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Stories from Backpacking Light

  1. (M) Backpacking and Hiking with an Umbrella

    Backpacking Light &bull Feb 7, 2012

    When I'm backpacking, hikers often ask, "Why are you carrying an umbrella?" An umbrella seems out-of-place in the wilderness. It's for city folk, not for macho backpackers. However, hiking with an umbrella is not as foolish as it looks. I've… Full Story »

  2. (M) Crazy for Quilts a How Quilts Became My Sleep System of Choice, PLUS A Review of My Favorite, the Stateless Society Custom Quilt

    Backpacking Light &bull Feb 7, 2012

    Let me take a moment to explain the reasons and route I took to get to quilts for backpacking. I am a toss-and-turn side-sleeper. It is almost impossible for me to sleep on my back, as it is very uncomfortable and causes me to snore (which then wakes me up). Way back (early 80s), my favorite three-season bag was a Sierra Designs semi-rectangular bag that I used above 40 F / 4 C. I used a TNF Cat's Meow bag… Full Story »

  3. (M) Storm Resistance of Ultralight Shelters: Part 1, Introduction

    Backpacking Light &bull Jan 31, 2012

    This article introduces a new long term initiative at Backpacking Light: to analyze existing standards of design, manufacturing, and materials of ultralight shelters and relate these standards to observed performance in response to adverse environmental conditions. The use of construction… Full Story »

  4. (M) Nemo Obi Elite 1P Tent Review

    Backpacking Light &bull Jan 17, 2012

    The Obi Elite 1P is Nemo's lightest tent construction yet, and it sets a new standard for lightweight double-wall tents with 10 denier nylon fly and interior fabrics and weight-saving design. The minimum weight of this one-person double-wall tent is… Full Story »

  5. (M) Hyperlite Mountain Gear Porter / Expedition Pack Review

    Backpacking Light &bull Jan 10, 2012

    Ultralight backpackers have developed an unquenchable fetish for packs that are measured in ounces, seemingly with no regard at all to what the pack has offered with respect to durability, comfort, or aesthetic design. Small manufacturers continue to feed this small market. The market… Full Story »

  6. (M) Sony NEX-7 Digital Camera Review

    Backpacking Light &bull Jan 3, 2012

    The subject of this review will be to discuss the merits, usability, performance, and suitability of the Sony NEX-7 for wilderness travel. Based on a comprehensive review of the state of the digital camera market today, we hypothesize that the… Full Story »

  7. (M) Rab MeCo Baselayers Review

    Backpacking Light &bull Jan 3, 2012

    Like many other backpackers in the last decade, Kristin and I have switched from synthetic to Merino wool baselayers. Merino wool is soft, handles moisture comfortably, and has natural anti-microbial properties. I like that wool is a renewable resource, and… Full Story »


  8. 2011 Backpacking Light Staff Picks

    Backpacking Light &bull Dec 27, 2011

    Getting ready for this year's Staff Picks was entertaining. One editor suggested all photo thumbnails should, when clicked, jump to a full-size photo to better display the gear. When asked precisely how much work he intended for me (Addie), another editor jumped in and requested that each photo hyperlink to a professionally produced HD video of me using the actual product. It didn't work out, mostly because my videographer husband had other things to do and because we Bedfords were busily moving from tiny condo to roomy home right before Christmas. WHAT were we thinking?! Next year, faithful readers. Next… Full Story »


  9. Cottage Stagnation and Recent Gems

    Backpacking Light &bull Dec 27, 2011

    While pondering the state of equipment innovation for wilderness travel, I've reached the same state of despair that I find myself in when questioning why economists have lots of answers and no solutions, why politicians (pretend to) have lots of… Full Story »

  10. (M) O Canada!

    Backpacking Light &bull Dec 20, 2011

    Once we left the snow behind, we really picked up momentum. As I mentioned in my last article, Teresa and Butterfly began following us with the car in northern California. This plan had two possibilities. It could either slow us down while enjoying family time or give us a little wind in our sails. I think we struck a good balance there. Because we were "slack packing" often, we could hike higher miles in fewer hours, not to mention the carrot of seeing… Full Story »

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