Every office is a microcosm of personalities, making the quest for the perfect gifts for coworkers both exciting and baffling. You’ve got the snack lover, whose bottomless drawer of treats resembles a mini convenience store, always offering a morsel during that midafternoon slump. There’s the wellness enthusiast, ever zealous to remind us to take a break and stretch. And let’s not forget the Gen Zer, a beacon of pop culture, stocked with podcast recommendations and eager to draw you into their latest binge-worthy obsession.
Even if your team is remote, these quirks show in the little details: Zoom backgrounds that reveal snippets of our personal lives, Slack banter that often teeters the line between productivity and procrastination, and those GIFs we can’t help but overuse. Shopping for a coworker can feel daunting, but you probably know them better than you think.
To help you brainstorm and reflect on some of the characters in your workplace, we’ve curated a gift guide for coworker that caters to every persona—from the foodie to the tech whiz. Don’t see anything you like? Check out our other gift guides, from travel gifts to gifts for the outdoorsy hiker and backpacker.
Blackout curtains are useful for a range of reasons—most obviously, blocking out sunlight, but also for reducing outside noises, temperature control (whether that be insulating for winter months or blocking out light to keep the room cooler in the summer), and ensuring privacy.
I wanted to try a myriad of curtain options that promised total blackout in a variety of different fabrics like polyester and velvet and with various hanging options, including pockets, grommet holes, clips, loops, and even suction cups. Many of these curtains had additional lining to further insulate against temperature and aid in noise reduction, so I also measured outside sound and temperature regulation.
I also took into account the ease of setup and hanging, and if there were multiple options for hanging, including using a double bar, attaching clips, or using pockets versus loops to see which way blocked sunshine the best.
I tested these on two windows, one that faces southeast and one that faces east—both get a huge amount of morning sun and, as a result, the room can get quite toasty during the summer months. I tested each curtain for a week, measuring how well it worked at all hours, including early mornings with the harsh sun, afternoons, nighttime, and when my door was closed and light was turned off. Although I live on a relatively quiet suburban street, I also monitored noise levels with the various curtains, since several on this list claim to be noise-reducing.
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Nearly all of our picks come in various sizes, most often with differing lengths. One panel will cover a standard-size window, but you may want to buy two for coverage and a more polished look. It’s a good idea to measure your window’s dimensions, especially from the curtain rod height to the floor, to ensure the curtain isn’t billowing on the ground or hanging up too high off the floor.
The curtains we tested all come in various forms, with grommet holes, pockets, clips, loops, and even suction cups for hanging options. Many have multiple hanging options—it’s all dependent on personal taste. I tested each way, but usually ultimately used the pocket to hang the curtain on a rod because it helped keep the curtain more flush to the window and wall. This allowed more coverage and less of a gap where sunlight could leak through.
Once you’ve installed your curtain rod above the window (a relatively simple task if you have the tools), you’ll want to take out the curtain from packaging and read the directions on care to see how to best take out the wrinkles (or not). If the curtain has multiple hanging options, you’ll choose which you’d like, but even the most complicated hangs with hooks or clips shouldn’t take more than five minutes. (Except the Amazon travel panel with suction cups; that one took about 15 minutes and was a pain.)
It’s getting cold outside, and it’s even worse for a person who’s always cold. The first crisp morning of the season sends your poor, perpetually cold loved one diving under the bedsheets, digging for the fuzzy socks, or fiddling with the thermostat when your back is turned. (Don’t look—they’re probably doing it right now.) This year, give the gift of warmth to your friend who is constantly shivering, sniffing, and suffering. From protective layers for outdoor adventures to cozy accessories, here’s how to show your hypothermic human you care.
Updated October 2024: We replaced older picks with newer warm ones, like slippers, flannel sheets, and a backyard hot tub. We also updated links and pricing.
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You might not think about your monitor too much, but whether you’re working or gaming in your home, that array of pixels blasting light at your face is important. A computer monitor can vastly improve your productivity if you’re working off a laptop, and a dual display setup can take things further. It can also make your games or movies look much, much nicer (or much worse). The folks on the WIRED Gear team use these large external screens every day in a variety of arrangements as we write our reviews, and naturally, we decided to review them too.
What to Look for in a Monitor
Let’s go over a few key points. Some of these factors may matter more for certain uses—for example, gamers generally care more about higher frame rates than office workers do—but they’re all handy to know going in.
Resolution: The bigger the monitor, the more it will benefit from higher resolutions. That will allow you to have app windows that take up less space but are still legible. Most monitors today are typically 1080p, 1440p (2K), or 4K.
Refresh rate: This refers to how many times the display can refresh the picture per second, measured in hertz (or Hz). A higher refresh rate makes the action in games look smoother because you’re seeing more information. For productivity, 60 Hz is more than enough, but gamers will generally want a panel that can hit 120 or 144 Hz. You’ll need a powerful enough computer that can maintain a high frame rate to take advantage of these high refresh rates, and you usually have to enable this feature in your operating system’s display settings.
Panel type: Monitors usually have a type of LCD (liquid-crystal display) panel. Three of the most popular options—twisted nematic (TN), vertical alignment (VA), and in-plane switching (IPS)—are all different types of LCD panels, and all use TFT (thin-film-transistor) technology too. Each is popular for different reasons: IPS for color, VA for contrast, and TN for speed with higher refresh rates and response times. IPS has become especially popular thanks to its growing refresh rate speeds. OLED (organic light-emitting diodes) panels are also gaining momentum in computer monitors. On these, each pixel lights up on and off, meaning you can get truer blacks and more vibrant colors, though often at the expense of brightness. You should think about what’s most important to you (great color? thin form factor? max brightness?) to choose the best panel type for your needs.
Nvidia G-Sync/AMD FreeSync support: A gamer-specific criteria, these two features let monitors adjust their frame rates based on the games they’re playing. This reduces screen tearing without affecting performance. G-Sync is made by Nvidia and FreeSync comes from AMD, and while FreeSync monitors can usually work with most modern Nvidia graphics cards, G-Sync doesn’t work with AMD cards, so make sure everything you have is compatible when buying.
HDR support: This isn’t crucial for productivity, but if you watch a lot of media or play games, it’s nice to have. Just like on TVs, HDR dramatically expands the range of colors a screen can reproduce, leading to more vivid pictures. Content still has to support HDR, but many sources do these days so it’s often worth springing for.
Port availability: A crucial but easy-to-overlook factor is what kind of ports the monitor has for connecting your devices. Most typically come with one or two HDMI inputs, and a DisplayPort input, which will cover most needs, but it’s always a good idea to check what your setup needs. Check out our Best USB Hubs and Docks guide if you need to expand your computer’s port options.
Built-in KVM switch: A KVM (Keyboard, Video, Mouse) switch is a device that helps you easily switch your monitor, keyboard, and mouse between two different computers or source inputs (like a gaming console). If you have one setup for both a work and personal computer, or a computer and gaming console, having a KVM switch built into the monitor means you can easily switch everything between your two devices without needing an external KVM switch.
How to Set Up Your Monitor
Once you have a monitor, you need a way to set it up on your workstation. Here are a few different accessories and options.
