Who writes the showdowns

Every verdict on this site has a name behind it. Here's who does the homework, how we're qualified to call it, and where to find everything each of us has written.

• The Smith FamilyFounders & lead testers · 96 showdownsFlorida homeowners — five kids, a dog, and a backyard we use hard — led by a 22-year military veteran. We read every credible expert review and real owner rating, surface recalls honestly, and never run fake reviews.
• Brad SmithReviewer & household lead · 0 showdownsA 22-year U.S. military veteran and helicopter pilot who leads the household and signs off on every showdown. I read the owner-rating base, check the safety and recall record, and make sure each verdict names a real winner — and an honest skip.