There are a lot of misconceptions about what it’s like to be an outdoor journalist. One stereotype that’s right on the mark, though: you will accumulate gear—a lot of it. Our editors’ gear closets are a mix of old-favorite tents and packs; tester gear we’re trying out for our gear guides; stashes of fuel canisters, meals, and other consumables—you get the idea.

My gear closet—garage loft, actually—is bigger than most. I’ve covered backpacking, rock climbing, and other outdoor activities for roughly eighteen years, and there are times my gear closet feels like a physical history of that work. I’ve got somewhere in the neighborhood of eight tents right now, even more sleeping bags, and pads and stoves that are still going strong after decades of use. Get a guided tour of my gear loft and shelves—and my favorite pieces from them—in this behind-the-scenes video.