Welcome to Fama. Let’s make your first hike a little less awkward.
Let’s be honest: the outdoor world can feel like an exclusive club.
If you scroll through social media or walk into a specialized gear shop, it seems like everyone was born knowing how to read a topographic map, layer merino wool, and scale a mountain before breakfast.
It’s intimidating. I know, because my friends and I felt the exact same way.
How This Started
Two years ago, my two best friends and I decided hiking would be a fun weekend hobby. It did not go smoothly.
One of us bought a $30 backpack from Target, filled it with three water bottles, and headed to what an app called an “easy” trail. Forty-five minutes in, her shoulders were screaming, she’d drunk all her water, and she had no idea if she was halfway done or barely started.
My other friend spent $140 on stiff, heavy boots because reviews said they were “great for technical trails”. She left with massive blisters.
And me? I spent three hours researching what to wear for a simple two-hour walk, overthought the whole thing, and still showed up in jeans.
We realized the problem wasn’t us. The problem was that nobody writes for actual beginners—people who need to know that “800 feet of elevation gain” means your legs will hurt, or that bringing six snacks for a short hike is totally normal.
So, we created Fama.
Who We Are
We are three friends who test gear, walk trails, and share our mistakes so you don’t have to make them.
I’m Oliver. I’m the main writer, the designer, and the one running the website behind the scenes. My two best friends (and co-adventurers) are constantly out on the trails with me, testing backpacks, snapping photos, and reporting back on what actually works and what doesn’t.
Together, we’re building the resource we wish we had when we stood in that first trailhead parking lot wondering if we were doing it wrong.
What We Actually Do
This is a zero-judgment zone for absolute beginners. You won’t find any gatekeeping or confusing jargon here. If you want to walk a flat, two-mile dirt path in your running shoes, that is a hike, and you belong here.
At Fama, you will find:
- Plain-English Gear Guides: We test and review the basics—like budget-friendly daypacks and comfortable boots—so you don’t overspend on gear you don’t actually need.
- Getting Started Basics: Practical answers to the questions you might feel silly asking (like “What does that painted stripe on the tree mean?” or “Who moves out of the way on a narrow trail?”).
- No-BS Safety & Tips: Simple, actionable advice on what to pack and how to layer your clothes so you stay warm, dry, and happy.
Why “Fama”?
It’s Latin for “reputation” or “what people say.” We liked the idea that hiking shouldn’t be about what the experts say—it should be about real people sharing what actually worked.
Also, to be completely honest, all the good domain names were taken.
Our Promise to You
- We keep it practical. You’re not here to read essays about finding yourself in nature. You’re here because you have a specific question, and we’re going to answer it directly.
- We’ll never hide the downsides. Every piece of gear has trade-offs. We’ll tell you the truth, even if it means saying “this popular item everyone raves about actually kind of sucks for beginners”.
- No gatekeeping, ever. Hiking is just walking outside. That’s it.
If you’ve been putting off your first hike because you’re worried you’ll look stupid or do it wrong, here’s the truth: everyone’s first hike is a little awkward. You’ll bring too much stuff. You’ll wonder if you’re walking too slow.
But you’ll also probably have a great time. And the second hike is way easier than the first.
We’re just here to help you get to that second hike.
See you on the trail,
Oliver Fall (and the Fama Team)