Marion Tucker
Gear Analyst

Born and raised in the Twin Cities, Marion grew up surrounded by the natural beauty of the Midwest, spending her childhood learning to camp, kayak, and canoe and, later, working as a guide in
the Northwoods. With a background in motion picture and still photography, much of Marion’s professional experience comes from working behind the camera, but she remains an avid outdoors-person with a strong environmental ethic and interest in issues of equity and access to wilderness spaces.

Marion’s passion for backpacking, paddling, and climbing have taken her across the United States and abroad- everywhere from Wyoming’s Wind River Range to the alpine of New Zealand’s South Island. This time on backcountry trails and waters has introduced her to a wealth of stories, sights, and skills that come with being enmeshed in the outdoors and connecting to the people met along the way.

Whether working on a film set or scrambling through a boulder field, Marion maintains her love of stories and moves through the world with curiosity and a desire to share her experiences. She currently
lives out of her van, searching for the next mountain peaks and waterways to explore.

Articles by Marion Tucker

Lifetime Fold-in-Half Adjustable Table Review
A person sets a plastic tub on the top of a folding table outside. There is also a bear canister on the table.

Lifetime Fold-in-Half Adjustable Table Review

Author
This table might not be designed specifically for camping, but its rugged durability makes it well-suited for outdoor use.
GCI Outdoor Slim-Fold Cook Station Review
A person pours something into a frying pan sitting on top of a camp stove. The person stands in front of a cook station loaded with various kitchen items and ingredients. There are mountains in the background.

GCI Outdoor Slim-Fold Cook Station Review

Author
This station is the perfect dedicated cooking space for your next outdoor adventure, providing ample room to prep and prepare all your meals.
Zempire Kitpac Pro Large Camping Table Review
A person sit on a camp chair next to a camp table with a tent and pine forest in the background.

Zempire Kitpac Pro Large Camping Table Review

Author
Stylish, practical, portable, and durable, this table checks all the boxes for your camping setup.
REI Westward Padded Folding Chair Review
A person sits in a folding camping chair with their back to the camera with a pine forest in the background.

REI Westward Padded Folding Chair Review

Author
Stylish and durable, this chair is tough enough to go from the backyard to the backcountry, and its thick cushioning makes it one of the most comfortable we’ve ever sat in.
REI Flexlite Camp Dreamer Chair Review
A person sits with their back to the camera in a scoop-seat camping chair with mountains in the background.

REI Flexlite Camp Dreamer Chair Review

Author
With a durable high-back design, this chair is a sturdy yet comfortable seat, all while maintaining a lightweight build that’s convenient to bring on all your adventures.
Helinox Chair One High-Back (re) Review
A person sits in a scoop-seat camping chair with their back to the camera in a pine forest with snow on the ground.

Helinox Chair One High-Back (re) Review

Author
With this chair, you don’t have to sacrifice comfort for weight. Versatile enough for car camping and backpacking, this high-backed option blends ultralight with comfort.
Best Camping Lanterns of 2026
Nine lanterns- the LE 1000LM LED lantern, Black Diamond Moji, GoalZero Lighthouse 600, GoalZero Lighthouse Micro Flash, LuminAid String Light, Coleman Rugged Rechargeable, BioLite AlpenGlow 500, LuminAid Packlite Max 2-in-1, and LightUpCamp LED Solar Powered Foldable Camping Light- sit beside each other on a rock. The last remaining daylight illuminates the peaks of mountains in the background.

Best Camping Lanterns of 2026

Author
When daylight fades, don’t fumble in the dark. Whether you need a lantern that’s bright, tough, or tricked out, these are the best of the best to keep the good times glowing after dark.
Hydro Flask Carry Out 20L Cooler Review
The Hydro Flask Carry Out 20L cooler sits on a rock with mountains in the background.

Hydro Flask Carry Out 20L Cooler Review

Author
This stylish soft shell cooler is a great choice for casual outings and day trips. With its eye-catching look and portability, it’s a spacious cooler with an elevated aesthetic that comes at an incredibly reasonable price.
Coleman Steel Belted Cooler Review

Coleman Steel Belted Cooler Review

Author
A 1950s throwback oozing with vintage charm, this cooler is thoroughly modern in its portable functionality. Encased in stylish metal plating, this cooler is reliable and affordable with maximized storage to accommodate a mid-size group.
REI Cool Trail Split Pack Cooler Review
REI Cool Trail Split Pack Cooler Review

REI Cool Trail Split Pack Cooler Review

Author
At first glance, this cooler might look like a traditional backpack. However, featuring a split design, its bottom half is a cooler with plenty of room to accommodate day trip needs for maximum portability on and off the trail.
RTIC Soft Pack Cooler Review
The RTIC Soft Pack cooler sits on a rock with sage brush and boulders in the background.

RTIC Soft Pack Cooler Review

Author
This burly soft shell cooler is designed to be used outside and is equipped to handle adventures on and off the water. The only cooler we reviewed that floats, its fully waterproof design and rugged exterior shell is built to withstand the roughest usage.
RTIC Ultralight 52 Cooler Review
A close up of a person carrying the RTIC Ultralight 52 cooler by its built-in molded side handles.

RTIC Ultralight 52 Cooler Review

Author
Built to keep weight to an absolute minimum, this cooler weighs significantly less than comparable models, while still having plenty of room for all your cold storage needs. Combining high volume with light weight, it’s a product that’s uniquely portable.
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