In This Article View All In This Article Our Process Testing in The Lab Testing At Home Why Trust Shape How We Make Money News & Deals Safety Contact Us Product Reviews and Recommendations Our mission at Shape is to provide you with thorough and unbiased information to help you get—and stay—active, healthy, and feeling like your best self. Whether we're researching the best protein powders, testing wireless headphones in our state-of-the-art lab, or putting running shoes through their paces out in the real world, our reviews are rooted in the expertise of our testers, editors, and contributing board of advisors. While we may receive affiliate commissions on products purchased through our content, our recommendations are purely editorial and based on thorough research, expert guidance, and hands-on experience. Even when brands send us products for editorial consideration, our thoughts and opinions are always our own. We're here to offer inspiration from a trusted voice so that you can make informed buying decisions. Our Process Before we test any product, our team of writers and editors exhaustively research the marketplace and interview industry experts—including certified trainers, physical therapists, board-certified physicians and dermatologists, and registered dietitians—to get guidance on what to look for and how to evaluate it. Then, we develop a detailed testing methodology to help us rate the product based on attributes like ease of setup, value, durability, performance, and more. Next, we come up with a selection of products for each test, making certain that they cover a range of retailers, prices, user reviews, and more. Our jobs require us to spend a lot of time evaluating products, and we want to pass along some expert knowledge to you. We also know that everyone has their unique preferences and tastes—and budgets, too—so we make sure that our pages offer something for everyone, and always consider value when making recommendations. While we may receive some products for free, we purchase the vast majority of the products that we test. In addition to the objective testing results, we also weigh qualitative insights: Does a bike cushion prevent achy sit bones even after the most challenging ride? Does a particular pair of sneakers provide enough cushioning and support if you're training for a long-distance race? We take it upon ourselves to editorialize the performance data to provide easy-to-understand reasons you can trust our recommendations. We highlight the pros and cons of a product so you can weigh the essential details against your lifestyle, needs, and budget. Testing in The Lab The Lab—located in New York City—has over 5,500 square feet of testing space and two test kitchens, where we can test everything from treadmills to sports bras side by side to see how they compare. During each test, we capture the unboxing, setup, and tester experience through photos, videos, and written insights to provide you with the most comprehensive and behind-the-scenes look at how the products performed during our tests. Our editors, writers, and producers test products under the guidance of trained professionals and experts using standardized methodologies. And we get creative with our tests, too. When testing adjustable dumbbells, we performed drop tests on exercise mats, hardwood floors, and cement slabs to determine how well they held up indoors and outside. Testing At Home We recognize that not every product lends itself to testing in The Lab; this is where real-world testing comes in. In their own homes, our testers vet things like delivery and setup and monitor how different products hold up over time. Does a hair growth serum really work? Do the belts on an under-$100 treadmill maintain their traction after six months? Does the most buzzed-about leggings lose its compression, elasticity, or opacity with repeated washing? Our at-home testing process involves editors, writers, and experts following the same detailed methodologies we use in The Lab. They fill out surveys rating each product for key attributes, provide helpful insights on each product, and capture photos and videos of how the products perform in real-life. Why Trust Shape At Shape, wellness is for all. Whether you are working toward a specific fitness goal or just want to feel better and have more energy, our team provides research and testing-backed product recommendations to meet you wherever you are in your health journey. We are committed to the quality and trustworthiness of our content. Each article features a byline with the name, a brief author bio, and a link to more information about those who contributed to that piece. The date indicates when the piece was most recently updated with new information. Some articles also have a tagline at the end to provide additional information on research or authorship. Before we test products, we read the latest studies on product safety and interview experts (including doctors, certified physical trainers, dermatologists, registered dietitians, and more) for best practices, frequently asked questions, and the most important things to look for in a given product. Our writers and editors are also experts in their own right. We are committed to ensuring that our content reflects the diversity of our audience. To do this, we make a point to research brands and products founded by people who identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) and other minority groups whenever possible. Click here to read our full commitment to diversity and anti-racism. Every article is fact-checked for accuracy before it is published. However, you should consult your health and wellness care providers to determine if a specific product—especially a food, supplement, or device—is right for you. Read more about our editorial process and our core values. After we publish an article, we don't just forget about it. The Shape team is constantly working to keep our recommendations fresh, accurate, and helpful. We also know how frustrating it can be to do your research on a product only to add it to your cart and see that it's out of stock. We try to mitigate this by having dedicated editors check availability daily to provide you with the best user experience possible. How We Make Money We receive an affiliate commission on some, but not all, of the products we recommend—but only if you decide to click through to the retailer's site and make a purchase. We only recommend trusted retailers with a proven track record for service and dependability. News & Deals In today's world, it's hard to know what a real deal is. That's why we scour the internet to provide you with the biggest discounts we see in our research and alert you when your favorite brands offer discounts and price cuts. We work around the clock on Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Prime Day to ensure you get the biggest bang for your buck on the best sale days. Our shopping experts write about the latest product launches, sales, and sell-outs. We do our best to keep you informed when a celebrity-loved pair of Brooks running shoes is back in stock or when we spy Carrie Underwood with a chic water bottle. We stay up-to-date on the latest health and wellness-focused news trends, so you can tell the difference between an innovation and a fad and decide whether a product is worth your money. Our writers live and breathe products, working with our product testers and The Lab to share their favorites. In addition to focusing on sales and deals, our team tests products and writes about their experience firsthand—from delivery to a year's worth of usage. Safety While we thoroughly research everything we review, test, and recommend, occasionally, certain products may be subject to recalls or revised use recommendations. We do our best to regularly update our content to reflect any official announcements from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). We urge you to monitor information related to items you purchase. Contact Us If you have questions, comments, or opinions you'd like to share with our team of editors, please feel free to email us at commercefeedback@dotdash.com.