Gear Reviews

A backpacker on the Shannon Pass Trail above Peak Lake, Wind River Range, Wyoming.

The Top 5 Ultralight Backpacking Tips

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By Michael Lanza

I field a lot of questions from readers about gear and backpacking, and I find the conversation often boiling down to one issue: how much weight they have in their packs. The biggest lesson I’ve drawn from more than three decades of backpacking—including the 10 years I spent as a field editor at Backpacker magazine and even longer running this blog—is that a major factor dictating my enjoyment of any hike is always how much weight I’m carrying.

If I could convince my readers who backpack to follow one piece of advice— no matter your age, how much you hike, or how fit or experienced you are—it would be this: Lighten up. You’ll make backpacking more fun.

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Leki Skytera FX Carbon SL

Review: Leki Skytera FX Carbon SL Trekking Poles

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Trekking Poles
Leki Skytera FX Carbon SL
$220, 12.6 oz./357g (per pair)
One size, adjustable 110-130cm/43.3-51.2 ins.
lekiusa.com

Poles are one of the most important pieces of gear to save weight on: held in your hands all day, a few extra ounces will be infinitely more noticeable than the same weight on your back. Leki’s Skytera FX Carbon poles weigh in impressively light compared to most poles while still retaining many of the features I prefer in a pair of trekking poles, like adjustability and construction that holds up. From a very rugged five-day backpacking trip in the Grand Canyon to numerous runs and hikes on the steep and rocky trails above my home in Salt Lake City—such as Mount Olympus, which rises a blistering 4,000 feet in 3 miles—I’ve been convinced that these poles offer a good balance of weight, features, and durability.

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A backpacker hiking to Spider Gap in Washington's Glacier Peak Wilderness.

An Essentials-Only Backpacking Gear Checklist

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By Michael Lanza

What do you need to pack for a three-season backpacking trip? While the specific items depend in part on factors like the time of year, your companions and backpacking style, the trip’s length and the weather forecast, this story provides a core checklist of essential gear to help you organize and efficiently pack—and avoid overpacking—for virtually any backpacking trip.

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The Outdoor Research Astroman Air Sun Hoodie.

The Best Sun Shirts of 2026

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By Michael Lanza

Whether backpacking, dayhiking, climbing, trail running, fishing, paddling, or active outdoors in myriad other ways, sun protection becomes critical not only for preventing skin cancer, but also because the hot sun can wear you down and exacerbate the effects of heat, elevation, and dehydration—especially in the mountains and desert.

While there are a variety of styles of sun shirts, for active pursuits in warm to hot temperatures, nothing really beats a lightweight, breathable hoody for maximum protection and keeping you cool—while adding minimal weight and bulk to your kit. This review spotlights the best sun shirt hoodies.

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Michael Lanza of The Big Outside hiking Besseggen Ridge above Lake Gjende in Norway's Jotunheimen National Park.

Video: How to Pack a Backpack

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By Michael Lanza

Wonder why I’m smiling in the above photo? Well, sure, two friends and I were hiking the incredibly scenic Besseggen Ridge in Norway’s Jotunheimen National Park; that had something to do with it. But the other big factor was that I was comfortable—and how well my pack carried had a lot to do with that. And how I loaded it greatly affected how well it carried on my back. In this four-minute video, I’ll show you how to properly load a backpack to make your backpacking trips much more enjoyable.

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