To be honest, the insoles of my shoes are one of the few things that I don’t think about when I’m dwelling on every essential piece of gear in my kit. After testing a pair of Form Insoles inside a pair of my favorite boots, maybe I should. Form Insoles produces high quality insoles that are designed … More Form Insoles Review
Originally designed for the US Special Forces, The Alpha Air Jacket from L.L.Bean is a sturdy, functional, fully windproof jacket that’s designed to take a beating and provide stubborn weather protection when it’s needed the most. Instead of being built light and fluffy, it’s built with a robust soft shell body, Polartec insulation, and wet weather protection … More L.L.Bean Alpha Air Jacket
The Exped Pack Poncho UL is an ultra light, breezy option for full body and pack coverage perfect for those long, unrelenting rain storms. Instead of utilizing a jacket, pants, and a pack cover, the poncho minimizes materials yet covers the entire body and the backpack for full protection while still managing to be ultra … More Exped Pack Poncho UL Review
There once was a time when down was the only option for light weight winter insulation. This is no longer the case. High performance synthetics like Primaloft have changed the game, and even offer benefits over down fill. The Odin Insulator from Helly Hansen is tangible proof of this. The Odin Jacket outer and inner body are both … More Helly Hansen Odin Insulator Jacket Review
One of the perks of going with hammock camping is the possibility of shedding some weight. Why then are so many hammock suspension systems so heavy? The Eno Helios suspension system is a pair of ultralight straps that aim to make that question irrelevant. Built from incredibly light weight and durable Dyneema line paired with a … More ENO Helios Suspension System Review
The Odin Minimalist Jacket is an ultra lightweight 2.5 layer rain jacket that’s designed to provide weather protection with the absolute minimal weight penalty. Instead of weighing it down with extra features, it cuts back, providing only the essentials. I put it to the test, and I liked it. The jacket is purely minimalist, consisting of little more than a … More Helly Hansen Odin Minimalist Jacket Review
Light weight and winter; combining the two while enjoying it seems a near impossibility at times. The Big Agnes Slater UL2+ is a shelter designed to bring them closer together, while maintaining a comfortable experience. With an ultralight build based off the immensely popular Fly Creek series but with more internal volume, and a full … More Big Agnes Slater UL2+ Review
Going fast and light often requires ditching the boots and going with something a bit lighter. The Ahnu Ridgecrest is designed to be just that. Waterproof and stable, the light weight yet stable trail shoes offer a more nimble approach to hitting trails without sacrificing protection or durability. I’ve put them to the test, and … More Ahnu Ridgecrest Trail Shoes
The REI Arete 2 falls somewhere between a 4 season mountaineering tent, and a light weight backpacking tent. Beefed up enough to handle high winds and light snow, but light enough to be carried year round it hopes to fill the void that so many backpackers are searching for. Does it work? Borrowing from both … More REI Arete ASL 2 Review
Getting into backpacking is hard. Not only is gear expensive, there are infinite choices for all the equipment that you’ll need, and everyone has differing opinions on what is best. I’ve devised my recommendations based on years of experience and years of hands on testing. The products you’ll find in this article are what I consider the … More The Best Backpacking Gear For A Budget
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