Backpacking Light

1 month ago | backpackinglight.com | Ryan Jordan |Gear Guides

IntroductionThis gear guide features 64 products from 27 brands: down-filled backpacking top quilts sold primarily in North America and Europe. We focus on quilts designed for temperate conditions (20 to 40 °F / –7 to 5 °C). No white-labeled quilts are included, nor are quilts distributed primarily through channels outside the US, Canada, or Europe.

2 months ago | backpackinglight.com | Ryan Jordan |Gear Guides

IntroductionMy first experience with traction devices was back in the 1980s while backpacking in Olympic National Park. Back then, traction spikes as we know them today didn’t exist. We relied on mountaineering crampons, which were necessary for the steep off-trail terrain we often traversed to reach technical mountaineering routes. Walking in crampons on non-technical trails was cumbersome, but they were the only option.

2 months ago | backpackinglight.com | Ryan Jordan

IntroductionI suffer with Starbucks Via single-use packets for most of my backpacking trips. I don’t not like Via – its compact, single-use form factor and flavor that’s sort of good enough make it an appealing option for somebody who enjoys the ritual of brewing a cup of coffee. And it’s generally absent of the organic chemical-like defects that plague other (cheaper) freeze-dried brands. However, I’m always on the lookout for something with richer flavor, smoother body, and a fresher mouth-feel.

Jan 13, 2025 | backpackinglight.com | Backpacking Light

Podcast Episode January 13, 2025 together with Vaer Watches:ListenSummaryIn this episode you’ll learn how to measure and interpret slope angles to help you navigate steep terrain and assess hazards in the backcountry.

Jan 6, 2025 | backpackinglight.com | Ryan Jordan

About this story: This is a narrative photo essay about a fall trek in the Rocky Mountains of central Colorado. It includes a few dozen photographs, a narrative account of the trip, and field and gear notes about our route and equipment choices. I leaned back in my backpacking chair and for the first time in 96 hours, felt relief instead of anxiety. We were at the tail end of our route, with the only remaining puzzle piece an unknown bushwhack.