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All 151 pages on Ounce & Outlook, grouped by section.

By Mike M. · Updated September 2026

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The front door and the method behind every pick.

Tents

Budget backpacking tents, solo and 2-person picks, trekking-pole shelters and fabric guides.

  • Tents: hubBudget backpacking tents, solo and 2-person picks, trekking-pole shelters and fabric guides.
  • Best Budget TentsSeven solo and two-person tents ranked by grams saved per dollar against a mainstream baseline, plus one premium double-wall benchmark to show what the extra money buys.
  • Best UL Tents Under $200Seven ultralight tents that list under $200, ranked by grams saved per dollar against a mainstream baseline: four trekking-pole tents, two freestanding, one big-brand tarp shelter.
  • Best 1-Person TentsEight one-person backpacking tents ranked by grams saved per dollar against a mainstream solo tent, from a budget double wall to the Zpacks Plex Solo as the Dyneema ceiling.
  • Best 2-Person TentsSeven two-person tents ranked on floor width, doors and grams saved per dollar, from a factory-taped double wall to the Dyneema benchmark two people split between their packs.
  • Best Trekking Pole TentsEight trekking-pole tents for one or two people, ranked on the pitch itself: how many poles it needs, whether the seams are sealed, and grams saved per dollar.
  • Do You Need a Footprint?A straight answer on tent footprints: which floor fabrics need the protection, which ground makes it worth carrying, and whether a fitted footprint or a trimmed polycro sheet is the better buy.
  • Lanshan 2 vs Durston X-Mid 23F UL Gear's Lanshan 2 and Lanshan 2 Pro against Durston's X-Mid 2: published weight, floor width, fabric ratings and seam work, so you can see what the X-Mid's price actually buys.
  • Naturehike Cloud Up 2 vs Lanshan 2Naturehike's budget freestanding Cloud Up 2 against 3F UL Gear's budget trekking-pole Lanshan 2, at nearly identical list prices: weight, doors, what's included, and what each design assumes you already own.
  • Trekking Pole vs Freestanding TentsThe trekking-pole-vs-freestanding decision, worked through with real budget and mid-tier picks: site types, setup, weight, and whether you already carry trekking poles.
  • How Much Should a Tent Weigh?What backpacking tents actually weigh by capacity, from a mainstream baseline to a Dyneema benchmark, with the value-hunter sweet spot marked in grams and dollars.
  • Tent Fabric GuideSilnylon, silpoly and Dyneema (DCF) cost different amounts for different grams. See what the tents' own spec pages say about each fabric, with one tent per fabric at three real price points.
  • Single-Wall vs Double-WallWhat single-wall and double-wall tent construction actually changes: condensation, seam sealing, and weight, illustrated with real trekking-pole tents from our catalog.
  • Why Ultralight Tents Cost So MuchThe cost stack behind an expensive shelter: published per-yard fabric prices, who sews it, retail markup versus selling direct, and the point where paying more stops buying grams.
  • Tents for Tall PeopleBackpacking tents with a published floor of 90 inches or more, ranked by grams saved per dollar, so a hiker over 6 ft can shop on a number instead of a marketing photo.
