http://backpackgeartest.org./

“This will be my only post tonight, the dial up from home is killing me waiting for the pages to load.

I ran across the yahoo group for this site and read a message from one of the members...

Simply stated this requires a commitment, and gear reviews to a standard, but after a six month test period, you keep the gear...

check them out...”

“Thought I might post this to the top one more time..has anyone done this or know these folks? I may become a tester unless there is bad KARMA here....”

“hmmm that is very interesting.
I liked to hear what others think. But I am also a paranod(sp) person when it comes to things like this.
I believe in "there is no free lunch"”

“Interesting site. I didn't get to see much of it because I think a whole bunch of TTers went over there at once. I'll go back to it, though. The problem is that I just about have everything.”

“Almost sounds too easy doesn't it? The catch is probably that so many people have signed up that your chance for a gear test on the good stuff is like playing the lottery. Or the companies don't send stuff their way very often. I don't know, maybe it's worth looking into more.”

“yes, I heard to them. Actually I am surprised none of you guys did...

they are legit”

“Yeah, I've been checking them out for over a year now. The quality of the content and the number of their gear reviews has steadily improved and increased. I think I remember that Sgt. Rock has at some time or another been a gear tester for them. I've been toying with the idea of gear testing for them but I never post to their forum. It's mentioned as a plus for being approved. I don't know how much it influences their decision-making process.

I guess there's only one way to find out...”

“i've filed 2 Owner Reports and am now a tester for the Pacific Crest Trail Guide (S. California edition). haven't received the book yet, but should soon. they are legit, but have had some problems lately with testers basically stealing gear, so the application process has gotten a little more detailed.

how it works: submit 2 reviews of gear you already own, following their requested format. if approved, upload your reviwes to the site. as an example, here's one of my Owner Reviews: http://tinyurl.com/c0ru

after that, you sign a Tester Contract so you can qualify to test gear that manufacturers provide (folks like Golite, Black Diamond, Mt. Hardwear, etc.). if gear is offered that you're interested in, you apply for the test. if you're chosen (usually 4 testers are chosen from 20-30 or so applications), you have to file 3 reports on schedule - an Initial Report, a Field Report, and a Final Report. each test has a moderator/monitor, and your reports are subject to editing, suggestions, and final approval by your test monitor. the more thorough the testing, the better, and you have to back up what you say. look at the recent tests of the MegaLights to see how detailed the reports/reviews are these days. some of the older reports weren't nearly as impressive. and once you have tested the gear, filed and uploaded all of your reports, the gear is yours to keep.”

“Yeah TBB, I was reading the Megalight reviews a couple weeks ago and I was impressed. I was also impressed by the Leki Ultralite Ti AirErgo initial reports that I read. When I first went to that site (a year? a year and a half ago?) I wasn't at all impressed. They've really come a long way.”

“http://www.backpackgeartest.org/

What the heck happened to this site?
Did it die?”

“Forbidden
You don't have permission to access / on this server.

Additionally, a 403 Forbidden error was encountered while trying to use an ErrorDocument to handle the request.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Apache/1.3.33 Server at www.backpackgeartest.org Port 80”

“Yeah, The same thing just happened to me there.??? I protest!”

“It's the new year. Their IT Guy must be nursing a nog Hangover.”

“I got the same error with no problems. You guys must be persona non grata. I have no problem getting the erorr.”

“We're in the process of moving - things have been going bad with the hosting company for a few months now and we're fed up with them. I am a BGT moderator and haven't been able to access my email for three days. :(”

“Thanks for the straight dope, calipidder!”

“Hi Cali, Thanks for the update. I figured that was the case.”