An insulated hoodie or lightweight synthetic jacket can be used for hiking or backpacking as an outer layer or mid-layer during spring and autumn when mornings and nighttime temperatures stay cool. Our preference is to use jackets that have hoods because we …

The Tarptent Dipole 1 DW is an ultralight double-wall trekking-pole tent made with silicone-coated polyester that weighs 30.35 oz. It’s a spacious tent with two doors and two vestibules that can accommodate wide sleeping pads or tall hikers. The advantage of using …

Iliotibial band syndrome, often abbreviated as ITB or ITBS, is an ailment common to hikers and backpackers, in addition to cyclists. It usually manifests itself as knee pain or pain along the side of your leg from your hip down to your …

The Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL 2 is the latest generation in the ultralight Copper Spur line of tents, boasting increased interior volume and livability by integrating steeper sides walls into the inner tent. The result is an outstanding balance of comfort …

Nobody gets just one chigger bite. You get a whole mess of them, more often than not, and they itch like hell. But chigger bites are preventable and the itching they cause goes away in a few days. Unlike ticks, chiggers do …

The Zpacks Duplex Zip Tent is a single-wall 2-person tent made with Dyneema DCF that weighs 20.4 oz. It has two doors, two vestibules, and requires two trekking poles to erect. Despite its high-tech construction, the Duplex Zip is a remarkably simple …

Hard shell jackets are a burly type of rain jacket used for winter hiking as a windproof and waterproof clothing layer. They have a richer set of temperature regulation and storage features than warm weather rain jackets to help you avoid perspiration …

The Montbell Tachyon Hooded Wind Jacket is a gossamer thin 7-denier nylon wind jacket with a 1-way adjustable hood, a full-length front zipper, two handwarmer pockets, underarm vents, and a stow pocket. This is the second Montbell Tachyon wind shirt I’ve owned: …

Tarps are a great ultralight backpacking shelter option, provided they’re used in a climate where there’s no rain or occasional rain. To clarify, I’m talking about square or rectangular tarps with or without catenary cut ridgelines and sides, and not single wall …

Do you carry firestarters on winter hikes for use in an emergency if you have an accident and become immobilized or need to hunker down in bad weather? I have news for you. Starting a campfire in winter is devilishly difficult when …

Tent condensation happens to everyone. It’s one of the unavoidable consequences of camping or backpacking with a tent, but it’s usually just a nuisance and not the end of the world. Still, there are a lot of misconceptions about tent condensation and …

After turning around on an Mt Jefferson attempt last week, I was resigned to not getting the peak for my January Grid: The weather has been so exasperating this month, with frigid temperatures and high wind, that there have only been a …

If you hike in the winter in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, there are certain routes and trails where it can be handy to have an ice axe to arrest a fall, chop steps, for stability when walking on a steep …

The Senchi Designs Lark is an ultralight Polartec Alpha Direct Hoodie that is quite warm when worn in a sleeping bag or under a rain shell or wind shirt. Weighing just 5.1 oz, it’s half the weight of other types of gridded …