Is backpacking suddenly…hard? Ben Kilbourne understands, and discusses how to deal with it during uncertain times.
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Life in the Dog House: A Survey of the One-Person Tent, With History
Some observations on cheap one-person shelters, including on their design, proliferation, and history, and comparison between some shelters.
Learning Curve: Learning to Suffer
BPL columnist Maggie Slepian unpacks suffering in endurance sports.
Gratitude and Recovery After Outdoor Trauma
BPL author Rex Sanders meditates on gratitude and 2020 as he recovers from a traumatic brain injury during the time of COIVD and wildfires.
Salamander Song
Rediscovering the Great Smoky Mountains by lens and brush.
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.
Unpacked: When Gear Owns You
A recent multi-sport adventure got BPL columnist Mark Wetherington thinking about gear and our relationship to it.
Staff Picks 2020
Backpacking Light staff and contributors give their 2020 staff picks – their favorite backpacking and hiking gear of the year.
Standards Watch: Tent Designer Mike Cecot-Scherer Talks Standards
Rex Sanders interviews long-time gear designer Mike Cecot-Scherer about a range of common gear standards.