We've been looking closely at the reinvigorated ultralight freestanding backpacking tent segment lately, but it hasn't escaped us that there are much lighter ways of sheltering down in the backwoods.

For backpackers, going ultralight is easier (and less expensive) than you might expect. We stepped back to give tips on reducing pack weight for weekend backpacking trips and thru-hikes alike. Every ...

Targeted at people who prioritize backpack weight over sleeping comfort and weather protection, ultralight tarps and the tiny companies that hand make them were, until now, pretty rare. But this one ...

Editor’s Note: This primer is the first in a series profiling the best backpacking gear and training for your summer and fall adventures. Stay tuned for more on backpacking food (it’s not all just ...

I first encountered the ideas of ultralight backpacking in 1994, in an article in now-defunct (and much-missed) Backpacker magazine. It was titled “Less is More,” by Mark Jenkins. (I still have a PDF ...

"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." A shelter is a critical component of anyone’s outdoor adventure gear list. While a standard backpacking ...

When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Of course, the ideal situation is to have both in your quiver of kit, so you can choose the most ...

This past fall, two friends and I spent four days elk hunting at 12,000 feet in the Sangre de Cristo mountains north of Santa Fe. The first day was warm and mild, but on the second morning, we woke to ...

All products featured here are independently selected by our editors and writers. If you buy something through links on our site, Gizmodo may earn an affiliate commission. Reading time 7 minutes ...

A couple of decades ago, choosing between a one-person tent and a bivy sack was pretty easy. The differences between the two types of solo shelters were more extreme than they are now. Early bivy ...