Short version: we’re homeowners with projects, not a lab with a media budget. Here’s exactly how our reviews work and why you can trust them.
Real use, real properties
Products get used the way you’d use them: generators run actual outage loads, solar panels charge in real sun (including cloudy days, because that’s life), garden gear goes in real dirt, and tools get put through real projects. When we haven’t personally run a product long enough to judge it, we say so and tell you whose testing we’re leaning on.
How we make money
Some links on this site are affiliate links — if you buy through them, we earn a commission at no extra cost to you. That’s the whole business model, and it only works long-term if our recommendations are actually good. No brand pays for placement, no manufacturer sees a review before you do, and a free sample never guarantees a positive word. See our affiliate disclosure for details.
When we’re wrong
Products change, firmware updates land, and sometimes a unit dies at month eight. We update reviews when the facts change and note the update date. If your experience contradicts ours, tell us — we’d rather fix an article than defend it.