About & Contact

SAM BRILLEMAN is founder and chief operator of Ultimate Gear Lists.

Since departing his homeland of New Zealand in 2007, he has lived in several locations across different continents. This has allowed him to explore numerous locations around the globe, tracking down some of the most epic mountains, dense bushlands, and stunning coastlines. 

He is currently based on the central-east coast of Australia, where he seems to be chasing more sun and surf than alpine trails.

For anything Ultimate Gear Lists related, you can reach out to him on info@ultimategearlists.com.

STEVE EDGERTON is managing editor for Ultimate Gear Lists. He is a passionate trail runner, backpacker, climber, and skier. Born and raised in Calgary, Canada, in the foothills of the Canadian Rockies, his passion for the mountains began at a young age.

A veritable gear nerd, Steve is tuned into the outdoor industry, endlessly looking to optimize his kit for moving fast and light in the mountains.

When he isn’t out training for ultramarathons or off the grid on multi-day adventures, Steve works as a freelance writer. He combines his background in environmental science and love for good storytelling to write about the transformative powers of nature, seeking to inspire others to pursue their own adventures and to take action to protect our planet’s glorious wild places.

TRISTAN RIDLEY is our expedition bikepacking extraordinaire — taking care of all our bikepacking reviews and articles.

Originally from the UK, Tristan has spent almost four years cycling around the world. He has ridden some of the most challenging and remote bikepacking routes on the planet, and with several more years planned, he won't be stopping any time soon!

When he's not out exploring new routes in far-flung corners of the world, Tristan is based near London, England. He also writes for his personal website — full of epic tales and insights from his adventures. Alternatively you can follow his journey visually @tristanrid.

ROB THIJSSEN is an alpinist, climber, qualified snowboard instructor, and self-certified gear junky.

From a young age, Rob’s passion for the outdoors led him across the globe — often in the pursuit of new climbing routes, and always in the pursuit of new challenges and adventures.

His trajectory has taken him across Europe and through the three Americas, encompassing some of the world’s most epic mountain ranges – the Swiss Alps, Julian Alps, Pyrenees, the Caucasus, and the Andes. Currently located in Central America, he may be further from the ice and snow, but his passion for the outdoors is still just as strong. He still loves hiking and climbing whenever possible, whilst also finding time for his other interests – permaculture, surfing, self-development and playing guitar.

Having worked for outdoor retailers in the Netherlands and Austria, Rob has helped thousands of outdoor enthusiasts with honest and sharp advice. Now working as a freelance gear writer he is fascinated by gear innovations and technologies, especially those related to sustainable materials and manufacturing.

ROSE MARTIN is an all-round ocean enthusiast who loves spending as much time as she can on (or under!) the water. When she isn’t teaching people how to scuba dive, you’ll find her freediving, surfing, or surveying the reef.

Originally from the UK, Rose grew up next door to the Peak District National Park, known for its awesome hikes and climbing spots. So when she’s not by the sea, she spends her free time on the trail or a cliff face.

Rose has spent the last few years living in Europe, the Seychelles, and Kenya – working as a writer, diver, and conservationist. She’s currently based in the Seychelles, where she works as a conservationist in a marine park, but who knows where her next adventure will take her!

BRENT HERMAN is a US Midwesterner that has been obsessed with skateboarding for most of his life. His love affair with skateboarding started when he was only a grade schooler and his passion for skateboarding has only grown since then – leading him to become a skateboarding instructor, contest judge, and content creator.

He has a degree in Journalism from IUPUI in Indianapolis, Indiana where he currently rides and resides. When he isn’t working, he can usually be found at one of the area’s skateparks or working on filming street clips with his friends.

Brent has also started giving back to the skateboarding community – becoming involved with local events and giving skateboarding lessons to people of all ages through a local indoor skatepark and skate shop. Brent believes that skateboarding is a liberating blend of athleticism and artistic expression, and he loves helping others in the world access that feeling also.

HOLLY PRICE is a snowboarder, photographer, and all-around nature enthusiast. Born and raised in the hills of Snowdonia, UK, she has a particular passion for moody mountains, craggy coastlines and sprawling, dense forests.

