by Alicia MacLeay
Congratulations to Trailspace's Top 10 Reviewers of 2024!
The following 10 members were tops in the community in 2024, collectively contributing more than 70 gear reviews to the Trailspace community. We're grateful to them, and to everyone who shared a review of their outdoor gear in 2024. First-hand, independent reviews help others gear up and get outside safely and comfortably.
We asked our Top 10 reviewers about their top outings of 2024, plans for 2025, and anything else they wanted to share with the community.
Top 10 Trailspace Reviewers of 2024
#1 Rick StrimbeckTrondheim, Norway
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2024 Favorites: In the PNW, a trail run up Mount Angeles (Washington) with both daughters and a son-in-law—does it get any better than that?—as well as a two-nighter on Crater Mountain, a day hike in view of Rainier, plus hikes and light mountaineering with my geologist friend Liz. And, backcountry skiing and hiking here in Norway.
2025 Plans: My wife and I are planning to get back to our roots and hike the New Hampshire and Maine sections of the Appalachian Trail. I'm also planning to ski the Norwegian Birkebeiner for the first time.
Also: I retired in July! More time for outdoor action and gear reviews.
(*That photo above is from Rick's PNW trail report.)
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#2 Andrew FriedmanCabin John, Maryland |
2024 Favorites: My favorite place I visited in 2024 was Spain. Favorite hike was an impromptu day trip up Mount Washington (New Hampshire) during a family vacation; I had to skip the summit cone because I was recovering from surgery.
2025 Plans: We're discussing a family trip to the Dolomites next summer.
Also: Hiking with our children when they were young appears to have rubbed off. All three, now adults, had fun hiking in 2024. Youngest solo-hiked the Sierras de Cordoba in Spain (in foul weather!); her older sister hiked with friends in New Jersey; our son, the oldest, hiked with me and other family members up Mount Washington—his first time on the mountain.
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#3 Bob WithrowCentral Cascades, Oregon
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2024 Favorites: Tongariro National Park in New Zealand. It’s beautiful with all kinds of walking. We didn’t have nearly enough time there.
2025 Plans: Leaving in March for a trek to Everest Base Camp and then detouring over a couple of passes on the way out.
Also: Just grateful to be able to get out and have the free time that comes with retirement.
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#4 Brian NordbergSalt Lake City, Utah
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2024 Favorites: Had an amazing trip to Yosemite—5 days, 60-some-odd miles, and just under 12K of ascent. This was actually one of the “shortest” five-day excursions we have done, but it was nice to slow down and enjoy the scenery. However, I did chicken out on Half Dome—just too slick for my liking. |
#5 TJ
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2024 Favorites: Living at elevation, with a backyard of pine trees, sometimes my best trips are walking to my deck with a cup of coffee. A fun memory was taking a friend on his first night hike. He told me he'd never seen a bobcat. Literally a few minutes later we came across a big bobcat relaxing in a tree. We got lucky and he was stoked. The Mountain Gods delivered for my buddy.
2025 Plans: Banff is on the list. Looks spectacular. The other is the Eastern Sierra in September. No bugs, few people, and typically perfect weather. Backpacking heaven in my opinion.
Also: Years ago, after a mountain biking crash, I realized it was about being in the mountains more than the mountain biking for me. Eventually I went from years of driving hours every weekend to get up high for my fix to moving to the mountains where I can walk out the door and roam. So, my unsolicited advice is if you can live, work, and play someplace that you truly connect with...try to make it happen. It can be a game-changer.
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#6 Fabian OmmarSão Paulo, Brazil
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2024 Favorites: I’ve been busy, but I did my best to keep doing rural and trail backpack trekking trips, camping, and stealth camping, mostly in my state. It’s a good opportunity to know nice places near home, stay in shape, and enjoy nature. I also mountain bike, which I love.
2025 Plans: I’m making plans for three or four longer, group trips. My nephews are starting to enjoy the outdoor life, which is great, so I’ve started them backyard camping to teach the basics and will take them on a few weekend trips.
Also: Besides being an engineer, nature lover, and outdoor practitioner, I’m also a prepper author. I’ve got a book on Street Survivalism Training on Amazon Kindle since 2018, and currently I’m putting the final touches on my new book, Household Preparedness Training, due early 2025. Both utilize self-reliant camping/backpacking protocols, procedures, and gear because those activities connect in many ways.
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#7 Sean Van CleveBaltimore, Maryland
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2024 Favorites: Even though visiting Baxter State Park in Maine wasn't new, seeing moose, loons, and the Aurora Borealis in a single day was!
2025 Plans: I am hoping to visit Hornstrandir Nature Preserve in Iceland.
Also: In my free time when I am not outside, I am either studying or teaching music.
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#8 WolfedVirginia
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2024 Favorites: Backpacking with my brothers. We went to George Washington National Forest on part of the Massanutten Trail (Virginia). We caught up and relaxed around the fire. Occasionally a breeze picked up and we found ourselves in a snowfall of leaves. Perfect temperature and weather. No reason to put up a tent, so I ended up cowboy camping and got to look at the stars through the tree canopy before falling asleep. One of the better sleeps I've had in a while.
2025 Plans: I'm trying to find new-to-me trails close to Northern Virginia. Nothing specific, just something different without having to drive for hours, and that may have something cool as a destination, like a good vista or waterfall.
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#9 Phil MayLewisville, North Carolina
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2024 Favorites: My annual favorite is our trip home to Scotland and two weeks of roaming the Highlands. I won't name specific spots...the popular ones are already too crowded, but there are lots of spots just as nice and not on social media.
2025 Plans: I can't wait to get back to Scotland each year. Other than that, I have two longer backpacking trips targeted for 2025 to keep my training inspired. No set dates or locations yet...that's what New Year is for—planning and looking forward.
Also: I'm still getting out there every week for field work and as many backcountry trips as I can. Haven't been as active on Trailspace due to a busy schedule but hope everyone is well.
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#10 King ThurberUtah
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2024 Favorites: Backpacking High Creek Trail in the Bear River Mountains east of Cache Valley (Utah) with my grandson. Took a side trail to a waterfall. Found a nice little spot by the trail just in time for a rainstorm. After a pleasant nap, we explored to a couple beaver dams. Amazingly beautiful country right in my backyard. Next day we hightailed it out to make breakfast at Angie's Restaurant in Logan. Absolutely perfect breakfast! And we went home good pals as always.
2025 Plans: Our venerable Scout Troop 4 (105 years continuously chartered by First Presbyterian Church, Ogden) plans on canoeing the Green River in eastern Utah. A week in classic Red Rock Country floating on the Green. Gotta work on swimming...
Also: I'm starting a "Natural Sound" PA service for acoustic music featuring high-end equipment. Plus, efforting music.
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As a thank-you for their efforts, we're sending each top reviewer a special-edition embroidered Top 10 beanie from Minus 33, plus The Deuce or DirtSaw Deuce spade from TheTentLab.
Want to be a top reviewer in 2025? Share a gear review on Trailspace. Whatever your experience level or background, every outdoor voice—including yours—adds to the community's knowledge.
Appreciate helpful, independent reviews? Whenever you like a review, find it useful, or learn something new, give it an upvote.
The 2024 Top Reviewer rankings are based on the overall volume and quality of reviews written by each reviewer, as measured by the total number of reviewer reputation points earned from December 1, 2023 through November 30, 2024.
Top image credit: Rick Strimbeck/BigRed
