Brett Kretzer
Gear Analyst

Brett is a writer, hiker, and all-around outdoor enthusiast. Growing up in the mountains of western Maryland, with the Appalachian Trail in his backyard, he’s always felt a kinship with dense forests and rolling hills.

From 2014-2021, he toured the US full-time with a bluegrass band. After being absolutely captivated by the rugged ridge lines and boreal forests of New Hampshire and Maine, he decided to dive headfirst into his love for the outdoors. He thru-hiked the Long Trail and the Colorado Trail in 2021 before making the move to Colorado to pursue adventure and work in the great outdoors. He’s backpacked thousands of miles across the US and Europe including the Wonderland Trail and the GR11 in the Spanish Pyrenees.

He loves nerding out about ultralight gear, dialing in his perfect kit, and always trying new and innovative designs. These days, he still calls himself a musician as well as a writer based in beautiful Golden, CO. You can find him bagging peaks, climbing rocks, shredding powder, or jamming at a bluegrass festival.

Articles by Brett Kretzer

MSR WhisperLite Backpacking Stove Review
The Whisperlite stove with pot, heat reflector, and fuel bottle, all on a forest floor with trees in the background.

MSR WhisperLite Backpacking Stove Review

Author
This stove stands up to extremely cold weather, high altitude, and blustery winds, making it ideal for mountaineering and winter treks.
BRS 3000T Backpacking Stove Review
A small backpacking stove boils a pot of water with rugged rocky mountains in the background

BRS 3000T Backpacking Stove Review

Author
This stove is an excellent choice for those looking for a ridiculously lightweight and compact option for long-distance backpacking.
SOTO WindMaster Backpacking Stove Review

SOTO WindMaster Backpacking Stove Review

Author
Soto Windmaster is touted as one of the absolute best backpacking stoves for its superior wind performance.
7 Best Base Layers of 2025
A hiker stands in the woods wearing the Smartwool Classic All-Season base layer. Trees are in the background.

7 Best Base Layers of 2025

Additional Author
We’ve got your layering system covered starting with our trail-tested and reviewed guide to the best base layers around.
Snow Peak Litemax Stove Review

Snow Peak Litemax Stove Review

Author
This is one of the lightest and most compact backpacking stoves on the market. This tiny powerhouse can boil a liter of water in just under five minutes, and then it folds away nicely to fit into pretty much any cookpot when you’re done.
Solo Stove Lite Review
A hiker sets a pot on the Solo Stove Lite. A tent and trees are in the background.

Solo Stove Lite Review

Author
This wood-burning stove is easy to use, nearly smoke-free, and doesn’t scar the ground. Most of all, it’s fun!
MSR PocketRocket 2 Stove Review
The PocketRocket 2 installed on a fuel canister and holding a pot with mountains and a lake in the background.

MSR PocketRocket 2 Stove Review

Author
This stove is a whole lot of power in a tiny package. With excellent simmer control, and an efficient burn, it’s one of our favorites.
Jetboil Flash Cooking System Review
A hiker at camp, sitting in front of a tent, screwing the JetBoil Flash pot onto its burner. One hand stabilizes the burner and fuel while the other hand tilts the bottom of the stove into the burner to screw it in place.

Jetboil Flash Cooking System Review

Author
Among integrated canister stoves, this is one of the most affordable and dependable options with lots of nice extra features.
Jetboil MiniMo Review
A profile shot of the MiniMo installed with burner, pot, fuel canister, and base support. Trees are in the background.

Jetboil MiniMo Review

Author
This model is one of our favorites for backcountry gourmets and makes our list of the best backpacking stoves.
MSR WindBurner Stove Review

MSR WindBurner Stove Review

Author
This stove system is among the highest quality and best-performing integrated stove systems on the market. We love its exceptional performance in windy weather, its speedy boil times, and great fuel efficiency.
Best Backpacking Stoves of 2025
The MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe backpacking stove in front of a jagged mountain with red bands

Best Backpacking Stoves of 2025

Author
We’ve spent years cooking up this list of the best backpacking stoves around so backcountry chefs and Cup Noodle connoisseurs can find their perfect match.
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