When you’re living on the road, the gear you bring matters. A good solar panel can keep your lights on for days. A bad fridge can spoil your week.
That’s why every product we feature on CampyRoads goes through a thoughtful, hands-on review process designed to reflect real van life conditions, not just marketing claims.
This page explains exactly how we test, research, and recommend products so you can trust the advice you read here.
Why Our Testing Process Matters
Van life and RV travel aren’t one-size-fits-all. What works in a full-time Class C might not work in a weekend campervan. That’s why we test products the way you’d actually use them: in small spaces, off-grid conditions, and with long-term usability in mind.
We don’t just list top-rated gear, we dig in to find what actually performs.
Our approach blends hands-on experience, data analysis, and community feedback to ensure every recommendation is honest, practical, and based on real-world use.
Our Product Testing Process
1. We Use the Products Ourselves
Many of the products we review are ones we’ve personally used while camping, driving cross-country, or boondocking in remote areas.
We evaluate:
- Ease of use out of the box
- Set-up and breakdown time
- Durability under real-world travel conditions
- Functionality in compact or off-grid setups
- Long-term reliability after weeks or months of use
If something fails us on the road, we tell you.
2. We Talk to Other Van Lifers and RVers
We actively reach out to fellow travelers, full-time RVers, and van life friends to gather feedback on how different products perform in various situations.
We ask:
- What gear do you rely on every day?
- What’s failed you on the road?
- What upgrades made the biggest difference?
Their insights often confirm or challenge our findings and help us round out reviews with multiple perspectives.
3. We Read Reviews, But Filter the Noise
We comb through hundreds of real user reviews on sites like Amazon, REI, and manufacturer forums. But we don’t just trust star ratings, we look for patterns:
- Are complaints consistent across users?
- Is praise coming from verified, long-term owners?
- Are there updates after weeks or months of use?
This helps us spot long-term issues or hidden wins that might not show up in short-term testing.
4. We Compare Specs, Value, and Warranty
Not all products are equal, even if they look the same. We analyze key factors like:
- Battery capacity, solar wattage, or thermal ratings
- Price compared to performance
- Warranty coverage and support options
- Weight, size, and portability for van life setups
If a budget option performs 90% as well as a premium pick, we’ll say so.
Our Recommendation Standards
We only recommend gear that meets at least one of the following:
- Personally tested and proven by us
- Field-tested and recommended by trusted van lifers we know
- Consistently high-rated across multiple platforms with long-term reliability
- Good value for the price, especially for budget-conscious travelers
- Unique functionality that solves a specific van life challenge
We never accept payment to promote a product we wouldn’t use ourselves.
How We Stay Honest
CampyRoads is reader-supported. That means we sometimes earn a small commission if you buy through our links. But that never affects what we recommend. We do not accept sponsored placements or paid reviews.
If a product is great, we’ll say so. If it’s overhyped or underperforms, we’ll say that too. Our priority is helping you make smart decisions, not selling gear you don’t need.
Want to Know More?
Have questions about how we tested something? Want us to review a specific product or share your own experience? Get in touch here. We’d love to hear from you, and we’re always open to expanding our testing library with help from the CampyRoads community.