Adidas product testing is a pretty cool gig, but not everyone is aware that the program exists.

If you’re a fan of Adidas and want to be part of the brand’s history, participate in this program and get first dibs (and your voice heard) whenever the company is about to launch a new product.

You aren’t going to get paid unfortunately, but you can try out some new products before they hit the shelves. Even cooler, your feedback can shape the direction Adidas goes in the future.

Is Adidas Product Testing Legit?

The Adidas Product Testing program is a legitimate, in-house program. It was started in 2015 and has continued to this day.

Before this program was created, Adidas relied on third-party consumer panels. Meaning, the company outsourced the entire process – from getting focus group participants to testing the products, and up to getting feedback.

Adidas figured that consumer panel testing isn’t an accurate way to get helpful reviews from would-be consumers. This is because products were just “inspected” and tried during the focus group dates, but not brought home for extensive testing.

What is Adidas Product Testing?

Adidas was founded on Adi Dassler’s principles of “Listen, Test, Modify” with athletes of all kinds. Testing its products is how Adidas develops the most technically advanced products available today.

But Adidas doesn’t just seek professional athletes as testers. The company also searches for ordinary citizens like you and me to join the testing process and lend their voices to the production and quality assurance stages.

Approved testers can get free shoes, specialty sportswear apparel, and other Adidas gears that have not yet been launched in stores. The items tested are new designs and testers would have to use them for a given testing period.

How to Become an Adidas Product Tester

Don’t worry, you don’t need to be a pro athlete to become a product tester for Adidas. However, the company wants someone who:

• Is at least 18 years old
• Lives in the United States (or Europe),
• Has internet access and a valid e-mail address,
• Is passionate about sports, fashion, and the Adidas brand,
• Can read and write in the English language
• Is willing to provide body measurements

Testers are not allowed to test competitor products while participating in the Adidas testing.

They’re also not allowed to share any information related to the product you are testing, even on social media, personal messaging, or any other form of communication.

Of course, testers must also fill out the given survey and submit it to Adidas on time.

Adidas Product Testing Process

The application process is pretty straightforward, but before you get your hopes up, you need to understand that every Adidas item being tested has a very particular target market.

The company would pick you based on characteristics such as shoe/apparel size, demographic profile, geographic location, sport, and athletic profile.

1. Visit the official Adidas Product Testing page.

You’ll be asked if you’re located in Europe or the United States.

Once you pick the appropriate location, the next page will explain how the entire process works. If you’re OK with the terms, simply click the “GET STARTED” button.

2. Answer the Quick Survey and Sign up for the Program

You still get a little control over what kind of product you want to test.

Adidas gives would-be testers a quick survey that would effectively group people based on several things such as:

• Type of item: Would you rather receive apparel or footwear? Pick the appropriate one in the “Division” section.
• Gender: Choose either Male or Female.

• Your sizing: If you chose footwear, you’ll be asked about your footwear shoe size and foot width. If you chose apparel, you’d be asked particular sizes of your top, chest, hip, bottoms, waist, and thigh. Females have two extra sizing details for bra and under bust sizing.

Test products are usually produced in limited quantities and sizes. As such, there may be instances wherein you are qualified on all factors, but the products that require testers are only available in specific sizes. When this happens, you might still get disqualified.

• Interests: You can pick up to 5 types of interests. This lists down sports like wrestling, baseball, basketball, golf, running, skateboarding, soccer, and so on.

Around this time, if you choose interests and Adidas has NO match, the survey ends there and you’ll receive a notification that your qualifications have no match with existing product testing programs.

If the survey continues at this point, it means you’re still qualified for existing product testing programs at Adidas.

3. Be Specific with Your Interests

From here on out, you’d have to be a bit more patient because Adidas gets very specific on the survey. Just answer as honestly as you can.

Adidas will dig deeper into your interests.

For example, if you chose basketball, the survey will ask about your position (center, point guard, power forward etc.), performance level (recreational, professional, college), surface of the court (indoor or outdoor), and the number of basketball sessions you play each week.

In some cases, Adidas even gives you a slot to answer the existing shoe you wear for that particular sport.

