Last updated: 12 July 2026.
At Watervalle, our products, each one we suggest, go through an extensive test process that involves hands-on testing before we review them. We also use data from established research institutes and direct conversations to back up our conclusions. Here’s how it’s done.
1. We purchase the product.
We typically purchase items ourselves at the retail price, as our readers do. This allows us to avoid any bias that might result when we receive review units for free.
2. We Use Them in Real Conditions
We don’t just take it out of the box and examine the product — we use every product in the way it was designed to be used over a long period of time to examine how it performs under every day, real-world situations.
3. Our Testing Methods
Based on the category of product, the testing we conduct may consist of:
Testing performance is how well the product performs what it claims by comparing it to benchmarks or tasks.
Tests for Durability –– a continual usage, stress testing, and wear-and-tear tests over the course of
Testing of ergonomics and comfort to determine how the product feels during prolonged usage
Testing to compare – test similar products side-by-side under the same conditions. Testing in the field. What happens to the product under various conditions (temperature and moisture outdoors as well as indoors). If applicable)
Testing ease-of-setup: How simple it is to take the box off and assemble or set up
Longevity tests — continued use for a period of weeks or months to identify issues that do not appear immediately.
Testing of battery and power -used for testing electronic products, battery life, and charging performance under actual usage
Security checks are a way of ensuring that the products are safe to use and do not pose obvious dangers.
Assessment of Value -weighting quality and performance against cost relative to competition
4. We Incorporate Third-Party Research
In addition to our own tests, we also refer to reports or studies, as well as information published by respected research institutions or industry bodies, and testing laboratories. This helps us verify what we’ve found, to fill in any gaps that our tests aren’t able to cover (such as long-term or large-scale data), as well as ensure that our conclusions match with reliable, established sources.
5. We Interview Real People
We directly communicate with relevant sources, including professionals, experts, and everyday users, given that the results of our tests alone aren’t enough. The conversations we have with these sources help us to understand the performance of a product for various people and in various situations, and over the long run.
6. We Evaluate Against Consistent Criteria
Every product within a specific category is evaluated against the same set of standards to ensure that our rankings and comparisons remain honest and consistent.
7. We Document Our Findings
We keep notes, photos, as well as (where appropriate) measurements during testing, and our conclusion is based upon observational data rather than just impressions.
8. We Report Honestly
Our reviews contain both positive and negative. If a product isn’t performing as expected or has a defect, it is reported to us regardless of whether it means the product is not a good review.
9. We Retest When Needed
If a product design is altered and feedback from our readers causes us to review our conclusions, we re-examine and make sure that the content we provide is up to date. Questions About Our Testing?
Contact us by email at info@watervalle.com.