  • Best 3-Person TentsSix three-person backpacking tents ranked by grams saved per dollar against a mainstream 3-person tent, from a budget freestanding pick to the lightest three-person shelter we track.
  • Tents for Two and a DogBackpacking tents that fit two people and a dog, judged on published floor area and floor fabric denier, then ranked by grams saved per dollar against a mainstream tent.
  • Best Ultralight Tent StakesTen ultralight tent stake sets, each weighed and priced as a set of six and ranked by grams saved per dollar against the mainstream aluminum Y-beam set.
  • Tent vs BivyA bivy is supposed to be the lightest way to sleep out. Compared on published weights and list prices, a budget ultralight tent beats one on grams, on dollars and on liveability.
  • Best 4-Person TentsFour four-person backpacking tents with maker-published weights, ranked by grams saved per dollar against a mainstream 4P tent, plus the well-known models that could not be ranked and why.
  • Best Beginner TentsSix freestanding double-wall tents that arrive complete and need no seam sealing, ranked by grams saved per dollar — plus the lighter shelters a first-timer should deliberately avoid.
  • Best Tents for RainFive tents whose makers publish at least 3,000 mm on both fly and floor, are factory sealed or need no sealing, ranked by grams saved per dollar, plus the famous tents that fail that test and what they rely on instead.
  • Best Stove-Jack TentsFive shelters with a factory-fitted stove jack, ranked by grams saved per dollar against the cheapest mainstream hot tent, from a 1.1 kg pyramid canopy to an 8 kg two-room basecamp.
  • Cloud Up 2 vs Pro 2The Cloud Up 2, Cloud Up Pro 2 and Cloud Up UL 2 compared on Naturehike's own published weights, inner dimensions, fabric coatings and box contents, with a clear buy recommendation.
  • Is Naturehike Good?An honest assessment of Naturehike: what it publishes, where its figures conflict, what the warranty and spare-parts picture looks like, and which of its tents earn a place in a budget kit.
  • Cloud Up 1 vs Lanshan 1The two budget solo tents everyone shortlists, side by side: freestanding 1,200 g against a 775 g double-wall trekking-pole shelter, with the Lanshan 1 Pro as the lighter third option.
  • How to Choose a TentA six-decision method for choosing a backpacking tent: how many people, freestanding or trekking-pole, single or double wall, which fabric numbers matter, how much floor you need and what weight is realistic.
  • Is a Bivy Worth It?An honest answer on bivy sacks: the real weight saving against a budget solo tent, the list price you pay for it, the condensation problem, and the four trips where a bivy is genuinely the right shelter.
  • Best Freestanding TentsEight current freestanding and semi-freestanding tents ranked by grams saved per dollar against a mainstream entry-level tent. Three Naturehike Cloud Ups lead; the premium picks show what two doors and a DAC pole really cost.
  • X-Mid 2 vs DuplexTwo premium trekking-pole tents compared on published figures: 890 g against 505 g, a 132 cm double-wall floor against a 114 cm single-wall one, and what the Dyneema price actually buys.

