What should an Equipment Review cover?

[walkinTas]

What sort of information should appear in an Equipment Review? What do you want to see when you read an equipment review? What makes a good article?

Should it include a Decription? Pros & Cons? Cost? Comparisons with similar gear? All of these?

Since I have had no experience writing equipment reviews, I'm interested to know what people look for when they read a review on a piece of equipment.

[ollster]

What sort of information should appear in an Equipment Review? What do you want to see when you read an equipment review? What makes a good article?

Should it include a Decription? Pros & Cons? Cost? Comparisons with similar gear? All of these?

Since I have had no experience writing equipment reviews, I'm interested to know what people look for when they read a review on a piece of equipment.

Personally, I go straight for the conclusion/summary first, and then only read the bits I'm interested in or anything mentioned as a particular pro/con in the summary. So a good clear conclusion, and good headings so I can find stuff mentioned in the conclusion. Comparisons should be left for "gear round-up" or "mega review" type scenarios preferably. If I read a review it's because I want to know about one single article. If there are comparisons made, if they are quantifiable they should be in a graph form for easy reference.

As an example, I generally like the layout of cnet.com.au reviews. Oh, and lots of photos.

[walkinTas]

Yeah I tend to be a summary reader too. Good call on the photos too.

What headings are important? Are there specific things you look for?

[ollster]

Yeah I tend to be a summary reader too. Good call on the photos too.

What headings are important? Are there specific things you look for?

Well, it depends on the product... TBH I don't read many walking gear reviews because a) they're in magazines and b) I'd rather go by word of mouth as I have "certain needs" that only other people with "certain needs" understand. If you know what I mean. As in off track walking and scrub bashing, honest...

I do read a lot of tech reviews. Usually tech products have a given set of features, and each heading should represent that set... so to put that into walking context... say if we were reviewing a pack, you may have headings for major interest areas such as harness fit and adjustment, construction and durability, storage and usability, that sort of thing. I haven't really thought this through, but hopefully that gives a rough idea.

Ideally the photos need to be descriptive and tie into the reivew too, ie, not just the same shot distance with the item rotated six times. And if a zoom/view larger size feature is implemented it needs to a) have a much larger (ie: 2x) view of the photo, or actually have a higher def version for good, non-pixelated zooming and panning.

[climberman]

I like to know what the reviewer's stats are - height , weight, etc.

A summary of the reviewer's general experience and preferred trip type, and most common trip type. Maybe their last few trips as well.

I like to know what the product was put through for the review (it helps me work out how this may be similar or different to my intended use); eg "was used on three day trips up to 8 hours in length on fire trails" or "was used daily in a 450km wilderness extravaganza non-stop through Tasmania including 120km off-track and the following classic tracks....." etc.

Was the item paid for ?

Was the product service required ?

Was the product service any good ? Or at least as good as stated on the relevant warrantly and service documents ?

What other similar gear has the reviewer used ?

Can the reviewer admit to brand preference or are they a complete brand slut ?

Emma Chwosit ?

[walkinTas]

As an example, I generally like the layout of cnet.com.au reviews....

Which is another question, where do folk go to read online bushwalking gear reviews?

[johnw]

As an example, I generally like the layout of cnet.com.au reviews....

Which is another question, where do folk go to read online bushwalking gear reviews?

I sometimes look here. Has its limitations, very US-focused, but does have reviews of interest:
http://www.backpackgeartest.org/

[climberman]

As an example, I generally like the layout of cnet.com.au reviews....

Which is another question, where do folk go to read online bushwalking gear reviews?

backpacking light
the chuting gallery
here
http://www.ski.com.au backcountry forum