Stands: Most monitors come with a stand, and the flexibility of these stands can go a long way toward reducing neck strain and/or back pain. Ideal stands let you adjust the height, tilt, and rotation of a screen so you can position it exactly where you need it.
Mounting brackets: If you use monitor arms, then the type of mount the display uses is crucial. Most monitors use the VESA standard. You should check the size and type of mount on the equipment you have before buying.
Speakers: A lot of monitors come with built-in speakers, but I wouldn’t put much stock into them. They usually sound poor and don’t get very loud. You’re much better off getting a dedicated set of speakers. Check out our Best Speakers guide.
These are the best computer monitors of the many we’ve tested so far. There are hundreds of different kinds of PC monitors out there, so we’re continually testing and updating this guide. You’ll also find monitor buying advice at the bottom that explains any jargon you might not know. Be sure to check out other home office guides, including Best WFH Gear, Best Laptops, and Best USB Hubs and Docks.
Updated October 2024: We’ve added three new picks to this guide.
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It’s been a few years since the Xbox Series X and Series S launch, and while the console hasn’t broken sales records, there’s a respectable number in the wild. It’s about time for a refresh, and Microsoft is delivering new all-digital versions of its consoles (say goodbye to the optical drive). You can order themright now.
Whether you should is another question entirely. Microsoft has been pretty open about the fact that the company envisions a future where “every screen is an Xbox.” PC gaming on Windows—whether on gaming laptops or handhelds—is just as important to the company as the living room console. You can even stream Xbox games through a Fire TV stick now. Still, there are plenty of reasons to buy an Xbox Series X/S. It’s the most convenient way to set up a Microsoft-centric gaming system to play from your couch. So, if you’re interested, here’s how to buy one.
Updated October 2024: We’ve updated the language for the official launch day of the Xbox consoles.
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What’s Different About the New Xbox Consoles?
Similar to the recent PS5 Slim, there’s not much of a difference in this mid-cycle refresh of the Xbox. The Series X and Series S have more or less the same hardware under the hood. But there are a couple of small changes.
The Xbox Series X loses the disc drive and gets a white coat of paint. As an unapologetic Xbox Series S-owner, I like the white look more, so it’s nice to see it available on the more powerful hardware. This “all-digital” Xbox Series X starts at $450, about $50 less than its predecessor, a decent trade-off if you never bought physical copies of Xbox games.
The smaller Xbox Series S never had a disc drive, so there’s no drive to eliminate. Instead, for this refresh, Microsoft doubled the storage from 512 GB to 1 TB. The price has also gone up by $50 to $350. Given how huge AAA games can get, this seems like a no-brainer, though it’s worth noting that you can easily increase the storage of the current Xbox Series X or Series S with an expansion card.
Finally, Microsoft is releasing a special, limited-edition version of the original Xbox Series X (which has a disc drive) with a unique “Galaxy Black” paint job. This one has a space-like pattern of white and green dots with a generous 2 TB of storage. This model costs $600 and ships when the other upgraded consoles drop in mid-October.
Microsoft also recently replaced the Xbox Game Pass for Console tier of its subscription service with a new offering called Xbox Game Pass Standard. This includes the same library of console games as well as online console multiplayer service. The catch is you won’t get access to day-one releases. You’ll have to wait for some time to play certain games after release. Microsoft’s FAQ says this could be “up to 12 months or more,” which technically includes all possible lengths of time, but it seems the average delay for new releases is likely around a year. This new tier costs $15 per month, while Game Pass Ultimate—which previously cost $17 a month—has been bumped to $20 monthly.
No one likes the feeling of insect repellent. I have vivid memories of being sprayed down with the stuff as a kid before venturing into the woods in northern Minnesota on family vacations and feeling like chemical warfare was being waged on all of my senses. I was willing to endure it because being covered in mosquito bites is even worse. And the truth is, wearing repellent can save your life, protecting you against West Nile virus and Lyme disease, just to name a few of the pathogens mosquitos and ticks can pass on.
“Insect repellents are designed to affect insects’ senses and prevent them from finding humans,” says Sonja Swiger, a professor at Texas A&M University’s Department of Entomology. “The use of these products provides protection to humans that cannot be achieved by anything else.” Essentially, environmental mosquito management programs can’t completely protect you from the bugs. If you’re going to be outside for a long period of time, especially in areas where biting bugs are common, applying repellent is a smart idea.
The good news is that there are way more products with different formulas available now than, say, when I was a kid. Protecting yourself doesn’t have to be a totally miserable experience. Here is everything you need to know about various insect repelling chemicals, how to choose the right product for your needs, and our top picks for the best insect repellents on the market.
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What’s the Difference Between the Chemicals Used in Insect Repellents?
There are four widely available topical repelling chemicals that have been approved for use by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the CDC, and the Environmental Working Group (EWG), which means there’s ample evidence that they’re safe and effective against mosquitoes and ticks. These are DEET, picaridin, IR3535, and oil or lemon eucalyptus (also called OLE and p-menthane-3,8-diol, or PMD, its synthetic form).
There’s also permethrin, which is a repellent you can apply to gear like tents and clothing, which is also approved by the EPA and CDC. Citronella oil, cedar oil, geranium oil, lemongrass oil, soybean oil, and peppermint oil don’t have robust research to show that they’re great repellents for ticks and mosquitos. Though some folks may find them useful, they aren’t long-lasting or effective in environments with lots of bugs, according to the EWG. Below, you can find the pros and cons of the four aforementioned EPA-approved bug repelling chemicals that you can apply to skin.
DEET: N, N-diethyl-meta-toluamide, otherwise known as DEET, is probably the chemical you’ve heard the most about, as it’s been used since 1957 and widely studied as an insect repellent. “It’s the gold standard that all other products are tested against,” says Swiger. It’s one of the most effective options—studies in the EPA’s database show that, at varying concentrations, DEET can ward off ticks for two to 10 hours, and mosquitoes for two to 12 hours. Per an EPA-approved label, a product with 20 percent DEET can prevent bites from mosquitos for 11 hours.
In most instances, 30 percent or less of an active ingredient will be sufficient for protection, says Swiger, and per an EPA-approved label, a product with 20 percent DEET can prevent bites from mosquitos for 11 hours. Per the EPA, DEET can be used on children without any age restriction. The downsides are that DEET smells awful, is oily, and can damage anything with plastic in it, like synthetic clothing and camping gear.
Picaridin: This chemical hasn’t been in use as long as DEET, but it’s been shown to be just as safe and effective, and it has fewer downsides. A product with 20 percent picaridin can give you up to 14 hours of protection against mosquitoes and ticks, per an EPA-approved label.
A review from the Journal of Travel Medicine analyzed 11 studies that compared DEET and picaridin, finding that “the studies showed little potential difference between DEET and picaridin applied at the same dosage, with some evidence pointing to a superior persistence for picaridin.” Picaridin won’t ruin fabrics like DEET.
IR3535: Ethyl butylacetylaminopropionate, or IR3535, isn’t quite as effective as DEET or picaridin against mosquitoes, but it’s more effective against ticks, per the EWG. Like DEET, it can damage plastics.
