Josette Deschambeault

Contributing Writer

Katie Brown on a winter run in her home mountains in Utah. Photo by Craig Lloyd.

Josette Deschambeault is a dog mom and self-proclaimed water woman who contributes to all sorts of outdoor-related publications, including Backpacker Magazine, NRS’ Duct Tape Diaries blog, Powder 7’s Lift Line Blog, and REI’s Coop Journal/ Uncommon Path Magazine.

She’s guided rock, rivers, and trails in Alaska, Colorado, Canada, and Maine, but is currently based out of Golden, Colorado. When she’s not on the water, she’s road-tripping in her ’95 Tacoma to camp in new places, or taking up the rear on the skintrack to find fresh snow.

Josette is an EMT, Search & Rescue tech, volunteer firefighter, Swiftwater Rescue Level IV technician, AAIRE Avalanche Companion Rescue certified, with an AAIRE Avalanche Rescue Level I coming soon.

Her gear expertise stems from 6 years of writing gear reviews professionally, 6 years of guiding, and a plethora of gear-head friends.

 

Instagram: @jodeschambeault

Website: BarelyBadass

Gear Reviews
Best Ski Gloves of 2024/25
Josette Deschambeault
Best Ski Gloves of 2024/25
Josette Deschambeault

We researched 100+ ski gloves to find the best ski gloves, ski gloves for women, ski gloves for cold hands, leather ski gloves, ski touring gloves, and ski gloves for cold and extreme weather. See picks from Black Diamond, Hestra, Arc’teryx, Outdoor Research, Kinco, and more.

Josette Deschambeault
Best Men's Winter Boots of 2024/25
Josette Deschambeault
Best Men's Winter Boots of 2024/25
Josette Deschambeault

Tested on ice and snow from Maine to Alaska, here’s our review of the best men’s winter boots for warmth, water resistance, fit, comfort, and traction.


Josette Deschambeault
Best Women's Winter Boots of 2024/25
Josette Deschambeault
Best Women's Winter Boots of 2024/25
Josette Deschambeault

We tested the top women’s winter boots for ice and snow from Maine to Alaska. We review the best boots for warmth, water resistance, fit, comfort and traction

Josette Deschambeault
Best Winter Gloves of 2024
Josette Deschambeault
Best Winter Gloves of 2024
Josette Deschambeault

We researched the 100 most popular winter gloves, liner gloves, heated gloves, and mittens to find the best gloves for running, cycling, extreme cold, and touchscreen usage. We found thin, lightweight, unbulky gloves with great dexterity.

Josette Deschambeault
Best Camping Chairs of 2024
Josette Deschambeault
Best Camping Chairs of 2024
Josette Deschambeault

We researched and tested dozens of camping chairs from Coleman, Kijaro, Helinox, Yeti, including camp chairs for beach day, bad backs, tailgating, and portable seats for music festivals.

Josette Deschambeault
Best Coolers for Camping of 2024
Josette Deschambeault
Best Coolers for Camping of 2024
Josette Deschambeault

We researched and tested 25+ rotomolded camping coolers to find the best performance for ice retention, best for the money, best wheeled, and best Yeti alternative. Then we tested to verify our findings on camping, fishing, white water rafting trips.

Josette Deschambeault
Best Soft Coolers of 2024
Josette Deschambeault
Best Soft Coolers of 2024
Josette Deschambeault

The top-rated cooler bags and insulated totes, cooler backpacks, and soft shell small coolers ranked for ice retention, zippers, and portability

Josette Deschambeault
Best Camping Tables of 2024
Josette Deschambeault
Best Camping Tables of 2024
Josette Deschambeault

We review 14 portable foldable tables to find the best camp tables—including best camp kitchen cook station, sturdy camp dining table, and folding ultralight table.

Josette Deschambeault
Best Life Jackets for Kids of 2024
Josette Deschambeault
Best Life Jackets for Kids of 2024
Josette Deschambeault

We researched and tested the most popular child life jackets, youth life jackets, & infant life jackets to find the best life jackets for kids. Criteria included US Coast Guard Approval, easy buckle releases, and grab straps.

Josette Deschambeault
Best Dog Backpacks for Hiking of 2024
Josette Deschambeault
Best Dog Backpacks for Hiking of 2024
Josette Deschambeault

We tested and compared the best backpacks for dogs for day hiking, backpacking, and urban use. We considered straps, saddlebags, and harnesses for small dogs and large dogs.

Josette Deschambeault
Best Life Jackets and Personal Flotation Devices (PFD) of 2024
Josette Deschambeault
Best Life Jackets and Personal Flotation Devices (PFD) of 2024
Josette Deschambeault

To find the best PFDs, we researched and tested the most popular Type I, Type III, Type V, women’s PFD, fishing PFDs, and budget PFD from Astral, NRS, Stohlquist, and Stearns. The one thing that all boaters can agree on is that personal safety is paramount.

Josette Deschambeault
Best Sports Bras for D+ Cups of 2024
Josette Deschambeault
Best Sports Bras for D+ Cups of 2024
Josette Deschambeault

For those with large breasts (AKA big boobs), we review the best sports bras for chest sizes D+. Comfortable, supportive, and affordable bras for most activities

Josette Deschambeault
Oboz Bridger Insulated Winter Hiking Boots Review
Josette Deschambeault
Oboz Bridger Insulated Winter Hiking Boots Review
Josette Deschambeault

In-depth review of the Oboz Bridger Insulated winter hiking boots. We tested for fit, comfort, warmth, support, stability, and waterproofness.

Josette Deschambeault
Blundstone All-Terrain Thermal Winter Boots Review
Josette Deschambeault
Blundstone All-Terrain Thermal Winter Boots Review
Josette Deschambeault

Long-term, in-depth review of the Blundstone boots for winter and rain. The Blundstone All-Terrain Thermal are the best winter boots for style, commuting and walking around town

Josette Deschambeault
Where to Go Trip Guides
Guide to Rafting the Ruby-Horsethief Canyons on the Colorado River
Guide to Rafting the Ruby-Horsethief Canyons on the Colorado River

Want a beginner-friendly, flatwater river trip with great views? Visit Ruby Horsethief Canyon to experience 25-mile, year-round rafting down the Colorado River with red rock arches, sandy beaches, and side hikes from Colorado to Westwater, Utah.


Rafting the Main Fork of the Salmon River
Rafting the Main Fork of the Salmon River

The reason they call the Salmon ‘The River of No Return’? You’ll never wanna leave! This 4-6 day whitewater rafting trip down the Main Fork of the Salmon, over beautiful high volume class III-IV rapids and pool-drop water, is a dream come true!

Treeline Review Staffauthor