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Staff Picks 2020

Backpacking Light staff and contributors give their 2020 staff picks - their favorite backpacking and hiking gear of the year.

How to choose backpacking footwear so you can keep hiking until you die

Most advice about minimalist footwear can be rejected outright. Often, the advice is given by hikers who haven't put in the time required to understand the complexity and depth of foot biomechanics and the long-term effects of overuse that is endured by walking for decades. Here are some guiding principles if you want to keep hiking into your sunset years, so you can delay the inevitable onset of overuse conditions like hallux rigidus.

2017 Backpacking Light Staff Picks

The Backpacking Light Staff Picks Gear Guide offers what we consider to be our personal recommendations for high-quality, high-performance, lightweight backpacking gear that we've actually used this year.

Wet, Cold Feet When Backpacking: How To Keep Your Feet Dry(er) and Warm(er) in Inclement Weather

Keep feet warm and dry by using a carefully designed system that involves different types of socks, shoes, and gaiters.

Minimalist Footwear for Backpacking? (Video)

This vlog features commentary by Backpackinglight.com Founder & Publisher Ryan Jordan about the applicability of minimalist footwear for backpacking.

Staff Picks 2016: Our Favorite Backpacking Gear of the Year

View our staff picks for the best backpacking gear of the year - recommendations from our editors and guides for hiking and backpacking gear.

Altra Lone Peak NeoShell Review

The Altra Lone Peak Neoshell: light, zero-drop, wide toebox, waterproof-breathable. An ultralight backpacker's shoe for the fringe season?

2014 Staff Picks

Backpacking Light's staff is some of the most passionate backpackers around. Take a look at the ultralight gear we use and treasure.

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