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, through Amazon Associates 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 gear, the trail miles, the scale, the field notes, and the writing.

WorldHike is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate, WorldHike earns from qualifying purchases.

Verdicts come first. Money comes after.

Rankings are set on the merits: verified weight, real fit, trail behavior, price honesty, and build quality, beforeanyone 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.

The Top Picks page, too

Our Top Picks page pulls from the same tested catalog as our reviews, gear that cleared the same bar. Its cards include affiliate links, and the same rule applies: the ranking picks the gear, not the payout.

The serious notes

• The outdoors carries real risk. Weather, terrain, water sources, and wildlife can turn serious fast. Always check current conditions, carry the right gear for the season, tell someone your route, and use your own judgment over anything you read here.
• Specs are a mix of measured and listed. Where a weight or spec is the manufacturer's stated figure rather than one we verified ourselves, we say so. Real-world results vary with conditions, pack-out, and use.
• 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.