Dollar Digits Blogger Feed

The Best Milk Frothers

Sat, 08 Nov 2025 01:32:22 +0000

Frothed milk is one of those little luxuries that can make your day feel special. When a barista hands you a steaming cappuccino or a fragrant London fog, everything gets a little bit brighter.

Good milk frothers bring this indulgence home, giving you a foolproof way to prepare velvety milk foam whenever you want (or need) it. They’re also handy for mixing up a protein shake, a matcha latte, or a rich cup of hot chocolate. After testing 14 milk frothers in a range of styles, we recommend the Instant MagicFroth 9-in-1, the MatchaBar Electric Matcha Whisk, and the Golde Superwhisk. They’re simple to use and easy to clean, and they churn out thick, consistent foam.

The Best Pour-Over Coffee Makers

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 22:15:47 +0000

There’s a reason pour-over is the preferred brewing method at many high-end cafés: It’s a simple way to make freshly brewed coffee on demand. And pour-over coffee reveals flavors and aromas you might not get from bulk-brewed batches held in thermal carafes.

When you’re using fresh-roasted beans at home, a manual dripper is a great tool for getting the most from your brewing ritual. After making several hundred cups, we found the Kalita Wave 185 Dripper to be both consistent and easy to master.

And we strongly recommend getting a good grinder, kettle, and scale to complete your setup (though they’re not essential). These tools will make it much easier for you to consistently brew a truly great cup.

The 21 Best Tech Gifts for Any Gadget Lover

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 21:10:33 +0000

Technology is just a part of life. We take photos with our smartphones, use GPS to track our pets, and, well, struggle to keep up with the latest charging cords. When it’s working well, technology can make our lives easier and simply more fun.

Whether the person you’re buying for is a hardcore early adopter or a quasi-Luddite who can’t get the printer working, we’ve got handy, helpful, and delightful gift ideas, including a portable projector, a stylish speaker, and a charging station for three devices.

If you’re looking for even more best-in-class tech picks, head over to our coverage on Wirecutter-recommended electronics, gaming, and smart-home devices, all tested by our expert tech and smart-home teams.

The Texan Turkey That Saved Thanksgiving

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 21:00:48 +0000

It was the fall of 2019, and I was in my parents’ new living room, discussing Thanksgiving plans after a massive cross-country move that left half of my family back in Texas.

We didn’t even know who would be where on the big weekend; it was looking like it would be just me and my parents. So we started debating how to cut down on our usually massive menu — and whether it was even worth making our traditional pot of post-Thanksgiving gumbo for so few people.

But we missed home and the Texas-style barbecue we’d left behind. Smoked turkey, we mused, would make a much better gumbo. And honestly, is it even Thanksgiving without gumbo?

We no longer had a smoker, but we already knew where to turn. For years, a family friend had been ordering their bird from Greenberg Smoked Turkey, in Tyler, Texas. We preordered the turkey that same day.

Six years later, I’m still ordering a Greenberg Smoked Turkey as my Thanksgiving centerpiece, and I’m still making it into gumbo.

And, really, I’m using other celebrations as an excuse to order it, too. Greenberg ships its turkeys year-round (it smokes a whopping 2,500 turkeys daily), and they’re available in a range of sizes. So there’s no need to relegate succulent, smoky, herby meat to just one day out of the year.

Our Favorite Kitchen Aprons

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 20:46:38 +0000

Whether you’re in the kitchen nightly or just occasionally, you’ll cook with more confidence in a great-fitting apron that keeps your clothes safe from splatters.

After inviting a wide range of people with different body types to test over 30 aprons, we found 12 that we highly recommend.

Our picks are comfortable and durable, and they’ll allow you to cook in style for years to come.

This Splatterware Sheet Pan Makes a Glorious Little Gift

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 18:08:16 +0000

Before I got married, I was hellbent on not having a wedding registry.

My husband and I had already lived together for four years, and it felt silly to add material items to our already-full, quite-small apartment.

But then I had a sobering realization: Without a registry, well-meaning great aunts or friends of my in-laws would go off-book, and we’d be left with a stockpile of “Mr.” and “Mrs.” mugs or worse — signage emblazoned with “The Rankels.” (I did not change my last name.)

So I did what any persnickety, particular person would do — I sat down and curated an exhaustive list of nice-to-have items. A few months later, at my bridal shower, I tore open pie-in-the-sky gifts with glee, but the best item ended up being one of the most humble: a petite enamelware tray in a peppy teal-and-white splatter pattern.

Don’t get me wrong, I swear by some of the Wirecutter picks I added to our list. I marvel every time the Zojirushi Neuro Fuzzy Rice Cooker churns out plump, chewy rice, and I proudly display my Le Creuset Dutch oven on the stove when it’s not in use. But of the items from our registry, the one I reach for most often is Crow Canyon’s small splatterware tray.

A Goldilocks-size sheet pan with a Pollock-y paint job

Crow Canyon Enamelware Small Rectangular Tray

This splatterware sheet pan is about the size of a piece of computer paper, so it’s perfect for roasting sides, reheating leftovers, and serving snacks.

