Backpacking
3 guides tagged Backpacking
Comparison
Jetboil Flash vs MSR PocketRocket 2: Which Stove?
A 13.1 oz integrated system that boils 16 oz in about two minutes against a 2.6 oz burner that boils a liter in 3.5 and simmers. Same fuel, opposite philosophies, $67 apart. If you boil water for freeze-dried meals, buy the Flash. If you cook, or count ounces, buy the PocketRocket and a pot.
Read the guide →~9 min read
Buyer's Guide
The Best Bear Canisters (2026)
BearVault's three sizes (440, 565, and 700 cubic inches listed) cover every trip from an overnight to a week, and the choice is arithmetic: about 110 cubic inches of repacked food per day. Sizing table, approval map, and the bear-spray rules by park.
Read the guide →~13 min read
Explainer
Ultralight Backpacking 101
Ultralight isn't a shopping list, it's an accounting system: weigh everything, question everything, and make every ounce argue for its place in your pack. This is the honest beginner's guide: what base weight means and the tiers the community actually uses, why the big three (pack, shelter, sleep) are where the pounds hide, where cutting weight is nearly free versus where it costs $100 an ounce, and where the ultralight ethos genuinely goes too far for beginners.
Read the guide →~13 min read
Our top-rated hiking gear
Whatever you decide, this is the gear we recommend: verified, compared, and ranked. Live price check on each.
As an Amazon Associate we may earn from qualifying purchases, at no cost to you.