As some help for newbies (and perhaps others who are new to the Outdoor Gear category), I figured I'd start a discussion about Outdoor Gear reviews and how we write and rate those reviews.

I've written in the Outdoor Gear category for a long time and been an Advisor for some time now and I know that when I am either writing or reading a review, the first thing I want to make sure is in the review is at least some sort of story about my experience with the gear. For me it shows that:

1) I've been using the gear
2) I have an understanding of how it works
3) I have a reason to be reviewing the product

That said, I also look for some product details. The details don't need to be a play by play description of a product, but they have to give me an idea of:

1) What the product is
2) What the product does
3) How the product lives up to its expectations

For me whether I am writing or rating, I like to see a review that combines both the experience and the details together into a coherent tale about the product. I might want to know how much something weighs, but I'd much rather hear that it weighs a few ounces and doesn't add much to a backpacks weight than to hear that it was 2.7 ounces. I also hate seeing a laundry list of details - if it's important to note, it's also important to note how that detail works out with real-world experience.

As for my rates...mmm...

Very Helpful - this review tells me a story about the product that includes its main details and how those details relate to the users experience with the product. For some products this might take quite a bit of writing, for others, the review might actually be quite short.

Helpful - The product is full of experience or details but doesn't do a great job at combining them and telling a coherent story about the product.

Somewhat Helpful - There's a nugget of useful information here - whether it's a detail or an experience. Basically if the writer at least says something about the product, I would consider it somewhat helpful

Not Helpful - This a rare rate for me - they have broken a rule with their posting or somehow otherwise talked about a product without actually saying anything (which is pretty difficult).

Off Topic - Well, you probably posted your review in the wrong spot. I always try to look for the right spot for them and if I find it I'll put a link in the comments or if I can't find it - I'll say to contact the Category Lead.

Jeff

I've expanded the writing part of this post into a full blown 'how-to' essay.

Let's get out there and get in some more Outdoor Gear reviews!

Outdoor Gear Review Writing 101