About Conquerwild
Meet Me.
Hello to all my hikers, campers and outdoor adventurers. My name is Mike Nicosia, and as the founder, designer and chief content creator of Conquerwild.com, I’d like to introduce myself. I’m a college graduate in my early twenties, and I’ve made it my goal over the last few years to solidify an unbreakable bond with nature.
Growing up in northern New Jersey, wilderness has always been close, yet somewhat far away. I’ve lived in the same small suburb for my entire life, and it’s not exactly what most would consider a “woodsy area.” However, the Appalachian Trail has remained within driving distance of my home.
I’ve always been a huge animal lover. I’ve always been conscious about the fragility of the ecosystem. I’ve always been fascinated by the wild and the remarkable beauty that comes with nature. Though it wasn’t until my later teen years when that fascination morphed into a full blown love and admiration.
At the age of 16, I decided to embark on a hike with 3 friends. This was intended to be a 45 minute trek that ended with a nice swimming hole with a cliff jump.
To make a long story short, the 45 minutes turned into 60 minutes… then 90 minutes… then 120 minutes….
Before we knew it, we had been cluelessly wandering through the woods for hours. We had no water. No cell service. No way of knowing how to get back to civilization. We encountered porcupines, we were attacked by swarms of bees and we were honestly in fear of losing our lives.
After about 6 hours (and with the help of emergency services), we found our way out of the forest. As scary as this situation was, it was one of the most exciting and exhilarating experiences of my life.
This is what made me realize that Mother Nature is truly the end-all. It is she who is in charge, and only she. This experience taught me to always be prepared. To never enter the wild without having a precise plan of action and a trail map. It taught me that I need to be conscious of the potential dangers that come with hiking. Above all, it taught me to admire and respect the beauty and power of nature.
From that moment on, hiking and camping have become a massively important aspect of my life. That’s why I’ve created this platform.
Conquerwild is a website focused on providing all types of tips and tricks for camping, hiking and more. We publish buyer’s guides, comprehensive product reviews and detailed informational articles. From instructions on how to identify and remove ticks to recommendations on the best tent waterproofing spray, we cover it all! Think of us as a personalized guide to the do’s and don’ts of all things wilderness.
The Goal Of Conquerwild
In creating Conquerwild, my ultimate goal was to lead everyone who reads my content to a wiser, safer and overall more beneficial camping/hiking experience.
I believe that everyone should try their best to become closer to the Earth that birthed them. Use nature as a blissful escape from reality. Here’s what I’d like for all readers to take away from this site:
- You Must Always Respect Nature – This means respecting wildlife and keeping your distance. This means NEVER littering, under any circumstances and always cleaning up after yourself. This means purchasing products with environmental safety in mind. This means limiting your trash, recycling and using renewable resources whenever possible.
- Think Critically – I want each and every reader of Conquerwild.com to be able to avoid some of the mistakes that I’ve made throughout my years of adventuring. We must all be smart when we enter the wild and remember to plan effectively. This means finding the right tools for your needs and looking for quality products that will help improve your experience.
- Camping And Hiking Can Be For Everyone – I want everyone to erase the notion that they’re not fit enough… That they’re not rich enough… That they’re bound by their fears, physical abilities, shape, size or socioeconomic status. You don’t need to buy fancy equipment or be a fitness model to enjoy the benefits of nature. Remember that hiking can lower stress levels, reduce the risk of heart disease, lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol levels, improve bone density and provide you with many more health benefits… You don’t need to be a backpacking expert to reap these benefits.
- Don’t Be Afraid To Conquer – Conquerwild is about conquering your fears and the limits you’ve set for yourself. Climb the mountain that you never thought you could. Trek the trail you thought was too long for you. Learn to doubt yourself less and trust your instincts more. Learn to Conquer Wild.
The Content Creation Process
As the owner and chief content creator of Conquerwild, all posts on this site are researched, written and edited by me. I take the research process very seriously.
I use online informational guides to determine what truly makes a great product. I watch tons of instructional videos and tutorials on each and every topic I write about. I read pages and pages of customer reviews- the positives, the negatives and the in-betweens to ensure that I can give a fully comprehensive review of each product. Lastly, I get out there and I get hands on.
When possible, I like to write about products that I currently own or I’ve used in the past for better insight. Also, by hiking multiple times a week, I test out the methods and tips that I recommend to my readers. I’m constantly being inspired by the challenges I encounter to create new pieces of content and help improve my readers’ experiences.
Why Read Conquerwild?
There are lots of places on the internet that offer product reviews and informational guides for backpackers. What I promise as the owner of Conquerwild is that I will always put honesty, integrity and accuracy first.
I never rely on biased or commercially geared sources for information. When it comes to my recommendations, affordability is always a priority. Use this site as a virtual booklet of suggestions that are based on common sense, customer feedback and practicality rather than ads and profit.
If you’re a beginner when it comes to hiking or camping, I welcome you.
If you’re a seasoned explorer looking for a few extra tips or suggestions, I welcome you.
If you’re here just to look for information and don’t know whether outdoor adventuring is right for you, I welcome you.
No matter who you are, where you’re from or what you’re looking to gain from this site, I welcome you to Conquerwild.com.
Mike Nicosia
Founder of Conquerwild.com