$28 from Crow Canyon

28 Kids Birthday Party Favors That Aren’t Junk

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 17:45:34 +0000

A couple of years ago, my kids (then ages 9, 6, and 4) started coming home from birthday celebrations and other events with goodie bags. You may be familiar with them too — Mary Poppins–esque sacks overflowing with candy and flimsy, single-use toys that bring joy for barely a moment before becoming trash.

Listen, I’ll take the joy! But I also wondered if there might be a better way to approach these party favors — surely it’s possible to find goodie-bag contents that aren’t destined for the landfill. With input from some of my Wirecutter colleagues and fellow parents and caregivers, we made it our mission to round up and test fun, good-quality (but not too pricey) items that won’t feel like clutter — including books, art supplies, activities, tasty treats, and more.

Many of us have seen firsthand how much kids love digging through grab bags of small treasures, and we include plenty of suggestions that can be mixed and matched (and don’t cost an arm and a leg). But we’ve also found that when it comes to sending guests home with swag, sometimes less is more, and it can be equally satisfying to get one extra-special object. So some of our picks are standalone items — no bags required!

The Best Umbrella Stroller

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 17:44:48 +0000

A solid umbrella stroller is a great option for going on occasional trips or stowing in a closet at the grandparents’ house.

As a style, umbrella strollers are being phased out in favor of the more popular — and more expensive — travel stroller. After a new round of testing the best of the umbrella strollers that are still for sale, we determined that our longtime top pick, the Summer 3Dlite Convenience Stroller, remains the single best option. It’s a lightweight, easy-to-use umbrella stroller that meets all of a parent’s basic needs at an affordable price.

The Best Workout Earbuds and Headphones

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 17:15:32 +0000

Working out has never been an agreeable endeavor for me, even though I do it five days a week. I push myself until my muscles fail, my lungs burn, and my heart beats faster than a caffeinated hamster. The only way I can regularly endure and repeat this process is through musical bribery, in the form of an endorphin-boosting playlist. I put in my earbuds, play something with a beat that drowns out the complaints lodged by my body, and get it done.

There are a million excuses for skipping a workout, but your headphones shouldn’t be among them. They need to stay put, feel comfortable, sound great, and handle more than a little sweat. The Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 earbuds do all of those things — and more.

Black Friday Is Three Weeks Away. We’ve Already Found Over 30 Great Deals.

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 16:00:03 +0000

I’ve covered Black Friday sales for Wirecutter since 2016. Each year, retailers crow about incredible prices, inundating inboxes and sending a flurry of mailers that proclaim epic savings. And while the official date of this mega sale remains the day after Thanksgiving (that’s November 28 this year), 2025 continues a major trend: Black Friday sales are growing in length. Target's early Black Friday sale launched this week. Best Buy's early sale is ongoing. Amazon launches more early discounts almost daily.

Early Black Friday discounts now start weeks before the event — as early as October — and some simply aren’t that great.

Potential tariff impacts, plus the ever-expanding window in which you can buy, make it all the more important to take an informed approach to Black Friday sales this year. But it has never been more difficult to figure out which items on your list you can square away early and which ones you should wait to buy. With some retailers even abandoning price match and price protection policies during the Black Friday period, timing your purchase to a great sale is key to getting the most for your money.

We thoroughly vet pre-holiday sale prices on Wirecutter picks so that only the best early Black Friday discounts appear in our coverage. With the deals below — and those we’ll continue to add to this list as they go live — you can square away holiday shopping without the fear of getting a bad product or a bad price.

The Best Smart Bird Feeders

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 15:56:31 +0000

Some people camp out with a pair of binoculars to spy on their feathered friends, but for backyard birders, there’s the smart bird feeder. These models include a small wireless camera that gives you an up-close view of live and recorded visits. Some even have bird-recognition technology that can ID your visitors. It’s like having your own private on-demand nature channel.

We recommend the Birdbuddy Pro because it produces stunning imagery, has a lively in-app community, provides more information than a bird encyclopedia, and limits notifications to the best encounters.

Note that Birdbuddy has announced the Birdbuddy 2 and an updated version of this Pro model, both due in 2026. For now, this is the best model.

The Best Tech and Apps for Your Home Office

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 15:40:45 +0000

Working from home is all about flexibility — in scheduling, sure, but also in how you set up your workspace. Whereas an IT department might assign your equipment in the office, at home you probably get to choose many of the apps and peripherals you use to get work done.

If that sounds like your situation, you’re in luck. We’ve spent more than 10 years finding the best gear across a wide range of categories, and we’ve collected our picks here to save you time and stress.

The Best Dishwashers

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 15:30:04 +0000

The dishwasher is one of the original labor-saving appliances. It also conserves water and energy. There are plenty of good dishwashers out there. But a great one — excellent at cleaning, easy to load, quiet, and reliable — goes above and beyond.

