How we research products
Our buying guides are research-based. We have not tested the products ourselves unless a page says so explicitly. Here is how we build each shortlist.
- Define the job. Who is buying, for what space, climate and budget. A barrel sauna for a snowy cabin is a different decision from one for a small city garden.
- Collect specifications from official product pages and manuals: dimensions, materials, power, certifications, warranty and installation needs.
- Read independent evidence: published tests, standards bodies and patterns in long-term owner feedback.
- Check the total cost. Foundation, electrics, delivery, running costs and accessories often change the real price.
- Write the verdict: who each pick suits, its main drawback, and who should skip it.
What this method cannot tell you
Research can't replace living with a product for a season. Where owner feedback is thin or contradictory, we say so. If you own a product we cover, we'd like to hear how it has held up.
Prices and deals
Prices change daily, so we rarely print them. When we do, we name the date we checked. On deal pages we only list discounts we have seen on the retailer's page.