Highlights
- Thru-hiked the Pacific Crest Trail in 2014 and the Colorado Trail in 2017
- Wrote the “Wild Woman” column for Survivor’s Edge magazine for three years
- Wants to know what tent stake and water filter brands are in your pack
About
Laura Lancaster is Outdoor Life’s gear staff writer where she focuses on in-depth testing of backpacking and camping gear, with a particular interest in lightweight and ultralight gear. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and daughter.
The destination is just how we give ourselves permission to be on the journey.
- Laura Lancaster
About
Laura Lancaster is Outdoor Life’s gear staff writer where she focuses on in-depth testing of backpacking and camping gear, with a particular interest in lightweight and ultralight gear. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and daughter.
Experience
Lancaster, who was born in Washington State, went on her first backpacking trip with her dad at the age of 12. She backpacked and camped throughout college, and continued to spend time in the backcountry of the West, even after moving to the concrete jungle of New York City. She went back West permanently in 2014, first to hike the Pacific Crest Trail (earning the trail name “Chop Chop”), then the Wonderland Trail, and the Colorado Trail. In between hiking sections of the Pacific Northwest Trail and the Oregon Coast Trail, she freelanced for various outdoor publications, including Backpacker, Survivor’s Edge, and American Survival Guide, as well as editing memoirs by Heather Anderson, Dierdre Wolownick, and Barney Scout Mann. She joined the OL gear team in February 2022, where she tests gear and publishes her findings in detailed articles.
Education
Laura graduated from the University of Washington with a major in English Literature.
The destination is just how we give ourselves permission to be on the journey.
- Laura Lancaster
More from Laura Lancaster
The Best Portable Power Stations of 2024, Tested and Reviewed
By Laura Lancaster
March 4, 2024
The Best Camping Tents of 2024, Tested and Reviewed
By Laura Lancaster
February 28, 2024
The Best Inflatable Paddle Boards of 2024, Tested and Reviewed
By Laura Lancaster
February 27, 2024
The Best Hiking Boots for Plantar Fasciitis, Expert Recommendations
By Laura Lancaster
February 20, 2024
The Best Solar Power Banks of 2024: We Found One Actually Worth the Money
By Laura Lancaster
February 14, 2024
Hiking the John Muir Trail: How to Start Planning for the Greatest Wilderness Hike in America
By Laura Lancaster
February 2, 2024