Editor & Reviewer

Gaby Pilson

Outdoor Educator · Polar Guide · Wilderness EMT

Gaby is a professional outdoor educator, climbing instructor, polar guide, and wilderness-medicine instructor.

She holds a Master's in Outdoor Education from the University of Edinburgh, AMGA Climbing Wall Instructor-Lead certification, and Wilderness EMT certification.

Follows Outforia's editorial standards

65 stories published

Stories by Gaby Pilson

Four monkeys: a mandrill walking, a gelada on a rock, a proboscis monkey in a tree, and a pygmy marmoset on a branch
Wildlife

25 Remarkable Types of Monkeys: An Exploration Through The Wild

Meet 25 monkey species spanning 260+ types globally, from tiny pygmy marmosets to massive mandrills, each with unique social behaviors.

Hiker in a green long-sleeve shirt sitting beside a backpack on a mountain trail, holding a granola bar
Hiking

Food to Take on a Hike: Top 10 Trail Snacks

Fuel your hike with 10 nutritious trail snacks that boost energy and maintain endurance on the trail.

Four weather scenes: lightning over a lighthouse pier, a snowy road, fog in a pine forest, and orange-lit storm clouds
Natural World

9 Types of Weather: Definitions, Photos, and Causes

Learn about nine common weather types: sunshine, clouds, rain, snow, fog, lightning, and wind. Understand atmospheric conditions shaping daily life.

Granite peaks streaked with snow rising above a dense pine forest and a still alpine lake at dusk
Destinations

List of All US National Parks: Complete Guide with Pictures

Explore all 63 US national parks with facts, photos, and visitor guides from Yellowstone to the remote beauty of Gates of the Arctic.

Hiking gear laid out on a wet forest trail, including a pack, boots, jackets, trekking poles and a map
How-To

10 Brands Like Patagonia to Shop At For Your Outdoor Adventures

10 ethical outdoor brands rivaling Patagonia with fair trade practices, sustainable materials, and quality performance gear for adventurers.

A hiker in gray shorts and a backpack walking a rocky mountain trail with two trekking poles, snowy slopes beyond
Hiking

Why Use Trekking Poles?: Advantages, Disadvantages & Pro Tips!

Trekking poles reduce joint stress, improve balance on technical terrain, and increase hiking efficiency while making you feel more confident on challenging trails.

Rain-soaked backpack with a gray cover and orange dry bag on a wet rocky trail below misty mountains
Hiking

How To Waterproof A Backpack: 4 Ways and Tips for Keeping Hiking Gear Dry and Clean

Waterproof your backpack with pack liners, dry bags, rain covers, or waterproofing spray to protect electronics and gear from heavy rain.

Green tent and a stone fire ring at a lakeside campsite among tall pines and granite boulders at sunset
Camping

Camping in National Forests: Your Ultimate Guide

155 US national forests managed by the Forest Service offer three camping styles: designated campgrounds, dispersed camping, and rental cabins with varying amenities.

Waves wash over dark rocks covered in seaweed and barnacles along a rocky shore on a gray, overcast day
Natural World

What Causes Tides?

Learn how the moon's gravity, solar forces, and coastal topography create the daily rise and fall of ocean water at 12 hours and 25 minutes apart.

Four whales: narwhals with a tusk, a sperm whale underwater, a beluga lunging from the sea, and a blue whale blow
Wildlife

All 21 Different Types of Whales: Guide, Pictures And Classification

Explore 21 whale species classified as baleen or toothed whales. From blue whales to beaked whales, learn their diets and behaviors.

Types of sharks cover photo
Wildlife

A Deep Dive into the 25 Types of Sharks (Names, Chart and Pictures)

Over 500 shark species patrol our oceans, from the feared great white to the gentle whale shark, Earth's largest living fish.

Four penguins: an emperor leaping onto ice, a little penguin on rock, a yellow-eyed penguin, and a macaroni penguin
Wildlife

All 19 Different Types of Penguins: Complete Guide & Pictures

All 19 penguin species, from tiny rockhopper penguins to massive emperor penguins, thrive in Southern Hemisphere waters.

A coiled rattlesnake with its rattle raised on gravelly desert ground near cactus and small yellow flowers
Wildlife

21 Different Types of Rattlesnakes Species: Pictures and Guide

Discover 21 rattlesnake species found across the Americas, including their distinct behaviors, venoms, and how they use heat pits to hunt prey.

A pod of dolphins with dark backs and pale bellies surfaces together through choppy blue water
Wildlife

25 Different Types of Dolphins Species (Pictures, Facts and Chart)

Discover 25 dolphin species, their intelligence, echolocation abilities, and ocean behaviors.

A sea turtle with a brown patterned shell swimming above a coral reef in clear blue water, flippers spread
Wildlife

All 7 Different Types of Sea Turtles: Pictures, Classification & Facts

Learn about all 7 sea turtle species including leatherbacks, loggerheads, green turtles, and their classification within ocean ecosystems.