In other cases, Adidas will ask what kind of outdoor activities you participate in and if you choose mountain biking, you’ll be asked about your performance level and the hours you spend each week doing that activity.

4. Enter Your Personal Details

The last part of the survey is your personal details. Make sure you include your:

• Real name,
• Address (this is where Adidas will send the items you’ll be testing,
• E-mail address,
• Phone number,
• Month and year of birth, and
  Body height.

You also need to confirm if you’re an Adidas employee or not. (FYI, being an Adidas employee immediately disqualifies you to take part in the program, sorry!)

Lastly, you need to agree to the terms & conditions, agree to the Wear Tester Agreement and tick off the box saying you want to be a contributor.

5. Get Chosen

If you are selected for a test, you will receive an e−mail inviting you to participate.

You need to confirm that you’ve decided to participate. Adidas will then mail you the test product along with instructions.

6. Test the Adidas Product

When you receive the sportswear, footwear, or other Adidas item, it will come with instructions.

For example:

• If you’re given running shoes to test, it will include the mileage per week you must use the shoes for running for the duration of the test period.

• If you’re given footwear specific for climbing, Adidas would note the number of hours you should use it for climbing for the length of the test period.

Once you receive the item/s, you’d have to keep a logbook of your daily/weekly activities.

In most cases, you’ll be asked to ship back the item to Adidas, so the company could inspect and evaluate the product. FYI, the company gives a return label so you don’t have to worry about courier fees.

7. Answer the Product Testing Questionnaire

To finish the program, you need to answer a questionnaire. Adidas usually emails you the link where to find this form.

The logbook you maintained could help you answer this final survey.

Adidas Product Testing FAQs

• How much do product testers make? The tester volunteers we’re talking about in this post are not paid anything at all. Full-time Adidas product testers who work in factories and offices and participate in the production and QA of all products earn about $92,000 annually.

• A social media influencer said she got paid for testing Adidas products. Is this true? It looks like Adidas is aware that some people on social media are claiming to have been financially compensated to be wear testers for adidas. Note that the company has addressed these claims as false and not sponsored or endorsed by Adidas.

• How long is the testing program? In general, the testing period lasts about two to four weeks. In cases when testing is required for over a month, you will be given specific instructions included in the package. Read the guide once you received Adidas products.

• Can I keep the Adidas items? Unfortunately, Adidas states on the website that you’d have to return the product. This is particularly true for sports-specific footwear since the company has to check the item’s condition after your testing. If you’re lucky and receive test products that do not need additional testing from QA, you might be asked to keep the items instead.

Things You Shouldn’t Expect as an Adidas Product Tester

One way to enjoy the Adidas product testing is to get your expectations right.

Here are several things you should know about the official Adidas product testing program:

• Adidas cosmetics are not included – If you came here to get free Adidas deodorant, lotion, makeup or other beauty products, note that the company doesn’t require public testing of these products.

It’s pretty understandable, too! This is because cosmetics and toiletries usually require additional tests (such as safety, stability, microbial testing) before they are allowed to launch.

• There is no recognition as an Adidas product tester – While Adidas doesn’t necessarily request you to keep your testing experience a secret, the company doesn’t really recognize specific names of the program participants. If you’re OK helping out a brand you love, then you could consider this experience as a once-in-a-lifetime kind of charity.

Adidas Product Testing Alternatives

As you can see, joining this program doesn’t really give you any monetary incentives. But it’s satisfying to know you can make a difference in future products of a brand you love.

If you want to learn about other brands that have their own product testing program, check out my post about Nike product testing, Apple product testing, or Amazon product testing.

If you’re looking for completely free footwear, then you’d have more luck checking out this post: List of brands and places giving away free shoes.

I’ve come across a few unbelievable side gig opportunities in my time, but even I was surprised that people can get paid to cuddle.

It might seem like a ridiculous thing to pay for, but professional cuddling is slowly gaining traction across the US and the world, and the reasons behind this growing line of work make a lot more sense than you might think.

But what does it take to become a professional cuddler, what precisely does this job entail, and how much can you realistically expect to earn? I explore these topics and more below.

The Role of a Professional Cuddler

At the heart of it, there’s the cuddling: embracing, touching, and caressing another person in a chaste, nonsexual way.

