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The Best Gear for Your Road Trips

Sat, 19 Jul 2025 00:51:20 +0000

A road trip is an adventure. It doesn’t matter how far you go. But all adventures require a little planning (and one or two backup plans, in case things go sideways).

Our original trip, in 2016, included 60 hours of researching and testing gear to take on the open road. We packed all of our top contenders into a Honda Fit EX and headed out on a four-day jaunt to determine what’s nice to have, what’s great, and what’s absolutely essential for your next road trip.

In 2020 we added a few items to help you adhere to safe-travel guidelines, and as those things will always come in handy during flu and cold season, we’re keeping them in the guide. We’ve also added several selections to take on challenging winter car trips.

After traveling for 1,500 miles, through four states and six national parks, we think we have a good grasp on what makes an excellent road trip. In addition to performing our own research and testing, we consulted with half a dozen engineers, mechanics, and other experts to bring you these picks. Our hope is that the recommendations in this guide will help you see more and explore farther down the road than you thought possible.

The car and its load, minus the humans. Caleigh Waldman for NYT Wirecutter

Below, you’ll find recommendations for cargo boxes, binoculars, coolers, emergency beacons, a first-aid kit, a folding blanket, an ice scraper, an instant camera, inverters for your electronics, a multi-tool, phone mounts, a portable jump starter, ratchets and tie-down straps, a road atlas, stain remover, a stowable daypack, sun shades, sunglasses, a tire-pressure gauge, a toolkit for cars, a travel game, a travel pillow, water jugs, windshield water repellent, wipes, and so much more. These items will help you have a successful road trip, regardless of region or weather.

However, even if you have the best gear in the world, it’s always best to address small problems before they become emergencies. That’s why we asked Christopher Smith, a veteran automotive journalist with a penchant for restoring fixer-uppers, to help us put together some advice on how to prepare your car for a trip. We cover everything from checking your tires and dipsticks to knowing what you should do if your car starts smelling like rotten eggs for seemingly no reason.

This guide isn’t specifically geared toward families, though most of the picks would be useful to a family traveling by car. We do have guides to infant car seats, travel car seats, booster car seats, and water bottles for kids—all things that are of particular interest to families on the road.

The Best Bike Storage Ideas

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 21:51:10 +0000

Cyclists who live in small spaces know the conundrum: You want your bike easily accessible but hate tripping over it all the time.

After spending some 30 hours researching dozens of indoor bike-storage stands, we assembled and tested the 10 most viable options, leaving our bikes at their mercy for days—and sometimes weeks—on end.

Ultimately, we decided that for most people, the Delta Cycle Michelangelo Gravity Stand is the best way to store your bike indoors.

The stand takes minimal effort and expertise to install, it’s lightweight and strong, and it can accommodate one or two bikes of any variety—mountain, road, hybrid, and even step-through cruisers.

The Best Gear for Cornhole, Bags, Sack Toss, or Whatever Y’all Call It Where You’re From

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 20:45:24 +0000

While cornhole is best known as a tailgating tradition played with a beer in hand, it’s increasingly a professionalized sport with high-quality gear to match. And even casual cornhole players holding a beverage in one hand are likely to enjoy the premium performance of a well-designed bag.

After surveying the sport’s pros and testing out their favorites, we’ve chosen a combination of Reynolds Pro X cornhole bags and AllCornhole Tournament Series Cornhole Boards as the best setup for anyone who wants to push their game as far as it can go.

If you’re a more casual player, don’t worry — we have options for you, too.

The Best Blanco Tequilas

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 19:11:44 +0000

Tequila is booming, with new brands hitting shelves each day. Almost every cocktail bar worth its salt (pun intended) has a tequila cocktail on the menu, and celebrities are bringing unprecedented attention to the category by launching their own brands. Some reports even show tequila overtaking vodka as the country's best-selling spirit in the near future.

With so many options to choose from, it’s never been a more exciting time to enjoy Mexico’s most iconic liquid treasure. But all those options mean it can also be one of the most daunting times to choose a bottle.

The Best Office Chair

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 18:06:31 +0000

Many cheap office chairs can make you feel as if you’ve been crammed into a torturous economy seat on a cross-country flight. But quality office chairs give you an upgrade to first class — they’re designed to support your body comfortably for the long haul.

We’ve researched dozens of office chairs, interviewed four ergonomics experts, and asked test panelists (with a variety of body types) to sit in deliberation for more than 175 collective hours.

Since 2015, we’ve found that the Steelcase Gesture is the best office chair for most people.

We Were Skeptical of One-Size ‘Crinkle’ Swimsuits. Here’s What Changed Our Minds.

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 17:54:06 +0000

Like many people, we were deeply suspicious of one-size-fits-all swimsuits.

To be frank, in the world of clothing, a one-size anything would make us raise a brow, so a close-fitting, hard-to-shop-for category like swimsuits had us feeling really skeptical. But these popcorn or crinkle suits are lauded online for being ultra-flexible, with a single garment accommodating a range of sizes. For example, a popcorn suit we tested from one brand claims to fit sizes 2 to 12.

