“How About You Only Review What You Pay For?”

[@JustinOutdoors]

Pika Lid Signup: geni.us/ThePikaLid PackWizard: geni.us/PackWizard Dakota's Channel: www.youtube.com/@dakotacoburn 👇 GEAR FROM THE VIDEO 👇 Adotec Bear Bag: geni.us/AdotecBearBag Padpal Pump: geni.us/PadPal NeoLoft Pad: geni.us/NeoLoft X-Dome Tent:geni.us/X-Dome1plus

[@JimRodgers]

Your reviews come across as very honest. More than once I've been surprised by the results of your testing. The fact that some of your most commonly used gear isn't the most expensive points to the genuine nature of your channel. Keep up the good work, Justin.

[@dakotacoburn]

Thanks a ton Justin, I really appreciate you thoughtfully answering my questions and giving me a shoutout! Best of wishes to you and your family this year!

[@AwkwardQuokka]

In regards to paying for gear, I just wanted to add that another benefit of reviewing what you buy is that that informs whether that particular item is worth the cost. Being able to hear that this feature of this piece of gear is great, but you wouldn't spend that money again is valuable feedback for viewers. I don't think you should only review things you've bought, but I could see where certain things bought by you would provide very valuable feedback.

[@JustinOutdoors]

Price/value is an interesting conversation! I think price/value has objective and subjective components. The objective part is looking at products with identical or nearly identical specs/features and then looking at cost. Objectively, a product with the same specs/features as another product but that costs less would be better value. The subjective component has to do with someone's priorities and can vary drastically from person to person. I don't comment much on the subjective component of price/value but instead provide an analysis of the product and then let someone apply their own bias to the assessment to determine whether a product is a good value or not. I don't think there is a right or wrong answer when it comes to subjectivity.

[@AwkwardQuokka]

@@JustinOutdoors I get that, but I do think there is value to your (and by that, I do mean you specifically, not a generic second person) subjective assessment.

[@sheilasunshine9173]

I’d like to present the fact that these creators think the price of zenith is affordable and worth the cost….and that’s coming from someone that likes gear vids

[@lcdrjsmasterson]

Jeremy from ADOTEC is incredible and his products are outstanding. I use a holster-style pannier for my bikepacking bike, which is basically a dry bag holder mounted to the rack with a custom-sized dry bag that you take in and out. I contacted Jeremy and he made me a custom-sized Black Bear Resistant Food Bag for me (i live in Virginia - don't need grizzly protection) that fits my panniers perfectly. Now, for an extra 3 ounces i don't have to hang my food bag every night! He also makes "shoes" for the Helionox Chair Zero that weigh less than once, are made of the same dyneema as his bear bags, and weight less than an ounce. They really help prevent it from sinking into soft ground. I'd also like to thank you for highlighting the Exped Ultra 5R. I had been struggling to get both comfortable AND warm on my collection of XLites and Kilos Gear pads, but hearing what you had to say about the 5R, i picked one up for $100 on eBay and am very pleased with both the comfort and warmth. Thanks again and enjoy your time with your daughter - hiking and gear will always be there, but today only comes once in her life.

[@davidcooper8390]

I like the fact that you don't have to buy all the gear you test because I think you get a much larger pool of things to review than if you had to buy it all yourself. I hope 2025 is a great year for your channel and your small family.

[@JustinOutdoors]

Thanks! And that is a point I forgot to make. It would be less feasible, especially as I was growing the channel to test such a large number of products.

[@philsmith2444]

Exactly, I was checking to see if someone else made this point. If you had to buy, say, 75% of the gear you review, you’d be working so much to get the money that you wouldn’t have time to get out and use it.

[@deangerhardt8781]

Also, people sometimes complain that buying it reduces bias, but it also creates bias. When you have invested money in something, you want it to be worthwhile. I think vendor provided gear is necessary, and very likely in the traditional backpacker magazines of old, gear for review articles was always provided by manufacturers and no letters to the editor ever complained :)

[@philsmith2444]

@@deangerhardt8781 Yes, reviews using vendor-supplied gear are part of the reason we don’t see everything coming to market with glaring faults because (especially with smaller manufacturers) feedback is used to improve.

