Why I Backpack with Synthetic Insulation
As I got into backpacking, I found that certain animal products, like leather, down, and wool, were used without question in many types of gear. I found that I could...
Gear & Tech Talk
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The Case for Layering Quilts: How to Adapt Your Sleep System Year-Round
As the seasons change, our gear has to adapt. One of the most crucial pieces of gear to match to the environment is a backpacking quilt. If your quilt does...
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Understanding DWR: Why Zenbivy Is Using Less of It—And How To Maintain Your Gear
Durable Water Repellent (DWR) coatings have long been a standard feature in outdoor gear, helping fabrics repel water and dry quickly. But as the chemistry behind DWRs evolves, so does...
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Fill Power and Rounding: What You Need to Know
When it comes to choosing a sleeping bag or quilt, fill power (FP) is one of the most commonly advertised specs—and one of the most misunderstood. It’s supposed to give...
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How to Properly Inflate Your Backpacking Air Mattress (and Why It Matters)
The first thing to know is that inflatable air mattresses perform best when they are fully inflated. For example, our Flex™ Air and Ultralight Mattresses operate on the concept of forming...
Guides & How-To's
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How to Freshen Your Quilt
Deep cleaning your quilt can be a time-consuming hassle. In most cases, a light surface cleaning and refreshening of the down is all your quilt needs. Skip the deep cleans and simply “freshen” your quilt in...
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Backpacking 101 - The Zenbivy Way
Temperatures are warming and summer is just around the corner. If you've always wanted to try backpacking now's the time to get ready for a summer outdoors. Backpacking is a...
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Backpacking 101 - Food for the Backcountry
Deciding what to eat in the outdoors stumps even seasoned backpackers, but having a delicious meal when you get to camp can take your trip to the next level. There...
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Backpacking 101 - Gear to Get Out
Backpacking evokes images of overstuffed packs with gear strapped all over the outside - an uncomfortable monstrosity you're supposed to strap to your back and carry for miles. It doesn't have...
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Think Outside the Tent: 4 Alternate Uses for Your Quilt
Let's face it, the versatility of a backpacking quilt is hard to beat! From hammocks to hostels, campfires to sunset spots, quilts provide easy, portable, lightweight warmth. Here are 4 ways to use your...
Trip Reports
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500 Pounds of Gear, No Plan
If we had actually had a plan, we would have approached this objective much differently. We would've had different gear, more information, and likely wouldn't have helicoptered in. But that...
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2 Minutes of What I Learned on the PCT
Reflections on Outdoor Equity Along the PCT Written by McKayla Bull “Why is the outdoors so… homogenous?” The question plagued me more and more with every passing mile as I hiked...
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Inside Passage: Beauty, Adversity, Nature's Curveballs
After some rest, catching up with friends, and a resupply in Wrangell, we continued on. We left on a rising tide, setting up to cross the Dry Strait—20 miles of...
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Crossing to Alaska
We’re in Alaska. There’s so many emotions attached to that sentence. We’ve been anticipating our arrival here for a year, and now that we’ve finally crossed the border it feels...
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A Butedale Day in the Neighborhood
Hey neighbors! Tuning in from Rick’s driveway boat in Prince Rupert. While I have to crumple my legs a bit to fit the lower bed, there’s no denying the blackout...
Thru-Hiking
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How Thru-Hikers Deal With Rain
When you're out hiking every day for several months straight you're bound to get rained on. We asked Snackbar and Scribe how they deal with the inevitable rain—What rain gear do they wear?...
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How to Get Good Sleep on Trail
Sleep, oh glorious sleep. It is not always easy to achieve on trail, though! When I get into camp, all I want to do is just throw down my pack...
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Can You Eliminate All Single-Use Plastics From a Thru-Hike?
From food wrappers to water bottles, take-out containers and utensils, single-use plastics are everywhere in our day to day lives.... Turns out: you can't even escape them out in the wilderness. While...
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What's in Our Thru-Hikers' Packs?
We asked our thru-hiker ambassadors to share what gear they love... and what they don't! From luxury items, to the strangest thing they're carrying on their 2023 thru-hikes.
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How our Thru-Hiker Ambassadors Pack Their Packs
Ever wondered how a thru-hiker packs their pack? We asked our ambassadors to show us how they do it! Journey Man (PCT) "When packing my bag I usually just...
