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Latest
Timmermade SUL 1.5 Down Sweater Gear Review
The Timmermade SUL 1.5 Down Sweater is a down jacket with an excellent warmth-to-weight ratio for ultralight backpackers.
Down-Filled Backpacking Quilts (Market Survey and Gear Guide)
This comprehensive market survey features 60+ models of down-filled backpacking quilts, 27+ brands across North America and Europe. Includes analysis (warmth, weight, value), expert recommendations, market overview, and more.
Cottage Gear Innovation Awards
The Cottage Gear Innovation Awards celebrate the small, startup, and cottage products, brands, and people that bring forth new methods or ideas that reflect unique originality, creativity, and advances in materials, design, application, or aesthetic to help hikers and other backcountry enthusiasts thrive outdoors.
Traction Spikes
An in-depth guide to traction spikes for hiking, backpacking and running in all seasons. Compare models, materials, and performance attributes with insights from field testing to find performant options for different use cases.
MYOG: SUL Remote Inverted Canister Winter Stove Update
Roger Caffin shows how to solve a fuel vaporisation process failure in his SUL remote inverted canister stove.
No Normal Coffee Paste Review
No Normal Coffee Paste is a compact coffee alternative that requires no brewing. It can be eaten directly from its tube or mixed with water (cold or hot), or spread on or into other food for a quick caffeine boost or coffee flavor injection. It offers a convenient way to consume real coffee without the weight or complexity of traditional brewing methods.
Avalanche and Winter Safety Tools
A guide to tools used to manage risk in avalanche terrain - transceivers, shovels, probes, safety backpacks, saws.
By the Numbers: Can New GPS Technology Save Your Life? Under the Right Conditions, it just Might
Stephen Seeber compares iPhone and Garmin Fenix GPS tracks for accuracy and reliability.
LightBench: A Laboratory Testing Procotol for Comparing the Performance of Flashlights and Headlamps
In this technical brief, we quantitatively evaluate the performance of lights considering brightness, battery life, and weight into an objective Lightbench Index.
Minimalist and Backpacking Footwear
In this guide, we’ll explore the primary categories of footwear for backpacking and hiking, including minimalist footwear, examining their unique benefits, limitations, and use cases.
Staff Picks 2024
Our staff selects their favorite hiking, backpacking, and other backcountry gear that they’ve used over the past year - the next edition of our infamous Staff Picks!
How Fishnet Works (Base Layer Fabric Structures)
This article explores how fishnet base layers offer superior moisture management and comfort for cold-weather backpacking by promoting rapid moisture vapor transport and minimizing condensation.
Garmin inReach Messenger Plus Review
The Garmin inReach Messenger Plus can send short text, photo and audio messages, weighs 4.1 ounces and has an MSRP of $500.
Ultralight, Ultra-Performance Backcountry Electronics (Revised and Updated)
In this updated gear guide, I'll provide some insight into the backcountry electronics I use, discuss their use cases, and explain why I chose those brands and models.
REI Magma Trail Quilt 30 Review (Updated)
This REI Magma Trail Quilt 30 review features a high quality, well-insulated quilt that uses water-resistant down and includes an insulated draft collar.
By the Numbers: How does Tent Design and Materials Influence Cold-Weather Camping Comfort?
An overview of the complex heat exchange mechanisms between the tent occupant and the outside environment - and how to test tent construction's impact on comfort.
How do tent stakes interact with soils to create holding power?
Tent stake holding power, especially in adverse wind conditions, relies on principles of engineering and physics, including cross-sectional shape, length, soil interaction, and insertion angle.
Water Treatment and Backpacking Hygiene: Recommended Gear & Supplies
Resources for water treatment and hygiene supplies for ultralight backpacking.
MYOG: SUL Remote Inverted Canister Winter Stove Version 7
Roger Caffin details the process of designing and constructing the newest version of his SUL Remote Inverted Canister Stoves
New Gear Guides: REI & Cottage Brands (+2024 Sale Info)
Quick reference to information and links to the new REI and Cottage Brand gear guides & 2024 Spring Sales.

