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  • The best gaming keyboards of 2024

    The best gaming keyboards of 2024

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    The best gaming keyboards can bring a greater sense of comfort and control to your PC play time, whether you’re luxuriating with a lengthy RPG or sweating through an online shooter. While they don’t always feel as premium for typing as a good custom mechanical keyboard, they’re usually a nice upgrade over a typical membrane model. To help those looking to upgrade, I’ve spent more time researching gaming keyboards than any person reasonably should, testing dozens of well-reviewed options along the way. Whether you want something mini, analog, wireless or just plain cheap, these are the best I’ve found.

    To be clear, any keyboard can be a “gaming keyboard.” If you play lots of video games today and have never sighed to yourself, “man, this keyboard is holding me back,” congratulations, you probably don’t need to pay extra for a new one. Self-proclaimed gaming keyboards often come at a premium, and while the best offer high-quality designs, snazzy RGB lighting and a few genuinely worthwhile features, none of them will give you god-like skill, nor will they suddenly turn bad games into good ones.

    Now that we’ve touched grass, I did prioritize some features while researching this guide. First, I mostly stuck to mechanical keyboards, not laptop-style membrane models. They can be loud, but they’re more durable, customizable and broadly satisfying to press — all positive traits for a product you may use for hours-long gaming sessions.

    Next, I preferred tenkeyless (TKL) or smaller layouts. It’s totally fine to use a full-size board if you really want a number pad, but a compact model gives you more space to flick your mouse around. It also lets you keep your mouse closer to your body, which can reduce the tension placed on your arms and shoulders.

    A trio of gaming keyboards of different sizes and layouts rest on a light brown wooden table. From top to bottom: A 96 percent keyboard, a tenkeyless (or 80 percent) keyboard and a 60 percent keyboard.

    From top to bottom: A 96 percent keyboard, an 80 percent (or tenkeyless) keyboard and a 60 percent keyboard. (Photo by Jeff Dunn / Engadget)

    Linear switches, which are often branded as “red,” are generally favored by gamers. These give keystrokes a smooth feel from top to bottom, with no tactile “bump” that could make fast, repeated presses less consistent. They usually require little force to actuate, and they tend to be quiet. However, if you prefer the feel and/or sound of a more tactile or clicky switch, get one of those instead. You might lose some speed in esports-style games, but nothing is more important than your comfort.

    Some gaming keyboards are based on different mechanisms entirely. Optical switches, for instance, use a beam of light to register keystrokes, while Hall effect switches use magnets. These often feel linear, but they can allow for a more versatile set of gaming-friendly features, such as the ability to set custom actuation points. (You can read more about how this works below.) In general, they’re faster and more durable too. But keyboards with those extra features typically aren’t cheap.

    Regardless, you want a frame that doesn’t flex under pressure, keys that don’t wobble and stabilizers that don’t rattle when you hit larger keys like the spacebar. I prefer double-shot PBT (polybutylene terephthalate) keycaps over those that use cheaper ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) plastic, as they won’t develop a greasy shine over time and their icons won’t fade. A hot-swappable PCB (printed circuit board) that makes it easy to change switches if the mood arises is ideal, as are dedicated media keys.

    For the sake of simplicity, I only considered prebuilt gaming keyboards for this guide, though many of the picks below allow for customization down the line. If you (and your bank account) really want to go wild, check out our guide to building a custom keyboard.

    If a keyboard has companion software, it should let you program macros and custom key bindings for games without frustration. For convenience, a wired keyboard should connect through a detachable USB-C cable. A good wireless keyboard won’t add serious lag, but only if it uses a USB receiver, not Bluetooth. (It’ll probably cost more as well.) Some gaming keyboards advertise super-high polling rates — i.e., the speed at which a keyboard reports to a computer — to reduce latency, but unless your monitor has an especially fast refresh rate, the usual standard of 1,000Hz should be fine. And while nobody needs RGB lighting, it’s fun. Consumer tech could use more of that, so the cleaner and more customizable the RGB is, the better.

    A close-up of a gaming keyboard with two keycaps removed, displaying the A close-up of a gaming keyboard with two keycaps removed, displaying the

    Photo by Jeff Dunn / Engadget

    The best way to evaluate a keyboard is to just… use it, so that’s what I did. To cover a variety of use cases and design styles, I’ve researched dozens of keyboards over the past several months that’ve broadly received high marks from professional reviewers and users alike. I’ve then used each model I’ve brought in as my daily driver for numerous days. Since I write for a living, this gave me enough time to get a strong sense of each keyboard’s typing experience.

    For gaming, I give special focus to each keyboard’s responsiveness in fast, reaction-based online shooters such as Halo Infinite, Counter-Strike 2, Apex Legends, Valorant, Overwatch 2 and (more recently) XDefiant, as many would-be gaming keyboard buyers get one in the hopes that it’ll help with that genre in particular. I made sure each keyboard felt comfortable with other types of games, though, such as Baldur’s Gate 3 (a turn-based RPG), Hi-Fi Rush (an action game with an emphasis on timing and rhythm) and Forza Horizon 5 (an arcade racing game). I used the latter to better evaluate the pressure-sensitive features of the analog keyboards I tested.

    If a keyboard could be configured with multiple switch types, I got the linear model. Upon receiving each keyboard, I removed several keycaps to ensure none were chipped or broken. I noted whether any keys felt wobbly, whether the case flexes under pressure, whether the texture and finish of the keycaps changes after use and whether larger keys like the spacebar felt particularly rattly or hollow. I typed on each keyboard in quick succession in a quiet room to get a sense of where they ranked in terms of noise. For wireless models, I checked whether the battery drain at 50 percent RGB brightness aligned with a manufacturer’s estimate. I looked to results from sites like Rtings to ensure nothing was out of order with latency. I did my own testing on a 144Hz monitor with my personal rig, which includes a 10th-gen Core i9 CPU and an RTX 3080 GPU.

    This helped me ensure each keyboard met a baseline of overall quality, but to reiterate, so much of this process is subjective. I can tell you if a keyboard is loud based on how I slam my keys, for instance, but you may have a lighter touch. What my tastes find “comfortable,” “pleasing,” or even “useful,” you may dislike. As I’ve written before, keyboards are like food or art in that way. So, keep an open mind.

    Photo by Jeff Dunn / Engadget

    Connectivity: USB-C | Size(s): 60 percent | Switches: Gateron Lekker Linear60 | Hot-Swappable: Yes | Material: Plastic | Keycap material: Double-shot PBT | Backlight: RGB (north or south-facing) | Software: Wootility

    With most gaming keyboards, claims of “improving your play” are just marketing fluff. With the Wooting 60HE+, it’s actually true — or at least, it can be. The key is its analog Lekker switches, which can respond to varying levels of pressure, much like the triggers on a PlayStation or Xbox controller. These use magnetic Hall effect sensors, so they have fewer physical contact points that can suffer from wear and tear over time.

    This setup enables a few genuinely beneficial features. For one, you can adjust the actuation point of each key anywhere between an ultra-low 0.1mm and 4mm, in 0.1mm steps. With a fast-paced FPS, setting the actuation point low makes the keys more sensitive and thus exceptionally responsive to quick movements. For a turn-based RPG or simply typing, raising that pre-travel distance makes each press more deliberate and less prone to errors. You can also mix and match, making your WASD keys faster to actuate but leaving the rest at a less touchy level.

    Another feature, “rapid trigger,” registers the actuation and reset points of a key press dynamically. This lets you re-actuate a key mid-press, before it has to go all the way back up, so you can repeat inputs faster. It’s a boon for shooting and rhythm games in particular: In a 1v1 shootout in Halo Infinite, you can strafe, stop and start with a little more speed and granularity. We’re still talking milliseconds of difference, but sometimes that’s all that separates defeating a foe and leaving them with a sliver of health.

    Beyond that, you can tie up to four actions to one key based on how far it’s pressed. In Halo, for instance, I’ve made it so I can mark enemies and switch grenades by long-pressing Q and E, respectively — i.e., the keys right next to WASD. Short-pressing those keys, meanwhile, still lets me use their default bindings. In another game, you could lightly press a key to pull out a grenade, fully press to throw it, then release to reequip your main weapon. All of this requires some brain retraining, but it ultimately lessens the need to contort your fingers to perform a full set of commands. Which, in turn, can save you more precious seconds during a battle.

    Because the keys are pressure-sensitive, you can also set them to mimic an Xbox controller. With a racing game Forza Horizon 5, the W and S keys could stand in for the LT and RT buttons, while A and D replicate the left joystick. Does this feel as natural as using real joysticks or a good wheel? Of course not. But for games that don’t expect you to use a mouse alongside the keyboard, it’s really not as clunky as you’d expect.

    That caveat is important: Plenty of games aren’t designed with analog keyboards in mind, so don’t expect the 60HE+ to replace your gamepad. Owning this won’t magically make you a top-tier player either. When you’re up against other people around your skill level, though, the extra bit of precision these features provide is tangible.

    There’s been a wave of Hall effect keyboards released in the last year, but the 60HE+ stands out for getting most of the fundamentals right. While there are certainly nicer-feeling mechanical keyboards, its double-shot PBT keycaps feel crisp, its keys are well-spaced and the pre-lubed, linear-style switches are smooth and satisfying to press. (They’re technically hot-swappable too, though the 60HE+ is only designed to accept Hall effect switches.) It sounds a smidge chattery, but it’s still pleasing to the ear and not especially loud. The compact case doesn’t flex or wobble. Crucially, the charmingly-named Wootility software makes it easy to remap keys, assign macros, create profiles and or adjust the RGB lighting. Refreshingly, it’s also entirely accessible through the web. That per-key backlighting is tidy, and changing profiles right from the keyboard is simple.

    That said, there are a few downsides. The case, while sturdy, is largely plastic and only has one incline setting. It doesn’t come with a wrist rest (though you can buy one separately for $30), and the 60 percent layout won’t be for everyone. If you want to add dedicated arrow keys and a numpad, get the full-size Wooting Two HE instead. A new 80 percent model called the 80HE is also on the way, though it’s only up for pre-order as of this writing. Just know that you can only buy each device from Wooting, which sells its gear in batches.

    Also worth noting: We previously recommended an older version of this device, the 60HE, in our top spot. The “Plus” model is a very minor revision that adds support for screw-in stabilizers but is otherwise identical.

    Pros

    • Analog switches are fast and deeply versatile for gaming
    • Easy-to-use software
    • Sturdily built
    • Comfortable for typing
    • Clean RGB lighting
    Cons

    • Wired-only
    • 60 percent design isn’t for everyone
    • Only available to buy in batches
    • Doesn’t sound quite as nice as best traditional mechanical keyboards

    $175 at Wooting

    Photo by Jeff Dunn / Engadget

    Connectivity: USB-C | Size(s): 80 percent | Switches: Razer Linear Optical Red (tested), Purple | Hot-Swappable: No | Material: Plastic with aluminum top plate | Keycap material: Double-shot PBT | Backlight: RGB (north-facing) | Software: Razer Synapse 3

    If you don’t need all the extra features of an analog keyboard like the Wooting 60HE+ and just want something a little less pricey, consider the Razer Huntsman V2 TKL. There’s no rapid trigger, analog input or custom actuation here — just a solid, well-built keyboard from a major brand that works reliably for gaming.

    The best thing about the Huntsman V2 is that it’s unusually quiet, as an internal layer of sound-dampening foam gives it a nice muffled tone with no audible pinging. The linear optical switches are light and responsive, but bottoming out doesn’t feel stiff. The double-shot PBT keycaps have an agreeable texture, while the aluminum-coated case doesn’t creak or flex. The per-key RGB lighting shines through the keycaps neatly. Just about every key is macro-programmable, the whole thing connects over a detachable USB-C cable, and it comes with a plushy leatherette wrist rest in the box. The latter isn’t magnetic though. And while you can sneeze and find a million complaints about Razer’s Synapse software around the web, I’ve always found it easier to read than many competing apps. That says more about the state of gaming software than Synapse, but still.

    I specifically recommend the model with Razer’s red linear switches; another version has purple clicky switches, but those sound harsher and have a slightly higher actuation point (1.5mm instead of 1.2mm). There are other shortcomings, too: There’s no hot-swap, and larger keys like on the space bar, backspace and enter are a tad more wobbly than everything else. The keyboard can technically support up to an 8,000Hz polling rate, but that’s mostly a gimmick. Dedicated media keys would be nice, too.

    The Huntsman V2 TKL is a few years old, and Razer has since released a new Huntsman V3 Pro line (which we note below). Razer sells full-size and analog versions of the Huntsman V2, but those are usually priced too close to the more versatile Wooting 60HE and Two HE to recommend. (Shortly before this guide was published, the company did announce a new Huntsman V3 Pro line with a more Wooting-esque feature set; we plan to test that soon, though Razer is keeping the V2 models around at a lower price.) At its initial MSRP of $160, we’d skip it, but these days it’s often available for $50 to $60 less. At that price, it’s a fine value if you must have a gaming-branded keyboard. Do note, however, that we highlight a more traditional mechanical keyboard in this price range below.

    Pros

    • Linear switches are quiet and responsive
    • PBT keycaps
    • Comfy wrist rest
    Cons

    • Relatively basic feature set
    • Some wobbly keys

    $100 at Amazon

    Photo by Jeff Dunn / Engadget

    Connectivity: USB-C | Size(s): 65 percent | Switches: Kailh Red | Hot-Swappable: Yes | Material: Plastic | Keycap material: Double-shot PBT | Backlight: RGB (north-facing) | Software: None

    If you want to pay as little as possible for an acceptable, honest-to-goodness gaming keyboard, get the G.Skill KM250 RGB. For $45, it offers PBT keycaps, hot-swappable switches, per-key RGB backlighting, adjustable feet, a detachable USB-C cable and even a dedicated volume control knob. Its translucent “pudding” keycaps look funky but help show off those RGB effects. The linear Kailh Red switches are quick and smooth enough, without the pinging noise that often plagues budget keyboards. Its 65 percent layout doesn’t chew up space, but it still fits in a set of arrow keys. Though there’s no dedicated software for programming the KM250, you can quickly swap through lighting effects right from the device. Avoiding potential bloatware may be better at this price anyway.

    Now, this isn’t a miracle. The plastic frame is lightweight and surprisingly sturdy, but you don’t get the level of sound-dampening foam, reinforced stems or pre-lubed springs you’d find in a more premium keyboard. Key presses sound hollower and feel a bit stiffer when you bottom out as a result. Plus, while having PBT keycaps at all in this range is great, they aren’t as pleasingly textured as more expensive options.

    But come on, it’s $45. For that price, everything here is beyond functional. And if you ever want to upgrade some of its lesser elements, you can.

    Pros

    • Excellent value
    • Hot-swappable
    • Rotary knob
    • Decent PBT keycaps
    Cons

    • Plastic frame
    • Hollow sound
    • Keystrokes feel somewhat stiff

    $45 at Amazon

    Photo by Jeff Dunn / Engadget

    Connectivity: 2.4GHz wireless, Bluetooth, USB-C | Size(s): 80 percent | Switches: SteelSeries OmniPoint 2.0 | Hot-Swappable: No | Material: Plastic with aluminum top plate | Keycap material: Double-shot PBT | Backlight: RGB (north-facing) | Software: SteelSeries GG

    If you want a gaming keyboard you can take on the road, or you just despise cable clutter, check out the SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Wireless. Similar to the Wooting keyboards above, its linear-style switches use magnetic Hall effect sensors, which open up a range of legitimately useful gaming features. You can raise or lower the actuation points of individual keys anywhere between 0.1mm and 4mm, enable a rapid trigger mode to repeat presses faster and bind multiple commands to one key based on how far it’s pushed. (To give another example, you could lightly press W to walk, then hold it to run.) There’s no full-on analog mode, and you can “only” assign two actuation-based commands to a key at once, but the Apex Pro TKL still allows for finer control than most wireless keyboards.

    The “keyboard” part of the Apex Pro TKL is satisfactory as well. The double-shot PBT keycaps avoid grime and aren’t overly sculpted, so they’re easy to reach. The aluminum-plated chassis is robust, and the per-key RGB looks fine. You can connect over a 2.4GHz dongle, Bluetooth or a detachable USB-C cable. There’s a set of feet with two incline angles around the back and a magnetic wrist rest in the box. On the front is a volume roller and a mini OLED display, the latter of which lets you check the battery, quickly swap profiles, adjust the actuation, set macros, change backlight brightness and even see info from certain apps.

    You’d buy this for gaming first and foremost though. The Hall effect switches are comfy, but there’s an audible, mildly sharp click to each press. It’s not harsh, but it’s not soothing. The space bar, however, is noticeably louder and more hollow-sounding than everything else. (The switches aren’t hot-swappable either, though that’s not a shock given their unique design.) SteelSeries’ GG software is a bit wonkier to navigate than Wooting’s Wootility app, too; I often had to leave it open to ensure my custom actuation profiles weren’t overridden. The battery life, estimated around 40 hours with the wireless dongle, isn’t all that long either.

    And with a list price of $250, none of this comes cheap. If typing and key feel is your primary concern, we have a couple better values in our honorable mentions below. But for gaming specifically, the Apex Pro TKL’s feature set and fast keys give it the edge. SteelSeries makes several other Apex Pro keyboards in different form factors, but we’d recommend one of Wooting’s options over those unless you must go wireless.

