Product reviews and roundups are a part of almost every travel blog. But the reality many don’t share is that those reviews are based on free products sent to the author by brands and marketing companies. It creates a cloud of distrust lingering over the reviews.
I was no different at first. But now, I’ve adopted a policy of accepting no free products.
Road Trips & Coffee will never compare to Wirecutter or Pack Hacker. But I do employ the same policies and standards used at bigger publications.
If you’re reading this page, then it means you want to know if you can trust my reviews. I’m 100% transparent about everything – even how I make money as a travel blogger and disclosures for freebies. Keep reading to learn about my product review policies, standards, and the important rating system I use to compare and contrast products.
Table of Contents
No Freebies – No Payments
The first thing to know about me and Road Trips & Coffee is that I have accepted free products. Lots of them. I started out like many travel bloggers. We don’t have a lot of money to spend on buying high-priced items like 12v fridges and GPS navigation units. So, we reach out to brands and marketing agencies to send us a review product.
That was then. This is now. I decided it was better to establish reliable credibility than it was to have tons of free stuff shoved into a closet that I’ll never use because who needs 15 coolers on a road trip?
Here are my two ironclad policies about products:
- I do not accept free products for review.
- I do not accept payment for product reviews
I still have some product reviews and roundups that were written based on free products sent to me. Although I strive to buy everything, it would be prohibitively difficult to spend over $2,000 buying coolers to test. The comparison of best road trip coolers is still a great article, so I’ll leave it up for now.
Every article has a disclosure at the beginning, just after the introduction, letting you know if I bought the product or received a free product to review.
I also do not accept any kind of payment in exchange for writing a review. Although I allow sponsored posts on travel articles throughout Road Trips & Coffee, I never allow a brand to sponsor a product review. No one pays me for the reviews I write.
Similarly, I do not accept payment in exchange for promoting products on social media. Personally, whenever I see someone bragging about the quality of a protein bar immediately followed by “ad” or “sponsored,” I 100% do not trust what that person says. I’m an influencer, but I’m not a paid influencer.
What do the rating numbers mean?
Every review on Road Trips & Coffee includes an “Overall Rating.” This number is based on various tested elements, like the functionality of a coffee machine or design of an app. These are not arbitrary numbers. I have a proprietary system for scoring these elements.
When I’m done testing, I calculate the “Overal Rating.” Here’s what that number means when you see it:
0-3.9 – Abominable
It’s rare that I find a product to woefully inadequate in every way that I rate something this low. But that just lets you know the seriousness of this rating if it ever appears in a product review. These products should be avoided at all cost and I list better alternatives in the review.
4-6.9 – Mediocre
These products are the bare minimum in their respective categories. You can expect maybe one or two good uses out of these products before something inevitably breaks because of cheap design and build materials. I never recommend these products, but these can be considered if you’re on a tight budget.
7-7.9 – Good
This is the minimum required score before I will recommend a product. These products are built with good materials, durable and portable for travel and road trips, and I expect them to last for hundreds of miles and dozens of uses.
8-8.9 – Great
These products typically impress me so much that I strive to find enough room to permanently pack it on my road trips. These are near the top for product design, usability, and durability – a perfect combination for travel and road trips.
9-9.7 – Amazing
Typically, this is the highest rating I’ll recommend for an amazing product. These products are so good that I continually use them or give them as gifts to friends and family. You can expect products with this rating to endure the test of time, rigors of travel, and continue providing great results for years.
9.8-10 – Outstanding
This product rating is just as rare as something below a 3.9. I have tested dozens of amazing products, but I always find something that could be improved or replaced. But every once in a while, I test a product that is so perfect I could not imagine anything better.
Review Methodology
There are countless criteria for reviewing products. Does it have a rechargeable battery? Is it made out of plastic, metal, or canvas? Is it an app for iOS and Android?
Although the criteria can vary based on the product type, there are a few consistent aspects of every product I test.
- Initial testing. I read the manufacturer’s instruction manual and learn everything about the product. I open every panel, push every button, and scroll through the entire settings menu. I examine every detail from the building materials to the functionality.
- Testing under ideal circumstances. I begin testing the products as they were meant to be used and following the manufacturer’s instructions. This testing can last anywhere from a few hours to days.
