I use LiteTrail NyloBarrier odor-proof bags to store my backpacking smellies in when I’m out on the trail. I use the PCT bear bag hanging technique most of the time to make sure that bears can’t get to my goodies and so far it’s been completely successful. How do I know if my odor-proof bags [..Read More..]
EMS Power Dry Micro-Fleece Pullover
Do you have a piece of outdoor clothing that you wear all the time even when it doesn’t really fit the situation it was made for? A piece of clothing that is your absolute favorite and you wished you had more than one of because you knew you were going to wear it out too [..Read More..]
Backpacking Stocking Stuffers
It’s been a slow week, not much going on outside and no hiking trips to speak of, so I thought I’d share some photos of a few funny little backpacking-related stocking stuffers that my wife bought for me this year. It’s always fun to put things on my Christmas list that seem to make no sense [..Read More..]
10 Skills Every Backpacker Should Have
I started this blog post with the intent of listing the top-10 basic skills that I believe every backpacker should have, but almost as soon as I started putting together my list I thought it would be much more interesting to let you all share what you think are the 10 most important skills to [..Read More..]
Do You Need a Knife for Backpacking?
Not carrying a knife or some form of small blade is incomprehensible to me and a lot of other backpackers and hikers, but to others it’s a piece of gear they don’t feel is necessary to carry at all. As some of my more frequent readers may recall, I have been slowly reducing the size [..Read More..]
Ultralight A-Z | Help Fund An Amazing Project
Have you ever noticed how small the UL backpacking blogging community is? We tend to either know one another or, at the very least, know of one another. I like to think of us all, bloggers and readers, as a pretty close-knit community of helpers and givers. I can think of numerous examples where I [..Read More..]
Emergency Identification – Dog Tags
I’m sure you’ve all noticed that every soldier carries vital identification information around their neck in the form of a set of dog tags. Easily discoverable in an emergency, these typically contain information such as rank, serial number, SSN/blood, and religious preference. Well, in my opinion anyone that spends an extended amount of time in [..Read More..]
Ultralight Backpacking Boot Camp
The Ultralight Backpacking Boot Camp is a six – nine week online course designed for beginner-to-intermediate backpackers. It covers everything including philosophy, gear, and techniques to give you the confidence to explore wild places with a pack that weighs less than 10 pounds! The course is being offered by Ryan Jordan – ultralight backpacking guru, [..Read More..]
The Loudest Whistle in the World?
I was recently contacted by Howard Wright, CEO of All Weather Safety Whistle Co. and inventor of the Storm Whistle regarding my safety whistles decibel testing blog post. He had enjoyed the whistle comparison and tests and was so confident about his whistle being the loudest in the world, he offered to send me some [..Read More..]
5.11 Tactical TDU Webbing Belt
It’s probably not the sexiest piece of gear that I carry on a regular basis, but I like to wear a belt with me whenever I go backpacking. The 5.11 TDU Tactical belt is my current favorite. It’s simple, superbly made, extremely rugged, and highly functional. It may not be the lightest weight belt on [..Read More..]