Oil of lemon eucalyptus: Oil of lemon eucalyptus enhanced with para-menthane-3,8-diol (PMD) may work as well as DEET against mosquitoes and ticks (at concentrations between 20 to 26 percent), per the EWG. In general, oil of lemon eucalyptus and PMD don’t last as long as DEET and the other options on this list. They won’t damage plastics. Due to a lack of research on kids, it shouldn’t be used on children under 3.
Are Insect Repellents Safe?
In order for a chemical to get EPA-approval, it faces rigorous testing and evaluation for its efficacy, safety, and potential harm to the environment. But people still have concerns about the active ingredients in these products. Most of that worry revolves around DEET, due to reports of neurotoxicity. According to the EWG, “in very rare cases, DEET has been reported to impair the nervous system, with symptoms including seizures, tremors and slurred speech—this most often occurs after exposure to high concentrations of the chemical.” This is extremely rare. The EPA has concluded that the rate of adverse reactions occurs on the order of 1 per 100 million persons.
Still, that’s really scary. But more research points to DEET’s safety. A report from 2017 found that it’s unlikely that DEET causes neurotoxicity. A 2020 University of Florida study found there was no increased risk of negative health impacts for people who used DEET, and a 2003 report discovered no evidence of an increased risk of adverse toxic effects in kids.
Other chemicals on this list, like picaridin, don’t pose the same neurotoxicity concerns as DEET. Ultimately, the repellent you choose comes down to what you feel safe using and your level of concern about bug bites, which can lead to serious health conditions.
“These products are continuously evaluated to confirm their safety,” says Swiger. And the benefits of using repellents likely outweigh the risks. “The benefit is preventing biting by mosquitoes or ticks that carry disease-causing pathogens. Without the use of repellents, a person could be bitten by a tick or mosquito carrying a pathogen that can lead to a disease such as West Nile virus, Lyme disease, eastern equine encephalitis, or dengue.”
Is a Higher Concentration of a Repelling Ingredient Better?
Not necessarily. DEET’s repelling effects, for example, tend to plateau at around 50 percent concentration, per the CDC. Again, 20 percent to 30 percent concentration of DEET or picaridin seems to be enough to get solid protection. Higher concentrations do have their place, though. “Some mosquitoes are not deterred by the lesser rates,” says Swiger. “Higher rates last longer time periods and work best against large floodwater mosquitoes.”
How Should You Use Insect Repellent and Sunscreen Together?
Swiger recommends applying sunscreen first, then insect repellent, and she says to avoid combo products, per the CDC’s guidelines. Since sunscreen should be applied more often than a repellent, products that include both could result in unnecessary exposure to the repellent chemicals.
Are Insect Repellent Sprays, Lotions, or Wipes Better?
What kind of formula you choose will really come down to personal preference. Sprays are easier to apply over clothes and skin. Lotions tend to feel less greasy and sticky. Wipes are great for travel and for times when you want to pack light, like during backpacking trips.
How We Tested
I used 11 products on hikes, runs, and nights outside near Denver, Colorado. All of them were effective in preventing bug bites, but given the dry climate where I live, I don’t encounter swarms of mosquitoes very often. In my research for this article, I’ve learned that an insect repellent that is considered effective for one person, in one environment, won’t necessarily be effective for a different person in that same environment, or a different person in a different environment.
Essentially, mosquitoes and other bugs choose who to bite based on overall smell, body heat, and sweat, and are obviously much more prevalent in wet and warm parts of the country. So rating these repellents on their effectiveness against bugs (based on my experience) doesn’t really give you much valuable information.
The only way to know if a repellent will work for you is to try it on yourself in your environment, against your bugs. (And keep in mind, a product that works well for you at home might not do it against different insects on vacation.) If your repellent isn’t working, you need a higher concentration of the repelling chemical, or a different repelling chemical. But, as I wrote above, starting with a lower concentration is the move—there’s no reason to expose yourself to more chemicals if the lower level can provide relief from biting.
All that said, I did take thorough notes on how well these went on, felt on the skin, and smelled, and these are my top picks for each chemical category, based on those criteria.
Best Picaridin Bug Repellents
Best Spray
Sawyer Picaridin Insect Repellent
With a wide, even, fine-mist spray, this product is easy to apply and doesn’t pool on your skin. It has a chemical smell a bit like rubbing alcohol, but the scent is much milder than that of any DEET products I tried. On my skin, the product feels a bit greasy and sticky, but again, much less so than DEET. Overall, I was pleased with the lightweight feel of the product and appreciated the locking lid on the bottle. Per the label, this spray contains 20 percent picaridin and can provide up to 12 hours of protection.
Best Lotion
Proven Insect Repellent Lotion
I’d never tried a lotion repellent before, and I was pleasantly surprised by how nice they felt and how much less they smelled than the sprays. This one in particular seemed to have an even milder scent than other picaridin lotions, and left my skin feeling more hydrated than oily. It feels like it absorbs into your skin rather than sitting on top of it. It contains 20 percent picaridin and provides up to 14 hours of protection.
Best DEET Bug Repellents
Best Spray
Off Deep Woods Dry Insect Repellent
This product has the distinct chemical-y, bug spray smell of DEET, but the feel is nicer than most DEET sprays. It’s not totally weightless, but it dries down really nicely and feels soft and only slightly greasy to the touch. The spray is even, but the lack of a locking lid makes me wary to pack it for a hike.
Best Lotion
Sawyer 20 Percent DEET Premium Family Insect Repellent Controlled Release
The DEET stink is still there, but the lotion formula feels more pleasant and less greasy to me than most sprays. This product in particular contains DEET (at a 20 percent concentration) that’s encapsulated in a slow-dissolving protein, which means the DEET is released over a longer period of time, providing up to 11 hours of protection.
Best Wipes
Ben’s Tick and Insect Repellent Wipes
These pocket-sized wipes are a bit wet and messy, but that also means one wipe goes a long way in terms of coverage. The smell is less intense than other wipes; it reminds me of rubbing alcohol. These are ideal for throwing in a hiking bag or getting through TSA. They have a 30 percent concentration of DEET, and the package claims up to seven hours of protection.
Best IR3535 Bug Repellent
Coleman Insect Repellent Spray (uses IR3535)
Of all the sprays I tested, this was my favorite. It felt truly dry to the touch after a few minutes, unlike any of the DEET or picaridin sprays. It was also almost completely odorless, which won major points in my book. The spray isn’t as even and fine as I’d like it to be, but it wasn’t a huge barrier to application. Overall, I was really impressed by this one’s lightweight, barely-there feel.
This product uses a combo of p-menthane-3,8-diol and oil of lemon eucalyptus, with a 30 percent concentration. It’s very oily and does pool on the skin, so you need to really rub it in. It also has a very strong eucalyptus scent that’s pretty off-putting, but it does fade over time. It has a locking lid, and the packaging says it provides six hours of protection.
I’ve always had a love-hate relationship with curling my hair, and it’s been a long journey finding the best curling irons to style with. My tumultuous tryst with curling irons probably began because not only is my very naturally flat, straight hair hard to curl to begin with, but also because I’ve had my fair share of curling iron burns on various areas of my face and neck throughout my teen years (don’t ask).
