The LanShan 2 Tent is a two-person trekking pole tent that’s become very popular with campers and backpackers because it’s lightweight, inexpensive, and reasonably well made. It’s available on Amazon and sold by a number of resellers including 3F UL, Meir, Flames …

Wearing multiple clothing layers for winter or cold weather hiking keeps you drier and warm by moving moisture away from your skin. Sounds simple, right? It is, but many people struggle to understand the scientific principles behind layering and how they can …

I carry a multi-part glove and mitten layering system on day hikes and backpacking trips (mainly in spring and autumn) to keep my hands warm when it’s cold, windy, or raining. The “glove layering system” I use combines fingered gloves for dexterity …

The MSR Access 1 is a freestanding, double-wall tent designed for ski touring and winter backpacking that only weighs 3 lbs. While it’s much warmer than a three-season tent and strong enough to handle moderate snow loads, it’s intended for use in …

Floorless tents and shelters provide an ultralightweight option for backpackers who want to significantly reduce their backpacking gear weight. While that weight reduction might sound quite attractive, in most cases you’ll still want some form of insect protection like a bivy sack …

The Outdoor Research Helium Wind Hoodie is a very lightweight nylon jacket that’s designed to keep the wind from robbing your body heat. It has an adjustable hood with a small brim, a zippered chest pocket, stretch cuffs, and an elastic hem …

The ULA CDT is a 54L frameless backpack designed for ultralight backpacking, long day hikes, or travel that has a maximum recommended load of 25 pounds. Weighing 27.1 oz (768 g), the CDT is a streamlined backpack with 36 liters of closed …

I attended a really fantastic Ax training and certification class for trail maintainers this past Friday offered by the Appalachian Mountain Club in New Hampshire. It’s the only such course offered in the United States and teaches you how to sharpen an …

Backpacking cook pots are available in titanium, aluminum, and stainless steel but there are significant differences in the cost, performance, and durability between them. What are the pros and cons of each material and other factors that you should consider when choosing …

The Osprey Packs Talon 44 Backpack is a lightweight pack with an adjustable torso length that’s good for weekend backpacking trips, technical day hikes, climbing, and peakbagging. Weighing 2 pounds 15 ounces, it can carry a remarkable amount of gear and a …

The best way to deal with wet gear and clothing during a backpacking trip is to dry it. It sounds simple, but we’re often so obsessed with a daily trip plan or mileage goals that we don’t build in any time to attend …

The Hammock Gear Wanderlust Hammock Camping Kit is an all-inclusive hammock system to get you off the ground and hanging without a huge learning curve or time lag. The base system includes an 11′ hammock with an integrated bug net, an ultralight …

The Northern Lites Ultralight Backcountry Snowshoe weighs 43 ounces per pair, less than half the weight of most conventional snowshoes from MSR or Tubbs. That’s a big deal because you can slash a few pounds from your winter gear list while reducing …

REI XeroDry GTX Rain Jacket (30% Off) The REI XeroDry GTX is an excellent rain jacket and hardshell for autumn and winter hiking because it’s thicker and warmer than a thin ultralight rain jacket. It’s made with Gore-tex Paclite and comes with …