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You are here: Home / Archives for Science & Technology

Science & Technology

Dive into the "how things work" side of lightweight backpacking gear and techniques. Our S&T articles include summaries of testing reports, research projects, and more. Discover the validity of manufacturer claims, the scientific basis of design, or how and why equipment performs differently in response to various environmental conditions.

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Unlimited Podcast 002 | Sleeping Bag Temperature Ratings

Oct 13, 2020 by Backpacking Light

In this Unlimited video podcast, Rex Sanders and Ryan Jordan discuss sleeping bag temperature ratings, the ISO 23537 temperature rating standard, and how consumers can interpret the standard to make better buying decisions.

ISO, sleeping bags, technology

Standards Watch: Sleeping Bag Temperature Ratings

Sep 22, 2020 by Rex Sanders

In this installment of Standards Watch, Rex Sanders tackles sleeping bag ratings: the standard, the pros, and the cons.

column, EN, ISO, Sleep System, sleeping bags, sleeping clothes, sleeping pad, Standards Watch, temperature ratings

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Measuring Waterproofness in Outdoor Performance Fabrics with a DIY Hydrostatic Pressure Test Device at Home

Mar 10, 2020 by Roger Caffin

In this article, I present a DIY testing device (and test results for 30 fabrics) that allows me to measure the hydrostatic head of “waterproof’ fabrics at home.

dimension-polyant, extremtextil, goretex, westmark

Is a heat exchanger pot worth the weight?

Mar 2, 2020 by Roger Caffin

This article attempts to determine how a heat exchanger welded to the bottom of a pot actually affects fuel consumption.

canister stoves, mountain safety research, msr, stove systems

Estimating the Age (Lifespan) of Your Backcountry Water Filter

Aug 16, 2019 by Jon Fong

The goal of this test is to determine the effective age of your backpacking water filter based on comparing its current flowrate to its flowrate when new.

befree, gravity, katadyn, Sawyer, water filter, water filtration, water treatment

StoveBench: A Stove Testing Protocol for Comparing the Performance of Backpacking Stoves

Jan 3, 2019 by Ryan Jordan

StoveBench defines a protocol that is used to measure two important backpacking stove performance features (power and efficiency) in order to determine a single, quantifiable performance factor called the StoveBench Score.

alcohol stove, canister stoves, cooking systems, solid fuel stoves, stovebench, wood stoves

Evaporative Heat Loss in Upright Canisters (Part 4 – Propane and Cold Temperatures)

Jun 28, 2017 by Jerry Adams

This technical series addendum addresses the role of propane and cold temperatures in canister stove performance.

canister stoves, cold, winter backpacking

Evaporative Heat Loss in Upright Canisters (Part 3 – Transferring Gas Between Stove Canisters)

Jun 14, 2017 by Jerry Adams

Instead of buying a new fuel can for each trip, discover techniques for transferring gas between stove canisters.

canister stoves, lightweight cooking system

Evaporative Heat Loss in Upright Canisters (Part 2 – Evaluating the Efficacy of Canister Warming Techniques at Temperatures Below Freezing)

Mar 13, 2017 by Jerry Adams

This article tests various canister warming techniques for preserving the efficiency of canister stoves in sub-freezing temperatures.

canister stoves

Evaporative Heat Loss in Upright Canister Stoves (Part 1: Measuring the Temperature Drop of Evaporative Cooling)

Mar 7, 2017 by Jerry Adams

Evaporative heat loss in upright canister stoves extends boiling times and changes fuel mixture composition. Here’s how to combat it.

canister stoves

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