Backpacking Light Podcast

In this episode, we address winter shelter stakes for frozen ground, hard snow, and unconsolidated snow. To view the shownotes for this podcast, click here .

In this episode of the Backpacking Light Podcast, you're going to learn about avalanche awareness in the context of winter hiking, snowshoeing, and ski touring. To view the show notes, click here .

In this episode we talk to Garage Grown Gear CEO and co-founder Lloyd Vogel where we'll be diving into the outdoor gear cottage industry. To view the shownotes of this episode of the Backpacking Light Podcast, click here .

In today's episode of the Backpacking Light podcast, we're going to talk about how to use multi-layered sleep systems to stay warmer on multi-day trips in cold weather.

In today's episode of the Backpacking Light podcast, we're going to talk about how to mitigate cold feet during fall-season backpacking conditions.

In today's episode of the Backpacking Light podcast, we're going to talk about gear and skills for pitching ultralight shelters in inclement conditions - rain, snow, wind, and cold. View the show notes here .

In today's gear short episode of the Backpacking Light podcast, we're going to talk about the brand new Garmin inReach Messenger and how it fits into the broader market of satellite communications devices for backcountry users. To view the show notes for this episode, click here .

In this skills short episode of the Backpacking Light Podcast, Andrew and Ryan talk sh**, a.k.a, 💩.  How to poop in the woods? It's an age-old question, particularly as popular backcountry sites become more crowded.  This episode addresses the question of how long poop takes to decompose and suggests alternative LNT-approved methods (beyond catholes) for dealing with human waste.  To view the sho...

In this skills short episode of the Backpacking Light podcast, Ryan and Andrew discuss small cameras for backpacking. Today's episode is very focused and short - just a quick list of a few cameras we've liked and used to get good results with backcountry photography. Click here for show notes.

In this episode of the Backpacking Light Podcast, Andrew and Ryan chat with She Summits Co. founder and director Amanda Hatley. She Summits is a female-owned and female-led adventure camp that empowers young women through outdoor experiences like backpacking, kayaking, and climbing. In the extended Members Only version of this episode - the full interview with Amanda Hatley, the Tarptent Dipole Li...

In this episode, Andrew chats with Backpacking Light Staff contributor Drew Smith. If you are a reader of the website, you may know Drew from his lovely stories about desert backpacking, or perhaps you've been reading his ongoing series about freeze-drying. If you haven't read Drew's work, make sure you check out the resources section (below) where we'll have links to the articles we talk about in...

In this episode, Andrew chats with Backpacking Light Staff writer Mark Wetherington . Mark began backpacking in 2007 as a student at the University of Kentucky, and since then he's been exploring the southeast and the west on foot, bicycle, and skis. Mark's writing has appeared in Backpacker Magazine and Trail Groove Magazine in addition to Backpacking Light. Andrew and Mark chat about backpacking...

In this episode, Andrew chats with gear designer and biologist Dan Durston. Dan is an accomplished backpacker and longtime Backpacking Light member. He went from gear enthusiast to gear tester to successful gear designer and small-business owner in a remarkably short time. His most recent shelter, the Durston X-Mid Pro 2 ( read our review ), is one of the buzziest ultralight shelters to hit the ma...

In this episode, Ryan and Andrew discuss how and why to use a frameless pack while backpacking. click here for show notes

In this episode, Ryan chats with Willow Belden of Out There . Out There is a podcast that tackles big questions through intimate storytelling and is committed to elevating the voices of those traditionally left out of the conversation when it comes to the outdoors. Also in this episode: a conversation about a new outdoor fabric, updates on some packs we've been testing, and the launch of a new Bac...

We talk a lot about gear on this podcast. Gear is fun, and if you are a fan of this pod, you probably have an interest not only in if something works, but why it works. Still, it's easy to begin to fetishize gear, to turn it almost into the point of having adventures rather than a tool to facilitate them. Don't believe us? Just search "gear layout" hashtags on Instagram. That's why we've always lo...

Benny Braden is a public lands advocate and accomplished long-distance hiker. In this episode, Andrew and Ryan chat with him about public lands stewardship, social media, National Park funding, and more. Also in this episode - what's up with bagging dog poop but leaving it on the side of the trail? click here for show notes: https://backpackinglight.com/podcast-58-benny-brayden-vandalism-social-me...

In this episode, Andrew chats with Henry and Julie Mosier of Food for the Sole about running a small business in the outdoor industry, idea iteration, bikepacking, working with family, finding mentors, and more!  click here for show notes: https://backpackinglight.com/podcast-57-food-for-sole  

In this episode, we chat with longtime Backpacking Light contributor Rex Sanders about his ongoing tests of portable battery chargers. Also, Ryan and Andrew chat about vandalism on public lands, electronic device management, new gear from Atom Packs, and the benefits of freeze-drying.

Ryan and Andrew discuss strategies and gear for managing perspiration in layering systems, including the processes of wicking, evaporation, and ventilation. click here for show notes: https://backpackinglight.com/podcast-55-perspiration-layering-wicking-evaporation-ventilation  

In this episode of the backpacking Light Podcast, we interview physical therapist and athletic performance coach John Zombro about foot health, footwear, injuries, rehabilitation, training, and more. Also in this episode: shoes we are looking at in 2022, updates on the Backpacking Light Member Q and A series, and our favorite things we've published lately! click here for show notes: https://backpa...

Backpacking Light contributor Ben Kilbourne reads his meditation on the transition from wilderness to trail to parking lot. Click here for show notes: https://backpackinglight.com/episode-53-going-home

We're gonna wrap up the year with a survey of gear we loved using in 2021. We polled the Backpacking Light staff and contributors and asked them to talk about the gear they couldn't live without in 2021 - and why. Make sure and check out the related Staff Picks 2021 article for more . Enjoy, and we'll see you next year! click here for show notes: https://backpackinglight.com/episode-52-gear-2021

This is the first installment of the Backpacking Light Podcast's new series of cottage industry interviews - where Andrew and Ryan chat with some of the small business owners who make up the ultralight cottage industry world. In this episode, the guys interview Livio Melo, the founder of allmansright . click here for show notes: https://backpackinglight.com/podcast-51-cottage-short-allmans-right

It's our 50th episode! To celebrate, we reached out to listeners and asked them to submit their big backpacking questions. We received fantastic questions about gear, philosophy, and skills and enjoyed chatting about the answers. Also in this episode, an interview with Backpacking Light grant recipient Narinda Heng and some upcoming educational opportunities at Backpacking Light. Enjoy! click here...