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Gryphon Gear Aries 20 Quilt Review

The Gryphon Gear Aries 20 Quilt (25.7 oz / 729 g, MSRP from $327) is a three-season quilt with a differential cut, draft collar, an edge tensioning system, and 17.5 oz (496 g) of down fill.

By the Numbers: Rethinking Fleece

Stephen Seeber subjects ten fleece samples to rigorous thermal testing.

Gear List: Tenkara Fly Fishing in the Northern Rockies

Mark Wetherington's tenkara gear list serves as a great entry point to backcountry fly fishing for newcomers.

Enlightened Equipment Torrid Apex Pullover Review

The Enlightened Equipment Torrid Apex Pullover (7.7 oz / 219 g, MSRP $175.00) is a synthetic-fill, high loft insulating garment.

Nemo Chipper Review

The Nemo Chipper (MSRP: $19.95, 5.6 oz / 160 g) is a closed-cell foam sit pad made from scraps created in the production of the Nemo Switchback and other closed-cell foam sleeping pads.

By the Numbers: Thermal Performance Measurements of Synthetic Insulations

Stephen Seeber presents measurements of several market-leading insulations along with four performance metrics to help judge their performance.

My Year of Lentils: A Survey of Packaged Vegetarian and Vegan Backpacking Meals (Gear Guide)

Small and mid-sized companies are making increasingly delicious vegan and vegetarian backpacking food. This gear guide covers meals from six of those companies.

Lipstick on a Pig? Wind & Cold Temperature Testing of the Jetboil Stash (StoveBench)

Backpacking Light publisher Ryan Jordan subjects the Jetboil Stash to the StoveBench testing protocol to answer the pressing question: is this innovation, or lipstick on a pig?

Standards Watch: Standards Are Important (But Not Enough)

Rex Sanders illustrates how difficult it can be to make accurate product comparisons based on manufacturer-provided data.

By the Numbers: If You Carry a Space Blanket, Buyer Beware

Stephen Seeber tests the infrared reflective properties of space blankets.

Rab Expedition Slipper and Rab Hot Socks Review

This gear review will cover two foot-insulation options from Rab; the Rab Expedition Slipper and the Rab Hot Socks. Both pieces of gear are lightweight options to add warmth to camp insulation, though they differ in terms of insulation level and type, materials, and intended use.

Winter Backpacking on Packed-Snow Trails (Gear List)

A winter backpacking gear list for hiking on packed-snow trails in dry (low-humidity) climates.

On Heatsinks and Thermal Balance

Roger Caffin troubleshoots the heat shunt on V4 of his inverted canister stove design.

Xero Shoes Alpine Snow Boot Review (First Looks)

The Xero Shoes Alpine Snow Boot is a flexible, insulated, waterproof, zero-drop footwear option for minimalist shoe lovers who still want warm feet in cold and snowy conditions.

Nemo Equipment Kunai 3-4 Season Backpacking Tent Review

The Nemo Kunai 2P Tent ($499, 4 lb 5 oz / 1.96 kg) is a four-season shelter capable of withstanding moderate storms and offers ample headroom and good ventilation.

How Can Cheap Butane Canisters be Modified to Work With Canister Stoves?

Roger Caffin discusses how you can modify and use cheap butane canisters with canister stoves in this MYOG article.

Ultralight, Ultradurable, Ultracheap: A Backpack Made From Car Airbags

Greg Perhson details the process of creating your own, lightweight (19.5 oz), MYOG backpack from vehicle airbags!

Helly Hansen Odin Minimalist 2.0 Jacket Review

The Helly Hansen Odin Minimalist 2.0 jacket (180 g / 6.35 oz, $220) is a lightweight 2.5-layer rain jacket with a well-designed hood and minimal features.

Staff Picks 2020

Backpacking Light staff and contributors give their 2020 staff picks - their favorite backpacking and hiking gear of the year.

By the Numbers: Patagonia Worn Wear Micro Puff vs. New Micro Puff

In his new column for Backpacking Light, Stephen Seeber runs thermal testing on used and new Patagonia Micro Puff jackets.

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