Erik The Black's Backpacking Blog

Looking for a new lightweight backpacking tent or shelter? Here is a list of every backpacking shelter I could find (120+ so far) that weighs under 3 pounds, including: tents, tarptents, tarps, hammocks and bivys…

Lightweight backpacking isn’t all about counting grams and ounces and becoming a slave to the scale. It’s also about freeing up space in your pack for things that can make hiking more fun!

It’s hard to enjoy the great outdoors when your feet hurt. Here are a some trail-tested tips and tricks for eliminating foot pain and keeping your feet happy and healthy on your next backpacking trip…

Some of the best ultralight backpacking gear comes from small, hiker-owned businesses who design, manufacture and sell their own gear. See the latest cutting edge “cottage industry” ultralight backpacking gear here…

Planning a long hike and looking for the right backpack? Here are five lightweight backpacks that are ideal for long-distance backpacking and thru-hiking…

Planning a thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail, Appalachian Trail or other long backpacking trip? Here are some tips for getting in shape before your big hike…

Day hiking is different from backpacking because you don’t plan to camp out, which means less gear (and less weight). But it’s still smart to bring a few essentials “just in case”. This is what I pack when I go for a day hike…

With lightweight packs the way you organize your gear affects comfort as much as what you carry. There are many ways to pack a backpack. Here’s how I pack mine…

Last week I posted an article with some tips for thru-hikers. Here is Part 2 of that series, with more information about footcare, diet, gear weight, managing finances, staying positive and not quitting…

Thru-hiking is backpacking an entire trail in a single trip. If you are planning a thru-hike here are some tips to help you succeed, with information about why hikers quit, setting priorities, pacing, scheduling, hiking your own hike and making trail friends.

Unless you have experience drinking untreated back country water, it is recommended that you treat your drinking water by filtering or another method. Here are some popular water filters and purification methods…

One way to reduce your pack weight is to get rid of unnecessary gear. The other way is to replace essential gear items with lightweight alternatives. Here are five gear items you can replace to reduce your pack weight…

Backpackers spend a lot of time, money and effort trimming ounces from their backpacking gear in the quest to lighten their load. But, in my opinion a lot of the time it’s wasted effort. If you want to significantly reduce your pack weight concentrate on these three items…

If you are planning to hike the PCT, CDT or another trail that goes through the desert here are some tips to help you stay cool, conserve water and keep your pack light in a desert environment.

I’ve used this clothing system in daytime temps ranging from 110 degrees down to 15 degrees including freezing cold rain and snow – and it weighs just 2 lbs!

Trail runners, cross trainers, lightweight boots, sandals… Which are the best hiking shoes for long distance backpacking? In this article I discuss the pros and cons of hiking footwear and give my recommendations.

Choosing the right backpacking shelter is a crucial gear decision. You want something lightweight and easy to set up, that provides adequate protection from the elements without weighing you down.