About
About The Outside Report
An independent publication for hunters and outdoors people about to spend real money on gear — and who want advice from someone with nothing to sell them.
Our mission
Most hunting-gear "best of" lists are written by the same retailers and brands that profit when you buy. That conflict is rarely disclosed, and it quietly shapes every recommendation. The Outside Report exists to occupy the opposite position: expert, honest gear coverage that is editorially independent of the brands and retailers it writes about.
We don't operate a store. We hold no inventory. Our picks are not products we need to move — which means when we tell you a crossbow isn't worth its premium, or that a cheaper camo layering system gets you most of the way there, we have no reason not to.
How we stay independent
- No inventory, ever.We sell nothing. The site is supported by affiliate links, which never change our rankings — see our affiliate disclosure.
- A documented evaluation standard. Every review is written against the criteria published on our How We Testpage, and measured against the manufacturer's own published specifications.
- Sourced, not invented.Specs, prices and performance claims are cited to verifiable sources. Where a figure can't be verified, we say so rather than guess — a standard set out in our editorial policy.
- The cons stay in. Honest negatives are the point. A review that only praises is advertising.
- We label what we've field-tested.Where a recommendation is based on published specs and verified owner feedback rather than our own time behind the trigger, the page says so plainly. We never imply experience we haven't had.
What we cover
The Outside Report focuses on the gear hunters actually agonize over before buying: crossbows and crossbow accessories, hunting camo and cold-weather apparel, optics and field gear like boots and trail cameras, air rifles, and the how-to knowledge that makes any of it work in the field.
The team
Stephen Von Strohe
Founder & Editor
Stephen Von Strohe is the founder and editor of The Outside Report. He started the site out of frustration with hunting-gear “best of” lists written by the same retailers selling the gear — and built it around a simple rule: the people who recommend a piece of equipment should never have inventory to move. He sets the site's evaluation standards, edits every review against the published methodology, and is responsible for its independence, sourcing, and corrections policy. Where a product has been evaluated from published specifications and verified owner feedback rather than field-tested by us, the review says so plainly rather than implying hands-on experience we haven't had yet.
The Outside Report launched in 2026and is actively expanding its masthead. As named contributors with hunting-specific expertise join — experienced bowhunters, a crossbow technician, Western backcountry hunters — their bylines and credentials will be published here. We will never run anonymous reviews or invented personas.
Talk to us
Spotted an error, have gear you think we should cover, or want to contribute? We read every message. Reach us through the contact page or by email at contact@theoutsidereport.com.
Who runs The Outside Report
The Outside Report is an independent publication operated by Type 5 Marketing LLC. It is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and CJ Affiliate partner programs — more in our affiliate disclosure.