Technology

How do supposedly "odor proof" plastic bags for backpacking hold up to the keen nose of a Police K9? Read More...

Different upright canister stoves seem to work with differing levels of success in very cold weather, and one wonders why. Claims for pressure regulator stoves are especially problematic, with marketing spin being extreme in some cases. We examine just what is going on here, with an in-depth analysis of some aspects of both upright and remote canister stoves, to unravel some critical factors. Read More...

During a winter storm, strong winds can render your lightweight puffy useless. This article examines the effect that compression can have on various types of insulation, and presents recommendations for staying warm and alive. Read More...

This winter, increase the versatility of your other layers by adding a midlayer. An overview of two notable options, and discussion of current fabric tech. Read More...

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A glimpse into the future and a mini-review of the Mammut All-Year long sleeve crew. Read More...

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A look at several different chemical techniques for treating water in the backcountry. Read More...

Part 3 of this series takes a critical look at several water treatment technologies available to backpackers Read More...

Remove, kill, or inactivate? Part two of this series analyzes the legal and technical definitions as well as the practical significance of water purification and filtration. Read More...

The first part of this series provides an overview of the threats that can exist in untreated (and in some cases treated) water sources. Squeamish and hypochondriac readers be warned. Read More...

A method for measuring insulation in quilts, sleeping bags, and other gear. Read More...

Part 1 in a two part series analyzing some of the claims made by stove manufacturers about pressure regulation technologies. Marketing spin or proven performance? ***Updated with Addendum on 6/12/12*** Read More...

Evaluating the wind and snow loading of shelters for ultralight backpacking in inclement conditions. Read More...

In this final part of the series we assemble the information gleaned from our field testing into an informative discussion with down to earth conclusions. We also present field test data for each individual jacket, comment on its utility, and identify standouts. Read More...

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. Read More...

When it comes to assessing things like air mats, foam mats, and other insulating things, the common measurement is called an R-value - meaning thermal resistance. We describe equipment designed and built to provide calibrated measurements of R-value for BPL articles. Read More...

Cutting-edge solar-powered UV water purification or simple gravity filter? I took both on the CDT to compare/contrast their performance, durability, and usage. Read More...

Ever tried to use your stove in the cold only to find that it just won't work, even although shaking the canister tells you there is plenty of fuel left? Then, when you check it at home to see what's the matter, it works perfectly. What is going on? Read More...

We cover yet another Primus heat-exchanger stove system in this Review: the Primus Eta PackLite. This is basically modelled on the Eta Power system, but smaller and lighter. Read More...

When do these stoves offer a weight reduction when compared to the baseline of Part 2 of the series? Read More...

Setting a baseline: we survey a good range of conventional canister stoves for performance, setting us up for the comparison in Part 3. Read More...

The performance and efficiency of canister stoves, put to the test. When the dust (and CO2) settle, which one will be left standing? Read More...

The Snow Peak GST-100 GigaPower stove is widely regarded as the 'Gold Standard' for upright canister stoves. It weighs about 74 grams. Snow Peak has released a new stove in this series: the GST-120, or Lite Max, weighing only 56 grams, reviewed here. Does the Lite Max live up to the reputation of its precursor, the GST-100 (which is still available)? Read More...

Jetboil releases its first remote canister stove. Does this work well enough to be a good winter stove? Read More...

Measurements of carbon monoxide levels produced by the Brunton Vapor AF Stove. Read More...

Chris Townsend walks us through the PHD Design Your Own Bag feature online. Read More...

Measurements of carbon monoxide levels produced by the Primus Express stove and EtaExpress cooking system. Read More...

Hoodless, synthetic insulated jacket with an optimum balance of warmth, durability, wind/water resistance, and light weight. Read More...

Roger Caffin revisits the carbon monoxide emissions performance of a production model MSR Reactor stove. Read More...

This page is the Master Index to the series on ‘Stoves, Tents and Carbon Monoxide - Deadly or not?’. It lists all the files in the series and all the stoves tested, with links to the appropriate files. Read More...

A range of liquid fuel stoves are surveyed at different power levels to assess their carbon monoxide emissions. Read More...

Wax has a reasonably high energy density and unlike other fuels it does not spill (when cold): can you make an adequate DIY stove with it? Read More...

Several solid fuels are surveyed at different power levels to assess their carbon monoxide emissions. The results are not good. Read More...

Condensation in single-walled shelters is a fact of life, but there are many ways to greatly reduce its effects. Read More...

Actual alcohol stoves are surveyed to see which ones are clean and which ones emit too much carbon monoxide. The results are not good. Read More...

Actual canister stoves are surveyed to see which ones are clean and which ones emit too much carbon monoxide. Read More...

Most canister stoves come with extreme warnings to not use a windshield around them for fear of causing an explosion. Many experienced users ignore these warnings. What is the risk? Can a gas canister explode? Read More...

Can you run your backpacking stove inside your tent, or do you risk death by Carbon Monoxide poisoning? Read More...

A close look at ways backcountry users can treat their water: what works, what should concern us, and what is hyperbole. Read More...

You've read the warnings and heard the horror stories about cooking in your tent. How dangerous is it really? Part 1 of this series describes: how CO is formed, a warning sign of production, and a simple change you can make to your stove setup to reduce CO. Read More...

An in-depth comparison of the properties of wool and synthetic fabric for base layers yielded some surprising results. Read More...

White Gas, remote canister, top mount canister, integrated canister, alcohol, and fuel tab stove systems - when factoring in fuel carried, trip length, and conditions - which system is the lightest? Read More...

White Gas, remote canister, top mount canister, integrated canister, alcohol, and fuel tab stove systems - when factoring in fuel carried, trip length, and conditions - which system is the lightest? Read More...

The lightest dry sacks from Granite Gear, Outdoor Research, Sea to Summit, Pacific Outdoor Equipment and Cascade Designs (SealLine) subjected to five tough tests - with lots of failures. Read More...

How fast do popular lightweight hiking shoes dry after a thorough soaking? Read More...

Loft recovery and water weight gain measurements of select down and synthetic tops after a thorough soaking. Read More...

Backpacking Light stove testing follows strict scientific protocols to ensure testing conditions are controlled and repeatable, and that our results accurately reflect stove performance you can expect in the field. Read More...

Canister stove testing under real world conditions you expect in the field, not on the kitchen counter. Read More...

Preliminary field research on the nature of condensation and dew formation on different shelter fabrics. Read More...

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