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Make Your Own Gear Podcasts Techniques Techniques & Best Practices

ARTICLES Techniques Make Your Own Gear MYOG - A Winter Canister Stove using your Summer Upright Stove and the Brunton Stove Stand by Roger Caffin The Brunton Stove Stand is a nice bit of engineering, but is it really of any use? Oh yes: it can be turned into a neat winter stove with just a little DIY effort. Read More...	ARTICLES Techniques Techniques & Best Practices Hypothermia by Darin Banner Avoiding and treating hypothermia in the backcountry with ultralight equipment. Read More...
ARTICLES Techniques Techniques Trekking Techniques for Early-Season Conditions by Andrew Skurka Andrew Skurka's insights and techniques for early season trekking can dramatically increase the length of your normal hiking season. Read More...	ARTICLES Techniques Techniques & Best Practices Reducing Winter Pack Weight: Wood Fire Cooking in the Snow by Kevin Sawchuk For the hardcore ultralighter, cooking over wood fires in the winter offers a way to substantially reduce pack weight on longer trips, adds a bit of warmth around camp, and forces you to learn fire skills that just might save your life someday. Read More...
ARTICLES Techniques Techniques & Best Practices Backcountry Cookfires: Overview and Techniques for Cooking Over an Open Flame by Bill Stadwiser Bill Stadwiser explores the practical and emotional rewards of cooking over wood in the backcountry. Read More...	ARTICLES Techniques Make Your Own Gear Make Your Own Gear: Titanium Snow Stakes by Roger Caffin Lightweight and stable titanium snow anchors that are easy to make Read More...
ARTICLES Techniques Techniques Take the Load Off: Using Pulks to Travel Over Snow by Ed Bouffard Pulk techniques for winter travel over snow Read More...	ARTICLES Techniques Make Your Own Gear Make Your Own Gear: Shell Top by Roger Caffin In "Notes from the Field - Bushwhacking Shell" I discussed commercial shirts and a shell top I make for myself and my wife. Instructions for making my design are given here. Read More...
ARTICLES Techniques Make Your Own Gear Make Your Own Gear – Trousers by Roger Caffin In ‘Notes from the Field - Bushwhacking Gear - Trousers’ I discussed commercial trousers and some I make for myself and my wife. Instructions for making my design are given here. Read More...	ARTICLES Techniques Make Your Own Gear Make Your Own Gear: Tarp Guylines by Jay Ham A clean, simple way to attach guylines to your tarp or shelter Read More...
ARTICLES Techniques Make Your Own Gear Make Your Own Gear: Aloksak Chest Pocket by Jay Ham You say your SUL pack doesn’t have enough pockets? Using inexpensive materials, add some storage with ultralight appeal. Read More...	ARTICLES Techniques Make Your Own Gear Make Your Own Gear: Sealing Silnylon Seams by Jay Ham A better way to apply seam sealer, producing a nearly factory perfect look. Read More...
ARTICLES Techniques Podcasts Podcast: Pre-Trip Planning and Support Logistics by Ken Knight Ken Knight talks with Brian Frankle and Karen Skurka about pre-trip planning and support logistics. Read More...	ARTICLES Techniques Make Your Own Gear Make Your Own Gear: Carbon Fiber Trekking Poles by Jay Ham Complete instructions for making your own SUL carbon trekking poles from fishing, golf, and kite parts. Read More...
ARTICLES Techniques Podcasts Podcast: Roundtable Discussion of the Limits of Ultralight Backpacking by Ken Knight Ken Knight, Mike Clelland!, Carol Crooker, and Glen Van Peski discuss the limits, both perceived and real, of ultralight backpacking. Read More...	ARTICLES Techniques Techniques Lightweight Footwear Systems for Snow Travel Part 3: Model Lightweight Footwear Systems for Snow Hiking, Snowshoeing, and Snow Camping by Will Rietveld and Janet Reichl Based on our research and testing, we recommend lightweight footwear systems for specific conditions and activities. In addition, our Backpacking Light staffers describe their favorite systems, and two ultralight nomads – Andrew Skurka and Chris Townsend – share their wisdom. Read More...
