Chris Mercer

Ten weekend backpacking packs compared across comfort, lightweight, budget, and ultralight tiers, with picks for each kind of buyer.

Eight inflatable backpacking pads ranked for side sleepers, focused on thickness, baffle type, R-value, and weight.

Six sub-2-ounce headlamps for backpacking, with the right pick for every kind of trip.

Eight honest stove picks for 1-3 night backpacking trips — without the ultralight spreadsheets.

Comparing inflatable, hybrid, and foam backpacking pillows for better sleep without extra bulk.

Top budget tents under three hundred dollars with practical comfort and trustworthy all-weather performance.

A curated roundup of the best backpacking tents for comfort, weight balance, and real-world livability.

I tested 5 backpacking folding chairs and share the one I trust on every trip.