    Pros

    • Fast and deeply versatile magnetic switches
    • Handy OLED display
    • Multiple connection modes
    • Magnetic wrist rest
    Cons

    • Pricey
    • Mediocre acoustics
    • Battery life could be better

    $190 at Walmart

    Photo by Jeff Dunn / Engadget

    Connectivity: 2.4GHz wireless, Bluetooth, USB-C | Size(s): 65 percent, 75 percent (standard or Alice layout), 80 percent (tested), 96 percent, 100 percent | Switches: Gateron Jupiter Brown (tested), Red, Banana | Hot-Swappable: Yes | Material: Plastic | Keycap material: Double-shot PBT | Backlight: RGB (south-facing) | Software: VIA

    If you aren’t intense about esports-style online play and just want a good mechanical keyboard you can also use for games, try the Keychron V3 Max. For less than $100, it offers a wireless frame with hot-swappable switches, double-shot PBT keycaps and a volume knob. By default, it comes with Gateron’s Jupiter Red (linear), Brown (tactile) or Banana (more tactile) switches; the Jupiter Reds are sufficiently light for everyday gaming and, with the help of an internal gasket mount and multiple layers of sound-dampening foam, mostly quiet. Each switch comes pre-lubed, which helps keep the out-of-the-box typing experience from feeling or sounding cheap. Presses make a lovely little pop. The keycaps are comfortably spaced and gently rounded, making it easier to avoid accidental inputs, though they have a somewhat a somewhat high profile, so they can feel a little more in the way than the keys on the Apex Pro or Huntsman V2 TKL for quick movements. All of it connects over a removable USB-C cable, Bluetooth or a wireless adapter, and there are USB-C and USB-A dongles in the box.

    The V3 isn’t as focused on ultra-low latency as a dedicated gaming keyboard, and it doesn’t have any of the special features available with the Wooting 60HE+ or Apex Pro TKL Wireless, but it should be responsive enough for all but the most competitive players. A built-in switch lets you swap between Windows and macOS modes, and there are OS-specific keycaps in the box. You can program the board through the free VIA software, which may take a second to figure out and isn’t loaded with gaming-specific tricks, but still lets you remap keys, create macros or adjust the backlight across OSes. It’s also accessible over the web.

    The V3 Max’s keys are individually backlit, and you can adjust its RGB effects right from the board. This looks odd with the default, non-translucent keycaps though. There’s a pair of foldable feet on the back, but this is a high-profile keyboard with no included wrist rest, so it’s not the most ergonomic setup. The chassis is also made of plastic, so it’s hard to call “premium.” And the stabilizers could be better: There’s a faint but audible rattle when pressing the backspace or enter keys, while the space bar is louder and more hollow-sounding than everything else. Still, this is a comfortable and customizable entry point for those looking to get into mechanical keyboards as a hobby, one that’s nicer for typing than the Huntsman V2 TKL. It’s a strong value for non-twitchy games.

    The V3 Max is a tenkeyless model, but Keychron sells several other size and layout options in the V Max series as well. We previously recommended the Keychron V3, an older wired model, and that one is still solid if you want to save a bit more. But the Max’s wireless connectivity and improved acoustics make it a better buy.

    Pros

    • Good value
    • Typing feels and sounds great
    • Hot-swappable switches
    • USB-C and USB-A wireless receivers
    • Rotary knob
    Cons

    • Plastic design
    • Some rattle with larger keys
    • Keycaps neuter RGB backlight

    $99 at Amazon

    Photo by Jeff Dunn / Engadget

    Connectivity: 2.4GHz wireless, Bluetooth, USB-C | Size(s): 60 percent, 75 percent (tested), 96 percent | Switches: NuPhy Aloe, Cowberry, Wisteria, Moss; Gateron Low-Profile Red 2.0, Brown 2.0, Blue 2.0 | Hot-Swappable: Yes | Material: Aluminum and plastic | Keycap material: Double-shot PBT | Backlight: RGB (south-facing) | Software: VIA

    A low-profile keyboard combines the flatter shape of a laptop keyboard with the more gratifying feel of mechanical switches. Compared to typical mechanical keyboards, low-profile models aren’t as tall, and their switches have a shorter travel distance. This can make it harder to type accurately, but since low-profile switches usually require little force to actuate, they’re almost inherently well-suited for gaming.

    If you like this sort of design, get the NuPhy Air75 V2. Like the Keychron V3 Max, it’s not outright marketed for gaming, so it’s not as feature-rich as our other picks, but it’s good enough at the essentials to be worthwhile. Latency is low enough for online shooters, and the linear “Daisy” switches in my test unit are light and responsive across games. They bottom out quickly, so they can strain your fingers over time, but they’re fast. The keys also sound nice, with a mild clack to each press. If you want something more tactile, clicky or even lighter, NuPhy sells the Air75 V2 with several other switch options as well. (NuPhy technically doesn’t pre-configure the device with the Daisy switches, but the “Cowberry” model should feel similar, if a bit faster.) The switches are also hot-swappable, though the market for low-profile keycaps and switches isn’t super extensive.

    The board itself is impressively slim, so you don’t have to contort your wrists to type comfortably. It’s a 75 percent model, so it saves space yet squeezes in arrow keys and a full Fn row. (The layout can feel a little overstuffed, but I’d rather have more dedicated keys than fewer.) While the chassis will flex a tiny bit if you push down hard, the keys are stable, the stabilizers don’t rattle and the fold-out feet are firm. The wide, double-shot PBT keycaps give ample room for each press. Plus, it all looks kind of cute. There’s per-key RGB as well, but the default keycaps aren’t shine-through, so the effect looks clumsy — plus it’ll drain the battery faster.

    On a related note, this is another wireless model that can connect over a USB dongle, Bluetooth or a removable USB-C cable. I did notice a few connection hiccups with the dongle at launch when I had a wireless mouse paired at the same time, but firmware updates seem to have fixed those issues. The device works with Windows, macOS and Linux, with system-specific keys in the box and a switch on the top for swapping between the first two platforms. Regardless of OS, it uses the VIA software for remapping keys, assigning macros and the like, just like the Keychron V3 Max. (As of this writing, you may need to do a little extra setup to get VIA to recognize the keyboard, but not much.) With the backlight off, NuPhy says it can last up to 220 hours; with it on, that drops between 35 and 57 hours. Just note that it comes from a smaller company, so it may take a little longer than usual to ship.

    Pros

    • Slim, sturdy and attractive design
    • Pleasant typing experience
    • Spacious, high-quality keycaps
    • Configurable with several switch options
    Cons

    • Low-profile design can lead to typos and fatigue, especially for first-timers
    • Stock keycaps aren’t shine-through

    $130 at NuPhy

    Photo by Jeff Dunn / Engadget

    Connectivity: 2.4GHz wireless, Bluetooth, USB-C | Size(s): 75 percent | Switches: Gateron Double-Rail Magnetic Nebula | Hot-Swappable: Yes | Material: Aluminum | Keycap material: Double-shot PBT | Backlight: RGB (south-facing) | Software: Keychron Launcher

    The Keychron Q1 HE is essentially the gaming variant of Keychron’s Q Max series, which is the top pick in our guide to the best mechanical keyboards. It’s a wireless model with Hall effect switches and a 75 percent layout that sits between the 60HE+ and Apex Pro TKL Wireless in terms of size. On raw build and typing quality alone, it blows our top picks out of the water. Its full aluminum frame has zero flex, while its double-gasket mount design and pre-lubed magnetic switches make keystrokes feel springy. Layers of noise-dampening material keep everything sounding pleasant, minor rattling on the space bar aside. Like other Hall effect keyboards, it offers customizable actuation, a rapid trigger mode, the ability to assign multiple commands to one key and a gamepad-style analog mode.

    Alas, Keychron’s new Launcher software — which the company debuted alongside the Q1 HE — doesn’t quite match up to its hardware. As we write this, for one, Launcher won’t recognize the keyboard unless you connect it with a cable. Actually setting your profiles isn’t as intuitive as it is in SteelSeries’ GG app or (especially) Wooting’s Wootility either, and you can only save three profiles to the onboard memory.

    The adjustable actuation range (0.5mm to 3.8mm) is technically shorter than either the 60HE+ or Apex Pro, and I ran into a bug where the keyboard would stay in sleep mode if left idle for several minutes unless I switched it off and on again. And while the design is fantastic for everyday use, the sculpted keycaps can take just that little bit longer to reach when you’re frantically moving around. The keycaps aren’t shine-through, either, so any RGB effects are muted. (If you tie certain RGB effects to specific profiles, this can also make it harder to tell which profile you’re actually using.) None of these quirks are deal breakers, but the Apex Pro TKL is a slightly smoother experience if you want a premium wireless keyboard for games first and foremost.

    Pros

    • Feels and sounds great for typing
    • Versatile magnetic switches
    • Premium aluminum chassis
    Cons

    • Software needs polish
    • Keycaps neuter RGB backlight

    $219 at Keychron

    Photo by Jeff Dunn / Engadget

    Connectivity: 2.4GHz wireless, Bluetooth, USB-C | Size(s): 96 percent | Switches: ASUS ROG NX Snow (tested), Storm | Hot-Swappable: Yes | Material: Plastic with aluminum top plate | Keycap material: Double-shot PBT | Backlight: RGB (north-facing) | Software: Armoury Crate

    The ASUS ROG Strix Scope II 96 Wireless (phew) is another strong alternative to the Apex Pro series if you want to go wireless. It’s a joy to type on, with superb sound dampening, pre-lubed ROG NX switches, an impressively sturdy case and stable, PBT-coated keys. It’s hot-swappable, its battery life rating is much higher than the Apex Pro TKL Wireless (90 hours with RGB on) and it has a multi-function key that puts volume, media and RGB controls in one place. At $180, it’s also $70 cheaper than our SteelSeries pick. That said, it doesn’t have the rapid trigger or custom actuation tricks of Hall effect keyboards like the Apex Pro TKL Wireless, and ASUS’s Armoury Crate software is a bit of a mess. But if you care about typing experience more than extra gaming-friendly features, it’s excellent.

    Pros

    • Excellent typing quality
    • Hot-swappable
    • Good battery life
    Cons

    • Not as flexible or feature-rich as Wooting 60HE+ or SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Wireless

    $150 at Amazon

    The ASUS ROG Azoth mechanical gaming keyboard on a light brown wooden table.The ASUS ROG Azoth mechanical gaming keyboard on a light brown wooden table.

    The ASUS ROG Azoth. (Photo by Jeff Dunn / Engadget)

    The ASUS ROG Azoth is like a smaller version of the ROG Strix Scope II 96 Wireless with a few more enthusiast touches, such as a gasket-mounted design — which gives keystrokes a softer feel — a programmable OLED display and a toolkit for lubing switches in the box. It’s exceptionally well-made by any standard, not just “for a gaming keyboard.” But its feature set still isn’t as flexible as the Wooting 60HE or SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Wireless, which makes its $250 price tag a tough ask.

    The tenkeyless Keychron C3 Pro is the top budget pick in our mechanical keyboard guide, and it remains a great stand-in for the G.Skill KM250 RGB if you want to stay under $50. With its gasket mount design, internal foam and pre-lubed switches, it feels and sounds fuller to press. The base version we tested lacks hot-swappable switches and only has a red backlight, but Keychron recently released revised models that address that and add full RGB. That said, their ABS keycaps feel cheaper and can develop a shine over time, plus there’s no volume knob. Some may find KM250’s smaller size more convenient for gaming, too.

    The Keychron C3 Pro mechanical keyboard in black and red, resting on a brown wooden outdoor tablet.The Keychron C3 Pro mechanical keyboard in black and red, resting on a brown wooden outdoor tablet.

    The Keychron C3 Pro. (Photo by Jeff Dunn / Engadget)

    The full-size NZXT Function 2 and tenkeyless Function 2 MiniTKL are totally solid midrange options with fast optical switches and the ability to swap between two universal actuation points, but they’re let down by mediocre stabilizers on the larger keys.

    The Razer Huntsman V3 Pro is a line of wired analog keyboards that comes in 60 percent, TKL and full-size options. They have just about all the features we like on the Wooting 60HE+, but their optical switches are noisier and more hollow-feeling.

    The Razer Huntsman Mini is a fine choice if you want a 60 percent keyboard and don’t need Wooting-style software tricks, with textured PBT keycaps, a sturdy aluminum top plate and the same fast optical switches we praised with the Huntsman V2 TKL. The 60HE+ is much more versatile, though, while the KM250 RGB is a more appealing value.

    The Corsair K70 Max is another one with magnetic switches, but trying to program its more advanced features through Corsair’s iCue software was a pain.

    The Corsair K70 RGB TKL is a decent if basic midrange model, but it’s also on the noisy side compared to the Huntsman V2 TKL, and it’s saddled with middling software.

    The Logitech G Pro X 60 wireless gaming keyboard in black sits on a wooden tabletop with light blue RGB backlighting displayed through its keycaps.The Logitech G Pro X 60 wireless gaming keyboard in black sits on a wooden tabletop with light blue RGB backlighting displayed through its keycaps.

    The Logitech G Pro X 60. (Photo by Jeff Dunn / Engadget)

    The wireless Logitech G Pro X TKL and G Pro X 60 are built well but too expensive to lack hot-swappable switches and the analog features of devices like the Wooting 60HE+. There isn’t much sound-dampening foam in either board, too, so they don’t sound great.

    The Logitech G915 TKL is a wireless low-profile keyboard with a metal frame, but its thin ABS keycaps feel too cheap for something that’s usually priced around $180. Logitech released a new wireless low-profile model called the G515 Lightspeed TKL in late June; we secured a review unit just before our latest update was published, so we’ll include our thoughts in the next refresh to this guide.

    June 2024: We updated this guide with a new “traditional mechanical keyboard” pick, the Keychron V3 Max, plus a couple new honorable mentions and more notes on other gaming keyboards we’ve tried. Note that we’ve tested — and will continue to test — several other keyboards that aren’t explicitly marketed toward gaming, but we’ll direct you to our general mechanical keyboard buying guide for more info on those.

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    Jeff Dunn

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  • 7 Things to Say When Someone Gaslights You

    7 Things to Say When Someone Gaslights You

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    Imagine you have a serious talk with your partner—yet when you bring it up a couple weeks later, they say: “We never had that conversation! You must be thinking of something else.” Or your boss gives you an assignment but omits crucial information, later berating you for falling short and claiming you were provided with the exact instructions you know you never received. Maybe you keep hearing that you’re overreacting, too sensitive, or misinterpreting things.

    All are possible examples of gaslighting. The (frequently misused) term describes “the act of when someone is talking to or communicating with you, making you feel like your reality is being questioned,” says Laura Sgro, a therapist in Los Angeles who specializes in helping people navigate dysfunctional families or relationships. Over time, it can take a serious toll on mental health: “A lot of times people feel like they’re losing their grip on reality,” Sgro says. “What that can look like is a lot of self-doubt, and perhaps internalizing your own feelings and needs and not communicating them.” Anxiety and depression can follow.

    Gaslighting exists on a spectrum, Sgro adds, and it’s not always possible—or safe—to engage with the person doing it. That’s because their goal is to win, not to problem-solve, she says, so you won’t get anywhere. But sometimes, especially if the gaslighting isn’t a behavioral pattern, you can effectively shut down the conversation and prevent it from happening again. We asked experts what to say, and why it works.

    “We seem to have different memories of that conversation. Here’s what I remember happening.”

    Asserting your reality without blaming or accusing can go a long way, says Deborah Gilman, a psychologist in Pittsburgh. “This approach disrupts the gaslighter’s attempt to control the narrative,” she adds. By calmly stating your experience, “you plant a seed of doubt in their manipulation and show you won’t be easily swayed.” She advises speaking clearly and confidently, while making eye contact. Gaslighters thrive on emotional responses, Gilman stresses, so stick to the facts and avoid getting defensive. If the other person tries to twist your words, simply restate your perspective: “Yes, that’s part of what happened, but what I’m focusing on is…”

    Read More: Gaslighting, Narcissist, and More Psychology Terms You’re Misusing

    “I’m not comfortable with how you’re characterizing the situation. Let’s talk about [original topic] instead.”

    Gilman likes this way of setting a boundary and redirecting the conversation. “It takes control back,” she says. Plus, it directly addresses the other person’s behavior. If they continue gaslighting you, repeat the boundary: “I already said I’m not comfortable with this. Can we move on?” Becoming a broken record, she notes, helps ensure that what you’re saying resonates, while putting a stop to further arguing.

    “We may not agree, but my feelings are still valid.”

    If traffic signals regulated conversation, this response would be a “screeching red light,” Sgro says. As she puts it: “Where do you go from there?” Ideally, the other person will use it as an opportunity to look inward and reflect on the fact that their partner is feeling invalidated, which can temper the argument. Plus, “this approach really calls out that we’re not trying to be right,” Sgro says. “We’re just trying to express the way that we each feel.”

    “Let’s take a step back and write down what happened from both our viewpoints.”

    When you’re not feeling heard, the best solution is often to take a break for a few minutes. Natalie Rosado, a licensed mental health counselor in Tampa, suggests taking it one step further and using your time apart to write down your perspective on what happened to spark the disagreement. While it’s impossible to reason with some people who gaslight, others are open to having a conversation and arriving at a resolution—just not, perhaps, in the heat of the moment. Spending time together reviewing what you each wrote can be eye-opening. Plus, it serves another purpose: “You’re able to go back and review things that you’ve written down during previous incidents, so you can recall situations or conversations and have tangible evidence,” Rosado says. “It’s a way to combat some of those thoughts when you’re wondering if you’re losing your sanity or questioning your reality.”

    “I feel like we’re not on the same page. Can we involve a neutral third party to help us understand each other better?”

    If gaslighting starts to become a pattern, you might benefit from working with a therapist—either together or separately. The goal isn’t necessarily to improve the relationship, Rosado notes. “More than anything, it’s to provide psychoeducation and support for the person who’s in a relationship with the gaslighter,” she says. “It’s an additional person who can be an objective party—someone who can help them gauge their experiences.” It’s always good, she adds, to have a second set of eyes, especially on unhealthy relationship dynamics.

    Read More: How to Tell if Someone Is Lying to You, According to Experts

    “Wow, that’s an interesting way to remember things! Let’s try to stick to the facts.”