Some clients will want to talk and get things off their minds, and you’ll have to be ready to listen to them and be empathetic.

Unless you’re also a psychologist, do your best not to offer any professional advice. Getting paid to cuddle doesn’t make you an expert, and it’s best to remember that.

Depending on the arrangement (either between you and the agency or you and the client) you will either meet the client at an agreed-upon place or at their home.

From there, you’re free to sit on a couch and chat, watch a movie, or just cuddle, if that’s all the client wants to do.

Safety should always be first in everyone’s minds when arranging to meet with a stranger alone. That’s why it’s better to join up with an established company that already has safety procedures in place and carefully vets the clients.

Why Are People Paying To Be Cuddled?

The benefits of human interaction and touching, in particular, have been widely espoused by scientists and psychologists alike.

However, in today’s society, personal spaces are becoming wider, intimacy is increasingly scarce, and people are getting more isolated.

Online connections are stronger than ever before, but the human touch is left out of the equation.

With the recent pandemic forcing people to stay indoors and practice social distancing, everyone is more secluded than ever before.

This has led to many feeling the effects of touch starvation: anxiety, depression, stress-related physical disorders, and even PTSD.

Those working in the so-called “cuddle business” are all too familiar with this and see the positive effects their work can have on their clients’ lives.

Traditionally, cuddling isn’t exactly a taboo topic, but it isn’t something that one casually brings up in public or in the workplace. It’s something you only do with your partner or romantic interest when you want to show or receive affection.

Those in the cuddle business are working hard to change this perspective and advocate for cuddling as a way to connect with another human being through platonic, non-sexual touch.

Clients still feel this stigma, though, and normally want to keep their dealings private. But more and more people are recognizing the benefits of cuddling, especially those for whom casual physical contact, even a handshake, is elusive or even non-existent.

Overcoming the Stigma of Cuddling for Money

This new movement has its fair share of obstacles, especially when it comes to those who don’t understand what it’s all about, which included me, at first.

But as I delved deeper into this industry, I learned that cuddling can be a therapeutic experience, much like meditation, yoga, or mindfulness.

In today’s society, we often think that touching another person has to lead to something else, which means it can be embarrassing to think of cuddling a stranger as a viable way to earn an income.

But companies like Cuddlist are changing that perspective.

As their website states, “professional therapeutic touch through cuddling is healing and transformative when it happens in a respectful and emotionally safe way.”

So even though it might seem peculiar (at least, at first) to your friends or family, getting paid to cuddle is nothing to be ashamed of.

Think about it this way:

Those in need of a snuggle are restricted to asking those around them, which could lead to misunderstandings and a lot of awkwardness.

Instead, finding someone online, or through a business, that’s already comfortable with the idea and knows proper boundaries is a much better and safer option.

Where to Find Professional Cuddler Jobs: 5 Sites You Can Join and Get Paid to Cuddle

Some people, like Jane Wells, the owner of Cuddle Up to Me, strike out on their own and set up a business where they find and vet their own clients. However, this is extremely time-consuming and risky.

If you’re looking at this as more of a side gig then you’re probably much better off joining one of the major online agencies out there that run a community of “cuddlers,” “cuddlists,” or “snugglers” (there seems to be a wide range of terminology).

Here are some of the biggest cuddle companies in the business:

1. Cuddlist

Cuddlist requires that you complete their online course, which costs $150 to become a trained “cuddler.”

The good thing about Cuddlist.com is that the professional cuddlers in the system isn’t a lot, so your chances of getting a job is higher than other platforms.

However, you do have to pay $39.99/month to continue listing your profile as a cuddler for Cuddlist.

How much can you earn as a Cuddlist cuddler?

Depending on your experience, you can charge from $40 to $200 an hour.

2. Cuddle Comfort

Cuddle Comfort is a social network of people looking to cuddle, and other people willing to cuddle them.

Cuddle Comfort markets your cuddler profile within the network. When a client messages you directly via the platform, you organize a session and negotiate pay/time via chat. The client will then pay you in cash or via your preferred online method like PayPal before the session begins.

How much can you earn on Cuddle Comfort?

