About Engearment
Real people. Real trails. Real reviews.
Engearment is one of the most trusted independent outdoor gear review sites on the internet. Founded over 11 years ago by Sean Sewell, we’ve grown into a team of 40+ writers and testers who share one thing in common: we actually use the gear we review.
With 3,000+ published reviews on this site and 2,500+ video reviews on our YouTube channel, Engearment covers everything from backcountry skiing and splitboarding to trail running, hiking, camping, biking, climbing, fitness, and everyday adventure gear.
What Makes Engearment Different
In a world full of affiliate-driven “best of” lists written by people who never touched the product, Engearment takes a different approach. Every review on this site is based on real-world testing by someone who actually took the gear into the mountains, onto the trails, or into the backcountry. We don’t do lab tests in a sterile environment — we test gear the way you’ll actually use it.
Our reviewers are athletes, guides, fitness professionals, engineers, park rangers, triathletes, and everyday adventurers. They bring diverse perspectives and different body types, skill levels, and use cases to every product we evaluate. When you read an Engearment review, you’re getting an honest assessment from someone who put real miles on the gear.
How We Test
We don’t just unbox products and write about specs. Our testing process involves weeks (and sometimes months) of real use across varied conditions. For footwear, that means multiple runs on different terrain types, back-to-back comparisons with competing shoes, and testing in wet, dry, hot, and cold conditions. For apparel, it means layering in real storms, skiing real powder days, and hiking real summits. For camping gear, it means actual nights in the backcountry.
We also attend the major industry trade shows including Outdoor Retailer, meet with brand founders and product designers, consult on R&D for startups, and interview the people behind the gear. This gives us an insider perspective that goes well beyond what you’ll find in a typical product review.
Our Team
Engearment’s strength is its team. With 40+ active writers spread across Colorado and beyond, we bring a huge range of experience and expertise to every review. Our contributors include Ironman triathletes and World Championship competitors, backcountry skiing and splitboarding veterans, mountain bike racers, thru-hikers, rock climbers, former park rangers, environmental engineers, fitness professionals, and lifelong outdoor enthusiasts.
This diversity is intentional. Gear performs differently for different people, and having a broad team means we can offer perspectives that represent how the gear will actually work for a wide range of readers.
→ Meet the full Engearment team
The Founder
Sean Sewell co-founded Engearment over 11 years ago with a simple mission: help people find the right gear for their next adventure. Sean is a fitness professional who created the Mountain Fitness School and has built several fitness facilities around Denver. His heart is always in the mountains — whether he’s splitboarding in the backcountry, testing the latest camping gear at altitude, or attending Outdoor Retailer to scout next season’s innovations.
Under Sean’s leadership, Engearment has grown from a personal blog into one of the largest independent outdoor gear review platforms on the web, with a passionate community of readers, a dedicated team of writers, and trusted partnerships with the best brands in the outdoor industry.
What We Cover
If it helps you get outside and have fun, we review it. Our coverage spans hiking, backpacking, trail running, backcountry skiing, splitboarding, snowboarding, mountain biking, bikepacking, climbing, camping, fishing, SUP, van life, fitness, technology, nutrition, and sustainability. We review everything from tents and sleeping bags to trail running shoes, outerwear, sunglasses, backpacks, and recovery gear.
→ Explore our Gear Guides to find curated recommendations by activity
→ See the Brands we work with
→ Watch gear reviews on YouTube
✉️ Stay in the Loop
Don’t miss our latest reviews, “Best Of” roundups, and exclusive gear deals. Subscribe to the Engearment newsletter and get the inside scoop on outdoor gear delivered straight to your inbox — new reviews, seasonal guides, discount codes from our partner brands, and video highlights. No spam, no daily emails. Just the good stuff.
Work With Us
We love working with brands that push the envelope of technology, sustainability, and design. If you make gear that helps people get outside and have better adventures, we’d love to hear from you. We offer honest, in-depth reviews, product consulting, video content, and brand partnerships.