Four biomes: arctic tundra under a mountain, tropical rainforest with sunbeams, pink sand dunes, and savanna with an elephant
Natural World

Unveiling Earth’s Wonders: 26 Different Types of Biomes Explored

The World Wide Fund for Nature classifies 26 biomes across terrestrial, freshwater, and marine environments.

A bright green snake coiled on a lichen-covered branch, white flecks along its back and its head resting on its coils
Wildlife

25 Amazing Types of Snakes (Photos, Fun Facts & More!)

Over 3,000 snake species inhabit Earth across 24 families, from venomous inland taipans to harmless milk snakes.

Four foxes: a red fox drinking at a pond, a gray fox in leaf litter, a young hoary fox, and a Simien fox (Ethiopian wolf)
Wildlife

All The 23 Different Types of Foxes: Pictures, Classification and Chart

Twenty-three living fox species inhabit six genera worldwide, with 12 true foxes in the genus Vulpes ranging from arctic to desert regions.

A speckled harbor seal lying on kelp-covered rocks at the water's edge, looking toward the camera
Wildlife

Dive Into the Ocean: Full Guide To All 33 Types of Seals

Discover all 33 seal species across 3 families, from harbor seals and walruses to Weddell seals, with their characteristics and global habitats.

Four rocks: basalt columns mirrored in water, a pale granite slab, black glassy obsidian, and banded marble above dark water
Natural World

30 Types of Rock: Photos, Identification, and How Each Forms

Explore 30 rock types from granite and obsidian to schist and marble, including how igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks form.

A person's hands tying a loop knot in thick natural rope on a weathered wooden dock beside a metal cleat
How-To

25 Types of Knots: Essential Skills for Any Adventure

Master 25 essential knots used in hiking, climbing, sailing, and camping, from the overhand knot to the Palomar and reef knots.

White star-shaped flowers on slender stalks with onion-like bulbs exposed at the base in a grassy meadow
Plant Life

Toxic Plants That Look Like Food: 30 Plants You Need To Know

Avoid 30 toxic plants that mimic edible foods: death camas resembles onions, doll's eyes induce cardiac arrest, poison hemlock parallels wild carrots dangerously.

A massive, dark rotating storm cloud spreading low over open grassland and a dirt road, rain falling in the distance
Natural World

19 Incredible Types of Storms

19 storm types plague Earth from snowstorms to tornadoes, with hurricanes earning names while tornadoes remain the most violent.

Four apes: a siamang on a branch, a bonobo sitting up, a western gorilla walking, and a Bornean orangutan with young
Wildlife

26 Types of Apes: Great Apes, Lesser Apes, Photos, Chart

Humans are apes. Twenty-six ape species exist, including 8 great apes and 16 lesser apes. Most are found in Africa and Asia.

A tawny cougar standing alert on a lichen-covered rock ledge with dark conifers behind it in low golden light
Wildlife

The 7 Types of Big Cats Around the World and Where You’ll Find Them

Lions, tigers, jaguars, leopards, snow leopards, cheetahs, and cougars rank among Earth's most majestic felines with distinct habitats.

Two backpackers hike a rocky alpine trail toward a lake with tents pitched near the shore and peaks beyond
Hiking

Wilderness and Backcountry Hiking: A Complete Guide

Complete backcountry guide covering day hikes, overnights, multi-day treks, and everything needed to plan your first wilderness adventure with confidence.

Four disasters: a wildfire in forest, trees standing in floodwater, a tornado under a storm cloud, and a lava eruption
Natural World

24 Types of Natural Disasters That You Need To Know

24 types of natural disasters,from avalanches and hurricanes to earthquakes and wildfires,and how they impact communities worldwide.

Snow and sleet falling over a rocky mountain trail with frosted shrubs and evergreens fading into fog
Natural World

11 Types of Precipitation To Know For Your Next Outdoor Adventure (Facts, Photos And More)

Learn the 11 types of precipitation from rain and snow to graupel and diamond dust, including how each forms and impacts outdoor adventures.

Four bodies of water: a fjord, a turquoise tropical lagoon, a braided river in a valley, and a half-frozen glacial lake
Natural World

47 Types of Bodies of Water, With Photos and Examples

Earth's 47 types of water bodies range from oceans and rivers to lakes, deltas, and tide pools.

Towering white cumulus clouds building in a blue sky above a strip of green forest on the horizon
Natural World

Identifying The 10 Types of Clouds: Pictures & Chart (+ 14 Seldom Ones)

Identify 10 main cloud types and 14 rare ones based on altitude, composition, and weather patterns to predict conditions.

