Best for Backpacking ("we," "us," or "BFB") respects your privacy. This Privacy Policy describes what information we collect when you use bestforbackpacking.com (the "Site"), how we use it, and the choices you have. By using the Site, you agree to the practices described here.
Who we are
Best for Backpacking is an independent, research-driven publication that produces backpacking gear reviews, comparisons, and buying guides. Editorial content is published under Brooke Wilder, the named editorial persona we publish our research under (not a real person), and is produced by synthesizing manufacturer specifications, independent lab tests, and long-term owner reports rather than personal field testing. The publication is operated from Chicago, Illinois, USA.
For privacy-related questions, contact us through our contact form.
Information we collect
We collect only what we need to operate the Site, deliver the newsletter you sign up for, and improve our coverage. We do not sell personal information.
| Category | Examples | When we collect it |
|---|---|---|
| Information you provide | Email address (newsletter), message contents (contact) | When you submit a form or email us |
| Automatically collected | IP address (often anonymized), browser, OS, pages viewed, referrer, device class | Every page request, via hosting + analytics |
| Cookies & similar tech | Session, analytics, affiliate-attribution cookies | While you browse the Site (see cookie classification) |
We do not collect financial information, government IDs, precise geolocation, biometrics, or content you write in third-party comment systems.
Cookies and similar technologies
The Site uses three classes of cookies. None are used to build behavioral advertising profiles.
| Class | Purpose | Examples | Set by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strictly necessary | Site functionality (newsletter sign-up, theme preference) | ghost-members-ssr, theme |
BFB / Ghost |
| Analytics | Aggregated traffic patterns to improve editorial coverage | _ga or equivalent |
Analytics provider |
| Affiliate attribution | Credits qualifying purchases back to BFB after a click | Retailer-specific (e.g., aip for Amazon) |
Third-party retailer |
You can disable cookies in your browser settings. Strictly-necessary cookies cannot be disabled without breaking the Site; analytics and affiliate cookies can be blocked without affecting your access to content.
How we use your information
We use collected information to:
- Deliver, maintain, and improve the Site and its content
- Send the newsletter you subscribed to (and only that)
- Respond to your messages and corrections
- Analyze aggregate usage patterns to improve editorial coverage
- Comply with legal obligations
We do not sell your personal information to third parties. We also do not "share" personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising as defined by the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA).
Affiliate links
The Site contains affiliate links, links to third-party retailers (such as REI, Amazon, and Backcountry) that, when clicked and followed by a qualifying purchase, may pay us a commission. Affiliate links never change the price you pay and are flagged with rel="nofollow sponsored" on every page. For full details on how we use affiliate links and how this affects editorial independence, see our Affiliate Disclosure.
When you click an affiliate link, the destination retailer's own privacy policy governs your visit. We do not control or have visibility into the information third-party retailers collect about you after you leave the Site.
Third-party services we use
The Site relies on the third-party services below. Each operates under its own privacy policy.
| Service | Role | Data shared |
|---|---|---|
| Ghost (Ghost Foundation) | Content management + newsletter delivery | Newsletter email, message contents |
| Email delivery provider | Newsletter sending infrastructure | Email + send metadata |
| Analytics provider | Aggregated traffic measurement | IP (anonymized), browser, page views |
| Affiliate retailers (REI, Amazon, Backcountry, etc.) | Commission tracking on outbound clicks | Click-through events, retailer cookie ID |
| Hosting provider | Server infrastructure | Connection logs, IP |
We will update this list as services change. If you have questions about a specific provider, contact us.
How our editorial content is produced
Editorial content on the Site is published under "Brooke Wilder," our named editorial persona (not a real person), and is produced by synthesizing sources rather than personal field testing. We disclose this on every author page, in our About page, and on Brooke's social media profiles. Recommendations are derived exclusively from publicly available sources, manufacturer specifications, independent lab tests, long-term owner reports, and third-party reviews, not from personal field testing.
Research and synthesis can still produce inaccuracies. We work to flag the limits of our evidence on every recommendation. If you spot a factual error, please contact us through our contact form and we will correct it.
Your privacy rights
Depending on where you live, you have additional rights under state or national privacy law. We treat the rights below as available to every reader regardless of jurisdiction, submit a request and we will honor it within the time limits below.
| Right | What it means | Response time |
|---|---|---|
| Access | Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you | Within 30 days |
| Correction | Request correction of inaccurate information | Within 30 days |
| Deletion | Request deletion of your information (we keep only what we legally must) | Within 30 days |
| Opt-out of "sale"/"sharing" | Not applicable, we don't sell or share personal information | N/A |
| Unsubscribe | Stop receiving the newsletter | Immediate; every email has a one-click link |
| Portability | Receive your information in a machine-readable format | Within 30 days |
To exercise these rights, contact us through our contact form with "Privacy request" in your message and tell us what you'd like us to do. We do not require a verified account, and we will reasonably verify your identity from the details you provide.
State-specific notes
| Jurisdiction | Notice |
|---|---|
| California (CCPA / CPRA) | We do not sell or share personal information. You have the rights listed above. We do not use "sensitive personal information" as defined by CPRA §1798.140(ae). |
| Virginia (VCDPA) | Rights apply only to "consumers" as defined; we treat all readers the same. |
| Colorado (CPA), Connecticut (CTDPA), Utah (UCPA) | Same as Virginia, universal treatment. |
| EU/EEA, UK (GDPR / UK GDPR) | Legal basis for processing is legitimate interest (analytics, fraud prevention) and consent (newsletter). You may withdraw consent at any time. |
Data retention
We keep information for the shortest period that lets us do our job and meet our legal obligations.
| Data | Retention period | Deletion trigger |
|---|---|---|
| Newsletter subscriber email | Until you unsubscribe or request deletion | Unsubscribe click or email request |
| Message contents (contact emails) | As needed to respond + 12 months after | Manual review and archival |
| Analytics data | 14–26 months (provider default) | Provider automatic; anonymized throughout |
| Server logs | 30 days | Hosting provider automatic |
Children's privacy
The Site is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe we have collected such information, contact us and we will delete it. We comply with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA, 15 U.S.C. §§6501–6506).
Security
We take reasonable measures to protect your information, including HTTPS in transit, restricted access controls on our backend, and short retention periods. No system is perfectly secure; we cannot guarantee absolute security of information transmitted to or stored on the Site. If we ever experience a breach involving personal information, we will notify affected users in accordance with applicable law.
International transfers
The Site is operated from the United States. If you access the Site from outside the U.S., you consent to your information being transferred to and processed in the U.S., where data-protection laws may differ from those of your country. For EU/EEA/UK residents, we rely on Standard Contractual Clauses with our third-party processors where required.
Do Not Track and global privacy signals
We honor the Global Privacy Control (GPC) browser signal as an opt-out request under California law. Because we do not sell or share personal information, the GPC signal does not change our processing, it is simply respected as a recorded opt-out preference.
Changes to this policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The "Last updated" date at the top of the page reflects the most recent revision. Material changes, meaning changes that expand the categories of data we collect, the purposes we use it for, or the third parties we share it with, will be noted on the Site at least 14 days before they take effect, and via the newsletter.
Contact
For privacy questions, requests, or complaints, use our contact form, this is the fastest path to a response.
For postal correspondence:
Best for Backpacking
1 E Erie St
Suite 525
Chicago, IL 60611
If you are an EU/EEA/UK resident and believe we are processing your data unlawfully, you may also lodge a complaint with your local data-protection authority. A list is available at edpb.europa.eu/about-edpb/board/members_en.