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Backpacking Tent Fabrics: A Deep Dive
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Ultralight Rain Jackets: A Deep Dive
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The Ideal Spring Touring Glove
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Keeping out the rain in the Black Diamond Fineline Stretch rain jacket
01
The Best Rain Jackets
Hiker scrambling down boulder in trail running shoes
02
New Trail Footwear for 2026
Sitting on boulder in Patagonia Nano Puff Hoody
03
The Peak Bagger Hiking Kit
Hyperlite Unbound 2P backpacking tent guyout point on wall
04
Backpacking Tent Fabrics: A Deep Dive
Splitboarder looking up at sky in Hyperlite Mountain Gear Headwall 55 ski backpack
05
Sustainability Coverage For Every Product
Lacing up Norda 001A trail running shoes
06
The Best Trail Running Shoes
Wearing Osprey Exos backpack in rocky mountain landscape
07
The Backpack Tax
Wearing the Saucony Peregrine hiking shoe in Norway
08
The Best Hiking Shoes
Water beaded on Montbell Versalite rain jacket
09
Ultralight Rain Jackets: A Deep Dive
Woman hiking down grassy river valley in the rain
10
Staying Dry is a State of Mind
The Best Hiking Boots
11
The Best Hiking Boots
Better Trail Certified man standing on top of hill during sunset
12
The Ideal Spring Touring Glove
Two backpackers looking at map in forest
13
How Do I Know What Land is Public?
Cannonball into alpine lake
14
The Outdoor Recreation Economy
Better Trail Certified man standing on top of hill during sunset
15
What is Better Trail Certified?
Standing on summit of Mt Baker in the Outdoor Research Helium Down Jacket
16
The Best Down Jackets
Patagonia Fitz Roy Down Hoody floating in sky
17
Responsible Materials Explained
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Education

Ultralight Rain Jackets: A Deep Dive

Backpackers, thru-hikers, and mountain runners all want to thread the needle and find the right ultralight rain jacket for their respective missions. You can get all the way down to the 4- to 5-ounce range for the most minimalist and streamlined of shells, but there are important considerations, including breathability, weather protection, durability, features, cost, and more.

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Packaged Weight vs. Trail Weight in Backpacking Tents

When you’re shopping for a new backpacking tent, you’ll almost always see two weights listed: packaged weight and trail weight. At first glance, the distinction seems straightforward—one number is heavier, one is lighter. But as with most gear specs, there’s more nuance than you might expect.

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Do Durable Products = Sustainable Products?

It seems simple enough: build better gear, make it last longer, and eliminate the need to buy more. But what really makes a product durable? And how well can you actually predict a product’s lifespan?

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