Testing, Testing…

Project 365, Day 178/365

A few jobs ago, I regularly would do product head-to-head testing. Dry shampoos. Natural deodorant. Natural toothpaste. Linen sheets. What pillow is best for which type of sleeper. You know…that kind of thing. I loved it. Sometimes I was the only tester, sometimes I collected a panel of testers to help when it felt necessary.

Today, I found myself going down a rabbit hole of interview lists about the best gluten-free bread. I was making a grocery list and this isn’t a territory I’m familiar with really. I REALLY want to enjoy this sandwich I’ve been craving and I don’t want the bread I buy on a whim to ruin the experience. Much later on in the day, I was thinking about bar shampoos, and how I’ve been meaning to try one but felt self-pressure to pick the best one after reading reviews to not pick a dud. And then I had a thought: what if I just do what I used to do…for this blog? Pick a thing I want to test or you want me to test, pick up a handful of options, give them a go, and then report back my findings.

So…that’s exactly what I plan on doing.

I have a few things in mind to put to the test (plastic-free bar shampoo, for instance) first, but I’d love to hear from you: what things (or even brands) do you have an interest in seeing me test? It can be food items, beauty products, clothing, wellness, home items, honestly…I’m down for whatever. I spend so much time on the internet reading articles pitting things against each other to make an informed decision as a buyer that I know how helpful these can be.

While I’ll likely never be as thorough as a site like Wirecutter, for instance, that has full teams and budgets dedicated to this type of thing, I’ll do me best within what I feel like I can spend and how much time I can devote to it. In theory, it’s fun. In practice, it’s a lot of work, but work I know is worth it both for you readers and also for myself.

So, have at it in the comments. Throw out suggestions. Let me do the testing for you, so that you can go forth and buy something confidently (that is, if you trust me). Can’t wait to hear what you come up with.

See you tomorrow, FOAS.