After scouring customer reviews and stress-testing more than 30 models, we recommend the Miele G5008 as the first dishwasher you should consider.

5 Sweaters That Would Make Truly Excellent Gifts

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 14:45:32 +0000

In this edition of The Gift, we’ve got a lineup of highly giftable sweaters. Plus: super-soft, vintage-style sweatpants and the best women’s white T-shirts.

Who among us has not awakened on a chilly fall morning with a sense of cozy contentment, padded to their closet, and pulled out a beloved sweater — only to find themselves squeezing one arm through a shrunken armpit hole tighter than a blood-pressure cuff? Or the opposite: A year in your closet has left what once fit like a glove stretched out into something so lifeless it’s utterly unwearable. Or maybe you’re able to slip into it, only to look down and see pilling beyond repair.

These are some of the perils one faces in sweater weather. And yet each year we yearn for the season all the same. With boundless optimism, we romanticize pulling a warm knitted cocoon over our heads on that first crisp morning, ochre leaves floating lazily past our cracked windows. Because here’s the thing: a really, really good sweater? Well, it’s sartorial magic. It’s cinematic. You are the embodiment of cozy. You are Sally, meeting your Harry. There is nothing you cannot take on, shoulders draped in perfect knit squared against the bitter wind.

The power of gifting a sweater, then, comes with great responsibility. You are either bestowing upon your loved one the stuff dreams and iconic rom-coms are made of, or something that will inevitably become a real pain. Let’s try for the former, shall we?

In the words of gifts editor Hannah Morrill: “There’s just something about the JPress Shaggy Dog Crewneck Sweater.” Made from hand-brushed Shetland wool in Scotland, it manages to be simultaneously classic and savvy. It could be the fine, loosely twisted yarn, she muses, or the nubby, hand-brushed texture, or perhaps it’s the vibrant, dynamic colors. But whatever it is, says Hannah, “once you recover from the sticker shock, you can’t do better than this classic.” I’m personally quite drawn to this cable-knit red for the holidays.
There are few sweaters more timeless than a fisherman’s — and this one from Blarney Woollen Mills, a 200-year-old Irish textile company, is pretty much the platonic ideal of the form. It’s soft but not scratchy. And while the care instructions are a bit finnicky, as long as your giftee follows them, it should last for decades without pilling, bulging, or bagging.
There’s a reason the TikTok girlies are abuzz over J.Crew’s roll-neck — the same one our own style expert Hannah Frye declared “the perfect sweater” last year. It hangs in a deeply flattering, vintage-cool way, thanks to its heaviness and slightly oversized cut. The men’s version is truly unisex. But I’m considering adding the new women’s version in cream and its cute, slightly flouncier sleeves to my rotation this year, too.
I’ve waxed poetic about Babaa’s sweaters before — and particularly about what a great gift these one-size-fits-all, heirloom wool beauties can make. I’ve worn mine (no11 in black) pretty much daily for three winters and counting, and it still looks and fits like the day I bought it. I think any of their iconic turtlenecks — which can be worn up or rolled down for two different looks — would delight nearly any recipient. (This handsome, non-dyed misty hued one is especially nice.)
And lastly, for shockingly affordable cashmere: Our style experts found that these men’s and women’s Quince crewnecks felt far more expensive than their $50ish (!) price tags. They’re light but not flimsy, well constructed, and wonderfully itch-free. Sure, these might not last forever like some of the above, but if your giftee treats them with care, they’ll get plenty of life out of them. And as one of our testers put it: “For such a soft and versatile sweater, the price is basically unbeatable.”

Black Friday Is Three Weeks Away. We’ve Already Found Over 30 Great Deals.

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 12:58:03 +0000

Early Black Friday discounts now start weeks before the event — as early as October — and some simply aren’t that great.

The Best Men’s and Women’s Cashmere Sweaters

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 05:00:24 +0000

Sumptuously soft and terrifically cozy, a cashmere sweater is a welcome and worthy addition to any wardrobe. It’s also an investment. So finding one that looks great, feels comfy, and will last a long time is especially important.

On a quest for cashmere sweaters that are worth cherishing, our panel of style experts tested nearly 70 men’s, women’s, and unisex options (poor us!) in a variety of weights and cuts. We tugged on cuffs and collars, and we purposely pilled the knits. We assessed their warmth in over-air-conditioned offices, at blustery soccer games, and in frigid supermarket-produce sections.

After all that, we landed on 16 standouts to suit a range of tastes, climates, and budgets. You don’t need any of them. But the right cashmere sweater can be a wonderful — and oh-so-rewarding — indulgence.

The Best Online Flower Delivery Service

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 05:00:00 +0000

Like love itself, flowers are delicate and unique. And that is exactly why it’s so tricky to get both right.

In our five years of testing for this guide, we’ve found that online flower delivery services are spotty. Think shipping delays and cargo jostling, extreme temperatures, and variability in when and how buds will open up. Plus, they’re not cheap.

