Contributing author
Jenna Hollander contributes published guidance to this site. Additional biography details will appear after editorial verification.
Archive
After two seasons in the backcountry, I've learned that most "waterproof" trail shoes fail when you actually need them. Here's where the ziitop waterproof trail runner delivers — and where it doesn't.
After two months of rocky ridgelines and surprise creek crossings, I've got a real take on whether these budget waterproof trail runners belong in your pack.
Former ranger puts the Nocs Provisions Field Issue compact binoculars through real field testing in Montana conditions. Straight talk on what works, what doesn't, and whether they're worth your money.
After two seasons in rugged terrain, this Columbia hiking shoe holds up—but it isn't without compromises. My honest take after months of real trail time.
After 80 miles of Montana trails, here's what I found about these lightweight waterproof hikers.
After two summers patrolling Glacier and Yosemite, I've handled enough optics to know the difference between marketing and performance. Here's my honest take on the AcePath 15x56s.
Former ranger puts the Bushnell H2O 8x25 through two seasons of real field use. Compact, waterproof, and clear enough for birding — but not without a few trade-offs worth knowing.
The Salomon Alphacross 5 Gore-Tex handles wet, muddy trails well, but has some real limitations in fit and cushioning. An honest review from a former ranger.
I tested the BEBANG 10x42 binoculars in real trail conditions. Solid optics and waterproofing for the price, with a few honest caveats worth knowing before you buy.
I tested the GIGAPENGUIN 15x52 binoculars across several weeks of trail use. Strong low-light optics and a practical phone adapter, with one real frustration worth knowing about.
I wore these through wet September trails in Glacier and they held up. Here's my honest take on who the Salomon XA PRO 3D Gore-Tex is actually built for.
I tested the Saucony Excursion TR16 on wet, variable fall trails and found the GORE-TEX waterproofing and 4.5mm lug traction genuinely hold up for national park day hikes.
I tested the Salomon Speedcross Peak Gore-Tex on wet Glacier trails. Solid waterproofing, great grip — with one honest caveat about breathability.
A no-fluff look at the Saucony Excursion TR16 from a former park ranger — good for moderate park trails, but I've got some honest caveats about mud and fit.
I tested the Adidas Terrex Anylander Rain.RDY on wet Montana trails. Here's what held up, what fell short, and who it's actually built for.
I tested the RealCool 30L daypack on trails ranging from dry sagebrush flats to rainy forest loops. Solid for moderate park days, but the hip belt is minimal.
I tested the ROYAL MOUNTAIN 30L on shoulder-season day hikes in Glacier. It's a capable, packable daypack with a built-in rain cover — solid for park day trips, not for heavy loads.
I tested the Komofa 30L on Montana trails and a Tetons weekend. Good organization and weight for casual park days, but that hip belt won't impress serious hikers.
I grabbed the RealCool 30L on a last-minute Glacier day hike and it surprised me. Lightweight, breathable, practical — with a few honest caveats worth knowing before you buy.
I tested the SKYSPER 20L on actual Glacier-area trails. It's light, breathable, and honest about what it is — a solid budget daypack with one real limitation.
I tested the ROYAL MOUNTAIN 30L foldable daypack on a late-season Glacier trip. It's light, organized, and comes with a rain cover — but the back panel runs hot.
I picked this up after winging too many Glacier itineraries from memory. Solid cross-border framework for Banff, Jasper and Glacier, though the U.S. park coverage runs thinner than I'd like.
I've kept a copy of this National Geographic parks guide within reach since my Glacier days. It's the best single-volume planning reference I've found for serious national park travel.
I've used this Nat Geo parks guide through two seasons as a ranger and plenty of road trips. Solid for planning all 63 parks, with a few real limitations worth knowing.
I used National Geographic's 100 Parks, 5,000 Ideas to plan multiple park trips during my off-seasons from rangering. It's a solid planning tool with one honest gap worth knowing about.
I picked up this Stone Road Press guide thinking about all the under-prepared visitors I met as a ranger. For multi-park planners, it's one of the more practical single-volume references I've seen.
Moon's all-63-parks guide earns a spot on the passenger seat for multi-park road trips. I'd just go in knowing each park gets limited depth.
I keep this Nat Geo parks book on my shelf for a reason — it's the best single-volume overview of the full NPS system I've found, even if deeper parks deserve their own dedicated guide.