Sara Kruglinski
OPS Coordinator and CONTRIBUTing Writer

My name is Sara or Socks, and I am an artist and overall gear nerd. I have been a backpacker for over 20 years and with my dogs for the last 10 years. Ace is my current furry friend, and we have backpacked well over 1,000 miles together and hiked even more.
Between long sections on the PCT and a full TRT thru-hike, Ace is a well-seasoned adventurer and a long distance hiking dog. We try to get out together for a few weeks every season. He jumps in excitement whenever his bright red backpack comes out and the trip prep begins.
In addition to being an avid hiker and backpacker, Ace and I volunteered together for SAR. I have worked as a professional ski patroller and a lifeguard. I always put safety first. I am constantly editing my gear list to find the best gear for my next adventure.
You can usually find me outside, whether I am backpacking, hiking, running, skiing, or painting.
A long-term, in-depth review of a reliable, bright headlamp with a rear light, great for hiking, backpacking, running, and other nighttime outdoor activities.
Find the best women's short tights (aka, biker shorts or compression shorts) through expert testing and reviews. We tested shorts hiking, running, and outdoor activities with fit guides for every body type.
Protect your dog’s eyes during outdoor adventures with the best dog goggles —ideal for hiking, biking, swimming, and more.
Unnecessary? Too heavy? Looks dorky? Too techy? These outdoor gear items changed our mind for the better, so good that we used to never want this and now need this gear.
Our writers share their favorite camp and backpacking meals—dehydrated and freeze dried dinners tested over thousands of miles of hiking. We test for taste, texture, portion size, time to prepare, calories, protein, packaging and more.
Here's what happens when outdoor writers turn to other writers for gear recommendations. This is the gear we learned about from our fellow writers' reviews.
Our favorite outdoor gear innovations from 2024–from revolutionary technology that pushes the outdoor industry to gear that accounts for the cradle-to-grave environmental impact of a piece of gear. Most importantly, we share tips we personally use to reduce our environmental impact, mainly, buying less stuff and helping others do that, too.
Our writers share their favorite gear item by a woman-owned outdoor brand. The 12 gear items we love made by women who are outdoor industry leaders.