How TrailCache makes money — and how that affects what you read
TrailCache is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
In plain English: when you click a “View on Amazon” link on this site and buy something, Amazon pays us a small commission. You don’t pay anything extra — Amazon’s price is identical whether you came through TrailCache or typed the URL yourself.
We may also work with other affiliate programs over time (REI, Backcountry, Patagonia, Osprey, and similar outdoor retailers, as those networks admit us). Any time a link earns us a commission, it works the same way: small commission to us, same price to you.
What this does not mean
- It does not mean we recommend gear because it pays us. Every product reviewed on this site is something I’d actually carry. If I tested it and didn’t like it, I either say so plainly or don’t write about it.
- It does not mean a brand can pay to be reviewed. We don’t accept sponsored posts, paid placements, or gear in exchange for positive coverage. Brands that have asked have been told no.
- It does not mean the writing is AI-generated SEO filler. The trip stories — the Tetons, Yellowstone, the PNW, Acatenango in Guatemala, Cherry Springs, the Appalachian Trail — are real, and the gear opinions come from actual use.
How to support TrailCache without spending an extra cent
If you’re going to buy a piece of outdoor gear anyway, and a review here helped you decide, click through one of our links before you buy. Amazon’s price doesn’t change, and that small commission keeps the site running, the reviews independent, and the lights on — no paywall, no sponsored content, no fluff.
Questions about a specific review or recommendation? Get in touch.
— Brandon, TrailCache.com