Given the popularity and plentiful positive reviews for one-size suits, staff writer Zoe Vanderweide decided to put them to the test in our guide to the best women’s swimsuits. And, to our surprise, we actually found some crinkle suits that we really love. In the photo above, you can see the proof: Two models, size 2 and size 12, are wearing the same-size swimsuit.

We know it sounds outrageous on paper, so I’m here to walk you through how these suits work, how to spot one worth considering, and how to avoid the fakes.

The Best Fantasy Sports Apps

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 16:25:39 +0000

Fantasy sports take the impulse to armchair-manage your favorite team and turn it into a dare: You think you’re such a tactical genius? Okay, then draft the players, choose who plays each week, and see how you do. Do you have a better game plan than Andy Reid? Is your baseball IQ on a par with Joe Maddon’s? Or, at the very least, do you have a better sense of sports than your friends?

After 17 hours of research and three seasons’ worth of testing (the 2023 MLB and 2023 and 2024 NFL seasons, to be precise)—in which we tried eight different platforms with a panel of 13 sports fans of various experience levels—we’ve found ESPN Fantasy Games to be the best entry point for most people.

But most fantasy-sports platforms work just fine, with little to differentiate them. So if you and your leaguemates already love the service you’re using, there’s nothing game-changing enough to justify the work it takes to switch.

The Best Retinol Products

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 15:45:38 +0000

So many skin-care products promise miracles, but retinoids are among the few with the science to back it up.

Retinols are milder, over-the-counter versions of prescription-strength retinoids (vitamin A derivatives). At prescription strengths, tretinoin has been shown to speed up skin’s cellular turnover, boost collagen, and minimize the appearance of pores and the production of oils. And over-the-counter retinoids deliver similar benefits.

To find the best ones, a panel of eight testers spent months treating their faces, necks, décolletages, and backs of hands with 28 different products. And to prevent price bias, all brand names were concealed, so testers had no idea whether they were using a product that cost $10 or $100.

In the end we arrived at a handful of overachievers — a great starter serum, a splurge-y, higher-strength option, a lush liquid formula, a multitasker, and a bargain find.

Whichever formula is right for you, to minimize sensitivity be sure to start slow (no more than twice a week), and use small drops (about the size of a pea). Your skin will thank you — today and tomorrow.

The Best Cheap Laptops Under $500

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 15:26:18 +0000

Lots of laptops cost less than $500, but it’s hard to find a cheap one that doesn’t totally suck. To find decent models, we’ve researched and tested hundreds of cheap Windows laptops and Chromebooks over the years, and we also have advice on how to shop smart when prices change and our picks go out of stock.

Egg-Freezing, Divorce — and More (Unexpected) Reasons to Give a Gift

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 14:56:36 +0000

In this edition of The Gift, we make the case for delighting your loved ones when they least expect it. Say, if they freeze their eggs? Plus, the best gifts for Gen Z and what to give a hobbyist.

Last summer, I schlepped to my friend Madi’s apartment carrying a tote bag crammed with delicate pressed paper, soft pink ribbon, gold washi tape, and all manner of stickers. Madi and I were on a mission: to craft a present for our friend Courtney, who was preparing to freeze her eggs.

Egg-freezing is not exactly a traditional gift-giving occasion. There wasn’t an egg party (although that’s a really good idea — write that down), and Courtney didn’t register for egg-freezing gifts (again, would have been brilliant). But in more than a decade of friendship, Courtney has celebrated Madi and me over and over again: ordering custom confetti to mark our engagements, stuffing gift bags for our bachelorette parties, and even showing up with a pastry-shaped Jellycat after I finished baking every recipe in a cookbook.

This occasion certainly felt just as momentous, if not more so, than those. And she was going to need our help getting through 12 days of self-administered shots. What to gift her, though, was a puzzle.

Freezer food seemed too dire; flowers too maudlin. Then Madi pitched a perfect plan: We give her 12 treats, one to open after each round of shots, like a wacky, very-much-out-of-season Advent calendar.

Taking inspiration from my colleague, editor Catherine Kast, who is on the record as queen of DIY Advent calendars, I retrieved an empty, years-old one to repurpose. Then I went hunting for joyful, tiny treats to fit in each pocket: things like a baby Baggu in the strawberry print, delectable Swedish gummies (Madi did not let me get the egg-shaped ones — apparently too on the nose), glossy lip balms, sample-sized vials of perfume, scrunchies, and micro claw clips. If I were doing this again, I would toss in an adorable fruit-shaped bag charm, too. We tucked each prize into a pocket, taped floral-patterned paper over all the openings, and tied it with a rose-colored bow to finish.

You don’t need big, celebratory life events to give your friends presents. Sometimes the littler moments — when they’re going through something difficult or facing a big change — can be the most meaningful times to show up with a treat.

