Cookie Policy
Last updated: June 2024
This Cookie Policy explains how TrailKettle ("we", "us", "our"), available at trailkettle.com, uses cookies and similar technologies such as localStorage when you visit our camping and hiking gear review site. It explains what these technologies are, why we use them, and what choices you have.
What Are Cookies and localStorage?
Cookies are small text files placed on your device by websites you visit. localStorage is a similar browser technology that allows a website to store small amounts of data directly in your browser, without expiring automatically like some cookies do. Both are commonly used to remember information about your visit or preferences.
How TrailKettle Uses These Technologies
We keep our use of cookies and localStorage deliberately minimal. Specifically, we use them for the following purposes:
- Consent Preference Storage (localStorage): When you first visit TrailKettle, a cookie consent banner appears asking whether you accept or decline non-essential cookies, such as analytics. Your choice (accepted or declined) is saved in your browser's localStorage. This allows us to remember your preference on future visits so you are not asked repeatedly. This storage is essential to the functioning of the consent mechanism itself and does not track your browsing activity.
- Analytics Cookies (only if accepted): If you click "Accept" on our consent banner, we load analytics cookies that help us understand how visitors use TrailKettle — for example, which gear reviews are most popular, how visitors navigate the site, and how long pages take to load. These cookies collect aggregated, non-identifying usage data that helps us improve our content and site performance. If you click "Decline", these analytics cookies are never loaded, and no analytics data is collected from your visit.
Third-Party Cookies
The analytics cookies described above are provided by a third-party analytics service, not by TrailKettle directly. These providers may set their own cookies on your device once you have given consent, in accordance with their own privacy and cookie policies. We do not control these third-party cookies directly, but we only permit them to load after you have explicitly accepted cookies via our consent banner. We do not use third-party advertising cookies, cross-site tracking pixels, or sell any data collected through analytics to third parties.
Essential vs. Non-Essential Storage
The localStorage entry that records your accept/decline decision is considered strictly necessary, as it enables the consent banner to function correctly and remember your choice. It contains no personal identifiers beyond your stored preference. Analytics cookies, by contrast, are non-essential and are only activated with your consent.
How to Withdraw or Change Your Consent
You are free to withdraw your consent to analytics cookies at any time. Since your preference is stored locally in your browser rather than on our servers, you can withdraw or reset it using any of the following methods:
- Clear your browser's cookies and site data (often found under your browser's "Privacy" or "Clear Browsing Data" settings) for trailkettle.com. This will remove both the consent record and any analytics cookies, and the consent banner will appear again on your next visit so you can make a fresh choice.
- Clear your browser's localStorage specifically for trailkettle.com through your browser's developer tools or site settings, if you prefer not to clear all cookies.
- Use your browser's private or incognito browsing mode, which does not retain cookies or localStorage after the session ends.
Once your stored consent preference is cleared, TrailKettle will treat you as a new visitor and display the consent banner again, allowing you to accept or decline analytics cookies afresh.
Managing Cookies Through Your Browser
Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings, including blocking all cookies, blocking third-party cookies only, or deleting cookies after each browsing session. Please note that blocking all cookies may affect the functionality of the consent banner itself, since it relies on localStorage to remember your choice.
Changes to This Cookie Policy
We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in the technologies we use or for legal and regulatory reasons. 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 any questions about this Cookie Policy or how TrailKettle uses cookies and localStorage, please reach out via the contact page at trailkettle.com. We're happy to help clarify how your data is handled.