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Laura Lancaster on Muck Rack

Laura Lancaster

  • Gear Reviewer and Outdoor Editor, Freelance
Seattle
As seen in: MSN, Yahoo Life, Nature, PNAS, Flipboard, Yahoo Sports, The Health Pulse, Outdoor Life, Backpacker Magazine, Fairbanks Daily News-Miner and
Covers:  Outdoors/backpacking/survival

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Laura Lancaster’s Biography

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History, memoir, science, activism—my favorite stories start with a love of the natural world. This passion for the outdoors started young, on camping and backpacking trips with my family across the western half of the United States. But after college, I left the high passes and river valleys behind to explore the concrete jungle of New York City, working in the editorial departments of Oxford University Press and Macmillan. But the mountains have a way of calling you home, so in 2014 I left to…

Laura Lancaster’s Journalist Portfolio

A Challenge for PCT Hikers: Take Your Time in Oregon

A Challenge for PCT Hikers: Take Your Time in Oregon

"C'mon, guys, let's hike a 30," Kit and Rimshot pled. Trail friends had just caught up to my husband and me a…

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Bug Out Boat: Urban Waterway Evacuation Plans

Bug Out Boat: Urban Waterway Evacuation Plans

If you live in a large, water-bound city, escaping by boat may be your only option. It's a paradox that so ma…

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The 4 Best Socks of 2019

The 4 Best Socks of 2019

Happy feet make for a happy hiker. Pamper them with these four pairs.

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Hike and Snorkel on Hawaii's Puna Coast Trail

Hike and Snorkel on Hawaii's Puna Coast Trail

I tiptoe through the tide pool on feet tender from a day of backpacking. Jags of volcanic rock and clusters o…

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Hiking the Elwha River, Olympic National Park

Hiking the Elwha River, Olympic National Park

At mile 20, disorientation sets in. We're buried in a canopy of lichen-draped Douglas firs that are so dense,…

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Articles

We Tested the 15 Best Backpacking Sleeping Bags, These Are the Ones We’d Actually Carry in the Backcountry Original

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By Ashley Thess, Laura Lancaster
| Outdoor Life Verified
We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More › Best Down Therm-a-Rest Parsec See It Best Ultralight Feathered Friends Egret/Swallow See It Best Synthetic Nemo Forte Endless Promise See It Your backpacking sleeping bag is a crucial part of your sleep system, and usually the largest item in your pack.
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We Tested the 9 Best Camping Fans of 2026

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By Laura Lancaster
| Outdoor Life Verified
We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More › Best Handheld Tunise Camping Fan See It Best for Tents On Sale Now Odoland Portable Fan See It Best Large Ryobi Hybrid Portable Fan See It It’s time to add a new piece of gear to your arsenal of tools for beating the heat of August: the camping fan. But with so many options, from little handheld minis to dedicated tent ceiling fans, which one is right for your needs?
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We Field Tested the 9 Best Backpacking Stoves Original

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By Laura Lancaster
| Outdoor Life Verified
We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More › Best Value MSR PocketRocket 2 See It Best Overall JetBoil Stash See It Smallest Soto Amicus See It Whether it’s making your morning coffee or cooking a warm evening meal, a backpacking stove is an important part of your backcountry kitchen.
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Interview

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What was your first job as a journalist?

freelance

Have you ever used a typewriter?

no

How is social media changing news?

new ways to reach readers? not on social media myself