Posterity's Cloud - Backpacking Links &Books

Backpacking Pages:  Backpacking  -  Backpacking List  -  Links/Books  -  Equipment Reviews and Specifications - Hints

Manufacturer and Supplier sites
Atlas Snow Shoe Company: www.atlassnowshoe.com  -Manufacturer's site.
Backcountry Gear: www.backcountrygear.com  -Suppliers of most gear like an REI or Campmor but, more geared to the lightweight buyer.
Backcountry Equipment: www.backcountry-equipment.com -Suppliers of most gear with an emphasis on the smaller name or, hard to find maufacturers.
Barre Army Navy Store: www.vtarmynavy.com -an Army Navy Store with camping, hunting, travel and military surplus clothing and equipment!  I have not personally ordered anything from them but, they seem to have good prices.
Base Gear: www.basegear.com  -A family owned company providing wilderness survival gear at good prices.  I have not used them yet but, they have very high ratings from people on various lists.
Campmor: www.campmor.com-I've bought most of my equipment from here.  They have most everything, there prices are good and they have always delivered quickly.
Cascade Designs: www.cascadedesigns.com  -Manufacturer's site.
CMG Equipment: www.cmgequipment.com-Makers of the "Bonfire LED" lantern.
Coleman Company: www.coleman.com  -Manufacturer's site.
Columbia Sportswear Company: www.columbia.com  -Manufacturer's site.
Exofficio Clothing: www.exofficio.com  -Manufacturer's site.
Feathered Friends: www.featheredfriends.com  -Makers of sleeping bags, outerwear, bag accesories and bivies.
Fibraplex: www.fibraplex.com-Makers of lightweight carbon fiber tent poles.  Custom sized for replacement or, making your own tents.
First Need: www.generalecology.com  -Chemical free water purifiers.
Garmin: www.garmin.com  -Small GPS units
Go-Lite: www.golite.com  -Maker's of lightweight gear modeled after the principles of Ray Jardine.
GVP Gear: www.gvpgear.com-Makers of my GVP4 backpack.  This pack was designed by Grag VanPelski and he supervises the construction of them.
Hang-Em High Fabrics: www.citystar.com/hang-em-high-This is my source for Spectra 500# cord that I use as all my ropes.  They are very good about any quantity you need and ship quickly.
Hennessy Hammock: www.hennessyhammock.com-A truly unique hammock designed by Tom Hennessy.  Check it out.  If you have any questions, just email him, he's a very friendly guy.
Integral Designs: www.integraldesigns.com  -makers of tents, tarps, bivy shelters, sleeping bags and Primaloft clothing.
Jansport: www.jansport.com  -Manufacturer's site.
Marmot: www.marmot.com-Manufacturer of lightweight high quality equipment.
McHale Alpine Packs: www.mchalepacks.com-custom made lightweight backpacks.
Mountain House: www.mountainhouse.com-The makers of what I consider to be the best dried freeze-dried foods out there.
MSR (Mountain Safety Research): www.msrcorp.com  -Manufacturer's site.
Nunatak: www.nunatakusa.com-Makers of hand-crafted down outerwear and sleep systems.
North Face, The:www.thenorthface.com  -Manufacturer's site.
Only The Lightest (Hikelight): www.hikelight.com  -Supplier for varous light weight backpacking gear
Outdoor Research: www.orgear.com  -Manufacturer's site.
Photon Light Company: www.photonlight.com-Manufacturer and supplier of LED micro lights.
Pur: www.purwater.com  -Manufacturer's site.
Rab: www.rab.uk.com  -Lightweight sleep systems.  Maker's of the "raptop" bag.
REI (Recreational Equipment Inc.): www.rei.com
Safe Water Anywhere: www.safewateranywhere.com  -Water filters.  Manufacturer's site.
Shelter Systems: www.shelter-systems.com or, www.gripclips.com  -Makers of the "Grip-Clip" a clip that will attach to a tarp without any sewing.  They also make various shelter systems.
Sierra Designs:www.sierradesigns.com  -Manufacturer's site.
Snowpeak: snowpeak.net-Manufacturer's site.
Sportsman's Guide:www.sportsmansguide.com
Suunto: www.suuntousa.com-Multifunction outdoor watches.
Thru-Hiker: www.thru-hiker.com  -Site with reviews, gear and other informations related to Lightweight backpacking.
Titan Mountain Sports: www.equipment-camping.com  -Makers of titanium backpacking equipment.  I've used them for lightweight titanium stakes.
Trail Foods: www.trailfoods.com
Ultralight Adventure Equipment: www.ula-equipment.com
Ultra-Pod: www.ultrapod.com-Manufacturer's site for small collapsible tripods.
Up and Under: www.upandunder.co.uk
Wanderlust: www.wanderlustgear.com  -Makers of the Nomad tent and other lightweight gear.
Western Mountaineering: www.westernmountaineering.com/main.htm-Makers of lightweight down sleeping bags.

