How we research
We do not run a laboratory. What we do is verify, in public, every number that appears in a ranking, and tell you where it came from.
What we verify before a product is ranked
Every product in a ranking has to clear four checks.
- The spec comes from the manufacturer, not from a marketplace listing. Listings are written by sellers and go stale; manufacturer specification pages are the record we cite.
- The product is currently available. A pick that has been discontinued or is permanently out of stock is removed, not left in place with an apology.
- The claim is measurable. Watt draw, run time, heated area, weight and temperature are numbers. "Ultra-warm" is not, so it never appears as a reason to buy.
- Owner reports are read at volume. We read the one and two-star reviews first, because the failure modes people describe there are the ones a spec sheet will not tell you.
How we label evidence
Claims in our articles carry a tag so you can see what kind of evidence sits behind them.
[manufacturer spec]— published by the company that makes it[independent testing]— measured by a third party we name and link[owner-reported]— a pattern across owner reviews, not a measurement[regulatory]— a safety certification or standard, with the certifying body named
What we will not do
We do not accept payment for placement or for a ranking position. We do not publish a first-person testing claim for a product we have not used. Where a product carries a safety certification, we name the certifying body rather than describing it as "certified" without qualification.
Corrections
When we get something wrong, we correct the article and note the change in the updated date. If you have spotted an error, tell us on the contact page and include the URL.