Jon Oleson hails from the mountain west state of Utah. Growing up near the mountains gave him an undying appreciation for elevations and being outdoors. He grew up camping, hunting, fishing, hiking, backpacking, climbing, rafting, and exploring wherever adventure took him. Earning a degree in Arabic at the University of Utah allowed him to broaden his horizons further, taking him to both live and work all over the Middle East. This also allowed him to explore and adventure to many places throughout the world (Bolivia is still his favorite, although Egypt is pretty cool, too). Some notable stops along the way were: summiting Aconcagua in Argentina, diving the Great Barrier Reef and the Red Sea, trekking out to Frenchman's Cap in SW Tasmania, and watching the Aurora borealis from 30,000 feet.
Nowadays, Jon's life is a bit more sedentary as he helps raise two wonderful children. They like to camp, hike, swim, and do lots of fun things outdoors together. Most recently, they had a great time exploring the Tetons and Yellowstone. When Jon isn't with his kids, you can usually find him in the garden. After being trained as a Clinical Herbalist a decade ago, Jon found gardening as a passion that paid the bills. Growing medicinal herbs is a great compliment to herbalism, and he focuses mostly on culinary herbs to use in his gourmet homestead cooking. Jon now lives in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, but is transitioning to the lakes region of the northern midwest in order to live closer to family.
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Jon Oleson
Review Editor
Showing 1-15 of 29 by Jon Oleson
Best Fishing Reel of 2024
After scouring the market, we bought 8 of the best reels and rigorously tested them for months. All, so you can win...Best Hiking Socks of 2024
Is a bomber hiking sock the next thing on your adventure gear list? We spent countless hours researching, purchasing...Best Barefoot Shoes of 2024
Ready to make the switch to minimalist or barefoot shoes? Our comprehensive review compares 9 of this season's best...Best Bike Locks of 2024
If you ride a bicycle for recreation, fitness, sanity, or transportation (or all), you need a bike lock. Given the...Top Pick
LITELOK X3 Review
This is the easy choice if your main concern is security, but if weight and price are at the top of your list then you...Best Fishing Rod of 2024
The right fishing rod can mean the difference between angling glory and going home empty handed, so check out our...10 Best Walking Shoes of 2024
These award-winning walking shoes will keep you moving. Whether you plan on walking around town, running errands, or...10 Best Flip Flops of 2024
Over the past 10 years, we've bought and tested nearly 100 pairs of flip flops to find the greatest on the market...Best Water Bottles of 2024
We're at it again, testing this year's best water bottles. There are some familiar vessels but most are new contenders...Best Flip Flops for Men of 2024
Searching for a new slippah? The selection can be daunting, with a multitude of options from the biggest names in the...10 Best Socks of 2024
With such an extensive field, finding the best sock to suit your foot can be overwhelming. With over a decade of...The Best Socks for Men of 2024
Finally time to replace your tired old socks? We researched dozens of pairs of the best selling socks before picking...Editors' Choice
Vibram V-Trail 2.0 Review
This burly model is a lightweight adventure shoe, proving itself with impressive durability, stability and running...Best Buy
Whitin Cross Trainer Review
These affordable trail runners offer good value while not totally sacrificing the tenats of barefoot shoewear. If...Top Pick
Vivobarefoot Tracker II FG Review
Designed with durability and stability in mind, these hiking boots will keep your feet comfortable and dry on any...
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