Reviewing travel and road trip products is an essential part of Road Trips & Coffee. But I don’t just blast you with copy and paste verbiage from the manufacturers – I thoroughly test and review every product I’m given for free or purchase on my own.
But what do those numbers mean?
I carefully devised a product rating system using hundreds of criteria. I created an Excel spreadsheet for rating various kinds of products like smartphone apps, products with batteries, clothing, and travel gear. Then, I set a standardized system for rating these products so you have a great sense of side-by-side comparisons.
My ratings are honest and cannot be bought. Manufacturers, public relations firms, and sales representatives do not get advance notice of my ratings nor do they have the option to request I change a rating. I use my experience as a perpetual road trippers and hours of testing to determine each product’s rating.
What do the rating numbers mean?
Learn more about the meaning behind the numbers in the Product Rating System.
0-3.9 – Abominable
It’s rare that I find a product to woefully inadequate in every way that I rate something this low. But that just lets you know the seriousness of this rating if it ever appears in a product review. These products should be avoided at all cost and I list better alternatives in the review.
4-6.9 – Mediocre
These products are the bare minimum in their respective categories. You can expect maybe one or two good uses out of these products before something inevitably breaks because of cheap design and build materials. I never recommend these products, but these can be considered if you’re on a tight budget.
7-7.9 – Good
This is the minimum required score before I will recommend a product. These products are built with good materials, durable and portable for travel and road trips, and I expect them to last for hundreds of miles and dozens of uses.
8-8.9 – Great
These products typically impress me so much that I strive to find enough room to permanently pack it on my road trips. These are near the top for product design, usability, and durability – a perfect combination for travel and road trips.
9-9.7 – Amazing
Typically, this is the highest rating I’ll recommend for an amazing product. These products are so good that I continually use them or give them as gifts to friends and family. You can expect products with this rating to endure the test of time, rigors of travel, and continue providing great results for years.
9.8-10 – Outstanding
This product rating is just as rare as something below a 3.9. I have tested dozens of amazing products, but I always find something that could be improved or replaced. But every once in a while, I test a product that is so perfect I could not imagine anything better.