enduro CF Trekking Pole REVIEW
These poles use a mix of aluminum and carbon shafts with unique FlickLock adjustments and are solid performers for four season use.
Lafuma Pro 650 Down Sleeping Bag REVIEW
Priced at only $189 for a 25 °F rated ultralight down sleeping bag, it’s a very nice bag in all respects, except for one major issue.
Ultralight Outfitters Lightning Access Backpack REVIEW
Innovative frameless backpack with seven individual compartments you can reach without taking the pack off.
Kestrel 4000 Pocket Weather Tracker REVIEW
The Kestrel provides the technically-minded backpacker much more useful information than a multi-function watch, and is easier to use.
Coleman Xtreme Stove REVIEW
One of the few canisters stoves truly designed for winter use, the Xtreme features an innovative liquid feed system.
GoLite VO24 Backpack REVIEW
Lightweight 1600 cubic inch multi-purpose frameless day pack. Score another winner for GoLite!
Sierra Designs Flash Sleeping Bag REVIEW
Packed with 30 ounces of 800-fill down and other heat-retaining features, this lightweight bag earns its 0 °F rating but its snug fit and curved half zipper are its nemesis.
Sierra Designs Assailant Tent REVIEW
This four-season, one-person, single-wall tent is made of a fabric claimed to be more breathable than eVENT.
2007 Rab Summit Extreme Tent REVIEW
Based on the previous Outdoor Designs tent, the Rab Summit Extreme is a rare eVENT tent that provides the ultimate in single wall breathability. It is built to handle the most extreme alpine environments and has few peers in its extreme mountaineering niche.
Pacific Outdoor Equipment Uber Mtn Sleeping Pad REVIEW
The best sleeping pad in its class, but only because it has no competition as a sub-13-ounce, 1.5-inch thick self-inflator.
Rab Drillium Jacket REVIEW
Lightweight eVENT multi-sport jacket with a terrific fit and feature set, but its appeal depends on whether you need a helmet-compatible hood or not.
Black Diamond Mega Light and Mega Bug Pyramid Tent REVIEW
The Mega Light is a solid, well designed pyramid tent, but the weight-conscious should leave the bug liner behind.
Atlas BC24 Snowshoe REVIEW
This showshoe lets you climb like a mountain goat, but needs more flotation and some weight reduction.
2007 Montane eVENT Quick-Fire Jacket REVIEW
The Montane eVENT Quick-Fire Jacket offers great features such as a full coverage hood, drop tail, excellent sizing, dual vent pockets, and super-breathable eVENT fabric, all at a lightweight 11.9 ounces (size large).
Gossamer Gear SpinnTwinn Tarp REVIEW
Gossamer Gear offers an ultralight spinnaker fabric catenary-shaped tarp for one or two people that weighs just 8 ounces!
Northern Lites Backcountry Snowshoe REVIEW
Durable, loads of flotation, and less than 3 pounds per pair – a lightweight snow traveler’s dream.
Adapt Gear Bison Trekking Pole REVIEW
This fixed-length carbon fiber trekking pole is not as elegant or lightweight as our top choice Gossamer Gear Lightrek pole, but it’s a strong performer and is the value champ at only $72/pair.
Mountainsmith PCT 45 Backpack REVIEW
A feature-rich, heavy load carrier, but it tries to be a bit too much for too many people.
Marmot Atom Sleeping Bag REVIEW
A one pound, three-season bag with top quality materials.
Komperdell Featherlight Carbon Trekking Pole REVIEW
Stiff, light, reasonably priced fixed-length pole with contoured grip and wrist strap.
