The Backpacking Light Podcast
The Backpacking Light Podcast explores the technology, gear, skills, and philosophy of backcountry wilderness travel through stories, interviews, and investigative reports.
Latest Podcast Episodes
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.
Episode 47 | Mark Wetherington Reads “The Backpacking Tithe Project”
Mark spends ten percent of every year backpacking – he just doesn’t do it all at once.