ARTICLES Techniques Techniques Lightweight Footwear Systems for Snow Travel Part 2: Components by Will Rietveld and Janet Reichl We cover the components of a lightweight footwear system – shoes/boots, footbeds, socks, vapor barriers, booties, overboots, and gaiters (everything on or around the foot), discuss the pros and cons of different options, and identify our favorites. Read More...	ARTICLES Techniques Podcasts Podcast: Roundtable Discussion of Winter Hiking and Camping by Ken Knight Backpacking Light staff discuss how to get the most out of any winter trip from day trip to multi-day expeditions. Read More...
ARTICLES Techniques Techniques Lightweight Footwear Systems for Snow Travel Part 1: Principles and Techniques for Keeping Feet Dry and Warm by Will Rietveld and Janet Reichl High-tech gear to keep your feet dry and warm is useless without the proper knowledge on how to use it, and that’s especially true for lightweight footwear in cold and wet conditions. Read More...	ARTICLES Techniques Make Your Own Gear Make Your Own Gear: Gaiters for Bushwhacking by Roger Caffin Lightweight, tough gaiters that are suitable for bushwhacking and easy to make. Read More...
ARTICLES Techniques Techniques Igloo Building for Fun and Shelter, Part 2 - Using an Igloo as a Backcountry Shelter by Will Rietveld and Janet Reichl Tips for igloo living and interior climate graphs to show you why you want to camp in an igloo. Read More...	ARTICLES Techniques Techniques Ultralight in the Icebox: Post-Trip Report by Andrew Skurka Andrew Skurka talks about his cold weather tenets and ultralight gear kit following a 385 mile, 19 day backpacking trip in northern Minnesota in the dead of winter. Read More...
ARTICLES Techniques Techniques Igloo Building for Fun and Shelter, Part 1 - Technique by Will Rietveld and Janet Reichl Igloo building is a fun wintertime activity to share with family, friends, or Scouts. Build a warming hut in your favorite skiing or snowshoeing area, construct an igloo for a backcountry base camp, or design your own hut system! The Grand Shelters Icebox Igloo Building Tool does a lot of the work for you, but you’ll still need to master some essential techniques. Read More...	ARTICLES Techniques Make Your Own Gear Make Your Own Gear: Five Yards to SuperUltraLight Part 4 - Pack by Jay Ham Complete instructions to construct a 3.1-ounce, 1700-cubic inch pack. Read More...
ARTICLES Techniques Techniques Taming Those Large Flexible Foil Windshields by Roger Caffin Learn the tricks and techniques required to make a stable windshield out of floppy metal foil. Read More...	ARTICLES Techniques Techniques Groovy-Biotic Cooking: Quick, Healthy Meals with an Ultralight Cook Kit by Mike Clelland! All the details you need to plan backcountry vegetarian meals that are nutritious and tasty. Read More...
ARTICLES Techniques Techniques Bushwhacking Gear: Heavyweight Fabrics and Compatible Construction Techniques to Improve Clothing Longevity for Off-trail Bushwhacking by Roger Caffin Thorns, scrub and sandstone can rip ultralight clothing to shreds. What materials and construction techniques hold up to serious bushwhacking? Read More...	ARTICLES Techniques Techniques & Best Practices A Case Study of Unsupported, Roadless, Long Distance Trekking: Part 1. Pack Weight, Distance, and Caloric Balance by Ryan Jordan It seems obvious that backpack weight and daily mileage will be inversely proportional. But how many days, how many miles per day, and how much food weight are required in order to maximize the total distance traveled without resupply? And what happens when the theory is tested in the Arctic over 600 miles of America's most remote, roadless, uninhabited wilderness? Read More...
ARTICLES Techniques Make Your Own Gear Make Your Own Gear: Five Yards to SuperUltraLight Part 3 - Tarp by Jay Ham Complete instructions to construct a 6-ounce tarp with improved weather protection. Read More...	ARTICLES Techniques Make Your Own Gear Make Your Own Gear: Five Yards to SuperUltraLight Part 2, Stuff Sack by Jay Ham Complete instructions to construct a 0.2-ounce stuff sack sized right to compress a SUL tarp (Part 3) into a tidy 4 x 4 x 8 inch bundle. Read More...
