You can never be too lightweight. As a result, my quest for newer, lighter solutions to lighting my way at night, cooking after dark or reading in my tent never seems to end. My latest find is the Princeton Tec Impulse, at just .49 ounces (14 g) it is about at light as you’re going [...]
In modern physics, the photon is the elementary particle responsible for electromagnetic interactions and light (this according to Wikipedia). It also says that photons are massless, so I guess that means they weigh nothing. The Photon Micro-Light II is about an 1 and 5/8 inches long (about 4 cm) and weighs about .25 of one [...]
The Petzl Zipka headlamp, while at 2.29 ounces (with AAA/R3 batteries) is not the lightest of the lights, it is certainly one of the most compact. The retractable headband is very clever and one reason I like it so much. You can pull out the band a full 12 inches, for any size head, or [...]
At 1.25 ounces, the two-LED Black Diamond – Ion Micro Headlamp, is everything a lightweight backpacker needs: the LEDs never need replacement (according to the manufacturer), are very bright, and the battery is likely to last for many seasons. A positron switch prevents accidental turn on and the adjustable, tilt housing lets you direct light [...]
Whether you’re a backpacking pro just beginning your quest to be lightweight or a beginner, every year presents a whole new set of innovations. If you’re like me, you won’t be able to resist getting the latest and the lightest—no matter how many of a thing you already own. Cost be dammed! (my wife just [...]
Dog tags have been the main source of identification for soliders for decades. And they work for backpacking as well. Rather than carry a wallet or other identification in the wilderness, I wear a lanyard around my neck with a dog tag that gives my vitals: name, phone number and healthcare plan ID. I also [...]
The problem with all flashlights and headlamps is that they run on batteries and batteries wear out. And, they often wear out at the least convenient time — like nighttime when you're trying to cook dinner in the dark or finding your way around camp on a moonless night. I've found a lightweight (4 ounce) [...]
Shedding Light on Flashlights I recently stopped in a non-profit, volunteer “environmental center†where I discovered the Excalibur Micro Forever Flashlight, a 3.5-ounce light suitable for lightweight backpacking that requires no batteries and has a single LED (light emitting diode). Although I own at least four flashlights in the form of headlamps or small hand-helds [...]
