About American Gear Guide
I value the mountains, forests, waters, and deserts of my home; and I value humanity, humanity of every nationality, color, and creed. Not only in America, but all around the world. My values inspire my actions. Thus, I created this website to share the outdoor gear I trust to share similar values, those companies who support their employees’ careers, and the land we depend on. By focusing on purchasing high quality local products one can help support jobs within their community, fair wages, higher environmental standards, and ethical business practices. If you want to see more of my reasons for supporting American-made gear then check out my Reasons Page.
Unlike most gear guides, I don’t encourage materialism or accumulating excess stuff. However, I can endorse finding the best gear and using it hard, repairing it, and eventually recycling when it’s beyond repair. I want to promote outdoor recreation because I believe increasing recreation in our cherished public lands will build appreciation and support to protect them.
Why should anyone listen to my opinion on gear or anything else for that matter? The majority of internet and large publication gear recommendations come from either inexperienced reviewers (couch warriors) lacking credibility or are strongly biased to sell a product. I have the experience to lend a helpful opinion. I’ve been an avid outdoorsman all my life; it’s also my job. I research and only recommend gear that genuinely deserves it, and I do not accept money to endorse a product.
- Matt Mullins
Wildland Firefighter/Forest Ecologist/Outdoorsman
and founder of American Gear Guide
Unlike many sites, all of the header photos, landscapes, & non-studio product photos are from my own personal adventures… i.e. not bought.
A favorite quote –
“One final paragraph of advice: do not burn yourselves out. Be as I am – a reluctant enthusiast….a part-time crusader, a half-hearted fanatic. Save the other half of yourselves and your lives for pleasure and adventure. It is not enough to fight for the land; it is even more important to enjoy it. While you can. While it’s still here. So get out there and hunt and fish and mess around with your friends, ramble out yonder and explore the forests, climb the mountains, bag the peaks, run the rivers, breathe deep of that yet sweet and lucid air, sit quietly for a while and contemplate the precious stillness, the lovely, mysterious, and awesome space. Enjoy yourselves, keep your brain in your head and your head firmly attached to the body, the body active and alive, and I promise you this much; I promise you this one sweet victory over our enemies, over those desk-bound men and women with their hearts in a safe deposit box, and their eyes hypnotized by desk calculators. I promise you this; You will outlive the bastards.”
– Edward Abbey
Experience
- Lonepeak Hotshots IHC, Firefighter (Pulaski and Medic)
- USFS Helitack Firefighter (Sawyer and Medic)
- USFS Chepeta Fire Module (Sawyer)
- USFS Wildland Fire Engine (Sawyer)
- USFS OHV Ranger
- USFS Wildlife Biology Crewleader
- USFS Forest Inventory and Analysis
- Emergency Medical Technician
- Wilderness First Responder
- Honor’s Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology from the University of Utah, and minors in Chemistry and Spanish
- Masters in Natural Resources (Ecology focus) from Utah State University
My World Experience
Backpacked in (besides USA) –
- Andorra
- Austria
- Bulgaria
- Cambodia
- Canada
- China
- Costa Rica
- Croatia
- Cuba
- Czechia
- Germany
- Ecuador
- Egypt
- France
- Hong Kong
- Hungary
- Indonesia
- Israel
- Italy
- Japan
- Jordan
- Kenya
- Macau
- Malaysia
- Mexico
- Morocco
- Nepal
- the Netherlands
- Nicaragua
- Palestine
- Peru
- Philippines
- Poland
- Portugal
- Rwanda
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Singapore
- South Africa
- Spain
- Tibet
- Thailand
- Turkey
- Uganda
- Vietnam
I Love the Experience
- Backcountry and resort skiing
- Backpacking
- Fly fishing
- Mountain and road biking
- Ski mountaineering
- Rock climbing
- Hunting
- Horses
- Canyoneering
- Kayaking
- Rafting
- Photography
- Martial arts (Muay Thai & Kenpo)
- Trail running
- Motorcycles
- World traveling
- Scuba diving
- Gardening
- Cooking
- Brewing beer
- Reading and writing