Depends on subreddits. I love shoes for example, and /r/goodyearwelt is a really decent resource in general. /r/malefashionadvice and /r/rawdenim for fashion are pretty great too.
Thursday Boots astroturfs a large number of the comment sections of posts about their products. Red Wing, Nicks and Truman have periodically had self-identified employees that frequented the site and their specific subs if they exist.
The small group of GYW brands seem to at least be generally aware that a community of enthusiasts exists on Reddit and that's probably enough to start being skeptical of positive reviews.
I am okay with self-identified employees rather than astroturfing. Nicks themselves have mentioned how Reddit attention helped them stay afloat, and how much of a boon it has been for PNW bootmakers. IMO this is a far better outcome than that industry dying, the manufacturing parcelled to China/SE Asia and a storied bootmaker ultimately resurrected as a Frankenstein fast fashion brand. Wesco, for example is doing great because of online attention.
However, even before Reddit, StyleForum was great, and their original darling was Viberg.
