How we make money (the honest version).

What those /go links are

When you click a "check price" or product link on WorldHike, it routes through a /goredirect on our own domain. Some of those links are affiliate links: to Amazon and, where a brand runs its own program, direct to the manufacturer. If you buy after clicking, the retailer pays us a commission. The price you pay is identical either way; the commission comes out of the retailer's margin, not your pocket. That commission funds the packs, the boots, the scale, the trail miles, and the writing.

Verdicts come first. Money comes after.

Rankings are set on the merits: real weight against the listed spec, comfort under load, durability on the trail, build quality, and value, before anyone checks whether a product has an affiliate program. The order doesn't change afterward. If the best pack on a list earns us nothing, it stays at the top.

• A brand cannot buy a ranking, a "Best Overall" badge, or a softer review. Not for any amount.
• We don't accept sponsored verdicts or paid placements, and we don't run "advertorial" reviews.
• A test unit doesn't buy anything either: gear we bought and gear we were sent are scored the same way.
• If our verdict and our wallet ever disagree, the verdict wins. That's the whole business model: being worth trusting twice.

The methodology behind every verdict is published in full at how we test.

Our top picks, too

Our ranked top picks draw from the same catalog as our reviews: gear that cleared the same weigh-and-carry bar. Those picks may include affiliate links, and the same rule applies: the merits pick the gear, not the payout.

The serious notes

• The backcountry has real stakes. No review replaces good judgment, weather awareness, navigation skills, or telling someone where you're going. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions for your gear, check conditions before you go, and carry the safety essentials for your route and season.
• Specs are a mix of measured and listed. Where a weight, capacity, or rating is the manufacturer's listed figure rather than one we measured ourselves, we say so. Real-world results vary with conditions, fit, and technique.
• Prices change. We list MSRP or the going price at the time of writing; the "check price" link always shows the current number.

Questions?

A person reads every email: hello@worldhike.org.