Katie is an experienced thru-hiker who believes the best gear reviews are created with equal parts data and real-life experience. Her obsession with gear began with her first thru-hike on the Colorado Trail, where she quickly learned that the right gear could make-or-break an experience.

Since then, she’s written hundreds of articles about thru-hiking, gear, and important updates facing public lands and National Scenic Trails. She thrives on what makes gear reviews trustworthy; she doesn’t believe there are many pieces of “bad” gear out there, just gear that is created to fill a specific niche.

When she’s not editing articles or testing ultralight shelters, you can find her playing with her cat or adventuring on long-distance trails.