How We Test
We only review what we've used.
Straight answers for the trail.
We test gear in real conditions so you can make confident decisions. Here's what that means in practice.
We only review gear we've used
Every review is based on hands-on use in real conditions: on trail, at camp, under a ruck. If we haven't slept in it, cooked on it or carried it, we don't score it.
No paid placements
Brands can't pay to be featured, ranked or reviewed. Brands don't see or edit our reviews before they go up, and a free sample never buys a better score.
We say when something isn't tested yet
If we haven't used a product, we say so. Empty categories show "Reviews in progress" instead of filler, and our guides give general advice, not product picks.
The process
Buy or borrow
We get gear the same way you do whenever we can, and we always note when a product was provided.
Use it for real
Multiple trips, real weather, real loads. We note how long and where each item was tested.
Score honestly
A score out of 10 reflects how well the gear did its job for the price class, with pros and cons in plain English.
Keep it current
If gear fails later or a better option shows up, we update the review and the date.
Affiliate disclosure
As an Amazon Associate, Trail Geared earns from qualifying purchases.
When you buy through our Amazon links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It never affects which gear we test, how we score it, or what we say about it. Affiliate links are marked as sponsored, and we never list prices because they change constantly. Amazon always shows the current one.