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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

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 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.

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 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

These Thoughtful, Wirecutter-Approved Gifts Are on Sale for Prime Day

Tue, 15 Jul 2025 20:44:54 +0000

When I was growing up, my mother would shop for gifts throughout the year and pack them onto the top two shelves of her closet until just the right housewarming, graduation, or birthday came along. It’s no wonder that I would eventually open my own store, where I too would shop year-round for treasures to be gifted (this time by others), and the hunt still fills me with delight.

If you’re anything like me (or my mother), you understand that finding a great gift for an even better price is the icing on the cake. And this Prime Day, Wirecutter is on the case to get you there.

Every day, our experts assess and obsess over products to extract the highest-quality recommendations, items that are truly terrific and offer the best value. Our gifts team members thoughtfully consider a range of recipients and situations, determining the best gifts for everyone — from new moms to tweens to folks who are retiring. We live with (and gift) the items ourselves, too.

And when we note that an item is available at a great price, we mean it: A discount passes muster only after our dedicated Deals team members have thoroughly analyzed the product’s year-long price history.

So whether you’re shopping for the perfect token to thank your summer-getaway hosts or trying to get ahead on your holiday-shopping list, you can trust that the selections here are exceptional choices at exceptional prices. Cue the joy.

It’s the Last Day to Shop Prime Day, and We’re Still Finding New Deals

Tue, 15 Jul 2025 20:44:37 +0000

If you’ve been waiting until the last-minute to shop the best Prime Day deals, you’ve just about run out the clock. Today marks the end of Prime Day, which, this year, was four days long. And we can’t blame you if the sheer volume of sale has made your head spin, and the extended time window has you wondering if the deals are changing each day.

As with many things during Prime Day: It’s been complicated. But this is a case where the early bird doesn’t always catch the worm.

In general, Prime Day prices are fairly static, but it’s not unheard of to see the price get better over the course of the event. Amazon will often match other retailers — so if you see a lower price on another site, the price will usually drop on Amazon, too. It’s also not uncommon for temporary on-site coupons or codes to pop up that you can stack with existing deals.

As we enter into the last and final day, our team of deal-hunters are still discovering new discounts. So even if you carefully scrolled through all of the best Prime Day deals yesterday, there are some new deals to consider.

Here, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite new (or, at least, new-to-us) deals, all of which meet our exacting standards. And if you’ve been on the fence, this is really the time to add to cart.

Note that an Amazon Prime account may be required to secure the deal prices you see below.

How to Make Sure Your Sun Hat Offers the Best Possible Protection

Tue, 15 Jul 2025 16:50:38 +0000

Nine times out of 10, when I pop out of my apartment for a walk, I toss on a baseball cap. But the old sunny-day standard may not be providing as much sun protection as I like to imagine.

Although a baseball cap is better than nothing, it can still leave your ears, your neck, and the sides of your face vulnerable to sun damage. A baseball hat is likely to protect your scalp to some extent, but unless your hat has a UPF rating of 30 or more, you can’t bank on how much.

And some sobering statistics put sun protection into focus. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, about 20% of Americans will get skin cancer in their lifetime. Research has shown that UV radiation from the sun is a significant factor associated with both nonmelanoma and melanoma skin cancers.

Luckily, lots of hats offer more protection than your average baseball cap. Whether you’re on the hunt for your dream sun hat or have one at home that you love to wear, here’s how to know if it offers good sun protection.

The Best Smart Plugs

Tue, 15 Jul 2025 16:20:34 +0000

One fundamental question has been the driving force behind innovation and technological advancement since time immemorial: “How can I do this without standing up?” That’s the beauty of smart plugs. Plug in one of your “dumb” devices and a smart plug transforms it into an automated sci-fi gadget, enabling you to remotely trigger it on/off, put it on a custom schedule, or answer your beck and call using voice commands.

The TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Plug Slim (EP25) is the best smart plug for indoor use, as it provides the most features for the best price. TP-Link’s Tapo TP25 Outdoor Plug (or the identical P400M) remains our rugged outdoor pick, and the TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip (HS300) is still our top pick for a multi-outlet option.

Why It’s Worth It to Spend a Little More on Sheets, Even for a Dorm Room

Tue, 15 Jul 2025 15:25:50 +0000

Most of the sheets that incoming college students use on their twin-size beds at home just aren’t suitable for college dorms — not only because they might be covered in cartoon characters, but also because dorms typically provide longer twin XL mattresses. And the extra 5 inches in length means that a new set of sheets will almost inevitably earn a place on any dorm essentials shopping list.

