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

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 closeup of a hiker sitting in a tent and stirring food in the jetboil flash.

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.
Best Ultralight Backpacks of 2025

Best Ultralight Backpacks of 2025

Author
Our team has hiked thousands of miles with varying ultralight setups to save you the hard work and help you find the perfect ultralight pack.
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