Affiliate Disclosure

Some links on this site are affiliate links. When you buy through them, we earn a small commission. The price you pay stays the same.

Where the money comes from

We participate in the Amazon Associates Program and other affiliate networks. When you click a product link and make a purchase, we get a percentage. This is how most independent review sites stay funded without running banner ads everywhere or taking money directly from manufacturers.

What this means for reviews

Affiliate status has zero effect on our ratings or recommendations. A product that earns us commissions still gets criticized if it fails during testing. A product with no affiliate link can still win best-in-class if it outperforms the competition.

Our testers often don't know which products have affiliate links attached. They test gear, record results, and write up findings based on what they observed over weeks of trail use, without any input about which products might earn commissions or which manufacturers have partnerships with us. The business side handles links after the editorial work is done. That separation is the whole point.

Why we do it this way

Testing gear costs money. We buy most products at retail to make sure we get the same unit you'd receive. Replacement gear adds up when buckles break and boots wear through. Server costs, photography equipment, and the hours that go into writing and editing all need funding.

Affiliate commissions cover those costs without compromising what we write. The alternative would be sponsored content or manufacturer partnerships that dictate coverage. We chose affiliates because they let us say what we actually think.