Fatman no jitsu 1 Posted October 23, 2013 Share Posted October 23, 2013 Every item I look for a review on equipment it just leads to a shop repeating the same company blurb. Where do you look for good user based information on the net? Link to post Share on other sites
MagSeven 40 Posted October 23, 2013 Share Posted October 23, 2013 Blister Gear Reviews give some of the best in depth and unbiased reviews, in my experience. Link to post Share on other sites
Chriselle 158 Posted October 23, 2013 Share Posted October 23, 2013 Reviews aren't what they used to be. It's become a bit of a business with bogus reviews. I look at youtube vids, or dedicated forums discussing the gear I'm interested in. Link to post Share on other sites
Slippery Jim 65 Posted October 23, 2013 Share Posted October 23, 2013 +1 for Blistergear; they're very good at responding to questions about the reviews, also. Link to post Share on other sites
grungy-gonads 54 Posted October 23, 2013 Share Posted October 23, 2013 Buy now! Link to post Share on other sites
anything 6 Posted October 26, 2013 Share Posted October 26, 2013 thanks for the suggestion, been so sick of shitty reviews Link to post Share on other sites
snowdude 44 Posted October 26, 2013 Share Posted October 26, 2013 I dont teally believe most of the made up reviews rather look at what people are actually saying on forums etc. Link to post Share on other sites
seemore 66 Posted October 27, 2013 Share Posted October 27, 2013 People don't normally write good reviews they are more likely to write bad ones look for the best of the bad ones Link to post Share on other sites
NoFakie 45 Posted October 27, 2013 Share Posted October 27, 2013 I dunno, I think some people write reviews in a manner that suggests they are trying to convince others, and probably themselves too, that everything they have bought was the best decision. It comes out of the consumerist ideas of lifestyle and people defining themselves from stuff that they have bought. If that is your notion of self, then everything you buy becomes a personal decision. For clothes, a lot of the short user reviews on backcountry.com mention the size, e.g., "I'm 5'11, 170lb and the medium was huge" which is actually useful info if you're buying online to save money. Link to post Share on other sites
HighlyTrainedNovaTeacher 2 Posted October 28, 2013 Share Posted October 28, 2013 Bit of a minefield isn't it. Some of the BOOK NOW-esque like 'reviews' are so obvious you've got to wonder how the people who wrote them thought anyone would be taken in. Or perhaps if people are stupid enough to be taken in. But I reckon with a decent dosage of common sense it's fairly easy to shift through, if there's enough sample. Link to post Share on other sites
fuyugakuru 0 Posted October 28, 2013 Share Posted October 28, 2013 Searching forums is probably the best way to get good info on gear. I have found that there tends to be more quality reviews for skis on the internet than for snowboards though. Has anyone else found that too? People will actually post detailed and useful info about skis on forums whereas it is more superficial for boards. It is quite frustrating and I wonder why that is. I guess actually demoing the planks you are considering buying blows reading reviews out of the water and then some anyway. Link to post Share on other sites
pdoull 2 Posted October 28, 2013 Share Posted October 28, 2013 I agree with the above two. Its a minefield and maybe people convincing themselves they have made the best decision Just did a quick check on the smith I/O goggles I purchased from checking reviews with the reviews at backcountry. The first review absolutely bags them while a lot (most) of the others reckon there great. The doubts have crept in. Ugh Link to post Share on other sites
ippy 66 Posted October 28, 2013 Share Posted October 28, 2013 I dunno, I think some people write reviews in a manner that suggests they are trying to convince others, and probably themselves too, that everything they have bought was the best decision. It comes out of the consumerist ideas of lifestyle and people defining themselves from stuff that they have bought. If that is your notion of self, then everything you buy becomes a personal decision. For clothes, a lot of the short user reviews on backcountry.com mention the size, e.g., "I'm 5'11, 170lb and the medium was huge" which is actually useful info if you're buying online to save money. I do love a good review, but definitely guilty of that one. Its never a conscious thing. Its just that if you really want to like something, youll be more inclined to overlook its flaws. Capita and Bataleon for example. Both great brands of course, but although i was absolutely convinced that my airobic worked, the riot was never gonna happen. Which sorta reminds me of another flaw in reviewing: pseudo objectivity. The riot didnt work for me because i honestly dont ride anywhere near aggressive enough for it. Then again, i couldnt ride it aggressively enough because (now i think about it), the damn thing was hard as shit to figure out. If you went too fast itd lose stability and feel catchy. And i promise you, you dont want to catch that front edge flying down the steep part of skyline trying to impress all the noobs side sliding down it. You really dont. Three day concussion that one. THEN AGAIN, it was a 155 and i was about 82kgs with all my gear on... So many variables that it makes it damn near impossible for even the poor schmuck reviewing to know what agenda theyre working on. Link to post Share on other sites
Fatman no jitsu 1 Posted October 29, 2013 Author Share Posted October 29, 2013 I agree with most of what is being said. I guess my point is that for the majority of other objects. Be it skis, movies, toe nail clipper or beer. There is a third party website giving critiques and opinions that isn't attached to a shop. http://www.ski-review.com/ http://www.mrqe.com/ http://www.thebeercritic.com/ ( OK so i couldn't find a site on toe nail clippers.... and i'm sure you could find some flaws with the linked sites) But with snowboards every review is either in a shop or a forum. Why isn't there any independent reviews for snowboards and snowboard equipment? Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted October 29, 2013 Share Posted October 29, 2013 The angry snowboarder is independent is he not? Link to post Share on other sites
Fatman no jitsu 1 Posted October 29, 2013 Author Share Posted October 29, 2013 The angry snowboarder is independent is he not? True. Edit: I'm an idiot who shouldn't be allowed on the internet. Link to post Share on other sites
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