James Lucas is a long-time writer, editor, and photographer. As an avid climber of 20 years with first ascents of big walls in Yosemite, boulder problems in the Rocky Mountains, and sport climbs in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco, James spends hundreds of days outside every year documenting the outdoors and testing gear while traveling around his home in Boulder, Colorado, and out on the road in the Western United States. After he finished his undergraduate degree at the University of Santa Cruz, James began his writing career, documenting his travels and the lives of his nomadic friends. From writing Yosemite Valley Bouldering, a comprehensive guide to the thousands of granite boulder problems in Yosemite, to working as a Senior Associate Editor at Climbing Magazine for four years, James developed a strong grasp of immersing himself in an area and topic, disseminating that information, and explaining it to an audience. As his ability to write expanded, he grasped a camera to further document the people, places, and products of the outdoors. His work has appeared in dozens of outdoor magazines, books, and websites. From working out of his van in the Rockies to the top of sunny El Capitan in Yosemite, James uses the skills he learned as a writer to learn about products, test them, and then articulate the reasons how each product works and why you should or shouldn't buy it.
Showing 1-15 of 34 by James Lucas

Best Fleece Jackets of 2023
Looking for a new fleece to heat up your life? We purchased the top 10 fleece jackets and rigorously tested them for...
Editors' Choice
Patagonia R1 Air Full-Zip Hoody Review
Threading a perfect line between technical ability and comfortable fashion, the R1 Air provides a fleece with...
Best Buy
Outdoor Research Vigor Full Zip Hoodie Review
A functional lightweight fleece ideal for fast and light missions. Warm enough to use as a stand-alone piece for cool...
Top Pick
Kuhl Interceptr 1/4 Zip Review
A stylish piece that combines fashion with a bit of function to create a piece that can move from the streets to...
Best Down Jackets of 2023
Our experts reviewed twelve mid and lightweight down jackets to find the best fitting, the warmest, and the most...
Top Pick
Patagonia R1 Hoody Review
This mountain wear staple provides all the features you'd want in a technical piece with plenty of comfort...
Top Pick
Arc'teryx Kyanite AR Hoody Review
This high-quality fleece combines simplicity with function to create an incredibly comfortable jacket that performs in...
Editors' Choice
Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer/2 Review
This technical piece takes a simple approach to lightweight warmth making it an excellent buy for movement in the...
Best Portable Solar Charger of 2023
Are you in the market for a new solar setup? Perhaps the hundreds of options available online are a bit overwhelming...
Best Buy
MontBell Superior Down Review
Lightweight, inexpensive, and packable, this down comes at an excellent price.
Top Pick
Patagonia Down Sweater Hoody Review
One of the most comfortable and stylish jackets we reviewed, this jacket comes with simple features that make an...
Top Pick
Rab Electron Pro Review
This incredibly warm piece has all the right features and element resistance that our testers wanted in a down jacket...
Marmot Reactor 2.0 Review
A simple, lightweight layer that transitions from the mountains to dinner on the town with ease.
Mountain Hardwear Stratus Range Full Zip Review
This high-performance fleece shines as a technical garment for climbing, hiking, or back-country endeavors where you...
Columbia Steens Mountain 2.0 Full Zip Review
Keeping our testers warm at a reasonable price, this jacket fits basic needs without a heavy cost.
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