How we review

Every product on The Sifted is scored on a 0.0 to 9.9 scale. Never a 10, because nothing is perfect.

Our philosophy

Our scores reward the product, not the price tag. A $400 sneaker that delivers the same quality as a $250 competitor will score lower on value, not higher. Brand prestige doesn't earn points. Marketing budgets don't earn points. We care about materials, construction, durability, comfort, and performance — the things you actually experience when you own the product.

Quality Score

How good is this product on its own merits? We aggregate reviews from expert sources, Reddit discussions, and YouTube reviewers to assess materials, construction, durability, comfort, and performance. Each product is then reviewed by our editorial team to produce a final quality score.

Value Score

Is it worth what you pay? The value score adjusts quality for price. A budget shoe that punches above its weight class scores higher on value than a premium shoe that delivers what you'd expect at its price point. This is where lesser-known brands often shine — great quality without the brand markup.

Community Score

The average rating from real users on the same 0.0–9.9 scale. Sign in to rate any product and contribute to the community consensus. The more ratings a product has, the more reliable this score becomes.

Score guide

9.0+Exceptional — best in class

8.0+Excellent — highly recommended

7.0+Very good — solid choice

5.0+Average — gets the job done

3.0+Below average — consider alternatives

<3.0Poor — not recommended

Editorial independence

The Sifted earns commissions from qualifying purchases through affiliate links. Affiliate partnerships never influence our ratings. Every score is determined by product quality and value alone.