Gear Guides Archives - Backpacking Light

Bear Canisters: Design, Use Cases, and Reviews

Sarah Bennett — Tue, 02 Apr 2024 19:54:21 +0000

We hope this guide will help you understand bear canisters a little bit better. You'll learn about various testing agencies, bear canister design, materials, usability, and user experiences. Lastly, we’ll make some recommendations for bear canisters that reflect unique combinations of value, weight, and capacity.

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Navigation and Communication Devices: Strengths, Limitations, and Use Cases

Ryan Jordan — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 16:00:00 +0000

In this video, I will cover various types of navigation and communications devices, their benefits and limitations, and use case scenarios where you might use one or a combination of multiple devices.

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Staff Picks 2023

Backpacking Light — Sun, 10 Dec 2023 04:34:44 +0000

Our staff selects their favorite hiking, backpacking, and other backcountry gear that they’ve used in 2023 - the next edition of our infamous Staff Picks!

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Publisher’s Gear Guide Update (Nov ’23)

Backpacking Light — Fri, 03 Nov 2023 07:21:48 +0000

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.

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Gear Guide: Satellite Messaging Devices (“Messengers”)

Backpacking Light — Wed, 30 Aug 2023 15:00:05 +0000

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.

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LIVE: The Gear Q&A (Spring ’23 Edition)

Backpacking Light — Tue, 23 May 2023 05:03:35 +0000

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.

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Tenkara Fishing Rods and Gear for Backpacking – Hane, Rhodo, Ito, Satoki, TF39TA

Ryan Jordan — Wed, 14 Dec 2022 20:24:25 +0000

In this video overview, I present the five rods that I've been using over the past few years for most of my backcountry tenkara fishing. They include four models from Tenkara USA (including the new Satoki) and one model from Tenryu (the TF39TA) that remains the staple of my kit. In addition, I'll walk through the basic gear I use and take while tenkara fishing on hiking and backpacking trips.

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Staff Picks 2022

Backpacking Light — Fri, 18 Nov 2022 19:00:35 +0000

Updated: Click here for 2023 Staff Picks. Each year, our staff selects their favorite backcountry gear from the past year, and we look forward to you sharing your favorite gear of the year as well in the forum comments below!

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2022 Backpacking Light Members Choice Awards

Backpacking Light — Fri, 11 Nov 2022 07:58:01 +0000

First annual Members Choice Awards - what gear do our members use and love as we near the end of 2022?

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BatteryBench Tests of Nitecore and Anker Portable Battery Chargers

Rex Sanders — Fri, 29 Jul 2022 15:00:00 +0000

Anker Powercore PD 10000 and PD 20000 and Nitecore NB10000 and NB20000 carbon fiber portable battery chargers are put through the BatteryBench testing protocol.

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