Casey Handley
Senior Gear Analyst

Casey is an experienced hiker and gear expert who brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the CleverHiker team. She has a passion for ultralight backpacking, years of experience working at REI, and a deep understanding of what people need and want from their gear. Casey has spent years researching, testing, and writing about outdoor gear to become CleverHiker’s Senior Gear Analyst.

Casey has also hiked thousands of miles on some of the most beautiful and challenging trails in the country, including thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail, John Muir Trail, Arizona Trail, Colorado Trail, and Long Trail.

She has a background in English and writing, and her meticulous attention to detail is evident in the content she produces for CleverHiker. She also has a keen eye for style and design, making her a valuable contributor to our site’s visual and written content.

Casey lives in her van somewhere in Central Oregon with her partner, dog, and cat. She spends her free time studying maps to plan her next thru-hike, shooting film in beautiful backcountry spots, and looking for ways to shave an ounce off her pack weight.

Articles by Casey Handley

Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol vs. NEMO Switchback Review

Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol vs. NEMO Switchback Review

Author
Closed-cell foam sleeping pads are a popular option among thru-hikers and lightweight backpackers on a budget, and the Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol has dominated that market for many years with very little competition. New in 2019, the NEMO Switchback offers some long overdue updates. We were curious to see how the two matched up, so we tested them side by side to determine a winner.
REI Co-op Flash 55 Backpack Review

REI Co-op Flash 55 Backpack Review

Author
The REI Co-op Flash 55 Backpack is one of the most affordable and customizable packs we’ve ever tested. It boasts a lightweight design without sacrificing comfort or features, which earned it a spot on our 10 Best Lightweight Backpacks and Favorite Budget Backpacking Gear lists.
Best Backpacking Water Filters of 2025
Closeup of the Sawyer Squeeze water filter in front of an alpine lake

Best Backpacking Water Filters of 2025

Author
We’ve filtered out the nonsense to bring you our purest recommendations of the best water filters around.
Best Ultralight Tents of 2025
The Zpacks Duplex and Tarptent Motrail ultralight backpacking tents in front of a jagged mountain peak at sunset

Best Ultralight Tents of 2025

Author
Every gram counts when finding the best ultralight tent. Our hand-picked list of UL shelters passed the test from our scale to the trail.
Best Backpacking Backpacks of 2025

Best Backpacking Backpacks of 2025

Author
Our team of seasoned backcountry experts hiked thousands of miles using the best backpacking packs on the market to narrow down this list of…
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