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Articles most frequently commented on by BackpackingLight.com readers.

Most Commented This Week

M The SUL Wanderer (Video Series) - Episode 1: Gear

40 New Comments This Week
By Ryan Jordan on May 21, 2013 in Techniques » Techniques
The first episode of Backpacking Light's new video series, "The SUL Wanderer" tells stories and teaches techniques about "SuperUltralight Backpacking" - the style of backpacking that focuses on the extremes of light weight, compactness, and simplicity for wilderness travel.

M Mountain SuperUltraLight Backpacking – Going SUL in the Mountains with Adequate Shelter, Insulation, and Rain Protection. Part 2B: Selecting the Lightest, Most Functional Gear - Rainwear, Insulation, Headwear, Handwear, and Footwear

16 New Comments This Week
By Will Rietveld on May 21, 2013 in Techniques » Techniques & Best Practices
Adapting SUL for mountain conditions, where frequent weather extremes necessitate more capable gear.

M SUL BikeRaftFishPacking (BFRP)

14 New Comments This Week
By Ryan Jordan on May 15, 2013 in Techniques » Techniques
An SUL approach to multisport: bikepacking, packrafting, and tenkara fly fishing.

M Mountain SuperUltraLight Backpacking – Going SUL in the Mountains with Adequate Shelter, Insulation, and Rain Protection. Part 2A: Selecting the Lightest, Most Functional Gear - Backpack, Shelter, Sleeping Bag, Sleeping Pad

14 New Comments This Week
By Will Rietveld on May 15, 2013 in Techniques » Techniques & Best Practices
Adapting SUL for mountain conditions, where frequent weather extremes necessitate more capable gear.

M Mountain SuperUltraLight Backpacking – Going SUL in the Mountains with Adequate Shelter, Insulation, and Rain Protection. Part 1: Concepts and Scope.

9 New Comments This Week
By Will Rietveld on May 08, 2013 in Techniques » Techniques & Best Practices
Adapting SUL for mountain conditions, where frequent weather extremes necessitate more capable gear.

M Rab Xenon and Patagonia UL Down Hoody: Comparison and Long-Term Review

3 New Comments This Week
By David Chenault on May 01, 2013 in Gear » Reviews
New and evolving technologies necessitate a reexamination of the conventional wisdom of down versus synthetic fill insulation.

M How Safe Is Your Food? Investigating the effectiveness of odor-proof bags

1 New Comments This Week
By Ari Jutkowitz VMD, DACVECC on April 10, 2013 in Technology » Test Reports
How do supposedly "odor proof" plastic bags for backpacking hold up to the keen nose of a Police K9?

M Tarp Camping Techniques for Inclement Conditions

1 New Comments This Week
By Ryan Jordan on October 16, 2012 in Techniques » Techniques & Best Practices

M SOTMR: Two-way Satellite Communications for Backpacking: Part 2 - Satellite Phones

1 New Comments This Week
By Rex Sanders on March 26, 2013 in Gear » State of the Market Reports
Part 2 in our 3 part series on satellite communications focuses on the currently available sat phones suitable for lightweight backpacking.

Most Commented This Month

M The SUL Mindset

54 New Comments This Month
By Ryan Jordan on May 08, 2013 in Trends » Commentary
The SUL Mindset may be more than gear weights, and performance standards.

M Mountain SuperUltraLight Backpacking – Going SUL in the Mountains with Adequate Shelter, Insulation, and Rain Protection. Part 1: Concepts and Scope.

45 New Comments This Month
By Will Rietveld on May 08, 2013 in Techniques » Techniques & Best Practices
Adapting SUL for mountain conditions, where frequent weather extremes necessitate more capable gear.

M The SUL Wanderer (Video Series) - Episode 1: Gear

40 New Comments This Month
By Ryan Jordan on May 21, 2013 in Techniques » Techniques
The first episode of Backpacking Light's new video series, "The SUL Wanderer" tells stories and teaches techniques about "SuperUltralight Backpacking" - the style of backpacking that focuses on the extremes of light weight, compactness, and simplicity for wilderness travel.

M Mountain SuperUltraLight Backpacking – Going SUL in the Mountains with Adequate Shelter, Insulation, and Rain Protection. Part 2A: Selecting the Lightest, Most Functional Gear - Backpack, Shelter, Sleeping Bag, Sleeping Pad

32 New Comments This Month
By Will Rietveld on May 15, 2013 in Techniques » Techniques & Best Practices
Adapting SUL for mountain conditions, where frequent weather extremes necessitate more capable gear.

