Podcast Episodes
Back to SearchEpisode 136 | Fringe Season Layering
Season 1 Episode 136
What is the difference in layering strategy from summertime to the fall-winter transition? In this episode, Ryan Jordan discusses how the environment…
6 months, 1 week ago
Episode 135 | Field Notes - The Metabolic Cost of Bushwhacking
Season 1 Episode 135
In the Field Notes episode, we explore why bushwhacking miles aren't just harder but metabolically different. The Metabolic Energy Mile (MEM) framewo…
6 months, 2 weeks ago
Episode 134 | Sleep Quality in the Backcountry
Season 1 Episode 134
Backcountry sleep is fragile, and when it breaks down, recovery, judgment, and safety are at risk. In this episode, we examine the forces that fragme…
6 months, 3 weeks ago
Episode 133 | Human Waste Management
Season 1 Episode 133
In this episode, Ryan Jordan examines why traditional cathole practices often fail in alpine, desert, and high-use environments. Drawing on scientifi…
7 months, 2 weeks ago
Episode 132 | Satellite Messenger Weather Forecasts
Season 1 Episode 132
Today's episode of the Backpacking Light Podcast is sponsored by Vaer Watches. A Vaer watch is an expedition-worthy, made in the USA, reliable, rugge…
8 months ago
Episode 131 | Ultralight First Aid Kit Strategies
Season 1 Episode 131
In this episode, we discuss how to design scalable, evidence-informed first aid kits for backcountry travel. Grounded in the principles of context, c…
8 months, 1 week ago
Episode 130 | Bivy Sack Camping
Season 1 Episode 130
In this episode, Ryan shares his approach to bivy sack camping above treeline using a waterproof-breathable system built for stealth, weather protect…
8 months, 4 weeks ago
Episode 129 | Field Notes - The Limits of Wilderness Minimalism
Season 1 Episode 129
In this Field Notes episode, Ryan Jordan explores what happens when wilderness minimalism reaches its limits. Through real-world examples and the len…
9 months ago
Episode 128 | The Metabolic Cost of Carrying a Backpack
Season 1 Episode 128
What does it really cost your body to carry a backpack in the backcountry? In this episode, we explore the science behind the metabolic demands of lo…
9 months, 3 weeks ago
Episode 127 | Field Notes – Shelter Fabrics
Season 1 Episode 127
In this Field Notes episode, Ryan Jordan explores the science of shelter fabrics - from strength-to-weight ratios and waterproofing to coating qualit…
10 months, 1 week ago