ARTICLES Techniques Make Your Own Gear Do It Yourself Projects to Reduce Canister Stove Weight by Roger Caffin Experiments from our readers and staff on trimming weight from winter stoves. Read More...	ARTICLES Techniques Techniques Sipping the Waters: Techniques for Selecting Untreated Backcountry Water for Drinking by Michael von Gortler, MD Drinking untreated backcountry water can make you sick - but choosing your drinking spots intelligently can greatly reduce that risk. Here, a doctor shares the methods that have kept him healthily "sipping the waters" for the past 20 years. Read More...
ARTICLES Techniques Make Your Own Gear Make Your Own Gear: Five Yards to SuperUltraLight Part 1, Introduction by Jay Ham Not for the frail at heart, in this article we dive into making a SUL tarp, pack, and stuff sack out of a single 5-yard piece of spinnaker fabric. Read More...	ARTICLES Techniques Make Your Own Gear Make Your Own Gear: Multi-Pad-Ground-Sheet Integration System by Mike Clelland! Complete step-by-step instructions on how to size, cut and glue a tidy sleeping pad system. Read More...
ARTICLES Techniques Techniques The Poncho Tarp: Techniques and Gear Systems for Inclement Conditions by Ryan Jordan and Alan Dixon Poncho Tarps are not just for the eccentric. Learn how to use them in foul weather and save considerable weight and simplify your gear kit. Read More...	ARTICLES Techniques Techniques & Best Practices Camera Selection Basics for the Lightweight Backpacker by Franco Darioli Features for a lightweight backpacker to look for in a digital or film camera. Read More...
ARTICLES Techniques Make Your Own Gear Make Your Own Gear Sewing Primer: Straight Stitch and Top Stitch by Jay Ham Instructions on how to properly sew two workhorse stitches. Read More...	ARTICLES Techniques Make Your Own Gear Make Your Own Gear Sewing Primer: Sewing Machine Setup by Jay Ham Sewing machine setup instructions with photos, and tips for sewing lightweight fabrics. Read More...
ARTICLES Techniques Make Your Own Gear Make Your Own Gear Sewing Primer: Sewing a Felled Seam by Jay Ham A tarp and tent ridgeline standard thanks to its water impeding fold. Read More...	ARTICLES Techniques Make Your Own Gear Make Your Own Gear Sewing Primer: Reinforcement Stitches for Lightweight Fabrics by Jay Ham Why standard reinforcement stitches may not be suitable for your lightweight fabric, which ones are, and how to sew them. Read More...
ARTICLES Techniques Techniques Stove Windscreen Dynamics and Design: Part II Practical Applications for the Field by Will Rietveld Have you tried a double windscreen to maintain alcohol and fuel tab stove performance in the wind? It really works, and one piece doubles as a GearSheet. Read More...	ARTICLES Techniques Techniques Stove Windscreen Dynamics and Design: Part I Wind Effects on Stove Performance by Will Rietveld The theory (Bernoulli Effect, laminar and turbulent flow) behind how wind affects backcountry cooking. Read More...
ARTICLES Techniques Techniques Backpacking Light Trip Planning Spreadsheet Contest Winners by Backpacking Light Staff The winners of the Backpacking Light Trip Planning Spreadsheet Contest are a diverse group. Read More...	ARTICLES Techniques Techniques How Far, How Fast, How Heavy? Calculating the range for unsupported, long-distance hiking by Roman Dial Formulas and theory for predicting possible distances and times with ultralight gear for long distance backpacking. Read More...
ARTICLES Techniques Make Your Own Gear Make Your Own Gear: Transforming a Mummy Sleeping Bag into an Arc Top Bag by Jay Ham Complete step-by-step instructions on how to convert a mummy bag to an arc quilt. Read More...	ARTICLES Techniques Make Your Own Gear Make Your Own Gear: The Micro Z-Stand Pot Support by Jay Ham Using Backpacking Light Titanium Alloy UltraRods to build a sturdy, and now heat resistant, sub-0.20 oz (5.7 g) Z-Stand pot support for alcohol and solid fuel stoves. Read More...
