
Kelly Bastone
At six years old, when Kelly Bastone obeyed her mother’s command to “go play outside,” she began a lifelong passion for outdoor recreation that continues to this day. Thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail schooled Bastone in ultralight backpacking techniques, and living at the foot of Colorado’s 10,570-foot Mt. Werner let her ski, mountain bike, fly-fish and forage for mushrooms on a daily basis. For two decades, she has covered outdoor gear for publications such as Backpacker, Gear Junkie and Outside. Now residing on the coast of Maine, Bastone continues to bike and ski—often in the company of her teen daughter—and has added kayaks to her equipment shed. REI member since 2020.