by Seth Levy
Congratulations to community member PNW_John (aka John), Trailspace's June Reviewer of the Month! John's recent gear reviews have been among the highest-rated by the Trailspace community.
Join the Trailspace community in choosing July's most helpful reviewer by voting up the reviews you find most helpful. Check out the Top Reviewers to see who's on track to be crowned July's most helpful reviewer.
Congratulations, John! You win a goodie pack of gear from A3, Innate, Kind, ProBar, and Trailspace for your contributions.*
Write your own helpful gear reviews and you could be next month's most helpful reviewer.
John hiking in Oregon's Middle Santiam Wilderness.
How did you get started exploring outdoors? Any favorite stories, memories?
I started backpacking when I was 11 and at first didn’t like how much work it was to carry in gear for camping. As I became experienced and took increasingly longer trips into the backcountry, I came to enjoy journey as much as the destination.
Now, 37 years later I still love getting out on the trail and discovering new places to go.
What do you enjoy doing outdoors?
Hiking and backpacking are my favorites, but really, I just like to be outside in the forest.
Tell us about your favorite outdoor areas/places.
Fortunately for me, I live in a great area and have a lot of favorites close by. To narrow it; the Three Sisters Wilderness and Columbia River Gorge are at the top. Both are within the Oregon Cascade range and offer spectacular views, wonderful forests, glaciated mountains and amazing waterfalls.
John on the south side of Mt. Hood, near Devil's Kitchen.
What’s your perfect outdoor day?
A perfect outdoor day for me is getting out on the trail for a solo hike. Hiking alone, I feel more in tune with my environment and enjoy solitude on the trail. I find it very invigorating.
What are your favorite pieces of outdoor equipment?
I think my favorite piece of gear is a sleeping bag. To me, there is little better than lying down for a good night’s sleep after a long day of hiking in a nice cozy sleeping bag.
Western Mountaineering is the brand of sleeping bag I use. I have two, the Highlite and Ultralite.
What motivated you to share your outdoor gear reviews with the Trailspace community?
Initially, it was to be entered in the gear raffle. After a few reviews though, I began to look at how I could improve them and make them helpful for others.
I know I read a lot of other people’s reviews when I am looking for new gear and want to do the same for others looking for new items.
Where does your username come from?
I have a common name which is usually taken so, I added PNW (Pacific Northwest) to the beginning. So creative.
Great job, John!
*Besides Trailspace glory and appreciation, John gets a goodie pack with an Innate Persona Organizer, a selection of tasty bars from A3, Kind, and ProBar, a Trailspace Trail Runner Cap by Headsweats, a Trailspace pint glass (for après-backcountry use), and Trailspace stickers.
Wondering how you can be as lucky as John? Write some great gear reviews of your own. Next month the Trailspace community will recognize another reviewer (who'll win some prizes), and it could be you!
Help recognize the best reviews on Trailspace by clicking that up arrow whenever you read a truly helpful review. You'll not only recognize good reviewers, you'll help highlight the best reviews of products for other members looking for outdoor equipment.