I hated the trial and error of learning how to curl my hair in those days, but loved how my curled hair transformed me every time, whether it was bouncy ringlets for my adolescent theater performances, rounded curls for my senior prom, or loose waves for college graduation. Never have I gone to an important milestone in my life without a curling iron—no matter how clumsy my hands were or how bulky the device was.
But curling irons have come a long way since the late 2010s, and have followed me into adulthood as I test out various hair styling tools for my job as a beauty editor. Ceramic barrels, multistyling blow-dry curlers, and ion technology have ushered in easier ways to control temperature and allow for more dexterity, and are much quicker to use than their medieval counterparts of the early aughts.
Here, I tested some of the best curling irons on the market to uncover which stylers rose to the top for someone like me with very hard-to-curl hair, plus which ones are best for wherever you may be in your curling iron journey, whether you have long hair, are a beginner, or just want a beachy wave. These were my favorites—and in case you were wondering, I’m happy to report that I did not burn myself with any of these!
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What’s Better, Ceramic or Titanium Curling Irons?
Curling irons are typically either tourmaline ceramic or titanium, and while neither is necessarily better than the other, there are a few differences to keep in mind when shopping. Ceramic irons generally take longer to heat up, and they can also distribute heat more evenly, making them suitable for thinner and finer hair types. Titanium curling irons, on the other hand, heat up very quickly and are better if your hair is thicker or coarser. You’ll want to choose either a ceramic or titanium curling iron depending on your hair type and texture. Since I have longer and thinner strands, I found that the ceramic irons I tested were a bit more suitable for me.
What’s the Difference Between a Curling Iron and a Curling Wand?
A curling iron typically has a safety clamp that allows you to hold the hair in place without needing both hands. Curling wands don’t have a clamp—so you’ll have to hold the tip of your hair as you curl it. Both irons and wands have their pros and cons: The safety clamp can sometimes leave a funny crimp in your hair (which I experienced while testing a handful of these), while wands unfortunately make it a lot easier to burn your fingers (which thankfully, I was able to avoid).
I tested these curling irons over a span of a few months, right before a handful of events and occasions when I wanted to add more volume and style to my look. My hair is thin and pin straight, but there’s a lot of it, so I was most excited about the irons that not only successfully curled my hard-to-curl hair, but that allowed me to do so in a short amount of time.
I typically sectioned my hair in pieces from left to right. Although I did test upper and lower sectioning a few times, I found the former to be more successful for me personally because it was more comfortable for my arms and allowed me to focus on each strand of hair a bit better. And for those science buffs out there: I tested all of these on second-day hair, except for two (the Dyson Airwrap and Shark FlexStyle) that require damp hair. I usually curl about three-quarters of my hair (from midshaft to end), so I tested roughly that length for every iron I tried. I also used a heat protectant spray and set most of these (except one … more on that, later) with hairspray.
Electric cargo bicycles come in two configurations. The first are front-loader bikes, also known as bakfiets or Long Johns, which suspend a cargo box between the rider and the front wheel. The other layout is a midtail or longtail, which extends the rear end of the bicycle to accommodate more bodies and gear.
Both shapes have pros and cons. I’ve found that the bigger the rider, the more likely they want a front-loader bike, which in addition to hauling kids can be used as a big bin for yard equipment, tools, and more. However, you will need a garage or storage space and a very good and reliable lock system; they’re harder to maneuver and much heavier if you have to go over curbs or rough terrain; and they don’t feel particularly stable at slower speeds.
If you’re a smaller or lighter person, you may prefer a midtail or a longtail, which maneuver more like a regular bicycle. However, the weight is suspended on the back end and higher up, which makes some people nervous about dropping it. I own a longtail; I prefer the maneuverability, but it can be annoying making sure that everything is strapped down on a rack or in a pannier. If possible, I recommend making an appointment at your local bike shop to try several models before committing.
I wasn’t always a sunscreen devotee. Like so many millennials, I didn’t understand the risks of turning into a lobster at the beach when I was in high school or spending hours in tanning beds leading up to prom. I thought I looked better with a tan, and sunscreen felt gross and made me break out. I know better now, and thankfully, sunscreens have come a long way in terms of formula and feel and can actually be really pleasant to wear. I put it on every day now, hoping to undo my sun-worshiping sins, or at least prevent any more damage.
“Wearing sunscreen is so important because it protects us from harmful UV rays that can lead to sunburn, premature aging, and even skin cancer,” says Ellen Marmur, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of MMSkincare. “Because of these risks, I recommend wearing sunscreen every day. Whether you are driving your car, going to the beach, or even just going on an airplane, sunscreen plays a pivotal role in protecting your skin.”
OK, so we’ve established that sunscreen is important. But once you commit to wearing it daily, picking a sunscreen can be a truly daunting task. There are so many options out there, and they really are very different. To help you sort through all the bottles on the shelves, we talked with skin care experts and road-tested them all summer. Here’s what you need to know to help you pick the right sunscreen for you, and our top picks for the best sunscreens out there right now.
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What’s the difference between mineral sunscreen and chemical sunscreen?
There are two main ways a sunscreen can provide protection: physically or chemically. Mineral sunscreens create a physical barrier that sits on top of the skin and reflects UV rays away from you. Chemical sunscreens contain ingredients that sink into the skin and absorb UV rays, converting them to heat to be released by your body. Some sunscreen formulas use a hybrid of mineral and chemical ingredients.
There are pros and cons to each kind of sunscreen. Mineral formulations leave a white cast (unless they’re tinted), and tend to feel thicker and heavier than chemical sunscreens. They’re often gentler and are less likely to cause irritation, which makes them a good option for folks with sensitive skin, says Marmur. They’re also safer for the environment and don’t cause as much damage to coral reefs.
Chemical sunscreens, on the other hand, don’t leave a cast and feel lighter on the skin. Since they sink in deeper, you might find that they hold up better during sweaty activities, says Marmur. The downsides? Certain ingredients in chemical sunscreens can cause skin irritation for some.
“Avobenzone destabilizes when it’s exposed to light and is a possible cause of dermatitis,” says Marmur. Some products include stabilizing agents to help prevent this. Two other chemical sunscreens, oxybenzone and octinoxate, have been banned in Key West and Hawaii for their detrimental impact on marine life, and there are concerns about these ingredients leading to hormone disruption in humans, though there isn’t ample evidence to support this.
Is a higher SPF rating always better?
SPF stands for sun protection factor, and the rating refers specifically to how well a product fights UVB rays. “The difference in percentage of protection between SPF 30 and SPF 100 is quite small, and probably much smaller than you expect,” says Marmur. For example, SPF 30 ensures that 97 percent of UVB radiation is being blocked, while SPF 50 boosts that percentage to 98, and SPF 100 ups it to 99 percent. So, higher is technically better, but there isn’t a huge difference in the protection you’re getting.
“That being said, I would recommend using sunscreen with at least SPF 30, since it generally has a similar percentage of protection compared to an SPF as large as 100,” says Marmur. No matter the SPF rating, you want a product that provides broad spectrum protection against both UVA and UVB rays.
What ingredients should you avoid in sunscreen?
