Riley Draper
Riley Draper is a writer and entrepreneur from Chattanooga, Tennessee. As a world traveler, he has been to more than fifty countries and hiked some of the most elusive trails in the world. He is the co-founder of WeCounsel Solutions and has published work in both national and global outlets, including the Times Free Press, Patch, and Healthcare Global. When he's not writing, he's probably on a hiking trip or climbing in the mountains.
Articles by Riley Draper
The Best Heated Insoles – Top 5 Pairs Reviewed
June 26, 2021/Riley Draper Table of Contents Wearing heated insoles in your hiking boots or walking shoes helps keep your feet comfortable so you can...
The Best Tent Cots – Top 5 Reviewed
June 24, 2021/Riley Draper Table of Contents Tent cots are a great way to lift a tent to give yourself a more comfortable sleeping surface,...
Yaktrax vs MICROspikes Review: Which is Better?
If you’re going to be encountering the cold, you’re highly likely to run into ice. When you’re out there in nature you’re surrounded by water,...
7 Best Tenkara Fishing Rods – Tested & Reviewed
June 24, 2021/Riley Draper Table of Contents Forget about baseball, America's real pastime is fishing. From bonding with your parents to reconnecting with nature, Americans...
8 Best Saltwater Rod & Reel Combos for the Money
June 24, 2021/Riley Draper Table of Contents There's nothing like saltwater fishing, especially if you're able to get out on a boat and dredge up...
Can You Roast Marshmallows on a Propane / Gas Fire Pit?
A backyard fire pit can be a lot of fun, and there are many advantages to using natural gas. In particular, it can be a...
Do Citronella Candles Actually Work on Flies?
Citronella candles can be a great addition to your patio, garden, and yard. They repel mosquitos and other bugs, smell nice, and avoid some of...
How to Fix / Prevent Heel Slippage in Boots
New boots can be a blessing and a curse. All hikers are familiar with the process. You get a new pair of hiking boots, they...
10 Best Campfire Cooking Tripods
June 20, 2021/Riley Draper Table of Contents Cooking over a hot campfire is one of the best parts of camping. To get a more even...
7 Best Pocket Chainsaws – Tested & Reviewed
June 20, 2021/Riley Draper Table of Contents Getting out on the trail and making it back home in one warm, dry piece means that you're...
12 Types of Outdoor Ivy Plants & How to Identify Them
Outdoor ivy plants are climbers that are covered in green leaves, and the different types of ivy require different care routines. Most have different leaf...
13 Common Types of Pine Trees (Species) & How to Identify
Pine trees are very common in North America, but there are so many kinds that they’re hard to differentiate. There are over 100 species of...
21 Tent Games You Can Play When It’s Raining
While you can check a weather report to see if it’s going to rain, you can never know for sure whether or not it will...
What is a Rick of Wood – And How Much Does It Cost?
If you’ve been camping very long you probably know some of the basics of firewood. You know that seasoned firewood works better than unseasoned, you...
5 Best Universal Sight Pushers (Tested & Reviewed)
June 15, 2021/Riley Draper Table of Contents If you have a handgun you're going to want to get to know it inside and out. You...
The Best BIG Tents for 16 to 20 People
June 15, 2021/Riley Draper More often than not, the most memorable camping trips are not solitary reflective individual excursions but rather the camping trips that...
The 5 Best Camping Shovels Reviewed
June 15, 2021/Riley Draper Table of Contents A camping shovel makes tons of essential tasks possible that newcomers to camping might never have considered. With...
6 Best Long Range Trail Cameras
June 14, 2021/Riley Draper Table of Contents "Hands off" is a phrase that perfectly encapsulates the beauty of a long-range trail camera. No matter for what purpose...
6 Best Screen Houses for Camping Reviewed
June 14, 2021/Riley Draper/Last Updated November 15, 2021 Table of Contents Let's face it, we've all been on camping trips that we've been underprepared for. The...
7 Best Beach Chairs for Bad Backs (Buying Guide)
June 13, 2021/Riley Draper Table of Contents There's nothing better than relaxing in a reclining camping chair in the warm sand on a breezy beach....
All 63 USA National Parks Ranked Best to Worst
There are a lot of national parks in the USA, so it can be hard to choose which one you might want to go to....
The Ultimate US National Park Road Trip (Every Park)
America’s national parks are all beautiful in their own way. However, wouldn’t it be convenient to see them all on one trip? It’s possible to...
25 Common Types of Succulents & How to Identify Them
Succulent plants are really common kinds of houseplants because they are very low maintenance. Succulent plants are also very popular for outside decoration. However, not...