    Using humor can help take the power away from the gaslighter and make it less likely that they’ll continue to try to manipulate you, says Jenny Maenpaa, a licensed clinical social worker in New York. She advises keeping your tone lighthearted and flashing a quick smile. Ideally, the other person will laugh and move on to a different topic of conversation. If they continue fixating on their version of events, Maenpaa suggests responding: “That’s interesting. Maybe we can look at [evidence like texts or photos] to refresh our memories?”

    “I’ve noticed a pattern in our conversations where my recollections are often questioned. Can we focus on finding solutions rather than debating memories?”

    Rosado thinks of this response as “soaring above the content of the argument.” Instead of getting into a power struggle over the details of the incident, she says, it allows you to adopt a 360-degree view. “What you’re trying to do is say, ‘Let’s move past exactly how we remember that situation, and figure out possible ways forward,’” she says. “A way to do that would be to identify, ‘What would be a goal of mine in this relationship moving forward?’ and then, ‘What would be a goal of yours?’” It’s a constructive way to ensure you’re both on the same page—and that gaslighting doesn’t cast a shadow over your future relationship.

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    Angela Haupt

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  • Lions Den Candle Company is an LGBTQ+-owned business selling the sweet smell of summer

    Lions Den Candle Company is an LGBTQ+-owned business selling the sweet smell of summer

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    REHOBOTH BEACH, Delaware — Jacob Anthony is the owner and CEO of The Lions Den Candle Company in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.

    Anthony makes handcrafted soy candles, diffusers, wax melts and soaps.

    He started in 2020, making candles as gifts with his new additional time working remotely.

    As the demand for his candles grew, he turned his hobby into a business with the help of his husband Tony Zacchei.

    In 2021, The Lions Den Candle Company became Jacob’s full-time business.

    During the summer, The Lions Den Candle Company sells products at the Rehoboth Beach Farmer’s Market and during the winter at Philadelphia’s Christmas Village.

    Jacob has more than two dozen scents that can be bought on his website and at The Rehoboth Beach Farmer’s Market this summer.

    Lions Den Candle Company| Instagram | Facebook

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    CCG

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  • 19 Celebs Who Bought Their Parents Homes After They Made It

    19 Celebs Who Bought Their Parents Homes After They Made It

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    Home is where the heart is.

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  • What’s the Best Pillow Setup for Sleep?

    What’s the Best Pillow Setup for Sleep?

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    When most of us think about how to get the perfect night’s sleep, we consider things like how firm our mattress is, how cool or dark our room is, and what time we go to bed. One factor we sometimes fail to consider? Our pillow setup.

    “I think pillows are often incredibly overlooked,” says Dr. W. Christopher Winter, a neurologist, sleep specialist, and author of The Sleep Solution.

    Winter says he always asks patients what kind of pillow they have and where they bought it. “It’s really surprising how few people can actually answer the question,” he says. “It’s like they just always had the pillow or it just showed up in their bed at some point and they never really questioned it.”

    Finding the perfect pillow is an opportunity for people to improve their sleep without buying a new mattress, which can be time-consuming and costly, says Winter, who also hosts the “Sleep Unplugged” podcast. 

    The following advice can help ensure your pillow setup will get you the best sleep possible. 

    Not too low, not too high

    The most comfortable sleeping position is highly personal. Some people will feel most comfortable sleeping on their stomach, while others will get the best sleep on their side or back. (Generally speaking, side and back sleeping are best for the alignment of the spine.)

    Pillow height is highly personal, too; there’s no scientific consensus yet on the ideal pillow height. But a good rule of thumb is to use a pillow that fills the gap between your shoulder and ear, as this helps align your neck and spine, says Craig Hensley, associate professor of physical therapy and human movement sciences at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

    Read More: Why You Sweat So Much at Night—And What to Do About It

    “If the pillow is too thick, it will bend and put stress on your neck,” he says. “If it’s not thick enough, it’ll bend your neck the other way, which could compress some of your joints.”

    Find the right firmness and material 

    Most people sleep better with a firmer pillow, Hensley says. Firm pillows support the head and neck better than soft ones. Just beware of a pillow that’s too firm, as this can cause stiffness from hyperextension of the neck, says Dr. Rachel Salas, a sleep neurologist at the Johns Hopkins Center for Sleep and Wellness. 

    The composition of pillows matters, too. One study compared five different pillow types: polyester, foam, contour foam with a groove for the neck, feather, and latex (which is bouncy and moldable). The study looked at whether each pillow type contributed to participants waking up with a stiff spine, headache, or arm pain. The researchers found that feather pillows performed the worst, while latex pillows performed the best.

    An added benefit of latex pillows is that they can protect against dust mites, Winter says. Certain materials, like goose down, are porous, and therefore more likely to trap dust mites than latex pillows.  

    Replace your pillows and wash your pillowcases regularly 

    If you wake up congested or with a post-nasal drip, it could be due to allergens in your pillow. One study found that 10% of a two-year-old pillow’s weight is due to dust mites and their excrement. Pillows can also contain dead skin, mold, and pet dander. 

    “If pillows are old, they can trap a lot of dust mites and human skin, and that can interfere with sleep quality,” Salas says.

    Read More: How People Relax Around the World

    The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America suggests replacing your pillow every two years. Hypoallergenic covers can be beneficial if you’re particularly prone to allergies.

    You should also wash your pillowcases at least once a week. One study found pillowcases that hadn’t been cleaned in a week contained 17,000 times more bacteria than a toilet seat. This bacteria can be particularly rampant if you drool, sleep with makeup on, or sweat a lot. 

    Strive for a cooling effect

    If your head gets too hot while you sleep, your sympathetic nervous system can become activated, according to one 2015 study. This can prevent you from achieving deep sleep, which is essential for health. Using a pillow with a cooling effect can help you sleep better, especially if you’re prone to overheating at night. 

    If you’re looking for a pillowcase that will keep you cool, avoid synthetic materials like polyester, since they can retain heat, says Dr. Sudha Tallavajhula, medical director of the Neurological Sleep Medicine Center at TIRR Memorial Hermann in Houston. Instead, opt for pillowcases made from natural fabrics like cotton, silk, and bamboo. 

    Pillows aren’t just for your head

    When you picture the perfect pillow setup, it’s important to think beyond just the pillows under your head, Winter says. 

    Pregnant women, for example, might benefit from pillows that support their abdomen or legs. People with back pain can also benefit from using support pillows on their body. Hensley often recommends people with back pain who sleep on their back put a pillow under their knees, as this can decrease stress on the lumbar spine. People with back pain or sciatica who sleep on their side, he says, should put a pillow between their thighs, as this can lower the stress on the sciatic nerve.

    Read More: How to Share a Bed While Getting the Best Night’s Sleep

    For those with shoulder pain, Hensley recommends sleeping on the opposite side of the injury, and placing a pillow under the injured shoulder. For example, if you have right-sided shoulder pain, sleep on your left side and place a pillow under your right shoulder. 

    Many people like to sleep with their arm under their pillow. But doing so can put too much weight on your arm, especially if you have a shoulder injury. If you feel the most comfortable sleeping with your arm under your pillow, consider a specialty pillow that comes with a slot for your arm, Winter says. 

    Some people will benefit from added height

    Most people should only sleep with one or two pillows, Salas says. But there are exceptions to this rule. For example, sleeping slightly more elevated can help pregnant women dealing with shortness of breath and heartburn. 

    If you have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), your sleep quality will also likely improve if your pillow setup is a little bit higher, Winter says. When you sleep slightly elevated, the contents of your stomach can flow downward more easily. “When we lie flat, they’re more likely to regurgitate through the esophageal sphincter,” he says. “When you’re more upright, gravity holds things down better.” (Tallavajhula adds that sleeping on the left side is better for people with acid reflux due to the position of the stomach.)

    Read More: 8 Ways to Stay Hydrated if You Hate Drinking Water

    Snoring can also improve if you use a pillow that’s a little bit higher. Snoring is often a sign of obstructive sleep apnea, a condition in which the airway becomes blocked and our breathing pauses. Sleep apnea should be treated with a CPAP machine. (Companies now make pillows that accommodate CPAP machines.) Allergies, obesity, and sleeping on your back can also cause snoring. Regardless of why you snore, sleeping with more pillows or a slightly higher pillow can help open your airway and reduce snoring.

    “Something as simple as propping your head up can improve snoring, improve sleep apnea, and then it also tends to make elements of GERD much better,” Winter says.

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    Jamie Friedlander Serrano

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  • What’s the Least Amount of Exercise I Can Get Away With?

    What’s the Least Amount of Exercise I Can Get Away With?

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    A few years ago, personal trainer Anna Maltby cut back on exercise as she juggled work with being a new mother. Like some of her clients, she suddenly lacked the time and energy to work out the way she used to. She could manage no more than several 15-minute workouts per week, “but I actually felt like I got my minimum effective dose for that stage of my life,” she says.

    Many of us feel like we’re too busy for exercise. Others actively avoid it. But research shows that doing at least some exercise is important for longer, healthier lives without dementia, heart disease, diabetes, or cancer. Other advantages are reaped right away: we’re happier and more energetic on a daily basis.  

    So, just how little exercise can you get away with, while still getting these benefits? Here’s how low you can go, according to experts. Getting there may require changing how we define exercise in the first place.

    Meet the minimum guidelines

    Official guidelines from the World Health Organization, the U.S. government, and other groups give adults a few choices for how low they can go with aerobic physical activity on a weekly basis. One option is getting at least 75 to 150 minutes of “vigorous” activity, meaning your level of huffing and puffing makes conversation difficult, and your heart rate rises to about 80% of its peak. Another option takes longer, but it’s less intense: 150 to 300 minutes of “moderate” activity, at 60-70% of your maximum heart rate. 

    You could also combine just enough vigorous and moderate exercise so they add up to the weekly minimum. Because tougher workouts are especially health-giving, they count more toward your weekly goal; every minute of vigorous activity is equivalent to two minutes of moderate activity. (This means that if you got 50 minutes of vigorous activity, that would count 100 minutes toward the 150-minute requirement for moderate activity. Then, you’d only need to add 50 minutes of moderate activity to meet your weekly minimum.)

    Read More: Your Brain Doesn’t Want You to Exercise

    These bare-minimum amounts deliver the biggest rewards for the fewest drops of sweat, according to decades of research. “If you look at the statistical curve, the increase in benefits is most dramatic” when these minimums are achieved, says Regina Guthold, an epidemiologist at the WHO. If you go higher—over 300 minutes of moderate exercise, for example—you’ll keep accruing greater health, but the gains become smaller. 

    Similar thresholds also support mental health, says Mary de Groot, a psychologist and associate professor of medicine at Indiana University School of Medicine. In a study with more than one million people, those who exercised 120 to 360 minutes per week had the best mental health, compared to those who did more or less. 

    Save time with hybrid workouts

    But here’s the catch: On top of cardio, strength training is a must, no less than twice per week. If you neglect it, some unsavory effects of older age may await you, like muscle atrophy and osteoporosis. 

    Now, the time-saving loophole: strength training can be mixed into cardio sessions. By using your own body weight as resistance (instead of heavier barbells), you can do more repetitions, upping your heart rate along with building muscle. Seniors in particular should focus on this “multicomponent activity,” the guidelines say, including moves that improve balance to help reduce the risk of falls.  

    Cardio-strength workouts include pushups, Turkish get-ups, mountain climbers, burpees, air squats, and lunges. With this hybrid approach, you could still wrap up exercise for the week in as few as 75 minutes.

    Skip days, not months

    Work gets busy; parenthood, vacations, and colds disrupt routines. We often need to skip exercise for several days in a row. (After all, we’re only human—not exercise robots.) So, how do the weekly minimums translate into everyday life? Must we bust a move every single day or face imminent demise? 

    Thankfully, no, Guthold says, as long as you catch up later in the week. “Weekend warriors get the same benefits as those who are active every day for less time,” she says. “There’s no evidence it needs to be spread out.”

    How about if you skip a week or two at a time? Well, if you reach the minimum amount of physical activity for only, say, three out of every four weeks, that’s much better than never reaching it. “It’s normal for people to have highs and lows with physical activity, even if they love it,” adds Stella Volpe, a professor of exercise and nutrition at Virginia Tech and president of the American College of Sports Medicine, another influential organization that publishes activity guidelines.

    Read More: How to Get Back to Sleep After Waking Up at Night

    “Life happens,” says Katrina Piercy, an exercise physiologist at HHS who leads development of the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. “But if you’re working toward meeting the guidelines in a typical week, you’re going to see benefits.” 

    Even on your off-weeks, just five minutes of activity per day will send more blood pumping through the body, which supports health by preventing blood vessels from stiffening. It could also improve blood sugar and sleep quality, Piercy says. But the more weeks that pass without meeting the guidelines, the more your health may eventually suffer, notes Volpe. Just two weeks straight being very sedentary causes aerobic fitness and muscle mass to decline significantly, potentially paving the way for disease. 

    Combine exercise with movement breaks

    Stay still for over an hour, and your feet may start tingling as the blood pools there, compelling you to get up and stretch. This light movement is important, but for most people, it’s not taxing enough to count toward their weekly exercise minimum. So here’s another way to save time on exercise: use these breaks to get your heart rate up so it qualifies as moderate or even vigorous exercise.

    Studies show that the more movement breaks you take, the lower your risk of death (at least anytime soon), says Keith Diaz, an associate professor of behavioral medicine at Columbia University Medical Center. It’s necessary to take these breaks even if you also exercise. “The other 98% of the day you’re not moving does matter,” Diaz says. 

    To save time, you can use four or five of these breaks as mini-exercise sessions, each about five minutes long. If you’re healthy enough to ramp up the intensity, try one-minute exercise snacks, 20 times per week or more, says Martin Gibala, a professor of kinesiology at McMaster University, who wrote a book called The One-Minute Workout. That could mean walking quickly or running up some stairs, depending on your fitness level. “Your total time spent exercising will be reduced, and there’s the simultaneous benefit of breaking up periods of prolonged sedentary behavior,” Gibala says. 

    We shouldn’t “blow off exercise completely” on days we’re too busy for one long workout, Gibala says. “Exercise doesn’t have to be this special thing you do at a special place.” In a study with over 25,000 people wearing fitness trackers, Gibala and colleagues found that people who didn’t formally exercise but got three separate bouts of vigorous activity, each lasting only 1 to 2 minutes, during their everyday lives lowered their risk of dying from cancer by about 40% and heart disease by 50% over a period of about seven years.

    Read More: How to Properly Cool Your Home With a Fan

    Diaz found that adults who engaged in five minutes of walking every 30 minutes improved their blood sugar, blood pressure, mood, and energy levels. Taking such breaks actually leads to more productivity at work, not less, according to Diaz’s preliminary findings. “Humans tend to have trouble focusing for longer than 20 minutes at a time anyway,” he notes.  

    You could have speed-walking meetings, or run from your office to the coffee shop. Volpe, the ACSM president, has a friend who watches TV with his kid but mutes the commercials, puts on music, and dances with the kid until the show resumes. “You’ll be amazed how good you feel by dancing a little instead of getting a snack,” Volpe says. 

    Piercy, the HHS physiologist, turns supermarket shopping into races, timing herself while carrying her groceries in a basket for muscle-strengthening. “Some days I don’t have a formal workout,” she says, “but I grocery shopped, or found other ways to multitask some activity.” 

    Redefine “exercise”

    Here’s the ultimate hack to reduce exercise time: find physical activities that don’t feel like exercise at all. (Warning: This may involve being social, having fun, and bonding with nature.) For example, you could ask a friend to join sessions of high-intensity interval training at a park. HIIT mixes bursts of activity with recovery breaks. When you can talk with people you like during the rest intervals, exercise drudgery transforms into a mobile hangout. 

    Sports like tennis count as HIIT. So does interval walking if it gets your heart rate up. The kicker is that the recovery intervals also go toward your minimum weekly exercise goal. “The rest intervals certainly count toward total minutes because your heart rate stays high during the breaks,” Volpe says. Magically, your 75 minutes of vigorous exercise could drop below 40.

    You may forget you’re exercising when distracted by the park’s natural beauty, leading to more benefits. “The improvements in mood…are even better when people exercise outside,” Diaz says, “away from their tech.” So-called “green exercise” improves emotions and self-esteem, and protects against depression, de Groot says.

    Find your ME

    This game of exercise limbo—how low can you go—involves more than the official guidelines. Your level of minimum exercise—your “ME”—depends on who you are. “When working with people on physical activity plans, the first thing I do is encourage them to think about their goals and values,” de Groot says.

    If you prioritize longevity and defying your age, your self-chosen ME will be higher than others’ minimums. “The more you exercise, the longer you’ll live free of chronic disease,” Diaz says. “But that’s not everyone’s goal.” Some care more about finding a sustainable amount that helps them feel good in the present moment, Diaz says, so they can carry groceries or climb steps without fatigue or pain.

    Here are some factors to consider in setting your ME: 

    • Time commitments: Some of Maltby’s clients are pregnant. “What counted as a great workout before this season of life just may not be possible in a few months,” she says.
    • Physical capacity: Activity guidelines may differ for those with illness or disability.
    • Stage of development. Kids need more activity than adults—they should average at least 60 minutes per day. 
    • Psychological makeup: Teens with ADHD, for instance, may need more exercise to “optimize their brain functioning,” says Erin Gonzalez, a clinical psychologist specializing in ADHD and health behaviors at Seattle Children’s Hospital.

    Fitness trackers and mood apps can show how different MEs translate into heart health, sleep quality, and positive emotions, and HHS created a “Move Your Way” weekly activity planner. “Monitoring your health data and progress objectively is very helpful,” Gonzalez explains. 

