When Michael and Melanie Tilton go into the wilderness, they each carry a backpack with a base weight of around seven pounds. That single-digit figure includes all of their gear — from sleeping ...

For backpackers, going ultralight is easier (and less expensive) than you might expect. We stepped back to give tips on reducing pack weight for weekend backpacking trips and thru-hikes alike. Every ...

For avid backpackers, the search for a lightweight pack that is both comfortable and able to carry a hefty load seems to be never-ending. Gear maker and retailer Kuiu believes it's come up with a ...

For a lot of hikers, the secret to a good trip is simple: carry less. Over the past decade, we’ve seen ultralight backpacking go more and more mainstream, as major gear manufacturers have dived into ...

Targeted at people who prioritize backpack weight over sleeping comfort and weather protection, ultralight tarps and the tiny companies that hand make them were, until now, pretty rare. But this one ...

Ultralight backpacks aren’t known for their bells and whistles. Using lightweight fabrics like Dyneema and Xpac, designers often make these bags as spartan as possible, without any extraneous straps, ...

If there's one thing liable to ruin the backpacking experience, it's being weighed down by too much baggage. The problem is there are several things considered essential for the serious backpacker who ...

Backpacking backpacks are undergoing a sea change. Huge 70-liter, heavily padded, fully-featured models are on their way out, and the minimalist packs pioneered by thru-hikers are in. Today’s ...