Browning Trail Camera Review: Which Is Best
June 10, 2021/Riley Draper Table of Contents Browning, a well-established brand specializing in outdoor gear, is responsible for producing some of the best game and trail...
3 Season vs 4 Season Tents: What’s the Difference?
When you’re gearing up to buy a tent, there’s a lot to consider. Your needs can vary from trip to trip and season to season....
Patagonia Nano-Air Hoody Review
If you know anything about outdoor wear, you’ve no doubt heard of Patagonia and its well-deserved vice-grip on the world of hiking and backpacking gear....
3 Best Sleeping Bags for Hammock Camping Adventures
May 24, 2021/Riley Draper Table of Contents One of the best ways in the world to sleep while you're camping is to lace up a...
Sawyer Mini vs Squeeze – Which is The Best Water Filter?
At a certain point, backpacking and hiking are all about the weight you have to carry on your back. You need to find a way...
The 5 Best Power Inverters for RV & Camper Trips
May 24, 2021/Riley Draper Table of Contents Taking your RV out on the road is an experience unlike any other. You have nearly every single...
7 Best Hydration Water Bladders – Reviewed
May 24, 2021/Riley Draper Table of Contents Water is the single most important thing in the world. It sustains us and gives up the strength...
8 Best Water Bottles for Hiking & Backpacking
May 24, 2021/Riley Draper Table of Contents A good water bottle is the kind of thing that changes your life. Getting a good amount of...
5 Best Tents for Camping with Dogs
May 22, 2021/Riley Draper Table of Contents If you have a dog and you love camping there's no way in the world you're going to...
6 Best Heaters For Tent Camping
Looking for the best heater for tent camping? Read on! Long gone are the days when a camping trip was synonymous with roughing it. There...
5 Stupid-Simple Ways to Start a Fire Pit
Whether you’re in the backyard or out in the sticks, starting a fire doesn’t have to be a painful process. There are countless ways to...
The 10 Best River Float Trips in Missouri
Missouri is one of the hidden gems of natural beauty in the midwest, and these float trips will help you understand why. From nature-focused trips...
20 Family Camping Hacks to Keep Kids (& You) Happy
One of the most fun experiences you can have as a parent who loves the great outdoors is introducing your little ones to camping, hiking,...
7 Easy Ways to Clean & Dry Your Hydration Bladder
Cleaning your hydration pack’s bladder is probably the last thing on your mind right now. It’s one of those chores that’s remarkably easy to overlook...
What to Wear Hiking in Cold vs Hot Weather
While you may want hiking to be somewhat of a challenge, battling the weather itself is usually not the experience you’re looking for. Being comfortable...
What Is Down Fill Power & Why Does it Matter?
If you've ever bought outerwear made from down or other goose down products for winter weather camping, hiking, or snow sports, you’ve probably seen fill...
The Benefits (& Drawbacks) of Wearing Merino Wool
No one likes wearing wool. It’s uncomfortable, and it’s itchy. However, there’s a difference between traditional wool and merino wool. Wearing merino wool clothing is...
50 Funny Camping Jokes & One Liners for Campers
Do you love jokes? Do you love camping? How about camping jokes? Camping jokes are a great way to relieve the tension during a difficult...
How to Fly with Camping Gear Like A Pro
Sometimes good hiking locations are super far away, and it would cost more to drive than to fly. However, flying means consolidating your gear and...
Where to Shoot a Deer for One-Shot Kills
Let’s face it, tracking the blood trail of a wounded deer is exhausting. It takes forever for the deer to die, and it is easier...
Basic Bullet Sizes, Calibers & Types (Explained)
Matching the right bullet sizes for your gun can be tricky. It’s never going to be an easy task, whether you’re just getting started buying...
10 Crucial Hiking Tips for Beginners
Just like with any new hobby, there’s only one place to start, and that’s at the beginning. Experienced hikers have their own way of doing...
The 7 Best Camping Hatchets – Reviewed
May 14, 2021/Riley Draper Table of Contents You might think that hatchets are just for the hardcore campers out there. Although hatchets might make you...
The Best Tent Brands on the Market
April 28, 2021/Riley Draper To the untrained eye, many 3-4-season tent brands may seem identical in terms of virtually all characteristics except price. However, there...
8 Best Freeze-Dried Foods for Camping & Backpacking
April 23, 2021/Riley Draper Table of Contents One of the most difficult choices you have to make when you're packing your things for an extended...