To that end, we think most people are best served by a reliable local florist who can deliver their own bouquets at peak bloom, without shipping complications or additional overhead. But if you don’t know of a local florist, online services can be a useful and convenient option.

Over the years, we’ve tested more than a dozen services at different times of year, ordering various arrangements to ship to multiple locations around the country. Only one service — our top pick UrbanStems — has regularly met our standards for reliability, longevity, and a crowd-pleasing assortment of stylish bouquets. We also recommend Costco, a trustworthy option that offers more classic flowers for incredible value.

The Best Tablet for Kids

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 22:53:10 +0000

The best tablet for your pre-K to middle-school kid is usually the one you aren’t using anymore.

But if you need to buy one, we recommend Apple’s 11th-generation iPad. After hundreds of hours spent testing tablets, we’ve concluded that it has the best combination of ease of use, performance, kid-appropriate app selection, and price. It can do anything your kid might want, from schoolwork to games. And it’s Wirecutter’s choice for the best all-around tablet as well.

If you want to spend less, consider the Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids or Fire HD 8 Kids Pro. They have slower speeds and fewer app and game options than the iPad, but they do come with a childproof case and a generous warranty. We also have advice on buying used and refurbished tablets.

How to Clean Stuffed Animals and Dolls (Trust Us, They’re Gross)

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 22:03:08 +0000

Watching an adorable kid lovingly curl up with their favorite stuffed animal can be achingly cute … until you think about where that stuffie has been. The sandbox, the car trunk, the dog’s mouth — oh, my! And then, ugh, what’s been on that stuffie (I have observed a kid burying boogers into the fur of their favorite stuffed lion).

Are Toy Subscription Boxes Worth It?

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 21:51:57 +0000

Pots and pans. Gardening gloves. A set of old keys from the junk drawer. These are just a few of the things that my five young kids have played with and obsessed over — despite the avalanche of actual toys to choose from in our house.

Kids will play with just about anything, and sometimes they gravitate toward random objects in lieu of even the nicest toys. So when toy subscription services joined the list of things you can have automated, personalized, and sent straight to your doorstep, I wondered why I would spend money on a new box of toys each month when I’d made it through nearly a decade of parenting without them.

Many families do swear by toy subscription boxes, however, so when Wirecutter asked me to compare a handful of the top services, I was admittedly curious.

Over five months in late 2024, my household received 12 carefully packed cardboard boxes of toys, books, and activities made by three different companies: KiwiCo, Lalo, and Lovevery. I compared the contents of each box, and I observed how my own children reacted to each element — both in those exciting brand-new-toy moments and in the weeks and months that followed.

In addition to my own testing and research, I also assessed online reviews and gathered feedback from other parents who have used these toy boxes with their kids, including four parents on Wirecutter’s staff.

My conclusion: These boxes are wonderfully helpful for some families and a total headache for others. If the concept appeals to you, we think the best options are from Lovevery and KiwiCo.

Here’s what to know as you consider whether subscription boxes are right for you.

The Best 4K Projectors

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 19:20:22 +0000

Reports of cinema’s death may be greatly exaggerated, but the lack of theater etiquette, the ever-increasing run times of today’s blockbusters, and the exorbitant cost of Milk Duds may be a turnoff for many movie lovers. That doesn’t mean you have to abandon the big-screen vibe entirely. If you have the space and budget, a high-performance 4K projection system is a worthy investment that can keep you entertained — at home, and on your terms — for years to come.

Epson’s Home Cinema LS11000 is our favorite 4K projector for a dedicated home theater, while the Hisense C2 Ultra is a fantastic all-in-one, smart projector that’s perfect for a living room.

The Best Car Window Breakers

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 18:55:44 +0000

In The Fast and the Furious films, cars burst into flames or plunge into deep water on the regular.

In reality, those types of accidents are relatively rare.

The National Fire Protection Association reported an estimated 643 civilian deaths annually as a result of car fires from 2018 to 2022, while commonly cited research estimates 350-400 annual traffic fatalities as a result of drowning — a fraction of a percent of the total motor-vehicle accident deaths.

Still, even that limited risk, and the fear it can stoke, is real enough to inspire an industry of automotive-rescue tools and glass breakers, all marketed to save your life in a crash. The idea is that these small, inexpensive tools can sit innocuously and unused in your car or on a keychain, but in a true emergency, they could help break window glass to free you from a wrecked, fiery, or flooding car.

Working alongside firefighters and first responders, we tested several such tools on junked cars in Connecticut to see if they worked to quickly break a window as a means of escape — because if there’s a simple contingency plan available, why take even a tiny risk?

The Best Smart Water-Leak Detector

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 18:50:45 +0000

Water damage is the second leading cause of property damage, and about one in 60 insured homes files a claim due to water or freezing damage each year. Smart water-leak detectors are one way to discover a water-leak issue before it becomes a disaster. These puck-like devices can detect pooling water, trigger an alarm, and send you a smartphone notification.

The YoLink Water Leak Sensor 4 is the best smart water-leak detector we tested, due to its quick response time, effective alarm, and easy setup.