ARTICLES Techniques Techniques Toilet Paper Free Expeditions by Mike Clelland! Go wild - leave the TP at home. Read More...	ARTICLES Techniques Techniques Selecting a Canister Stove for Cold Weather Backpacking Part II: Commercially Available Canister Stove Systems by Roger Caffin Many canister stove models become excellent cold weather performers with a simple twist. Read More...
ARTICLES Techniques Techniques Selecting a Canister Stove for Cold Weather Backpacking Part I: Stove and Fuel Fundamentals by Roger Caffin Fuel fundamentals and basic flame chemistry explained so that canister stove cold weather performance can be optimized. Read More...	ARTICLES Techniques Make Your Own Gear Make Your Own Gear: Alcohol Stove Windscreen by Jay Ham Complete step-by-step instructions on how to construct an efficient alcohol stove windscreen. Read More...
ARTICLES Techniques Techniques 2005 Backpacking Light Trip Planning Spreadsheet Contest Entries by BPL Staff Reader submissions of spreadsheet files used for trip planning and gear lists. Read More...	ARTICLES Techniques Make Your Own Gear Make Your Own Gear: The Z-Stand Pot Stand Revisited, Revised, and Relightened! by Jay Ham Using Backpacking Light's Titanium Alloy UltraRods to Build a Sturdy 0.15 oz (4.2 g) Z-Stand Pot Support for Alcohol and Solid Fuel Stoves Read More...
ARTICLES Techniques Make Your Own Gear Make Your Own Gear: Shortening a Therm-a-Rest UltraLite Self-Inflating Pad by Jay Ham Complete step-by-step instructions on how to cut, reshape, and reseal a self-inflating pad. Read More...	ARTICLES Techniques Techniques Lightweight Backcountry Professional Photography by Anatoly Ivanov Complete lightweight camera and accessories setup for the professional backcountry photographer. Read More...
ARTICLES Techniques Make Your Own Gear Make Your Own Gear: The “Z-Stand” Pot Support for Alcohol Stoves by Jay Ham Complete step-by-step instructions on how to make a lightweight and unique pot stand. Read More...	ARTICLES Techniques Techniques & Best Practices The Backpacking Fly Fisherman by Ryan Jordan Ultralight fly fishing gear for the backpacker fishing on the move. Read More...
ARTICLES Techniques Techniques & Best Practices Backcountry Fly Fishing: Lightweight Gear and Style by Larry Tullis Outdoor writer Larry Tullis brings a lightweight ethic to backcountry fishing. Read More...	ARTICLES Techniques Techniques Foot Care for Diabetic Hikers by Gerard Olenick Perspectives on footwear and foot care from a type II diabetic backpacker. Read More...
ARTICLES Techniques Make Your Own Gear Make Your Own Gear: Open Jet Alcohol Stove by Jay Ham Complete step by step instructions on how to construct an open jet alcohol stove that looks as good as it works. Read More...	ARTICLES Techniques Techniques & Best Practices Can A Sane Person Truly Enjoy SuperUltralight Backpacking? by Carol Crooker SUL for the masses? Perspectives on comfortable gear - with a suggested gear checklist - for a non-technical canyoneering backpacking trip requiring less than five pounds of gear on your back. Read More...
ARTICLES Techniques Techniques & Best Practices An Old Dog Learns New Tricks - How Lightweight Technology Keeps me on the Trail at 70 by Ron Hamm How lightweight backpacking gear has kept the author on the trail at 70. Read More...	ARTICLES Techniques Techniques Trail Food: Keeping it Interesting and Energizing by Rosaleen Sullivan The basics of selecting trail food that is appetizing, energizing, and easy to prepare. Read More...
ARTICLES Techniques Techniques Frequently Asked Questions About Lightweight Canister Stoves and Fuels by Will Rietveld Read More...	ARTICLES Techniques Techniques & Best Practices Considerations for Selecting a Lightweight Backpacking Stove by Will Rietveld Read More...
