Cookie Policy

Last updated: 2024-06-01

PocketFlint ("we", "us", "our") uses a small number of cookies and browser storage technologies to run pocketflint.com smoothly and, where you allow it, to understand how our EDC and survival gear reviews are being read. This page explains exactly what we use, why we use it, and how you can control or withdraw your consent at any time.

What Are Cookies and Local Storage?

Cookies are small text files placed on your device by websites you visit. Local storage (specifically localStorage) is a similar browser technology that lets a site save small pieces of data on your device without an expiration date, until it is manually cleared. We use both, in a limited and privacy-conscious way, as described below.

Our Consent Banner and localStorage

When you first visit PocketFlint, a cookie consent banner appears asking whether you accept or decline non-essential cookies (analytics). Your response is saved directly in your browser's localStorage, not in a tracking cookie. This lets us remember your preference on future visits so the banner doesn't reappear every time.

• Purpose: to remember whether you have accepted or declined analytics cookies.
• Type: browser localStorage entry, not sent to any server automatically.
• Duration: persists until you clear your browser storage or change your choice.
• Necessity: this is considered strictly necessary functionality, as it is required to honor your cookie preference.

Analytics Cookies (Only If You Accept)

If you click "Accept" on our consent banner, we load a privacy-respecting analytics tool that helps us understand which reviews, gear comparisons, and buying guides are useful to readers. This tool may set cookies to distinguish visitors and sessions.

• Purpose: aggregate, anonymized statistics on page views, popular articles (e.g., knife reviews, bug-out bag guides, fire-starting kit comparisons), and general traffic trends.
• Trigger: only set after you explicitly accept cookies via the banner. If you decline, these cookies are never loaded.
• Data shared: anonymized or pseudonymized usage data may be processed by our third-party analytics provider on our behalf.
• Duration: varies by provider, typically between 24 hours and 24 months for session and visitor identification purposes.

Third-Party Cookies

Our analytics provider is a third party that may set its own cookies once you have accepted analytics on our site. We do not control these cookies directly; they are governed by the analytics provider's own privacy and cookie practices. We choose providers who emphasize minimal data collection and do not use this data to build cross-site advertising profiles for PocketFlint visitors.

We do not currently use third-party advertising cookies, retargeting pixels, or social media tracking widgets on PocketFlint.

What We Don't Do

• We do not sell your data to advertisers.
• We do not use cookies to build a personal advertising profile of you.
• We do not track you across other, unrelated websites.
• We do not load analytics scripts before you have made a choice on the consent banner.

How to Withdraw or Change Your Consent

Because your cookie preference is stored in your browser's localStorage rather than a long-lived tracking cookie, the simplest way to withdraw or change your consent is to clear your browser's site data for pocketflint.com. This will remove the stored preference and cause the consent banner to appear again on your next visit, letting you make a fresh choice.

• Chrome/Edge: Settings → Privacy and security → Site settings → View permissions and data stored across sites → search pocketflint.com → Clear data.
• Firefox: Settings → Privacy & Security → Cookies and Site Data → Manage Data → search pocketflint.com → Remove Selected.
• Safari: Preferences → Privacy → Manage Website Data → search pocketflint.com → Remove.
• Mobile browsers: generally found under browser Settings → Privacy → Clear Browsing Data, with an option to specify a particular site.

Alternatively, most browsers allow you to block cookies and site storage globally or on a per-site basis through their privacy settings. Blocking storage entirely may cause the consent banner to reappear on every visit, since we cannot remember your prior choice without it.

Do Not Track Signals

Some browsers offer a "Do Not Track" (DNT) signal. There is currently no unified industry standard for how sites should respond to DNT, so PocketFlint does not automatically alter its behavior based on this signal. Instead, we rely on the explicit accept/decline choice made through our consent banner.

Changes to This Cookie Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in the tools we use or applicable regulations. Any updates will be posted on this page with a revised "Last updated" date. We encourage you to review this page periodically.

Contact Us

If you have questions about this Cookie Policy or how PocketFlint handles cookies and local storage, please reach out to us through the contact page listed on pocketflint.com.