The Best External Hard Drive

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 18:45:18 +0000

Whether you need to back up your computer or get more space for a growing media library, external hard drives are the easiest, most cost-effective option for more storage. Portable drives like the Western Digital My Passport Ultra (5 TB) require only a single USB cable attached to your computer, so they’re convenient to use and carry with a laptop in more than one place. Desktop drives require both a USB cable and a power outlet but are generally faster, so they’re better suited to everyday work with files on the drive rather than occasional access or backups.

The Best Dolls

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 18:40:24 +0000

For many kids, dolls aren’t just toys — they’re tools for telling stories, exploring the world, and making sense of growing up.

A doll can invite a kid to celebrate their own identity and explore those of others. And experts have zeroed in on another developmental benefit of dolls: their ability to teach kids empathy.

We interviewed teachers, therapists, and psychologists, and we invited some 50 children to play with dozens of dolls. Here are 11 we recommend, for babies through preteens.

The Best Kids Sleeping Bags

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 18:30:42 +0000

Whether you’re planning a family camping trip, packing for summer camp, or prepping for a childhood’s worth of slumber parties, the right sleeping bag can help a kid sleep soundly in an unfamiliar spot.

After comparing 16 kid-size bags over the past seven years, we think most children will be happy to crawl into the REI Co-op Kindercone 25. It’s durable and warm, and it comes with a standout stuff sack. This bag should last from toddlerhood all the way through the tween years.

The Best Smart Plugs

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 17:50:34 +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) is our rugged outdoor pick, and the TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip (HS300) is our top pick for a multi-outlet option.

Learning Toys and STEM Toys We Love

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 16:53:19 +0000

We don’t think there’s a right or wrong way for kids to play. The benefit of learning toys or STEM toys — open-ended games, kits, toys, and crafts — is that they promote lifelong skills, such as critical thinking, problem-solving, logic, and even coding. Since 2016, we’ve spent more than 50 hours trying 53 recommendations from experts, educators, and parents. And of course, we tried them out with dozens of kids.

These are the learning toys we love. The kids in your life will love them, too.

The Best LCD/LED TV

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 16:50:27 +0000

Higher-end LCD TVs offer better brightness, color, and contrast than their budget-oriented siblings do, and the best can almost match OLED TVs in quality — for a more tolerable price.

The Hisense U8QG is the best LCD/LED TV we’ve tested this year because it has the advanced features to satisfy both movie lovers and gamers, and it boasts picture quality rivaling that of much pricier TVs.

The Best Home Theater Projectors Under $1,500

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 16:40:28 +0000

If you want to create a big-screen movie experience at home on a modest budget, we recommend either the BenQ HT2060 or the Hisense M2 Pro, depending on your room. Both projectors have good image contrast and color accuracy, and most importantly both are bright enough to present an engaging image on a 100-inch-or-larger screen.

The BenQ has a traditional projector form factor with features suited for a dedicated home theater, while the Hisense is an all-in-one, smart projector that’s great for a more casual space.

The Best Exercise Bikes

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 16:36:19 +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.

Ask Wirecutter: Are There Cheap Products That Are Better Than Their Pricey Counterparts?

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 16:35:00 +0000

Welcome to Ask Wirecutter, where deputy editor Annemarie Conte helps you figure out how to make the most of your stuff in real life. If you have a shopping conundrum for our advice columnist, submit it using this form.

Dear Wirecutter,

My husband is an “order the most expensive thing on the menu” kind of guy, but because of how I was raised, I have trouble splashing out even when we can afford it. Settle a debate for us: What are some products where the cheaper version is just as good as, or maybe even better than, the pricey one?

V.M.

Dear V.M.,

I don’t think we can so neatly categorize people as either spenders or savers. In my experience, I’ve found that everyone with disposable income has some things that they like to spend on and others where they become a total skinflint. Wirecutter’s philosophy is all about being an informed shopper and making the decision that’s best for you.

There are some product categories that you should not cheap out on because the inexpensive versions simply don’t work very well. But on the flip side, just because an item has a large marketing budget doesn’t automatically make it good. Sometimes you can find a more humble model that is solidly designed and constructed. And sometimes it’s never worth spending extra money because nothing in the category is built to last.

These Supposedly Odor-Removing Laundry Pods Failed to Pass Our Sniff Test

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 16:32:02 +0000

In a rush, you reach for the last clean T-shirt in your drawer. But as you pull the shirt over your head, you get a whiff of something unmistakable. Stale body odor. Great.

Luckily, many clothing smells can easily be ousted with our recommended method for doing most loads of laundry: using a high-quality laundry detergent and a cold wash cycle.

But some particularly pungent odors are more stubborn and tend to linger — we’re looking at you, mildew, body odor, and pet smells. This is especially true with certain fabrics, like synthetics. When that happens, your laundry might need a boost.