Equipment Testing and Information sites
Backpacking Light: www.backpackinglight.com-Independent site with reviews and stories geared towards lightweight backpacking.
Backpacker Magazine: www.backpacker.com  -Online site of Backpacker Magazine.  Gear reviews, information and articles.
Equipped To Survive:www.equipped.org -comprehensive online resource for independent reviews of survival equipment and outdoors gear, as well as survival and Search and Rescue information. Information to help you determine the best choices to prepare for anything from a hike in the park to a life threatening emergency or disaster.
Gear Review: www.gearreview.com  -Site with reviews of various outdoor equipment.
Gear Tester: www.geartester.com
The Lightweight Backpacker: www.backpacking.net

Independent Backpacking Reference and Supplier sites
AdventureLite: www.adventurelite.com -This is possibly the best small supplier I ever dealt with.  They are a small place and have a limited selection of items but, every item I received has been fantasitic.  I purchased several Sylnylon Stuff Sacks, two Pack covers and a pop can alchohol stove.  They also have Photon Lights, Poly-propoline long underwear, sleeping bag liners and a couple of other things.  Highly Recommended by me.
Andy's Tyvek Page: www.geocities.com/amytys/Tyvek.htm  -Information on Tyvek.  He also sells it in 3' widths.
Austin's Tyvek: home.midsouth.rr.com/tyvek  -Information on Tyvek.  He also sells it in 9' widths
Chuck's Backpacking Bonanza: http://members.aol.com/CMorHiker/backpack/-A neat site with lots of info, pictures and tons of links.
Great Lakes Lightweight Backpacking: members.tripod.com/halbertri/
Henry Shire's Tarptent: homepage.mac.com/hshires/pcthike/equipment.html  -Complete directions on a very nice tarp-tent design.
Howard Johnson's Lightweight Stove Link's: www.kzpg.com/Stoves.html
John O's Ultralite Backpacking page: www.monmouth.com/~johno/index.html-Good information, equipment reviews, lists and more.
The Lightweight Backpacker: www.litebackpacker.com  -Gears reviews, links to gears, etc.
LW Gear: members.tripod.com/lwgear/lwg.html
Moonbow: www.moonbowgear.com-Makers of custom tents, tarps, packs, etc. Plus, they will do custom sewing.
Onestep's Ultralight Backpacking Resource site: www.members.tripod.com/onestep4me/index.htm
Oware: www.owareusa.com-Custom tarps, backs, sleep systems, etc.  Also sell material and do custom sewing.
Specialty Outdoors: www.specialtyoutdoors.com  -Custom sewing and repair for outdoor equipment.  Includes do-it-yourself sewing tips and links to sewing suppliers..
Trail Quest:www.trailquest.net-Lots of information.  They sell lightweight tent tarps, stoves and other lightweight gear.
Tyvek Information Page: www.monmouth.com/~johno/Tyvek.htm-John O's page on using Tyvek

Reference Sites
A1 Trail Guide: http://www.a1trails.com
Backpacking Gear Weight Calculator: members.tripod.com/ibbeson/version_5.htm-A very cool little program that lets you put all your gear in with weights and select pieces to see what your total weight is.
Don Johnston's Homemade Alcohol Stove Instructions: members.home.net/d.h.j/stove/HighPerfAlcoholStove.html
Roy Robinson's Catfood Can Homemade Alcohol Stove Instructions: royrobinson.homestead.com/Cat_Stove.html
GORP: http://www.gorp.com/default.htm  -Lots of info on gear, destinations, etc.
Hiking And Backpacking: hikingandbackpacking.com/index.html-Site filled with lots of information and links.
Leave No Trace: www.lnt.org-Website for "Leave No Trace" non-profit organization.  Promoting the Leave No Trace ethic.
Outdoor Action: www.princeton.edu/~oa/index.shtml-A site from Princeton with some good general information on what to bring for various seasonal trips.
Sunrise/Sunset, Moonrise/Moonset calculations: aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/RS_OneYear.html-chart showing the moonrise and sunrise calculations based on your location.
TopoZone: www.topozone.com-Online topographic maps.
The Trail Database: www.hejoly.demon.nl  -An excellent site with information about trails all over the world.
Trails.com: www.trails.com-A site with trail descriptions.  You have to be a member to get complete descriptions though.
US National Park Site: www.us-national-parks.net-This will link to independent sites for all of the national parks.  They are all run by John Uhler and very informative.

Mailing Lists and Web Boards
Ultralight Backpacking Web Board: members4.boardhost.com/ultralite-hike-Kurt "onestep's" board for questions and discussion of ultra-light backpacking equipment and techniques.

Books and Maps
Adventurous Traveler: www.adventuroustraveller.com  -Outdoors related books and maps for the entire world.
Wildernet: store.yahoo.com/wildernet-com-Guidebooks and maps for the US.

Groups and Organizations
American Hiking Society: www.americanhiking.org
Appalachian Trail Conference: http://www.appalachiantrail.org/
National Parks Conservation Society:www.npca.org
National Park Service:www.nps.gov-Official park service site
North Country Trail Association: www.northcountrytrail.org
Pacific Crest Trail Conference: www.pcta.org
Superior Hiking Trail Association: www.shta.org