Backpacking

Base weight, shakedowns, and shelters that earn their ounces — field reports from actual miles.

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The Four Things That Almost Made My San Juan Loadout

A pre-trip shakedown on the living-room floor — the near-misses in my backpacking loadout, what the scale said about each one, and the insurance-versus-fear test.

Trip Plan · 6 min · July 15, 2026

Skill The Afternoon Shakedown: Cut Two Pounds Without Buying Anything

From the gear desk

The Ultralight Backpacking Gear Guide (Built From a Real Closet)

A no-nonsense guide to a sub-10-pound base weight — the Big Three, the small stuff, and the real trade-offs — anchored to gear I actually carry and track.

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Prepare for it

Train for backpacking trips

Your body is your #1 piece of gear — prepare for the actual demands of the trip.

Outdoor Training →