When writer Ivy Elrod’s sister was taking the bar, Ivy gave her a big, snack-y care package to fuel her, and “she ended up being the only lawyer with snacks in the exam.” (This Japanese snack box is a particular favorite of my gift-expert colleagues.) I love the idea of giving a friend who is finalizing a divorce something celebratory, as long as it feels appropriate — writer Alexander Aciman once delighted a recently divorced friend with these vibrant, handblown champagne flutes. And on a sillier note, after newsletters editor Haley Jo Lewis’ boyfriend finished putting together their home office, he unveiled it with a mini inflatable tube man on her desk — a sorry-for-the-house-being-a-wreck present.

And as for Courtney, after the first few days, she was a total pro at handling the needles, breezily jabbing herself after breakfast or on the couch, mid-Love Island episode. But still she sent pictures of her prizes afterward, grinning, the animal-shaped ice packs that she stuck to her abdomen after each prick peeking out above her waistband.

“Your support was the actual gift, obviously,” Courtney said. “But the calendar was a small reminder of it every day.” Which is, in my opinion, exactly how a gift should feel — no matter the occasion.

Nordstrom’s Anniversary Sale Is Full of Wirecutter Picks. And these Prices Are Very Good.

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 14:30:29 +0000

Nordstrom’s Anniversary Sale happens only once a year, with shoppers heading online and into stores to save on trendier brands and products that don’t see discounts often.

However, there’s a difference between a sale that’s merely “worth it” and one that’s “Wirecutter worth it.”

My fellow Wirecutter deal hunters and I know that when a legitimate discount and a quality product come together, that adds up to great value.

Below, you might find some inspiration to give your closet, home, or beauty drawer a summer refresh before this sale ends on August 3. All of the products below are recommended by Wirecutter experts, so you can rest assured that each of these deals is a great value — not just a good price.

The Best Tote Bags

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 14:10:39 +0000

A good tote is for the schlep.

One day your trusty tote bag transports your laptop and a couple of books, and the next it holds three bunches of celery and a melon from the farmers market.

No matter its size or composition, a tote should be easy to pack and unpack, useful whether you’re heading to a coffee shop or an office, and attractive and versatile enough to bring to dinner afterward.

We found a variety of terrific tote bags that will suit a range of tastes, carrying needs, and budgets. Our picks include a practical canvas carrier, a luxurious open-top leather bag, a super-sturdy structured canvas tote, and an unstructured, effortlessly elegant full-grain leather tote.

Worried About Your Gas Stove? Here’s What to Do.

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 12:16:43 +0000

Worried that using your gas stove is negatively affecting your health? Though experts and pundits continue to debate the fine points, gas stoves have long been shown to release potentially harmful pollutants like carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, and nitrogen dioxide, a respiratory irritant. New studies have also linked gas stoves to increased rates of childhood asthma and have shown that using a gas stove can produce elevated levels of benzene on a par with those from secondhand tobacco smoke, or more tiny toxic particles than the exhaust of a diesel-powered vehicle.

The good news is, you can mitigate risks right now—even if your household includes kids with asthma—by getting more fresh air into your kitchen while you cook. Here are some tips.

The 30 Most Popular Prime Day Deals, According to Wirecutter Readers

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 21:08:58 +0000

Amazon’s summer Prime Day — which is now a four-day event rather than the usual two days — is well underway, and we’ve been working hard to surface the best deals for our readers. We’ve sorted through thousands of on-sale items to pinpoint truly excellent discounts on the things our experts have found are worth your time and money.

Among the hundreds of deals we’ve posted so far —less than 1% of every discount we’ve reviewed — some have grabbed the attention of our readers more than others. Here are the Prime Day deals that our readers have loved the most.

The Best Labels for Kids School Gear and Clothing

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 21:03:36 +0000

The parent who labels their kids’ lunch boxes and water bottles is the parent who can change the world — or, at least, their world. For a one-time, nominal cost, labels can bring needed organization to cluttered corners of the kitchen, help your kid and their teacher spot objects with ease, and ensure that often-pricey goods don’t end up in the lost and found.

After sticking, washing, and wearing down 11 kinds of printed labels and one write-on label, we found that Name Bubbles Custom School Supply Labels are the best printed labels to put on kids gear while Avery No-Iron Fabric Labels are the best for kids clothes.

Setting Up a New Kitchen? These Budget Essentials Get You Cooking for Under $250.

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 20:03:47 +0000

Whether you’re a college student moving into your first off-campus apartment or a newlywed buying your first home, outfitting a kitchen from scratch can be a daunting and expensive task.

Fear not—some of our favorite kitchen tools are budget-friendly workhorses. We put together this shopping list of all the essentials you need to get your kitchen up and running.

If you stick to the basics on our list, the cost totals around $200. But we’ve also added options for upgrades and extras so you can expand your kitchen where it matters most to you.

