How We Research

Every Essentials List on this site opens with the same statement:

Researched, not tested. Every Product here was chosen from manufacturer specifications and other public sources. We have not used these Products ourselves.

This page explains what that means in full.

Researched, not tested

We don't run a gear lab and we don't take Products camping before writing about them. Each list is built from what manufacturers and other public sources say about a Product. We will never claim to have handled something we haven't.

How a Product gets on a list

• Products are found through manufacturer websites and other public sources, not through Amazon listings.
• Each fact we give about a Product, such as its capacity, weight or materials, is recorded with the public source it came from. You'll see a "(source)" link beside every fact.
• The site owner checks and approves every Product before any list can recommend it. Lists can only recommend Products from that approved set.

How a list is written

Each Essentials List covers one situation a beginner car camper runs into, like a first night at a campsite. Lists are written by Claude, an AI model, using only the approved facts for the Products on that list, and each Product comes with the reason a beginner needs it.

Every list is held to automated checks that confirm it carries this statement and our affiliate disclosures, recommends only approved Products, and makes no claims of hands-on use.

What you won't find here

• Prices, star ratings or review counts. Check the current price on the Product's page before you buy.
• Product photos.
• Claims that we've tested anything.

We earn a commission when you buy through our links. Our Affiliate Disclosure explains how.