Back in the mid-Noughties, when I was just starting out my freelance writing career, the majority of my work involved reviewing gear. Fittingly, this was largely for Gear Patrol, which was still in its early days. The site was quickly becoming an essential read for the coveted 18-34 year old male crowd with an insatiable appetite for everything from daily grooming products and clothes, on up to aspirational vehicles, watches, cameras, and tech. My wheelhouse was pretty squarely in outdoor gear and, soon, watches. Along the way, I reviewed dozens of products, from a de-icing car window spray (effective but greasy) to an inflatable two-person kayak (it sagged horribly amidships and soaked my butt) on up to a carbon fiber road racing bike.
In those days, and perhaps still today, PR reps for brands were hungry for exposure and sites like Gear Patrol were an easy way to win their clients’ favor, through in-depth reviews and “best of” lists. My inbox would fill up daily with email pitches from companies big and small, most willing to send samples or invite me on press trips. I grew to know the FedEx and UPS delivery people by name, as boxes arrived sometimes daily, with backpacks, jackets, clothing, shoes, and watches. Usually there was no expectation that I would return any of it. After all, to do a proper review of something, involved wearing or using a product in the environment for which it was intended, and to return a soiled merino wool baselayer, pair of muddy size 13 boots, or frayed backpack was not really practical or realistic. I’ve been asked countless times whether I got to keep the stuff I reviewed, and whether that influenced how I reviewed the product. The answer is probably a little more nuanced than you might think.
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