    Fitness wearables can also make exercise more efficient by turning it into family time through family fitness tracking. Instead of telling your teen to run around the house, strive toward your minimum goals together. “Doing so can sustain family lifestyle change,” Gonzalez says.

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    Matt Fuchs

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  • 16 Times Celebs Tried To Pretend They Were Just Normal People From Humble Beginnings And Everyone Was Like, “That’s Not The Truth, Ellen”

    16 Times Celebs Tried To Pretend They Were Just Normal People From Humble Beginnings And Everyone Was Like, “That’s Not The Truth, Ellen”

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    16 Celebs Who Pretended To Be From Humble Beginnings

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  • How to Cool Your Body Down Fast

    How to Cool Your Body Down Fast

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    As much as people enjoy the warm summer months, high temperatures can be hard on the human body. “As mammals, we live close to the thermal edge of life and death,” says Craig Heller, a physiologist and biology professor at Stanford University. “We run at 37°C [98.6°F], and only a couple of degrees above that puts us into heat illness and heat stroke.”

    Not every part of the body is the same temperature, however, “and blood flow determines where the heat is distributed,” Heller says.

    What part of the body cools down the fastest? And can we use that knowledge to cool down more quickly when it’s hot outside?

    Focus on your core

    In order to prevent the negative health effects of high temperatures, scientists say the most important goal is to reduce your core temperature. The most effective way to do this is to apply cooling methods, like a cold towel or ice water, to as large of a surface area as possible.

    “Cooling a body segment is not going to do much good when it comes to trying to reduce core temperature, which is the key determinant of heat-related illnesses,” says Ollie Jay, a professor of thermal physiology at the University of Sydney.

    Read More: Why You Sweat So Much at Night—And What to Do About It

    As the body warms up, it tries to get rid of heat by opening up blood vessels closer to the skin and sending more blood to those areas. This moves heat away from the core toward the surface of the skin, where it can dissipate from the body. Putting cold water or ice on the skin helps speed up this process, and cools down the body more quickly when water evaporates off the skin.

    Jay recommends pouring cool water over as much of the body as possible or placing a towel with ice on the chest for a minute or two at a time every 10 minutes until you feel more comfortable.  

    Target your hands and feet

    If taking a dip or wrapping yourself in a cold towel isn’t immediately feasible, “then cooling a limb, for example, is probably a good idea,” Jay says. Basic physics can help determine where to start. Every object has what is called specific heat, which is how much energy is required to heat it up or cool it down by 1°C. Objects with large surface areas and smaller masses have lower specific heats. This means the extremities—like the hands and feet, which have a lot of skin but not a lot of mass—are the most efficient at cooling down.

    Ice-cold water is best, “and the more skin surface area that’s covered, the faster you’re going to cool,” says Douglas Casa, a professor of kinesiology at the University of Connecticut and CEO of the Korey Stringer Institute, a nonprofit at the university dedicated to heat-stroke prevention.

    Read More: How to Spend Time Outside if You Hate Getting Sweaty

    Another  unique aspect of these areas is that they’re essentially hairless—and Heller has found that the parts of your skin without hair can quickly heat up and cool down. “The palms of your hands and the soles of your feet are radiators,” he says. This is, in part, because there are large networks of blood vessels in these areas that can quickly exchange heat through the blood. 

    Know when it’s time to step things up 

    If you’re truly overheated, cooling off one body part at a time may not be sufficient. Most negative effects from heat, like heat stroke or heat illness, come from when a person’s core temperature reaches dangerous levels, or the heat has put excess strain on their heart. 

    It’s not always obvious to a person when they’ve reached this point. How hot someone feels is not always connected to how hot their core temperature is.

    “Behavior is driven by how hot you feel, and health is driven by how hot you are,” Jay says. “You can have wildly different skin temperatures for a given core temperature.” For example, applying a cold towel to the neck and face can cool arteries heading toward the brain—which gives the body a signal that it is actually colder than it is. Some areas, like the face, have a lot of receptors to detect temperature—so cooling them may make someone feel like they are cooling off quickly when they aren’t.

    One way to know it’s time to cool off is to keep an eye out for signs of heat exhaustion: symptoms like nausea, cramps, dizziness, and an elevated heart rate. If a person experiences any of these, they should get out of warm environments, seek medical attention, and use methods to immediately cool off.

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    Anil Oza

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  • 11 Celebs Who Turned Down White House Invites (And Why)

    11 Celebs Who Turned Down White House Invites (And Why)

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    “We want liberty, justice, and freedom for all. When you do that, that’s when I’ll come.”

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  • Why You Sweat So Much at Night—And What to Do About It

    Why You Sweat So Much at Night—And What to Do About It

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    Waking up in a pool of sweat can feel alarming. And even though lots of people sweat more overnight, it’s a sign that things may not be working as they should: the body’s core temperature typically decreases slightly during sleep.

    But a variety of medical and lifestyle factors can signal to the brain that it’s time to start sweating, leading to scorching-hot wakeups. We asked experts how to figure out what’s leading to those sweat-drenched sheets, and what to do about it.

    It could be a medical issue

    Sweating at night can indicate that something is going on health-wise, says Dr. Aarthi Ram, a sleep medicine specialist at Houston Methodist. You could be going through menopause or have an abnormal thyroid or a neurological disorder—or even an infection like tuberculosis, malaria, or typhoid fever. “That’s why it’s important to go over travel history with your doctor,” she says. In some cases, night sweats can manifest in people with cancer, but that’s just one of numerous possibilities, she says.

    Another possibility is obstructive sleep apnea. Findings from an Icelandic study of people with sleep apnea have found that people with the condition experience night sweats at a rate three times higher than the general population. “Anecdotally, I’ve had a few patients who have seen their ob-gyn and primary care provider, and they come to see me and they’re like, ‘No one can figure out why I have these night sweats,’” Ram says. “We do a sleep study, and they end up having sleep apnea.” Treatment, she adds—like wearing a CPAP mask—greatly improves their nighttime sweats.

    So when is it time to see a doctor? “If you’re waking up drenched in sweat nightly, and it’s causing a significant disruption in your sleep or functional impairment, that’s usually a good indication,” Ram says. Expect your doctor to take a detailed history and run some basic labs.

    Your medication might be to blame

    Lots of common prescriptions can cause people to heat up at night, says Dr. Shoshana Ungerleider, an internal medicine physician who hosts the TED Health podcast. Among them: antidepressants, hormone therapy, diabetes medications, steroids, and beta blockers. “If you’re concerned a new medication is leading to your sweating at night, think about asking your doctor about timing or if the dosage could be changed,” she suggests. Sometimes, small adjustments can lead to better sleep.

    Read More: How to Sleep When It’s Really Hot Outside

    You may be eating and drinking the wrong things

    If you enjoy a nice little bedtime snack that happens to be, say, in the jalapeño family, reconsider. Consuming spicy foods before going to sleep can trigger sweating. Alcohol and caffeine are also common culprits. “You definitely want to avoid alcohol before bedtime,” Ram says. “It can change your sleep architecture and cause night sweats.” It’s best to cut yourself off a few hours before bedtime.

    Or you’re stressed

    Stress and anxiety can trigger the fight-or-flight response—a surge in sympathetic nervous system activity—even when you’re asleep. “You can absolutely wake up drenched in sweat because you’re worried about things,” Ram says.

    That’s why it’s worth trying to relax for an hour or so before going to bed. Dr. Glynis Ablon, a dermatologist and founder of the Ablon Skin Institute & Research Center in Manhattan Beach, Calif., advises her patients to adopt habits like meditating or taking a bath with Epsom salts, which she enjoys every evening. “Make your environment as relaxing and non-stress as possible,” she says. That might include putting your phone in another room, hanging up blackout curtains to block annoying light, and playing calming sounds on a white noise machine.

    Your bedding could be heating you up

    Bedding choices play a big role in sweaty sleep.

    The most breathable fibers are the natural ones, notes Parima Ijaz, a textile expert and founder of the bedding brand Pure Parima: “Cotton, linen, hemp, and bamboo all allow air to pass through easily, helping cool the skin,” she says. Each one, however, has pros and cons; linen and hemp, for example, are prone to wrinkling and have a coarse texture that not everyone will like. Experiment to figure out what you find most comfortable. And if possible, go with a Percale weave. That’s a construction style that “allows for more air to pass through,” Ijaz says. It also has a lighter weight and crisper feel than other styles.

    Read More: How to Deal With Sweaty Feet

    If you want to layer up, look for a blanket or comforter that’s lightweight, breathable, and made out of natural fabrics, like a down alternative comforter made out of cotton. (Down is an insulating fiber that traps heat, which is why alternative fills are best for hot sleepers, Ijaz says.) Avoid wool and fleece, which are too good at keeping you warm. The same goes for synthetic materials like polyester, microfiber, and acrylic.

    If new bedding isn’t in your budget, get creative, advises Terry Cralle, a registered nurse and clinical sleep educator near Washington, D.C. You could put your top sheet in the fridge or even the freezer for about half an hour before you go to bed. How’s that for a cool pathway to less sweating? “I thought it was so clever,” she recalls of the first time someone told her about the trick—and it works.

    It might be time to replace your mattress

    When people consider potential mattresses, their attention often centers on whether it’s soft or firm. But breathability matters, too, Ram says—it determines how much airflow will circulate. “Sometimes memory foam mattresses tend to be a little more dense, and they can trap heat,” she adds. “Innerspring mattresses promote more airflow because of the empty space between the coils.”

    Some mattresses and mattress toppers are infused with cooling material—like temperature-regulating gel beads and moisture-wicking fabric covers—and can elevate the sleeping experience. You could also consider technology like the BedJet, which blows cool air under the sheets, or a Chilipad system, which can ensure your bed stays as low as 60°F. “When I see people come in who are miserable and hot, they often haven’t looked at these new products in years,” Cralle says. “There are so many solutions and options for people out there, and it comes back to, do you value your sleep?”

    Or you need new pajamas

    If you’re a hot sleeper, avoid wearing anything made out of synthetic fabrics—including, perhaps counterintuitively, satin nightwear. That’s because the fabric, while pleasant to touch, isn’t breathable, Ijaz says. Polyester and nylon tend to trap heat, too. Instead, opt for pajamas made out of natural fabrics such as cotton, linen, and hemp, she suggests. Sweaty people might also find that sleeping in the buff is the coolest option.

    Your thermostat might be set too high

    The ideal temperature for sleeping typically ranges from 60 to 67°F, Cralle says. If you need help getting there, turn on the AC or enlist some fans—she knows people who set up a few around their bedroom. Fans work well for air circulation and “help evaporate moisture without necessarily waking you up,” she says. Another idea: Put a bowl of ice in front of the fan right before you go to bed, and enjoy an extra-cool breeze, Cralle suggests. It’s just one more way to ensure you don’t lose sleep over yet another sweaty night.

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    Angela Haupt

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  • How to Navigate Dating When You Have IBD

    How to Navigate Dating When You Have IBD

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    Anthony Andrews, a 34-year-old training manager at a bank in London, had been candid from the very beginning, when he directed Jessica Lockett, an art director, to his Instagram profile, @ibdlife. They had matched on Hinge in January 2020, and he wanted to ensure that she understood what life with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and an ostomy bag meant before they got too involved. “Do you still like what you see?” he messaged. Back then, Andrews had been suffering with ulcerative colitis (UC) for 11 years and was days away from a surgery that would require him to wear a bag for the rest of his life. Lockett, intrigued and compassionate, scrolled through his posts, learning quickly exactly what that meant.

    “A lot of us [IBD patients] will probably feel like they can’t necessarily open up, but I would openly tell people,” says Andrews, joking that it was his “unique sales pitch” on dating apps. Most women were supportive, he says, but “there were a number of times when people were just like, ‘What’s that? That sounds disgusting. I don’t really want to deal with that.’”

    Lockett was different. She messaged back, “Of course I’m still interested.” That put him at ease before they even went on their first date.

    IBD, which includes UC and Crohn’s disease, is an incurable autoimmune disease that affects the digestive system. It brings unpredictable symptoms like diarrhea (sometimes with blood), abdominal pain, fatigue, and weight loss—and often first shows up just as young adults are hitting the dating scene, which can make it even more daunting.

    Treatments range from nutrition support and medications to more extreme procedures such as ostomy surgery, which typically involves creating an opening in the abdomen, known as a stoma, to allow waste to exit directly from the intestines into a bag outside the body. Surgeries are typically necessary when parts of the digestive system are diseased or damaged and need to be bypassed or removed. With or without surgery, IBD can alter body image and self-esteem, adding a layer of complexity to personal relationships, which can be hard enough without the added pressure of managing a stigmatized disease. 

    “Everybody’s got challenges, but it feels that IBD can be more challenging on sexuality and intimacy because bloody diarrhea is typically not sexy,” says Marci Reiss, a licensed clinical social worker and the founder and president of the IBD Support Foundation, based in Los Angeles.

    But there are many patients, advocates, and medical experts who say the disease can also just be part of your regular life, dating included. From figuring out the right time and way to share your IBD status, to smart planning for outings and sex, here are some tips to help make dating more comfortable for everyone involved.

    Read More: How to Maintain Your Social Life When You Have IBD

    Reveal your IBD when the time feels right 

    Everyone with IBD feels differently about opening up about their condition. Some people, like Andrews, may want to get it out of the way before even meeting someone face-to-face. Others may take months to broach the topic. 

    “It becomes so difficult for people to share, because it’s their deepest pain,” says Reiss. “People think to themselves, ‘Am I lovable with this?’”

    Sara Levitt (Instagram @saralevs) posing during a personal photoshoot celebrating World IBD Awareness Day on May 19th 2024, capturing words of affirmation.Yvon Steinthal (Instagram @yspamplemoose)

    Montreal-based content creator and model Sara Levitt, 29, would sometimes wait three or four months before sharing her medical condition with guys she dated, requiring stealthy ways to conceal her ostomy bag in the bedroom. To divert their attention, “I would just tell them, ‘I have Crohn’s disease, I have scars…I’m self conscious,’” says Levitt. This allowed her to tuck the bag under a sweater or tank top and keep her arm strategically wrapped around her waist. However, covering it up came with a price. “I would feel constricted and stressed out…and it held me back from developing emotional connections.”

    Last year, however, she went public about her IBD, ostomy, and proctectomy (in which the diseased rectum and anus are removed and sewn closed permanently), a.k.a. “Barbie Butt” surgery—so-called by patients themselves because it reminds them of a doll’s bottom. Levitt, who had her first surgery at 13 and is known as “The Bag Bish” on Instagram, spent years learning how to accept her condition and turning it into a blessing. In January, she became the first “ostomate” featured in the monthly men’s magazine MAXIM Australia. “I just reached a point where I was mentally and physically exhausted from hiding the bag, and I realized that I’m living the life I’m living because of it.”

    Prepare your elevator pitch

    Even before you decide to share, it’s helpful to have a short “elevator pitch” ready, says Laurie Keefer, a gastropsychologist and professor of medicine at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Health System in New York City. One of her biggest pieces of advice: “Don’t make it a bigger deal than it has to be.” Her script goes something like this: “I have X condition; I was diagnosed X years ago; this is how it’s treated (medication and/or surgery), and this is how it affects me.” The last point, for example, may be a simple statement about needing to avoid certain foods or alcohol, or the possibility that you might need to get up suddenly to use the bathroom.

    Keefer wants her patients to be able to deliver this pitch in their sleep, so they can stop being anxious about it. “Most people, if they don’t have a chronic GI disease, are pretty clueless about what the digestive tract does or is. So for better or for worse, you can use that to your advantage,” says Keefer. Don’t catastrophize every reveal. “Even when you tell people you have an ostomy, they’re like ‘Oh, OK, my grandma had one of those.’ It doesn’t occur to them that that means you’re going to the bathroom outside of your body…most people don’t have an appreciation enough of anatomy and physiology that they even really fully understand what you’re saying.”

    Read More: Why Bathroom Access Is a Public Health Issue

    Scout the menu and restroom facilities before a date

    Before heading out on a date, do a little recon on the venue. Check out the menu online to make sure there are options that work for you. Investigate the restroom situation. Patients and experts agree that having a plan can ease any nerves and let you focus on enjoying the date. 

    With an invisible disability like IBD, it also helps to know your rights in public and private places. The Restroom Access Act, or “Ally’s Law,” (named after Allyson Bain, a Crohn’s patient from Illinois, who was 14 when she was denied access to a restroom in a department store, leading to a humiliating accident) has been passed in 17 states in the U.S., giving you the right to access a business’s private restroom if you ask. The non-profit organization Girls With Guts has made exercising this right even easier, with its “I Gotta Go” cards. You can easily replicate these at home; they’re super handy to discreetly communicate your urgency to skip the line or ask for restroom access where it’s usually off-limits.

    Talk to your GI doctor and other sexual health specialists

    Certain IBD symptoms, including pain during sex, leakage, and fistulas (an unusual tunnel between organs, which can get infected) may significantly affect your love life. Regardless of gender or sexuality, surgeries can disrupt or halt certain sexual activities, such as making anal penetration impossible, which can be frustrating to some people.

    Your IBD team can point you to specialists like OB-GYNs, urologists, pelvic floor therapists, and even sexual therapists such as psychologists and psychotherapists who understand and can support you. Plenty of people with IBD have vibrant, loving, and intimate relationships.

    “There is a connection between the physical and the psychological and vice versa. But sometimes it’s just physical because of all the damage that has been done to the nerves in that area,” says Dr. Aline Charabaty, director of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center at Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington, D.C. Even your GI doctor may hesitate to discuss sensitive topics like emotional and sexual health, says Charabaty, but there should be questions like: How is this disease affecting your emotional health? How is it affecting your sexual health? Are you dating or in a relationship? If that’s not happening, bring it up yourself and ask for referrals.

