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Latest
2014 Staff Picks
Backpacking Light's staff is some of the most passionate backpackers around. Take a look at the ultralight gear we use and treasure.
Rab Vapour-rise Lite Alpine Jacket review
The Rab Vapour-rise Light Alpine is an extremely well designed windshirt, but when compared with other similar weighted windshirts the value is tough to see. However when compared with other soft shells it quickly becomes irreplaceable.
Winter Backpacking Checklist (Gear List): Ultralight Winter Snowcave Camping
A lightweight approach to traveling light in the winter on snowshoes.
Berghaus Vapourlight Hypertherm FZ Jacket Review
The Vapourlight Hypertherm Jacket is an incredibly versatile jacket which can be worn in reverse to accommodate multiple weather conditions. It is ideal for a hiker who wants to leverage one piece of gear.
Vertex Solid Fuel Stove Review
A solid fuel/alcohol stove that folds flat for storage and assembles into a rock-solid structure for stable cooking.
Gear Guide: Ultralight Inflatable Pillows
Neck problems? Back problems? An ultralight inflatable pillow may be an ideal solution, but don't dive in head first. Read this first to see which ultralight pillows are the best.
RapidPure Filters Review
Some filters leave a bad taste while others do an insufficient job of treating the water. The RapidPure filter changes the game and pushes the boundaries of water treatment.
Pockets for Hyperlite Mountain Gear Packs
Make your own lightweight and effective side pockets for HMG porter.
The Best Backpack in the Whole Wide World
MYOG: A pack that weighs less than a pound, carries 30 pounds while transferring load to the hips, and is ideal for multi-day ultralight expeditions.
The Evolution of a Winter Stove – Part 4 – Lessons Learnt
About 110 people bought the custom stove and served as beta testers. Their feedback highlighted some of the benefits and bugs of the stove.
Martin Titanium Knife
Weighing about the equivalent of half an ounce (16 M&M's) this knife has a 2.75 inch blade that easily guts fish and small game. Better yet it self-sharpens.
MYOG: Backpack fabrics, features, and dimensions
Making your own gear is a frustrating and expensive yet very rewarding process. Making your own pack allows you to tailor it to your needs and is a fantastic way to learn about gear.
Gear Guide: Packrafts
Review the current offerings in the packraft market and find out which boats are most appropriate for a variety of purposes including alpine lake fishing, incidental river crossings, flatwater boating, expedition packrafting, and whitewater paddling.
Exped Lightning 60 Review
Due to a robust internal frame, this pack not only excels at carrying either heavy or light loads, but it's also rather comfortable and lightweight.
Mountain Laurel Designs eVENT Soul Bivy Review
While not commonly found in most hiker's packs, the lightweight and superior construction of this bivy offers good value for a bivy that occupies a narrow market niche occupied by very few products.
Freestanding Double Wall Tents – A Cursory Review of 1P/2P Offerings from Mountain Hardwear, The North Face, and Nemo
Ultralight tents are becoming more lightweight and durable. This is good news for ultralighters.
Black Diamond Alpine Start Hoody review
For their first ever attempt, Black diamond created a versatile, durable, and waterproof windshirt that raises the bar for ultralight windshirts.
REI Dash 2 (2-Person, Double Wall) Tent Review
A lightweight, high performance tent great for ultralight backpackers looking for more comfort in the wilderness - most notably couples.
Gränsfors-Bruks Mini Hatchet Review
While not a part of the traditional lightweight backpacker's gear list, a hatchet is a great piece of gear that can bring a unique perspective to fire building and shelter making.
Concerning the Wilderness Serape
Despite the added weight, a Serape is a versatile piece of backpacking gear that can help manage the sudden weather changes.