- Testing under less than ideal circumstances. I push the product past its limits to see how far I can go before it breaks. The products I test rarely break, but I begin to learn just how far I can go before the performance begins to degrade.
- Testing under horrendous circumstances. Because road tripping can be chaotic and messy, I test the products under the worst conditions. This is essential for determining a product’s durability and learning if it has fragile (aka plastic) parts that tend to break.
- One year of tests. Whenever I determine a product is the “Top Pick” or “Alternative Pick” or “Budget Pick,” I’ll keep testing it for up to a year. I’ll post updates to the review and include details in the “Usage Timeline” near the end of the review. This is essential for determining a product’s longevity.
Commitment to Thorough Testing
“I’m gonna twist you. And I’m gonna flip you. Frap your body til your bones hurt. When you squeal, I’m just gonna go faster and harder.” This is my favorite line from Armageddon, where a colonel explains how he will test the miners before their inaugural space flight.
It’s also how I approach testing products for review.
My job is to cut through the glossy online reviews and determine how a product holds up under all circumstances. Life gets messy, and so does the testing. My focus on product reviews with Road Trips & Coffee is to find the best road trip gear.
So, I pack it into my SUV. I drop it a few times. Shove it sideways, upside down, and every other way the manufacturer says not to do it. I leave it out in the baking sunlight and accidentally on purpose set it outside in the rain.
And throughout all of this, I keep notes. I use the Rating Numbers and Review Methodology to meticulously judge every product. When I’m done testing the product, I’ll know if it’s good or garbage. And the life expectancy.
Product Review or Roundup Anatomy
Consistency is key to helpfulness. Every product review or roundup comparison follows a precise anatomy. This helps you to quickly find the information you need and guarantees I include that information.
Here’s a breakdown of how I write the product review articles on Road Trips & Coffee:
What to Consider
Sometimes, buying a product requires more knowledge than just how the product performs. In a roundup about the best power banks for travel, I included a section on input and outport ports, battery capacity, and terminology to understand. This is a helpful section in getting you prepared for knowing what to look for in the reviews.
Product Ratings
The meat of the review is the Overall Rating. That number is included with every product mention, whether it’s a full review, product roundup, or a mention in a travel article. In the full reviews, the Product Ratings also include all the aspects of the product I tested.
Technical Specifications
Each review includes helpful tech specs, like the dimensions, weight, and build materials. These are quick reference details that can make just as much difference as the full review in your buying decision.
Where to Buy
I always include a link directly to the manufacturer’s website where you can buy the product. Additionally, I’ll include links to other retailers that I trust. These retailers include Amazon, REI, Camping World, and other specialized retailers. I do not include retailers that I feel have too many preditatory listings in their marketplace or bad experiences from shoppers.
Full Review
If the article is a dedicated review of a single product, the bulk of the article is the full review. I’ll detail everything about it, like how to set it up, use it, and special features. If it’s a roundup article comparing products, I’ll include a summarized review.
The Picks
Similar to Wirecutter’s system, I pick the best overall, one alternative, and one budget product from every roundup. Additionally, I may pick several other products that are great for a specific use or person. Here’s a breakdown of the terms used in the articles:
- Top Pick. Based on the ratings from the thorough testing, this is the best product in a roundup.
- Alternative Pick. The runner-up is always good to know because it could be slightly cheaper than the Top Pick.
- Budget Pick. This is a fine balance between price and ratings. It’s the best product at a more affordable price than the Top Pick.
- Also Great. These products are “top picks” for specific reasons or people.
Who is this for?
I include this section when it’s helpful to know when a certain product is ideal for a certain type of traveler. Sometimes, there are products better suited for air travel than road trips or for dog owners. Although these might have been great products for that specific person, they might not have been the best overall. I don’t want them to get lost in the rating system.
Why Trust What I Write?
Whether it’s a list of things to do in Asheboro, North Carolina or a review of the BioLite FirePit+, I always include a section on why you can trust what I write. For products, this section includes how I selected the products to review, when and where I bought each of the tested products, and the story behind testing them.
How I Make Money with Product Reviews
The only way I make money with product reviews is with affiliate links. An affiliate link is a special URL provided by an affiliate network. When someone clicks that link and makes a purchase, I earn a small percentage as a bounty. The customer is not charged anything more for using that link.
You can read more about the affiliate networks I use to better understand precisely where I’m earning money.