    A heads-up on contraception: If you’re using pills and your IBD causes you to vomit or have severe diarrhea, they might not work as well. Also, some symptoms of STIs can look a lot like IBD flare-ups, so if something feels off, it’s smart to check in at a sexual health clinic. And remember, condoms are your go-to for protecting against STIs while you navigate everything else.

    Anticipate the unexpected during intimacy

    Navigating intimacy with IBD can be daunting, but there are effective ways to manage leakage and incontinence without ruining a romantic mood. Cherabaty says medications such as Imodium can help patients gain better control over bowel movements, particularly before engaging in sexual activities. Those experiencing ongoing symptoms of diarrhea or incontinence despite managing their disease may need additional strategies: pelvic physical therapy for strength, fiber supplements to firm up stools, or bile acid sequestrants like cholestyramine for the bile acid diarrhea often seen in Crohn’s patients. Some of Cherabaty’s patients who engage in anal sex have reported success using enemas beforehand to ensure cleanliness and comfort. Integrating the job of changing an ostomy bag into your “freshening up” routine can also help manage concerns, allowing you to feel more secure and relaxed.

    Also remember that sometimes accidents happen. How you and your date or partner respond to them could say a lot about the strength and understanding in your relationship. Alicia Aiello, 34, the president of Philadelphia-based Girls With Guts, recalls an embarrassing incident with her first serious girlfriend. “She kicked the ostomy bag off by accident in a hotel room with white sheets. And [the waste] went everywhere. It was all over her. It was all over me. It was one of the most mortifying experiences of my life, and I was only 20 then,” she recalls. Thankfully, Aiello and her girlfriend at the time had been dating long enough that they were able to take a pause and a deep breath before assessing the situation and cleaning up as best they could. (And avoid paying a $400 cleaning fee from the hotel.) “That was a positive moment where that was probably the worst thing that could have happened to me while dating someone. And while it was momentarily mortifying, looking back now, I can laugh about it.”

    Read More: Should You Tell Your Boss You Have IBD? Plus More Tips for Coping at the Office

    Explore ways you can make yourself feel sexy

    Dr. Neilanjan Nandi, a gastroenterologist and associate professor of clinical medicine at the University of Pennsylvania’s Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, actively supports his IBD patients in gaining sexual confidence. “Feeling sexy is a mind game,” he explains, emphasizing the importance of open communication and helpful products. For those with an ostomy, for example, stylish stoma pouch covers and support belts, or specialized lingerie, such as high-waisted crotchless panties, can make intimacy more comfortable. If odor is a concern, oral ostomy deodorizer pills can be helpful, too.

    Nandi also recommends letting your partner get up close and personal with your stoma, perhaps involving them in changing the ostomy bag, or making it part of a shared shower, a tip he got from one of his patients. “You have the water, you can get hot and steamy. You can play with the stoma; you can explore it together,” he says. “If there’s an accident, it’s a comfortable place to wash it off. I know that sounds crazy if you’re new to this, or even if you’re not, but it can make it a big difference.” This openness can not only boost your confidence, but deepens your connection, making intimate moments feel more natural and spontaneous.

    Anthony Andrews and Jessica Lockett celebrate their engagement.Anthony Andrews and Jessica Lockett

    Four years have now elapsed since Andrews met Lockett on Hinge—four years that included an amazing first date at a wine bar in London’s Borough Market, his ostomy surgery, and moving in together during the pandemic. Now, the two are planning to wed on the fifth anniversary of the day they met. Lockett has held his hand and cried with him in the hospital, cleaned up a messy stoma mishap, and walked around with an ostomy bag herself to understand what it’s like. Andrews admits that what started as casually scrolling the apps to distract himself from his surgery has blossomed into a love more real than he could have ever imagined. “She has been so unbelievably supportive…she’s my best friend,” says Andrews. To others still looking, he says, “Don’t lose hope.”

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    Claire Sibonney

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  • How to Cope With the Financial Toll of Cancer

    How to Cope With the Financial Toll of Cancer

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    Cancer isn’t just emotionally and physically taxing: It can take a steep financial toll on patients, caregivers, and families.

    In fact, two years after a diagnosis, adults with cancer are 71% more likely to experience financial problems than those without a cancer diagnosis, according to January 2022 research in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. This type of financial hardship due to medical bills is sometimes referred to as financial toxicity, or when out-of-pocket medical costs not covered by health insurance cause money problems for a patient.

    Cancer care costs vary widely by the type of disease and the stage at which it’s diagnosed. Insurance claims for an initial kidney cancer diagnosis average about $39,500 annually, according to July 2020 research in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers, & Prevention. For end-of-life kidney cancer care, that number can stretch to an average of $92,300 a year, with an additional $11,400 for prescription medications.

    If you have insurance, you aren’t responsible for all of that, but depending on your coverage, you can still owe thousands. Some people with cancer say they spend more than 20% of their annual income on medical care, according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI).

    Joe Gillette, 58, of Brooklyn, N.Y., is intimately familiar with these statistics. A long-time American Cancer Society (ACS) volunteer, he was shocked when he received his own diagnosis, on August 5, 2022, his 57th birthday: stage 4 kidney cancer that had spread to his lungs, stomach, and brain.

    Gillette’s treatment plan called for brain surgery first, which would require a week’s hospital stay, then radiation and immunotherapy. He planned to be out of his job as an attorney for a week. Due to complications, he ended up in a coma for two and a half months, and his office put him on disability leave. There was a six-month wait for the payments to kick in.

    “Thankfully with my wife working, we were able to barely cover the mortgage,” he says. “We had some savings we had to go through.” Though his wife is sensitive to the cold, “she learned not to turn on the heat in the house unless it was truly freezing,” Gillette adds. “The grocery bill was bare necessities, which was not how I had ever lived.” 

    The disability payments amount to much less money than Gillette made when he was working. But he feels more secure now than during those six precarious months. “We treaded water for that time period,” he says.

    Others may have to shift finances around more dramatically. “They may delay treatment because they don’t have the funds to get to treatment or a second opinion,” says licensed clinical social worker Vilmarie Rodriguez, vice president of patient assistance and community engagement at the cancer support organization CancerCare. “Financial toxicity reduces quality of life, because [patients are] constantly worrying about medical bills or struggling to pay rent or mortgage or put food on the table. Their employment gets affected because they’re constantly going to treatment. All of this combined leads to worsening health outcomes.”

    Of course, your financial situation before cancer is a large predictor of how you may weather that storm, as is the type of cancer you’re diagnosed with, how advanced it is, and the treatment it requires. But regardless of your unique scenario, the following tips can help you prevent or lessen the effects of financial toxicity during cancer treatment.

    Speak with a social worker or patient navigator

    Many health-care facilities have social workers or knowledgable people known as patient navigators on their oncology teams who can help you from many angles: emotional, physical, and financial. But you might not know about these resources unless you ask what’s available. “The worst they can tell you is, ‘No, we don’t have that,’” Rodriguez says. 

    Hospital social workers in particular are familiar with the money-saving options you might have, including prescription assistance plans, transportation assistance, and bill negotiation or payment plans. “They do an outstanding job of being the patient advocate and looking out for patients in general,” says Alan Klein, chief development officer of the HealthWell Foundation, a non-profit that assists the underinsured by offering help with medication copays, insurance premiums, deductibles, and other out-of-pocket expenses, including for behavioral health care.

    Read More: How to Talk to Kids When a Parent Has Cancer

    Ask about costs up front

    Once you’ve connected with a social worker or patient navigator—or even a trusted doctor or nurse—try to learn as much as you can about the financial load ahead. “Patients should always ask the cost up front,” Rodriguez says.

    For example, your treatment plan might change without your knowledge to include a doctor who is out-of-network, resulting in a much larger out-of-pocket cost to you. Asking about your share will remind your health-care team to keep you in the loop.

    Although it does require some extra work on your part, don’t give up until you’re satisfied. Sometimes that takes repeated reminders to a doctor or patient navigator that you are on unstable financial ground and need their support, which isn’t always easy to do. But it’s the only way these professionals will know to reach out on your behalf, Rodriguez says.

    If you do get a surprise bill that’s more than $400 over the estimated charge, you may be able to dispute that charge under the No Surprises Act, says Zhiyuan (Jason) Zheng, a senior principal scientist and health economist at the ACS.

    Connect with support organizations

    Groups like the ACS, CancerCare, HealthWell, and the Cancer Financial Assistance Coalition offer various types of monetary help for people with cancer and their families or can connect you to local or national groups that do, Rodriguez says.

    These groups typically do a brief assessment of your diagnosis, medication, and finances, then come up with an action plan to get you the support you need. It usually takes less than 10 minutes, Klein says.

    Here’s how to contact them:

    • Call the American Cancer Society helpline at 800-227-2345.
    • Apply online for a HealthWell grant at healthwellfoundation.org or call 800-675-8416.
    • Call the CancerCare hopeline at 800-813-4673.
    • Search the Cancer Financial Assistance Coalition database at cancerfac.org.

    Don’t shrug these expenses off as mere pocket change: Since opening a kidney cancer-specific fund in 2015, HealthWell has awarded more than $200 million to more than 32,000 recipients, Klein says.

    Stick to your treatment plan

    Skipping follow-up appointments or delaying treatment is dangerous for your health and shouldn’t be part of your approach to handle the financial toll of cancer (or any diagnosis).

    “We routinely hear that patients who cannot pay for their medication regimen as prescribed only fill their prescriptions or receive their medication treatment in intervals they can afford, which is often suboptimal, especially in oncology. Affording their cancer medications should be the last thing those patients should be worried about,” Klein says.

    Financial hardship is associated with higher rates of death, including from cancer, according to March 2024 research in JAMA Network Open that Zheng co-authored. “You have to make the horrible decision to either pay for medication or for rent or food, and that’s just not acceptable,” Klein says.

    Even in the case of an advanced diagnosis, remain hopeful and committed to your treatment plan. “I was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer because it had spread to my stomach, lung, and brain,” Gillette says. “When you first hear that, you think, ‘It’s over.’” But immunotherapy has successfully reduced the size of many of his tumors. “Thankfully, through treatment, they were able to stop it in its tracks for now.”

    Consider crowdfunding

    When Gillette was really strapped for funds, his community pulled through: Friends he had made through volunteering with the ACS started a GoFundMe campaign that has raised more than $43,000 for his care, he says.

    Crowdfunding for medical care is a popular tool and can be “an excellent show of support to that particular person through that person’s network,” Klein says. “I just wish it didn’t have to be that way. There should be a more systematic approach available to a patient that could point them in the right direction of all available resources at their disposal. These folks might qualify for things they don’t even know about. It’s a complicated web to have to navigate.” 

    This approach isn’t for everyone: You or your family may not have the time or energy to start a campaign, you could have concerns about privacy, or it might not be acceptable in your culture or family to ask publicly for money, Zheng says. But if you’re curious and want to try it, “it’s better than doing nothing,” Klein says.

    Read More: Why Are So Many Young People Getting Cancer? It’s Complicated

    Push for policy change

    The U.S. does not currently have national standards for paid sick leave, despite many other industrialized countries requiring this benefit to employees. Consider voting for local and national candidates who champion paid sick leave policies and contacting your senators and representatives to express your support for paid sick leave if and when you have the energy to do so.

    “Regardless of the generosity of paid sick leave, it is typically not enough for patients who need to go to a radiation center three days a week for a period of six months, for example,” Zheng says. Still, “any paid sick leave policy is associated with earlier stage diagnosis and better treatment outcomes.”

    Remember, navigating the financial toll of cancer might feel like it’s a task left to you alone to handle, but there are resources available to you that you may not know about yet. “It’s a matter of looking for them and being vulnerable enough to say, ‘I need help,’” Rodriguez says.

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    Sarah Klein

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  • How to Deal With Sweaty Feet

    How to Deal With Sweaty Feet

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    Slipping and sliding in the summer months is great—if you’re at a water park or in a pool, that is. Otherwise, it’s the miserable reality of sweaty feet.

    “I’ve literally had patients come in and tell me they’re sweating so much, they’ve fallen out of their shoes,” says Dr. Dee Anna Glaser, a professor of dermatology at Saint Louis University School of Medicine and president of the International Hyperhidrosis Society. “Or they can’t wear heels because they’re afraid they’ll slip and break an ankle. It can go from mild and a nuisance to very significant.”

    In rare cases, sweaty feet are caused by hyperhidrosis, a medical condition that triggers excessive sweating and affects different parts of the body, like the underarms, hands, and feet. It has a strong genetic component, Glaser says: More than half of people with it have at least one relative who has it. They sweat even when it’s not hot outside, so much that their clothes or shoes become completely soaked. “We don’t know exactly what the cause is, but we know that in those individuals, the sweat glands are completely normal,” she says. “It appears this problem is caused by a part of the brain that’s supposed to regulate temperature.” Treatment includes iontophoresis (which involves using a small device that produces sweat gland-blocking electrical currents) and Botox injections that generally last up to six months.

    For most people, however, sweaty feet are simply the result of wearing the wrong shoes or socks—or spending hours outside on a hot day being active. The problem is worth addressing because fungus likes sweaty feet, opening the door to infections like athlete’s foot, which usually begins between the toes. “If you put a cotton sock on a foot, you stick it in a shoe, and then you get that dark, damp, moist environment, where it stays wet all the time, fungus grows,” says Jay Spector, a podiatrist at Atlanta Sports Podiatry in Johns Creek, Ga. “It’s just like if you have a leak in your bath you’re not aware of, and you have sitting water for a while.”

    With that in mind, we asked experts how to best prevent and cope with sweaty feet.

    Choose shoes that let your feet breathe

    Wearing tight shoes that don’t allow for good air flow—like dress shoes or boots—can exacerbate sweating. Instead, look for lightweight athletic shoes with mesh on the outside, advises Danielle DesPrés, a podiatrist and foot and ankle surgeon in New York. “Mesh has airflow,” she says. Shoes without it won’t be as breathable.

    Some brands, like Geox, sell shoes designed for ventilation, Glaser says. When you go shopping, she suggests asking the salesperson assisting you if they have any recommendations for sweaty feet. “People are embarrassed, but it’s so common,” she says. Shoe-store workers are usually well-versed in how to keep feet cool.

    Read More: The Health Benefits of Wearing Shoes in the House

    Another strategy, Glaser adds, is to add inserts to your shoes; they help absorb moisture so shoes stay drier longer. Summer Soles, for example, makes peel-and-stick shoe liners that can be used in sandals, heels, and other types of shoes. And if it’s possible, slip your shoes off during the workday. “I usually suggest to patients if they’re sitting at their desk and they get a moment, take their feet out of their shoes,” she says. “Get some air to them.”

    If you have to wear certain shoes at work, get creative

    Many of DesPrés’ clients are doormen and security workers—people who are on their feet all day, in the heat, in heavy shoes. Their feet tend to swell up throughout their shift, making their shoes tighter and more uncomfortable. Yet they’re required to wear black shoes, she says. So DesPrés came up with a solution: “I’ve told some of them to get a pair of sneakers that are really comfortable and supportive, because they often have other arch and foot problems too,” she says. “Then spray paint them black”—covering up light-colored mesh, brand names, and other markings—“and now you have your black shoes.” The workers who have tried it, she adds, assure her it does the trick. Some companies also make supportive black sneakers that could pass as dress shoes. 

    Put thought into socks

    Socks play an important role in the sweaty-feet equation. Spector is a marathon runner, and he’s learned that the key to cutting back on sweat-drenched feet is wearing acrylic socks, which wick out moisture. (His favorite brand is Balega.) Merino wool works similarly—but he avoids cotton. With lightweight wool or sweat-wicking socks, “I’ll do a 20-mile run, and I take my socks off, and it’s as if I just put them on,” he says. “If I were to wear cotton socks, they’d weigh 10 pounds.”

    There’s one time, however, when you should ditch the socks: overnight. “At some point, our feet need to breathe,” he says. “We don’t want to wear socks 24/7,” especially given that there might be bacteria or dirt inside of them. Going sockless for eight hours while you sleep is an excellent opportunity for your feet to air out, he adds.

    Use antiperspirant—or tea bags

    Apply some antiperspirant to the bottoms of your feet, DesPrés advises. Just make sure it’s spray-on, not roll-on, which helps ensure it won’t be slippery. Some people use anti-fungal powder on their feet, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. “But depending how much your feet sweat, sometimes that powder can get all gooped up in your shoes,” she says, making antiperspirant the superior choice. If your go-to brand isn’t cutting it, DesPrés suggests the topical antiperspirant Drysol; it’s available over the counter and contains aluminum chloride hexahydrate, which helps treat overactive sweat glands.

    Read More: Put Your Shoes Back On. Here’s the Problem With Going Barefoot

    A slightly more unconventional strategy: Boil a couple of unflavored black tea bags in a pint of hot water, and then pour some cold water into the mix. “Let it cool down, and then soak your feet in it,” DesPrés says. “The tannic acid [from the tea] helps kill bacteria and seals up some of the sweat glands.” It sounds weird, she acknowledges, but some people find that doing a tea soak at least once a week leads to less sweaty feet.

    Dry out your shoes when you take them off

    Pulling your feet out of sweat-soaked shoes is unpleasant—and so is trying to slide back into them. Shoe dryers can help: They blow cold air into shoes, just like a hair dryer. Spector goes for a run twice a day, and if it’s raining in the morning and his shoes get wet, he utilizes the dryer. “By 4:30 in the afternoon, when I’m going to run again, my shoes are no longer wet,” he says. Another idea: Put your sweaty shoes in front of the refrigerator. It has a vetting system on the bottom, Spector points out, and the cool air flowing out can help moisture evaporate from your shoes.

    Give your shoes a bath

    People often worry that their sweaty shoes are going to start to smell. That’s why DesPrés recommends spraying the insides with Lysol once every week or two. “It’ll kill whatever bacteria and fungus is in it,” she says, thus improving the odor. You can also toss some shoes into the washing machine. DesPrés has learned, however, that the standard detergent used for washing clothes doesn’t always suffice, so she adds Pine-Sol to the load. It’s a disinfectant that also helps deodorize.

