Over the years, ultralight backpacking has garnered an unfortunate reputation: obsessive, elitist, unsafe, prohibitively expensive. While we could debate the first three (obsessive is the only one I’d ...

That means uber-light gear, once the sole domain of small cottage brands, is easier to find, more reliable, and more affordable than ever before. This year, we tested 20 bags from 15 top gear makers.

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 — ...

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 ...

A new generation of freestanding ultralight tents has been rolling out over the past year or so to make backpacking and other backcountry activities more convenient than ever. Durston Gear's X-Dome 1+ ...

The Best Backpacking Tents of 2025 Best Overall Backpacking Tent: Nemo Dagger OSMO 3P Best Budget Backpacking Tent: Kelty Late Start 2p Runner-Up Best Backpacking Tent: REI Co-op Half Dome 3 Most ...