Affiliate Disclosure

Last updated: October 2, 2026

The short version, up front: Trail Tested earns money through affiliate links. When you click a product link on this site and buy something, the retailer pays us a commission — at no extra cost to you. Assume every outbound product link on this site may be an affiliate link unless the article says otherwise.

That revenue keeps the lights on and the research going. Here’s the full picture.

Programs we use (or plan to use)

• Amazon Associates — links to Amazon products earn a small percentage of qualifying purchases. Our universal backfill for products other programs don’t carry.
• REI Co-op (via AvantLink) — ~5% on the trust brand for US hikers.
• BentGear (via ShareASale) — 8–10%, the highest rate in outdoor retail.
• Hiker Hunger Outfitters — up to 15%, no approval requirements.
• Backcountry — volume accessories program.
• Agoda / GetYourGuide — travel bookings (hotels, tours, experiences) tied to trail-destination content.

Specific programs are named where relevant inside individual articles.

What this means for our recommendations

Commissions never determine our picks — and on this site there’s an extra guardrail: the about page documents exactly what “trail-tested” vs. “compiled pick” means. A commission can’t buy a trail-testing claim.

FTC compliance

Per the FTC’s endorsement guidelines, this page — plus the disclosure notice repeated near the top of every commercial article and the privacy policy — constitutes our clear and conspicuous disclosure of material connections with retailers. Assume every outbound product link on this site may be an affiliate link unless stated otherwise. Individual commercial articles repeat this disclosure near the top of the page, before any product recommendations.