
Charlie Lyon
Charlie is a freelance writer and editor with a passion for hiking, biking, wild swimming and active travel. She recently moved from Bristol to South Wales and now refuses to leave home without one of the following: lightweight hikers, wetsuit, mountain bike, tent. Having bought a fixer-upper that backs on to protected woodland, her love of nature and wildlife has intensified and the dark skies have kickstarted a new fondness for stargazing.
Latest articles by Charlie Lyon

The best cheap running shoes 2025: wallet-friendly buys that will take you further on the trails and the road
By Claire Maxted last updated
There's no need to break the bank when picking up a new pair of rides – the best cheap running shoes have been tested and rated by our experts

The best Garmin watches 2025: explore Alpine trails or chase a new PB with a smartwatch that will keep you on course
By Julia Clarke, Cat Ellis, Charlie Lyon, Will Symons last updated
From rugged builds for multi-day missions in the mountains to sleek and lightweight running companions, the best Garmin watches combine reliable GPS, advanced performance metrics and long battery life to suit every kind of athlete and adventurer

How to pitch a tent: from choosing a location to canvas maintenance, here's how to create a solid shelter
By Jen and Sim Benson, Alex Foxfield last updated
Your backcountry adventure will be way more enjoyable if you master the basics of pitching a tent before setting out. Here are our expert tips

The best water shoes 2025: gear up for wild aqua adventures
By Rosee Woodland last updated
Riverbeds, rocks, rapids, reefs, rudders... the best water shoes to protect your feet from blue-space hazards

The best 2-person tents 2025: built for the wilderness with minimal bulk, whether you're backpacking or car camping
By Matthew Jones last updated
Our selection of the best 2-person tents are highly portable and give reliable shelter for your backcountry expeditions

How to light a fire: your step-by-step guide to getting a campfire going every time
By Alex Foxfield last updated
Master the art of building and lighting a fire in the wild with our expert tips. Plus, get to grips with our jargon buster

"The crazy part is a year ago he had two legs, and a month ago he'd never worn crampons" – adventurer who lost his leg in a motorbike crash hopes to set new record with the first ascent of a previously unclimbed 16,000ft peak
By Charlie Lyon published
Next month, Luke Tarrant will join adaptive mountaineer Ed Jackson on an expedition to Kyrgyzstan to attempt a summit that no one has managed before

The best running water bottles 2025: stay hydrated as you clock up the miles with our easy-to-carry and convenient picks
By Claire Maxted last updated
Our selection of the best water bottles for running available right now will help you select the best one to stay hydrated

The best GPS watches: smart timepieces to keep every adventure on track
By Julia Clarke last updated
Big battery life, enhanced mapping, audio capabilities... we've tested the best GPS watches to see how they stack up against the manufacturers' claims

The best 4-season sleeping bags: warm and packable bags for a cozy night's sleep, whatever the weather
By Craig Taylor, Charlie Lyon last updated
Our selection of the best 4-season sleeping bags will keep you safe and toasty while camping, no matter how low the mercury

Work gets underway on mega $8.5 million trailhead facelift at Grand Teton's much-loved Taggart Lake to improve accessibility
By Charlie Lyon published
Ground has been broken on the two year project that will improve the visitor experience – but there's still $1 million to raise to get it finished

American climber claims to be first to solo the most brutal line on Denali, the tallest mountain in the US, but labels the Alaska Range a "hellscape" after punishing 53-day trip
By Charlie Lyon published
The Slovak Direct route has seen fewer than 20 ascents since the 1980s

Watch amazing new speed climbing record – "the fastest speed climbing run ever done in Europe" – being set at the IFSC European Cup
By Charlie Lyon published
Ukranian climber Yaroslav Tkach took gold with his incredible sub-five-second performance

Power your passion: the new Jackery Explorer 3000 v2 lets you adventure further for longer
By Charlie Lyon published
Sponsor Content Created With Jackery
Get all the quiet, emission-free energy you need with this brand new portable unit that offers better performance and more power than ever before

'Summit the peak, then kick it by the creek' – Osprey and Crazy Creek join forces to release the Hex 2.0 X Talon 33 lightweight pack and camp chair
By Charlie Lyon published
This good-looking bundle is what you need for uphill adventure and downtime by the river this summer, but hurry, it's limited edition

Buying a new tent this summer? This major outdoor brand will let you return it for a full refund at the end of the season "no matter how much it has been used"
By Charlie Lyon published
The UK-only offer aims to encourage seasonal campers and festival-goers to bring tents home with them rather than abandoning them after one use

Hikers joyful as Zion National Park's Emerald Pools Bridge reopens, restoring access to iconic trails after 2 years of closures
By Charlie Lyon published
The bridge connecting Zion Lodge to the Emerald Pools Trail system is now open to visitors following a lengthy period of construction

'Bring the good times of high-temperature cooking to places you never thought possible' – celebrity chef Matty Matheson joins up with Gozney to launch new edition of its campsite-friendly pizza oven
By Charlie Lyon published
The Bear star wants you to have fun cooking in the great outdoors using the new Tread pizza oven in an intrepid orange colorway

"I’m thrilled to have achieved what many people in the mountaineering world said was impossible" – we talk to Andrew Ushakov about his record-breaking Everest summit, along with the altitude specialist behind his time-saving technique
By Charlie Lyon published
The Ukrainian-American climber puts the success of his sea to summit Everest speed climb down to over 400 hours spent in a hypoxic tent - we got the low down on how he prepared

Emily Harrington's big wall career will blow your mind, and now you can watch her record-breaking freeclimb of El Capitan on film
By Charlie Lyon published
The Girl Climber feature-length doc features 10 years of incredible footage, including the day Emily sent the Golden Gate route on El Capitan

Good news at last for wild swimmers? UK water company bosses hit with record £123m fine after 'failing to protect the environment', polluting rivers and lakes with raw sewage
By Charlie Lyon last updated
Following two investigations, the largest water company in the UK has been slapped with the penalty for polluting rivers and for paying out cash to investors while failing customers

"The most amazing thing I've ever done" – CPR campaigner who installed defibrillator on Everest is overjoyed to hear it saved a French climber's life
By Charlie Lyon published
David Sullivan "shed tears of joy" as he heard the medical advice he had installed at over 16,400ft had been put to great use

Lake District hikers called to join hunt for England's only mountain butterfly as scientists fear climate change may squeeze it from its habitat
By Charlie Lyon published
Conservationists are asking walkers in the national park to keep their eyes peeled for the rare mountain ringlet

"Leave no trace" – visitors to Northern Ireland's iconic Giant's Causeway urged to stop jamming coins into the ancient rocks
By Charlie Lyon published
The coins, that tourists leave behind for love or luck, are having a devastating impact on the world-famous heritage site

What is The Salt Path and can I hike it? As the much-anticipated movie hits the big screens we look at the iconic UK hiking trail that provides its setting
By Charlie Lyon published
The long-awaited film version of Raynor Winn’s beloved memoir opens in movie theaters in the USA and UK on May 30 – it might just leave you wanting to explore England's famous South West Coast Path
All the latest inspiration, tips and guides to help you plan your next Advnture!