Lance Wilkins
Hi, my name is Lance and I’m an English guy who loves the outdoors. Some of my fondest childhood memories are of building forts in the woods on family camping trips and earning by badges in the cub scouts. Since getting my first Swiss army knife as a youngster I’ve been fascinated with how tools and gear can help us thrive in the outdoors.
Over the years my love for the outdoors expanded into fishing, hiking, camping, backpacking and survival. I’ve always been a bit of a gear nerd so I love the opportunity to try out new gadgets and really put them to the test.
Naturally on taking up fishing I jumped head first into finding the right gear for the job and learning about the different techniques and strategies that would help me improve. Once my friends started referring strangers to me for advice on what to buy I realised I should probably start sharing my research with other people. Thats why I started Call Outdoors!
My mission is to help you enjoy the outdoors safely, smartly and responsibly.
My philosophy:
All the articles and information on my site has been carefully selected, planned and edited by myself so I know its reliable and accurate. I hire professional writers and talented wordsmiths to help me put together top notch articles. I even hire professional editors to help me ensure the quality and readability of the articles is up to scratch and not a word gets published without me giving the OK.
When its possible I love to get my hands dirty with the items we cover and test many to breaking point. Since we cover so many items we’re not always able to get the chance to do deep hands on testing, so we also rely on third party feedback and deep research.
I try to support my local stores whenever possible by sourcing the items locally, if they don’t stock the items I’ll still press a few questions about what their impressions are of the products as retailers.
I’m constantly striving to make this site a reliable and trustworthy source of genuine opinions and experiences so we do not accept any sponsorships or brand relationships that require input into our review process. I want this site to be your one stop shop for making decisions about your favourite outdoor adventures.
What the outdoors means to me:
Our natural environment is a gift to us all. Its also a gift we should leave for future generations. I’m deeply conscious of keeping our natural environment intact and untarnished for all to enjoy. To do this I like to make sure I am always focusing on the following:
Longevity
The gear we use in the outdoors takes a beating, but the right items treated in the right way will last a long long time. Since the manufacturing process of everything we buy has a nock on effect on our environment, I aim to minimise the number of items you will need to buy over your lifetime. I do this by finding the highest quality and best value items that will last. Not only will it help you save money from repeat purchases but it will help save our environment from a higher volume of manufacturing.
Environmental Sustainability
Whenever I can I lean towards products which use sustainable practices in their manufacture and use. This doesn’t mean I will recommend an inferior product because of its recycled materials but if a product or technique has a detrimental impact on our environment I will identify this and give my opinion of it accordingly.
By sticking to these general guidelines I hope we can help keep our natural environment sustainable and enjoyable for future generations, just like it was left for us. If you’re onboard with this then keep an eye out for mentions of longevity and sustainability in my reviews.
Why read Call Outdoors?
Everything we write and everything we recommend is aimed to help you better enjoy the outdoors. You are the centre of our vision and we are working to make your lives easier and more fun.
If you’re someone who feels alive in the outdoors and cares about keeping it thriving for generations to come then your in the right place.
If you like nerding out about outdoors gear and want a complete breakdown of whats available on the market, as well as how it stacks up, then Call Outdoors is for you.
If you just want an easy place to get quality well researched recommendations for different products you’ll need on your next outdoors adventure then check us out.
Most of all if you love nature and the outdoors then you’ll be among friends at Call Outdoors. I look forward to you reading our latest guides and tips. Check out our latest favourites here.