About Ounce & Outlook

What this site is

Ounce & Outlook is for the budget-minded backpacker who wants most of what ultralight gear offers for a fraction of the price. That hiker is skeptical of the cheapest big-box tent and of the most expensive Dyneema one, and wants to know exactly what each extra dollar buys in grams. So that's how we rank: every product is measured against a named mainstream reference in its category, and scored mostly on grams saved per dollar of the maker's own list price.

On top of the rankings sit three complete kits, at $500, $1,000 and $2,000, with every item's weight and the base-weight total computed from the same data, so the builds and the rankings can never disagree.

Who publishes it

Ounce & Outlook is owned and published by Iron Mako Media, an independent publisher of gear review sites. Every page is written by Mike M., the hands-on owner behind Iron Mako Media.

How we work (and what we don't do)

• Every number is the maker's. Weights, list prices and specs come from each maker's own product page, with the link and the date checked.
• The math is published. The grams-per-dollar formula, the reference products and the score weights are on How we rank.
• We don't test gear, and we say so. No lab, no free gear, no “tested for 300 nights.” Units we claim to have tested: 0.
• No paid placements. Brands can't buy a spot or a score. Our standards are in the editorial policy.

How it's funded

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. When you buy through a “Check price on Amazon” button, Amazon may pay us a small commission at no extra cost to you. That's the only way the site makes money, and it never changes a ranking. The details are in the affiliate disclosure.

Contact

Email mike@blackironathletics.com or use the contact form. Found a wrong weight or a dead listing? Tell us and we'll fix it and log the change.