Branching coral on a shallow reef with a yellow fish and a dark blue fish swimming among the tips
Wildlife

A Colorful Exploration: 22 Incredible Types of Coral and Their Beauty

Discover 22 coral types, their beauty, ecosystem roles, bleaching threats, and medical uses across tropical reefs.

Four wolves: a gray wolf trotting in dry grass, a white Arctic wolf, a collared red wolf, and an Ethiopian wolf in scrub
Wildlife

Decoding Wolf Diversity: A Guide to the 27 Wonderful Types of Wolves (Facts, Photos & More)

Meet 27 wolf subspecies, mostly Canis lupus, ranging from tundra wolves to eastern timber wolves. Master these apex predators.

Four lizards: a Gila monster, a Komodo dragon flicking its tongue, a green iguana eating a flower, and a rhinoceros iguana
Wildlife

The 25 Most Amazing Types of Lizards (Names, Photos and More)

Explore 25 fascinating lizard species including the tiny nano-chameleon, venomous Komodo dragon, and shape-shifting chameleons with 360-degree vision.

An African elephant with tusks walks across dry golden grassland beside a small calf, with acacia trees behind
Wildlife

The 6 Different Types of Elephants + Facts, Photos, & Identification

Six elephant species and subspecies live today, divided between African and Asian elephants, weighing 2 to 11 tons with lifespans to 70 years.

Four bats: white Honduran bats under a leaf, a grey-headed flying fox over a pond, a little brown bat, and a big brown bat
Wildlife

28 Types of Bats: The Cutest Bat Species (Names, Photos, and More)

Over 1,400 bat species exist worldwide. Bats are the only mammals with sustained flight, reaching speeds up to 100 mph.

A gray squirrel holding an acorn on a rough oak branch surrounded by colorful autumn leaves
Wildlife

38+ Types of Squirrels – Field Guide (Names, Photos and More)

Around 285 squirrel species inhabit every continent except Antarctica, from tree squirrels to flying squirrels and marmots.

Two raccoons watch from the edge of a campsite where a cooler and a lidded bin sit beside a tent
Camping

How to Keep Raccoons Away from Campsite: 8 Tips For Critter-Free Camping

Deter raccoons from camp with bear-proof containers, smell-proof bags, nightly trash removal, clean campsites, organized gear, and avoiding spice-based deterrents.

A group of campers in jackets sit in folding chairs around a small campfire, one gesturing as she talks
Camping

23 Campfire Games To Get Everyone Laughing On Your Next Camping Trip

23 campfire games for families and adults: memory games, storytelling, guessing, charades, and drinking games for bonding outdoors.

Two loaded backpacks with jackets draped over them resting beside a gravel trail in a misty conifer forest
How-To

Eddie Bauer vs North Face: Which Brand Is Right For You?

Compare Eddie Bauer and The North Face head-to-head on materials, price, warranty, product range, and sustainability to choose the right outdoor brand.

A grey-green dome tent pitched on a dark tarp groundsheet on a forest floor beside a lake
Camping

Do I Need A Tarpaulin Under My Tent? Your Camping Questions Answered

Tent tarps extend shelter life, add insulation, and prevent water seepage, but add weight and cost; best for harsh weather or car camping.

A green down sleeping bag lying inside an open tent, with a camp stove and trail shoes outside
Camping

Can I Go Camping Without A Sleeping Bag? 8 Sleeping Bag Alternatives To Try

Yes, you can camp without a sleeping bag using quilts, blankets, liners, bivy sacks, space blankets, hammocks, warm clothing, or bushcraft shelters.

How to Boil Water While Camping Cover
Camping

How to Boil Water While Camping: 13 Reliable Methods To Try

13 water-boiling methods for camping including stoves, generators, kettles, fires, and solar options.

21 Edible Plants on AT Cover
Hiking

21 Edible Plants on The Appalachian Trail: Guide To Foraging On The AT

21 edible plants and fungi hikers can forage on the Appalachian Trail, from blueberries to ramps to chicken-of-the-woods mushrooms.

No-cook camping food laid out on a worn folding table: tortillas, nuts, dried fruit, crackers, bars and jerky
Camping

The Best Camping Food: No Cooking, No Refrigeration

Pack trail mix, jerky, granola bars, and peanut butter for convenient camping meals requiring no cooking or cooling.

Dog Camping for the First Time Cover
Camping

11 Tips For Taking A Dog Camping For The First Time

Take your dog camping confidently with 11 essential tips: verify vaccinations, train in your backyard, use harnesses, pack extra food, bring first aid supplies.

Cheapest Camping Food
Camping

The 14 Cheapest Camping Food Options For Adventures On A Budget

Eat well on camping trips for less via oatmeal, mac and cheese, yogurt, burgers, pancakes, burritos, sandwiches, and s'mores without expensive freeze-dried meals.