It’s tempting to just grab the cheapest synthetic sheets on Amazon or try to stretch out what you already own onto the too-long mattress, but our textile, home, and sheets experts have a better approach.

The Best Desk Lamps

Tue, 15 Jul 2025 15:01:44 +0000

A great desk lamp can transform your workspace — both functionally and aesthetically. It can reduce eye fatigue and help you better see what you’re working on, and it can set the right mood for getting work done. A great lamp can also be a design statement.

After researching over 55 desk lamps and testing 20, we’ve chosen our favorite desk lamps in a variety of styles and prices.

Brushing My Teeth With This Electric Brush Is Boring and Easy. Which Is Great, Actually.

Tue, 15 Jul 2025 14:45:58 +0000

If you know true exhaustion, you know how burdensome brushing your teeth can be.

It’s not that it’s the most difficult part of the nighttime routine. (For me, that’s applying all the unctuous goos my eczema-prone flesh demands.) But brushing your teeth is tedious.

It requires focus, plus repetitive wrist and arm movement. It requires self-awareness to track how long you’ve been at it, whether you’ve reached every tooth, whether you’ve reached every tooth sufficiently. It requires spitting into a sink.

And you must do it at least twice a day, every day, until the day that you die.

The Philips Sonicare 4100 will not free you from the shackles of corporeal conservation. But it will make this one element of that duty just a bit easier.

The 10 Best Dog Toys, According to Our Pups

Tue, 15 Jul 2025 13:50:22 +0000

Giving your dog a new toy is an exercise in natural selection. No matter how cute or pricey it is, there’s some chance that your pup will ignore the new plaything or rapidly tear it to shreds, either way leaving it for dead. Here we present the survivors: the toys that our pups have verified to be good for hours, or even years, of play that’s engaging, ferocious, and cute.

Since dogs have their own preferences—and enjoy variety—take this list as a starting point. If you’re preparing for a new dog or assembling a gift, we suggest presenting the canines in your life with a few to put to the test for themselves.

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

Tue, 15 Jul 2025 12:00:29 +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.

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

Tue, 15 Jul 2025 12:00:29 +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 Exercise Bikes

Tue, 15 Jul 2025 04:00:36 +0000

Fitness trends come and go, but pedaling in place on an exercise bike is a classic, low-impact way to nurture cardiovascular fitness. Whether you prefer to tool along at a moderate pace a few times a week or tackle intense, studio-style workouts daily, we’ve found six bikes that will please a variety of riders.

Over five years of testing, we’ve concluded that the Schwinn IC4 (also sold as the BowFlex C6) is the best magnetic-resistance indoor-cycling bike for those who prioritize versatility and want the option of adding their own touchscreen.

Among our other recommendations is a recumbent bike and, yes, a Peloton.

The Best Hair Straightener

Tue, 15 Jul 2025 04:00:00 +0000

I have an indelible childhood memory of my Aunt Cherie’s beauty routine: It involved hauling out the ironing board, bending at the waist, and having my Aunt Joyce run the old Sunbeam over her springy curls and stubborn frizz. Such were the lengths she went to for straight hair.

Now, of course, a flat iron does the job far more quickly, safely, and comfortably. Shaped like high-tech, incredibly hot salad tongs, these straightening tools can be extremely effective at turning curls, coarseness, and frizz into shiny smooth strands. But they can also cost several hundred dollars.

We were determined to find the most effective, affordable, and transformative tools, so we spent two months firing up flat irons and trying them on a wide range of hair textures and curl types. Just one thing made us happier than the sleek, straight results from our top pick: Its shockingly low price. We also loved a bells-and-whistles-packed upgrade and an efficient multitasker, both of which were straightforward to use and light-years safer than wielding a Sunbeam.

The Best Sleeping Bag

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 21:02:01 +0000

If you have a great sleeping bag—one that’s functional and comfortable—it’s much easier to get a good night’s sleep when you’re camping.

After testing bags in California, Hawaii, and Colorado, we’ve concluded that the REI Co-op Siesta Hooded 20 Sleeping Bag is the best sleeping bag for car camping. The Montbell Down Hugger 650 #1 and the Marmot Women’s Teton 15° Sleeping Bag are the best bags for backpacking.

We also have recommendations for double bags and bags for side sleepers.

We Love a Melon Baller, and Not Just for Melons

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 20:30:31 +0000

My three kids—ages 12, 9, and 7—have fiendish appetites for fresh watermelon. Until recently, whenever summer hit, my husband and I felt like we were spending way too much time standing at the kitchen counter, knife in hand and juice dripping onto our toes, endlessly cubing the fruit.

