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Latest
Animal Encounters in the Backcountry
Ryan shares some principles about how to manage wildlife encounters, based on his own encounters with wild animals in the backcountry.
Handling the Heat: How to Use Your Palms to Stay Cool
Learn how to manage thermoregulation while hiking through effective utilization of your palms.
Is Buying a Home Freeze-Dryer Worth the Money?
Home Freeze-dryers are handy but expensive. Are they worth the cost? We show you how to find out.
Walking With Marcus: How Stoic Philosophy Informs My Ultralight Backpacking
Can an ancient Roman philosophy make you a better backpacker? It all depends upon your application.
How to use Gaia GPS to Find Hidden Backcountry Routes
Learn Ryan Jordan's process for discovering hidden backcountry routes by integrating current base maps, satellite imagery layers, and historical USGS maps.
Using lines of position to fix your location on a map
Learn how to identify and use lines of position to help fix your location on a map while traveling in the backcountry.
How to use the Garmin inReach Mini without a smartphone
Learning how to use the Garmin inReach Mini (or Mini 2) satellite communicator without a smartphone opens up opportunities for overall battery management and more efficient messaging, navigation, and tracking.
Why is it hard to freeze-dry liquids?
In part four of his ongoing series, Drew Smith tackles freeze-drying a smoothie.
The Backpacking Poncho: An Ultralight Alternative to Rain Jackets
Drew Smith makes the case for backpacking ponchos. They provide more ventilation vs. rain jackets and can also function as ultralight tarps.
Mindfulness Meditation for Backpacking
Andrew Marshall explores an ancient life skill that is surprisingly applicable to backpacking - meditation.
Using Alum to Clarify Muddy Water on Trips
A lesson in chemistry provides the solution for how to treat extremely muddy water sources in the backcountry.
Why and How to Organize and Pack Backpacking Gear on the Trail and in Camp
Having an intentional, consistent, and efficient approach to packing your gear for a backpacking trip saves time and energy while hiking and in camp.
Using a New Sport to Refine Your Ultralight Philosophy
Single-speed all the way, baby.
Winter Backpacking When There’s No Snow?
My shelter, sleep, clothing, water, and cook system for when temps drop but full-on winter snow and wind hasn't yet arrived.
How to Get Water Out of a Frozen Stream Where the Ice is Several Inches Thick
We invited this challenge from our community on the forums and Instagram. Here's our solution - thanks for your feedback and suggestions!
Crossing Rivers and Water Shoes
Crossing rivers "ultralight style" - that's when you simply walk through the water wearing your hiking shoes and keep walking on the trail once you get to the other side.
Minimalist Footwear for Backpacking? (Video)
This vlog features commentary by Backpackinglight.com Founder & Publisher Ryan Jordan about the applicability of minimalist footwear for backpacking.
Ultralight Video Gear (According To Chris)
Chris Smead, who produces Backpackinglight.com's "According to Chris" video series, goes through his ultralight video gear.
How to Minimize Your Prep for Short Trips
Limiting the number of decisions, and keeping all your gear in one area are the major steps to simplifying your short backpacking trips.
The 60-Second Backpacker: Episode 2, Leave the Kitchen Sink at Home
The 60-Second Backpacker is a video series that provides bite-sized shorts about equipment, techniques, and philosophy of ultralight backpacking.
