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About Owen Becker & Camped Too Hard

I started Camped Too Hard to share my first-hand experience with camping gear. Discover why we prioritize durability and honesty in every review we publish.

What is the story about Camped Too Hard and why did I start this journey?

Owen Becker, founder of Camped Too Hard, standing next to a camping tent.

About Camped Too Hard, I started it because I was tired of reading gear reviews that felt like they were written by people who had never actually slept on the cold ground. My name is Owen Becker, and my life has revolved around the outdoors for as long as I can remember. I have spent countless nights in the mountains, the desert, and deep in the woods, testing the limits of what a piece of nylon and some aluminum poles can handle. For me, camping is not just a hobby: it is a way to disconnect from the noise of the world and reconnect with what actually matters. But I realized early on that your gear can either make or break that experience. If your tent leaks or your poles snap in a breeze, your dream trip quickly turns into a miserable survival situation.

I remember my first real solo trip where I bought the cheapest tent I could find. It looked great in the store, but when a midnight thunderstorm rolled through the valley, I woke up in two inches of water. That was the moment I became obsessed with finding the best gear on the market. I wanted to understand why some fabrics shed water like a duck while others soak it up like a sponge. I wanted to know the difference between high end aluminum poles and the cheap fiberglass stuff that splinters when you need it most. I spent years researching and testing gear for my own trips, and eventually, my friends and family started coming to me every time they needed to buy a new shelter.

Camped Too Hard was born from that desire to share honest, first hand experience with a wider community. When you read a review on this site, you are not getting a summary of a manufacturer spec sheet. You are getting my personal take after I have actually lived out of that tent. I look at the small details that matter in the field, like how hard it is to zip the door with cold fingers or whether the gear loft is actually big enough to hold a modern smartphone. I believe that transparency is the most important part of being a gear reviewer. I want you to know exactly what I liked and what I hated about every product I feature.

Real Testing

I sleep in the gear I review.

Honest Advice

No paid fluff, just the truth.

Expert Insight

Years of trial and error shared with you.

How I test camping gear to ensure you get the most reliable advice

My testing process is rigorous and focused on real world scenarios. I do not just set a tent up in a pristine backyard and call it a day. I take these tents into the wind, the rain, and the heat to see how they actually perform. I analyze the setup speed, the packed volume, and the durability of the seams over multiple trips. My goal is to build the most authoritative resource for camping tents on the internet. I want this site to be the place you visit whenever you are confused about which gear to buy. Whether you are a solo backpacker looking for an ultralight setup or a family looking for a massive instant cabin, I am here to help you make an informed decision.

For example, when I am reviewing gear for my hub on the best tent for motorcycle camping, I am looking at very specific metrics. I need to know if the poles will fit inside a standard side case or if the fabric can handle the vibration of being strapped to a bike for 500 miles. I have spent weeks living out of models like the MSR Hubba Hubba NX 2 to see if the vertical walls actually provide enough room for what I call the gear explosion. This is the reality of what happens when you bring your muddy boots, armored jacket, and helmet inside a small space. If a tent cannot handle that mess, I will tell you.

I take the same approach with my guides for the best pop up tent category. I realize that for many families and festival goers, convenience is the number one priority. But convenience should not come at the cost of safety. I test the hydraulic hubs and the spring frames to see if they can handle a real summer thunderstorm. I even wrote a technical guide on how to fold a pop up tent because I know how frustrating the teardown process can be when you do not have the right technique. I want you to spend more time enjoying the campfire and less time wrestling with your gear.

My commitment to honesty and why you can trust Camped Too Hard

I also believe that the camping community should be accessible to everyone. You do not need to spend thousands of dollars on high end gear to have a great time outdoors. That is why I cover a wide range of products, from budget friendly picks to premium professional gear. I want to help you find the best value for your specific budget. Thank you for being part of this community and for trusting me to help you plan your next adventure. I am always happy to hear from fellow campers, so please feel free to reach out through my Contact page if you have questions or gear suggestions.

I want to be clear about how this site operates. I am a camper first and a business owner second. My first loyalty is always to you, the reader. I do not accept payments from brands to give them a positive review. If you see a link on this site and decide to make a purchase, I may earn a small commission through the Amazon Associates program. This revenue is what allows me to keep the site free and to continue buying new gear for testing. You can read my full Affiliate Disclosure to see exactly how this works. I believe that being open about my business model is the only way to build a community based on trust. I will see you on the trail.