★ THE GEAR PILLAR · TESTED ON THE MAT
The honest gear guide.
Every product we recommend was tested on the mat — by athletes, by coaches, and by parents who have paid full price for the wrong thing once too often. We never take sponsored money. Some links earn a small commission.
ALL ROUNDUPS · BY CATEGORY
Everything we've tested.
★ MOST READ
CHEER SHOES · 2026
The only cheer shoes worth your money in 2026
14 pairs tested. 6 months. Four picks, two to avoid.
Lauren K. · 12 min · Updated May 2026
GYM BAGS · 2026
The best cheer bags that actually survive a full season
Tested across Level 2–5 athletes. Ranked by durability, fit, and mat-friendliness.
Lauren K. · 8 min · May 2026
PRACTICE WEAR · 2026
Practice shorts that don't roll up — a definitive ranking
Seven brands, one tumbling track, a very opinionated coach.
Lauren K. · 6 min · Apr 2026
BOWS · 2026
The cheer bow brands worth buying (and two to skip entirely)
Price, hold-strength, and whether they survive a full comp day.
Lauren K. · 7 min · Mar 2026
On affiliate links: Some links on this page earn us a small commission if you buy through them — at no extra cost to you. We only list products we'd actually recommend to a friend. Our verdicts are never influenced by commissions. Products we rate "Skip" sometimes earn more than ones we rate "Buy." That's the point.