Methodology
How we test
Every recommendation on this site rests on hands-on testing we describe openly. Here is exactly how a product gets tested, scored and — occasionally — recommended.
1. We get the product into our own hands
Where possible we buy products at retail like any customer, so we experience the same delivery, packaging and returns process you would. When manufacturers lend review units, we say so in the article, and loans never carry conditions about the outcome. We never review from spec sheets, press releases or other people's videos.
2. We install it ourselves, in European conditions
Robot mowers get weeks on real European lawns, not a showroom carpet. Pool robots run in real pools with real debris. Solar kits go through a real northern-European spring. If installation, setup or the manual is bad, that counts against the product — and we tell you what the setup actually involved.
3. We test long enough to find the failures
Marketing claims fall apart in week three, not day one. Our minimum testing window is several weeks of regular use, longer for seasonal equipment such as mowers and pool cleaners. Reviews carry a "last tested" note so you know how fresh the verdict is.
4. We measure, we don't advertise
We compare products against each other on the same tasks, on the same days, in the same conditions — cut quality against cut quality, cleaning time against cleaning time. Where we quote numbers, they are from our own use, and we note when they are manufacturer figures we could not verify.
5. European context is part of the score
A great product that's unavailable in half of Europe isn't a great recommendation. We weigh European availability, local retailer support, warranty terms and — where relevant — EU rules such as noise limits, CE marking and energy labelling.
6. No manufacturer sees a review before you do
Brands and retailers have no preview, veto or right of reply before publication. Companies cannot pay for a better rating, a better position in a guide or removal of criticism. If a relationship with a brand changes, we re-test and update affected reviews. Our editorial policy has the full rules.
Questions about our methodology? Contact us — we answer serious questions about how we test.