Sleep

Budget quilts, sleeping bags, pads and pillows, plus R-value and temperature ratings explained.

  • Sleep: hubBudget quilts, sleeping bags, pads and pillows, plus R-value and temperature ratings explained.
  • Best Budget Backpacking QuiltsFive budget backpacking quilts ranked by grams saved per dollar across two warmth classes, with the cottage-brand and EN-tested premium quilts shown separately as what the extra money buys.
  • Best Budget Backpacking Sleeping BagsFive budget backpacking sleeping bags ranked by grams saved per dollar, with the maker's own comfort-limit numbers shown next to the headline rating on every bag.
  • Best Budget Sleeping PadsEight three-season sleeping pads ranked by grams saved per dollar: three foam pads lead on value, and the premium air pads show exactly what their extra warmth and cushion cost.
  • NEMO Tensor vs NeoAir XLiteThe Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT against NEMO's two three-season Tensors: which Tensor is the real rival on weight and price, and what the XLite's list price buys in warmth.
  • Klymit Static V vs NEMO TensorThe Klymit Static V Base, the cheapest air pad we track, against the NEMO Tensor All-Season, a premium insulated pad: what a large price gap buys in R-value, thickness and grams.
  • Z Lite SOL vs NEMO SwitchbackThe Therm-a-Rest Z Lite SOL and NEMO Switchback foam pads, spec for spec: identical price and R-value, a few grams and a tenth of an inch of thickness apart.
  • Quilt vs Sleeping BagWhat a quilt actually leaves out, what it saves in grams, and what it costs at the register, using two real same-rating pairs. Plus who should stay with a full bag.
  • Down vs Synthetic InsulationFill power, wet performance, packed size and durability, sourced from a maker's own buying guide and shown in four real quilts and bags from cheap synthetic to premium down.
  • Temperature Ratings ExplainedWhat EN 13537 and ISO 23537 actually test, why most cottage-brand quilts publish their own estimate instead, and how to read either kind of rating before you buy.
  • Down Fill Power ExplainedWhat down fill power measures, how the industry test works, and why a higher number does not automatically mean a warmer or lighter bag, using the published fill weights of nine quilts and bags we track.
  • Best Backpacking PillowsSix backpacking pillows ranked by grams saved per dollar against a plain foam camp pillow, from a 71-gram budget air pillow to the foam pillow it's replacing.
  • Sleeping Pad R-Value ExplainedWhat sleeping pad R-value measures, how the ASTM F3340 test works, and how much you need by season, with the makers' own numbers and cautions.
  • Foam vs Inflatable PadsFoam vs inflatable sleeping pads compared on weight, price, warmth and durability, with the case for stacking a cheap foam pad under a lighter air pad.
  • Best 20-Degree BagsSix 20-degree backpacking sleeping bags ranked by grams saved per dollar, with each maker's own rating type printed so you can tell a comfort rating from a survival one.
  • Women's Sleeping BagsFive women's-specific backpacking sleeping bags ranked by grams saved per dollar, with ISO women's comfort ratings where the maker publishes one.
  • Best Summer QuiltsFour summer backpacking quilts, all rated 30F or warmer by their makers, ranked by grams saved per dollar against a mainstream mild-weather sleeping bag.
  • Pads for Side SleepersBackpacking sleeping pads with at least 3 inches of published thickness, so a side sleeper's hip clears the ground, ranked by grams saved per dollar with R-values shown.
  • Bags for Side SleepersFive backpacking sleeping bags whose makers publish a shoulder or hip girth or a named side-sleeper cut, ranked by grams saved per dollar, plus why a quilt may be the real answer.
  • Backpacking vs Regular BagWhat separates a backpacking sleeping bag from a regular camping one: weight, packed size, shape, fill and how each maker states its temperature rating, with a verdict on when the cheap bag is the right call.
  • Best 20 Degree QuiltsFour backpacking quilts rated 25F or colder by their makers, ranked by grams saved per dollar, with a plain look at which rating is EN/ISO tested and which is the maker's own loft estimate.
  • Best Winter Sleeping PadsFour sleeping pads with a published R-value of 4.5 or higher, ranked by grams saved per dollar, plus the pads that fall short with their actual figures and how to stack foam under an air pad for real cold.
  • NeoAir XLite vs XThermTwo Therm-a-Rest pads that look identical on paper except for one number. What R 7.3 costs over R 4.5 in grams and dollars, and when stacking a foam pad beats buying the warmer one.
  • What Temperature Quilt?A method for choosing a quilt rating: find your coldest realistic night, add margin for sleeping cold, check the pad underneath, and read whether the rating came from a lab or a loft chart.
  • Sleeping Bag WeightTarget weights for a backpacking sleeping bag by temperature rating, what actually drives the figure (fill power, fill weight, shell denier, zip and hood), and the published weights of six real bags.
  • Tensor All-Season vs XThermTwo 440 g cold-weather air pads compared on published figures: R 5.4 against R 7.3, 3.5 in of loft against 3 in, and the budget pad that beats both on grams per dollar.
  • How to Choose a BagA five-step method for choosing a backpacking sleeping bag: temperature rating read honestly, down or synthetic, fill power, length and girth, and the weight you should expect at your budget.
  • How to Choose a Sleeping PadThe four decisions behind a backpacking sleeping pad — warmth, construction, size and weight — with the R-value bands per season, what air and foam each cost in grams, and four pads that show the range.
  • What Size Sleeping Pad?How to choose sleeping pad length, width and thickness: the 72-inch default and when to break it, why 20 inches is too narrow for side sleepers, and what a short pad really saves.
  • Vesper 20 vs Revelation 20Two 20-degree down quilts compared on published figures: 550 g against 639 g, an EN-tested limit against a maker loft rating, 900-fill against 850-fill, and the budget quilt that undercuts both.

