Gear Reviews
Backpacking Light has built a hard-won reputation for comprehensive and fair product reviews, reflecting our Editorial Values of Objectivity, Trust, Authority, Inclusivity, and Clarity.
We publish three main types of reviews: performance, limited, and first looks. Learn more about review rating and gear awards program and review our affiliate disclosure. If you represent a brand and would like to submit a product for review, go here.
- GEAR • Gear Reviews
- GEAR • Gear Guides
- GEAR • Gear Checklists
- GEAR • Make Your Own Gear
- GEAR • Gear Testing & Research
- SKILLS • Tips, Tricks, and Hacks
- SKILLS • Wilderness Skills
- SKILLS • Training
- SKILLS • Trip Planning
- SKILLS • Food Preparation
- PLACES • Trips
- PLACES • Routes
- CULTURE • Essays
- CULTURE • Stories
- CULTURE • Issues
- CULTURE • People
- CULTURE • News
- CULTURE • Media Reviews
- ARCHIVES (Before 30.Nov.2015)
- SEARCH LIBRARY
- TRAILHEADS
Latest
Ground Zephur Jacket (Outdoor Retailer 2004 Winter Market First Looks Review)
Arc’Teryx launched the Powershield craze with the Gamma MX product line, GoLite lightened Powershield with their Kinetic Jacket, and a new company with an ambitious apparel line has finally made...
MSR Lightning Ascent Snowshoes
MSR launches a revolutionary new snowshoe design in the high-end MSR Lightning Ascent series. The MSR Lightning Ascent will be available in both men’s and women’s specific shapes (and colors),...
Pertex Equilibrium: Fabric Technology and Performance Overview
Technical, construction, and performance information about Pertex Equilibrium.
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 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...
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.
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...
Merino Wool Shirts
A review of lightweight long sleeve merino wool shirts from Smartwool, Ibex, Icebreaker, Merino Skins, and WhisperWarm.
Campmor (Equinox) Silnylon Poncho-Tarp
See how this shelter rates with others in our Comparison Review of Tarps and Other Floorless Shelters Campmor’s "Ultralite Poncho/Tarps" and Equinox’s "Ultralite Poncho" are one in the same. Order...
Oware Tapered Catenary Tarp (6×8)
See how this shelter rates with others in our Comparison Review of Tarps and Other Floorless Shelters Photo: Oware’s 6×8 Cat Tarp: The trim size and catenary cut ridgeline make...
TarpTent Virga, TarpTent Squall, and TarpTent Cloudburst
Henry Shires' TarpTents, including the solo Virga, the dual-person Squall, and the dual-person Cloudburst, offer simple setup and excellent stability in a package suitable for those who just aren't quite ready to migrate to an open tarp yet.
Oware Flat Tarps (6×8, 8×10, 10×10)
See how this shelter rates with others in our Comparison Review of Tarps and Other Floorless Shelters Photo: An Oware 10×10 ft tarp setup for an incoming mountain thunderstorm: Pitch...