[@kostanikas3881]

I just got into backpacking and the prices are ridiculous. I thought the cycling world was expensive but damn. I think I could have bought a legit Tour de France road bike with all the cash I spent this winter on backpacking gear.

[@thevisual756]

Most people can understand that you are less inclined to feel dissapointment over a product if you haven't sunken any cost into it themselves, which is kind of unfair since everyone has a different budget that they're comfortable spending. We generally understand that at the end of the day, no reviewer will actually kick a gift horse, and people just want to trust that you've sunken the same cost that they're looking to invest themselves, regardless of how convincing you may come off as in your review. In short, people just want you to spend as much as they're spending to feel that the judgement is on a level playing field. It can be harder to empathise and feel the same in assessment with a reviewer when the you're the only side that has to buy it. I personally don't mind, but I can understand the perspective.

[@SyvakK]

I hard disagree. Justin isn't supporting his wife and kid with free sleeping mats and tents. He's paying the bills through providing quality content to us. So I actually struggle to see any conflict of interest. As he mentions, if the products were bad and he was clearly "selling out" people would stop watching him, and he would lose his income regardless of if bad brands kept giving him free stuff. Also, $100 means very different things to different people, and only the end user knows what $100 means for them. As such, reviewers should be detached from that type of value, and just give their thoughts and opinions on the item as a whole, and maybe also a holistic opinion of the value compared to other similar items in various price ranges. From there it's up to the end user to determine if the feedback the reviewer provides matches what they're hoping to get out of the item for that price.

[@shanksmare]

The gold standard for reviews is to accept no money or product (or temporary use of a product) in order to do the review. Look at the access review "journalists". They give great reviews to movies and games in return for early access. If they do not give a positive review, they quickly loose their early access to the new releases. Without early access, they cannot compete for views. Most of them go along, to get along. Same with a lot of folks that do consumer reviews. I'm not pointing a finger at Justin, or trying to imply he is less than honest in his reviews. However, it is always fair to consider sponsored content as potentially biased. As an associate once said "If we need a study to say something, we pay for one".

Love the honesty and insight. So hard to find that our crazy world. Thank you Justin!

[@ryanhooper4660]

With half a garage and another room full of gear... ever think about doing a gear auction? Possibly with other creators in this space for charity?

[@JustinOutdoors]

I keep the gear because I find I am continually using it. When I am finished with a piece of gear, it is usually in pretty rough shape and I sell it for dirt cheap or give it away if the person picking it up seems like they'll be giving it a good home. One of my favorite moments was running to the garage to grab (and also give for free) a bunch of extra gear for a family that was picking up some gear to go camping for the first time.

[@ryanhooper4660]

@@JustinOutdoors I think I remember you and other creators saying that same or a similar sentiment of sharing gear with friends and family... my thought was to find a way to go beyond your inter circles and be able to share with say a scouting group or the next generation of outdoor enthusiast. I'm not saying give your followers a discount on used equipment. Just trying to brain storm a way of getting a group of underprivileged youths out for a weekend.

[@JustinOutdoors]

@@ryanhooper4660 I definitely get the sentiment! I've chatted with organizations who help people get outdoors who wouldn't normally have the opportunity and gear is one of the easier aspects for them. The things that are the hardest to acquire are cash for fuel to drive places, cash for insurance and vehicle maintenance, and volunteers that meet the insurance requirements to take folks out. So I like the idea of an auction or something and then donating the proceeds. I don't talk about it really, but I do donate what I can through the business every year to Outward Bound and local SAR.

[@LV93262]

That pole problem happened to me with a Tarptent on what should've been my son's first backpacking trip. Good thing we had time to go home!

[@wolfeadventures]

Did you email Henry? He is good at getting back to customers with solutions.

[@deangerhardt8781]

​@@wolfeadventuresI have also found tarptent very good as far as service goes

[@Istenostor]

Hey Justin! I am looking forward to see your tests about the budget four season sleeping pads! Please test ATEPA (R 6,6) and Dechatlon MT900 (R 5,4) too! I want to kindly remind you that many followers asked for the latter. I'm also curious about layering more of these mats on each other for three reasons: 1. Warmth: The R values roughly add together, therefore these pads can be sufficient on extreme temperatures which can be tested only in certain regions of the earth, like Canada. Howewer the air between the mylar film convects heat to the sides too, which can have a significant effect. 2. Safety: If one pad deflates, you still have one to rely on. Many buyers complained about the Naturhike for leaks, and all of these pads are made of only 20D material (except for the 40D Dechatlon pad). 3. Comfort: More pads provide more thickness, cushioning, energy-alleviation.

