Privacy Policy

At Ridgeback Athletics, your privacy matters to us. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect when you visit ridgebackathletics.com, how we use it, and the choices you have. By using our site, you agree to the practices described below. This policy was last updated in 2026.

Who We Are

Ridgeback Athletics is an independent sports content and product-comparison website. We publish reviews, guides, and recommendations for athletic gear, apparel, and fitness equipment. As an affiliate site, we may earn a commission when you click certain links and make a purchase on a third-party retailer's website. We are the data controller responsible for the personal information collected through this site.

Cookies and Similar Technologies

Cookies are small text files stored on your device that help websites function and remember your preferences. We use several categories of cookies, described below. You can control or disable cookies at any time through your browser settings or our cookie consent banner.

Essential Cookies

These cookies are strictly necessary for the site to work. They enable core functions such as page navigation, security, and remembering your cookie preferences. The site cannot function properly without them, so they do not require your consent.

Analytics Cookies

With your consent, we use analytics cookies to understand how visitors interact with our content. This helps us improve our reviews, layout, and overall experience. These cookies collect aggregated information such as:

Pages you visit and time spent on each page
How you arrived at our site (for example, a search engine or referral link)
General interaction patterns, such as scrolling and clicks

Affiliate Cookies

When you click an affiliate link on our site, our retail and network partners may place a cookie on your device. This allows them to attribute a resulting purchase to Ridgeback Athletics so we can receive a commission. These cookies typically record:

The date and time you clicked the affiliate link
The referring page on our site
A unique identifier used to credit qualifying purchases

Affiliate cookies are set and managed by our third-party partners in accordance with their own privacy policies. We recommend reviewing the privacy notices of any retailer you visit through our links.

Usage Data

We automatically collect certain usage data when you browse our site. This information is used in aggregate to monitor performance, diagnose technical issues, and improve our content. Usage data may include:

Pages and products viewed and search terms used on our site
Referral sources and outbound link clicks
Date, time, and duration of your visit

Device and Technical Information

To deliver our pages correctly and keep the site secure, we may collect technical details about the device you use to access ridgebackathletics.com. This may include:

Browser type and version
Operating system and device type (desktop, tablet, or mobile)
Screen resolution and language preferences
Approximate location derived from your IP address (country or region level)

Newsletter and Email Collection

Signing up for our newsletter is entirely optional. If you choose to subscribe, we will ask for your email address and rely on your explicit consent to send you sports content, product recommendations, and occasional promotional updates. We will never add you to our mailing list without your consent.

You can withdraw your consent and unsubscribe at any time by clicking the "unsubscribe" link in any email we send, or by contacting us directly. Once you unsubscribe, we will stop sending marketing emails and remove your address from our active mailing list.

How We Use Your Information

We use the information described above for the following purposes:

To operate, maintain, and secure our website
To analyze traffic and improve our content and user experience
To attribute qualifying affiliate purchases and receive commissions
To send our newsletter to subscribers who have opted in
To comply with legal obligations and enforce our terms

We Do Not Sell Your Personal Data

Ridgeback Athletics does not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties. We do not exchange your data for money or other valuable consideration. Information is shared only with the service providers and affiliate partners necessary to operate our site, and only to the extent described in this policy.

Your Rights Under GDPR

If you are located in the European Economic Area or the United Kingdom, you have rights over your personal data under the General Data Protection Regulation, including:

The right to access the personal data we hold about you
The right to request correction of inaccurate data
The right to request deletion of your data ("right to be forgotten")
The right to restrict or object to certain processing
The right to data portability
The right to withdraw consent at any time, without affecting prior lawful processing
The right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority

Your Rights Under CCPA

If you are a California resident, the California Consumer Privacy Act grants you additional rights, including:

The right to know what personal information we collect and how it is used
The right to request deletion of your personal information
The right to opt out of the "sale" of personal information — though, as noted above, we do not sell your data
The right not to receive discriminatory treatment for exercising your privacy rights

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details below. We will respond to verified requests within the timeframes required by applicable law.

Data Retention

We retain personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes described in this policy or to comply with legal requirements. Newsletter subscriber data is kept until you unsubscribe, and usage and analytics data is retained in aggregated form for a limited period.

Third-Party Links

Our site contains links to third-party retailers and websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of these external sites. Once you leave ridgebackathletics.com, this Privacy Policy no longer applies, and we encourage you to read the privacy policy of every website you visit.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal obligations. Any updates will be posted on this page with a revised effective date. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.

Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to exercise your privacy rights, please contact us at privacy@ridgebackathletics.com. We are committed to resolving any concerns about your personal information.