Travis Smola
Staff Writer
Travis Smola is a Staff Writer with Field & Stream. He spent eight years writing about all things outdoors with Wide Open Spaces before looking for a new challenge with Field & Stream in 2023.
Highlights
- Writes about all things hunting, fishing, and camping with an emphasis on gear.
- Conducts real-world testing of today’s most popular outdoor brands.
Experience
Travis started his career with a short stint in newspapers. He then spent five years freelance outdoor writing, primarily with Wide Open Spaces before joining the site full-time in 2020. He spent three years there as a Senior Staff Writer writing about all things outdoors including hunting, fishing, and camping. During his stint with WOS he interviewed famous outdoor figures like Kevin VanDam, Remi Warren, and Bill Dance.
Smola joined Field & Stream in 2023 to do more focused writing on outdoor gear. He now writes primarily product reviews and gear guides using his experiences in the outdoors to help choose the best products. When he isn’t hunting or fishing, Travis can often be found geocaching.
Education
Travis graduated from Western Michigan University with a bachelor’s in journalism and a minor in recreation. He honed his writing skills at Michigan’s then smallest daily newspaper, The Three Rivers Commercial-News.
F&S Lightning Round
Favorite place to hunt: Southwest Michigan
Favorite Place to Hunt: Southwest Michigan
Favorite Species to Hunt: Whitetails
Bucket List Adventure: Michigan elk hunt (If I’m ever fortunate enough to draw a tag!)
Most treasured piece of gear: My grandfather’s old Marlin Model 60 .22 lr