My go-to tested method for tackling stink is to run a cycle with hot water (which kills odor-causing microbes) and to add a scoop of Borax (which helps stabilize the enzymes in detergent that break down smells, so they can be more effective). This method has served me well, but I’ve hoped for another one using cold water, which is gentler on fabric over time and uses less energy.

I thought I might have found an answer in Dropps’ new Odor Eraser pods, which don’t specify a water temperature to use. Marketed for use on “stinky athletic wear, funky pet bedding, and musty towels,” the pods can be tossed directly into the drum of the machine along with your usual laundry detergent.

So I had high hopes when I tossed a pod into the machine along with my husband’s mildewy bath towels. After a cold cycle, they emerged from the dryer, and I buried my nose into them. One whiff, and it was obvious: These pods didn’t do half the job of a hot cycle and a scoop of Borax.

Maybe my experience was an anomaly, however (or perhaps our towels were exceptionally stinky). To get a better picture of the pods’ effectiveness, I enlisted five Wirecutter testers with uniquely odiferous laundry — including kitchen rags, particularly ripe dog bedding, sweaty workout clothes, period underwear, and mildew-laden towels. We were still not impressed.

The Best Nail Clippers for Older Adults and People With Disabilities (That Are Also Great for Everyone)

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 15:48:18 +0000

If you are older, have a disability, or have balance issues, you may find it difficult to clip your fingernails and toenails with traditional nail clippers. From scissor-grip snips to automatic guillotine chops, hundreds of alternative clipper styles abound, all designed to make trimming and clipping safer and easier for people grooming their own fingernails and toenails or for caregivers. After testing 10 styles of adaptive nail clippers, we recommend four sufficiently sharp, safe, and easy-to-use options: three lever-style clippers (including our top-pick traditional nail clippers) and an electric nail file.

We Actually Like These Freaky Toe Shoes

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 15:45:09 +0000

With their amphibian-looking design, toe shoes have never been particularly flattering, let alone stylish. The last thing I expected was for them to become a bona fide fashion trend.

When barefoot running, a practice that urged runners to do away with traditional cushioned sneakers, became popular in the 2000s and 2010s, toe shoes also emerged as a meaningful segment of the footwear market. (By 2011, barefoot-style footwear had become a $1.7 billion industry.) The main toe shoe of choice for runners was Vibram’s FiveFingers, which launched in 2006. The shoes quite literally fit like a glove, and thanks to their rubber soles and toe pockets, they give the impression that the wearer is truly barefoot.

Now, toe shoes have jumped into the fashion world, with brands such as Coperni and Balenciaga also making their own toe-shaping shoes. But it’s Vibram’s FiveFingers line that continues to thread the needle between fitness and fashion, dominating the trend’s second coming.

In January, Vogue declared FiveFingers the must-have “freaky-chic shoe” of 2025. Attendees at Copenhagen Fashion Week and New York Fashion Week styled them with everything from maxi skirts to sweatpants. Searches for Vibram’s FiveFingers spiked by 110% during the second quarter of 2025 on Lyst, the fashion search engine and marketplace. Vibram’s V-Soul, a Mary Jane–style model, was the fifth hottest product of Q2, according to Lyst, alongside items from high-fashion labels The Row and Prada.

The buzz piqued my curiosity.

A Copenhagen Fashion Week attendee in pink toe shoes. Edward Berthelot/Getty Images

Trendy toe shoes for yoga and beyond

Vibram V-Soul

One of 2025’s top trending shoes, the V-Soul is a comfortable, flexible, and somewhat stylish shoe that you can wear everywhere, from the office to physical therapy.

$120 from Vibram

So, writer Hannah Frye and I put the V-Soul shoes through more than 30 hours of everyday wear: styling them for work, weekend fun, and errands. And it turned out that one colleague, outdoors writer India Edwards, can speak to the V-Soul’s longevity and versatility, as she has worn them “just about every other day” for nearly two years, for both work and light fitness activities. “I wear them so often, I keep them by the front door permanently,” she said.

It was no surprise that the shoes were ultra comfortable. But Hannah and I were stunned to find ourselves actually enjoying working them into our wardrobes, even though we’re both not necessarily inclined toward the avant-garde. They’re comfortable, unique, and versatile enough to blend aesthetics and practicality with ease.

Here’s why they worked for us.

The Best Toilet Plunger

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 15:13:56 +0000

We’ve all been there. Staring in helpless horror at the relentlessly rising water of a toilet you just attempted to flush, praying the liquid doesn't crest the rim.

There’s only one way out: A plunger.

We mounted a toilet atop a homemade test rig complete with an elevated platform and transparent plumbing beneath so that we could visibly measure several plungers' performance on a clog. In the end, one plunger—the Korky 99-4A Max Performance Plunger—had the power to out-plunge all the others.

3 (Somewhat Unexpected) Bathroom-Cleaning Tips

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 14:12:43 +0000

In this edition of Clean Everything, our cleaning experts share their tried-and-true methods for getting a bathroom pristine.

