How we test
Our testing process, in enough detail that you can judge it for yourself.
Last updated 1 August 2026
Every review is based on hands-on use, not spec sheets. We use a product the way you would, for long enough that early impressions give way to real ones — weeks for most things, months for anything with a motor, a battery or a warranty that matters.
What we log
For each test we record what we did, how long for, and what went wrong. Where a measurement makes sense — drying time, ice retention, battery life, noise — we measure it with the same method across every product in the group.
Long-term reviews get revisited. If a product we recommended fails after a year, we update the review and say what happened.
Who does the testing
Our reviewers have backgrounds in the things they test: a trained pastry chef on kitchen kit, an ex-repair technician on electronics, a qualified mountain leader on outdoor gear. Their credentials are on each author page.