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
Osprey Aether 60 Review
Comfort and load support are the hallmarks of this lightweight internal frame backpack.
ULA P-2 Review
Overview Photo 1: ULA P-2, shown with the optional top hood pocket. At 2 pounds 15.2 oz (1,338 g) without options, ULA’s P-2 is one of the lightest, large volume...
Granite Gear Nimbus Ozone and Nimbus Latitude REVIEW
Overview Photo 1: Ryan Jordan, carrying Granite Gear’s Nimbus Ozone, and dog Maia in the Bitterroot Wilderness. Granite Gear’s Nimbus Ozone (top loading) and Nimbus Latitude (panel loading) are exceptionally...
Suunto X9 Review
Comprehensive review of the Suunto X9 GPS watch.
Cascade Designs ThermaRest Prolite 3 Sleeping Pad Review
Cascade Designs ThermaRest Prolite 3 Sleeping Pad Review
Six Moon Designs Starlite Backpack Review
Review of the Six Moon Designs Starlite frameless backpack.
Osprey Aether 45 REVIEW
Review of the Osprey Aether 45 frameless backpack.
GoLite Jam Backpack REVIEW
The GoLite Jam Backpack is a frameless pack that carries well. A smaller cousin to the GoLite Gust, the Jam offers a few more features and better load stability for smaller load volumes.
Equinox Katahdin Review
Review of the Equinox Katahdin frameless backpack.
Granite Gear Virga Review
Review of the Granite Gear Virga frameless backpack.
Jetboil Stove (Jetboil Personal Cooking System) REVIEW
One of the most innovative products to hit the market. This review summarizes results from more than 600 boil tests.
Moonstone Nitro Jacket REVIEW
The Moonstone Nitro Jacket is a feature-rich rain jacket for the alpinist wanting helmet headroom and a short hem.
Sierra Designs DT Tech Jacket REVIEW
Excellent ventilation and fit, but a poor DWR and zipper durability issues.
Montane eVENT Superfly Jacket REVIEW
Introduction The Montane eVENT Superfly is the most breathable shell we’ve tested. At an honest 15 oz (425 g) the Montane eVENT Superfly is also the lightest hooded jacket using...
Mont-Bell Versalite Jacket REVIEW
Introduction At 11.4 oz (320 g), the Mont-bell Versalite Jacket is lightweight and full-featured waterproof/breathable rainwear. The jacket includes some very long (18 in, 45 cm) pit zips, two pack...
Montane Hydra-Lite Smock REVIEW
Introduction The Montane Hydra-Lite Smock is (as far as we know) the lightest fully waterproof rain shell on the market (Smock is UK for anorak or a half-length front zipper)....
MEC Aquanator Jacket REVIEW
A solid choice for the sloppy mountains of the Pacific Northwest, but deviates unnecessarily from the basic design of general purpose backpacking rainwear.
Haglöfs LIM Ultimate Jacket REVIEW
At this time, the lightest Gore-Tex (Pac-Lite) jacket available in the world - 8.8 oz.
Arc’Teryx Sirrus SL Jacket REVIEW
Introduction There are two schools of thought for making apparel lighter. The first one, employed by the majority of manufacturers, is to decrease the weight of materials used in the...
2004 Raingear Review and Gear Guide Overview
Gateway page to BackpackingLight.com's 2004 rainwear reviews and rainwear gear guide.
advertisement
Garage Grown Gear Hidden Gems
Discover under-the-radar ultralight gear from small brands.