The Best Little Black Dresses

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 19:15:12 +0000

When Coco Chanel introduced the world to the little black dress in 1926, she predicted that it would become “the uniform … of good taste.” A century later, it’s still hard to imagine an article of clothing more elegant, enduring, and versatile.

What, exactly, defines a little black dress? It’s open to interpretation, and surprisingly tough to nail down. For our purposes, we decided that any black dress that’s meant to hit above the ankle — and has a little oomph — qualifies as an LBD.

Our seven favorites come in a variety of cuts and styles — from slinky slip dresses to tailored sheaths to festive fit-and-flares — that suit different seasons, moods, bodies, and budgets. These are the little black dresses that we’ll be wearing to work, weddings, and lots of occasions in between for many years to come.

The Best Kids Lunch Boxes

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 17:35:55 +0000

Packing lunch for your kid(s) can be an exercise in utility, or it can be an art form. Whether you’re a sandwich-and-chips family or a bento lunch one (or maybe you like to switch it up), you’ll want a durable lunch box that’s easy for your kid to use and for you to clean.

Over the years, we’ve tested dozens of lunch boxes, including insulated fabric bags, plastic bento boxes, and metal bento boxes. Since some families want both insulation and organization, we also looked for boxes with the best combination of the two.

Everything we recommend

The L.L.Bean Lunch Box has long been one of our picks both for kids and for adults. It comes in an expandable version, too. Michael Hession/NYT Wirecutter

Here’s How to Clean an Outdoor Rug That’s Seen Better Days

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 16:32:24 +0000

So you left your outdoor rug outside all winter, and now it’s a grubby mess. Fret not: Standard, synthetic outdoor rugs are pretty darn easy to clean at home.

Outdoor rugs are most commonly made from synthetic materials, such as polypropylene, polyester, and acrylic blends. Unlike rugs made from natural fibers, which may require a bit more tender loving care, synthetic rugs designed for outdoor use are made to hold their own against rain, dirt, mold, mildew, and, yes, vigorous cleaning.

Washing your outdoor rug will not only make it more aesthetically pleasing for yourself and guests to lounge on, but it will also prolong the life of the rug and prevent stains from setting in. Here’s how to do it.

I Test Bras for a Living. The Harper Wilde Triangle Bralette Is the Only One I Actually Wear.

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 16:29:51 +0000

In the past year and a half, I’ve worn around 35 different bras. But I have a good reason: As Wirecutter’s resident underthings expert, swooping and scooping on repeat is part of my job.

If it weren’t my job, I’d be content to leave all this bra business behind. Because for me, the search is over. I’ve found The One.

My forever bra is decadently soft, marvelously stretchy, and mercifully wire-free. It has a flattering shape that plays nice with most necklines, and it’s supportive enough to keep my wayward 34Ds on task. Critically, it provides support without squishing them into an unfortunate sports sausage.

It’s the Harper Wilde Bliss Triangle Bralette — a pick in our guide to the best, most comfortable bras — and it’s the only one you’ll catch me wearing in my off-hours.

These Essentials Will Let You Work From Anywhere

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 15:43:29 +0000

As a freelance writer and editor, I’ve been working from home for over a decade. And because I have freedom of location, I’ve also worked from airplanes, Airbnb properties, coffee shops, camper vans, libraries, parks, and beyond. In 2020, my husband worked as a traveling nurse, and we moved every 12 weeks; I never had a “proper” desk setup and instead began to put together a mobile office that would allow me to work from anywhere.

“The people who write about working from home for Wirecutter have all been testing these products in their personal and professional lives for years,” said Wirecutter editor Erica Ogg, who covers all things related to power and working from home. “Our picks stand out for their quality, usefulness, and durability.”

First We Fell in Love With a Smart Bird Feeder. Then This Smart Bird House Stole Our Hearts.

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 15:41:34 +0000

If you already think close-ups of birds happily munching on millet are adorable, guess what’s even cuter? Baby birds, that’s what. For those who enjoy sparrow selfies, bird feeders with smart cameras hidden inside are already popular. Now Birdfy, which makes one of our favorite smart bird feeders, offers a Smart Bird House nesting box outfitted with a Wi-Fi camera and solar panel, so you can record a nature documentary in your backyard.

I already have two regular nesting boxes in my yard, and last year I enjoyed watching bluebird and house sparrow parents fly into and out of the golf-ball-sized holes, with insects clutched in their beaks. Alas, I had to enjoy all of that from outside the nesting box and far enough away that I wouldn’t disturb them. Getting to peek inside as the chicks grew was a treat I couldn’t resist, so I set up a review unit in early March. Then I sat back and waited for something to happen.

The Best Refrigerators

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 15:25:10 +0000

Fridges have come far in just a century. Once literally big boxes filled with ice, refrigerators are now available with flat screens, Wi-Fi connectivity, wine drawers, and water pitchers that automatically refill themselves. (And, yes, they keep your food from spoiling, too.)