Packs

Budget ultralight and framed packs, head-to-heads, and how to size and weigh your pack.

  • Packs: hubBudget ultralight and framed packs, head-to-heads, and how to size and weigh your pack.
  • Best Budget UL BackpacksSeven ultralight backpacks ranked by grams saved per dollar against a mainstream framed pack, from a sub-kilogram frameless roll-top to load-hauling cottage packs with real frames.
  • Best Budget Framed BackpacksSix framed backpacking backpacks ranked by grams saved per dollar against an entry-level framed pack, for the buyer who wants a conventional frame and hipbelt without the ultralight price or the ultralight fit.
  • Mariposa vs Kakwa 55The Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60 and Durston Kakwa 55 side by side: weight, published load rating, total volume, pocket layout and hipbelt fit, all from the makers' own pages.
  • Osprey Exos vs Kakwa 55The Osprey Exos 58 and Durston Kakwa 55 side by side: weight, published load range, ventilation, torso fit and warranty, all from the makers' own pages.
  • How Heavy Should My Pack BeREI's rule of thumb for loaded pack weight as a share of body weight, why a maker's own load rating is the harder ceiling, and picks across the load-rating range.
  • Frameless vs Framed BackpacksWhat a pack frame does, when a light frameless pack carries your kit just fine, and when the extra grams of a frame buy you a real jump in load rating.
  • What Size BackpackREI's liter ranges by trip length, how a lighter base weight shrinks the volume you need, and the published torso ranges across four budget packs.
  • Women's Ultralight PacksFive women's-fit ultralight backpacks, all under 1.1 kg, ranked by grams saved per dollar with published torso ranges, hipbelt ranges and load ratings.
  • Beginner BackpacksSix beginner backpacking backpacks judged on adjustable torso fit, published load rating and warranty, then ranked by grams saved per dollar against a mainstream framed pack.
  • Best Travel BackpacksFive 55-65 L backpacking packs with maker-published torso fits, plus the premium one-bag carry-on, ranked by grams saved per dollar and judged on what matters when a pack also has to fly: access, closure, warranty and cabin dimensions.
  • Most Comfortable UL PacksFour sub-1.4 kg packs with a maker-published internal frame and a load rating of at least 30 lb, ranked by grams saved per dollar, plus why the most comfortable pack we track is not ultralight at all.
  • Best Men's BackpacksSeven men's and unisex-fit packs whose makers publish a size range covering a long torso plus a load rating, ranked by grams saved per dollar from a 762 g frameless pack to a 2.1 kg hauler.
  • Best Thru-Hiking PacksFive sub-1.1 kg packs of 55 L or more with a maker-published load rating and a stated repair path, ranked by grams saved per dollar for a long-distance hike.
  • Best Packs for Tall HikersFive backpacking packs with a maker-published torso range reaching 21 in or more, ranked by grams saved per dollar, plus a two-minute torso measurement and the packs that stop short.
  • Backpack Sizing GuideMeasure your torso length and hip circumference in two minutes, then match them to a size chart built from the ranges four makers publish, plus how to tell a fit problem from a volume problem.
  • Best Petite Women's PacksFour backpacking packs whose published torso range reaches 18 in or shorter, ranked by grams saved per dollar, plus the packs that look like they fit and do not.
  • Crown3 60 vs Exos 58Two lightweight 60-litre packs compared on published figures: 1,080 g against 1,320 g, a removable framesheet against Osprey's AirSpeed mesh, and what each one is rated to carry.
  • How to Pack a PackThe three-zone packing method, where the heavy items actually belong, how to pack a frameless pack differently from a framed one, and the five-step strap sequence that puts the load on your hips.
  • Exos 58 vs Atmos AG 65Two Osprey packs compared on published figures: 1,320 g against 2,092 g, a 30-35 lb load range against 30-40 lb, and the honest answer about which one your current base weight needs.
  • Virga3 55 vs Crown3 60The two Granite Gear packs we rank highest, head to head: a 762 g frameless roll-top rated to 25 lb against a 1,080 g pack with a removable frame sheet rated to 35 lb, both in the same Robic fabric with the same lifetime warranty.
  • How to Choose a PackA five-step method for choosing a backpacking backpack: weigh the kit you own, measure your torso, match the load rating, size the volume to real trips, and ignore the features that are not fit.