Given what we know about sunscreen and the safety of common ingredients, “the benefits of wearing it significantly outweigh the risks,” says Marmur. Not only is wearing sunscreen regularly a matter of safety, but it’s one of the best things you can do to prevent premature aging. “Good SPF habits now are like money in the bank, insuring against expensive lasers to remove the sun damage or worse, against surgery and scars from skin cancers,” says Marmur.
Many of the concerns raised about oxybenzone are linked to studies done in rats, in which the animals were fed oxybenzone. According to one analysis from the Archives of Dermatological Research, it would take a human 277 years of oxybenzone sunscreen use to achieve an equivalent dose of the chemical that caused adverse effects in the rats. Oxybenzone is also present in many products people use, like nail polish, hairspray, and plastics. “There are zero reported cases of proven adverse systemic reactions to sunscreens,” says Marmur. “But there are millions of skin cancers yearly, directly linked to UV radiation from the sun damaging the DNA of the skin.”
That being said, there are certain ingredients you should avoid.
Marmur recommends avoiding added fragrance in sunscreen products, especially for folks with sensitive skin. Avobenzone, a common chemical sunscreen ingredient, can cause skin irritation for some people. Retinyl palmitate, a form of vitamin A that’s used in some sunscreens, has been postulated to increase the risk of skin cancer when it’s exposed to sunlight. Oxybenzone and octinoxate are particularly bad for coral reefs. None of the sunscreens on this list contain oxybenzone, octinoxate, or retinyl palmitate.
What to know about terms like “reef-safe”
Reef-safe and reef-friendly aren’t regulated designations, so brands can use the terms as marketing tools without getting any certifications, and they don’t mean a product won’t cause any harm to the environment. However, there are certain sunscreens that are less impactful on marine ecosystems than others. In general, mineral sunscreens are less damaging to coral than chemical ones.
Note: Xbox Cloud Gaming is not to be confused withXbox Remote Play, which is free and lets you stream Xbox games you own from a console to your phone, PC, or another Xbox over your home network.
This service was only available in Colombia and Ireland, and it enabled up to five friends and family members to share Game Pass Ultimate benefits. It cost €22 per month in Ireland. Unfortunately, this service is no longer available, though this statement from Microsoft gives us some hope that it might launch globally one day:
“On August 15, 2023, the Xbox Game Pass Friends & Family preview program will end as we review what we’ve learned over the past several months and investigate how to build an offer which we can launch worldwide.”
Nintendo Subscriptions
Nintendo Switch Online vs. Expansion Pack
Your options with Nintendo are straightforward. Nintendo is the only console manufacturer that currently offers a family gaming plan.
Switch Online.
Photograph: Walmart
Nintendo’s online multiplayer service costs $4 per month ($8 quarterly or $20 per year) for an individual membership or $35 per year for a family membership. You can play games online with friends, save games in the cloud, use voice chat in supported games, and gain access to a library of more than 100 classic NES and SNES titles. You can also use the Nintendo smartphone app to receive occasional special offers. A family membership covers up to eight separate accounts in your family group and enables you all to play and enjoy membership benefits on multiple Switch consoles simultaneously (an option that is sadly lacking on PlayStation and Xbox).
Courtesy of Nintendo
This newer offering costs $50 per year for an individual membership or $80 per year for a family membership. It gives you everything listed above but adds a library of Nintendo 64 games, Sega Genesis games, and the Happy Home Paradise downloadable content (DLC) for Animal Crossing: New Horizons (you don’t need to subscribe to access the Animal Crossing DLC).
Mobile Subscription Services
Apple Arcade, Google Play Pass, and Netflix Games
Mobile games get a bad rap, but the quality of these titles has slowly begun to change for the better. The services below also strip out ads and in-app payments.
Apple Arcade.
Photograph: Apple
Looking for a library of games for your iPhone or iPad? Step into the Apple Arcade. Boasting more than 200 premium games with no ads or in-app purchases, Apple’s mobile gaming subscription is easy to recommend. The subscription service costs $5 per month or $50 per year, and you can use family sharing to give up to five family members access. Better yet, you can get three months of Apple Arcade for free if you buy a new iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Apple TV, or Mac. There are some compelling, exclusive games in Apple Arcade, alongside some premium titles that are available in the App Store. Apple adds a few new titles each month, but sometimes removes games, too. Apple Arcade is also included as part of any Apple One subscription.
Got an Android phone or tablet? Consider Google Play Pass. The service includes close to 1,000 games and apps. It costs $5 per month or $30 per year and can be shared with up to five family members. Just like Apple Arcade, Google’s service is free of ads and in-app purchases, but there are no exclusives here. It simply offers access to some popular games you usually have to pay individually for.
You may be surprised to learn that Netflix includes mobile games as part of any Netflix membership. Don’t get too excited—there are more than 80 titles to choose from, some are exclusives and some of them are pretty fun. Learn how to play Netflix games to find out for yourself.
Game Streaming Services
GeForce Now vs. Amazon Luna
Microsoft and Sony have ways to stream games from the internet to your PC, console, tablet, phone, or laptop, but there are a few dedicated services that focus entirely on this game-streaming business model.
Nvidia’s game streaming service is slightly different. It requires a strong internet connection (at least 50 Mbps for the highest quality) and you have to bring your own games. It can plug into your Steam or Epic library, but not every game is supported. This is one of the easiest ways to play the latest games with the best graphics possible if you don’t have a kitted-out PC (graphics cards are still hard to find). There’s a limited free tier that lets you play on a basic rig for up to an hour, but you can pay $10 per month ($50 per year) for Priority service for a decent setup offering 1080p at 60 frames per second for up to six hours, or $20 per month ($100 for six months) for access to an RTX 4080 graphics card for 4K gaming at 120 fps for up to eight hours.
Luna controller.
Photograph: Amazon
Amazon has a game streaming service much like Google’s ill-fated Stadia. Luna is segmented by channels: The Luna+ channel is $10 per month and includes a wide variety of games in different genres, but the Ubisoft+ Channel is $18 per month for access to dozens of Ubisoft games, like Assassins’ Creed. There’s a party game channel called Jackbox for $5 per month, and if you’re an Amazon Prime member, you can play a rotating selection of games for free. It works on Windows PC, Mac, Fire TV, Fire tablets, iPad, Chromebooks, and phones. You can use Luna’s controller to play, an Xbox One or PS4 controller, or a keyboard and mouse.
This is Amazon’s fledgling service, and it’s a bit weird. There certainly isn’t enough here to justify an Amazon Prime subscription ($15 per month or $139 per year), but if you already have one, then it’s worth a look. You can get in-game loot in some popular games, free game downloads, free DLC, and a free Twitch subscription (subscriptions to specific Twitch streamers).
We have an alternative type of membership from Humble, and some game publishers have decided that their catalogs are big enough to be offered up as subscription services (though many of their titles are also available through services we already covered).
Courtesy of Humble Bundle
Unlike the other game subscription services on our list, a Humble Choice membership at $12 per month gives you access to a fresh mix of mainstream and indie PC games every month that are yours to keep forever. You also gain access to the Humble Games Collection (a curated library of interesting indies) and special discounts. And 5 percent of every Humble Choice membership is donated to Humble’s featured charity of the month.
