You don’t need a big knife for backpacking. I’ve been using the same Swiss Army Classic Pocket Knife the past 10 years now and I’ve never found the need to replace it with something different or bigger. If you are trying to shave weight from your pack, this little …

The Therm-a-Rest Z-lite sleeping pad (long and short) is a top-rated non-inflatable foam sleeping pad you can buy from a mainstream manufacturer. With an R-value of 2, it doesn’t absorb rainwater and folds up like an accordion so it can be easily strapped to the outside of your pack. The …

Permethrin is a pesticide that you spray on clothing to kill black flies, ticks, and mosquitoes but has no harmful side effects on humans if used properly. It is the active ingredient used in Insect Shield and Buzz Off clothing and kills bugs when they land on your clothing. You …

If you’ve done any backpacking, you should be familiar with the practice of layering your clothing: you take layers of clothing off when you get too hot and start to sweat and you put them back on again when you start to get cold. Layering lets the sweat you generate …

Knee Pain is a common symptom in hikers, runners, skiers, and cyclists.One of the most common types is pain around or behind the kneecaps, which is often diagnosed as Chondromalacia, Patellofemoral Stress Syndrome, or more commonly “runner’s knee.” The symptoms of this type of knee pain worsen when walking up …

Plantar Fasciitis is a very common and painful foot condition experienced by many hikers. I know, I’ve had it. It is a repetition injury often caused by hiking or running and presents itself as chronic heel pain. This pain is caused by the inflammation of the ligament that connects your …

If you’ve ever been backpacking, you’ve probably heard people boast that their pack weighs 50 or 60 lbs. Those days are over. With a little knowledge, it is possible for anyone to reduce their pack weight to a comfortable 25 or 30 lbs. and still bring along some luxury items. …

I started breaking in a new pair of boots today. My current pair of Asolo TPS 520’s (left) is in need of resoling and some repair work by a qualified cobbler. I’ve hiked at least 1000 miles in them over the past 2 years and they’ve served me well.  That’s …

The Aquamira Frontier Pro water filter is an exceptionally lightweight 2 oz. alternative to the more bulky water filters and water purifiers available on the market today. The Frontier Pro connects to platypus bladders or plastic bottles. To get water, you suck on a nipple, shown in black in the …

Freezer Bag Cooking is a great way to reduce your pack weight and helps eliminates the need to wash your cooking pots after a hot meal like breakfast or dinner. The principle behind Freezer Bag cooking is simple. You prepackage all of your hot meals for a backpacking trip in …

The First Need Water Purifier is one of the few filters on the market today that filters out all viruses, crypto, and protozoa without the need for additional purification tablets like Chlorine Dioxide. The only downside to this filter is that it weighs 15 oz, which is heavy for you ultralight …

It was Thanksgiving day and the weather was a bit chilly so I decided to test out a pair a Mountain Hardware Cohesion Pants for showshoeing this winter in Vermont. I put on a pair of Patagonia 1 Capilene long underwear underneath the Cohesion Pants and took a two mile …

Golite’s Reed Pants are one of the lightest waterproof pants available today. At 6.4 oz for a men’s large, they are significantly lighter than both the old and new versions of Marmot Precips that weigh in at 9 oz. or more depending on size. These pants also compress down to …

I’ve owned my REI Sub Kilo 20 down sleeping bag for about 2 years. It’s a pretty utilitarian mummy sleeping bag that provides good value at a good price ($239). Like all down bags, it  compresses down very well and takes up little room in your pack. It is also …