    Read More: Is It Unhealthy to Sweat a Lot?

    One other way to make sure your shoes don’t start to smell, DesPrés adds, is to avoid wearing the same ones every day. If you find some you really like, buy two or three pairs, she suggests. Rotating which you wear every day gives them extra time to breathe and prevents odor from accumulating.

    Plan ahead

    Always take an extra pair of socks with you when you’re spending time outside. If you’re playing a three-hour beach volleyball game or running a 5K, and your feet are really sweaty, you’ll be glad you did. “Halfway through your event, you can put new socks on,” Spector says.

    It’s also helpful to always carry antiperspirant wipes or a travel-size bottle of antiperspirant. And consider taking a pair of shoes along to change into after your outdoor activity. For example, “You could bring sandals to change into after a hike,” DesPrés says. That can help your feet stay dry and have time to air out. It’s one of plenty of small strategies that can help ensure you don’t need to break out into a sweat over the idea of sweaty feet.

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    Angela Haupt

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  • How Air Quality Affects Asthma—and What to Do About It

    How Air Quality Affects Asthma—and What to Do About It

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    Alana Yañez’s severe asthma had been completely under control for years. But when the 2020 wildfires started pumping thick plumes of ugly black smoke into the southern California sky, the 41-year-old Los Angeles resident began to wheeze. 

    She felt her chest tighten and then become painful. Yañez shut all the windows in her house, cranked the air conditioner, and turned on an air filter. But those measures barely made a dent in her symptoms.   

    “I was sucking on my inhaler every couple of hours,” Yañez says, adding that no matter what medications she was given, the pain in her chest persisted.  

    After several miserable days, Yañez remembered that she’d always breathed easier on the coast. When she checked local air quality maps, she saw that the air was far cleaner by the ocean. So she packed up her work and her little boy and headed for Redondo Beach.

    “With every mile, my lungs felt better,” she says. “By the time I took the exit for the beach, I was able to breathe without pain.”

    While dirty air—whether it’s due to diesel exhaust, traffic fumes, industrial pollution, or wildfires—can make breathing difficult for anyone, it hits people with severe asthma much harder, with some ending up in the emergency room or even hospitalized.

    During the spring and summer of 2023, when Canadian wildfires were shooting thick clouds of smoke into the air, asthma-associated emergency room visits in the U.S. spiked 17% higher than what would normally be expected. 

    The research linking air pollution exposure to asthma attacks “is very consistent,” says Dr. Akhgar Ghassabian, an associate professor of pediatrics and population health at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine. Even low levels of exposure can trigger an exacerbation, she says, and the most at-risk groups are children and seniors.

    Read More: What to Know About the Latest Advances in Managing Severe Asthma

    How does dirty air harm the respiratory system and exacerbate asthma?

    Over the past few decades, volunteers, one at a time, have entered a small chamber in a lab at the University of North Carolina and either pedaled on a stationary bike or sat quietly while components of diesel exhaust or smoke from burning wood were pumped into the room.  

    The volunteers had been carefully selected to avoid any severe reactions. They were all relatively young, under 45, and healthy overall, although some had mild asthma. After a few hours in the chamber, the study participants gave sputum samples, which helped researchers identify those who were sensitive to the fumes and exactly how their airways and lungs were being affected.

    Early experiments by the researchers from UNC and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) looked at the impact of exposure to diesel exhaust components, which included fine particles (PM2.5), ozone, and other gases. In some volunteers, the fumes sparked increases in airway inflammation, says Dr. David Peden, senior associate dean of translational research and medical director of the Center for Environmental Medicine, Asthma and Lung Biology at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine.  

    “Our studies are designed to get an idea of the underlying biology, and to use this information and these methods to identify particular interventions,” Peden says. Inhaling exhaust constituents sparked neutrophilic and eosinophilic inflammation. “The most important thing we find with most air pollution is that it irritates the airway epithelium.”

    Most people will acutely experience some degree of airway inflammation when they encounter air pollution or wildfire smoke, Peden says. “For many, it’s simply an annoyance, and they may not worry about it,” he adds.

    But for those with severe asthma, the impact can be much greater, Peden says. That’s especially true for children: Their respiratory rates tend to be higher than those of adults, so even a small amount of polluted air can make a big impact.

    The center’s most recent research has focused on potential treatments for exposure to pollution and wildfire smoke in the volunteers who were found to be sensitive. It’s yielded promising results. For example, people who overproduce mucus in response to dirty air may be helped by inhaling hypertonic saline solution. “When they inhale the solution, it loosens up the mucus,” Peden explains. 

    The research has also suggested a role for a certain type of vitamin D (gamma-tocopherol) that appears to calm the eosinophil response to pollution. But, Peden cautions, “this is a very early phase study. It’s not definitive.”

    Ongoing research is examining the genetics that impact sensitivity to wildfire smoke and air pollution, as well as ways to protect people with respiratory diseases, such as studies to determine the efficacy of N95 masks.

    Read More: An N95 Mask Is Your Best Outdoor Defense Against Wildfire Smoke

    Dirty air’s impact on people with severe asthma

    Exposure to any kind of dirty air can make asthma a lot worse, says Dr. Stokes Peebles, section chief for allergy and immunology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. “It can lead to a feeling of tightness in the chest, coughing and shortness of breath,” he says. “The fine particulate matter, PM2.5, can get down into the very lowest parts of the airways.”

    Those ultrafine particles can also get deep inside the lungs, says Dr. Barbara Mann, an associate professor of medicine in the division of pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine and at Mount Sinai in New York City. “They can evade most of the body’s defenses and wreak havoc.”

    Air pollution can cause two airway issues: constriction and inflammation. And it doesn’t stop there, Mann says. The tiniest particles can leach into the bloodstream and cause systemic inflammation. The more severe a person’s asthma is at baseline, the smaller the dose of polluted air it takes to kick off an exacerbation, and the worse those flare-ups might be.

    Wildfire smoke: an urgent danger 

    Wildfire smoke is an especially troublesome type of air pollution. It “dwarfs other kinds of air pollution,” Mann says. “It’s a toxic mix of both organic and inorganic materials that have been burned.”

    As Peden points out, wildfires can significantly raise the amount of fine particles in the atmosphere. “In 2018, when the Camp Fire was burning, the amount of fine particles in San Francisco was up three- to five-fold,” he says. 

    Unlike industrial and traffic related air pollution, wildfire smoke is likely to also contain fumes from the burning of manmade items, such as houses and vehicles. That can be a nefarious combination.

    Read More: What Wildfire Smoke Does to the Human Body

    New asthma kicked off by air pollution

    Along with exacerbating asthma, air pollution can spark new onset airway disease in those who are exposed, says Matt Perzanowski, an associate professor of environmental health sciences at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. 

    Moreover, studies done at Columbia have shown that when people are exposed to diesel smoke, they can develop allergies to proteins they weren’t previously allergic to. “We study children in the South Bronx,” Perzanowski says. “When they’re exposed to cockroaches and diesel exhaust, they are more likely to develop an allergy to cockroaches.”

    Perzanowski recommends that parents limit their children’s exposure to pollution, especially wildfire smoke. 

    How to protect yourself

    If you have asthma, the most important step you can take to avoid an exacerbation due to wildfire smoke and pollution is to check local air quality reports daily. “There’s good data available in real time,” Ghassabian says. AirNow.gov, for example, is a terrific resource.

    On bad air quality days, take precautions to protect yourself from exposure to the dirty air. These are doctors’ favorite strategies:

    • Check ozone levels online and stay inside if they’re high. Close all the windows and block other spots where outside air could seep in.
    • Invest in a HEPA filter. According to the EPA, these can remove at least 99.97% of dust, pollen, mold, bacteria, and other airborne particles.
    • If the air quality index goes over 100, don’t exercise outside. If it’s over 150, don’t exercise at all. 
    • When the index is lower than 100 but still relatively high, you can exercise outside, but only in the early morning or evening.
    • Switch the setting on your home and car air conditioners to recycle, so you’re not bringing in outside air.
    • Use an N95 mask when you go outside.
    • When wildfire smoke is at high levels, consider temporarily relocating to a spot where air quality is better.

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    Linda Carroll

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  • Are Walking Pads Worth It?

    Are Walking Pads Worth It?

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    Kenneth Luczko works remotely as an engineer for a tech company—which means his fingers dance across his keyboard all day. One might assume that’s the extent of his on-the-clock exercise. But by the time 5 p.m. rolls around, he’s logged at least 15,000 to 25,000 steps without even leaving his apartment.

    Luczko, 26, is a walking pad fanatic. He bought one about a year and a half ago after seeing a TikTok video, and he now uses it every day. It’s basically a portable under-desk treadmill: less bulky than the kind you might have in your basement, and without any handrails. Walking pads have more limited speed options than regular treadmills, and they usually have a smaller incline, so you’re walking on a flat surface. Sometimes Luczko slowly plods along at 0.5 or 1 mile per hour on his, and other times he speeds up to 3 m.p.h. Doesn’t all that motion make it difficult to, well, work? “It actually helps put me into an awesome flow state when I’m programming,” he says. Plus, Luczko credits the walking pad with kickstarting his recent 100-pound weight loss: “It was like a gateway drug to going to the gym and going for walks outside.”

    Walking pads—which cost about $150-$200—are trending on social-media platforms as a way to get your heart rate up and incorporate some movement into an otherwise sedentary day. While experts agree the devices should supplement, not replace, your regular exercise routine, they can be a smart alternative to plopping down on your office chair and staying there.

    The health benefits of walking pads

    Walking is one of the simplest ways for many people to get more exercise—but it’s also one of the easiest things to eliminate from our daily routines, says Akinkunle Oye-Somefun, a doctoral candidate at York University in Toronto who authored a recent meta-analysis of treadmill-desk research. Since the pandemic-related shift to remote work, he says, more people are sitting for at least eight hours a day—rather than walking to and from the office, out for lunch, or around the block for a breath of fresh air. That’s a problem. Sitting all day leads to a number of “detrimental outcomes,” Oye-Somefun says, including weight gain, heightened disease risk, and stress of the back, neck, arms, and legs. “Stress on the extremities begins to show after just one hour of sitting,” he adds. “It’s good to interrupt sitting,” and walking is superior to simply standing.

    In addition to reducing sitting time, treadmill desks can lead to an array of benefits. They increase steps, and research suggests that logging at least 4,000 a day can reduce the risk of dying from any cause, including heart disease. You don’t even have to go that fast: Researchers have found that office workers who walked 1 mile per hour on a treadmill desk burned an extra 100 calories per hour. There’s now even walking-pad specific research. One small study, published in 2023, concluded that using one during the workday improved people’s energy levels, helped them feel less sore, reduced hip and back pain, boosted their mood, and made them feel more focused and creative.

    Read More: Why Walking Isn’t Enough When It Comes to Exercise

    Plus, it (probably) won’t impair your work. One study found that people on treadmill desks perform cognitive tasks nearly as well as those who are sitting—and the researchers concluded that the benefits outweighed any concern about concentration. “Everyone’s realizing, ‘I can walk while working, and it doesn’t impact my productivity,’” Oye-Somefun says. “‘I get mental clarity, I’m able to answer calls, I’m able to type.’”

    What to look for when you’re picking one

    James Rethaber went through three or four walking pads before finding one that checked all his boxes—and now, he uses it every day, usually while listening to webinars or taking a quick break. As the vice president of technical operations at Fit For Work, a company that specializes in industrial ergonomics and workplace injury prevention, he helps people understand what to look for when choosing a walking pad.

    For starters: weight capacity. “I’m not a smaller person, so I needed to make sure it had a great capacity,” Rethaber says. Some walking pads can only accommodate 200 pounds; others are designed for people who weigh 300 pounds and up. The higher the weight capacity, he points out, the heavier duty the treadmill desk will be. The width of the belt—where you walk on the machine—also matters. Traditional treadmills typically have a belt width of 18 to 22 inches, while walking pads are in the 12 to 18 inches range. If you have limited space, look for one on the narrow side, Rethaber advises. But if you have a wider walking stance, and room to spare, you might appreciate a bigger belt, which also reduces the risk of accidentally stepping (or slipping) off the track.

    Functionality varies between walking pads, too. Some are single purpose: designed to be used only under your desk, with a maximum speed of about 4 m.p.h. Others are dual purpose and can be used while working, or for faster walking, jogging, or running while moved away from the desk. In those cases, speed capacity is typically 8 to at least 10 m.p.h, Rethaber says, and you can attach collapsible handrails when you go fast.

    Read More: Your Brain Doesn’t Want You to Exercise

    While some walking pads are nearly silent, others “sound like jet engines”—so check the decibel rating of whichever one you’re considering, Rethaber advises. “If you’re in proximity to others, I always recommend looking for a treadmill that has a lower decibel rating,” he says. “And having a sound-absorbing pad underneath it, like a rubber mat, can really make a difference.”

    It’s also helpful to consider whether a prospective walking pad is equipped with special features. Some include a tracker that displays the amount of time and number of steps you’ve completed in a day. You can also find models that have the ability to sync the number of steps you’ve logged on your walking pad with popular fitness apps, so all of your day’s activity is in one place.

    Ergonomics matter, too

    Walking pads should be comfortable to use, stresses Rethaber, who’s a certified professional ergonomist—which means he specializes in optimizing how people interact with their equipment and workspaces. He recommends building your work station around your walking pad, rather than trying to squeeze it into an established space. If you just slide it in, “things will be too low or too far away,” he says, opening the door to muscle strain and pain.

    Ideally, your keyboard should be situated at a height that allows your elbows to be flexed to slightly below 90 degrees, he says. Frequently handled items—like your mouse, phone, and a notepad—should be within easy reaching distance. And the top third of your monitor should be at eye level. (If you wear corrective lenses like bifocals, you might find that having the monitor lower than eye level is more comfortable, Rethaber adds.)

    Luczko, the engineer who works from home, selected a walking pad with two wheels in the front that fits nicely underneath his standing desk. “The desk has an automated feature to raise or lower it, so I just press the button, it raises it, and I roll [the pad] right under there,” he says. At the end of the workday, he folds it up and rolls it to the side of his office space until he’s ready to spring back into action.

    Ensuring safety

    If you don’t have balance issues, walking pads are just as safe as walking on a normal surface, Rethaber says—especially given that most people utilize theirs at a slow speed. Unlike with a regular treadmill, there are no handrails; clients sometimes ask him if that’s concerning. He tells them that if they feel a need for handles, it’s probably a sign that they’re walking too fast or while performing a task that requires intense focus. In those cases, it’s best to either slow down or sit down.

    Read More: Put Your Shoes Back On. Here’s the Problem With Going Barefoot

    It’s also important to consider what shoes you’re wearing. “I always recommend wearing your exercise shoes, because they have the soles that are built for this and give you the cushion you need,” he says. Slippers and flip-flops aren’t appropriate for the walking pad—and neither is going barefoot.

    How to get the most out of your walking pad

    Madelyn Driver, 30, bought a walking pad about a year and a half ago. It allows her to exercise inside during the workday when the weather is unpredictable. “I mix it into my routine for a quick energy boost before a meeting, or sometimes I have these longer all-hand meetings,” she says. “It allows me to take multiple short walks, and sometimes longer walks, without any disruption to my workflow.” Just one hour of walking at a slow pace can mean an extra 5,000 to 6,000 steps, she adds.

    Driver has noticed that when she uses her walking pad, her mood is elevated throughout the day, and she’s dropped a few pounds because of the extra calorie burn. “I think the biggest misconception I had was that I had to be exercising at the same intensity as when I’m at the gym,” she says. “You’re not trying to log marathon miles, and you’re not trying to be out of breath when you’re on these walking pads. I’m just moving slowly.”

    Read More: Backward Walking Is the Best Workout You’re Not Doing

    If you’re new to walking pads, Rethaber advises following Driver’s lead and starting at a low speed, like 1 mile per hour. “See how you react to that,” he says—you’ll quickly figure out which tasks are feasible for you to do while walking, and which require sitting down. You can adjust your speed as you become more comfortable. The same goes for duration: Walk for 5 minutes here and there as your body adjusts to your new routine.

    There’s some etiquette at play, too. It can be helpful to consider your company’s culture when deciding exactly when to walk, Rethaber points out. For video calls, “I don’t utilize it as much out of respect for others,” he says. “So they’re not hearing the impact, or if they’re susceptible to motion sickness, they’re not seeing me move up and down.”

    There’s trial-and-error involved with figuring out exactly how to make a walking pad a regular part of your workday. But the payoff is worth it, Rethaber says—the devices make stepping into better health a feasible part of the workday.

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    Angela Haupt

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  • The best VPN service for 2024

    The best VPN service for 2024

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    Virtual private networks (VPNs) promise the potential to stream any content, from anywhere. They unlock content from abroad across nearly any streaming platform you use regularly, which can come in handy if you’re into some obscure BBC exclusive not available in the United States. But that’s actually just one small perk of VPN services. VPNs provide a private traffic tunnel to keep your internet service provider out of your business, and provide an extra layer of security to protect your browsing habits. We tested nine of today’s most popular VPNs to help you find the best option for your needs.

    VPNs, or virtual private networks, mask your IP address and the identity of your computer or mobile device on the network and creating an encrypted “tunnel” that prevents your internet service provider (ISP) from accessing data about your browsing history. VPNs are not a one-size-fits-all security solution, though.

    Instead, they’re just one part of keeping your data private and secure. Roya Ensafi, assistant professor of computer science and engineering at the University of Michigan, told Engadget that VPNs don’t protect against common threats like phishing attacks, nor do they protect your data from being stolen. Much of the data or information is stored with the VPN provider instead of your ISP, which means that using a poorly designed or unprotected network can still undermine your security. But they do come in handy for online privacy when you’re connecting to an untrusted network somewhere public because they tunnel and encrypt your traffic to the next hop.

