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Backpacking Light

Pack less. Be more.

You are here: Home / Archives for enlightened equipment

Staff Picks 2020

Dec 24, 2020 by Backpacking Light

backpacking light staff picks - a photo collage showing all of the gear

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

altra, big agnes, biolite, dirty girl, enlightened equipment, feathered friends, golite, Good To-Go, gossamer gear, GSI Outdoors, helly hansen, hoka, injinji, janji, klymit, minus 33, montbell, mountain safety research, Mountainsmith, msr, Nemo, Nemo Equipment, Nunatak, Outdoor Research, Patagonia, pstyle, Rab, RBH Designs, rogue panda, seek outside, ULA, vargo, vargo outdoors, zpacks

Enlightened Equipment Torrid Apex Jacket Review

Jul 11, 2020 by Backpacking Light

This Enlightened Equipment Torrid Apex Jacket Review features an ultralight hooded jacket insulated with Climashield Apex that weighs 8.4 oz (238 g).

arc'teryx, enlightened equipment, insulated clothing, jackets, mountain hardwear, Nunatak, Patagonia, synthetic insulation

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Enlightened Equipment Rev-HOLE-ation Quilt Review (First Looks)

Jun 26, 2020 by Andrew Marshall

Enlightened Equipment’s new Rev-HOLE-ation Quilt ($335, 24 oz / 686 g) is a fresh take on a classic: The Revelation Quilt.

enlightened equipment, quilts, Sleep System, ultralight sleep system

Enlightened Equipment Visp Rain Jacket Review

Mar 6, 2020 by Andrew Marshall

The Enlightened Equipment Visp Rain Jacket (4.93 oz/140 g, $190) is minimally-featured, made with 75k MVTR fabric, and is reasonably-priced.

clothing systems, enlightened equipment, rain gear, zpacks

ZPacks Vertice Rain Jacket Review

Feb 7, 2020 by David Hosmer

This ZPacks Vertice Rain Jacket review is comprehensive and addresses long-term performance, breathability, DWR, and more.

enlightened equipment, equinox gear, hyperlite mountain gear, lightheart gear, Montane, Outdoor Research, rain gear, rain jacket, zpacks

Hammock Gear Economy Burrow Quilt Review

Jan 25, 2020 by David Hosmer

The Hammock Gear Economy Burrow Ultralight Top Bag is an affordable, semi-customizable down quilt that is offered in a variety of colors, fill weights (i.e., temperature ratings), foot box types, lengths, and widths. The quilt featured in this review is rated for 30 F (-1 C), has a “wide” width (55 in / 140 cm), standard length (5 ft 7 in to 6 ft 2 in / 170 cm to 187 cm), and a sewn footbox. This model retails for $179.95, has a claimed weight of 22 oz (624 g), and a claimed loft (single layer) of 2 in (5 cm).

enlightened equipment, hammock camping, hammock gear, Nunatak, paria, quilts, rei, Sleep System, ultralight sleep systems

Lightweight Backpacking Gear for Cold Winter Temperatures (Two-Layer Systems, Vapor Barriers, and Really Puffy Stuff)

Dec 24, 2019 by Ryan Jordan

Lightweight backpacking gear for winter temperatures: two-layer insulation systems, vapor barrier systems, and really puffy stuff.

arc'teryx, backcountry skiing, cold, enlightened equipment, feathered friends, footwear, forty below, gryphon gear, handwear, inclement weather, insulating clothing, Outdoor Research, overboots, Patagonia, phdesigns, RBH Designs, rei, salomon, snowshoeing, stephenson tents, vapor barrier, Western Mountaineering, winter backpacking

Field Notes: Wet, Snowy, Cold – Spring Backpacking with my Son in Wyoming with Lightweight Gear

May 26, 2019 by Ryan Jordan

Unseasonably cold May temperatures and a winter storm warning were too much to pass up, so we set out for an overnighter in SE Wyoming.

arc'teryx, cascade designs, enlightened equipment, Katabatic Gear, McHale Backpacks, msr, Patagonia, Smartwool, Tarptent, Therm-a-Rest, Wyoming

Staff Picks 2018: Our Favorite Backpacking Gear of the Year

Dec 27, 2018 by Backpacking Light

Backpacking Light’s editorial team, guides, contributors provide their favorite gear choices in BPL’s Staff Picks gear guide for 2018.

alcohol stove, AllTrails, apps, Backpack, Base Layer, bowl, camera, electronics, enlightened equipment, gaia, garmin, GoPro, gossamer gear, GSI Outdoors, Katydyn, lightweight cooking system, Montane, mountain hardwear, msr, MyTrails Co., new balance, Northern Lites, Oware, pants, Patagonia, prana, Qalo Silicone, quilt, rain jacket, rei, Shackleton, shelters, shirt, shoes, Sleep System, sleeping pad, smith optics, snowshoes, sunglasses, tenkara, Tenkara Rod Co., thermarest, Topo Maps+, trail designs, Ursack, water bottle, water filter, wind screen, wind shirts, YNAB, Zelph

#AskBPL No. 1

Dec 4, 2018 by Ryan Jordan

Today’s Questions: Will you be holding a live film festival event this year? What do you think about adding a chat room at the backpackinglight.com website to allow members to interact with each other? Do you work from home, or do you go to an office every day? When are you going to offer another Lifetime Unlimited Membership sale? If I want to take my summer backpacking clothing and sleep system into winter conditions, what do you think are the most essential pieces of gear to add? Are you ever going to sell your Melanzana High Loft Hoodie?

enlightened equipment, melanzana

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