As a cuddler, you can earn up to $80 an hour, but you have control over your pricing and location of your cuddle services.

Note that Cuddle Comfort takes 15% of the Total Session Price as fee for connecting you with vetted clients.

3. Cuddle Companions

Cuddle Companions is a global platform that connects people that require cuddling services. This isn’t limited to cuddling though – the company is also open to users offering their masseuse, tour guide, travel/event companion, pretend partner, and other similar service.

How much can you earn as a cuddle for Cuddle Companions?

As a cuddle for Cuddle Companions, you can earn from $40 to $150 an hour.

The company takes 60% to 85% per booking (as service fee), the rest is the cuddler’s profit. You can get paid in cash, PayPal or your other preferred payment method.

4. Cuddle Sanctuary

Unlike other cuddle agencies, you can’t just join Cuddle Sanctuary and instantly offer your cuddling service.

Instead, you need to join their professional cuddling training, pass certification, and request to be included in their list of cuddle professionals. However, there is no guarantee that the company will market your cuddling service.

The professional cuddlers of Cuddle Sanctuary comes from California, Georgia, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington DC. They’re also in Mexico, Belgium, India and Tanzania.

Because you’re not technically an employee or contractor of Cuddle Sanctuary, you have total control over you pricing.

5. Cuddle Up

CuddleUp is a platform that connects people open to experience the “natural healing power of the human touch.”

If you’re interested in offering a non-sexual cuddle to people in need of a companion for coffee, a picnic, bike rides, watching movies, going on a walk, eating out, or just chilling at home, you can join CuddleUp as a cuddler.

There are also smaller, regional online businesses like Alt Touch in Boise, Idaho, or Snuggle Salon in certain California cities.

Cuddle companies in other countries include Harmony Cuddles in London, UK, and Cuddle Therapy in Australia.

You’ll likely have to go through a vetting process when you sign on and likely some training, which may cost money.

Some people, such as Jax Solomon of Cuddle Therapy Las Vegas, skip agencies and market their cuddling services on their own.

Generally, if you’re part of an agency then you’ll have a profile where clients can find you. If a client is interested then they’ll send you a request. After that, you’re free to chat with the client and book them during a timeslot when you’re both available. You can accept any job offer that comes your way, or reject a client if you don’t feel comfortable with them.

Virtual Cuddle Sessions

Since the 2020 covid and the lockdowns that resulted in that crisis, the need for touch therapy and at the same time made it difficult for people to get it.

Despite the obstacles professional cuddlers have found another way to offer their services to those who need them.

For instance, cuddlers may ask their client to lie on their side with one arm stretched under their head and their other arm wrapped around their torso, so that it feels they’re holding themselves.

Cuddle Sanctuary currently offers a paid training course in giving virtual cuddles to help professional cuddlers meet this demand.

For virtual cuddle sessions to work, it’s not enough that you’re knowledgeable about the techniques. Your client should also be open to the idea of trying something new.

There’s no substitute for actual human touch, of course, but being able to offer virtual cuddles and companionship can still make a lasting impact on one’s mental and emotional health, even from a distance.

Professional Cuddler Salaries: How Much Can You Get Paid to Cuddle?

On average, you could expect to be paid around $40 per hour, plus tips.

The pay depends on the company or agency you join. They may or may not restrict tips as well. Most agencies will also reimburse you for travel expenses to your meetup place.

Generally, the pay is really good. Some experienced cuddlers can get paid up to $80 for a 45-minute cuddling session.

You can also get paid to cuddle overnight, usually in 8-hour time blocks (e.g., 10 PM to 6 AM). This service can fetch from $300 to $500 and even higher.

When a session requires long-distance travel, clients usually have to shoulder the cuddler’s travel expenses (gas, car rental, transportation, flight tickets, as well as any hotel room booked).

The Bottom Line

It may boggle the mind that you can get paid to cuddle, but being a professional cuddler can be an incredibly rewarding side gig, full-time job, or even a small business.

Not only will you meet a ton of interesting people, but you can also help others deal with the anxiety and loneliness that stems from a lack of touch.

If you’re into more unconventional ways of making money (and meeting new people at the same time) then you might also be interested in looking at how to get paid for going on dates.