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
TarpTent Virga, TarpTent Squall, and TarpTent Cloudburst
Henry Shires' TarpTents, including the solo Virga, the dual-person Squall, and the dual-person Cloudburst, offer simple setup and excellent stability in a package suitable for those who just aren't quite ready to migrate to an open tarp yet.
Oware Flat Tarps (6×8, 8×10, 10×10)
See how this shelter rates with others in our Comparison Review of Tarps and Other Floorless Shelters Photo: An Oware 10×10 ft tarp setup for an incoming mountain thunderstorm: Pitch...
Campmor (Equinox) Silnylon Tarps
See how this shelter rates with others in our Comparison Review of Tarps and Other Floorless Shelters Configurations Reviewed: 6′ x 8′, 8′ x 10′ Photo Caption: Campmor/Equinox’s Ultralight Backpacking...
Oware Alphamid
See how this shelter rates with others in our Comparison Review of Tarps and Other Floorless Shelters Overview As the name implies, the Oware Alphamid is based on a pyramid...
Granite Gear White Lightnin’ Tarp (8×10)
See how this shelter rates with others in our Comparison Review of Tarps and Other Floorless Shelters Also available in 10×10 and 10×12 sizes In the field, using 8 tie-out...
Comparison Review of Tarps and Other Floorless Shelters
Overview The objective of this review is to provide an overview of the floorless shelters for lightweight backpackers. Herein, we review products from GoLite, Integral Designs, TarpTent, Oware, Granite Gear,...
Pertex Shield Raises Ante in DWR Finishes for Soft Shell Garments
Woven soft shell fabrics such as microfiber polyester and ultralight ripstop nylons suffer from poor DWR finishes that make their utility in the rain very limited. Perseverance Mills of the...
Revisiting Wind Shirts
Revisiting Wind Shirts: Breaking the 3 oz Barrier When we last reviewed wind shirts in “Windshirt Wars”, the lightest fabrics were 1.4 to 1.1 oz/sq.yd. nylons and the lightest hoodless...
Marmot Precip vs. Cloudveil Drizzle: Raingear for Lightweight Backpacking
Introduction It seems like all major manufacturers have an “ultralight” rain jacket in their line. The problem, however, is that all is not what it seems to be…ultralight often results...
Gerber Sports Saw
Editor’s Note: This product is described only for your information. It has not been submitted for review and thus, has not undergone our normal testing procedures. The lightest Sven saws...
Feathered Friends EPIC Jackorak
Imagine this. A highly water resistant, hooded wind and shower shell sized large enough for layering and to cover your butt with a full-length zipper, massive mesh-vented torso pockets, and...
Ibex Icefall Jacket and Glacier Vest
Both the Icefall and Glacier use Ibex’ Climawool™ Lite, which is similar to Schoeller Dynamic. It has a woven shell of Nylon and Lycra but has a napped merino wool...
Cloudveil Veiled Peak Jacket
Weight: 16.3 oz size M The Veiled Peak is Cloudveil’s midweight softshell jacket for aerobic activities. Unlike their famed Serendipity Jacket, which uses a heavier Schoeller Dryskin Extreme, the Veiled Peak...
Arc’Teryx Alpha Comp
Weight: 14.3 oz size M The Alpha Comp softshell/hardshell hybrid is a solid performing alpine hiking/climbing jacket. If you don’t expect to be inundated with rain, this jacket can handle...
Cloudveil Prospector Jackets
Introduction We like softshell garments. You know that. They are superbly breathable and offer a wider range of comfort than traditional hardshell clothing. Stretchwoven softshells, in particular, with their trim...
MSR, Snow Peak, and Backpacker’s Pantry 1-L + 1.5-L Backpacking Cooksets
Introduction Most hardcore solo ultralight hikers choose miniscule, titanium “pots” that are more appropriately described as “cups”. However, this style remains on the fringe and the defacto standard for a...
Integral Designs George Tarp
See how this shelter rates with others in our Comparison Review of Tarps and Other Floorless Shelters Introduction The Integral Designs George Tarp applies economies of scale to a silnylon...
Hennessy Hammock REVIEW
Introduction We received two models of Hennessy Hammocks, the Ultralight Backpacker and the Extreme Light Racer. The only functional differences between the two lie in the material that is used...
GoLite Vapor Ultra-Lite Local Barrier Vest
The GoLite Vapor Vest capitalizes on vapor barrier principles to keep your insulation dry while wearing a backpack and hiking (or skiing, or climbing) in very cold conditions.
MSR Overland Carbon Trekking Poles
Introduction The Overland Carbon trekking pole from MSR is an all-carbon, non-spring-loaded, 3-section trekking pole designed for backpacking and marketed in particular to ultralight hikers. This review focuses on the...