No matter what kind of refrigerator you’re shopping for, freestanding models today come in myriad sizes, multiple styles, and a blizzard of budget options.

To help you find the right fridge for you and your kitchen, we’ve assembled the best — from feature-laden French-door fridges to sleek side-by-side models and counter-depth options to budget-friendly top-freezer and bottom-freezer models. We offer some buying advice, too.

Nordstrom’s Anniversary Sale Is Full of Wirecutter Picks. And these Prices Are Very Good.

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 14:45:29 +0000

Nordstrom’s Anniversary Sale happens only once a year, with shoppers heading online and into stores to save on trendier brands and products that don’t see discounts often.

However, there’s a difference between a sale that’s merely “worth it” and one that’s “Wirecutter worth it.”

My fellow Wirecutter deal hunters and I know that when a legitimate discount and a quality product come together, that adds up to great value.

The Best 32-Inch TV

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 14:05:53 +0000

“Bigger is better” may be the television industry’s motto, but not everyone is on the hunt for a massive screen. If you’re looking for a smaller TV that’s suitable for a kitchen, dorm room, or bedroom — or if you just don’t want to spend much money — we recommend the Roku Select Series HD.

None of the 32-inch TVs we tested matched the performance of our favorite premium or budget 4K TVs, but the Roku Select Series HD looks better than the competition and is easy to use.

How Our Kitchen Expert Organizes His Tiny Brooklyn Kitchen

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 13:00:27 +0000

In this edition of Clean Everything, we walk you through a few of our kitchen expert’s favorite small-space hacks.

When you have a small kitchen, finding space for a plethora of cooking tools and equipment can feel like a frustrating game of Tetris. So we tapped Wirecutter kitchen expert Michael Sullivan to share how he organizes his New York City kitchen, where he houses everyday pots and pans, treasured cooking heirlooms (including his great-grandmother’s ravioli cutter), countless cookbooks, and any number of kitchen tools he’s testing for Wirecutter. Below, his four favorite small-space hacks:

Get utensils out of your drawers: During a 1977 interview, Julia Child said, “The harder the utensils are to see, the less you will use them.” Storing your tools in big crocks makes it easy to see everything and keeps drawers from getting cluttered. Michael has several of various sizes: big tools, like large serving spoons and wooden spatulas live in a spacious one, whereas chopsticks and tiny tools stay together in a smaller version. He also likes to hang his tools on cup hooks so they’re easy to reach.
Install a kitchen pegboard: If you have enough wall space, you can hang a lot of equipment on a pegboard — freeing up your cabinets. Michael swears by this: “It makes it so much easier to find what I need and saves me from digging through stacks of cookware in a dark cupboard.” Our experts recommend this steel pegboard, because it’s easy to install and its holes never droop.
Try some wire shelving: Michael uses metro-style wire shelving in his kitchen for storing bulky equipment, like food processors and cookbooks. These versatile shelving units come in a plethora of shapes and sizes, so they’re ideal for customizing to a small kitchen.
Use a lazy Susan for spice storage: Michael built a big wall-mounted rack for the majority of his spices, but he likes keeping the odds and ends that don’t fit in a spinning lazy Susan. This turntable our experts like has high, clear plastic sides around the perimeter to keep jars and bottles contained, and a removable silicone mat that cleans up easily.

35 small-kitchen organization ideas that make the most of tight quarters→

How Our Kitchen Expert Organizes His Tiny New York City Kitchen

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 13:00:27 +0000

In this edition of Clean Everything, we walk you through a few of our kitchen expert’s favorite small-space hacks.

Get utensils out of your drawers: During a 1977 interview, Julia Child said, “The harder the utensils are to see, the less you will use them.” Storing your tools in big crocks makes it easy to see everything and keeps drawers from getting cluttered. Michael has several of various sizes: big tools, like large serving spoons and wooden spatulas live in a spacious one, whereas chopsticks and tiny tools stay together in a smaller version. He also likes to hang his tools on cup hooks so they’re easy to reach.
Install a kitchen pegboard: If you have enough wall space, you can hang a lot of equipment on a pegboard — freeing up your cabinets. Michael swears by this: “It makes it so much easier to find what I need and saves me from digging through stacks of cookware in a dark cupboard.” Our experts recommend this steel pegboard, because it’s easy to install and its holes never droop.
Try some wire shelving: Michael uses metro-style wire shelving in his kitchen for storing bulky equipment, like food processors and cookbooks. These versatile shelving units come in a plethora of shapes and sizes, so they’re ideal for customizing to a small kitchen.
Use a lazy Susan for spice storage: Michael built a big wall-mounted rack for the majority of his spices, but he likes keeping the odds and ends that don’t fit in a spinning lazy Susan. This turntable our experts like has high, clear plastic sides around the perimeter to keep jars and bottles contained, and a removable silicone mat that cleans up easily.