    That means sweeping claims that seem promising, like military-grade encryption or total digital invisibility, may not be totally accurate. Instead, Yael Grauer, program manager of Consumer Reports’ online security guide, recommends looking for security features like open-source software with reproducible builds, up-to-date support for industry-standard protocols like WireGuard (CR’s preferred protocol) or IPsec, and the ability to defend against attack vectors like brute force.

    Before considering a VPN, make sure your online security is up to date in other ways. That means complex passwords, multi-factor authentication methods and locking down your data sharing preferences. Even then, you probably don’t need to be using a VPN all the time.

    “If you’re just worried about somebody sitting there passively and looking at your data then a VPN is great,” Jed Crandall, an associate professor at Arizona State University, told Engadget.

    That brings us to some of the most common uses cases for VPNs. If you use public WiFi networks a lot, like while working at a coffee shop, then VPN usage can help give you private internet access. They’re also helpful for hiding information from other people on your ISP if you don’t want members of your household to know what you’re up to online.

    Geoblocking has also become a popular use case as it helps you reach services in other parts of the world. For example, you can access shows that are only available on streaming services, like Netflix, Hulu or Amazon Prime, in other countries, or play online games with people located all over the globe.

    There are also a few common VPN features that you should consider before deciding if you want to use one, and which is best for you:

    Split tunneling allows you to route some traffic through your VPN, while other traffic has direct access to the internet. This can come in handy when you want to protect certain activity online without losing access to local network devices, or services that work best with location sharing enabled.

    A double VPN, otherwise known as multi-hop VPN or a VPN chain, passes your online activity through two different VPN servers one right after the other. For VPN services that support this, users are typically able to choose which two servers they want their traffic to pass through. As you might expect, this provides an extra layer of security.

    Whether or not VPNs are worth it depends how often you could use it for the above use cases. If you travel a lot and rely on public WiFi or hotspots, are looking to browse outside of your home country or want to keep your traffic hidden from your ISP, then investing in a VPN will be useful. But, keep in mind that even the best VPN services often slow down your internet connection speed, so they may not be ideal all the time.

    In today’s world, we recommend not relying on a VPN connection as your main cybersecurity tool. VPN use can provide a false sense of security, leaving you vulnerable to attack. Plus, if you choose just any VPN, it may not be as secure as just relying on your ISP. That’s because the VPN could be based in a country with weaker data privacy regulation, obligated to hand information over to law enforcement or linked to weak user data protection policies.

    For VPN users working in professions like activism or journalism that want to really strengthen their internet security, options like the Tor browser may be a worthwhile alternative, according to Crandall. Tor is free, and while it’s less user-friendly, it’s built for anonymity and privacy.

    To test the security specs of different VPNs and name our top picks, we relied on pre-existing academic work through Consumer Reports, VPNalyzer and other sources. We referenced privacy policies, transparency reports and security audits made available to the public. We also considered past security incidents like data breaches.

    We looked at price, usage limits, effects on internet speed, possible use cases, ease of use, general functionality and additional “extra” VPN features like multihop. The VPNs were tested across iOS, Android and Mac devices so we could see the state of the mobile apps across various platforms (Windows devices are also supported in most cases). We used the “quick connect” feature on the VPN apps to connect to the “fastest” provider available when testing internet speed, access to IP address data and DNS and WebRTC leaks or when a fault in the encrypted tunnel reveals requests to an ISP.

    Otherwise, we conducted a test of geoblocking content by accessing Canada-exclusive Netflix releases, a streaming test by watching a news livestream on YouTube via a Hong Kong-based VPN and a gaming test by playing on servers in the United Kingdom. By performing these tests at the same time, it also allowed us to test claims about simultaneous device use. Here are the VPN services we tested:

    Read more: The best password managers for 2023

    Proton

    Simultaneous connections: 10 | Number of devices: 10 | Platforms: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and Linux | Browser extensions: Chrome, Firefox | Dedicated IP addresses: Yes, for business users only | Trial/Money-back guarantee: None/30-day money-back guarantee

    Read our full VPN review of ProtonVPN

    The VPNs we tried out ranked pretty consistently across all of our tests, but ProtonVPN stood out as a strong option because of its overall security, usability and privacy features. The Proton Technologies suite of services includes mail, calendar, drive and a VPN known for its end-to-end encryption. This makes it a strong contender for overall security, but its VPN specifically came across as a well-rounded independent service.

    ProtonVPN’s no-logs policy has passed audits, and the company has proven not to comply with law enforcement requests. Because it is based in Switzerland, there are no forced logging obligations, according to the company. Plus, it’s based on an open-source framework, and has an official vulnerability disclosure program along with clear definitions on what it does with personal information.

    While ProtonVPN offers a free version, it’s limited compared to other options, with access to server networks in just three countries. Its paid version, starting at about $5.39 per month, includes access to VPN server locations in more than 65 countries on 10 devices at a time. For dedicated Proton Technologies users, they can pay closer to $8.63 for a monthly plan to access the entire suite.

    ProtonVPN passed our geoblock, streaming and gaming tests with only a very small toll on connection speeds. It also comes with malware-, ad- and tracker-blocking as an additional service, plus it has a kill switch feature on macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and the latest version of Android. It’s available on most major operating systems, routers, TV services and more including Firefox, Linux and Android TV. For dedicated Linux users, ProtonVPN added a new Linux-specific app to support its services in August.

    Pros

    • Easy to use
    • No-logs policy
    • Based on open-source framework
    • Kill switch feature on macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android

    $4.99/month at ProtonVPN

    Windscribe

    Simultaneous connections: Unlimited | Number of devices: Unlimited | Platforms: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and Linux | Browser extensions: Chrome, Firefox | Dedicated IP addresses: No | Trial/Money-back guarantee: None/None

    By signing up for Windscribe’s free plan with your email, users can access 10GB per month of data, unlimited connections and access to more than 10 countries. We selected it as the best free VPN because of its high security and wide range of server locations compared to other free VPNs. It has over 500 servers in over 60 countries, according to the company, and can be configured to routers, smart TVs and more on top of the usual operating systems.

    Windscribe doesn’t have a recent independent security audit, but it does publish a transparency report showing that it has complied with zero requests for its data, runs a vulnerability disclosure program encouraging researchers to report flaws and offers multiple protocols for users to connect with.

    On top of that, it’s easy to use. The set up is intuitive and it passed our geoblock, streaming and gaming tests. The paid version costs $5.75 to $9 each month, depending on the plan you choose, and includes unlimited data, access to all servers and an ad/tracker/malware blocker. Or, for $1 per location per month, users can build a plan tailored to the VPNs they want to access. Windscribe is still expanding its reach, adding Japan to its list of available spots.

    Pros

    • 10GB of data per month with free version
    • Unlimited connections with free plan
    • Wide range of server locations
    • Easy to use
    Cons

    • Does not offer dedicated IP addresses

    $0 at Windscribe

    ExpressVPN

    Simultaneous connections: 8 | Number of devices: 8 | Platforms: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and Linux | Browser extensions: Chrome, Firefox | Dedicated IP addresses: No | Trial/Money-back guarantee: 3 free months/30-day money-back guarantee

    Read our full VPN review of Express VPN

    We picked the best VPN service for travel, gaming and streaming based on which one had access to the most locations with high speed connections and no lag. ExpressVPN met all those criteria and was one of the most premium VPNs we tried, not to mention one of the fastest VPNs, too. Now, it even comes with an in-house password manager, ExpressVPN Keys, to manage and autofill logins across sites included with the subscription. That will make it easier to toggle between streaming and gaming accounts while browsing securely.

    An internet speed test measured faster upload and download speed compared to using no VPN, practically unheard of compared to the other VPNs tested. But being this fast is likely a fluke due to the VPN service circumventing traffic shaping by the ISP or another disparity because even top VPNs will in some way slow down speeds. With 2,000 servers in 160 cities, according to the company, it had one of the broadest global reaches. It also passed our geoblock, streaming and gaming tests, and it does regular security audits. Plus, Network Lock is its kill switch feature, which keeps your data safe even if you lose connection to the VPN. Subscription costs range from $8.32 to $12.95 per month depending on the term of the plan, and include a password manager.

    With ExpressVPN, users can connect to up to five devices at once, which is on the lower side compared to other services. That said, it works on a bunch of devices from smart TVs to game consoles, unlike some other services that lack support beyond the usual suspects like smartphones and laptops.

    Pros

    • High speed connections with no lag in many locations
    • Supports Network Lock kill switch feature
    • Works on a variety of devices like smart TVs and game consoles

    $8.32/month at ExpressVPN

    CyberGhost

    Simultaneous connections: 7 | Number of devices: 7 | Platforms: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and Linux | Browser extensions: Chrome, Firefox | Dedicated IP addresses: Yes, additional purchase required | Trial/Money-back guarantee: 2 free months/45-day money-back guarantee

    Because several of the best VPN services connect to routers, cross-platform accessibility isn’t always necessary. By connecting a VPN to your home router, you can actually connect to unlimited devices in your household, as long as they all access the internet through that router.

    But if you use VPNs on the go, and across several devices, being able to connect to a wide range of platforms will be indispensable. CyberGhost offers simultaneous connectivity on up to seven devices for $2.11 to $12.99 per month depending on subscription term. It supports several types of gadgets like routers, computers, smart TVs and more. It’s similar to the support that ExpressVPN offers, but CyberGhost provides detailed instructions on how to set up the cross-platform connections, making it a bit more user-friendly for those purposes. Plus, it just expanded its network of servers from 91 to 100 countries, adding Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, Uruguay, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Guatemala and the Dominican Republic to its available locations.

    From a security perspective, CyberGhost completed an independent security audit by Deloitte earlier this year, runs a vulnerability disclosure program and provides access to a transparency report explaining requests for its data. An updated version of its transparency report went live in August. While it did pass all of our tests, it’s worth noting that we had trouble connecting to servers in the United Kingdom and had to opt to run our gaming test through an Ireland-based server instead.

    Pros

    • Works well across different kinds of devices/platforms
    • Provides detailed instructions for setting service up on different devices
    Cons

    • Dedicated IP addresses come at an additional cost

    $2.11/month at CyberGhost

    Surfshark

    Simultaneous connections: Unlimited | Number of devices: Unlimited | Platforms: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and Linux | Browser extensions: Chrome, Firefox, Edge | Dedicated IP addresses: Yes, additional purchase required | Trial/Money-back guarantee: 1 free month/30-day money-back guarantee

    Read our full VPN review of Surfshark VPN

    As we mentioned before, connecting to a router can provide nearly unlimited access to devices in a single household. But Surfshark VPN is one of few VPN services that offer use on an unlimited number of devices without bandwidth restrictions, according to the company. And you get that convenience without a significant increase in price: Surfshark subscriptions cost about $2.49 to $12.95 for a monthly subscription, and the company recently conducted its first independent audit. It added QR-code-enabled login across devices and expanded support for alternative ID profiles since our initial review, a feature that some of its competitors already had.

    We ran into some trouble connecting to Surfshark’s WireGuard protocol, but tested on an IKEv2 protocol instead. The VPN speed was a bit slow and struggled to connect for our geoblock test at first, but ultimately passed. What makes it different from other VPNs with unlimited connection options is that it has access to a larger number of servers and is available on more types of devices.

    Pros

    • Unlimited simultaneous connections
    • Large number of servers available
    Cons

    • On the expensive side
    • Slower speeds than the competition

    $2.49/month at Surfshark

    NordVPN didn’t quite make the cut because it’s overhyped, and underwhelming. As I’ve written in our full review of NordVPN, the pricing, up to $14.49 for a “complete” subscription, seemed high compared to other services, and its free or lower cost plans just didn’t have the same wide variety of features as its competitors.

    Despite the cute graphics and user friendliness, TunnelBear wasn’t a top choice. It failed numerous basic security tests from Consumer Reports, and had limited availability across platforms like Linux. It did, however, get a major security boost in July when it updated to support WireGuard protocol across more of its platforms.

    Bitdefender doesn’t offer support for devices like routers, which limits its cross-platform accessibility. It also lacked a transparency report or third-party audit to confirm security specs.

    Atlas ranked lower on our speed tests compared to the other VPNs tested, with a notably slower difference on web browsing and streaming tests. It was a good option otherwise, but could easily cause headaches for those chasing high speed connections. Security-wise, an Atlas VPN vulnerability leaked Linux users’ real IP addresses.

    VPNs are traditionally used to protect your internet traffic. If you’re connected to an untrusted network like public WiFi in a cafe, using a VPN hides what you do from the internet service provider. Then, the owner of the WiFi or hackers trying to get into the system can’t see the identity of your computer or your browsing history.

    A common non-textbook use case for VPNs has been accessing geographically restricted content. VPNs can mask your location, so even if you’re based in the United States, they can make it appear as if you’re browsing abroad and unblock access. This is especially useful for streaming content that’s often limited to certain countries, like if you want to watch Canadian Netflix from the US.

    A VPN doesn’t hide all of your data. It only hides information like your IP address, location and browser history. A common misconception is that VPNs can make you totally invisible online. But keep in mind that the VPN provider often still has access to all of this information, so it doesn’t grant you total anonymity. You’re also still vulnerable to phishing attacks, hacking and other cyberthreats that you should be mindful of by implementing strong passwords and multi-factor authentication.

    Generally, yes. VPNs are a safe and reliable way to encrypt and protect your internet data. But like most online services, the safety specifics vary from provider to provider. You can use resources like third-party audits, Consumer Reports reviews, transparency reports and privacy policies to understand the specifics of your chosen provider.

    Google One subscriptions include access to the company’s VPN, which works similarly to other VPNs on our list, hiding your online activity from network operators. However, Google announced recently that it plans to shut down the One VPN because “people simply weren’t using it.” There’s no specific date for the shutdown, with Google simply saying it will discontinue the service sometime later in 2024. Pixel phone owners, however, will continue to have access to the free VPN available on their devices.

    Update November 10, 2023: This story was updated after publishing to remove mention of PPTP, a protocol that Consumer Reports’ Yael Grauer notes “has serious security flaws.”

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    Katie Malone

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  • The best wireless headphones for 2024: Bluetooth options for every budget

    The best wireless headphones for 2024: Bluetooth options for every budget

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    In order to get all of the features you’d need to get the most comprehensive listening experience possible, over-ear, noise-canceling headphones are likely your best option. Stellar sound quality, powerful active noise cancelation (ANC), reliable Bluetooth connections and more should all be present on a good pair of wireless headphones that offer the complete package. Of course, some companies do this better than others. At Engadget, we review dozens of Bluetooth headphones each year while testing even more to keep our finger on the pulse. For this guide, we selected our top picks based on the best mix of features, including overall audio quality, ANC performance, comfort, advanced audio tools and more. Our seven favorites offer all of the conveniences we’d expect in a set of high-quality wireless headphones, with a range of prices to help you stay within your budget.

    When it comes to shopping for a good pair of wireless headphones, the first thing you’ll need to decide on is wear style. Do you prefer on-ear or over-ear headphones? For the purposes of our buyer’s guide, we focus on the over-ear style as that’s what most noise-canceling headphones are nowadays. Sure, you can find on-ear models with ANC, but over-ear designs are much more effective at blocking sound. Speaking of noise cancellation, you’ll want to determine early on if you even want that. If you frequently crank up the beats in noisy environments, you’ll want to not only make sure it’s there, but also make sure it’s good. If you plan to use your new headphones in quieter spaces, skipping ANC can save you some money.

    The next area to consider is features. We recommend trying to get the most bang for your buck, but as you’re shopping around you should determine which items are must-haves and what you can live without. And don’t take basic things like automatic pausing and Bluetooth multipoint connectivity for granted, as not all companies include them. We also suggest reading reviews to see how well a company’s more advanced features work. This will help you decide if those are something you’re willing to (likely) pay extra for. Pay close attention to battery life estimates and don’t be easily swayed by lofty promises about call quality.

    Sound can be subjective, so we recommend trying before you buy if at all possible. We understand this isn’t easy at a time when we’re doing most of our shopping online. But trying on a set of headphones and listening to them for a few minutes can save you from an expensive case of buyer’s remorse. We also recommend paying attention to things like Spatial Audio, Dolby Atmos, 360 Reality Audio and other immersive formats. Not all headphones support them, so you’ll want to make sure a perspective pair does if that sort of thing excites you.

    The primary way we test wireless headphones is to wear them as much as possible. We prefer to do this over a one- to two-week period, but sometimes embargoes don’t allow it. During this time, we listen to a mix of music and podcasts, while also using the earbuds to take both voice and video calls. Since battery life for headphones can be 30 hours or more, we drain the battery with looping music and the volume set at a comfortable level (usually around 75 percent). Due to the longer battery estimates, we’ll typically power the headphones off several times and leave them during a review. This simulates real-world use and keeps us from having to constantly monitor the process for over 24 straight hours.

    To judge the best Bluetooth headphones, we consider audio quality by listening to a range of genres, noting any differences in the sound profile across the styles. We also test at both low and high volumes to check for consistency in the tuning. To assess the quality of phone calls, we’ll record audio samples with the headphones’ microphones as well as have third parties call us.

    When it comes to features, we do a thorough review of companion apps, testing each feature as we work through the software. Any holdovers from previous models are double checked for improvements or regression. If the headphones we’re testing are an updated version of a previous model, we’ll spend time getting reacquainted with the older set. Ditto for the closest competition for each new set of headphones that we review.

