Independence
How we test and label kit
Every kit item on this site carries one of two labels, so you always know whether we have actually used it.
The two labels
| Label | What it means |
|---|---|
| Tested by us | We have bought or borrowed the item and used it following a published method, such as our power station method. The page shows the test date and what we found. |
| Research-based | The item is on the list because official advice recommends that type of item, such as the Be Ready checklist or the Highway Code. We have not tested a product. No score is shown. |
Where we are now
Every item on the site is currently research-based. We have not tested any products yet. Our kit lists name types of item, not brands, and show no prices.
Our rules
- No star ratings, scores or “best” badges for anything we have not tested.
- No invented reviews, ratings or prices.
- No affiliate links at the moment. If that ever changes, every commercial link will be clearly labelled, and it will never change a label or a result.
- If a brand lends us an item, we will say so on the page. Brands will not see results before we publish them.
- We will never say a product is suitable for a specific medical device. Ask your equipment provider, pharmacist or GP.
Our testing policy
- What “tested” means. We bought or borrowed the item and used it ourselves against a written test plan, published before the test.
- Test plans per category. For example: a power bank’s real capacity when charging a named phone, and its recharge time; a power station’s runtime against a known load; a torch’s runtime and beam. The power station method is the first one published.
- Where the kit came from. Bought, loaned by the brand or gifted. Loans and gifts are disclosed on the page.
- No brand approval. Brands cannot see or approve results before we publish.
- Re-testing when a product changes, or within 12 months.
- What we do not do. No scores for untested kit, no made-up star ratings and no paid placements.
There is a third kind of list on the site: official guidance, such as the Be Ready checklist or Highway Code rule 228. Those lists name types of item, with a link to the source, and are never product recommendations.
See also our editorial policy, affiliate disclosure and how we research.