How We Review
Last updated: November 3, 2026
This page explains exactly how we research products, how the CGG Score is calculated, and how picks are assigned in our guides. If something here does not match what you see on the site, please tell us at [email protected].
Our process
- Define the need and the criteria. Each guide starts with the questions that matter in a small home: footprint in use and when stored, weight capacity, noise, ceiling height, assembly, and warranty. Category-specific criteria are added on top, such as deck length for treadmills or weight increments for adjustable dumbbells.
- Build a candidate list. We start from products currently available on Amazon in the category. When a guide targets a budget, such as a price ceiling, only products inside that price range are considered.
- Research each product. We read published specifications, manufacturer documentation, and listing details, and we look for recurring patterns in verified owner feedback, both positive and negative.
- Compare against the same criteria. Every product in a guide is judged on the same criteria. We write pros and cons for each one and say who should skip it.
- Keep guides current. Product data is refreshed regularly, and guides are revised when models change, are discontinued, or new options appear.
What we do not do
- We do not conduct our own product trials, take our own performance measurements, or run long-term durability trials. Our evaluations are grounded in research, published data, and verified owner feedback.
- We do not accept payment for placement, and brands cannot review or approve a guide before it is published.
- We do not write prices into article text, because prices change frequently.
The CGG Score
The CGG Score is a 0 to 10 rating calculated from a product’s average Amazon customer rating. It is scaled so that a 3.0 star rating equals 6.2 and a 5.0 star rating equals 9.4:
CGG Score = 6.2 + (average rating – 3.0) x 1.6, limited to a range of 6.2 to 9.4.
| Average Amazon rating | CGG Score |
|---|---|
| 5.0 | 9.4 |
| 4.5 | 8.6 |
| 4.0 | 7.8 |
| 3.5 | 7.0 |
| 3.0 or lower | 6.2 |
What the score is and is not:
- It reflects how owners rate a product on Amazon. It is not a measurement we took ourselves.
- The number of ratings is not part of the formula today.
- Products without a rating show no score.
- The score can change when product data is refreshed, which is why we never write score numbers into article text.
- Affiliate commissions never change a score.
How picks are assigned
Pick labels are calculated separately for each guide, using only products that are in stock. A product qualifies for a pick when its CGG Score is 6.0 or higher, or its average rating is 4.0 or higher.
- Top Pick: the product with the highest CGG Score in the guide. Ties go to the higher average rating, then to the higher number of ratings.
- Budget Pick: the lowest-priced qualifying product, other than the Top Pick, that costs less than the Top Pick.
- Upgrade Pick: the highest-priced qualifying product that costs more than 1.25 times the Top Pick. If no product meets that rule, the guide has no Upgrade Pick.
Editorial awards such as “Best Overall” in a guide’s final section follow the same ranking: the Best Overall product is always the one with the highest CGG Score.
Prices and availability
Prices, availability, and product images come from Amazon through its official API. Each product shows the date its data was last updated. Prices and availability change, and the price shown on the retailer’s site at the time of purchase is the one that applies.
Safety
Where it matters, our guides note weight capacity, anchoring or mounting requirements, and ceiling height. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Our guides are not medical or fitness advice; see the health and safety section of our Editorial Policy.