can you take me higher?

Our apologies to those who are tired of being pummeled with the "L" word. There's no escaping the lightweight buzz that's more or less dominating a good chunk of the backpacking and mountaineering markets. And from what we can tell, the buzz is only going to grow louder.

" 'Lightweight' is gaining momentum," says Mountain Hardwear's Martin Zemitis. "It's nothing new, but it's a great marketing tool now, and a number of people are going that route with gear."

What's fueling this trend? Maybe it's the Ray Way, the minimalist philosophy espoused by lightweight backpacking guru Ray Jardine. Or maybe more trail hounds are scaling back their wilderness exploits because they have less time. Whatever the case, smaller and lighter seem to be the defining operatives of the moment. And manufacturers are taking the cue.

From our straw poll, quite a few gear manufacturers have or will have a selection of backpacks, tents and other items that promise to cater to our anorexic alter egos. With a few exceptions, small- to mid-sized packs are hot. Predictably, this is where the lion's share of innovation is taking place, and designers are removing or retooling features to help reduce the weight penalty.

Tent makers aren't being left out, either. If you're trying to cut weight here, the new solo tents do the job. Most of these are downright spacious compared to single-person bivy models a few years back. And a few manufacturers are using lighter fabrics and hybrid DWR coatings in larger three-season models that trim a few more ounces off the total package.

And bags? Sure, there's innovation—mosquito netting, pillow sleeves, elastic shells, different cuts for men and women. But to consumers, it's pretty much a level playing field, especially since the category for the past couple years has been focused on the $129 price point, according to more than one manufacturer. To add a little more marquee value to their products, some bag makers are offering snazzy colors and playing with other aesthetics.

Boil it all down to a kernel and you could say the industry is digging into the nooks and crannies to pinch an ounce here, perhaps add a little more strength there, and keep the products light, strong and affordable.