Trail Tattler is a hiking and backpacking resource built by people who genuinely love long days on the trail and the gear that makes them possible. This page explains, in plain la…
Trail Tattler is a hiking and backpacking resource built by people who genuinely love long days on the trail and the gear that makes them possible. This page explains, in plain language, how we make money, how we handle free products and sponsorships, and how we keep our reviews and recommendations honest. If you take one thing away from this page, let it be this: our opinions are never for sale.
We believe readers deserve to know exactly how a site earns its keep before they trust its advice. Whether we're comparing lightweight day packs or explaining the best way to load a backpack from bottom to top, we want you to know that our recommendations come from real testing and real trail experience, not from whoever pays the most. You can read more about who we are and why we started this site on our About Us page.
Some links on Trail Tattler are affiliate links. This means that if you click through and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission at absolutely no extra cost to you. The price you pay stays exactly the same whether you use our link or go directly to the retailer's site — the commission comes from the retailer's marketing budget, not your wallet.
These partnerships help cover the real costs of running this site: hosting, gear testing, trail miles, and the time it takes to write thorough, useful guides instead of thin, rushed posts. We only link to products we'd genuinely recommend to a hiking partner, and we never let a commission structure dictate our verdict on a piece of gear. For the full legal breakdown of these relationships, see our Affiliate Disclaimer.
Occasionally, brands reach out to sponsor a post or ask us to feature a product. When this happens, we are always upfront about it. Any sponsored content will be clearly labeled as such, right in the post, so you're never left guessing whether an article was paid for. We turn down sponsorship offers that don't align with our standards or that come with strings attached about what we're allowed to say. If a brand insists on a positive review as a condition of publishing, we simply pass on the opportunity.
If you're a brand interested in working with us, our expectations around transparency and editorial control are outlined on our Collaboration page.
Gear companies sometimes send us products to test — boots, backpacks, tents, trekking poles, and the like — free of charge or on loan. Receiving a sample never guarantees a positive review, and it never guarantees a review at all. We test gear the way we'd use it ourselves: on actual hikes, in real weather, over multiple outings, not just an unboxing on a kitchen table.
Content decisions at Trail Tattler — what we write about, how we rank gear, and what advice we give — are made independently of any advertising or affiliate relationship. Our writers and editors follow a consistent process for research, hands-on testing, and fact-checking before anything gets published. You can read the details of that process in our Editorial Policy, which covers how we vet sources, correct errors, and maintain consistency across the site.
We won't publish a glowing review of a headlamp that dies after two nights just because a sponsor sent it to us, and we won't bury an honest critique of an overpriced pack because of an affiliate partnership. If we wouldn't carry it on our own back into the backcountry, we won't pretend we would in an article.
Hiking gear is deeply personal — what works for a thru-hiker's ultralight kit won't necessarily suit a weekend car camper, and that nuance matters to us. Our reviews reflect real-world use across different body types, trail conditions, and trip lengths whenever possible. When we say a daypack is comfortable for six-hour hikes but starts digging in after ten, that's based on actually wearing it, not marketing copy.
We also encourage skepticism. If something in one of our posts seems off, or if you've had a different experience with a product we've recommended, we want to hear about it. You can reach our team directly at [email protected] or through our Contact page.
This Disclosure page works alongside several other documents that govern how Trail Tattler operates. Our Disclaimer covers the general limitations of the advice on this site, including safety considerations for outdoor activities. Our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy explain how we handle data and tracking, and our Terms of Use set out the rules for using the site. If you engage with our community in comments or on social platforms, our Community Guidelines apply as well.
Transparency only works if people can actually reach us when something's unclear. If you have questions about a specific post, a partnership, or anything on this page, email us anytime at [email protected]. We'll give you a straight answer, the same way we try to write every guide on this site.