M Lightweight Fry Bake Gear and Technique (Video)

31 New Comments This Month
By Ryan Jordan on May 01, 2013 in Techniques » Techniques
If you're a fan of fry-baked meals in the backcountry, and you are reading this article, it's not likely you're one who gets real excited about carrying the two-pound classic Banks' Fry Bake. Here are some options for lighter gear and techniques for fry-baking as a solo traveler, or in smaller groups.

M SUL BikeRaftFishPacking (BFRP)

24 New Comments This Month
By Ryan Jordan on May 15, 2013 in Techniques » Techniques
An SUL approach to multisport: bikepacking, packrafting, and tenkara fly fishing.

M Integral Designs Traverse 2 Review

20 New Comments This Month
By Roger Caffin on April 23, 2013 in Gear » State of the Market Reports
Tunnel Tents Tutorial and State of the Market Report - Mini Reviews

M Enlightened Equipment Revelation Review

20 New Comments This Month
By Chris Wallace on April 23, 2013 in Gear » SpotLite Reviews
A well-made quilt that offers high-quality materials, high fill-power down, and excellent loft for an incredible price.

M Mountain SuperUltraLight Backpacking – Going SUL in the Mountains with Adequate Shelter, Insulation, and Rain Protection. Part 2B: Selecting the Lightest, Most Functional Gear - Rainwear, Insulation, Headwear, Handwear, and Footwear

16 New Comments This Month
By Will Rietveld on May 21, 2013 in Techniques » Techniques & Best Practices
Adapting SUL for mountain conditions, where frequent weather extremes necessitate more capable gear.

M Rab Xenon and Patagonia UL Down Hoody: Comparison and Long-Term Review

14 New Comments This Month
By David Chenault on May 01, 2013 in Gear » Reviews
New and evolving technologies necessitate a reexamination of the conventional wisdom of down versus synthetic fill insulation.

Most Commented All Time

Ultralight Tip of the Week

431 Comments
By Mike Clelland! on January 13, 2012 in Techniques » Techniques & Best Practices
Rotating feature with tips and illustrations from Mike Clelland!'s new book: Ultralight Backpackin' Tips

M Cottage Stagnation and Recent Gems

270 Comments
By Ryan Jordan on December 27, 2011 in Trends » Commentary
Commentary on the (lack of) gear you can love from the cottage industry.

M Mountain Laurel Designs TrailStar Shelter Review

156 Comments
By Ryan Jordan on January 24, 2012 in Gear » Reviews
Simplicity and strength in an all-season shelter.

M Tunnel Tents Tutorial and State of the Market Report - Part 1: Definition and Pitching

142 Comments
By Roger Caffin on April 10, 2012 in Gear » State of the Market Reports
How tunnel tents work, why they can handle extreme weather, and how to pitch them under extreme conditions.

M Lightweight Internal Frame Packs: a State of the Market Report - Part 1C: Main Bag & Comfort

141 Comments
By Roger Caffin on September 14, 2010 in Gear » State of the Market Reports
We survey lightweight internal frame packs with a maximum weight of 1.6 kg (3.5 lb) and a volume generally in the range 50 L to 75 L.

M Lighten Your Heaviest Gear: You!

137 Comments
By Jeremy Pendrey on December 15, 2009 in Techniques » Techniques & Best Practices
As lightweight backpackers, we obsess over the weight of every piece of gear we carry, but many of us give little thought to the weight of the heaviest piece of gear of all: ourselves. How do we begin to treat our own weight with the same care that we treat the weight of our gear? By doing what we already do well: going light.

Podcast: Is National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) Ready to Go Light?

126 Comments
By Carol Crooker on April 11, 2007 in Trends » Podcasts
Senior NOLS instructors discuss the major hurdles to NOLS going light and propose solutions.

M Lightweight Internal Frame Packs: a State of the Market Report - Part 1A: Testing Overview and List of Packs Tested

111 Comments
By Roger Caffin on August 31, 2010 in Gear » State of the Market Reports
We survey light-weight internal frame packs with a maximum weight of 1.6 kg (3.5 lb) and a volume generally in the range 50 L to 75 L.

M Field Testing Air Permeable Waterproof-Breathable Fabric Technologies – Part 2: Are There Detectable Differences Under Real World Backpacking Conditions?

111 Comments
By Will Rietveld on October 25, 2011 in Technology » Test Reports
Manufacturers make lofty claims for the enhanced breathability of the new fabrics. I tested ten jackets under challenging and forgiving backpacking-type conditions, while recording temperature and humidity inside and outside the jackets, and reported my findings. Perhaps I didn’t experience “air and water vapor permeability so shocking you’ll swear it's magic,” but I did identify some standouts and some promising trends of interest to backpackers.