[@wyattroncin941]

MEC definitely makes some. . . unique choices for a lot of their in house designs, but there's also some hidden gems that really stand out. I really like their deluxe inflatable pillow, and I just got their serratus 40 pack and it's very comfortable, although the exterior pockets are not ideal. But for 190 CAD for a UL pack, you can accept some sacrifices. I'd be curious how it compares to the REI UL style pack.

[@mell8831]

Appreciate all your honest reviews! You have helped so much with ideas and gear selection for this non-camper!! All the best Justin to you and your family in 2025!! 🎉

[@EarthwithAdam]

I just cold weather tested the 6.2 r value budget pad. Worked great paried with the teton atlas 0F bag. Kept me hot at around 30 degree temps.

[@bordenwilliams]

Would you consider adding the location of your trips for your gear testing and videos? As a Calgary local, I'm always looking for new spots to check out, especially random backcountry spots. Thanks for the great content!

[@paulmphoto]

Just ordered rainbow DW this morning, seems like a versatile design, can't wait to see what you think.

[@briandoolittle3422]

Ive been using a Rainbow Li for about 3 summers now. Its really versatile. Ive never been a fan of trekking pole tents because i do a lot of peakbagging, high routes, and other off trail stuff with limited and imperfect setup situations, and the rainbow is a really great trad-off between weight and setup-ability.

[@vannaTHREE]

As a content creator who tests and uses a lot of different gear it makes total sense that you require so much space for it, but I think it would still be super interesting to see it all together and how you would organize it! Maybe it would be worth considering having a space dedicated to what you're currently and actively testing, or your main setup, and then having some of the larger space to store and organize the other gear. Seeing how you would organize a main gear loadout could give viewers some insight or inspiration for their own situation, and then I personally would be really interested in seeing how you store your whole inventory of items! Those stacked cubes were a good little sneak peak of that.

[@whitefang9378]

Justin…recommendations for snowshoe supplier and how to size. Would very much appreciate, thanks

[@philsmith2444]

Rule #1: manufacturer weight ratings are for more packed snow. Regardless of what MSR says teeny-tiny Lightning Ascent 22s, for example, are not going to float 180lb of person & gear on anything but a heavily-traveled snowmobile trail or wind-packed slopes where crampons or spikes would probably be better (snowshoes need to sink some to grip.) Go up a size or 2 if you’ll be in softer snow. In rolling terrain with bottomless powder traditionals are best. GV Snowshoes gives max recommended off-trail capacities, I’ve found them to be pretty accurate. With my winter pack (35-40lb) I’m right about 300lb and 10x36” snowshoes work in all but the fluffiest stuff. I do sink but rarely more than a foot, which isn’t hard to deal with. GV gives an off-trail rating of up to 190lb/86kg for 10x36 ‘shoes, and you’ll still sink a bit at that weight. I’m bushwhacking and making my own paths in the mountains of NW Maine 95% of the time. Tubbs Mountaineer, Atlas Range MTN, and Garneau Blizzard/Premiere all work great for me. I just received a (paid for) pair of Faber Mountain Masters on Jan 3 that I’ll be trying out today (Jan 5.)

[@Karol-sc4iy]

It would be nice to see test of Hikentour 6,2 R sleeping Pad!

[@DarrenYee]

Hi Justin, Thanks for the Q&A. I've been in the search for the lightest, warmth to weight ratio pants. What are your thoughts on down, fleece, alpha direct, fishnet pants? and would you wear them around town?

[@JustinOutdoors]

Down is going to be your best bet. The naturehike down pants are the best option I have found so far.

[@BackpackingwithBuckley]

Congrats on the little one bud! Rooting for you all the way!

