ABOUT RIGGEDOUT
We're overlanders who got tired of gear reviews written by people who've never left the pavement.
Our Story
RiggedOut started the way most good ideas do — around a campfire, somewhere off-grid, complaining about gear that didn't live up to its marketing.
We'd spent years building rigs, running trails across the American West, and learning the hard way which gear actually holds up when it matters. Too many review sites were churning out content based on Amazon listings and press releases. Nobody was actually testing this stuff in the conditions it's built for.
So we decided to build something different. RiggedOut is a gear review publication by overlanders, for overlanders. Every product we cover gets real trail time. Every recommendation comes from firsthand experience. And every review tells you the stuff the manufacturer doesn't want to print on the box.
We're not a massive media company. We're a small team of people who'd rather be on the trail than behind a desk. That keeps us honest — and it keeps our reviews focused on what actually matters when you're 50 miles from the nearest cell tower.
Our Testing Process
We Buy It Ourselves
No loaner units, no sponsored reviews. We purchase gear at retail price so our experience matches yours. This keeps our reviews free from manufacturer influence.
Real Trail Testing
Every product gets used on actual trails, in real conditions. Recovery boards get buried in sand. Compressors inflate real tires. Roof tents weather actual storms. No lab tests — just trail miles.
Long-Term Follow-Up
First impressions don't tell the whole story. We revisit our reviews after months of use to update ratings and catch issues that only show up over time.
Honest Reporting
If a product sucks, we'll tell you. We list real pros and cons, compare against alternatives at every price point, and always tell you when a cheaper option might be the smarter buy.
Why Trust Us
Independent & Self-Funded
We're not owned by a gear manufacturer or media conglomerate. Our revenue comes from affiliate commissions — meaning we only make money when our recommendations are good enough that you actually buy them. That alignment is intentional.
Real Experience, Not Spec Sheets
Our team has collectively spent thousands of days on trails across North America, Australia, and Africa. We know what matters because we've been stuck, stranded, rained on, and sunburned enough times to learn.
Transparent Affiliate Disclosure
Yes, we use affiliate links. No, they don't influence our ratings or recommendations. A product with a great affiliate program still gets a bad review if the product is bad. Period.
Affiliate Disclosure
RiggedOut is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. This helps us keep buying gear, hitting trails, and publishing honest reviews. We never let affiliate relationships influence our editorial content or product ratings. Our recommendations are based solely on our testing and experience.
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