Help to shape the future of Alton's outdoor equipment.

Here at Alton, asking for feedback from our community has always been a part of how we operate.

In the early days, that looked like sharing early prototypes with friends and family, and actively seeking input from our customers. And over the years, we’ve seen time and time again that our community genuinely wants to help; every day we hear from people who have taken Alton gear on incredible adventures and want to share what they've learned.

In 2025, when our team expanded to include a dedicated Product Development Engineer, we began scaling up our design process and internal quality control standards. Long story short, we have been developing more products and testing them more rigorously – and need more input from our community as a result. 

The Gear Tester Program is an integral part of that. It gives us a systematic way to gather real-world feedback, while at the same time allowing us to reward the people who have been offering their time and expertise all along.

Unfortunately not. We intentionally keep the program small so that we can provide a high level of support and guidance. With that in mind, we're only able to accept up to 40 volunteers per intake each year.

The Alton Gear Tester program is designed to fit around your existing outdoor routine. Most tests involve using gear on a trip you were planning anyway.

Once a test is complete, we ask you to provide feedback about your experience. Typically, this involves responding to questions in a survey, providing some photos or video of the gear, and having a short follow up phone call with our Product Development Engineer if required.

Although the Alton Gear Tester program doesn't require a huge time commitment, we do want our volunteers to understand that if they take on a testing job, they aren't just using the gear – they're also committing to providing our team with detailed feedback within a specified timeframe.

Not at all. When a testing opportunity is posted, you simply put your hand up if it interests you and suits your availability. There's no obligation to volunteer for every job.

Testing opportunities will vary depending on the product and what we're trying to learn. In most cases, you'll be asked to test out a prototype or an existing item that we want to improve, and then share honest feedback about your experience using it.

Each gear test job listing we post in the private group clearly outlines what's involved and how you’ll be rewarded for contributing so that you always know what you’re getting into before you put your hand up. 

Sometimes. Each job listing specifies whether the gear is yours to keep, or if it needs to be returned to us or passed on to another tester. When shipping is required, we cover the cost.

The program runs for 12 months, commencing each year from mid-August. It is open to anyone aged 18 or over who is based in Australia or New Zealand. 

If you're located elsewhere in the world, you're still welcome to apply, as we'll add your application to a shortlist for consideration if and when we expand the program globally.

Participation in the program requires access to Facebook, as this is where we'll be coordinating all testing opportunities.

We understand it's not a platform everyone wants to be on, and it's something we're open to reconsidering as the program grows.

Not necessarily. We're not looking for seasoned expedition leaders or professional athletes, but we are looking for people who get outside regularly.

The more time you spend doing outdoor activities, the better placed you'll be to put our gear through its paces and give us the kind of feedback that's actually useful.

If outdoor adventures are already an important part of your life, you're exactly who we have in mind, regardless of your perceived experience level.

Send us an email at discover@altongoods.com with the subject line GEAR TESTER ENQUIRY. We'll be happy to help.