Affiliate Disclosure

Some links on Outdoor Awaits are affiliate links. That means if you click a link and buy something, I may earn a commission. I’m sharing this up front so you always know when money is involved and why those links exist.

Quick disclosure: Outdoor Awaits is reader-supported. Buying via my links may earn me a commission, which helps me spend more time testing gear so the advice stays practical.

What “affiliate link” means here

An affiliate link is a trackable link from a brand or retailer. If you buy through that link, the retailer may pay me a small commission for the referral. Example of the contents that includes affiliate links:

Does it cost you extra?

No. You pay the same price whether you use an affiliate link or not. The commission comes from the retailer, not from you.

How Our Amazon-Based Product Quality Badges Work

To help you understand product quality at a glance, you may see a “quality badge” on some product cards and reviews (for example, 90 – Great). I do not create these badges by hand, and they are not my personal ratings.

These badges are generated automatically from the product’s Amazon customer rating data (the “global rating” shown on Amazon). When the Amazon rating changes over time, the badge can also change. I still recommend checking the latest rating, review count, and recent customer comments on Amazon before you buy.

Badge levels and what they indicate (based on Amazon global rating), so you can buy with confidence:

Superb (95–100%): Shows when the product’s Amazon global rating is above 4.8.
Great (90–94%): Shows when the product’s Amazon global rating is above 4.5.
Good (80–89%): Shows when the product’s Amazon global rating is above 4.0.
Fair (70–79%): Shows when the product’s Amazon global rating is above 3.5.

Important note: The badge is a quick summary based on Amazon’s customer feedback. It is not a guarantee of fit, comfort, durability, or performance for your specific needs.

Where you’ll see affiliate links on Outdoor Awaits

You’ll usually see affiliate links in places where a specific product is being discussed, such as:

Gear reviews and hands-on write-ups
“Best of” lists and comparison guides
Product tables and “check price” style buttons

Whenever I use affiliate links inside an article, I also add a short disclosure near the top so you don’t have to hunt for it.

How I choose what to recommend

I don’t recommend gear just because there’s a commission. I choose products that fit the trip, the conditions, and the kind of camper or hiker reading the guide. If a product doesn’t look like a good match, I leave it out.

If you want the details behind that process, read my gear testing approach and editorial guidelines.

Free products and sponsored content

If I ever receive a product for free or get paid for a sponsored post, I label that clearly on the page where it appears. A free sample or a sponsorship does not guarantee a positive review.

Cookies and tracking

Affiliate programs often use cookies or similar tracking to credit a purchase to a referral link. You can learn more in my cookie policy and privacy policy.

Questions?

If anything about affiliate links, reviews, or my process feels unclear, check the site FAQs or contact Sukhen and I’ll help.