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Black Diamond Zenix Headlamp Review
Summary of Specifications The Black Diamond Zenix weights 4.54 oz (129 g) with 3xAAA batteries. It is a 3-LED headlamp with two modes that alternate between a central, “hyperbright” LED...
Petzl Tikka Plus Headlamp Review
Summary of Specifications The Petzl Tikka Plus headlamp weighs 2.54 oz (72 g) with 3xAAA batteries. It is a 4-LED headlamp with batteries in the lamp housing (front). The headband...
Photon Fusion Headlamp Review
Summary of Specifications The Photon Fusion weighs 5.78 oz (164 g) with 3xAA alkaline batteries, or 4.81 oz (136 g) with 3xAA lithium batteries. The Fusion has a 7-LED headlamp...
Princeton Tec Aurora Headlamp Review
Princeton Tec Aurora Specifications The Princeton Tec Aurora weighs 2.66 oz (75 g) with 3xAAA batteries. It is a 3-LED headlamp with batteries in the lamp housing (front). The band...
Princeton Tec Matrix 2 One-Watt LED Headlamp
Summary of Specifications The Princeton Tec Matrix 2 weighs 5.34 oz (151 g) with 2xAA alkaline batteries and 4.69 oz with 2xAA lithium batteries. It is a 1-LED headlamp featuring...
Princeton Tec Scout Headlamp Review
Princeton Tec Scout Specifications The Princeton Tec Scout weighs 1.4 oz (40 g) with its 4×2032 coin cell batteries. It is a 2-LED headlamp with the battery housing in the...
Petzl Zipka Headlamp Review
Petzl Zipka Specifications The Petzl Zipka weighs 2.07 oz (59 g) with 3xAAA batteries. It is a 3-LED headlamp with batteries in the lamp housing (front). The headband is a...
Black Diamond Moonlight Headlamp Review
Summary of Specifications The Black Diamond Moonlight weighs 4.4 oz (125 g) with 3xAAA batteries (e.g., Energizer Titanium E2). It is a 4-LED headlamp with the battery housing in the...
Black Diamond Ion Headlamp Review
Summary of Specifications The Black Diamond Ion weighs 0.97 oz (27 g) with its single 6V battery. It is a 2-LED headlamp in a housing hinged and attached to a...
Patagonia Dragonfly Pullover REVIEW (Spring 2004 Style)

A three ounce wind shirt with an important distinguishing feature: durability.

The Weird Science of Night Vision: Lighting Considerations for Lightweight Backpacking
Be sure to check our Gear Guide to LED Headlamps. Turn night into day (use bright light), or preserve night vision (use low light)? Because of the eye’s physiology, it...
Western Mountaineering Flight Vest
Introduction The Western Mountaineering Flight Vest provides one of the highest warmth:weight ratios of any garment on the market. You can use this vest for cold rest stops, to boost...
Frameless Backpacks: Engineering Analysis of the Load Carrying Performance of Selected Lightweight Packs
Introduction The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the load carrying performance of several frameless packs available to the ultralight backpacking community. Frameless backpacks tested in this...
Quantitative Analysis of Backpack Suspension Performance
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Granite Gear White Lightnin’ Tarp (8×10)
See how this shelter rates with others in our Comparison Review of Tarps and Other Floorless Shelters Also available in 10×10 and 10×12 sizes In the field, using 8 tie-out...
Comparison Review of Tarps and Other Floorless Shelters
Overview The objective of this review is to provide an overview of the floorless shelters for lightweight backpackers. Herein, we review products from GoLite, Integral Designs, TarpTent, Oware, Granite Gear,...
GoLite Lair 1 Shelter REVIEW

The GoLite Lair 1 Shelter offers more weather protection than a tarp without a dramatic weight penalty. At less than 12 oz, the Lair 1 is ideally suited for solo travel in areas where ventilation is important but the chance for rain is very real.

Integral Designs Silshelter
See how this shelter rates with others in our Comparison Review of Tarps and Other Floorless Shelters Overview At only 12.9 ounces, the Integral Designs Sil Shelter provides the lightest...
Integral Designs Sil Poncho
See how this shelter rates with others in our Comparison Review of Tarps and Other Floorless Shelters Overview Are you looking for a truly ultralight, minimalist solution for shelter and...
Merino Wool Shirts

A review of lightweight long sleeve merino wool shirts from Smartwool, Ibex, Icebreaker, Merino Skins, and WhisperWarm.

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