Author: Benjamin Tepler
How the X-Mid Became the Most Sought-After Ultralight Tent
At first glance, the world of ultralight shelters seems to be running out of innovations. It’s hard to [...]
Trail Runner Showdown – Backpacker
As trail running shoes have become the footwear of choice among long-distance trekkers, the range of of [...]
The Gear We Loved in July 2022
Eagle Creek Tarmac XE (Photo: courtesy)
Finding a carry-on size suitcase that’s up to the rigors of ad [...]
Five Common Ultralight Maxims and When to Ignore Them
Ultralighters can be an uncompromising bunch when it comes to the gear they carry—a spartan philosophy [...]
In Japan, Ultralight Gear Is High-Fashion On and Off the Trail
Usually, you don’t go ultralight for fashion’s sake. The majority of lightweight gear—whether it’s a ne [...]
Ultralight External Frame Packs – Backpacker
Like oil-burning lanterns and flannel-lined sleeping bags, the external frame backpack was an iconic pi [...]
The Best Dehydrated Macaroni and Cheese
Welcome to Pouch Wars, a monthly taste-test of dehydrated backpacking meals. We’ve surveyed the market, [...]
Ultralight Boots – Backpacker
While hikers and backpackers as a whole may still debate between trail runners and boots, for ultraligh [...]
Budget vs Deluxe Car Camping Pad
Many of us hit a point in our lives where we don’t want to rough it on a closed-cell foam sleeping mat [...]
Five Ultralight Habits Every Hiker Should Know
Ultralighters are the oddballs of the hiking world. Whether it’s wearing a combination poncho-tarp or c [...]
Stowaway Gourmet Is the Best Backpacking Food of 2022
Making restaurant-quality dehydrated food is incredibly difficult. There are limits to the types of foo [...]
Three Desert Hiking Essentials – Backpacker
Want to know whether a piece of gear can stand up to serious abuse? Take it to the desert. We took adva [...]
The Best Tents for Backpacking
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Best Backpacking Backpacks of 2022
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Is Ultra the New Dyneema?
Get the latest from the lightweight backpacking world in our twice-monthly ultralight column.
If you f [...]
How to Pack a Frameless Backpack
You’ve carefully whittled down your base weight, sacrificing everything from extra socks to your trusty [...]
The 7 Best Backpacking Water Filters
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What We’re Testing: TSL Snowshoes
Finding a snowshoe that works well on narrow, rocky hiking trails is a challenge. It’s doubly challengi [...]