[@Will_FeatherstoneOutdoor]

Congrats on your new chapter, wishing you the best 2025

[@_Terc_]

Another TEMU sponsorship might be fun 😂

[@stevemartin8994]

Hah, thanks for the laugh. 😂

[@JustinOutdoors]

Too soon :p

[@brennersydney]

Indeed this will add to the credibility of the review !! Thanks for addressing the elephant in the room !!

[@shadowdance4666]

Money always changes things. Example: I had a buddy who is in the construction business do some work for me. The quality was questionable at best being very nice. The compensation was friend prices and I still felt like I was extremely shorted on the work. Leaky roofs on 2 structures. Design fails that I had to call out on. Which only was corrected a year later after complaining endlessly. The other roof has rotted on the downslope. Lots of excess materials repurposed for himself. We have had a falling out after being friends since teenagers because money changes things.

[@JustinOutdoors]

I think a key component for money changing things is if money is a priority. I think there are stronger motivators though, like fear, shame, wanting to feel special, respect, etc.

[@tgvaillancourt]

Can't wait for the pad Video and everything else you've got for 2025. Happy new year!

[@tgvaillancourt]

Also I'd love to buy a hat from you if you made them you always have awesome hats.

[@curtis.strange]

TBH I think most people feel taking "free" gear for review purposes is just an ad with extra steps, like the companies are offering a cheap bribe (manufacturing cost instead of cash) while you need to take on the downsides (effort to make videos, needing to add every product as a taxable benefit to your taxes). The illusion of "ethics" when all products have cash value is what makes it seem phony to people. I always thought loaner systems for reviews make more sense since if it's not durable enough for that it's probably not good anyways. Personally I'd rather see you get paid real money rather than have a closet full of decaying synthetics. Cheers mate.

[@JustinOutdoors]

That argument has never made sense to me. Viewers can tell when someone is full of BS when talking about a product. Losing the trust of the audience is an easy way destroy a business built around testing gear. It just isn't worth the "value" of the free gear. I received 93 products in 2024 with a total retail value of approximately $15,000. I don't really sell gear because I like to test and talk about products for years; but even if I did sell it, that value wouldn't come close to making it worth it to lose even a fraction of the trust I have built with my audience. I think that concept applies to almost everyone making content. I don't take money from companies who make products in categories I review and I don't look at the free gear as compensation. As far as the loaner system. Like I said, I like to talk about gear for years. Also, using a used sleeping pad, quilt, or clothing is kind of gross.

[@curtis.strange]

@JustinOutdoors my bigger point is saying that the companies get way more out of you than you do out of them and that's messed up! I am trying to think of it from your POV as a human being rather than as outdoors ambassador for the entire interwebs, which is never realistic since most of the products in this space are either highly subjective or virtually indistinguishable (if we're being honest). I am always interested in your commentary on the topics regardless, although I get much more excited for your trip videos.

[@JustinOutdoors]

@@curtis.strange Oh for sure. The companies get way more out of it. Which is why it is kind of funny when people say that reviewers skew things because they are afraid of being "cut-off". If a company makes 3 good and one bad product and the reviews address that, the 3 good reviews far outweighs the one bad. If every item a company makes is bad, then maybe they will cut someone off, but I personally wouldn't care if a company making crappy products stopped sending me crappy products.

[@philsmith2444]

@@JustinOutdoors Yeah, you’re the one who’d have to deal with the crappy gear for the duration of your trip! What would be the sense in not saying it’s crap after that?

[@woodchip2782]

I prefer the pump sack that comes with my Nemo mattress rather than those small electric inflators. Takes only three air fills. Much faster and it doesn’t drain my battery. The pump also helps to sort the equipment, mostly clothing. I’m sorry to say that I will not try your stove accessory. I’m an alcohol cooker. My Trangia suits me. IT’S SILENT! I just hate stove noise. I go out there to go away from noise. :shrug:

[@daveyyc9784]

I agree. The pump sack on my exped 5r takes 4 sack fills. So I don't carry an electric pump anymore either. On less electronic item to worry about!

[@jaysonmoore5166]

My one qualm with the neoloft is that it's 26 inches wide for the regular wide. There are very very few tents that are 52 inches wide to accommodate two of those pads. I wish they had stuck the 25 inch standard for wide pads.

