All Articles
Latest
Exploration, An Act of Imagining
The horizon is our reminder that the way things are now is not the way things have to be. Exploring, even just backpacking into the hills at the edge of town, expands the known and opens us up to the possibility of more.
Pushing the SOS button on the Garmin inReach Mini in Jasper National Park
"I was suddenly seized by an inability to breathe: the world went black and I was bent over gasping for air, then passed out and collapsed, falling into the marsh."
Pa’lante V2 Review
The Pa'lante V2 Backpack (16.8 to 17.5 ounces / 476 to 495 g, MSRP $240) is a lightweight, frameless backpack for low to moderate weight loads and compact equipment.
Sunscreen for Hiking and Backpacking: Efficacy, Ingredient Safety, and Best Practices
Dan Hu reviews current research regarding the safety and efficacy of sunscreen for hiking and backpacking, including ingredient efficacy, safety, and best practices for outdoor adventuring.
Discussing the Garmin inReach Mini 2 with Garmin Senior Product Manager Chip Noble
In this video interview, Ryan Jordan and Chip Noble (Senior Product Manager at Garmin) discuss the new features of the Garmin inReach Mini 2, including its improved battery life.
By the Numbers: Compression Resistance of PrimaLoft Gold vs. Climashield Apex (Part 4)
PrimaLoft Gold outperforms Climashield Apex as the more resilient (durable) insulation, capable of retaining more of its original warmth and loft in response to repeated compression.
Episode 55 | Managing Perspiration in Layering Systems: Wicking, Evaporation, and Ventilation
Ryan and Andrew discuss strategies and gear for managing perspiration in layering systems, including the processes of wicking, evaporation, and ventilation.
Nashville Pack Cutaway Review
The Nashville Pack Cutaway backpack is a roll-top 30 L frameless pack with a modular shoulder strap attachment system. Also discussed: The Nashville Pack Tiempo.
Base Layers, Wicking, and Backpacking (Member Q&A)
Learn how to choose a base layer for backpacking, base layer material performance differences, and how base layers impact moisture transfer in the broader context of a clothing system.
Trouble Behind
Enriching friendship through fishing and adventure in Colorado’s Middle Park.
Episode 54 | Foot Injuries, Training, and Rehabilitation for Hikers with John Zombro
Physical therapist and athletic performance coach John Zombro chats with Ryan and Andrew about foot injuries, training strategies, and rehabilitation in the context of hiking and long-distance backpacking.
Walking the Great Rift Valley
Heat, army ants, and stupendous views await Jeff de Graffenried as he treks through South Luangwa National Park, Zambia.
Freeze-Drying Your Own Backpacking Meals: How to Eat Your Favorite Town Food on the Trail
In this freeze-drying installment, we discuss the history of freeze-drying and experiment with using a freeze dryer to prepare our favorite take-out town meal for enjoyment in the backcountry.
Do moisture-wicking fabrics work?
Moisture-wicking fabrics (base layers and underwear) are designed to move sweat away from the skin. In this study, we test if Polartec and other base layer fabrics meet manufacturer claims.
Episode 53 | Ben Kilbourne Reads “Going Home”
Backpacking Light contributor Ben Kilbourne reads his meditation on the transition from wilderness to trail to parking lot.
Using Alum to Clarify Muddy Water on Trips
A lesson in chemistry provides the solution for how to treat extremely muddy water sources in the backcountry.
Why and How to Organize and Pack Backpacking Gear on the Trail and in Camp
Having an intentional, consistent, and efficient approach to packing your gear for a backpacking trip saves time and energy while hiking and in camp.
Episode 52 | Gear We Love (2021 Edition)
Andrew, Ryan, and the Backpacking Light team chat about their favorite gear they used in 2021.
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Pod Review
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Pods are clamshell design, waterproof stuff sacks designed to fit perfectly inside backpacks.
Going Home
The transitions from the simple discomfort of the trail to the chaotic comfort of life at home happen by degrees. What can I learn from the trail that will allow me to experience home life in a new way?
BatteryBench: A Protocol for Testing Portable Battery Chargers and Electronic Devices for Backpacking
Rex Sanders runs through an extensive protocol for testing portable battery chargers and electronic devices.