A group of hikers with backpacks and trekking poles climb a rocky mountain trail, seen from behind
How-To

How To Get A Job In The Outdoor Industry: Advice From An Outdoor Expert

Outdoor industry jobs range from guides to engineers, paying $20k-$150k annually with certifications and experience.

How Much Firewood Do I need for Camping
Camping

How Much Firewood Do I Need For Camping? Your Questions Answered

Plan for two to five firewood bundles daily while camping; use dry hardwoods to minimize smoke and maximize heat output.

An open hiking backpack on a rocky trail shows a water bottle, topographic map, first aid kit and headlamp
Hiking

What to Keep in a Hiking Backpack: 25 Essential Pieces of Gear

Pack 25 essential hiking items: water, map, compass, first aid, headlamp, layers, snacks, navigation, and safety gear.

View from inside a tent of a sleeping bag on a green inflatable pad, with hiking boots and boulders outside
Camping

The Most Comfortable Way to Sleep in a Tent: 11 Tips to Catch Some Zzzs Outside

Sleep comfortably while camping with 11 proven tactics: flat tent sites, proper sleeping pads, correct bag temperature ratings, and essential pillows for quality rest.

Dome tent with a rolled sleeping pad and camp gear on a sandy beach beside gentle surf and a wooded bluff
Camping

21 Beach Camping Tips and Tricks & Hacks To Have A Wonderful Time

21 essential beach camping tips cover site selection, sand-anchored tents, tide awareness, and gear choices for seaside camping success.

A green dome tent in a misty conifer forest with beads of moisture covering the rainfly and its door open
Camping

How To Stop Condensation In A Tent: 11 Top Tips

Eleven proven tips stop tent condensation: use breathable double-wall tents, pick dry campsites away from water sources, and roll back rain flies.

Heated Insoles vs Heated Socks
How-To

Heated Insoles vs Heated Socks: Which Option Is Right For You?

Compare heated insoles and socks for winter activities; heated socks offer affordability and full-foot warmth while insoles provide remote control convenience.

A hiker adjusts his pants beside fleece, jackets, wool socks, gloves and boots piled on a log in a snowy mountain setting
How-To

Guide to Layering: Everything You Need To Know

Master the three-layer system of base, mid, and outer layers to regulate warmth and stay dry during any outdoor adventure.

Walk up Campsite Cover
Camping

What Is A Walk Up Campsite?: Your Camping Questions Answered

Walk-up campsites are first-come, first-served sites reserved at popular campgrounds for spontaneous visits. Arrive early and have backup plans for best results.

Types of deserts cover
Natural World

12 Types of Deserts: The Definitive Guide

Explore 12 desert types classified by geography and climate, from polar ice to coastal dunes.

The Future of Nature Prescriptions
Natural World

The Future of ‘Nature Prescriptions’

Doctors increasingly prescribe 120 minutes of nature weekly to treat stress, depression, and anxiety. Outdoor time reduces blood pressure and boosts mental wellbeing significantly.

Parka guide blog
How-To

What Is A Parka? Parkas & Other Jacket Types Explained

Parkas are heavily insulated winter jackets, longer than standard jackets, designed for frigid environments. Learn how they differ from coats, anoraks, and other jackets.

A definitive guide to mountains
Natural World

23 Types Of Mountains: Your Definitive Guide

Understand 23 mountain types formed by plate collision, rifting, volcanic activity, and erosion, shaping Earth's most dramatic landscapes.

camping gift ideas cover
Camping

20 Camping Gift Basket Ideas To Surprise Your Favorite Camper

20 creative gift basket ideas for campers, from backpack and cooler containers to themed survival and glamping kits with gear essentials.

Camping gear properly organized in table
Camping

26 Camping Gear Storage Ideas To Stay Organized Outdoors

26 camping gear storage solutions: stuff sacks, plastic bins, pre-made kits, and DIY organizers to keep equipment organized at home and on the trail.

Camping lanterns on the ground
Camping

15 Campsite Lighting Ideas To Illuminate Your Night

From string lights and solar lanterns to DIY headlamp tricks, discover 15 innovative campsite lighting solutions for tent and outdoor illumination.

Green dome tent pitched in deep snow beside snow-laden evergreen trees, with trekking poles and a pack nearby
Camping

The Ultimate Guide To Winter Camping

Complete guide to winter camping basics, gear selection, meal planning, layering strategies, and camp setup tips for safe cold-weather adventures.

Red and white dome tent beside a picnic table with stove and lantern under a purple canopy, with a blue lake beyond pines
Camping

Camping Checklist

Pack smarter with our 124-item camping checklist. Tap to check items off, your browser remembers them between trips, and there is a clean print mode.

A woman getting a moving water with hands
How-To

Can You Drink Fast Moving Water?

Fast-moving water reduces waterborne pathogen risk compared to stagnant sources, but Giardia survives 1-3 months below 50 degrees; always filter or boil.