Pay $6 per month or $40 per year and you get access to EA titles like FIFA 23, Madden 23, Mass Effect Legendary Edition, and Titanfall 2 on Xbox, PlayStation, or PC. You can also play select new releases for up to 10 hours before launch, get access to in-game challenges and rewards, and snag a 10 percent discount on game downloads, Season Passes, and DLC. The Pro tier at $17 per month or $120 per year upgrades you to premium game editions. For most folks a Game Pass subscription makes a lot more sense.
Note: EA Play is included at no extra cost as part of Xbox Game Pass PC or Game Pass Ultimate subscriptions.
For $8 per month you can play Ubisoft’s library of around 50 “Classics” on your PC. If you want new releases the day they launch, premium editions, DLC, and in-game rewards you must upgrade to Premium for $18 per month, which also enables you to play selected games on Xbox or via the cloud on Luna. This service feels way too expensive for what you get, so it’s only really for die-hard Ubisoft fans who can’t live without all the premium editions and extras.
Note: You can play more than 50 of Ubisoft’s best games through Sony’s PS Plus Extra and Premium subscription services.
You’ll inevitably drop your smartphone. Once at a theater, my Galaxy Note slipped out of my pocket and fell onto the seat’s metal frame, crushing the side button so that the phone kept trying to activate Bixby, Samsung’s voice assistant. The phone was very hot by the end of the movie. A case might have prevented any damage … or not.
A case isn’t a guaranteed form of protection from drops, but it could help, especially if you pair it with a good screen protector. I’ve tested more than 50 cases and screen protectors for Samsung’s Galaxy S24, S24+, and S24 Ultra smartphones to find the best that offer comprehensive defense at reasonable prices. You’ll also find a few handy-dandy accessories to round out your new phone. Going with last year’s model instead? We’ve got a roundup of cases for the Galaxy S23 series too.
Updated October 2024: We’ve added new cases from Peak Design and Mous.
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Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
I have installed every case that has come into my office on either the Galaxy S24 or Galaxy S24 Ultra. I first inspect that all the ports, speakers, and microphone holes are visible and not blocked by the case. Then I try the buttons to ensure they’re not stiff. I test the phone’s wireless charging function to see whether a case causes any issues, and I gauge the edges around the screen to see whether they’re raised enough to keep the display from touching surfaces when the phone lies flat.
As much as I’d like to, I don’t do drop tests. (I don’t have an endless supply of Samsung phones to run through.) In my experience, phones with cases can still crack if dropped, so really it’s about minimizing the possibility. Pair your Galaxy S24 with a case and a screen protector for the best defense.
The One RFID Smart Feeder from Petlibro shows just how far automatic cat-feeding technology has come. For this feeder, the pet wears a collar with a tag in which the feeder’s lid opens only with that tag. There’s a cover that retracts automatically when the pet with the collar approaches the stainless steel food bowl (which is removable for washing and is dishwasher safe). The sensor in the pad in front will be activated, and the cover will retract over the kibble when the cat leaves, ensuring that only the chosen pet with the collar can access the food.
The 3-liter feeder relies on the Petlibro app, which allows the owner to create up to 10 feeding schedules whose amounts can be modified anytime, including on-demand feeding. Like our other automatic Petlibro feeder picks, the app collects the data and tracks trends in your pet’s consumption, and owners control everything from the app. The automatic lid is customizable too, as you can switch on the app to leave the lid in “open mode” or adjust how long the lid stays open after your pet walks away from it.
Overall, I think this is a nearly perfect device for a particular kind of pet owner. I think it works best for a cat in a dog home where the owner doesn’t want the dog getting into the cat’s food, if each pet in the home has a One RFID feeder, if one particular cat has special dietary needs, or if you have a multi-cat home with an aggressive eater. In these cases, I truly think this product would be a life-changer. (If you get a One RFID for each pet, it’s recommended that you space them at least 10 inches apart to avoid any interference.)
One of my only complaints with the device is that the lid doesn’t get super flush to the wall when retracted, and my cat won’t eat the food that is near the back of the bowl. The QR code tag comes on a super-flimsy collar that kept loosening, but there is the option to detach it and put it on your pet’s own collar, which I did, and it worked great after. Although the One RFID isn’t right for my cats, I would recommend it to anyone who has pets with differing food needs.
Condoms are great. They’re a relatively inexpensive method of birth control and can greatly lower the risk of sexually transmitted infections. And there’s never been a better selection of materials and quality. If you hate condoms, there’s a decent chance you’re using subpar ones, not using them right, or possibly both. Fortunately, we have tested to find the best condoms and have recommendations for everyone.
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How to Pick (and Use) the Right Condom
The best condom is the one you’re going to use regularly and properly. The most well-designed condom isn’t effective if it doesn’t fit you or if you don’t know how to put it on. Likewise, the worst condom you can buy still does more to prevent unplanned pregnancies or sexually transmitted infections when used properly than not using one at all. With that in mind, there are a few things you should consider when buying a condom, even beyond our recommendations here:
What size you need. Condoms generally come in size variations, with average fit condoms targeting the vast majority of penises, but there are often large or “slim” options. A condom that’s too big can slip off, and one that’s too small can increase the risk of breakage. Take some time to try different sizes to make sure you get the right one for your needs. Also keep in mind that length and girth aren’t always correlated. If you have a longer but more slender penis, then how far a condom can stretch can be an important deciding factor.
What allergies you (or your partner) have. Latex allergies affect between 1 and 6 percent of the population, and if you have one, then using a latex condom can cause some serious negative reactions. Alternative materials like lambskin, polyisoprene, and polyurethane can avoid allergy issues while still providing protection.
What you’ll need condoms for. If you want to reduce the risk of transmitting infections like herpes or HIV or of conception of a human life during sex, there’s no simpler method than a condom. However, there are other scenarios to consider. Some people will use condoms during oral sex (partly why we consider odor and taste in our assessment), and it’s also a good idea to use condoms with any sex toys you plan to share with your partner or partners.
When we consider condoms for this guide, we look at a variety of factors including durability, comfort, and ease of use. Some of these factors will vary by person, so you should still try out any condoms you get for yourself to see what works best for you. With that in mind, here are some of the factors we evaluate:
Size variations. Most condom manufacturers offer a few size variations. Where possible, we prefer to feature condoms that provide consistent quality across several size options so you can get a condom that fits you well.
Material. Latex condoms are the most common, but as mentioned above, there are many non-latex options that are better for people with allergies. Some materials like polyurethane can be looser or break more easily, while newer condoms are (finally) starting to incorporate graphene to improve heat conduction and strengthen them against breaking. We note the strengths and weaknesses of different materials while testing.
Do you need lube? Most condoms come lubricated. We took that into account and considered how often we needed to use lube after putting a condom on.
Price. No one wants to think about the per-condom cost when you’re having sex, but if you’re very active, it can start to add up. That said, a cheap condom that breaks is always more expensive than a pricier condom that works, so we look for the best balance.
Taste and odor. Nothing can kill the mood faster than a condom with a weird smell, especially if you plan to use condoms during oral sex. While it’s always going to be a subjective experience, we factor in the whole sensory experience when testing condoms.