ARTICLES Techniques Techniques Getting the Most out of an MSR White Gas Stove: Maintenance Tips by Don Johnston Read More...	ARTICLES Techniques Techniques Saving Time and Weight: A "Winter Water" Routine Tuned for Lightweight Style by Ryan Jordan Water prep in the winter is a time- and fuel-consuming chore. Learn tips and tricks to save time and weight in this treatise on lightweight winter water prep using a white gas stove. Read More...
ARTICLES Techniques Techniques Guide to Selecting and Using Ultralight GPS Systems by Blake Morstad and Alan Dixon Systematic analysis of considerations for evaluating a GPS system of lightweight equipment and software for efficient navigation. Read More...	ARTICLES Techniques Techniques & Best Practices Backcountry Hygiene for Ultralight and Long-Distance Hikers by Ryan Jordan, Ph.D. A short primer on the topic of backcountry hygiene to help you minimize the risk of contracting stomach-borne illnesses while in the backcountry. Read More...
ARTICLES Techniques Techniques Bear Bag Hanging Techniques by Ryan Jordan A brief review of bear bag hanging techniques with a focus on minimizing weight and maximizing simplicity. Read More...	ARTICLES Techniques Techniques & Best Practices Hiking Efficiency: A Day in the Life of an Ultralight Hiker by Ryan Jordan Ryan Jordan Read More...
ARTICLES Techniques Techniques & Best Practices Packrafting: An Introduction to Wilderness River Running with a Packable Inflatable Boat by Jim Jager, Sidebar by Sheri Tingey Read More...	ARTICLES Techniques Techniques & Best Practices Fast and Light with Gary Scott: Lightweight Backpacking and Climbing Strategies by Gary Scott Read More...
ARTICLES Techniques Techniques Winter Backpacking Comfort: Lightweight Gear and Techniques for Shelter, Clothing, and Sleep Systems by Ryan Jordan Read More...	ARTICLES Techniques Techniques & Best Practices Wireless in the Wilderness: An Overview of Communications Technologies for Backpackers by Eric Kammerer Read More...
ARTICLES Techniques Techniques Buying an LED Torch: Headlamp Design Considerations to Help Guide Your Purchasing Decisions by Rick Dreher Read More...	ARTICLES Techniques Techniques The Weird Science of Night Vision: Lighting Considerations for Lightweight Backpacking by Rick Dreher Read More...
ARTICLES Techniques Techniques Thermoregulation: An Overview of Heat Loss Mechanisms and Practical Guidelines for Staying Warm with Lightweight Gear by Ryan Jordan Read More...	ARTICLES Techniques Techniques & Best Practices Lightweight Backpacking with Young Children by Stephanie and Ryan Jordan Read More...
ARTICLES Techniques Make Your Own Gear Make Your Own Trekking Poles by Ryan Jordan Read More...	ARTICLES Techniques Techniques Advanced Tarp Camping Techniques for Inclement Conditions by Ryan Jordan Read More...
ARTICLES Techniques Techniques & Best Practices Lightweight Backpacking for Couples by Alison Simon and Alan Dixon Read More...	ARTICLES Techniques Techniques The Lightest Kitchen? A Cook Kit for Ultralight Backpacking by Ryan Jordan Read More...
ARTICLES Techniques Techniques Soft Shells: The Real Story by Alan Dixon and Ryan Jordan Read More...	ARTICLES Techniques Techniques Clothing and Sleep Systems for Mountain Hiking, 1st Edition (August 2002) by Ryan Jordan, Jim Nelson, and Alan Dixon Clothing and Sleep Systems for Mountain Hiking, 1st Edition (August 2002) Read More...
ARTICLES Techniques Make Your Own Gear A Homemade Gear Sled (Pulk) for Backcountry Winter Travel by Ken Knight Read More...	ARTICLES Techniques Techniques Backcountry Travel on Snowshoes for Lightweight Backpackers by Don Ladigin Backcountry Travel on Snowshoes for Lightweight Backpackers Read More...
ARTICLES Techniques Techniques High Exertion Moisture Accumulation in Rain and Wind Shells by Alan Dixon High Exertion Moisture Accumulation in Rain and Wind Shells Read More...	ARTICLES Techniques Techniques The Science of Breathability and Its Impact on Raingear Selection and Use by Ryan Jordan and Stuart Bilby The Science of Breathability and Its