[@johnnyolson258]

The issue with that is it sleeps like it's narrower than a 25" pad when you're laying on it despite it being 26". I just barely have room for my arms to stay on the pad when laying on my back. I assume that's why they bumped the width up a bit, just an issue with the design. Still by far the best pad I've slept on though

[@philsmith2444]

There are very few 2P tents that are 50” wide from head to foot 10-12 inches up from the floor. 4-season tents are often the worst, shaped for wind and snow load resistance and generally 82-88” long & 42-50” wide. You’re in a bag for a 6’ person with 6-8” loft on all sides and it’s all smooshed flat by your tent.

[@somerandomguy706]

Adotec vs ursack major xl - the stated capacity is roughly the same, but pictures make the adotec look smaller to me. Do they fit the same amount of food in practice? I can barely squeeze in 9 days of food into my ursack. Would be nice to get another bear bag for the rare times my wife or daughter join for the longer trips.

[@JustinOutdoors]

I haven't tried to pack the adotec full yet, so I'm not sure

[@darchgirladventures4417]

Love the fact you discuss negative experiences with the gear company to ensure you haven’t missed something. IMO it further demonstrates your passion for great gear by being part of the continuous improvement process and ensuring you are reviewing the product within the use case it was designed. Getting free gear to test isn’t a conflict enough to create trust issues, maybe if you were reviewing cars and got free cars to keep, not outdoor gear. I would be sceptical if a gear reviewer is sponsored by a gear brand. A sponsorship with Garage Grown Gear could be seen as sponsored by a gear brand adjacent but having listened to Lloyd on various podcasts talking about GGG business values and priorities the relationship between your channel and GGG makes sense. If you haven’t already listened to him on the KORE Outdoors podcast, you may enjoy it. MEC had good outdoor clothing for children, my kids are teenagers now; not sure if that has continued. Otherwise MEC has been disappointing for a while now.

[@IanTheOutdoorGuy]

In Australia we need emu bags not bear bags 😊. Those Birds will steal anything

[@Evan_Le5]

I’m curious what you do with the excess of older gear, do you ever donate it?

[@JustinOutdoors]

I keep gear until it is discontinued and then either donate it, give it away, or sell it for dirt cheap - depends what the item is!

[@andreameigs1261]

You're the only youtube creator who CAN test the R7 of the Light Tour because everyone else reviewing them is in the UK, and they don't get that cold. There are NO American or Canadian reviews of that Light Tour and YOUR opinion is the one I want.

[@TheBabadush]

Osprey has the most uncomfortable packs I’ve ever had. The hip belt bruises the hips and the shoulder straps dig into my shoulders! Worst experience

[@wolfeadventures]

The Exos was a torture device. Bloody hips after one day.

[@kimb8348]

And you cannot open a hipbelt pocket with one hand. Sometimes not even with two, easily.

[@philsmith2444]

Most of mine have been very comfortable. The main exception is my Aether 70 AG, I’ve used it with combinations of 2 different shoulder harnesses and hip belts and it was just never very comfortable. But not UNcomfortable. The only one with hip belt pockets I could open one-handed was my Stratos 24.

[@Canal-gi8di]

I’m subscribed to this chanel for at lease 3 years, and i’m sad to see it not having the followship it deserve

[@andrewdixon681]

How about MEC spark 1p tent? Really good

[@JustinOutdoors]

It's pretty good and one of the better 1P tents on the market. But pretty cramped for me!

[@Sheltowee1775]

Congratulations on marriage and a new baby! Exciting.

[@norgtube]

I don't think you need to buy the gear yourself to form a correct opinion, but there's ALWAYS going to be bias when companies let you keep test articles.

[@JustinOutdoors]

There is a bias either way :). It is almost impossible to avoid bias. Things like personal history also introduce bias. I find the bias is usually what I look for in a review because it provides more insight than someone listing off the specs and features.

[@antine1279]

Personally, I trust your judgement. Why? Because I'm an excellent judge of character, and I trust myself. Whether you paid for the gear or not is irrelevant to me. Keep up the good work ❤

[@TeslaPrince]

What are your favorite picks for real winter back country ultralight backpacks 65+ liter minimum? Thanks

[@JustinOutdoors]

Superior Wilderness Designs is the only company making remotely good UL winter packs. But even then, there are some tweaks I'd make. Definitely a gap in the market I think ;)

[@gorillacowman1]

I just picked up the blue ice stache 90l. So far I like it, but I haven't had a chance to carry a heavy load a long distance yet.

