Backpacking Light Podcast

This is Part 2 (of 4) in Principles of Outdoor Gear Design and focuses on the usability of outdoor gear. Ryan Jordan examines usability through the lens of analog design principles and the relationship between gear, the person using it, the task, and the conditions. Trekking-pole adjustments and a watch's rotating bezel illustrate how physical representation, direct manipulation, and tactile feedback shape the experience of using gear. Learn how to evaluate usability through practice and realistic trip conditions, and understand how reducing weight can help or hinder a product's ease of use. This series is made possible by support from Vaer Watches as part of the Built by Vaer initiative, a partnership collaboration between Backpacking Light and Vaer to bring in-depth educational resources about product design to the Backpacking Light community. Learn more about Vaer and their watches, including the C4 Tactical Field Solar watch, featured in this episode.

This is Part 1 (of 4) in a new series called Principles of Outdoor Gear Design and focuses on the topic of outdoor gear durability. Ryan Jordan examines durability through the relationship between product, use case, and user behavior. Backpack examples connect materials, manufacturing, and engineering to wear, damage, repair, and continued function. Learn how to interpret durability claims and evaluate the weight, cost, and maintenance tradeoffs involved in choosing gear. This series is made possible by support from Vaer Watches as part of the Built by Vaer initiative, a partnership collaboration between Backpacking Light and Vaer to bring in-depth educational resources about product design to the Backpacking Light community. Learn more about Vaer and their watches, including the C5 Tactical Solar field watch, featured in this episode.

Learn why ultralight rain shells can be appropriate for mild trail conditions but inadequate in exposed mountain weather. Explore a decision framework based on exposure duration, retreat options, terrain, abrasion, wind, and thermal margin to understand the role of the mountain minimalist rain shell. To read the shownotes for the Backpacking Light Podcast, click here.

Thermoregulatory debt describes the delayed cost of layering decisions made during movement in cold, wet, and windy conditions. A small delay in venting, changing layers, eating, or managing moisture can later become wet clothing, increased heat loss, cold hands, slower movement, and poorer judgment. This episode explains moisture debt, heat debt, and performance debt, and why cold-weather layering is about timing, not just clothing selection.  To view the shownotes for this episode of the Backpacking Light Podcast, click here.

Ryan Jordan interviews Blake Boles, author of Dirtbag Rich, about redefining wealth through time, purpose, flexibility, and outdoor freedom. They explore dirtbag culture, careers, housing, relationships, risk, and the pursuit of a life built around adventure, simplicity, and meaningful time outside before retirement. To view the show notes for this episode of the Backpacking Light Podcast, click here.