At Spring Creek Hunt, our goal is to help readers to get out and find their next adventures.

Part of how we do that is recommending gear, places to explore, places to stay and more. Below, you can find more information on our editorial process, including how we pick products and places, and how we may be compensated through our content.

Editorial Process

Our main goal as a content-driven platform is to find the best solutions for our readers. That may be finding the best places to hike, camp or backpack in a state or park, or it may be recommending some of the best gear related to those activities.

In any case, we’re committed to useful, accurate and practical information above all else. Solving our readers’ problems and challenges is our top priority, and we firmly believe that if we do that the right way, everything else will fall into place. We do our best to keep our stories updated with links to brands, parks and government sites that provide additional info.

In the case of hiking, camping and backpacking stories, we strive to find writers who’ve personally explored these areas and can vouch for their beauty and brilliance. For gear reviews, we try to find writers who have some experience with the types of products being reviewed, and in many cases we personally field test the products being recommended.

We pride ourselves on our research and commitment to putting out the best possible stories for our readers and welcome suggestions on how to do that better.

Each story we publish has hours of research, writing, fact-checking and editing behind it, and each article is reviewed by several editors.

Affiliate Links & Recommendations

In many of our articles, especially gear-based stories, we may earn a small commission when readers purchase products through our links.

This doesn’t affect which products are included in the articles, and in most cases our writers are not aware of which brands and products offer us a sales commission. All of the products we highlight are recommended for their quality, performance and overall reputation regardless of any affiliate relationships.

In fact, much of the gear we recommend comes from small, boutique retailers and shops that make small batches of products and don’t offer any sort of affiliate relationships at all. In our rundown of the best waxed canvas backpacks, or the best hammock underquilts, for example, you’ll find that most of the packs or quilts come from small manufacturers who do not offer us any sales commissions for recommending them.

But, they are some of the best products out there and so we recommend them.

We strive to recommend the products that would fit best for most audiences, and usually categorize our top picks as:

• Editor’s Choice: the best overall pick based on performance and feedback
• Upgrade pick: where it makes sense to spend more money
• Best value: gear that offers the most bang for the buck

The commissions we make from these articles allow us to pay our writers the best rates possible, and to allow us to put as much time and energy into the research and vetting side of the review process. We don’t want to cut corners, and we want to pay writers and gear testers what they’re worth.

If we receive gear to review directly from brands, it’s noted in the review itself, though most of the gear we field test is purchased. Any brands or products that pay for promotion or advertising on the site is considered “Sponsored.”

Amazon Associates & Other Programs

As an Amazon Associate, Spring Creek Hunt may earn commissions from qualifying purchases from Amazon.com. We also partner with sites like REI, Backcountry.com, Moosejaw, Huckberry and other outdoor retailers.

Our reputation as a place to find quality gear and places to explore is important to us, and that helps us navigate what we recommend to our readers. You can learn more about us here, or get in touch if you have questions or comments about our mission at Spring Creek Hunt.

Contests and Giveaways

We occasionally run contests and giveaways on our site for new members to our email list, Weekend Wanderer. If you’ve signed up for a contest, you’ll start receiving Weekend Wanderer but can unsubscribe at any time. Contests are not affiliated with any social media network, including Instagram and Facebook, and each contest’s rules and guidelines are outlined during entry. Contact us for more information.