How We Research & Review
Our methodology in plain English — where the data comes from, how scores are calculated, and why we believe this approach produces more reliable verdicts than a single reviewer's hands-on impression.
We do not conduct hands-on device testing
GreatHealthGear does not purchase or receive devices for in-house testing. We do not wear the trackers, sit in the saunas, or run the cold plunges through our own protocols. Any content claiming otherwise would be inaccurate, and we do not publish it.
What we do instead is read everything. Clinical literature, independent accuracy and performance studies, manufacturer specifications, engineering teardowns, long-term user reports from verified purchasers, and expert reviews from across the web. Then we synthesise it into structured assessments grounded in the weight of that evidence rather than a single reviewer's two-week experience.
This approach has a real advantage: a product that looks impressive in a short-term review but underperforms after months of real use will not score well here, because the long-term evidence is part of what we assess.
Sources we draw on
Where clinical accuracy is relevant — sleep trackers and smart scales, for example — we rely on peer-reviewed research comparing consumer devices against validated benchmarks such as polysomnography (PSG) or DEXA scanning. We cite studies by author, year, and publication name. We do not invent or paraphrase citations.
For other product types, we draw on independent lab testing of stated specifications (stall force, irradiance, EMF emissions, decibel ratings), long-term user data from verified purchasers on major retail platforms, and manufacturer-published technical specifications. Where the evidence is mixed or incomplete, we say so rather than presenting false certainty.
The scoring system
Every product review scores the device across seven fixed categories, each rated on a 1–5 scale. The overall score (out of 10) is calculated automatically using the formula below. It is never assigned by hand.
Overall score = round((sum of all 7 category scores ÷ 7) × 2, 1 decimal place)
The seven categories are fixed for a given product type, but what each one measures is tailored to that type. Design & Build Quality and Subscription & Pricing appear in every review, but the categories in between reflect what actually matters for that product.
The score thresholds: 5 = best in class, no meaningful weaknesses; 4 = very good with minor weaknesses; 3 = acceptable but with noticeable shortcomings; 2 = below expectations; 1 = poor.
The overall rating colours follow a consistent threshold: 8.0 and above is teal (very good or excellent), 6.0–7.9 is amber (good to average), below 6.0 is red.
How categories vary by product type
The seven scoring categories are not identical across the site — they're chosen to reflect what actually determines whether a product is good at its job. A few examples:
Sleep Trackers
- Tracking Accuracy — sleep stage and HRV data vs PSG benchmarks
- Battery Life — real-world charge duration
Massage Guns
- Power & Performance — amplitude and stall force
- Noise Level — published decibel ratings
Cold Plunge Tubs
- Cooling Performance — temperature range and consistency
- Filtration & Hygiene — water treatment and cleaning
What stays constant across every category: Design & Build Quality and Subscription & Pricing (or Value for Money) are always scored, the 1–5 scale and overall formula never change, and App & Software — when a product has a companion app — always includes a prose section on data privacy, GDPR compliance, and data export and deletion. The exact category list for any product type is shown on that category's hub page, in a "How We Evaluate" section.
Buying guide methodology
Buying guides select the best products for a specific use case — athletes, people with a limited budget, side sleepers, and so on. Every product in the guide is evaluated against the same criteria as individual reviews. Products that were considered but not recommended are listed in an "Also considered" section with a brief explanation of why they did not make the cut.
No product earns a place in a buying guide through payment, free products, or advertising arrangements. Selection is based on the evidence for that particular use case.
Editorial independence
Affiliate commissions fund the site, but they do not influence editorial decisions. Products are evaluated on their merits. A product with a higher commission rate does not receive a higher score. A product with no commission at all gets the same honest assessment as one that does. For full details, see our affiliate disclosure.
We do not accept payment for reviews, guaranteed placements, or any other form of commercial influence over editorial content.