How we research gear
Two kinds of product page
Researched overview. Built from published information: the manufacturer’s specifications, authorized retailer listings and technical documentation. These pages explain what the specs mean and who the product suits. They don’t describe how the product performed in use, because we haven’t used it.
Hands-on review. Written by a named person who used the product, with a note on where, for how long and in what conditions. A page is labeled hands-on only when that’s true.
Where specs come from
- The manufacturer’s own product page or spec sheet is the first choice.
- When that isn’t available, we use an authorized retailer’s listing and say so.
- Every spec line carries a source marker, and the sources are listed with the date we checked them.
Specs change between model years and sometimes between regions. When a product is sold under a new name, or figures differ between sources, the page says so in a model note rather than quietly picking one.
What we don’t publish
- Star ratings, scores or awards we didn’t earn through testing.
- Prices or stock levels that we can’t keep current. Retailer buttons send you to the retailer to see today’s price.
- Customer reviews copied from retailers.
- Photos we don’t have the rights to use.
Unavailable products
When a product is discontinued, its page stays up with a clear notice and, where one exists, a labeled alternative.
Corrections
If you find an error, contact us. We fix it, update the “checked” date and, for meaningful changes, note what changed.