A cup of coffee in the morning is not just about the caffeine. It’s a ceremony to start your day. There’s the whir of beans grinding, the rich smell as it brews—even waiting for your finished cup is a part of the fun. Until you run out of coffee. That’s when you remember the caffeine. Coffee. Coffee now.
To avoid ending up in line at the grocery store in your pajamas, get a coffee subscription. The internet is awash in services that will bring coffee to your door. You can choose how often, select your favorite roasts, or go with the roaster’s choice to experiment with new blends and expand your coffee palette. I’ve been testing dozens of coffee subscription services since 2020, these are the best I’ve tried.
Updated October 2024: We’ve updated our experiences with several subscriptions and added some more details on how we test.
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There are two kinds of coffee subscription providers: roasters and retailers.
Roasters are cafés, coffee roasteries, and small-batch producers who buy the raw beans from farmers and roast them to perfection. By buying from a roaster, you’re directly supporting the people who make your favorite coffees; there’s no middleman between you and your coffee. The downside is you won’t have as broad a selection available. Roasters sell only their own coffee, but that often means special blends and single origins are available from a roaster that you can’t get from a retailer.
Retailers are coffee subscription providers who buy their beans from roasters then ship them to you. That means they will often have a much broader selection of coffees available (from multiple brands) to ship to your doorstep. The downside is that since you’re not buying directly from a roaster, which means the coffee may not be as fresh (this is where this guide comes in, we can tell you how fresh they are)
Both roasters and retailers sell great coffee. This guide contains a mix of both.
Subscription Beans Vs. Locally Roasted Beans
These subscription services all produce killer coffee beans, and they all taste great. But if you can get great coffee roasted locally delivered to you, do it. Look up your local coffee roasters, or visit your favorite coffee shop and ask where they get their beans. Ordering locally helps minimizes the environmental impact of coffee, which, let’s be honest, is pretty big. It’s a fun way to explore when you’re traveling too. The best coffee I’ve ever had came from small roasters in towns I was visiting. Even if you don’t live on the road, it’s fun to explore different shops when you do travel.
To test these subscriptions, we tried a variety of beans from each service, both our own picks and any curated options. We brewed each bag in different ways to see which beans were best suited to which brewing method. I tend to brew espresso, mokapot, french press, pour over, and Turkish or cowboy coffee to get a sense of how each coffee performs at different grinds. These five cover the spectrum of grinds well. It’s worth doing the same if you have access to different brewing methods, especially if you opt for a subscription that offers a lot of variety. A roast that makes a great shot of espresso does not necessarily make the best pour-over coffee and vice versa. Remember to take notes as well. Some of these services offer a way to do this on the site, which is handy, though a paper notebook works well for me. If you’d like some more pointers on brewing, be sure to read our guide to brewing better coffee at home.
Prep like a pro: If you’re hosting and want to do more than one course, then soup (hot or cold) is your easy solution. Any seasonal veg sweated and boiled down with softened onion, garlic, and stock forms the perfect base. Then blend with a little cream, crème fraîche, coconut milk, or toasted nuts for super silky texture. It can be made a day ahead, then blended and adjusted for seasoning and taste in your own time. Then reheat and serve.
Perfect your sauces: What often separates chefs and home cooks are silky smooth sauces, condiments, and purées. Vibrant in color and packing a punch, they’re best made in a blender. Try a dollop of smooth spiced apple chutney on a plate with a liver parfait (also made in a blender). Or homemade ketchup to accompany BBQ grilled meats. A good blender helps takes your presentation to a whole new level.
Enjoy cocktail hour: When the sun’s out, your blender is ideal for cocktails. Try making a Pisco Sour in a blender with Peruvian Pisco, fresh lime juice, sugar syrup, egg white, and ice. Done by hand you’ll get two portions at a time, but the blender will give you that frothy consistency with 10 portions at once.
Freeze to avoid food waste: Make smoothies with fruit that is on its last legs. Chop fruit such as pineapple, mango, peach, and banana, and lay it on trays to freeze. Once frozen, put them in a sandwich bag and you’ve got small enough pieces to blend up with fruit juice or milk whenever you need.
Clean up effectively: If you’ve been blending strong flavors such as garlic, be sure to give your blender a good clean before putting it away. Blend a cup of warm water up with a drop of citrus juice. The acid from the citrus cuts through grease, garlic, and stains, and this will get rid of the worst of the mess inside the blender, now ready to rinse with hot soapy water.
The first thing to think about is how you’re going to drain the water from the dehumidifier. In the basement, the best thing you can do is to use the dehumidifier’s continuous water drain tube to either the sump pump or a drain. If those options are not available, you might be emptying the tank multiple times a day. The first time I put a dehumidifier in the basement, the tank was filled in three hours’ time. It’s all about the drainage. Also, knowing how to read a label. If a dehumidifier is listed as “50 pints,” that means the appliance can remove 50 pints of water from the air in a 24-hour period; it’s not the internal tank capacity. Also, look for the maximum area coverage. For example, the Honeywell Smart 50 pint can remove 50 pints of water from a 4,000-square-foot area in 24 hours.
If you, like me, also need a dehumidifier in your city apartment, then consider buying one that’s easy to move around with wheels and a handle. Some of these machines are heavy. Also, a small dehumidifier in the bathroom is a good idea to keep the dampness at bay, especially if you have mold growing on your grout.
Lastly, do not drink the water collected in your dehumidifier tank. That water is not potable. Pour it down the drain. A dehumidifier is not creating distilled water; that’s a different process and appliance.
Instax Mini 90 Camera for $210: Once my favorite Instax, the Mini 90 seems to have been superseded by the Mini Evo. The price isn’t too different, yet the Mini Evo is more capable, especially since the Mini 90 is fully analog. That said, the Mini 90 delivers the highest-quality image of the Mini series (equal to the Mini Evo), so if you want the fully analog experience and the highest quality image, this is the camera to get. It regularly dips below $150, so avoid paying more.
Instax SQ 6 Camera for $130 to $210: This one is a head-scratcher. As I noted above, the SQ 6 is a better camera than the SQ 1 or SQ 40, which seem to have jointly replaced the SQ 6. Heck, there was even a Taylor Swift version of the SQ 6 (I’d hate to see what that’s going for on eBay these days). Whatever the case, Fujifilm no longer lists the SQ 6 on its Instax website. But if you find it, and like the square format, the SQ 6 is a fantastic camera. It has several manual features not found in the others—I especially like the Lighten and Darken modes that can be used like exposure compensation—in addition to the fully automatic mode of the SQ 40. Other nice extras include a self-timer, close-up mode, and the option to turn off the flash. There is stock out there, so try to only buy it if you find it for around $100 to $150.
Instax Mini Link 2 Printer for $100: The Instax Mini Link was replaced by the Mini Link 2, but the upgrades were minor, and, honestly, I can’t tell any difference in print quality. If you can find the original Mini Link for less than the price of the Link 2, go for it. The Link 2 sells for $100 most of the time, so don’t pay as much for the original Link. They’re both great printers.
