Gear
Backpacking Light offers in-depth gear reviews and gear guides, a used gear swap, a curated gear shop of recommended lightweight backpacking gear, shopping and research tools, and more.
You can also use the Gear Finder to search for gear on sale, and browse gear-related content by Brand or Gear Type.
Featured Gear Reviews
MSR Pro Bivy Review
The MSR Pro Bivy weighs less than 10 ounces (285 g). It's a very compact, feature-less bivy sack that embodies the essence of bivy sack camping.
Granite Gear Crown2 60 Gear Review
The Granite Gear Crown2 60 is a 60 liter capacity internal frame backpack that carries up to about 35 pounds comfortably and weighs around 2.1 to 2.5 pounds.
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Unbound 2P vs. ZPacks Duplex Zip
The Unbound 2P and Duplex Zip beg for a direct comparison. Both of them are six-panel, symmetrical designs with zip-access, side-entry storm doors, and both are generally pitched with a total of 8 tent stakes. They have similar footprints, similar weights, and offer similar levels of weather protection.
Featured Gear Guides
Publisher’s Gear Guide Update (Nov ’23)
The Publisher's Gear Guide has been updated. This gear guide contains recommendations in various categories by Backpacking Light Publisher and Founder Ryan Jordan. This is the gear he actually chooses to use on his own trips.
Gear Guide: Satellite Messaging Devices (“Messengers”)
This gear guide summarizes the category of satellite messaging-centric devices, i.e., devices that focus on satellite messaging as its primary, rather than secondary, function. This is in contrast to navigation-centric devices (which usually offer integrated mapping on the device), such as the Garmin inReach Explorer or Garmin GPSMap.
LIVE: The Gear Q&A (Spring ’23 Edition)
Got a question about backpacking gear as you assemble your '23 kits and gear lists? Now's the time to ask it - this live event will be all about gear. In addition, Backpacking Light Publisher Ryan Jordan will discuss some of the gear he's using in '23, with updated recommendations in the categories of minimalist, high-performance, comfortable, and budget-friendly gear across several categories.
Recent Member Gear Reviews
Recent Gear Swap Listings
Shop for Gear
Today's Gear Deals
Backcountry.com
Memorial Day Sale Is Here! Gear Up For Summer Outside. Up to 50% off. Sale ends 5/29/2023.
Enlightened Equipment Warehouse
This deal links to the Enlightened Equipment Warehouse, where you can find both overstocks and "scratch-and-dent" deals (lightly used, or gear with cosmetic blemishes). This is a great way to get high quality EE gear and apparel at 10-20% discounts.
On Sale Today at Gossamer Gear
This deal links to all current items on clearance at Gossamer Gear. These include overstocks, discontinued items, and more. Gossamer Gear makes a popular collection of ultralight backpacks, shelters, and trekking poles in addition to curating a gear shop of ultralight and often hard-to-find accessories.
Patagonia Web-Only Specials
This deal links to current web-only specials at Patagonia. These products include web-exclusive gear and apparel not sold in Patagonia retail stores or outlets, discontinued and overstock items, out-of-season products/colors/styles, and more.
