How We Test
Our editorial policy: how gear reviews and recommendations on Half Cent Hoop are researched, tested, and labeled.
Two kinds of recommendations
Every product recommendation on this site carries one of two labels, and the difference matters.
- Personally tested — someone on our end actually used the product: wore the shoes on court, trained with the equipment, or lived with the gear long enough to form a first-hand opinion. We only use this label when it is true, and the article says what the testing involved.
- Research-based — we have not used the product ourselves. The recommendation is built from spec analysis, verified buyer feedback, expert commentary, and comparisons with products we do know first-hand. We say so plainly.
What we look at
Basketball gear gets evaluated against the way it will actually be used: traction and cushioning for shoes, durability and fit for apparel, and practicality for training and recovery equipment. Because our readers shop in two countries, we also check availability and pricing in both the United States and Japan, and note when a product is hard to get in either market.
Independence
Some articles contain affiliate links, which can earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. Those links never decide a verdict. We do not accept payment for positive coverage, we do not present sponsored content as editorial, and criticism stays in an article even when a link sits next to it.
Corrections and updates
When products are updated, discontinued, or when we simply got something wrong, we revise the article and show an updated date. If you spot an error, contact us — we would rather fix it than defend it.