Backpacking Light Magazine
Encyclopedia
Backpacking Light Magazine was founded in early 2001 by modern-day ultralight backpacking
evangelist Ryan Jordan
, author of Lightweight Backpacking and Camping, an edited volume with multiple authors promoted as the Bible of ultralight backpacking
. Backpacking Light Magazine publishes a subscription-based Website, a subscribing member-edited wiki, some technique books, and operates a unique retail store with a collection of interesting ultralight backpacking gear not commonly found elsewhere.
Backpacking Light Magazine was originally founded as an online periodical. Its launch and subsequent articles, because they were written by scientists and engineers with an interest in dispelling manufacturer marketing myths about outdoor gear, gained critical attention among the media as a controversial but important resource providing balanced views of outdoor recreation gear and practices. Evidence that the ultralight backpacking
movement in general is gaining momentum is evidenced by Backpacking Light Magazine's reputation as a source in newly published books about backpacking and hiking, and Backpacking Light Magazine's development of outdoor leadership training programs for Boy Scouts of America
, Search and Rescue
Organizations, and most recently, the National Outdoor Leadership School
.
Backpacking Light Magazine is unique in that it appeals to a relatively narrow niche audience of outdoorspeople interested in ultralight backpacking
, yet it has made efforts to reach a broader audience with its outreach programs and content syndication efforts to other end user hiking organizations (e.g., Pacific Crest Trail
Association, Appalachian Trail
Conservancy, Boy Scouts of America
).
Backpacking Light Magazine's unique approach to online business (i.e., creating a community of enthusiasts using online forums, email news, periodical and book publication, retail ecommerce, and manufacturing business models) has resulted in it generally being identified as the primary thought leader not only in growing the rapidly emerging trend towards ultralight backpacking
, but for sustainable online business models as well. This strategy has been recognized by the New York Times, Los Angeles Times
, Christian Science Monitor, Associated Press
, and Business Week.
Ultralight backpacking
Ultralight backpacking is a style of backpacking that emphasizes carrying the lightest and simplest kit safely possible for a given trip. Base pack weight is reduced as much as safely possible, though reduction of the weight of...
evangelist Ryan Jordan
Ryan Jordan (hiker)
Ryan Jordan is a pioneer of the modern-day ultralight backpacking movement and founder of Backpacking Light Magazine.-Background:Jordan began his backpacking as a member of a Boy Scout troop in Burien, Washington. Jordan earned his Eagle Scout Award in 1986. In the late 1980s, he became involved at...
, author of Lightweight Backpacking and Camping, an edited volume with multiple authors promoted as the Bible of ultralight backpacking
Ultralight backpacking
Ultralight backpacking is a style of backpacking that emphasizes carrying the lightest and simplest kit safely possible for a given trip. Base pack weight is reduced as much as safely possible, though reduction of the weight of...
. Backpacking Light Magazine publishes a subscription-based Website, a subscribing member-edited wiki, some technique books, and operates a unique retail store with a collection of interesting ultralight backpacking gear not commonly found elsewhere.
Backpacking Light Magazine was originally founded as an online periodical. Its launch and subsequent articles, because they were written by scientists and engineers with an interest in dispelling manufacturer marketing myths about outdoor gear, gained critical attention among the media as a controversial but important resource providing balanced views of outdoor recreation gear and practices. Evidence that the ultralight backpacking
Ultralight backpacking
Ultralight backpacking is a style of backpacking that emphasizes carrying the lightest and simplest kit safely possible for a given trip. Base pack weight is reduced as much as safely possible, though reduction of the weight of...
movement in general is gaining momentum is evidenced by Backpacking Light Magazine's reputation as a source in newly published books about backpacking and hiking, and Backpacking Light Magazine's development of outdoor leadership training programs for Boy Scouts of America
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
, Search and Rescue
Search and rescue
Search and rescue is the search for and provision of aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger.The general field of search and rescue includes many specialty sub-fields, mostly based upon terrain considerations...
Organizations, and most recently, the National Outdoor Leadership School
National Outdoor Leadership School
The National Outdoor Leadership School , is a non-profit outdoor education school based in the United States dedicated to teaching environmental ethics, technical outdoor skills, safety and judgment, and leadership on extended wilderness expeditions...
.
Backpacking Light Magazine is unique in that it appeals to a relatively narrow niche audience of outdoorspeople interested in ultralight backpacking
Ultralight backpacking
Ultralight backpacking is a style of backpacking that emphasizes carrying the lightest and simplest kit safely possible for a given trip. Base pack weight is reduced as much as safely possible, though reduction of the weight of...
, yet it has made efforts to reach a broader audience with its outreach programs and content syndication efforts to other end user hiking organizations (e.g., Pacific Crest Trail
Pacific Crest Trail
The Pacific Crest Trail is a long-distance mountain hiking and equestrian trail on the Western Seaboard of the United States. The southern terminus is at the California border with Mexico...
Association, Appalachian Trail
Appalachian Trail
The Appalachian National Scenic Trail, generally known as the Appalachian Trail or simply the AT, is a marked hiking trail in the eastern United States extending between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine. It is approximately long...
Conservancy, Boy Scouts of America
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
).
Backpacking Light Magazine's unique approach to online business (i.e., creating a community of enthusiasts using online forums, email news, periodical and book publication, retail ecommerce, and manufacturing business models) has resulted in it generally being identified as the primary thought leader not only in growing the rapidly emerging trend towards ultralight backpacking
Ultralight backpacking
Ultralight backpacking is a style of backpacking that emphasizes carrying the lightest and simplest kit safely possible for a given trip. Base pack weight is reduced as much as safely possible, though reduction of the weight of...
, but for sustainable online business models as well. This strategy has been recognized by the New York Times, Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
, Christian Science Monitor, Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
, and Business Week.