How we review

Every brand in the Type 5 Marketing portfolio reaches its recommendations the same way: by scoring products against a fixed set of metrics, documenting the reasoning, and re-checking the result on a schedule. The method is public on purpose. A reader should be able to see why a product earned its place, and an affiliate-network reviewer should be able to confirm that our editorial process is real and independent.

The six-metric rubric

Each product is scored on six weighted metrics. The exact weighting shifts by category — durability matters more for a kettlebell than for a travel guide — but every metric is considered, and the weighting for a category is stated on the brand's own methodology page.

How a verdict is reached

1. Scope the category. We define the buyer, the use case, and the realistic alternatives before looking at any single product.
2. Gather evidence. Manufacturer specifications, hands-on testing where feasible, certification and safety records, and credible third-party data — each cited on the page.
3. Score against the rubric. A named editor scores each metric and writes the reasoning, so a verdict can always be traced back to specific evidence.
4. Disclose and publish. The affiliate relationship is disclosed before any affiliate link, in line with our affiliate disclosure.
5. Re-verify on cadence. Top picks are re-checked quarterly and updated whenever the facts change.

Independence is the point

The method only means something if nothing can buy its way around it. Our editorial policy prohibits paid rankings, pay-for-placement, and “review for a free product” arrangements. Affiliate commissions never change a score — they simply fund the work, and we tell readers that plainly.

You can see the rubric in practice across our brands, including the public review standards on Trusted Health Gear, The Chrono Edit, and The Gilded Escape.