Writer and editor Sean McCoy
2679 articles

Sean McCoy

Editorial Director

Editorial Director Sean McCoy is a lifelong outdoorsman who grew up hunting and fishing central Wisconsin forests and lakes. He joined GearJunkie after a 10-year stint as a newspaperman in the Caribbean, where he learned sailing and wooden-boat repair.

Based in GearJunkie's Denver office, McCoy is an avid trail runner, camper, hunter, angler, mountain biker, skier, and beer tester.

Title: Editorial Director
Email: sean@gearjunkie.com
Location: Denver, Colo.
Social Media: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-mccoy-4ba26043/https://twitter.com/seanmccoy18

Expertise

  • Topics of Expertise: Hunting, Fishing, Skiing, Sailing, Trail running, Camping, Hiking, Outdoor Gear
  • Years in This Expertise: 20+
  • Number of Products & Number of Hours Expert Has Tested: 2,000+ products, 10,000+ hours

Education & Certifications

Experience

Prior to his promotion to Editorial Director at AllGear, McCoy was editor-in-chief of GearJunkie.com, where he worked with Stephen Regenold (a former college roommate) to build the premier outdoors gear website on the internet. But that just tells part of the story.

McCoy’s experience as a genuine GearJunkie goes back to the ’80s. He grew up in Wisconsin, and was an avid angler and bike racer as a child. In college, he worked at the iconic Minneapolis outdoor store Midwest Mountaineering at the climbing counter. He sold rock climbing gear and taught basic climbing skills in the shop.

After college, he moved to St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands to work at the Virgin Islands Daily News. There, he honed his skills as a sports reporter, photographer, and news reporter. He also avidly learned sailing, diving, and surfing skills, which he practiced at every opportunity.

Upon returning to the mainland, McCoy rekindled his love of the mountains. He moved to Colorado, where he lives to this day.

As Editorial Director, McCoy oversees the creative direction for content initiatives at AllGear sites including GearJunkie, BikeRumor, ExplorersWeb, iRunFar, and The Inertia. He strongly believes in fairness and transparency in journalism, particularly in gear reviewing, and applies many lessons learned in newspaper reporting to his leadership style at AllGear.

Career Highlights

  • Completing the Trans-Rockies Run, including a third-place finish
  • Completing the Leadville 100 Trail Run
  • Completing the Grand Canyon 100 Trail Run
  • Skiing in Niseko, Japan
  • Participating in 19 Outdoor Retailer conventions as a reporter
  • Placing third in the Patagonian International Marathon
  • Running multiple remote offices from high mountain locations

A Word From Sean McCoy

As a writer and editor for GearJunkie and AllGear Digital Media, I employ two of my greatest passions — the outdoors and journalism. I started a rock climbing magazine called Vertical Jones with GearJunkie founder Stephen Regenold in 1995 or ’96. The rest is history.  My personal interests include trail running, camping, mountain biking, skiing, dogs, and music.

And while I genuinely enjoy the work I do as a writer and editor, I am most proud of the teams that I have helped build at AllGear. Our company represents the best reporters, editors, and gear experts in the business. They represent diverse communities and activities that span the outdoors. And while we are still a small, growing company, we work every day to tell the most important stories in outdoor recreation, exploration, and conservation.


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12-Part Video Series: AMGA Climbing Fundamentals

Kayakers Rescue Dolphin Trapped In Seaweed

Meet The Smallest GoPro Ever

Kayak Battle Royale

Camping Hammock, Adventure Bikes, Primitive Fire: GearJunkie Week In Review

300 Rockets All At Once Is Pretty Awesome

Solar Powered Airplane Makes Historic Pacific Crossing

Madness Or Courage? Flight Through Six Foot ‘Keyhole’

Inland Scuba: 5 Landlocked Dive Spots Out West

8,500 Bottle Rockets In One Minute

Most Ill-Advised, Wildly Ambitious Weekend Plan

The Most Perfect Backflop

When Cliff Jumping And Trampolines Combine

How DO Bikes Stay Upright?

Road Biker Makes The Improbable Look Easy

Don’t Drink The Gatorade: Backpacking And Pee Bottles

Crash Hazard: SR Suntour Bicycle Fork Recall

Bear Just Trying To Get To Creamy Center

Lightning Strike Kills Dog, Injures Hikers On Colorado 14er

Outhouse Upgrade: Flush Toilets Cost Taxpayers $300K

Is ‘OLED’ The Future Of Outdoors Lighting?

Lululemon Recalls 300,000 Women’s Tops

Refined & Rugged: Triple Aught Design ‘Dauntless’

6 Seconds To Spare: Woman, 70, Finishes Western States

Sharpen Knives On Brick, Cinder Block

Primitive Fire: Learn By Watching

Leatherman President’s Everyday Carry

Drunk Driver Hits ‘Pedal Pub’

Hammock Virgin: My First Time Was An Accident