Alright, so you’re asking about that adidas product testing stuff. Yeah, I’ve been through that whole thing.
Getting Started with the Program
First off, you gotta actually get into the program. It’s not like they just hand out free gear to anyone on the street. I remember I had to hunt down the application page, then fill out a whole bunch of questions. Seriously, they wanted to know everything: my shoe size, obviously, but also what kind of sports I do, how many hours a week I run, even what surfaces I usually run on. It felt like I was writing a novel about my feet and my workout habits.
Then, you just wait. And let me tell you, the waiting can take a while. I almost forgot I even applied. Then, one day, an email pops up. Boom. You’re in. Or maybe you’re not. It’s a bit of a lottery, I guess.
The Testing Process Itself
Once you’re selected for a test, they send you the product. Sometimes it’s a pair of shoes, sometimes apparel. The box arrives, you open it up. It’s usually a brand new product, sometimes it’s even stuff that isn’t out in stores yet, which is kinda cool. But it’s not just for keepsies and showing off. Nah, you gotta actually use it. And use it hard.
They give you specific instructions. Like, “wear these shoes for at least 30 miles a week for the next four weeks.” Or “use this jacket in rainy conditions and tell us how it holds up.” You really have to commit to putting the product through its paces. It’s not just wearing it to the grocery store.
And the feedback part? Oh man, the feedback. That’s the core of it. They send you these super detailed surveys. And I mean detailed. They’ll ask you about:
- The fit: Was it too tight? Too loose? True to size?
- The comfort: Did anything rub? Was the cushioning good? How did it feel after an hour? After three hours?
- The performance: Did it do what it was supposed to do? Did the shoes have good grip? Did the fabric breathe well?
- Durability: After a few weeks, how’s it holding up? Any signs of wear and tear?
You gotta be super honest. If something feels off, or if you just plain don’t like a feature, you have to say so. That’s the whole point. They’re not looking for people to just say everything is great. They want real, honest opinions to make their stuff better.
How I Got Dragged Into This
You’re probably wondering how I even got into this. It wasn’t like I was some pro athlete or a big shot influencer. Not even close. My journey into product testing was a bit weird, actually. I’d bought this pair of adidas running shorts a while back, and man, they just fell apart way too quickly. The stitching came undone after like, a month. I was pretty annoyed, you know? Paid good money for them.
So, I wrote this scathing review online. I was detailed. I even took pictures of the busted seams. I wasn’t expecting anything, just wanted to vent. Few days later, I get this email. Not from customer service offering a refund, but from someone in their product development or research team. They said they saw my review, appreciated the “thorough feedback” (I guess my ranting was thorough!), and asked if I’d be interested in testing products. I figured, why not? Maybe I could prevent other people from getting shoddy shorts. And, well, free gear is a perk, not gonna lie.
So, that’s how it started for me. From a grumpy customer to a product tester. It’s definitely an interesting experience. You get to see what goes on behind the scenes a little bit and give input that might actually shape a product. But it’s also work. You gotta be diligent with the testing and the reports. If you slack off, you’re probably not going to get invited back. So yeah, it’s a commitment, but pretty cool if you’re into that kind of thing.
