LightBackpacking.com

Mt. Hood Climber Dies Despite Preparations

Backpacking Gear List Series, focusing on ways to achieve the lightest possible pack.

Backpacking Gear List Series - Base Pack

Going Lightweight Begins With the Base Gear - backpack, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, tent

Falcon Guide Backpacking Tips Offers Advice

It’s All About Fuel
I recently tested a new line of foods (Chef 5 Minute Meals) and had been intrigued by claims that each meal is only 9 ounces, requires no refrigeration and comes with a built-in oven (no heat source required), knife, spork (spoon-fork), napkin and salt and pepper.
At 9 ounces, given all these benefits, […]

Let’s face it, most of us are accustomed to sleeping on thick mattresses. The shift to sleeping in the wilderness with minimal night-time amenities can be a shock to the system. Our home mattresses provide both comfort and insulation. The outdoor mattress serves a similar function, putting insulation and padding between you and the […]

Lucky you. If you’re just starting into backpacking, you will find a large number of lightweight bags (less than 3 pounds) that will keep you warm in some very cold conditions and pack down small, taking up little space in your pack. Not so, just a few years ago.
In 1997 I purchased a huge extra-wide […]

The ultralight philosophy certainly comes into play in choosing a shelter. Will it be a tent (3 pounds), bivy sack (2 pounds) or tarp (1 pound)? Perhaps a hammock (1 pound, 4 ounces) or a hybrid tarp/tent (1 pound, 12) from GoLite.
The Tarp
An ultralight backpacker will likely choose one of a growing number of […]

Outfitting yourself for backpacking can feel like an overwhelming task. There are so many choices. Too many, I think. So how do you start?
Using one of two criteria, “light” (under three pounds) or “ultralight” (1 pound or less), you can reduce the number of choices by 80-90 per cent. Backpacker Magazine, either the hard copy […]