Dividing her time between Wales and the French Alps in a self-converted campervan, Holly can often be found mapping out her next road trip across Europe. During winter though, you'll find her levelling up her snowboarding on the slopes of Tignes, with a love for flatland freestyle riding and deep powder days.

A freelance writer for the tourism and adventure industries, Holly’s also working on a Literary Fiction novel inspired by the great outdoors. For her more professional pursuits, you can check out her website.

JULIANNE GRECO is a freelance food, lifestyle & travel writer and editor based in Bali, where she’s spent the better part of the past decade finding an appreciation for slow living and surfing.

Before finding paradise in Indonesia, she grew up landlocked in Colorado with a ski slope for a playground. But these days she’s a jack of all surf – loving a cruisy longboard session as much as going out on her midlength to fly through sections and carve it up. She’s also a total gear head, so she’s here to share the stoke by writing gear reviews and articles on surf topics.

When she’s not busy chasing swells at her favorite point break, she and her partner are hanging out with their three rescued Balinese dogs and indulging in Indonesia’s finest street food. Catch her kooking out at @jul.greco or follow her surf meme page @swello.there for a good laugh.

JOHN NICHOLS has been an avid skateboarder since a young age – and believes that skateboarding provides the gateway to an alternate universe of acceptance culture and artistic expression; not to mention physical liberation from the plodding steps of daily life.

Skateboarding introduced him to almost all of his passions as a young teenager, including photography, writing, travel, and funnily enough, even cycling. After all these years though, he’s found that nothing tops the daily joy of bailing hard – often in public.

A restless midwesterner raised in Wisconsin, John has traveled as far afield as Siberia and as near as Minnesota, and apparently has a certain fondness for a windswept, snowy clearing. He is currently based in Chicago which knocks out two of the three.

TIM SEVERINO is an experienced scuba diving instructor, rock climbing instructor, and offshore powerboat instructor trainer, who also loves to spend his free time trekking, sailing, free diving, or (when he can) snowboarding. So, rest assured he has no shortage of expertise and advice to share – on topics ranging from the depths of the ocean to the peaks of the land!

He is a former Australian Commando Captain who took his passion for travel and adventures and ran with it. After leaving the military Tim worked all over the globe, including Europe, the Middle East, and South East Asia.

Currently, he is based in Koh Tao, Thailand where he and his wife run an adventure business Goodtime Thailand — you can check out a visual tale of the adventures and good times @goodtimethailand.

LANA STEFANOVIC has always believed the most beautiful sounds are those composed by nature… and being a graduated violin player, she would know!

The purity and honesty found in nature has driven her to pursue a life in the outdoors – climbing, caving, hiking, and simply enjoying the brief moments that nature creates along the way (…it might sound like a cliché, but she is also a yoga geek that enjoys saluting the sun every morning).

Currently based in Serbia, Lana travels, climbs, and hikes as much as circumstances allow. And when not outdoors, she soaks in news of the latest and coolest innovations happening in the climbing world.

Having set her mind to conquering some of the most wonderful climbing routes in the world, she is working hard towards gaining the strength, skills, technique, and experience required to make that dream come true.

ALECSA STEWART is right at home when it comes to donning running shoes and putting miles on the trail. And so it is fitting that she is our knowledge base on all things running.

Alecsa has been running regularly for years, but considers herself a “late bloomer” since she never ran in school. She has experience running on all surfaces, but has a particular adoration for long distance trail and ultra running — she quickly realized she could go longer rather than faster and has been plodding away hoping to finish a 100-miler soon.

Working as a freelance writer, Alecsa is fortunate enough to be able to reside in the mountains. She currently has a picturesque hideaway nestled in a small village in the French Pyrenees – with awe-inspiring mountain trails right on her doorstep!

Alecsa contributes to trail running and outdoor adventure publications in the UK, US and France. You can check out her personal website and writing portfolio or follow her on the trails @alecsa_stewart. When not running, she’s usually climbing, hiking, skiing, or pursuing other outdoor activities in the mountains!