Cook & Water

Budget stoves, titanium pots, trail meals and water filters, plus fuel and safety guides.

  • Cook & Water: hubBudget stoves, titanium pots, trail meals and water filters, plus fuel and safety guides.
  • Best Budget StovesEight canister backpacking stoves ranked on published weight, features and price, from a 25 g titanium flyweight with no US list price to MSR's proven all-rounder.
  • Best Titanium PotsFive titanium backpacking pots and two aluminum heat-exchanger alternatives, ranked on published weight, capacity and price against a mainstream aluminum pot.
  • BRS-3000T vs. PocketRocket 2The lightest stove in our rankings against the reference stove every other pick is measured against: published weight, boil claims, price and what you give up for the grams.
  • Canister vs. AlcoholCanister and alcohol stoves compared on published weight, price, boil speed and fire-restriction rules, so you can choose a fuel type before you shop for a specific stove.
  • SOTO Amicus vs. PocketRocket 2Two canister stoves with identical list prices: the SOTO Amicus with a built-in igniter and wind-shaped burner against the MSR PocketRocket 2, the lighter, better-documented benchmark.
  • Best Water FiltersEight backpacking water filters ranked by grams saved per dollar, from the cheapest Sawyer to a premium pump purifier, with every weight and claim sourced from the maker.
  • Sawyer Squeeze vs Katadyn BeFreeThe Sawyer Squeeze and Katadyn BeFree 1.0L side by side: weight as carried, stated flow, filter life, bottle fit and warranty, all from the makers' own pages.
  • Squeeze vs Mini vs Micro SqueezeSawyer's three pocket filters compared: weight, Sawyer's own flow ranking, bottle threading, rated life and price, so you can pick the one that fits how you hike.
  • Filter vs PurifierThe real difference between a backpacking water filter and a purifier, when the CDC says viruses are a real risk on the trail, and what virus protection costs in grams and dollars.
  • Best Backpacking MealsEight backpacking meals ranked by calories per dollar and calorie density, from a big-appetite Peak Refuel dinner to a light single-serving curry, every figure sourced from the label.
  • Cold Soaking GuideWhat cold soaking actually saves in stove and fuel weight, which backpacking meals their own makers say work with cold water, and the food-safety window to know before you rely on it.
  • How Long a Fuel Canister LastsHow long a backpacking fuel canister actually lasts, with burn-time and liters-boiled figures sourced from MSR and SOTO's own pages, and what drives consumption up or down.
  • Best Stove SystemsSix integrated backpacking stove systems ranked by grams saved per dollar, with published boil times and fuel efficiency, and the case for building your own instead.
  • Best Filter StrawsFive water filter straws ranked by grams saved per dollar, with each maker's own removal claims, rated lifespan and bottle compatibility printed in full.
  • Filter vs TabletsWhat a water filter removes that tablets don't, what tablets cover that filters don't, and how the weight, wait time and cost per liter compare for backpacking.
  • Best Water PurifiersThe three backpacking water purifiers we track that claim virus removal, compared on published test standards, flow rate, cartridge life and weight, plus an honest answer on whether US backcountry water needs one.
  • Sawyer Squeeze vs QuickDrawA head-to-head on the two most-bought squeeze filters: 0.1 vs 0.2 micron, lifetime warranty vs a 1,000 L cartridge, and the integrity test that tells you whether your filter still works.
  • BeFree vs QuickDrawA head-to-head on the two fastest-flowing squeeze filters: a 63 g complete system that only fits its own flask, against an 83 g filter that threads onto a smartwater bottle and can be integrity-tested.
  • Sawyer Squeeze vs LifeStrawThe Sawyer Squeeze against LifeStraw's original Personal straw and its Peak Series Solo bottle filter: micron rating, rated life, weight and the claims each maker will not make.
  • Titanium vs AluminumTitanium against hard-anodised aluminum for backpacking pots: real published weights, how each handles heat, what a heat exchanger changes, and which material suits boiling versus cooking.
  • How to Use a Sawyer SqueezeA full field routine for the Sawyer Squeeze: how to fill and squeeze, when and how to backflush, gravity and inline setups, what to do about freezing, and the habits that keep flow up.
  • Best Cold-Weather StovesFour canister stoves with a published pressure regulator or wind-performance claim, ranked for cold-weather use, plus the fuel blend and canister-handling facts that decide more than the stove does.
  • Best Pots for TwoFour backpacking pots with a published capacity of 750 ml or more, ranked by grams saved per dollar, plus what nests inside each one and which stoves can safely hold them.
  • WindMaster vs PR DeluxeTwo regulated canister stoves compared on published figures: 87 g against 83 g, a recessed wind-resistant burner against MSR's 3.3 minute litre, and the removable pot support that is the real difference.
  • How to Choose a StoveA four-step method for choosing a backpacking stove: how you cook, which fuel, whether you need a regulator or an igniter, and what the published output and boil figures actually tell you.
  • How to Choose a FilterA four-question method for choosing a backpacking water filter: what is in your water, which format fits how you drink, how fast it flows and how it is cleaned, and what happens if it freezes.