Sanitizing and disinfecting your bathroom frequently is unfortunately an unskippable chore. But a little regular maintenance can go a long way in reducing the ick factor and cutting down on deep cleans. Below, three somewhat unexpected hacks that Wirecutter’s cleaning experts swear by to keep your entire bathroom — even perpetually stinky bath towels — pristine.

Black Friday Is More Than Three Weeks Away. We’ve Already Found Over 30 Great Deals.

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 14:00:03 +0000

Early Black Friday discounts now start weeks before the event — as early as October — and some simply aren’t that great.

The Best Fitness Trackers

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 22:24:03 +0000

Wrist-worn fitness trackers that can monitor your steps and heart rate were once seen as cutting-edge devices. Now these wearables are becoming more high-tech with each release, equipped with features like personalized workout programs and the advertised ability to monitor stress or sleep quality.

Since 2015, we’ve run, walked, swam, cycled, and slept with 51 different fitness trackers day and night, to assess their accuracy, ease of use, and comfort. Although no tracker perfectly recorded every metric we tested, we found that the simply designed yet feature-packed Fitbit Inspire 3 is the best option for most people who want to monitor their activities, with metrics like distance traveled, step count, heart rate, and estimated calories burned.

The Best Winter Jackets and Raincoats for Dogs

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 21:18:27 +0000

The coat rack by my back door features three dedicated hooks: one for me, one for my wife, and one for our dog, Dave. When the mercury starts to drop, Dave, despite being covered with a wiry layer of fur, shivers and refuses to go outside unless he’s all bundled up.

He may be spoiled, but he’s no prima donna—plenty of pups might need an extra layer to stay comfy in foul conditions, depending on their breed, age, health, and conditioning. And in milder, wet weather, a light raincoat can keep most of a dog’s body dry and help minimize wet-dog smell after a walk—a relief for the entire household.

After researching and testing dozens of coats for dogs of all shapes and sizes, we found eight well-designed options to help any dog brave the elements.

The 35 Best Gifts for Your Mother-in-Law

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 19:39:11 +0000

Even though so many mothers-in-law are truly lovely, collectively they tend to get a bad rap. Maybe your MIL is your bestie and confidant, or maybe you’re just getting to know her. Either way, she did bring your beloved into the world, and she deserves a nod when an occasion arises where you can express your gratitude and affection (or at least try to get in her good graces).

The gifts on this list are for travelers, cooks, readers, hosts, gardeners, decorators, and loungers, because in the end, your mother-in-law is a person as unique and individual as anyone else.

There’s a stunning crepe-paper flower, a kneeling pad for gardening , and a lovely tea-towel subscription service (you know you’re curious!).

Looking for a gift that speaks to her particular interest? Check out Gifts for Gardeners, Gifts for Book Lovers, or Gifts for Frequent Travelers. We also have Gifts for New Moms and Gifts for Mom.

The Best Christmas Lights

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 17:58:43 +0000

Christmas lights bring glimmering warmth to the holiday season — or your backyard, your favorite dive bar, or really anywhere else.

After more than 100 hours of researching, interviewing experts, and testing more than 70 different sets of string light, we believe the Pro Christmas T5 LED Christmas Lights offer the best combination of light quality, color accuracy, durability, and availability.

The 61 Best Gifts Under $100

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 17:52:03 +0000

The cost of unique, thoughtful gifts can add up alarmingly fast. Not to worry. We’ve spent thousands of hours on research and testing (some of which involved eating ice cream), plus some good old-fashioned retail hunting, to find these gems under $100.

If there’s a cook on your list, consider a handsome blue carbon-steel wok or a box of treats shipped straight from Japan. Buying for someone outdoorsy? We’ve got the best gardening shears around. And we have plenty of other ideas for homebodies, travelers, plant parents, and people who just like cool things.

If you’re looking for more-affordable gifts, check out our guides to the best gifts under $10, under $25, and under $50. Though we’ve made every effort to confirm that all of the picks in these guides meet the threshold, prices can dance around a bit, especially around the holidays.

The 52 Best Gifts for Frequent Travelers

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 17:40:30 +0000

Give the globe-trotter in your life a gift that will appeal to their sense of worldly wonder. Whether you’re seeking something for a backpacking newbie or a first-class-points–hacking vet, we have plenty of great finds to make flights, long customs lines, and hotel stays feel less arduous, more comfortable, and perhaps a bit more fun.

You could also give your favorite traveler special mementos and experiences to celebrate past trips and anticipate future expeditions. Whatever type of traveler you’re shopping for, there’s something here to suit their wanderlust, from a colorful toiletry bag to a chic hand sanitizer to a guide written by one of America’s favorite travelers.

Looking for guides to our vetted and tested travel gear? Check out all of Wirecutter’s travel-related recommendations, including the best travel pillows, packing cubes, and suitcases. You can also find out why we don’t recommend wasting your money on RFID-blocking wallets. And if you’re wondering what a New York Times fashion critic wears on a flight, read this advice from the one and only Vanessa Friedman.