Avoid These Instax Cameras
Instax Mini 11 for $80 to $120: I mentioned this above, but the Mini 11 is rarely worth buying. It’s only a few dollars cheaper than the newer Mini 12 and lacks most of the features that make the Mini 12 such a good buy. If you can find this one for under $50, maybe it’s worth it. But otherwise, avoid the Mini 11.
Instax 7s/Instax 8/Instax 9: These are all older, low-end Instax models. They use a fixed 1/60 shutter speed, whereas the comparably-priced Mini 12’s auto exposure can choose between 1/2 to 1/250 second shutter speeds, making it much more flexible. Given that most of these are hard to find anyway, skip them.
Do You Want a Camera, a Printer, or Both?
Once you’ve picked the size of film you want, the next question is, do you want a camera, a printer, or a hybrid that can do both? The latter is more expensive but gives you the best of both worlds—our top pick is a camera and a printer. Note that if you want Instax Square or Instax Wide prints, there is no hybrid model.
If you have nostalgia for what I still think of as “the Polaroid experience,” an Instax camera is the way to go. They aren’t the highest-quality cameras (most have plastic lenses), but they take decent photos, and you get to watch them develop seconds after you shoot. It’s the more fun option, but the disadvantage is that if you have an image you love on your phone and want to print it, you’ll have to look elsewhere.
It’s all in the beans. Nothing will improve your morning coffee like grinding the beans right before you brew. It doesn’t matter whether you’re rocking a fancy liquid-cooled-quantum-AI-powered espresso machine or a $25 Mr. Coffee—making the switch to whole beans will transform your coffee-drinking experience. We have advice at the end of this article on finding good whole beans (you might want to read our Best Coffee Subscriptions guide). Once you have your beans, it’s time to grind ’em up fresh each day. These are the best coffee grinders we’ve tested.
Updated September 2024: We’ve added the Baratza Virtuoso+ and Bodum Bistro Electric Blade Grinder, updated our review of the Baratza ESP, and checked links and prices throughout.
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What Is a Conical, Flat, or Blade Grinder?
Photograph: Iryna Veklich/Getty Images
Our list consists mostly of conical-burr grinders. In a conical grinder, coffee beans are crushed and ground between two rings of burrs. They deliver a finer, much more consistent grind than you’d get with a traditional blade grinder, even the nicest ones.
Flat-burr grinders are similar, but they’re typically more expensive. In these, the burrs are laid on top of each other, and the beans pass through them as they grind. The grinder action pushes the grounds out of one end, instead of relying on gravity like a conical-burr grinder, and the beans spend more time in contact with the burrs. This results in a more consistent grind, but for home brewers, conical-burr grinders are just as good—even if they require more maintenance and don’t result in consistent down-to-the-micron-scale grounds.
Blade grinders have a chopping blade that spins around like a food processor. But blades don’t produce even results. Some of your coffee will be fine powder at the bottom, and at the top you’ll have bits too large for even French press. The result is an inconsistent, unpredictable brew. These grinders are cheap, and yes, using fresh beans in a blade grinder is far better than buying ground coffee. (You can learn how to shake the beans to even your grind just a little. See world barista champion James Hoffmann’s video for some more blade grinder hacks.)
If you can afford it, we highly recommend going with one of the burr grinders we’ve listed. There’s a reason why they cost a little more than a budget burr grinder. The machinery in a high-quality burr grinder is a bit more complicated, and it’s built to withstand greater wear and tear. In cheap burr grinders, the burrs will typically get blunt from regular use, and the flimsier motors may burn out in a matter of months.
PSA:Do not put pre-ground coffee into a burr grinder. Logically, it makes sense. It’s too coarse, so you put it through again, right? No! With a burr grinder, the preground coffee gets stuck inside the burrs, and you’ll have to do some disassembly to set them to rights again.
Joola is a relative newcomer to the pickleball game, having started as a table tennis brand. I’ve tested a half-dozen paddles from the past two seasons of gear made by the Maryland-based company, including a unique round frame paddle more closely modeled on a tennis racket and several from the series made for pro pickleballer Ben Johns, the reigning number one singles player in the world.
This paddle is thermoformed, meaning it’s heat-pressed together and virtually indestructible. It’s a little heavy on the head and delivers the most power of any paddle I tested. Everyone who tried this paddle found it not that forgiving, which makes sense given it was designed for an advanced player. The sweet spot is toward the top of the paddle face and isn’t especially large. Whack one right on the money and the ball jolts off it. For a player without great control, it’s easy to hit too hard. However, this paddle was especially appreciated by my friend Danielle, who injured her rotator cuff a few months back and is changing the way she plays as a result. “Coming off a shoulder injury, it was nice because I barely had to work and I felt like I had a ton of pop,” she says.
★ More control and style: The Ben Johns paddle is absolutely the best bet for serious power, but I might personally prefer the Mach 1 Forza, a similar thermoformed paddle that doesn’t have quite the same giddyup but does have slightly more control and an understated style. The Mach 1 Forza comes in the slickest packaging I’ve yet encountered from a pickleball paddle (is this box my new iPad?), and I really love the black and baby-blue design. It’s not as accurate as the nonthermoformed paddles or as powerful as the Johns, but it’s a solid all-around bet.
★ Budget mashing: If you want to mash balls, but on a budget, go for the Phantom Eternal. A carbon-fiber face for $85 is a great bargain, and the Phantom Eternal is overall a very solid paddle. I didn’t find it all that precise compared to competitors that are more than double the price (there are dead spots at the top of my paddle, around the eyes). However, I loved the thick, slightly sticky grip and appreciated the unique graphics. Mostly, though, I found myself swinging for the fences with this paddle—something about it makes you feel like you can smoke a return right next to your opponent’s foot.
The popular perception of sex machines (thanks mainly to porn) is usually a dildo on the end of a long rod attached to a motor. That visual might be intimidating, but Lovense made it downright cute with the Lovense Mini Sex Machine (8/10, WIRED Recommends). A smaller, compact version of its flagship product, the Mini has a powerful motor in a small package, with easily adjustable legs that allow you to position the device at the best angle.
Most sex machines—including Lovense’s larger flagship sex machine—are large and heavy, and can be cumbersome to set up, but the Mini reduces almost every pain point, including the price. At $399, it’s the least expensive machine you’ll find on the market without sacrificing much power. In my testing, it could reach up to 280 thrusts per minute, though its low weight meant it was a little more likely to slide on smooth surfaces. That trade-off is worth it for the portability though. The thrusting motor was also surprisingly quiet. Someone might still overhear you from the other side of a closed door, but I doubt anyone would hear you in a neighboring apartment. Unless you’re trying to be heard, anyway.
The whole machine comes in a box about the size of a toolbox, with a convenient handle. I highly recommend holding on to this box for storing or transporting the machine, but even if you choose not to, the machine’s parts are small enough to fit inside an Ikea-sized cube cubby, and at 7 pounds, it’s light enough to carry wherever you want.
The Lovense Remote app also adds many features ideal for long-distance couples. You can control the speed and pattern of thrusts from anywhere in the world, and built-in text and voice/video call features let you do it all from one app. You can even create and share a Zoom-style link to let someone take control of your device and set the link to expire after a set duration or a certain number of uses.
