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Latest
PHD Mountain Software Ultra Down Pullover Review
The ultimate down jacket for ultralight backpacking and lightweight cold weather pursuits.
MontBell Ex Light Women’s Down Jacket Review
The lightest down jacket to be found, but the women’s version doesn’t have as much loft and warmth as the men’s version.
Mountain Hardwear Nitrous Jacket Review
An ultralight down jacket that performs well in active pursuits, but it’s not the best choice for ultralight backpacking.
Marmot Hydrogen Sleeping Bag Review
The Hydrogen is a well designed, high loft, roomy, warm, mummy-style down 30F-rated sleeping bag, but its shell fabric is heavy and wets out too easily.
2009 Backpacking Light Staff Picks
Backpacking Light staff pick their favorite gear of 2009.
Big Agnes Fly Creek UL2 Tent Review
Big Agnes raises the bar for two-person double-wall tents by creating their lightest offering ever. In fact, it is the lightest tent in this category from any manufacturer. Will it Fly high, or leave us up a Creek?
MontBell UL Spiral Down Hugger Sleeping Bag Review
A lot to like and a great value for a 30 F rated down mummy bag weighing only 19 ounces.
Pak-Rifle Review
My expectation for a small game rifle is to be able to shoot a very small and compact group on a target at 25 yards or less, and the Pak-Rifle makes my heart beat faster.
Olympus E-P1 Camera Review
Sure, it's lighter than its DSLR brethren, but it's also heavier and bulkier than its compact cousins. Does it offer improvements to justify carrying the additional weight and bulk?
GoLite Footwear Competition and Fire Reviews
GoLite Footwear has developed a unique underfoot suspension system that largely accomplishes their intentions. The shoes are comfortable, but there are durability concerns for the soles.
Mountain Hardwear Phantom 32 Sleeping Bag Review
A warm, refined sleeping bag, but not the lightest in its class.
Rab Microlight Jacket Review
Trim-fitting ultralight three-season down jacket with a great shell and basic feature set, but its numerous horizontal seams allow down fragments to leak out.
Le Parcour de Wild Race Report
With temperatures that ranged from -5 F to 40 F, the Bob Marshall Wilderness threw some formidable weather our way and reminded us: this stuff ain't for the faint of heart!
Olympus E-620 Digital SLR Camera Review
The E-620 is the lightest mid-sized or "crop sensor" format DSLR with all the functionality and image quality for serious backcountry still photography - even in difficult situations like handheld shots in low morning and evening light.
Gossamer Gear Gorilla Backpack Review
Lower volume ultralight backpack with removable stays and other components - so you can set up the pack for individual trips and personal preferences to your heart's content.
MYOG Technical Note – Catenary Curves
The whys and wheres of catenary curves, with downloadable spreadsheet for calculating your own MYOG curve masterpieces.
Make Your Own Gear – A Titanium Potty Trowel
The venerable Coghlans orange potty trowel is a fine idea, but it weighs 51 grams and has been known to crack and break under heavy use. Can we do better with some titanium sheet?
The North Face Beeline Sleeping Bag Review
The specifications look great, but the devil is in the details.
The North Face Thunder Jacket Review
Not the lightest down jacket to be found, but it's an excellent balance of warmth and durability, and versatile the year around as an outer layer or midlayer.
New Balance MT875OR Joggers Review
Totally synthetic, luggy soles, and a breathable draining upper, plus a range of width fittings including really wide (4E). (Updated 9/22/09)