[@Funkayak-p8i]

Maybe you do already and I apologize if I missed it, but would love to see you support geartrader. Being from Canada REI and garage grown gear are out due to the dollar. Geartrader is awesome.

[@85btwalker]

Consider being transparent by saying if a product is gifted. Then people can make up their own mind on any level of bias.

[@JustinOutdoors]

I always disclose that in individual product reviews, but it would be a lot to do it for every product I am testing on a trip or in a gear list.

[@davidshirley6850]

I personally only watch reeviews ffrom people i trust , wether they pay for it or not does not worry me, i believe most people i listen to have integrity and only share their honest opinion

[@JustinOutdoors]

I have the same approach and thoughts.

[@billb5732]

My vote: Don't worry about the podcasts. You are -good- great at reviews. Interviewing requires a different skill set. There's nothing wrong with working to expand, that's good. I'm just saying that it isn't something to stress too much about.

[@jeffreycarman2185]

Thanks for the video

[@2ddw]

Do you ever get rid of any of your equipment?

[@JustinOutdoors]

not really

[@danielkutcher5704]

I totally agree. People tend to vociferously defend their financial choices, and backpacking gear is certainly no exception. The human ego is a very deceptive thing. That's why we are warned about talking religion and politics with people sensitive to either or both... But I am pretty daring and curious, so... Btw: I stink as a sewer, too. Sometimes LIKE one, as well. Take care!

[@jeffbarrick6826]

I’ve been wondering where those pants came from. The appear bomb proof

[@RC-qf3mp]

You’ve developed trust, so you don’t have to justify it, and trying to justify trust never works anyway. “Hey baby, trust me”. Nah. That said, you’ve developed trust. And haters are gonna hate, so brush it off. I watch b/c you don’t just say “I like this” or “I don’t like this” but exactly why, how a product or competitor could be better or worse for a given situation and the pros/cons. It’s not complicated in theory, but in practice some people are better at thoroughly reviewing products. One thing I’d add is that a lot of product reviews are necessarily of the “first impression” variety, and when it comes to ultralight gear, that often means a first impression of something ultra flimsy or poorly made that might not last the long haul. So one thing I’d be curious about are the long-term viability of the products you really like and more regularly use. For that kind of review though, i think it’s best to look at post-thru hike gear lists, ie, reviews by people who used a particularly product for thousands of miles. Obviously not something you can do with everything you’ve got, but perhaps you can interview people who HAVE used your FAVORITE products for thousands of miles, and that could add another dimension to your reviews.

[@willinkickass5361]

Thanks for answering the mec question.

[@ricomacpherson6845]

Will we see any family backpacking/ car camping videos in the near future

[@ericb.4358]

As a geezer backpacker with experience dating to the 1960s with a home made wooden frame and a plastic tube tent I like your videos, especially the winter gear and travel videos. Some items like battery operated air mattress pumps I'll pass on in favor of an inflation bag that doubles as a clothing bag. Double Duty items are high on my weight savings list. Your channel is great because you SHOW in-the-field evaluation instead ov just being a "talking head". As a Tarptent fanboy (I've owned 5 of them) I look forward to your reviews of them. The new TT Arc Dome is NOT going to be my favored design and when you review it I'll explain exactly why I don't like it.

[@zander9418]

Would you give away / sell any of the gear you don’t really use?

[@dcaudwell]

I think packed volume is really important for those getting deeper into ultralight, for fastpackers and for FKT folks. In any of these scenarios the pack is going to be small and frameless and gear volume becomes a top priority.

[@bobinmontana777]

Earning revenue from KZbin, possible affiliate commissions or free gear it’s possible a lot of viewers are jealous they didn’t work to build a KZbin channel. I appreciate the experience and testing, but realize the outdoor equipment “industry” drives the bus. Marketing through KZbin content creators is just another marketing tool. The average KZbin backpacker is wearing or packing thousands of dollars of equipment. The average Joe doesn’t need a $300.00 sleeping pad or $500.00 quilt and sleep in a $900.00 tent or hang a $160.00 bear bag. Of course, if given to Joe, he would.

