Podcasts
- GEAR • Gear Reviews
- GEAR • Market Reports
- GEAR • Gear Guides
- GEAR • Gear Checklists
- GEAR • Make Your Own Gear
- GEAR • Gear Testing & Research
- SKILLS • Tips, Tricks, and Hacks
- SKILLS • Wilderness Skills
- SKILLS • Training
- SKILLS • Trip Planning
- SKILLS • Food Preparation
- PLACES • Trips
- PLACES • Routes
- CULTURE • Essays
- CULTURE • Stories
- CULTURE • Issues
- CULTURE • People
- CULTURE • News
- CULTURE • Media Reviews
- ARCHIVES (Before 30.Nov.2015)
- SEARCH LIBRARY
- TRAILHEADS
Episode 67 | How to Poop in the Woods (Skills and Tools for Backcountry Pooping)
Ryan and Andrew chat about new gear and techniques for the age-old question: how to poop in the woods (safely, cleanly, and responsibly).
Episode 66 | Hiking Cameras: Compact, Durable, and Lightweight Cameras for Hiking and Backpacking
In this episode, Ryan and Andrew discuss some small, pocket-sized cameras for backpacking.
Episode 65 | Empowering Young Women in the Outdoors with Amanda Hatley
Andrew and Ryan chat with She Summits Co. founder and director Amanda Hatley.
Episode 64 | BPL Author Spotlight: Contributor Drew Smith
In this episode, Andrew chats with Backpacking Light Staff contributor Drew Smith about the PCT, desert hiking, ponchos, and more.
Episode 63 | BPL Author Spotlight: Staff Writer Mark Wetherington
In this episode, Andrew chats with BPL staff writer Mark Wetherington about his favorite articles, backpacking in the south, and more.
Episode 62 | Dan Durston Talks X-mids and More
Andrew has a wide-ranging interview with gear designer Dan Durston about X-mids, shelter and pack design, and more.
Episode 61 | Frameless Pack Best Practices
In this episode, Ryan and Andrew discuss how and why to use a frameless pack while backpacking.
Episode 60 | Willow Belden of Out There
Ryan chats with Willow Belden from Out There. Also in this episode: updates on some new packs and the How to Use Gaia GPS masterclass.
Episode 59 | Ben Kilbourne Reads “Good Gear Lets You Be Present”
Ben Kilbourne reads his essay on the balance between caring about gear and being present on adventures.
Episode 58 | Benny Braden on Public Lands Stewardship
Andrew and Ryan talk with public lands advocate and accomplished backpacker Benny Braden about vandalism, stewardship, and social media.
Episode 57 | Cottage Industry Interview: Food for the Sole
Andrew talks to Food for the Sole founders Julie and Henry Mosier about running a food production business, scaling, staff management, recipe iteration, and more.
Episode 56 | Portable Battery Chargers for Backpacking
In this episode, we chat with longtime Backpacking Light contributor Rex Sanders about his ongoing tests of portable battery chargers. Also, Ryan and Andrew chat about vandalism on public lands, electronic device management, new gear from Atom Packs, and the benefits of freeze-drying.
Episode 55 | Managing Perspiration in Layering Systems: Wicking, Evaporation, and Ventilation
Ryan and Andrew discuss strategies and gear for managing perspiration in layering systems, including the processes of wicking, evaporation, and ventilation.
Episode 54 | Foot Injuries, Training, and Rehabilitation for Hikers with John Zombro
Physical therapist and athletic performance coach John Zombro chats with Ryan and Andrew about foot injuries, training strategies, and rehabilitation in the context of hiking and long-distance backpacking.
Episode 53 | Ben Kilbourne Reads “Going Home”
Backpacking Light contributor Ben Kilbourne reads his meditation on the transition from wilderness to trail to parking lot.
Episode 52 | Gear We Love (2021 Edition)
Andrew, Ryan, and the Backpacking Light team chat about their favorite gear they used in 2021.
Episode 51 | Cottage Industry Interview: Livio Melo of allmansright
A conversation with Livio Melo, founder of Allmansright, an up-and-coming gear maker based in the Bronx, New York.
Episode 50 | Listener Q & A
It's our 50th episode! To celebrate, we reached out to listeners and asked them to submit their big backpacking questions - our answers of which provide the meat for this episode.
Episode 49 | Untraditional Layers
Ryan and Andrew discuss lightweight layering options for backpacking clothing that fall outside the norm of function.
Episode 48 | Waterproof Breathable Fabrics
Andrew and Ryan chat with Backpacking Light contributor Stephen Seeber about layering and waterproof-breathable fabrics.