35 small-kitchen organization ideas that make the most of tight quarters→

The Best Swim Goggles for Adults and Kids

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 21:50:32 +0000

A well-fitting pair of swim goggles can not only improve underwater vision but also prevent red eyes and irritation. Goggles can also eliminate the wearer’s worries about water flushing in or their being unable to see the arms or feet of an ungainly stroker sharing a lane.

Trevor Miele, head coach of the New York University Men’s and Women’s Swimming teams, said that today’s goggles “have a relatively comfortable rubbery plastic around the eye” that generally makes them more durable. Foam components on goggles from previous generations “used to fall apart or peel away from the goggles every few weeks,” he added.

Since 2015, we’ve tested 50 pairs of swim goggles in pools and the ocean. We recommend the Aquasphere Kayenne for adults and the Aquasphere Kayenne Junior for kids.

How to Shop for a Mechanical Keyboard

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 20:27:14 +0000

Most keyboards that come with laptops and desktops are shallow, drab, and joyless.

A mechanical keyboard is a comfortable, customizable upgrade that allows you to get the look and typing feel you prefer. They’re more durable than regular keyboards, and easier to repair, too. If you spend most of your day typing, coding, or gaming, it can be a delight to customize your daily driver down to the last detail.

But mechanical keyboards bring with them a lot of jargon—layouts and switches and keycap profiles, oh my—so here’s an overview of the terms you need to know to find your perfect keyboard.

The Best Mandoline

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 20:15:48 +0000

Nothing streamlines daily cooking prep like a mandoline. You can save time in the kitchen—and achieve precise cuts without needing to learn any knife skills—with the sharp, long-lasting, and replaceable blades of our pick, the Super Benriner. It has a simple, handheld design and a safe, reliable hand guard that keeps your fingers out of harm’s way.

How to Pick a Solar Panel and Battery Backup System

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 17:57:15 +0000

With increasingly intense weather regularly knocking the power grid out, a lot of homeowners are looking into backup power systems. Traditional fossil-fuel–based backup systems — in the form of portable or permanent generators — remain a popular choice, but are vulnerable to the fuel shortages that often follow a natural disaster. That’s why residential solar power combined with battery storage (once an esoteric niche industry) is rapidly becoming a mainstream disaster-preparedness choice, according to more than a dozen installers, manufacturers, and industry experts we interviewed.

But the solar battery market is rapidly evolving, and small, modular battery systems that can recharge from portable solar panels have become popular since we first wrote this guide in 2022. They cost less and require far simpler installation than rooftop systems, and have enough capacity to operate crucial household appliances like fridges and sump pumps, keep the lights on, and recharge communication devices — the basic necessities in an emergency. We cover them in this guide, too.

The promise of using electric vehicles as home backup power is finally being realized, as well, with bidirectional EV chargers allowing some vehicles to use their huge batteries to run the house when the electricity is out. If you already own an EV, it’s an option worth exploring.

In any guise, multi-kilowatt batteries deliver a reliable, low-maintenance, and resilient source of electricity in the event of a disaster. Here’s how you can set one up for your home.

The Best Kindle Cases

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 16:47:42 +0000

An Amazon Kindle is a great way to take your library on the go, but tossing it in a bag or bringing it to the beach can pose a bit of a risk to your e-reader. If you want to protect your Kindle from scratches, breaks, and maybe even a splash or two, we recommend tucking it into a case — which also makes it easier to grip.

We’ve tested 28 Kindle cases over the past few years, and whether you have the cheapest model or the pricier Kindle Paperwhite, we’re confident these are the best protectors for your Kindle.

The Best Android and iPhone Gimbal

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 15:21:02 +0000

A gimbal can help you record less shaky, smoother, more professional-looking videos. It does this by mechanically stabilizing your phone to counter the jerky movements that commonly accompany walking, running, hiking, or other adventurous activities.

Using advanced apps, phone gimbals can automatically track—as in keep in sight of the camera—people, pets, and often other subjects, even if both you and they are moving. These moving, tracking shots can look similar to what the pros achieve using gear that’s significantly more expensive than our picks.

Of the gimbals we tested, the Insta360 Flow 2 Pro was the easiest to use and had the best app. It smoothly stabilized our video and automatically tracked subjects the best. Its compact, lightweight design, plus other clever features (like a built-in selfie stick and tripod), make it the best option for budding filmmakers or anyone who wants an inexpensive way to improve the quality of the videos they create.

The 30 Most Popular Prime Day Deals, According to Wirecutter Readers

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 15:03:19 +0000

The Best Mechanical Pencils

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 14:50:04 +0000

Confession time: I’ve never liked mechanical pencils. The lead breaks as soon as it touches paper, or it never leaves the pencil body in the first place. The thin plastic barrel makes your fingers cramp within a few minutes. And the whole thing rattles like a baby toy.

At least, that’s what I remember from my school days of filling in ovals for multiple-choice tests. But if you’ve also had a poor experience with mechanical pencils, it may be time to reconsider. After researching 28 mechanical pencils and writing and drawing meticulously with more than a dozen of them for two months, we have picks that are a joy to use rather than the disasters of yore.

