Harry Spampinato

Title: Gear Tester & Freelance Contributor
Email: harryspamp11@gmail.com
Location: Cape Cod, Massachusetts
Social Media: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harry-spampinato-8b9a01106/

Expertise

Topics of Expertise: Fishing, Travel, Camping, Paddling, Hiking, Dirtbagging, Beaching, Wildlife
Years in this Expertise: 20+
Number Of Products & Number Of Hours Expert Has Tested: 1,000+ products, 4,000+ hours

Education & Certifications

Education: Bachelor’s of Science; University of Massachusetts at Amherst
Years of Writing: 7
Certifications: Open Water NAUI Dive Certification, Firearm/Hunter Safety, CPR (Expired), ACA
Paddlesports Safety Certification
Association Memberships: New England Outdoor Writers Association, Stripers Forever,
UMASS Fly Fishing Club
Awards or Recognitions: 2016 NEOWA Annual MA Scholarship
Previous Publications: Heavy.com

Experience

Prior to becoming a contributor at Gear Junkie, Harry Spampinato spent over seven years in the
outdoor industry testing and reviewing equipment and apparel.

Enthralled by wilderness and wildlife at a young age while growing up on his native Cape Cod, Harry followed an educational path that led him to a UMASS degree in Natural Resources Conversation, with a concentration in Wildlife and Ecology. What began as a passion for science and nature quickly evolved into an array of interests and then addictions to a mess of outdoor hobbies. It became clear to Harry early on that he ought to apply his passions for fishing, trekking, camping, paddle sports, and backpacking toward a viable career path.

In 2016, an unexpected nomination and accolade for the New England Outdoor Writers Association’s annual scholarship introduced Harry to the world of outdoor writing, where he soon after landed a position as a freelance contributor at Heavy.com. Specializing in testing and covering outdoor gear, Spampinato has been laying down investigative wear and tear on countless pieces of equipment ever since.

After college, Spampinato made a point to take advantage of his remote writing position in order
to travel and explore wild destinations around the globe, typically in pursuit of game fish on his
fly rod. Working on Cape Cod as a wilderness guide for Great Marsh Kayak Tours through the
summer, and then embarking on international backpacking trips during the off-season, Harry
likes to test his own resilience in the face of raw adventure just as much as he does gear.
While Spampinato has spent time all over the map recreating in the great outdoors, his most
honed skill sets and passions remain closely tied to the ocean where he was born and raised.

Career Highlights

• 2016 recipient of NEOWA’s annual UMASS Scholarship
• Wilderness Guiding For Great Marsh Kayak Tours out of Nauset Marsh, MA
• DIY fly fishing the flats of the Yucatan Penisula, Belize, Hawaii, and Cape Cod
• Solo backpacking the Oaxacan coast, Colombian Andes, Belizean Cayes, and
  Argentinian Patagonia

A Word from Harry Spampinato

Freelancing in the outdoor industry has been a truly brilliant way to support my lifestyle and
thirst for outdoor exploits. For me, the realization that outdoorsmen and women everywhere rely
on high-quality, organic, and unbiased gear reviews has turned into a calling to filter the good
from the average, and the great from the good.
My most potent personal interests include wildlife viewing, paddling, DIY destination angling,
trekking, picnicking, and getting thoroughly lost while solo traveling abroad. While gear testing
and reporting is a fulfilling endeavor all on its own, it’s the places and people I’ve come to know
while on assignment that continue to fill my cup.