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Backpacking Light

Pack less. Be more.

You are here: Home / Archives for footwear

Arc’teryx Norvan VT 2 Shoe Review

Oct 23, 2020 by Mark Wetherington

The Arc’teryx Norvan VT 2 shoe provides above-average foot protection and traction performance when hiking or running on rocky, uneven ground, but suffers from abysmal durability.

Arc’teryx Norvan SL, Arc’teryx Norvan VT 2, Brooks Cascadia, foot plate, footwear, Lone Peak Altra, reviews, scrambling, shoes, talus, toe cap, traction, trail runner, Xero Shoes Mesa Trail

Xero Shoes Mesa Trail Review

Aug 21, 2020 by Andrew Marshall

The Xero Shoes Mesa Trail (8.5 oz / 241 g, $119.99) is a minimalist trail runner best used for fastpacking. Huarache-inspired straps on the midfoot and instep allow for precisely dialed fit without causing compression.

fastpacking, footwear, minimalist, xero shoes

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Podcast 027 | Listener Q & A

May 30, 2020 by Backpacking Light

Podcast splash image

Ryan and Andrew answer listener questions gathered from Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

A.T., appalachian trail, backpacks, batteries, biolite, books, fast packing, feathered friends, footwear, Goosefeet Gear, gossamer gear, hammocks, headlamp, locus gear, mountain laurel designs, movies, Nemo, podcast, rei, shelters, Six Moon Designs, Sleep System, solar, Staff Favorites, thru-hike, trail running, ultralight, Western Mountaineering, xero shoes

Podcast 024 | The Backpacking Gear We Love, and Why

Feb 27, 2020 by Backpacking Light

Andrew and Ryan talk about some of the BPL Staff’s favorite gear, our gear review philosophy, current news, and more!

arc'teryx, backpacks, canister stoves, coffee, footwear, gear, hyperlite mountain gear, insulating clothing, katadyn, Kokopelli, kuju, Mountainsmith, msr, Nemo, packrafting, Patagonia, podcast, rei, shelters, Sleep System, snowpeak, sony, Staff Favorites, tenkara, Therm-a-Rest, topo athletic, ultralight sleep systems, Wilderness adventure treks, zpacks

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

Podcast 016 | SKILLS SHORT: Maceration and Immersion Foot Diseases

Sep 15, 2019 by Backpacking Light

In this SKILLS SHORT, Ryan and Andrew break down the causes, symptoms, and results of immersion foot diseases.

bodyglide, foot care, footwear, maceration, shoes, socks, trail running shoes

Maceration, Immersion Foot and Backpacking

Sep 15, 2019 by Ryan Jordan

A short, detailed discussion on immersion foot and maceration, how to deal with it in the backcountry and when not to.

first aid, foot care, footwear, inclement weather, maceration, shoes

Interview with a Physio Therapist: A Biophysical Perspective on Backpacking Footwear

Aug 13, 2019 by Emylene VanderVelden

My interview with a physio-therapist, as well as my personal history with foot injuries, is making me think more carefully about backpacking footwear.

footwear, minimalist footwear, shoes, trail running shoes

Crossing Rivers and Water Shoes

Jul 16, 2019 by Ryan Jordan

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.

footwear, minimalist footwear

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

Jul 14, 2019 by Ryan Jordan

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.

altra, approach shoes, footwear, hoka, la sportiva, minimalist footwear, scarpa, shoes, sole, trail running shoes

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