Clothing

Francis is an umbrella advocate, eschewing typical rainwear. Find out why he's backpacked over 12,500 miles with an umbrella... and decide if you should follow his lead. Read More...

News from the cottage industry is conspicuously absent from Outdoor Retailer, where even modest booths can be more costly than a serious gear-buying habit. So, here are a few new and noteworthy pieces of gear from smaller manufacturers that were either released late in 2011 or are coming in 2012. Keep these items on your radar as you prepare for the coming season! Read More...

Rab's new baselayers blend merino wool and synthetic fabrics - do they achieve the best of both worlds? Read More...

Backpacking Light staff pick their favorite gear/cool dealio/thingy-dingy of 2011. Read More...

Further discussion on the four individual categories, a review of the products tested within the context of each category, and a brief conclusion of ways in which various alternative rainwear products can be combined, both with each other and with WPB garments, to suit various hiking environments and conditions. Read More...

An unruly, heterogenous group, Dave divided it into four categories: simple poncho-tarp, complex poncho-tarp, alternative upper-body wear, and alternative legwear. 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...

Patagonia introduces the lightest down jacket to be found. We now have four good contenders for an ultralight down jacket shootout; which one will come out on top? Read More...

For those who like less on their feet, OR didn't disappoint. For those who like more on their wrist, OR didn't disappoint in that area either. And for those who venture in the outdoors as a family, there were a few nuggets worth noting. Read More...

We sorted through tons of apparel and footwear to find the lightweight standouts suitable for hiking and backpacking. Read More...

The kid-sized kit: Gear should not become an end in itself. The point is to get out and enjoy the woods with kids. Ultralight gear is exciting because it enables kids to do things they could not otherwise do! Read More...

These lightweight synthetic baselayers are remarkably warm for their weight and highly versatile. Read More...

In Part 1, we answered the question "What should you pack?" Mid-way through our global trek, we now visit the question "How's that working out for you?" Read More...

Does the strong appeal, on paper, of the Integral Designs eVent Pullover materialize in real-world use? Read More...

Very warm, quality gear from a cottage manufacturer dedicated to innovative lightweight sleeping solutions. Read More...

Stoves, shovels, poles, crampons, harnesses, and more: oh my! Read More...

From practical (bras) to indulgent (a back-country electronics charger) to "they can do new things with zippers?", the ispo show floor has it all. Read More...

In Backpacking Light's first ever coverage of this massive trade show, we're highlighting the innovations not generally available stateside. Read More...

Enduring sleep deprivation and a cold, we roamed the show on the final day and found some very interesting gear – new trail crampons, very lightweight rain mitts, more collapsible trekking poles, a 9-ounce snow shovel, cool apparel and footwear, and more... Read More...

Lots of footwear today, for the trail and snow, plus an assortment of jackets, a to-die-for backcountry ski system from La Sportiva, Big Agnes introduces new lightweight trekking poles, a new Klymit skeletal sleeping pad, a 12 ounce sleeping bag from Terra Nova, a 2.3-ounce Quantum GL windshirt from Montane, and more, and more... Read More...

The show is underway and we are finding loads of new and interesting lightweight gear to report on. Enjoy! Read More...

Backpacking Light staff pick their favorite gear/cool dealio/place of 2010. Read More...

Come see the softer side of making your own cozy fleece items! Read More...

This very lightweight wind shirt and pants are remarkably useful and versatile. Read More...

Most of us (males) want to wear something under our trousers, but what? Ordinary cotton underpants have several disadvantages: the waist band often conflicts with the hip-belt on the pack, and when they get wet they can take a very long time to dry. The Ex-Officio Give-N-Go Briefs largely solve those two problems. Read More...

This popular jacket has been around and evolved over the years. We love the sizing and fit, but how does it stack up for backpacking? Read More...

We present our final lightweight gear finds and summarize the trends we noticed at this Outdoor Retailer. Read More...

Another productive day turns up another batch of truly innovative and lightweight gear. Read More...

The daily perspective: I wish that everyone could truly understand just how much brilliance and passion go into the outdoor products we buy and use. Read More...

OR never ceases to amaze – always something new, something different, and something bizarre! The gear just keeps getting better and lighter. Read More...

In a world where most clothing seems to come from China and be of debatable quality and life, these thick, durable, woollen Made-in-Vermont socks are a standout - and have a well-deserved cult following. Read More...

Well designed, lightweight, warm down bootie with an integrated tall gaiter and performance equivalent to a multi-layer system. Read More...

Ultralight down insulated pants from MontBell, PHD, and Western Mountaineering are reviewed and compared. Down pants provide the most warmth for their weight, and are especially versatile for colder weather camping. Wear them to stay warm in camp and to extend the warmth of an ultralight sleeping bag. Read More...

This jacket really rocks - an excellent balance of light weight, basic features, warmth, wind and water resistance, and cost. Read More...

An ultralight down jacket that performs well in active pursuits, but it’s not the best choice for ultralight backpacking. Read More...

Trim-fitting ultralight three-season down jacket with a great shell and basic feature set, but its numerous horizontal seams allow down fragments to leak out. Read More...

After five glorious days of all the sweet new stuff retailers can offer, we're home and recovering from the high. Our last blog blizzard of some standouts. Read More...

This light fleece top is designed as a light winter pullover for snow conditions. It is very simple and styled as an anorak, rather than opening right down the front. Read More...

Backpacking Light staff pick their favorite gear of 2008. Read More...

Cold & wet: really only good when it describes your dog's nose. But you can still be comfy in these conditions with the right (lightweight) gear. Read More...

Don Wilson explores the new Patagonia Traverse Softshell clothing, with input from Ryan Jordan. Read More...

This silnylon mountain poncho covers both you and your pack against some of the worst weather, allows ease of movement on mixed terrain, and isn't prone to condensation. Read More...

Mike Martin and Will Rietveld have the highlights on new apparel from ORSM08. Read More...

This full-featured synthetic insulated pant really fits well, and it’s a great value – if you want or need the features. Read More...

Great fitting, lightweight, exceptionally versatile eVENT pant. Read More...

The Backpacking Light Outdoor Retailer Team outfits an entire lightweight pack for a long winter weekend using only gear found at the show. Join us throughout the trip for updates as we add gear to our hyper-linked Outdoor Retailer Virtual Pack. Read More...

Virtual Pack: Outdoor Research Endeavor Mitts Read More...

Virtual Pack: Golite Hooded Inferno Jacket Read More...

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...