Every gear review on Option Gray is based on firsthand use. Here’s exactly how that works.
Gear on this site is tested by our team. Lead reviewer is Cody M. — a federal law enforcement veteran who spent 12 years in federal service before transitioning to the public sector. He’s a certified firearms instructor and tactics instructor, consults EP teams, and remains active in physical security, firearms training, and tactics. Gear we review gets used in the field and in daily life — not just professionally, but personally. If it doesn’t hold up in both contexts, it doesn’t get recommended.
I only review gear I’ve actually carried or used. I don’t accept review units in exchange for guaranteed positive coverage. If a manufacturer sends something and it doesn’t hold up, I say so. If I buy something with my own money and it fails, that goes in the review too.
Selection criteria for review:
Most items I review get a minimum of 30 days of real use before I write about them. For EDC gear — knives, flashlights, wallets, multitools — that means daily carry in actual conditions. For preparedness gear, it means real deployment in training or field environments.
I don’t test gear on a desk and write a review. I carry it, use it, stress it, and note what works and what doesn’t under actual conditions.
Some links in reviews are affiliate links. This means I may earn a commission if you purchase through them. Affiliate relationships do not influence ratings or recommendations. If I wouldn’t carry it, I don’t link it. Full disclosure here →
If you find an error in a review or believe something I’ve written is factually wrong, contact us. I update reviews when new information warrants it and I note when a product has changed significantly since the original review.