Nordstrom’s Anniversary Sale Is Full of Wirecutter Picks. And these Prices Are Very Good.

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 14:45:29 +0000

Nordstrom’s Anniversary Sale happens only once a year, with shoppers heading online and into stores to save on trendier brands and products that don’t see discounts often.

However, there’s a difference between a sale that’s merely “worth it” and one that’s “Wirecutter worth it.”

My fellow Wirecutter deal hunters and I know that when a legitimate discount and a quality product come together, that adds up to great value.

The Best Shop Vacs (or Wet Dry Vacs)

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 14:35:34 +0000

There are messes and then there are messes. For the latter, your best bet is to break out a wet/dry vac. These heavy-duty vacuums suck up water, sawdust, nails, and screws with equal vigor. We’ve been testing and using them for years, and our favorite is the Ridgid 12-Gallon NXT Wet/Dry Vac HD1200. We also have a recommendation for a more compact, cordless model for smaller messes.

The Best Workout Earbuds and Headphones

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 14:17:00 +0000

Few things will kill your workout vibe faster than a pair of ill-fitting, hard-to-use headphones. The completely wireless JBL Reflect Aero TWS set is our favorite for the gym. We love their secure fit, simple controls, waterproof design, and ability to block noise. Plus, these earbuds sound great.

This Pen Has Been Our Top Pick for a Decade. And No, You Can't Borrow Mine

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 13:28:32 +0000

Never lend out the Uni-ball Jetstream—it will invariably be “borrowed” permanently. The Uni-ball Jetstream is unassuming. It looks like any other ballpoint pen. It’s lightweight, has a retractable tip, and is sold in several tip colors and widths. But the Jetstream is the only pen I use when I can help it, and it’s the…

The Best Headphones for Running

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 13:13:29 +0000

There’s a little ritual I do before every run. After the required prelude of lacing sneakers and applying Body Glide, I put in my earbuds, close my eyes, take a deep breath, and press play. In that moment, I shrug off the worries and responsibilities of the day. For the time being, it’s just me, the music, and the movement.

The act of propelling your body forward through space can have significant benefits for your physical and mental health, but the hardest part is taking that first step. If a good playlist or podcast is the motivation you need to get going, earbuds are an essential piece of running equipment.

Our conversations with runners — from casual beginners to marathoners — have revealed that different runners value different headphone features. So instead of naming a single top pick for everyone, we have recommendations for two different types of runners: those who want to block out sounds and those who prefer to hear the outside world.

Our recommendations in this guide come from the research and testing we’ve conducted for our general guide to the best workout headphones. Whereas that guide looks more broadly at sweat-resistant headphones and earbuds for a variety of workout activities, this guide focuses on some of the unique concerns that runners have.

Journaling Changed Suleika Jaouad’s Life. Here Are Her Tips for Getting Started — and Sticking With It.

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 13:08:15 +0000

Writer Suleika Jaouad has been journaling since she could hold a pen. But the practice became a lifeline at 22, when she was diagnosed with leukemia. While other people her age were traveling the world and partying, she was stuck in a hospital attempting to write her way back to herself. In the years that followed, she learned that journaling brought more than personal catharsis. It brought connection — with herself and with others.

That understanding made Jaouad uniquely equipped to handle the imposed solitude of the pandemic. In those early days of lockdown, she created The Isolation Journals, a 100-day challenge that invited people to join her in processing uncertainty and grief through short writing prompts. What started as a personal project quickly grew into a global community of more than 100,000 people.

This project was the genesis of her latest book, The Book of Alchemy: A Creative Practice for an Inspired Life, in which she curated 100 prompts from creatives of all walks of life to help enrich people’s interior journaling lives.

We spoke with Jaouad on The Wirecutter Show about journaling as a transformative and communal practice. Here are her best tips and tricks to make journaling part of your life, too.

The Best Trekking Poles

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 11:38:13 +0000

A good trekking pole lightens the load on your legs while you’re hiking on trails, softens the impact from the ground, is comfortable to hold for long hikes, and lasts for several hiking seasons with minor maintenance.

After hiking 250 miles of sandy, rocky, and rooty trails, we’ve decided that the Black Diamond Pursuit Trekking Poles are the best choice for most hiking styles and terrain. They’re easy to adjust, comfortable to hold, quiet, and durable.

The Best Beach Towel

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 10:38:34 +0000

You don’t need much to enjoy a day at the beach, but one of the few things you certainly do need is a great, soft towel.

After using dozens of towels for years and testing them on beaches all over the country, we’ve found that the Brooklinen Beach Towel is the most luxurious, absorbent, and satisfying to use. But we have other picks if you prefer thinner or lighter towels.

The Best Beach Bag

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 10:18:48 +0000

Even the lightest of packers needs to bring a few things for a day on the beach: towel, water bottle, sunscreen. And that means you also need something to carry them in.

