Zach is a professional Mountain Guide, climber, and skier who dabbles in most outdoors sports. While he calls Colorado home, he travels extensively across North America, Europe, and sometimes Asia whether working or playing. Zach has also worn many hats in administrative roles including content manager, copy writer, marketing manager, website designer, photographer, and program developer. He is an IFMGA licensed/certified guide and has created his own curriculum at many universities, where he still teaches. Zach’s writing, photography, and mountain exploits have appeared in publications such as the American Alpine Journal, Planet Mountain, Alpinist, and Gripped.
Zach started working in product testing over a decade ago and is thrilled to be part of Gear Lab. When he’s not playing outside or on a computer, Zach plays pickleball, music, or (most importantly) spends time with his partner Syd and their dog Benny.
Author Profile
Zach Lovell
Review Editor
Showing 1-15 of 184 by Zach Lovell
The Best Hardshell Jackets
There are a vast number of hardshell jackets available these days. We purchased the most promising and put them...
Editors' Choice
Arc'teryx Beta AR Review
This is a high-performing, versatile hardshell that excels in wet, stormy conditions and demanding outdoor use. Its...
Best Buy
Mammut Taiss HS Review
Hardshell jackets this affordable are hard to come by, especially considering its excellent all-around scores in...
Top Pick
The North Face Summit Series Papsura Futurelight Review
This ultralight hardshell weighs around half that of many competitors, trading durability and storm protection for...
10 Best Sandals
Trying to figure out what type of sandal the one you need is? We've spent years testing hundreds of pairs of flip...
The Best Down Jackets for Men
Our experts tested 25 of the most promising down jackets available to find the best fitting, the warmest, and the most...
How to Choose a Backpacking Tent
Picking the right backpacking tent means checking out a list of variables. Probably the first issue is deciding which...
Editors' Choice
REI Co-op Half Dome 3 Review
While many tents don't live up to their advertised capacity, this model can comfortably sleep three campers.
Editors' Choice
Big Agnes Copper Spur UL3 Review
This featherweight option is the best 3-person tent on the market. It weighs less than many 2-person tents, so even if...
Best Buy
The North Face Stormbreak 3 Review
This budget-friendly tent is comfortable, weather-resistant, and durable, making it a great entry point for new...
10 Best Hiking Pants
A pair of well-fitting hiking pants can be the difference between having a great day out on the trail and turning...
Top Pick
Big Agnes Copper Spur UL2 Review
Excellent performance for a very lightweight tent, as long as its in your budget.
10 Best Mountain Bike Pedals
If you want to enjoy your mountain bike rides even more, consider upgrading your bike pedals, which can make a world...
The Best Backpacking Stoves
We've been testing the best backpacking stoves for over a decade, and this current review has our favorites. We...
Top Pick
JetBoil Zip Review
The Jetboil Zip is a lightweight, compact integrated canister stove that packs easily, prioritizes simplicity over...
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