Builds

Complete kits at $500, $1,000 and $2,000, base weight explained, gear lists and the rest of the kit.

  • Builds: hubComplete kits at $500, $1,000 and $2,000, base weight explained, gear lists and the rest of the kit.
  • The $500 BuildA nine-item, three-season base-weight kit built to a hard $500 ceiling, with an honest accounting of what the budget buys and what it skips.
  • The $1,000 BuildThe middle-tier base-weight build: a trekking-pole tent, a colder-rated quilt, an insulated pad and a torso-sized pack, priced against a $1,000 ceiling.
  • The $2,000 BuildThe top-tier base-weight build: a two-door trekking-pole tent, a lab-tested 20°F quilt, the lightest all-season pad and a high-load pack, priced against a $2,000 ceiling.
  • Best UL Gear on AmazonThe best grams-saved-per-dollar pick in ten gear categories, from tent to headlamp, ranked strictly by the math and confirmed sold on Amazon.
  • Beginner Backpacking GearA first backpacking kit built for forgiveness over grams: a freestanding tent, a framed pack, a foam pad, a full-zip bag and a simple filter, picked for someone who has never done this before.
  • Best Budget Trekking PolesSeven trekking poles ranked by grams saved per dollar, from a lightweight fixed-length Z-pole to a budget aluminum pair, with notes on which ones adjust far enough to pitch a trekking-pole tent.
  • Best Budget Rain JacketsSix budget rain jackets ranked by grams saved per dollar, from a non-woven emergency shell to a 20,000 mm storm jacket, with every waterproof claim sourced from the maker.
  • Best Backpacking ChairsSeven backpacking chairs ranked by grams saved per dollar against the Helinox Chair One, from a frameless foam seat to a reclining ultralight chair, honest about the weight a chair adds.
  • Best Backpacking HeadlampsSeven backpacking headlamps ranked by grams saved per dollar against the Black Diamond Spot 400, from a 47 g ultralight rechargeable to the cheapest AAA lamps, with honest cons on every pick.
  • Ultralight Gear ListA category-by-category ultralight gear list: one value pick per line, in grams and dollars, with the trade-off you're accepting spelled out.
  • Backpacking ChecklistA complete, scannable backpacking checklist — essentials first — with every gear category linked to the roundup that ranks it.
  • What Is Base Weight?Base weight, defined and sourced: what counts, what doesn't, the usual traditional/lightweight/ultralight thresholds, and how to calculate your own.
  • Lower Your Base WeightThe order to upgrade your gear in, ranked by grams saved per dollar, with real weight differences for shelter, sleep system, pack and the small stuff.
  • The Big ThreeThe big three of backpacking gear — shelter, sleep system and pack — ranked by where the grams and dollars actually go, with real catalog picks.
  • Poncho vs Rain JacketFrogg Toggs, Marmot and Rab rain jackets against Frogg Toggs, Sea to Summit and Six Moon Designs ponchos: weight, price and the waterproof ratings each maker actually states, or doesn't.
