Know what you are reading

Owner notes
Firsthand observations contributed by someone who owns and uses the equipment. We identify the cooking job and separate personal preference from a measured result.
Buying guide
Features and questions that help you choose. Inclusion in a guide does not mean we have used or endorsed every product in that category.
Manufacturer information
Published specifications and instructions attributed to the maker. A specification is not a result from our own testing.

A little more character than stars

The tomahawk scale

A scored review must meet the evidence requirements below. Owner notes and researched buying guides stay unscored until they meet that standard. We do not award tomahawks from a product listing or other shoppers' reviews.

  1. 1 tomahawk

    Would leave it on the shelf

    Significant problems for the job being reviewed.

  2. 2 tomahawks

    Has a narrow place

    Useful in limited circumstances, with substantial tradeoffs.

  3. 3 tomahawks

    Gets supper done

    Does the intended job, with compromises worth knowing.

  4. 4 tomahawks

    Earns a regular spot

    A strong choice for the stated use, with manageable drawbacks.

  5. 5 tomahawks

    Would buy it again

    An exceptional fit that earns a clear recommendation after repeated use.

What earns a score?

A scored review needs an identified model, repeated use, and specific notes about results, ease of use, cleanup, durability observed so far, and value at the price considered. It should explain who the product suits and where a different choice makes more sense.

The verdict belongs to the product and the job described. A smoker that makes a long pork cook easier is answering a different question from a kettle used for charcoal burgers.

A model we cannot identify stays unscored. We also leave a product unscored when the observations are too limited to support a verdict. No score is better than a guess dressed up as a rating.

Some product links are Amazon affiliate links. We may earn a commission from qualifying purchases, without increasing the price you pay. A commission does not turn a researched buying guide into a product test or earn a product a score. Read our disclosure page for the relationship.

Start with the grill notes, compare cooking accessories, or browse the gear categories.