I've been thinking a lot about how we all likely desire something a little different from reviews. Radical footage, technical details, honest assessments, critical feedback, average Joe reports. There's a wide spectrum of information that can be included.
Personally, I lean hard on technical elements. Shapes, dimensions, setup details. Leaning on the numbers at the start strips away the marketing hype and gives me something objective to solidify my thought on. I also put a lot of value in review duration. Ideally 500 miles (800km) for any comprehensive review. 1000 miles (1600km) is even better as I think longer reviews reveal durability, as well as the little quirks and nuanced tricks that can only be found with time on foil in a variety of conditions.
I put less value in ride footage. I want to know the riders dims and style but beyond that I rarely see meaningful changes in ride footage from one video to the next of the same foiler.
I'm curious where others land. What makes a review truly valuable to you, and what is just noise?
Select to expand quoteBWalnut said..
I've been thinking a lot about how we all likely desire something a little different from reviews. Radical footage, technical details, honest assessments, critical feedback, average Joe reports. There's a wide spectrum of information that can be included.
Personally, I lean hard on technical elements. Shapes, dimensions, setup details. Leaning on the numbers at the start strips away the marketing hype and gives me something objective to solidify my thought on. I also put a lot of value in review duration. Ideally 500 miles (800km) for any comprehensive review. 1000 miles (1600km) is even better as I think longer reviews reveal durability, as well as the little quirks and nuanced tricks that can only be found with time on foil in a variety of conditions.
I put less value in ride footage. I want to know the riders dims and style but beyond that I rarely see meaningful changes in ride footage from one video to the next of the same foiler.
I'm curious where others land. What makes a review truly valuable to you, and what is just noise?
I'm similar to you, like facts. Real world experience of good and bad. less use of "awesome" " transforming" " best ever" " game changer"
there are always things that can be improved and not minor things like colour ( unless a PW).
Comparing to other products in same ball park, see how they stack up. transparency, what is the hidden hand giving.
A 'perfect' review for me specifically, would be one that totally validates my purchases, or would have you rubbish any gear that I don't have (or can't afford) 
You've always provided balanced reviews Brian, so keep it up!
Similar interests to you...and I would add providing ample context, including reviewer's experience, skill level, location...you guys in the gorge live in a different world than most of us
specs of the product,Rider level,rider weight, conditions. How it feels ans how it compared to similar products.
What to like and what not to like.
riding footage can help to get a clue about how the tester findings are relevant to me.
For example: I,m 51 y old,188x98kg and riding in slow but steep wind generated waves with plenty of current. 6-7km current in the same direction as the wind is quite normall here.
An review of a 55kg tester in the prime of here life rider in clean long period pacific swell is fun to watch but has an value of absolute zero to me.
Besides that: every presentation gets better when done in a (bit tiny) bikini. 
So can,t wait for your next vid Brian
A bit cold to wear bikinis (today was 2 degrees celsius, water about 5), but what would be great for reviews is to have a couple of people testing it and sharing their opinion.
Fully agree with Jeroensurf about the value of 60kg hyperskilled teamriders sharing their stoke about their sponsor newest toy (for average joe's like myself). I used to like Kitechino and Tucker (mackiteboarding) for their reviews.
While I don't get much from all the on water footage, esp. with his typical camera view, I think MeonAsh on Wing Tips does a nice job on most of the main things I'm looking for and I find myself giving his input more weight than most...
...hmmm...a poll for favorite reviewer?
