Brett Kretzer
Gear Analyst

Brett is a writer, hiker, and all-around outdoor enthusiast. Growing up in the mountains of western Maryland, with the Appalachian Trail in his backyard, he’s always felt a kinship with dense forests and rolling hills.

From 2014-2021, he toured the US full-time with a bluegrass band. After being absolutely captivated by the rugged ridge lines and boreal forests of New Hampshire and Maine, he decided to dive headfirst into his love for the outdoors. He thru-hiked the Long Trail and the Colorado Trail in 2021 before making the move to Colorado to pursue adventure and work in the great outdoors. He’s backpacked thousands of miles across the US and Europe including the Wonderland Trail and the GR11 in the Spanish Pyrenees.

He loves nerding out about ultralight gear, dialing in his perfect kit, and always trying new and innovative designs. These days, he still calls himself a musician as well as a writer based in beautiful Golden, CO. You can find him bagging peaks, climbing rocks, shredding powder, or jamming at a bluegrass festival.

Articles by Brett Kretzer

MSR Hubba Hubba LT 2 Tent Review
An MSR tent is pitched on dirt with pine trees in the background.

MSR Hubba Hubba LT 2 Tent Review

Author
This long-time favorite just got even better. With an upgraded overall structure and enhanced ease of setup, it is a strong contender for our favorite backpacking tents.
Best Tent Stakes of 2025
A backpacker's hand holding a set of Vargo Titanium Shepherds Hook tent stakes in his hand with a NEMO tent in the background

Best Tent Stakes of 2025

Author
Though they seem trivial, tent stakes are vital to keeping your shelter secure – a sudden midnight storm will quickly remind you how crucial they really are.
Best Backpacking Cookware of 2025
Closeup of a backpacker peaking under the lid of the TOAKS Titanium 750ML backpacking pot

Best Backpacking Cookware of 2025

Author
Everyone has their own cooking style in the backcountry. Whether you’re a cold soaker or gourmet chef, we’ve tested various cookware to help guide your choice.
Snow Peak Litemax Stove Review

Snow Peak Litemax Stove Review

Author
This is one of the lightest and most compact backpacking stoves on the market. This tiny powerhouse can boil a liter of water in just under five minutes, and then it folds away nicely to fit into pretty much any cookpot when you’re done.
Gossamer Gear Gorilla 50 Backpack Review
A hiker wearing the fully packed Gorilla 50 backpack facing away from the camera with a tree and desert scene in the background.

Gossamer Gear Gorilla 50 Backpack Review

Author
The Gossamer Gear Gorilla 50 is one of the most comfortable ultralight backpacks on the market, and we like using it for trips where our load demands a little extra padding and support.
Solo Stove Lite Review
A hiker sets a pot on the Solo Stove Lite. A tent and trees are in the background.

Solo Stove Lite Review

Author
This wood-burning stove is easy to use, nearly smoke-free, and doesn’t scar the ground. Most of all, it’s fun!
MSR PocketRocket 2 Stove Review
The PocketRocket 2 installed on a fuel canister and holding a pot with mountains and a lake in the background.

MSR PocketRocket 2 Stove Review

Author
This stove is a whole lot of power in a tiny package. With excellent simmer control, and an efficient burn, it’s one of our favorites.
Jetboil Flash Cooking System Review
A closeup of a hiker sitting in a tent and stirring food in the jetboil flash.

Jetboil Flash Cooking System Review

Author
Among integrated canister stoves, this is one of the most affordable and dependable options with lots of nice extra features.
Jetboil MiniMo Review
A profile shot of the MiniMo installed with burner, pot, fuel canister, and base support. Trees are in the background.

Jetboil MiniMo Review

Author
This model is one of our favorites for backcountry gourmets and makes our list of the best backpacking stoves.
MSR WindBurner Stove Review

MSR WindBurner Stove Review

Author
This stove system is among the highest quality and best-performing integrated stove systems on the market. We love its exceptional performance in windy weather, its speedy boil times, and great fuel efficiency.
Best Backpacking Water Filters of 2025
Closeup of the Sawyer Squeeze water filter in front of an alpine lake

Best Backpacking Water Filters of 2025

Additional Author
We’ve filtered out the nonsense to bring you our purest recommendations of the best water filters around.
Best Backpacking Tents of 2025
The NEMO Hornet OSMO 2 and Big Agnes Tiger Wall 2 backpacking tents pitched in a campsite surrounded by granite peaks in the Sawtooth Mountains

Best Backpacking Tents of 2025

Author
We put the most promising backpacking tents on the market through the wringer to find the ones with the best balance of comfort, weight…
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