For plenty of outdoorsmen and women, ultralight backpacking conjures up a particularly kooky image. Sawed-off toothbrushes. Dingy plastic water bottles with water filters screwed on top. Backpacks — ...

Over the years, ultralight backpacking has garnered an unfortunate reputation: obsessive, elitist, unsafe, prohibitively expensive. While we could debate the first three (obsessive is the only one I’d ...

This question is all about aspiration. I remember the first time I saw an ultralight-equipped hiker like it was yesterday. I was exploring Oregon’s Cascades with an overloaded pack and had just ...

When it comes to ultralight backpacking gear, the importance of silnylon can't be overstated. The simple fabric construction--lightweight ripstop nylon impregnated with a waterproof silicone ...

Ultralight gear for hiking is having a major moment and for the most part, I’m here for it. When I'm backpacking, my Sierra ...

As well as individual product testing, each stove was tested alongside the other backpacking stoves selected for our annual ...

When I’m off on a gear-testing adventure, I try to find a location that’s rugged, remote and has a wide variety of weather conditions so I can really put my hiking gear through the wringer.

An emerging new generation of ultralight backpacking tents combines compact, seriously lightweight construction with more comfort and convenience at camp. The Durston X-Dome 1+ was one recent ...

The Feathered Friends Flicker UL Quilt Sleeping Bag can function as both a backpacking quilt and an ultralight sleeping bag. The option to use it as a full mummy bag or a quilt/blanket makes this ...