I was tempted to hand the knife over to my oldest kiddo, but while he’s pretty good at chopping some things, a rolling seedless behemoth can be challenging, even for adults. So one night, I broke down and ordered a melon baller.

Staff-favorite melon baller

OXO Good Grips Melon Baller

Most melon ballers work fine, but this two-headed one gives you a couple sizes to work with and a soft-cushioned handle that’s easy to grip.

$12 from Amazon

$12 from Sur La Table

At first I felt sheepish. Haven’t we all been taught to avoid unitaskers? But once I saw how I could just split open a melon and let my kids ball and devour it on their own (which they did, repeatedly), it has become one of my most-prized possessions. I’ve also found it’s a lot more versatile than its name suggests.

We haven’t tested a lineup of melon ballers, but I chose the OXO model because it’s a trusted brand, the handle looked svelte, and I liked the two scoop sizes. We’ve now used it for over five years, and I have zero regrets. Its edges have stayed sharp, its handle is comfortable to hold (for small hands, too), and both scoop sizes come in handy regularly.

The Best Shoe Rack

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 19:28:27 +0000

Whether you have a minimalist footwear collection or a Carrie Bradshaw–like affinity for heels, chances are good you could use a better method to store your shoes.

The right shoe rack will help organize your Manolo Blahniks and keep your kids’ sneakers off the carpet with equal efficiency. And it will look nice while doing so.

We spent more than 30 hours researching shoe racks, interviewing professional organizers, and assembling 18 racks by hand to find the best solution for you.

The Best Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 19:20:32 +0000

Today’s wireless earbuds need to do a lot more than just play music. They’re expected to connect reliably to all of our devices, shield against the cacophony of a commute, deliver clear vocals in blustery conditions, and more — all while looking both stylish and discreet.

The best wireless earbuds should check all those boxes and integrate seamlessly into your routine, and that’s exactly what the Sony LinkBuds Fit earbuds do. This versatile pair sounds great, fits great, and is loaded with features that work well no matter what phone you own.

The Best Portable Air Conditioner

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 16:51:57 +0000

If you don’t have central air, if a window AC won’t work in your situation, and if a ductless mini-split or heat pump system would be too complex or costly for you, a portable air conditioner is your next best option.

The Midea Duo MAP14HS1TBL is quieter, more powerful, and more efficient than any other portable AC we’ve tested. It’s expensive, like most portable ACs, but it also functions as a heater, and that rare ability makes it a valuable all-season climate controller.

The Best Portable Power Station

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 16:43:03 +0000

If you’re going off the grid or prepping for an emergency, the EcoFlow River 2 Pro can keep your electronic gear running for hours — or even days — at a time.

It’s roughly the same size and weight as a toaster oven, and it provides a steady stream of power without the noise or exhaust of a gas-powered portable generator.

After researching and testing dozens of portable power stations over the past seven years, we found that the River 2 Pro easily stands out from the competition. It offers lots of power for its size and price, and it has a wide array of outlets and charging ports, an easy-to-use interface, and a relatively rugged exterior.

The Best Cold-Brew Coffee Maker

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 16:06:26 +0000

You don’t have to go to a coffee shop to get a great cup of cold-brew coffee. We’ve found that the OXO Good Grips Cold Brew Coffee Maker is the best vessel for making smooth, delicious iced coffee at home.

This model makes cold coffee with balanced acidity, and it has a stronger aroma and a cleaner finish than brews from the 20 other coffee makers we’ve tested. On top of that, the OXO Good Grips brewer is the easiest to use and clean.

What Wedding Planners Pack to Handle Emergencies on the Big Day

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 15:57:26 +0000

Behind the scenes of many picture-perfect weddings, professional planners are quietly working, making sure each moment goes off without a hitch.

Planners have many secret weapons, including detailed schedules and vendor contact lists. And many also employ carefully packed emergency kits. Often stashed in a rolling case, these kits are full of fix-it tools to mend a torn hem, calm a nervous parent, or straighten a crooked centerpiece before anyone even notices something’s wrong.

"As wedding planners, we hold ourselves to an excellence that is almost unachievable,” said Lynn Easton, a South Carolina–based wedding planner with 30 years of party-planning experience. “But the reality is that wedding planning is a living, breathing entity, so you need to be ready to roll with the punches.”

We asked three wedding planners what they keep in their day-of emergency kits. Surprisingly, the smallest items are often the ones that make the biggest difference when something goes awry. Maybe you’re organizing the big event, or perhaps you’re the friend who wants to always be prepared. Either way, by borrowing a few tricks from the pros, you can help keep things stress-free when it matters most.