[@michelebullock9867]

What you said about credibility of reviews not being or being paid makes sense. A second channel for gear is not of interest to me. I am most interested in what gear you reach for personally for yourself to go have a fun backpack trip. I so appreciate all the gear you look at but 35 stoves is ridiculous to me but will for sure watch to see how in the heck you do that. Thanks so much for all you do but I also want to see you have fun out there!

[@dakotaescher1]

I take so much of the reviews with a huge grain of salt. Always.

[@JustinOutdoors]

Why is that? I see cynicism more and more online but don't think the amount is correlated to the number of bad actors out there.

[@where2then]

Most reviews by bikepackers don't bother to show pack size either, such a missed opportunity IMO

[@ozziemc3669]

would the wapta 30 get a review on the second channel?

[@JustinOutdoors]

Yup! It's on the list of products I want to do a dedicated review for.

[@Merlmabase]

Might wanna review that video title

[@JustinOutdoors]

Fixed it. Haha. One day I'll be good at KZbin!

[@Merlmabase]

@JustinOutdoors That adverb soup'll get ya

[@ryanhooper4660]

Hate to say it, kids a are lot of work for their whole lives... but it's fun a lot of times!

[@diannapedersen9065]

I’m perfectly fine with your testing of products you’ve been gifted from companies. You’ve already established that if there’s problems you come across, you’ll call it out. I’m sure there’s just a lot of jealousy seeing you with all the newest stuff that creates the “hate” of these reviews. I would rather see you test out more variety of sent products, because even great reputation companies can make bad decisions. We need honest reviewers keeping us up to date, not the brand ambassadors showing us the new stuff through rose tinted glasses. Now if you start reviewing teething rings or diaper genies, I may have to find someone else hahaha

[@willek1335]

I'm not completely confident when it comes to the review. If a politician thinks he/she is immune to conflict of interest, then I think that's more of a concern than if you could show where the weakness is and how you circumvented it. Share prior experiences and what you've learned, essentially. Hm.

[@JustinOutdoors]

I'm not sure where politicians come into play with outdoor gear reviews. Haha

[@willek1335]

@JustinOutdoors it's an example of conflict of interest that most people can empathise with, something reviewers and politicians have to deal with.

[@michaelpuryear4682]

I’m going to be honest.. I love your videos, but I’ve purchased a few of the items that you recommended.. and it’s easy to tell that you were paid to advertise. So I watch the vids but I don’t buy on your recommendation anymore.

[@JustinOutdoors]

What items? I have never been paid by a company who makes gear in categories that I test.

[@TheRealSteveEllis]

On the point of reviewing gear you buy yourself. Undoubtedly your perspective isn’t as respected as it could be if you are being sent free kit. I note your justifications but I don’t myself trust your review as much as other channels and would never buy a product based on your review. Your content can be interesting but never definitive due to this. Great channel presentation and I wish you well but unless you address the obvious compromise this is a 3/5 channel.

[@JustinOutdoors]

You're entitled to your opinion. I disagree though. Not because I think my content is definitive but because I don't think anyone's content is or should be definitive. Like I said in the video, my goal isn't to sell you something or convince you to buy something - it's to test and share cool gear and technologies. When looking to buy something, I recommend people use reviews and information about the product as data points to plug into their own assessment matrix that addresses their needs and priorities. Edit: I'm curious if you have seen anything on my channel that you perceived as being heavily influenced by getting the gear for free and how it skewed my assessment. Or is it just cynicism?

[@philsmith2444]

Would you give an honest review of gear sent to you by a manufacturer?

[@Istenostor]

You are free to watch other creators and users review about those products, who have bought it for their own money. I tend to view multiple product tests from different channels, websites, or forums, like this comment section, because I can find more intresting viewpoints, usecases, concerns about a product (category), and some hidden gems too. Howewer I do not find Justins reviews unbiased or dishonest. Honesty is rather a moral attitude, not determined by the way someone gets something from the manufacturer. Not much years ago several doctors, who got paid for their researches by big pharmaceutaical companies campaigned for the compulsory vaccine treatment with the products of these companies, while other doctors, who have been paid by the same companies for their researches - many times in the same research groups with the prior mentined ones - campaigned for other possible solutions and warned about the potential risks of the experimental state vaccines. Those, who acted like slaves have lost their trust from the majority of their audience, and so would any content creator. If you can get bought by a manufacturer with a single product by feeling obliged to do a biased review, you're a dishonest, corrupt and in fact a very cheap person.

