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 ...

Taking weight off your back is a good thing, but not at the expense of comfort, capability or preparedness. Here’s how to ultralight backpack in style. When venturing out into the wilderness on foot, ...

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 ...

It’s way more expensive and not as comfortable. Our gear director weighs the pros and cons of an über-light kit. This question is all about aspiration. I remember the first time I saw an ...

KENTWOOD -- Think a bandana serves no purpose other than protecting your head from the sun? Well, better make sure it is not wrapped too tightly, then. It is a marvelous, multifaceted little tool, ...

Editor’s Note: This primer is the first in a series profiling the best backpacking gear and training for your summer and fall adventures. Stay tuned for more on backpacking food (it’s not all just ...

For plenty of outdoorsmen and women, ultralight backpacking conjures up a particularly kooky image. Sawed-off toothbrushes. Dingy plastic water bottles with water filters screwed on top. Backpacks — ...

Since the 1930s, backpacking has progressed in leaps -- from 1930s wood-and-rope Trapper John pack boards, to World War II surplus gear, to external-frame, hip-belted Keltys, to today's internal-frame ...