The Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite Sleeping Pad is an insulated air mattress designed for three-season camping with an R-value = 4.2, measured using the new Outdoor Industry Sleeping Pad R-value Standard. Weighing just 12 oz (see below), the XLite is also lightweight, durable, and …

The Sleeping Pad R-Value Standard The Sleeping Pad R-Value Industry Standard: ASTM FF3340, defines a rigorous and reliable methodology for measuring the R-Value of all sleeping pads, including air mattresses, self-inflating pads, and foam pads. It was rolled out to consumers in …

The Black Diamond Hilight 2 Tent is a freestanding wedge-shaped, single-wall tent with a trail weight of 3 lbs 12 oz. It’s made with Sil/PU coated polyester which does not sag or stretch when it gets wet and is fully waterproof and …

Getting over the fear of camping alone is a major rite of passage for many backpackers. I think we all get a little pensive about the noises we hear around our campsites at night. Here are 10 easy ways to put that …

Wind and wind chill can be a real issue when you’re out hiking, and being able to accurately estimate wind speed without a weather forecast or an anemometer can save you from frostbite or worse. But people’s ability to do so is woefully …

The Dutchware Argon Vented Winter Sock is a large sleeve that wraps around your hammock and underquilt and blocks the wind. If you plan to hammock in cool weather, say 40 degrees or less, it really pays to add a overcover and …

Day hikes and backpacking trips don’t always go as planned and it pays to equip yourself with extra survival and emergency gear if you get lost or injured when hiking in a more remote area like a national park, national forest, or …

Winter hiking burns a lot more calories than hiking the rest of the year because your body has to work harder to stay warm in the cold; you have to wear more clothing layers and heavier insulated boots; you need to carry …

Here is a crampon bag hack I’ve been using for the past few years to protect the front mesh pocket of my winter pack from sharp crampon and microspike teeth. It requires the use of a simple poly bubble mailer (those white …

Switching to a shorter torso-length sleeping pad is a good way to reduce the weight of your ultralight backpacking gear because your legs don’t need the same amount of insulation as your core in three-season conditions. If you have a short torso-length …

The Katabatic Gear Flex 40 is a premium quilt-style sleeping bag. Weighing 16.9 ounces (18.2 actual tested), it’s filled with 900 fill power goose down and comes with an effective sleeping pad attachment system to help prevent drafts from blowing under the …

The Franconia Ridge Loop consists of two five thousand footers, Mt Lincoln (5080′) and Mt Lafayette (5242′). In addition to their summits, the highlight of the loop is the above treeline Franconia Ridge Trail connecting Lincoln and Lafayette, with magnificent views of …

Is it better to buy a winter sleeping bag with a waterproof/breathable shell fabric or to just use a waterproof/breathable bivy sack instead? The idea of covering a sleeping bag with a waterproof/breathable shell fabric is appealing because it would mean that you don’t need …

A Z-Bonds Traverse is one of the more difficult hikes you can do in winter in the White Mountains. It’s even longer than a Presidential Traverse and much more remote. It requires hiking across the breadth of the Pemigewasset Wilderness for 23.3 …