Brad Smith

I lead the household behind The Backyard Showdown, and I'm the last read on every verdict before it publishes. Twenty-two years in the military and a career flying helicopters set how I judge gear: methodically, skeptically, and with zero patience for marketing that doesn't survive contact with reality.

As reviewer, my job is to keep us honest. I check that owner ratings are real, sourced, and current, that the base behind a star count actually holds up, that recalls and safety issues are surfaced out loud, and that we've named both a winner and a skip instead of hiding behind 'they're all great.' If a call can't survive that review, it doesn't ship.

We test in Florida — full sun, salt air, and a pool that runs year round — so if a pick clears our backyard and my review, it will hold up just about anywhere.

• 96showdowns reviewed
• 8backyard categories
• 526products compared

How we pick winners, test gear, and keep it honest: our full methodology →