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Louis Dzierzak

A journalist specializing in outdoor recreation, Lou has covered product design innovations, participation trends and environmentally sustainable manufacturing for over 20 years. On the other hand, he’s had some less than successful outdoor adventures: once, completely spent after a hard day on the trail, he managed to set a vintage MSR Whisperlite stove ablaze before accidentally kicking the burning contraption into a lake. A published author, his book about invasive fish threatening the Great Lakes watershed will be published in 2021. craftedwords.com

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best 3-season sleeping bag: camper in sleeping bag cooking

Best 3-season sleeping bags: for wild camping expeditions throughout spring, summer and fall

By Louis Dzierzak

Our selection of the very best 3-season sleeping bags are perfect for cozy camps throughout the main hiking season and the shoulder seasons

best hiking shoes: hikers on a trail

The best hiking shoes: for day walks and light adventures on the trails

By Fiona Russell, Pat Kinsella, Berne Broudy, Louis Dzierzak, Alex Foxfield

A pair of the best hiking shoes give you many of the benefits of chunkier boots without weighing you down

best hiking backpacks: hiker approaching Skiddaw in the Lakes

Best hiking backpack: from daypacks for shorter hikes to the finest expedition packs for epic adventures

By Jonathan Manning, Louis Dzierzak, Alex Foxfield, Matthew Jones, Jessie Leong

Our selection of the best hiking backpacks for your hiking and wild camping adventures, no matter how big or small

best hiking boots: hiking boots and sunrise

The best hiking boots: for supreme protection, comfort and performance on the trails

By Pat Kinsella, Louis Dzierzak

Choosing the best hiking boots for your planned expeditions is the foundation of all of your adventures in the backcountry

best sleeping pad: blowing up a pad for winter camping

Best sleeping pad: everything from well insulated winter pads to airbeds for car camping

By Matthew Jones, Sian Lewis, Louis Dzierzak, Berne Broudy, Pat Kinsella

We’ve spent countless nights under canvas, putting the best sleeping pads, mats and airbeds through their paces, so that can choose wisely and sleep soundly

best wood-burning stove: Camp Chef Alpine Heavy Duty Cover

The best wood-burning stoves: for cooking up campsite cuisine with natural fuel

By Louis Dzierzak, Pat Kinsella

The best wood-burning stoves are great fun to cook with, and represent a natural alternative to canister gas and liquid fuel stoves

best hiking pants: man striding

Best hiking pants: for protection and comfort on expeditions in all conditions

By Pat Kinsella, Louis Dzierzak, Matthew Jones

The best hiking pants for all seasons and situations, from day hikes, epic hiking expeditions and alpine adventures

best camping coolers: cool box in woods

The best camping coolers: ensure your food stays fresh and your drinks stay chilled

By Louis Dzierzak

The best camping coolers, whether hard boxes or soft packs, can keep your food fresh and your drinks chilled for the duration of your adventures and trips in the wild

Best double-burner camping stoves

Best double-burner camping stoves and grills: for cooking up a storm on camping holidays, picnics and beach barbecues

By Louis Dzierzak

When weight isn’t an issue, there’s no substitute for the best double-burner camping stove or grill as an alfresco cooking system

a woman in one of our best sleeping bags

The best sleeping bags for comfortable nights in camp or on expedition in the mountains

By Matthew Jones, Louis Dzierzak, Sian Lewis, Berne Broudy

Our selection of the best sleeping bags ready for summer adventures will help you pick the right option whether you're off on a car camping trip or thru-hiking expedition

two campers wearing a pair of the best headlamps

The best headlamps for camping, hiking expeditions, ultra marathons, night runs and other after dark adventures

By Pat Kinsella, Alex Foxfield, Louis Dzierzak

The best headlamps free up a whole host of awesome adventures, from Alpine starts and pre dawn rambles to after dark hiking and camping expeditions

best pop-up tents: campers setting up a pop-up tent

Best pop-up tents for fast backpacking adventures, fuss-free camping trips and festival bliss

By Sian Lewis, Louis Dzierzak, Alex Foxfield

Our top picks of the best pop-up tents assemble in no time, are affordable and come in all shapes and sizes

best solar charger: a camper powering up his tech with a solar charger

The best solar chargers: for keeping your tech juiced up in the campsite and in the wild

By Jonathan Manning, Louis Dzierzak

Check out the best solar chargers to keep your GPS, phone, smartwatch, head torch and other hiking essentials topped up during trips in the great outdoors

best hammocks: a camper sat in a hammock admiring a mountain

The best hammocks: for wild nights under the stars and sunny siestas

By Jasper Winn, Louis Dzierzak

Our guide to the best hammocks can help you choose your optimum option for summer snoozing, wild backpacking expeditions and all-season adventures

best camping chair: campers sitting on chairs by a lake

Best camping chair: for multi day expeditions, epic camping holidays, festival fun and fishing trips

By Sian Lewis, Louis Dzierzak

Our ultimate picks of the best camping chairs, from lightweight expedition stools to cosy two-person loveseats for nights under the stars

A camper tucking into food in a food container

How to store food when camping: tips and tricks to keep your grub fresh and safe from critters

By Louis Dzierzak

Learn how to store food when camping so you share your eats with only your (non-furry) friends

best camping stoves: A man preparing a meal on a stove

Best camping stoves: for delicious campsite meals or quick brews in the mountains

By Jonathan Manning, Alex Foxfield, Louis Dzierzak

Our selection of the best camping stoves will help you brew a piping hot beverage or cook up a treat, whether in the campsite or in the mountains

wood-burning stove

What is a wood-burning stove, and should I buy one?

By Louis Dzierzak, Pat Kinsella

When you’re out camping, there’s nothing quite like wild-cooking a feast over naked flames – but do you really need a wood-burning stove to do that?

How to use a wood-burning stove

How to use a wood-burning stove to get the most out of your meals on camp

By Louis Dzierzak, Pat Kinsella

Cooking over an open flame sounds simple, but knowing how to use a wood-burning stove can significantly improve your results

best family tents

The best family tents: for car camping get-aways, staycations and fun-filled backyard sleepouts

By Louis Dzierzak, Matthew Jones, Jen and Sim Benson

Camping trips are shared adventures that can form life-long memories. They start with the best family tents

best 4-person tents: family wild camp

The best 4-person tents: for fun family camping trips or epic wild camping adventures

By Sian Lewis, Louis Dzierzak

Our guide the best 4-person tents for perfect camping trips with friends and family, whether you're off to the campsite or the backcountry

Best flashlights

The best flashlights: for camping and outdoor adventures on the dark side

By Louis Dzierzak

Whether you’re exploring the backcountry, or simply camping out in the backyard, the best flashlights are an essential piece of kit

Camping with teenagers

Camping with teenagers: how to ensure your trip is fun for everyone

By Louis Dzierzak

Adolescent years are a time of turmoil for kids and parents alike, as hormones rage and a yearning for independence grows. But camping with teenagers doesn't have to be an ordeal

best binoculars

Best binoculars and monoculars: for wildlife watching, navigation and studying the heavens

By Matt Swaine, Louis Dzierzak, Alex Foxfield

Our comprehensive guide to the best binoculars and monoculars out there will help you study nature's beauty and enhance your navigational arsenal