  • Ultralight vs Traditional BackpackingThe Kelty Late Start 2P, Osprey Rook 65 and Kelty Cosmic Down 20 against a budget ultralight tent, pack and quilt: what each swap saves, what it costs, and where it genuinely isn't worth it.
  • Do You Need Trekking Poles?When trekking poles are worth buying, what the published research found about muscle damage on descents, and the one case where poles stop being an accessory and become required gear.
  • Sub-10 lb Gear ListA gram-by-gram budget for a sub-10-pound base weight: what to allow per category, what the lightest big four we track actually weigh, and the three decisions that decide whether you make it.
  • Thru-Hiking Gear ListWhat changes about a gear list when the trip is five months long: food-carry maths, repairability, the items that get replaced mid-trail, and a complete category-by-category list.
  • Women's UL Gear ListWhere a women's gear list genuinely differs from a unisex one: pack torso and hipbelt shape, sleeping bag cut and tested comfort rating, and pad width. Plus the full kit, category by category.
  • Backpacking Gear CostWhat a full backpacking kit costs at three budget tiers, built from makers' published list prices, with the four items worth spending on first and the four worth buying cheap.
  • Best Big and Tall ChairsFour packable camp chairs with a published weight capacity of 250 lb or more, ranked by grams per dollar, plus seat heights, and the chairs whose makers publish no capacity figure at all.
  • Is a Chair Worth It?An honest answer on backpacking chairs: what the weight really costs as a share of base weight, the four people who should carry one, and the lighter alternatives that do most of the job.
  • Printable Gear ListA printable backpacking gear list with a typical and a light target weight for every category, a free in-browser base-weight calculator, and the same list as a PDF and a spreadsheet template.

Travel

Carry-on travel packs weighed in grams, with cabin dimensions and what the weight buys.

  • Travel: hubCarry-on travel packs weighed in grams, with cabin dimensions and what the weight buys.
  • NOMATIC LineupSix NOMATIC carry-on bags with the maker's published weights and dimensions, ranked by grams saved per dollar against the Osprey Farpoint 40, with which ones actually fit a 55 x 40 x 20 cm cabin allowance.

Gifts

Backpacking gifts that get used, gifts under $50, and gifts for ultralight hikers.

  • Gifts: hubBackpacking gifts that get used, gifts under $50, and gifts for ultralight hikers.
  • Best Gifts for BackpackersSeven researched gifts for any backpacker, from a universal water filter to a splurge pair of trekking poles, with the sizing and compatibility checks a gifter needs before buying.
  • Backpacking Gifts Under $50Seven backpacking gifts, every one under $50 at list price, from a lightweight pillow to a full-size pole pair, with the sizing and compatibility checks a gifter needs before buying.
  • Gifts for Ultralight BackpackersSix gifts sized for a gram-counter: the lightest trekking poles, headlamp, footprint, filter, pillow and pot we track, each ranked by grams saved per dollar.

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