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Affiliate and Advertising Disclosure

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Overview and regulatory compliance

Change Gear is committed to transparent business practices and honest outdoor journalism. This disclosure is provided in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising (16 CFR Part 255).

Our mission is to help hikers and campers find reliable outdoor equipment through objective, spec-based analysis. To fund our research, website hosting, and editorial operations, we participate in retail affiliate marketing programs.

Amazon Associates disclosure

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

We participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for websites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. When you follow an Amazon link on our site and make a purchase, Amazon pays us a small percentage of the sale.

In addition to Amazon, Change Gear participates in the AvantLink affiliate network. Through AvantLink, we work with (or have applied to) affiliate programs for outdoor retailers such as REI Co-op, CampSaver, DICK’S Sporting Goods, evo, Huckberry, Garage Grown Gear, and Backcountry. Affiliate tracking is only active for a retailer once that retailer’s program has approved this site. Where a link is tracked and you make a purchase, the merchant pays us an affiliate referral commission. Where a retailer has not approved us, the same link is a plain product link and we earn nothing from it.

How affiliate commissions work

Here is what our readers should know about affiliate links:

  • Zero extra cost to you: Clicking an affiliate link does not increase the price you pay. Retailers pay affiliate commissions directly out of their operating margins. You pay the exact same price as if you visited the retailer directly.
  • Cookie tracking: When you click an affiliate link, the retailer or affiliate network places a temporary tracking cookie on your browser to attribute the purchase to Change Gear. These cookies are subject to the privacy policies of the respective merchant.
  • No access to your personal information: Retailers never share your credit card information, residential address, or personal identifying details with Change Gear. We only receive aggregated reporting showing which items were purchased and the commission earned.

Editorial independence and pick selection

Our affiliate relationships never compromise our editorial integrity:

  • No testing lab: As detailed on our about page, we do not have an outdoor testing lab. We select gear based on manufacturer technical specifications, fabric denier, fill power, seam-sealing construction, warranty policies, and verified customer review patterns.
  • No paid placements: We do not accept money, sponsorship fees, or paid placements from gear manufacturers to feature or rank their products favorably.
  • Unbiased recommendations: We recommend products based on quality, reliability, and value for hikers and campers, regardless of whether a retailer offers a high commission rate, a low commission rate, or no affiliate program at all.

Product pricing and availability disclaimer

While we strive to keep our guides and price mentions accurate, retailers change pricing, discount codes, inventory availability, and product versions frequently. The final price and terms of any purchase are determined exclusively on the retailer website at the time of checkout.

Questions about our disclosure

If you have questions regarding our affiliate partnerships, editorial independence, or business model, please contact us:

  • Email: [email protected]
  • Mailing address: 1752 Wilking Way, Shakopee, MN 55379
  • Legal operator: Ecommerce Scale Inc.