After 10 hours of research, extensive consultation with lifelong beachgoers on staff, and an afternoon hauling loads of towels and snacks around in our eight top contenders, we’ve concluded that the L.L.Bean Boat and Tote is the best bag for lugging all your stuff to and from the beach.

The Best Beach Umbrella Is Not Actually an Umbrella

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 09:56:11 +0000

One of my earliest beach memories is the sight of my father chasing a large, colorful umbrella down the sands on a particularly windy day on the Maine coast.

I’m sure I’m not the only beachgoer who has witnessed umbrellas uprooting and tumbling into sunbathing neighbors, despite all efforts.

There is a better solution: the sunshade.

A good sunshade provides consistent protection from the sun over a large area while maintaining a comfortable amount of headroom. It should be easy to carry and intuitive to set up, and it should remain sturdy in the wind without collapsing.

Not every beach allows sunshades, however, and some of us simply prefer the classic silhouette of an umbrella. So along with our two favorite sunshades—one that maximizes available shade and a lightweight yet sturdy model that’s easy for one person to set up—we include a classic umbrella that’s great at blocking rays and one that’s absolutely impervious to the wind. (For those with small children, we also recommend a beach shelter with walls and a floor.)

Journaling Through Life's Plot Twists with Suleika Jaouad

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 09:00:49 +0000

Listen to and follow The Wirecutter Show.

In this episode, our guest is Suleika Jaouad, author of The Book of Alchemy and creator of The Isolation Journals Substack. We delve into how journaling can help you unlock creative potential and navigate life’s challenges.

Suleika shares her personal journey with journaling as a lifeline during her battle with leukemia and a pathway to "creative alchemy" – transforming difficult experiences into meaningful expression. She highlights the benefits of journaling on mental health, and how it has changed her life.

The discussion also explores practical aspects of journaling, from overcoming the fear of a blank page to maintaining consistency through accountability and prompts. Suleika shares her preferred tools—a fountain pen and quality paper—and the rituals that help her stay consistent.

Plus, Wirecutter writer Arriana Vasquez tells us about digital notebooks, an innovative way to modernize the writing experience without sacrificing the tactile pleasure of it.

Listeners will gain actionable insights into starting and sustaining a journaling practice.

Things we recommend

The best hardcover notebook: Leuchtturm1917 Hardcover Notebook Classic (A5)
The best pen: Uni-ball Jetstream RT
The best digital notebook: Supernote A6 X2 Nomad
Best for replacing your paper notebooks: reMarkable 2
Best for reading and annotating ebooks: Kobo Elipsa 2E

Suleika’s favorites

A fountain pen: Lamy
Le Labo Santal No. 26 Candle
The journals of famous writers she keeps on her desk: Susan Sontag, Virginia Woolf, Audre Lorde, Frida Kahlo and Sylvia Plath

The Best Jump Ropes

Tue, 15 Jul 2025 21:47:59 +0000

Jump ropes are featured in almost every training montage in a movie for a reason: Precious few pieces of exercise equipment offer a better cardio workout.

Jumping rope can burn calories equivalent to a running workout, with less pounding on certain joints. It can also help improve endurance, speed, and agility. Plus, jump ropes are inexpensive and easily stashed in a gym bag.

Since 2018, we’ve tested 24 ropes meant for general fitness. We recommend the KSY Jump Rope because of its smooth, pleasant-to-grip handles, as well as its adjustable length and durability. We recommend the Elite Jumps Fit+ Jump Rope (formerly known as the EliteSRS Pro Freestyle) as the best choice for tricks; the Rogue SR-1 Bearing Speed Rope for speed training, specifically; and the Buddy Lee Beaded Speed Jump Rope as an excellent weighted option, especially for beginners.

And if you’re looking for a jump rope best suited for kids, the Zocy Soft Bead Jump Rope is our top pick.

Some of Our Favorite Beauty Products Are on Sale for Prime Day

Tue, 15 Jul 2025 21:05:14 +0000

A bad beauty product is still a bad beauty product even if it’s 25% off.

But bargain-hunting for beauty is a great way to try a new ingredient or stock up on longtime favorites — as long as you’re buying things that actually deliver on their promises.

And for that, Wirecutter is here to help.

These aren’t just skin-care, beauty, and personal-care products with good reviews or viral attention online (because let’s be honest, those things don’t mean much). Instead, these are all products that our journalists have meticulously tested. We’ve judged mascara on its staying power through sweat and tears, evaluated the feel of a lotion on six different skin types, and even used every inch of skin to test retinol serums (with as little irritation as possible).

On top of that, the Wirecutter Deals team is double-checking prices to confirm that you’re actually getting a great discount. So you can trust that these Wirecutter-approved beauty and skin-care products on sale right now for Amazon’s Prime Day offer the best value.

The 30 Most Popular Prime Day Deals, According to Wirecutter Readers

Tue, 15 Jul 2025 21:04:16 +0000