[@reddottx]

This is not meant as a criticism because I believe you’re honest, but I disagree regarding reviews of purchased gear vs. sent gear. There a greater risk of bias towards generosity if you think your relationship could end over a bad review than stroking your ego trying to cover for buying overpriced junk. You start hammering Nemo and Big Agnes it’s not going to be good for your channel. That is unless you’re a free agent. Buying it only adds to the benefit because then you could accurately gauge its value. “Would I buy this if it wasn’t for the channel?”The study suggests something different. I might cope for a bad buy by telling friends how great it is. But you’d have no reason to do that. If you buy it you can say whatever you like. No strings. More people see how the game is played these days. Unfortunately it means we have to take reviews with a large dose of skepticism.

[@JustinOutdoors]

I have been more critical than congratulatory towards Big Agnes and Nemo in the last couple of years. Haha. Big Agnes keeps putting out crap and Nemo has improved. Both still send products.

[@reddottx]

@@JustinOutdoorsthanks. Good to know. I’m glad they are willing to accept criticism. So many channels hawk the latest like it’s revelatory. It’s a zoo out there.

[@antine1279]

I'd say content creators are more worried about pissing off their audience than sponsors, i.e. if they say they don't like brands their audience likes. They walk on eggshells and don't say things because people would get pissed off, which has much bigger consequences for their channel/business. (I'm not talking about Justin specifically, just something I've noticed in general.)

[@planesandbikes7353]

Ignore the haters. No you do NOT need to buy all the goods you review! That is bullshit and undermines reviewers' ability to make a living. Sad but the outdoors scene is overrun with purist assholes, the new snobs who detest anyone who likes to experience the outdoors in a way (eg gear choice) different than them.

[@bihlygoat]

A lot of “crappy” stuff. Been changing a lot of diapers? 😅

[@JustinOutdoors]

I have been! :P

[@AbelandVictoria]

A gear reviewer that doesn’t review hilleberg tents is kind of silly imo.

[@Strychninex]

Hilleberg generally don't send anyone anything. You'll need to donate a kidney and purchase their products yourself. Also, just a pet peeve - I hate you talking comfort because it's so subjective. Some of the "comfortable" stuff you have is down right garbage for me personally.

[@JustinOutdoors]

I'm saving my kidneys in case a relative needs one :p Hate is a strong word! Haha

[@leefamily7]

Hate? If you only want completely objective reviews, why don’t you just compare specs? Why bother watching a review video?? I don’t get it. I personally like the subjective input about comfort. I’ve found it quite informative np helpful.

[@haydenwalton2766]

I'm sure justin know hilleberg don't give stuff out. I think that's why he doesn't review them, and if so, this is part of his problem.

[@JustinOutdoors]

@haydenwalton2766 I agree that it is a gap in my assessment of the entire market to not have tested Hilleberg tents. But like I mentioned, there is enough good gear out there that I am not short on good gear to test. I don't think there is anyone out there who has tested every piece of gear in a category. I've come pretty close for pillows and sleeping pads but there are soooo many tents and packs on the market. Because I can only test so much, I focus on specific segments of a category and the 4-season heavy tents that Hilleberg makes has never been a focus.

[@Strychninex]

@@leefamily7 All for an objective OPINION, but please make ensure it's communicated as that. Having gear awards for the "most comfortable X" when you may be the only person that feels that way is what I "hate". Dislike is definitely a more apt term.

[@evanhammond7305]

Liberal party of canada mindset " the more it costs the better it is"

[@elisebrown5157]

Thanks for all the insights. But word of warning, never say that your wife AND YOU were "pregnant." She endured all of that, as well as the birth. You can be a great father without having to make the pregnancy about yourself too. And I'm sure you will be. Best of luck with everything in this new year and I hope to watch some great upcoming content on your channels.