The Best Bar Carts

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 17:39:49 +0000

Two notions that typically don’t go together: “Let’s get this party started!” and “Let’s get organized!” But both apply to bar carts.

Bar carts are primarily in the hospitality business, and with their jazz-lounge auras and twinkling wares, they bring happy-hour energy to any space they wheel into. But these carts are also a pragmatic sorting system and portable countertop in one — a place to store cocktail-party essentials like mixers and an ice bucket while still providing a dedicated spot to stir a Negroni. Using one means graduating from using an old platter to neatly corral the Scotch, gin, and that mystery cherry brandy no one remembers buying.

Bar carts are natural multitaskers. Depending on design and materials, a cart can serve as an extra set of kitchen shelves, double as a dessert bar at Friendsgiving, or live out life as an accent table, stacked with curated art books and potted jade plants.

What all bar carts have in common are wheels. While some owners choose to keep a cart parked in place, casters make it possible to go from kitchen to den, or to follow the party’s dance mob from one room to the next. These units should be ready to roll if a celebration calls for it but also when the party’s over and it’s time to vacuum.

We recently spent more than 30 hours researching and testing scores of models. These six impressed us most.

The Best Toilet Plunger

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 16:40:01 +0000

We’ve all been there. Staring in helpless horror at the relentlessly rising water of a toilet you just attempted to flush, praying the liquid doesn't crest the rim.

There’s only one way out: A plunger.

It’s Time to Retire the Loofah

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 16:37:49 +0000

Look, it’s okay. This is a safe space to admit that it feels good to scrub every crevice of your body with a loofah. But what even I once thought was a fast track to silky-smooth, exfoliated skin can come at a cost.

To put it plainly: Your loofah might be doing more harm than good.

That warm, damp shower your loofah lives in is essentially a microbial hotel. That makes it “basically a petri dish hanging in your shower,” said facial plastic surgeon Lara Devgan. “It traps dead skin cells, water, and bacteria, creating the perfect environment for microbes to thrive. Every time you reuse it, you’re spreading that bacterial film across freshly cleansed skin.” And as a result, using it increases the risk of breakouts and skin inflammation.

The First Sony E-Mount Lenses You Should Buy

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 16:30:20 +0000

Sony has been making mirrorless cameras since 2010, and the company now has — counting both E-mount (APS-C) and FE-mount (full-frame) — nearly 80 lenses to choose from. Combine that with the seemingly endless options from an ever-growing number of third-party manufacturers, and your head will spin trying to figure out which lenses make sense for your kit.

We’ve taken on the arduous task of sorting through all of the lenses made for this camera system to provide recommendations for a basic first lens that everyone should have, plus picks for an everyday zoom, a telephoto zoom, a wide-angle zoom, a portrait lens, and a macro lens.

If you don’t shoot with a Sony mirrorless camera but still want to invest in some great starter lenses, take a look at our lens guides for Canon EF- and RF-mount, Fujifilm X-mount, Nikon F-mount, and Nikon Z-mount bodies.

A Much Better-Looking Extension Cord for Hidden Outlets

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 15:24:35 +0000

You’ll know from the picture above whether the EZ Outlet is the kind of extension cord you’ve been looking for.

It’s a neutral-looking box that sticks to the wall, teleporting a regular outlet 2 to 3 feet up or to the side, out from behind a couch or dresser, without the clutter of a too-long extension cord or a too-bulky power strip.

No surprise, it’s a hit on TikTok.

I bought one to test at home, where I have no fewer than four outlets blocked by heavy furniture, a classic problem in old buildings with small rooms.

My conclusion: It’s a useful, sturdy-seeming product.

But it’s pricey, it doesn’t have the reach or flexibility to free up every hidden power socket, and (to put it politely) it didn’t suit the aesthetic tastes of everyone on our staff, so we also have a few alternatives that might better suit your needs or budget.

This Down Jacket Has Kept Me Warm for 12 Winters. And It Comes With Free Repairs.

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 15:07:35 +0000

I spent 22 years rebuffing my grandmother’s annual attempts at buying me a winter coat. Something about the folly of youth led me to believe that good cold-weather gear was for chumps, or that it said something about me if I was able to go without it.

On occasion, she did manage to wear me down. Now, looking back, I can measure out the seasons of my life in the winter clothes she bought me: the corduroy-collar barn coat that I wore all through fourth and fifth grade; the green rain jacket with a concealable hood in high school; the wide, extravagant, charcoal scarf that she knitted for me ahead of my first Chicago winter, which draped across my shoulders like chain mail; the authentic sailor’s peacoat which she trekked across New York City to find before my fall term abroad.

When my grandmother passed in 2013, we found a small envelope of cash in her dresser drawer and divided it equally among her grandchildren. There was no question in my mind as to what she would have wanted me to do with the money, so I went to a sporting goods store in lower Manhattan during an end-of-season sale.

Half an hour later, I walked out with the down coat I’ve worn for 12 consecutive winters: the Arc’teryx Thorium Hoody.