Sharpening Your Knives Incorrectly Can Damage Their Blades. Here’s How to Do It Right.

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 15:20:53 +0000

A dull kitchen knife won’t do you or your cooking any favors.

Not only is keeping your knives sharp in the best interest of your fingertips, but it can also make slicing, dicing, and chopping much easier. A razor-sharp blade can seamlessly glide through the paper-thin skin of a tomato without leaving behind frayed, jagged edges. It allows for precise, clean cuts. And when you don’t have to spend as much time prepping ingredients, you can get to cooking much more quickly and efficiently.

But sharpening knives can be tricky, and if you do it incorrectly, your knives could be left in worse shape than before. We spoke with knife experts to learn their best sharpening tips, so you can restore your knives to their former glory.

10 Questions to Consider Before Buying Solar Panels

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 14:07:37 +0000

The final price to install solar panels on a rooftop might differ by $50,000 from one house to another. But some costs are common to almost every installation.

As you sketch out your dream system and think about your budget, our aim is to give you the knowledge to ask potential installers detailed, informed, and revealing questions.

A solar-panel system is expected to last for 30 years. The more you know now, the better the odds are that you’ll get a system you’ll want to keep for that long.

The Best Camping Chairs

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 13:41:15 +0000

Stumps, stools, boulders, and picnic tables are fine for sitting briefly outdoors. But if you want to kick back and stay comfy, the right camping chair can make all the difference.

Since 2016, our testers (with different body types and physical needs) have subjected camping chairs to multiple camping trips. We chose the Coleman Cooler Quad Chair as the model with the right combination of comfort, durability, usability, and price for most campers.

We also found options for campers looking for something a little different in a chair, including one with more support, a heavy-duty chair, a light one for backpackers, a chair with a built-in canopy, and a pick for kids.

Should You Filter Your Tap Water? Our Water-Quality Expert Weighs In.

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 13:00:32 +0000

In this edition of The Recommendation, our expert shares what he’s learned after a decade covering water quality for Wirecutter.

You ever hear that lore about writing in space? NASA engineers realized that astronauts would need to take notes while orbiting, and spent millions of dollars developing a pen that would work in zero gravity. Soviet engineers recognized the need, too — and issued pencils to the cosmonauts.

It’s complete fiction, but the kernel of wisdom it contains holds true: Before you throw money at a solution, make sure there’s a real problem to solve.

In the 10 years I’ve been reporting for Wirecutter, I’ve conducted all manner of tests. I’ve burned thousands of matches to measure the performance of air purifiers. I’ve pitted dehumidifiers against wet basements. And I’ve tested dozens of water filters, going as far as creating DIY rusty water — and drinking what came out of the filters — to see how effectively they resisted clogging. And sometimes, in my own extensive testing, I’ve come to realize: I may not need the thing I’m testing at all.

Take, for example, the tap water in my home. In reporting our guide to the best water-quality test kits, I’ve had my tap water lab-tested nearly a dozen times, in homes in New York City and New Jersey, by six companies and an independent laboratory. After all that, I learned there was almost nothing in it for a filter to do anything about. So I stopped filtering my water altogether.

You may find that you don’t need to filter your water, either. If your home is served by a utility, you can look up what’s been found in the water supply in its annual water quality report — which you can usually find on your utility’s website. If you want even more certainty, you can test your tap water the way I did. (Our top-pick test kit covers more than 100 potential contaminants. And if you’re concerned about forever chemicals, we recommend a test kit that screens specifically for PFAS.)

Of course, regardless of what your own testing reveals, there is merit to filtering if you so choose. Even if your water doesn’t contain contaminants, a basic filter can make it taste better by removing the chlorine disinfectant added at the water treatment plant. This might be top of mind, as the swimming-pool taste is always worst at this time of year, when warm temperatures necessitate more funk-causing chlorine.

The good news is that an inexpensive activated-carbon filter is all you need to make your water taste better. In fact, you may already own one: the humble, reliable Brita— the No. 2 pencil of the filter world.

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

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 12:00:29 +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.

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

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 11:52:59 +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 Headlamp

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 09:58:38 +0000

Whether you’re headed into the backcountry or just taking your dog on a nighttime walk, with a good headlamp you’ll never be caught in the dark.

We’ve been testing headlamps since 2012, and after subjecting them to years of late-night hikes, evening runs, and stargazing sessions, we still think the Black Diamond Spot (the current version being the Spot 400) is the best headlamp.

The Best Beach Umbrella Is Not Actually an Umbrella

Mon, 14 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.