Sasha Brown
Title: Writer & Gear Tester
Location: Vancouver Island, British Columbia
Expertise & Background
- Topics of Expertise: Trail running, backpacking, bikepacking, hiking, mountain biking
- Years of Writing: 12+
- Years of Gear Testing: 12+
Why I Chose This Career
I've spent my life playing in the mountains, and my husband Brian and I have chose to spend our lives exploring as much as possible. Our adventures require gear, and we are often in harsh—though beautiful—locations, so gear testing felt like a natural fit.
How I Began My Career
In 2012, I was selected as a Trail Ambassador for The North Face in Canada. In that role, I tested TNF trail running gear and wrote about it for Canadian Trail Running. My relationship with Switchback Travel started a few years later, after I discovered their great beta on trails on Norway’s Lofoten Islands. My husband and I started testing gear for Switchback shortly after that, and the rest is history.
Recent Articles
Arc’teryx Cerium Hoody (Women’s) Review
Last Updated: September 4, 2024
Arc’teryx’s Cerium is legendary in the performance down jacket market, and for good reason. With a mix of premium down and synthetic fill in moisture-prone areas, the jacket is both impressively warm for the weight and more protective than most...
Arc’teryx Proton Heavyweight Hoody Review
Last Updated: September 19, 2024
Arc’teryx’s Proton line falls under a growing category of active insulators, which are purpose-built for keeping you comfortable during exertion. The most insulated of the bunch, the Proton Heavyweight Hoody is an impressively warm and breathable...
Aku Rocket DFS GTX Hiking Shoe Review
Last Updated: August 4, 2023
Aku is an Italian footwear brand with a wide selection of technical designs for demanding mountain adventures, but their recent foray into the fast-and-light space hasn’t gone unnoticed. The Rocket is arguably their most versatile lightweight hiker...
Salomon Quest 4 GTX (Women's) Review
Last Updated: January 24, 2022
Salomon’s Quest 4 has been one of the most capable backpacking boots on the market for years running, and the latest version carries the torch. I took the women’s version of the boots on a demanding...