A winter sleeping bag has a temperature rating of 0 degrees Fahrenheit or lower. Remember, 32 degrees Fahrenheit is the temperature where water freezes, so 0 degrees is plenty cold. Winter sleeping bags also tend to have extra features not found in sleeping bags designed for warmer weather including draft …

The Waymark Lite Backpack is a 50-liter frameless roll-top backpack made with waterproof, lightweight, durable XPac fabric that weighs between 28-30 oz depending on sizing and features. It’s available in multiple torso lengths and different sized hip-belts so you can dial in a near-custom fit. Waymark also lets you customize …

The REI Quarter Dome SL 1 is a one-person double-wall tent that only weighs 31 oz. Despite its low weight, the interior is remarkably livable, with vertical sidewalls, numerous internal pockets to keep you organized, and a roof vent to help minimize internal condensation. A large vestibule provides plenty of …

The Unitensil Folding Fork-Knife-Spoon is a highly portable and reusable eating utensil that weighs a mere 7 grams. It folds flat for easy storage in your wallet or a food bag and can be reused hundreds of times making it perfect for ultralight backpacking, at home, when traveling, or at …

There was a time when Vibram outsoles were the best in the business and used on the majority of hiking boots made. Vibram was the first company to make a vulcanized rubber outsole in 1937, including a standard lug pattern called the Carrarmato (meaning “tank tread”) which is instantly recognizable …

There are two types of tents: single-wall tents and double-wall tents. Both have their pros and cons in terms of weight, weather-resistance, and comfort. What is a Single-Wall Tent? Single-wall tents are popular with backpackers and climbers who want to carry lightweight backpacking gear that won’t slow them down on …

The Arrowhead Equipment Westslope Pouch is a 1 oz minimalist organizer designed to hold all of the fishing gear (minus rods) for a day on the river. I use mine to hold my flies, tippet, nippers, and hemostats when Tenkara fly fishing on the hikes I take whenever my path …

Many backpacking-style hammocks come in double-layer or single-layer models. How do you decide which hammock to get and what are the consequences of choosing one type over the other? Double Layer Hammocks A double layer hammock is so-called because the part you lie on has two layers of fabric. The two …

I was in awe the first time I climbed it up the Howker Ridge Trail to Mt Madison. Howker runs along the top of a ridge that’s capped by these strange rocky peaklets, called Howks, which poke out above treeline at intervals along the route. Their tops are barely a …

The Armored Outdoor Gear Ratsack Food Storage Bag is a rodent-proof lightweight, flexible, stainless-steel mesh bag to protect your food and smellables on camping and backpacking trips. It’s not bear-proof, but it is rodent and small mammal-proof making it ideal for use in primitive cabins, trail shelters, lean-tos, and for …

If you hike or backpack in areas that have large amounts of decaying vegetation, like the forests of North America, you’re going to come across natural water sources that have a sickly red, orange, or yellow color. The tea-like coloring is caused by tannins that have leached out of the …

Mt Paugus is an infrequently-visited  3000 footer that has great views of Mt Chocorua and Mt Passaconaway because it’s situated in between these two popular peaks. I hiked up it over the weekend to sit on its south-facing cliff, which is a huge expanse of open ledge, that’s perfect for …

Most hiking and backpacking water filters must be replaced if they’ve been frozen.  When it gets too cold to keep a water filter from freezing, your best bet is to switch to chemical purification using chlorine dioxide in liquid or tablet form (Aquamira water purification drops or Katadyn chlorine dioxide …

Province Pond is a picturesque 10-acre backcountry pond with an Appalachian style lean-to on the east side of the White Mountain National Forest, near North Conway, New Hampshire, just south of Evans Notch and the Maine state line. It’s a short and easy hike to the pond and campsite, making …