Ryan Stuart, explore's gear editor

The first step - admitting I have a problem

• Posted on February 5, 2008 at 6:12 PM
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Hi everyone, I’m a gear addict. I just can’t get enough gear. I have dozens of packs, jackets, poles, skis, tents, shoes, boots and other stuff around my house and it’s just not enough. I want everything in the Mountain Equipment Co-Op and Patagonia catalogue. The newer the better. Sometimes I get multiple delivers of gear a day and I still can’t wait to open the next one. I’m like a kid at a toy store – I always want more. I need more.

To me, there’s nothing better than pulling the paper out of a brand new pair of trail runners (especially if they aren’t on the market yet), slipping them on, grabbing that new soft shell and day pack and heading out the door. That’s why I love my job. As the gear editor at explore magazine I get paid to test new gear. I geek out with gear manufacturers about the pros and cons of different fabrics. I read catalogues like porn. And the most exciting emails I get are ones announcing new product.

Right now I’m just wrapping up testing for explore’s annual gear guide, in the May issue. My office and basement are full of new gear of every shape and form. It’s a beautiful thing. I’ll get you a picture for my next blog entry.

I will be using this blog to tell you all about my addiction – essentially, what it’s like to be a gear editor. I’ll probably throw in the odd gear review and news along the way, but mostly I’d like to tell you about my job. So make it easy on me and ask me some questions. What do you want to know about the life of a gear editor? What’s involved in gear reviewing? What are the challenges and benefits? I’ll do my best to answer every question in my 2+ weekly blog updates.

The doorbell is ringing, so I better go – it might be more gear! Talk to you soon.

Ryan “The Gearhead” Stuart