In this column last month, I covered two major companies, Kelty and JanSport, who will introduce retro-style, external-frame backpacks in 2011. The article pitched external-frame packs as throwbacks — ...

If you're backcountry camping, it's pretty much a forgone conclusion that you'll be sleeping on either a thin foam pad or an inflatable mattress. The LayBakPak offers an alternative, however, as it's ...

For avid backpackers, the search for a lightweight pack that is both comfortable and able to carry a hefty load seems to be never-ending. Gear maker and retailer Kuiu believes it's come up with a ...

Constructed from carbon fiber, Kuiu’s Icon Pro backpack frame weighs just 13 ounces, but is able to comfortably support loads of up to 150 pounds. What gives? Well, by day, I’m actually an aerospace ...

Owning a good hiking backpack is worth it for so many reasons. You won’t need to stuff your snacks in your pockets or worse, experience chafing from a heavy, poor-fitting backpack. A good hiking ...