16 POPULAR SCIENCE
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8376WHEN YOU’RE CLIMBING A STEEP, ROCKY TRAIL ON
the side of a mountain, a bulky pack catching on branches
or scraping against boulders will slow your ascent.
Lightweight, space-saving camping essentials can provide
warmth, shelter, and comfort out on the trail without
making you feel like a pack mule. In addition to staples like
food, water, a first-aid kit, and a multitool, these super-
squishable items—which total just 3.9 kilos—will get you
through your next night in the woods.2/Tent
Shelter typically adds the
most bulk to a hiking load.
The REI Co-op Quarter
Dome 1 tent has about
the same sleeping space
as a twin mattress, but
it packs down to 15-by-
45 cm—about the size of
a house cat. Its alumin-
ium poles support a nylon
structure with a mesh top
that lets you glimpse the
stars. A removable water-
proof cover repels rain.1/Backpack
The Osprey Levity 45’s
main compartment holds
45 litres of gear, which
easily accommodates
everything on these
pages— with room for
trail mix. The steel frame
at the rear of the pack
suspends nylon netting,
a design that evenly
distributes weight across
your back. It also provides
breathing room so your
sweat can evaporate.3/Sleeping bag
Fall nights are crisp, but
the Marmot Phase 30
cocoon will keep you
toasty in temperatures
as low as -2 degrees
Celsius. The bag’s fill is
mostly soft down, which
creates millions of
microscopic air pockets
that trap warmth.
Squeezing the air back
out compresses the sack
down to about the size
of a football.State
of the
Art by ROB VERGERCompressed
Camp