How we rank
Every ranking here follows the same method. Nothing on this page changes because a retailer pays us.
The score
Each product gets an editorial score out of 10. It is a weighted average of six criteria. The weights are points, and they add up to 10.
- Value for money: 2.5 points
- Design: 2 points
- Versatility: 1.5 points
- Sizing and options: 1.5 points
- Customer feedback: 1.5 points, used only where it is reliable and the retailer permits it
- Product information quality: 1 point
Each criterion is scored from 0 to 10, multiplied by its weight, added up, and divided by the total weight of the criteria we could score. When customer feedback is not available, the score is worked out from the other five, so a missing input does not lower it.
A worked example with made-up numbers
Suppose a product scores 8 for design, 7 for value, 7 for versatility, 6 for sizing and 8 for information quality, with no customer feedback data. The weighted total is 16 + 17.5 + 10.5 + 9 + 8 = 61. The weights we used add up to 8.5, so the score is 61 divided by 8.5, which is 7.2.
What the score means
- 9 to 10: outstanding in almost every criterion.
- 8 to 8.9: strong, with small trade-offs.
- 7 to 7.9: good, with clear trade-offs that the review names.
- 6 to 6.9: acceptable for a specific need.
- Below 6: we do not rank it.
How we choose products
We shortlist products that are in stock at a retailer we link to and that have enough information to assess. Each ranking says how many products we reviewed and how many made the list.
Price
We do not show prices on this site. Retailer prices change often, so we send you to the retailer’s own page, where the current price and any offer are shown. Buttons that read “Check price” open that page. Price is still part of how we judge value, but it is never listed here.
Retailer ratings
The retailer’s star rating is shown separately from our score and is always labelled with the retailer’s name. We do not average the two.
Availability
Stock and sizes change quickly. We link to the retailer so you can confirm before you buy.
Commission
Some links are affiliate links, so we may earn a commission when you buy. Commission is not an input to the score or to the order of any list. See the affiliate disclosure.