    Photo by Billy Steele / Engadget

    Noise cancellation: Yes | Multipoint: Yes | Battery life: 30 hours | Weight: 0.55 pounds | Water resistance: None

    Read our full Sony WH-1000XM5 review

    Sony’s 1000X line has been our top pick for best wireless headphone for a long time now. Until another company can pack in as many high-quality features as Sony, and do so with a mix of excellent sound quality and effective ANC, the crown is safe. With the WH-1000XM5, Sony redesigned its flagship headphones, making them way more comfortable to wear for long periods of time. We also noticed in our tests that the company made noticeable improvements to the active noise cancellation, thanks to a separate V1 chip in addition to the QN1 that was inside the M4. There are now eight total ANC mics as well – the previous model only had four. This all combines to better block background noise and high frequencies, including human voices.

    The 1000XM5 still has all of the features that typically make Sony’s top-of-the-line headphones showstoppers. That includes 30-hour battery life and crisp, clear sound with balanced tuning and punchy bass. A combo of touch controls and physical buttons give you on-board access to music, calls and noise modes without reaching for your phone. Speak-to-Chat automatically pauses audio when you begin talking, and like previous Sony headphones, the M5 can change noise modes based on your activity or location. Plus, this model offers better call quality than most of the competition. The only real downside is that they’re $50 more than the WH-1000XM4 at full price ($400).

    Pros

    • Supreme comfort
    • Great sound
    • Powerful ANC
    • 30-hour battery life
    Cons

    • More expensive than the M4
    • Occasional audio issues on macOS

    $348 at Amazon

    Photo by Billy Steele / Engadget

    Noise cancellation: Yes | Multipoint: Yes | Battery life: 30 hours | Weight: 10.8 ounces | Water resistance: None

    Read our full Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e review

    An upgraded version of the Px7 S2, the Px7 S2e’s changes are mostly in the sound department. Bowers & Wilkins updated the digital signal processing (DSP) engine for improved performance when streaming music. The changes it introduced include support for up to 24-bit high-resolution streaming from compatible services. The company says it also re-tuned the acoustics for “unmatched detail, dynamics and spaciousness,” which is the more noticeable tweak compared to the previous model. Those promises hold true, too: the Px7 S2e are at the top of our test unit pile in terms of overall sound quality, just like the Px7 S2 has been since their introduction.

    Bowers & Wilkins kept the rest of what was so great about the Px7 S2 as well. Reliable physical controls don’t lead to any frustration when you use them and the ANC performance is good enough to block out a lot of distractions. Factor in the refined design and overall comfort, and you’ve got a great set of headphones that rival the best. The Px7 S2e still doesn’t have a lot of the more advanced features that Sony offers, but they sound so good you might not even notice.

    Pros

    • Impressive sound quality
    • Better than advertised battery life
    • Effective noise cancellation
    • Comfy fit
    • Refined design
    Cons

    • Call quality
    • Very basic EQ customization
    • Subpar Pass-Through mode audio
    • Automatic pausing needs refining

    $399 at Amazon

    Audio-Technica

    Noise cancellation: No | Multipoint: Yes | Battery life: 60 hours | Weight: 1.42 pounds | Water resistance: None

    Audio-Technica has introduced affordable wireless headphones in the past, and while they didn’t offer active noise cancellation, they’re still worth considering. The company’s latest is the M20xBT, a Bluetooth version of the A-T’s popular M20x wired cans. For just $79, you can expect a comfortable fit and up to 60 hours of battery life. Bluetooth multipoint connectivity allows you to connect to multiple devices at once and physical buttons provide reliable on-board control. The design isn’t as refined as the company’s pricer models like the M50xBT2, but you get the bulk of what makes Audio-Technica’s cheaper options so good.

    Pros

    • Affordable
    • Up to 60 hours of battery life
    • Multipoint connectivity
    Cons

    • Design isn’t as refined as competitors’

    $79 at Amazon

    Bose

    Noise cancellation: Yes | Multipoint: Yes | Battery life: 24 hours | Water resistance: None

    While we haven’t tested the newly renamed QuietComfort Headphones, these cans replace the Bose QuietComfort 45 in the company’s lineup so that’s why they’re on our list. These new wireless headphones are nearly identical to the previous version, except for the added ability to adjust ANC levels and save custom modes. You’ll still get the best noise-blocking performance of any headphone company alongside a supremely comfy fit and 24-hour battery life. Multipoint Bluetooth is here as well.

    Pros

    • Excellent noise cancellation
    • Multipoint connectivity
    • 24-hour battery life

    $249 at Amazon

    Technics

    Noise cancellation: Yes | Multipoint: Yes | Battery life: 50 hours | Weight: 0.65 pounds | Water resistance: None

    Back at CES 2022, Panasonic announced the EAH-A800: a new set of active noise canceling headphones under the iconic Technics brand. While most of the features are what you see on any number of wireless headphones, one figure stood out. The company says you can expect up to 50 hours of battery life on the A800, and that’s with active noise cancellation enabled. While we haven’t put them through the full review analysis, I have already tested them on a long flight. The ANC is impressive and they’re comfortable enough to avoid becoming a burden after several hours. Sound quality is also quite good (there’s LDAC support, too) and there are enough features here to justify the premium price tag.

    Pros

    • 50-hour battery life with ANC turned on
    • Comfortable design
    • Good sound quality

    $240 at Amazon

    MASTER & DYNAMIC

    Noise cancellation: Yes | Multipoint: Yes | Battery life: 28 hours | Weight: 0.75 pounds | Water resistance: None

    While Master & Dynamic is known for its design prowess, the company’s over-ear headphones were due for a refresh. With the MW75 that debuted in June, the company opted for a look that takes cues from its MG20 gaming headset and mixes them with a combo of aluminum, leather and tempered glass. The company’s trademark sound quality returns with multiple ANC modes and ambient sound options for a range of situations. At $599, the high-end looks don’t come cheap, but if you’re looking for something beyond the pure plastic fashion of most headphones, M&D has you covered.

    Pros

    • Luxurious design made with premium materials
    • Multiple ANC modes

    $599 at Amazon

    Apple’s AirPods Max are premium, well-designed headphones that incorporate all of the best features you find on standard AirPods: solid noise cancelation, spatial audio and easy Siri access. However, their $550 starting price makes them almost prohibitively expensive, even for those with Apple devices. There are better options available at lower prices.

    While the WH-CH720N are a great affordable option, we prefer the Audio-Technica in the budget category. Sony’s cans are lightweight with good sound quality, but ANC struggles at times and they’re made with a lot of plastic.

    The Studio Pro lacks basic features like automatic pausing, and multipoint connectivity is only available on Android. Moreover, they’re not very comfortable for people with larger heads. Overall sound quality is improved, though, and voice performance on calls is well above average.

    Bose’s latest flagship model has a lot to offer, but its trademark Immersive Audio feature can be inconsistent across different types of music. There’s still world-class ANC, excellent comfort and a clearer transparency mode, but for the price, the non-Ultra model is a better choice right now.

    Master & Dynamic MH40 (2nd gen)

    The MH40 are a great set of headphones if you favor crisp, clear and natural sound that isn’t overly tuned. This pair showcases the company’s affinity for leather and metal too, but limited customization and short battery life for non-ANC cans kept this set from making the cut.

    Bowers & Wilkins Px8

    The company’s trademark pristine sound is on display here, but the Px8 are more expensive and not nearly as comfortable as the Px7 S2.

    I typically look at three factors: design, sound quality and features. In terms of design, I’m usually looking to see if the build quality of the headphones feels cheap and plasticky. Plenty of companies use plastic, but they can do so in a way that doesn’t look or feel like budget models. For sound quality, I want to hear a nice, even tuning where highs, mids and lows are all well represented. No overly boomy bass or scooped out mids. I also want good clarity where you can pick up fine details and an open, immersive soundstage. Features is typically a distant third, but if a company doesn’t cover basic functionality (automatic pausing, transparency mode, multipoint Bluetooth, etc.) it can be an indication of overall quality.

    “Best” can be pretty subjective, but I always recommend going to a place where you can listen to the headphones you’re thinking about buying before you commit. Sometimes this isn’t possible, so you’ll want to check return policies. I also recommend doing some research to determine what your priorities are in a new set. Are you an audiophile who wants the best sound quality? Is powerful active noise cancellation (ANC) the most important? Would you rather have conveniences like automatic pausing?

    Sony consistently tops our list with its 1000X line. This is mostly due to the combination of sound quality, ANC performance and the truckload of features these headphones pack in. I’ll be the first to tell you that there are better sounding options and other companies, like Bose, offer more effective noise cancellation. But when you add everything up, no one comes close to the full slate of tools Sony puts in its premium headphone line.

    Exorbitant price tags don’t mean better audio quality. Bowers & Wilkins’ headphones are on the high end for wireless noise-canceling models and they sound amazing. However, Audio-Technica’s M50xBT2 is much more affordable and doesn’t have ANC, but these headphones have a warm, natural sound profile that I find very inviting. At the end of the day, it will come down to personal preference, but you don’t need to spend a lot to find great headphones.

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    Billy Steele

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  • 14 Celebs Whose Family Members Are On Their Payroll

    14 Celebs Whose Family Members Are On Their Payroll

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    Kris Jenner is the longtime “momager” for her brood of extremely famous children. She reportedly gets 10% of everything they earn from their beauty brands, licensing deals, and modeling gigs!

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  • I Hate Summer—and You Should Too

    I Hate Summer—and You Should Too

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    Wake me when it’s over—summer, that is. I know, I know, you just love it: the long days, the warm evenings, the trips to the beach, the afternoons at the ballpark when your favorite team is playing and the pennant race is tightening—and the temperature is skyrocketing, and your skin is blistering, and the beer is $6, and the drive home will be in 88° heat, which is fine if you don’t mind running the air conditioner, except that you’re burning through $4–a-gallon gas, because it’s summer-driving season and the giant oil companies didn’t get to be the giant oil companies without knowing the right time of year to hike their prices. 

    And that’s hardly all of it. Summertime is the season of horribles, from higher crime rates, to increased warfare, to spikes in asthma, to raging wildfires, to swarms of bugs, to a rise in traffic accidents—and even to a bump in divorces, because how could a 100° heat wave, a busted A.C., and the kids out of school not spell domestic bliss?

    What’s more, it’s only getting worse. Last summer was the hottest on record, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the 10 warmest years were all from 2010 to 2022. So with a lousy part of the year becoming lousier still, here, in no particular order, are nine reasons summer is the suckiest season of them all.

    Road wrecks

    There’s nothing like long days, no school, and lots of teen drivers to make the highways a safe place to be. Not. It’s no coincidence that the Automobile Association of America (AAA) labels the stretch between Memorial Day and Labor Day “the 100 deadliest days.” There are over 11.7 million U.S. drivers between the ages of 15 and 20, and if you know what’s good for you you’ll stay out of their way—especially when they’re out as a group, driving recreationally. “We know that when teens are joyriding as opposed to driving with a specific destination and time in mind, there is a heightened risk,” said Diana Gugliotta, senior manager of public affairs for AAA Northeast, in a statement last year.

    Read More: What It’s Like To Be Deathly Afraid of Feet

    AAA’s numbers back that up. When a teen driver has only other teens in a vehicle, the risk of fatality for the driver and all passengers increases 51%. When at least one passenger is over 35, the overall fatality risk declines 8%. From 2011 to 2020, there were 7,316 deaths in summertime teen-related traffic accidents—nearly half the total of all teen-related traffic accidents for the year.

    This means war

    Napoleon Bonaparte could tell you a thing or two about what it’s like to pick a fight with Russia in the dead of winter. In 1812, the French army suffered half a million casualties in battles that climaxed in December—a rout that led to Napoleon’s abdication and exile in 1914. Any general worth his steed would prefer to fight in the summer when there’s plenty of light, the roads are clear, and soldiers aren’t bundled up against the cold. As far back as 55 BCE, the Roman army’s “campaigning season” would end when summer wound down and the soldiers would retreat to their winter quarters. It’s probably not a coincidence that World War I began in August 1914, World War II on Sept. 1, 1939, and Nazi Germany’s invasion of Russia in June 1941. More recently, in August 1990, Iraq invaded Kuwait, and in August 1991, the old Soviet Union nearly fell into civil war when communist hardliners tried to oust President Mikhail Gorbachev. America’s 20-year war in Afghanistan typically saw its fiercest fighting in the summer months, and the same is true of the war in Ukraine. 

    Hot-weather warfare is likely only to get worse. A 2009 paper in PNAS found that rising temperatures exacerbated by climate change could lead to a 54% increase in the risk of civil war in Africa by 2030. A 2011 study in Nature found that warmer weather during El Niño years doubled the risk of civil war in 90 tropical countries and could have accounted for 20% of conflicts around the world over the past half century. Meantime, what’s the season of peace on Earth and goodwill toward men? Wintertime, baby. Wintertime.

    Going buggy

    Summer advertises itself as the season of birdsong and butterflies. Don’t believe it. It’s the season of pests—particularly ticks, mosquitoes, flies, fleas, bees, and wasps. Ticks, mosquitoes, and fleas in particular can spread diseases that include malaria, yellow fever, Zika, dengue, Lyme, and chikungunya. Bees, wasps, and yellowjackets—with their infernal stings—are similarly creatures of the summer. And you think you know flies? You don’t know flies. There are 110,000 species of them—most more active in hot weather—making up a global population of 17 million flies for every living human. Pssst! They’ve got us surrounded.

    Read More: Long Dismissed, Chronic Lyme Disease Is Finally Getting Its Moment

    Season of wheeze

    Ah, summer, it takes your breath away. Literally. More than 25 million Americans have asthma, and 4.7 million of them are children—according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If that means suffering during the temperate months, it’s much worse when the oven that is summer turns the dial up to broil. Heat and humidity constrict and narrow airways, trap ozone, and cause the air to entrain more particulate matter from cars, trucks, and smokestacks. What’s more, stagnant summer air—especially in homes with poor air conditioning or none at all—can exacerbate the presence of mold, dust, and pollen. And then—and stop me if I’ve mentioned this before—climate change is making things more punishing still for people with asthma. A 2023 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency report found that rising temperatures could increase the incidence of childhood asthma by anywhere from 4% to 11%, due partly to worsening pollution and allergies, and the growing problem of wildfire smoke.

    Speaking of wildfires…

    When it comes to dust, haze, and a mustard-colored sky, Mars has got nothing on Earth—at least during the summer fire season. Last year’s Canadian wildfires, sparked by lightning and fueled by high temperatures and drought, torched more than 71,000 square miles of land in Canada—an area the size of North Dakota—and yellowed out skies in the U.S. from the Midwest to the Northeast to the mid-Atlantic states. But the U.S. is playing with matches too. California’s wildfire season runs from April through October—peaking in the summer—with megadroughts and heat waves driving the flames. Of the state’s 20 largest fires, half occurred from 2017 to 2022. Climate change, of course, plays a regrettable role in all of this.

    Crime and punishment

    Nothing puts bad guys in a bad mood like hot weather—or so it seems. A 2019 study by the National Bureau of Economic Research found that on days with a maximum temperature above 85°F, all crime increases by 2.2% and violent crime by 5.7%. A 2023 study in PLOS One attributed this to what is known as the Theory of Routine Activities, which postulates that for crime to occur, three factors must be present: a motivated offender, a suitable target, and an absence of guards or surveillance. Of these, it is the second one—the suitable target—that is especially common in summer, according to the 2023 study, with greater numbers of people out on the streets. 

    As for the first variable, a motivated offender, well, even criminals don’t   want to be outside commiting a crime in a 20°-below polar vortex. During a particularly deep freeze in 2015, Boston saw a 32% drop in burglaries, a 35% drop in larceny, and 46% drop in vehicle theft. Over the same period, New York City set a modern-day record, going 12 days without a homicide.

    Summer’s contribution to violent crime in particular may be due at least in part to the common experience of hot weather leading to hot tempers, with even the most even-keeled people more inclined to blow a seam if they can’t cool off. One 2020 study found that people playing competitive video games in a hot room were more aggressive toward their gaming partner than they were when the room was cooler.

    Daylight Saving Time

    Don’t get me started on Daylight Saving Time. There is just nothing to like about this spring-forward inanity. For starters, it increases energy consumption (when it was supposed to decrease it) due to greater use of air conditioning. The changes in sleep patterns it causes contribute to heart attack, stroke, inflammation, and suicide, not to mention a 6% increase in fatal traffic accidents due to circadian scrambling and overall sleepiness. Small children and teens suffer particularly when the change in the clocks affects sleep cycles.

    Read More: What to Know About the Latest Advances in Managing Severe Asthma

    Finally, the atmospherics are all wrong. Nighttime is nighttime, people; the sun is the party guest that won’t go home if it’s still out at 9 p.m. I say send it packing no later than 8 p.m. and then race back to a nice wintertime sundown at cocktail hour. Cheers.

    Trouble on the homefront

    If you want to stay married, it might be wise to sleep through summer. That’s the finding of a 2016 study out of the University of Washington showing that August, along with March, are the two peak months for divorce in the U.S. The reason in both cases is more or less the same: couples tend to see winter and summer vacations as untouchable family time and, even in highly stressed marriages, will make it a point to hold the ship together for those treasured stretches. Once the good times are over, however, the marriages might be too.

    “People tend to face the holidays with rising expectations, despite what disappointments they might have had in years past,” said sociology professor and the study’s co-author Julie Brines, in a statement at the time the research was released. “They’re very symbolically charged moments in time.”

    When those expectations are dashed, a bust-up is likelier to follow. And while both early spring and late summer were implicated equally in that study, other research by Stowe Family Law in the U.K. found that September—the tail end of summer—is the peak divorce month on the other side of the pond, with total-immersion family time throwing financial, interpersonal, and other issues into relief. 

    It kills your skin

    No matter how good it might feel to bake in the sun, your skin really, truly does not want a tan. In a rapidly warming world, it should come as no surprise that the sun is murder on your skin—drying it, aging it, cracking it, and much more importantly, leading to cancer. A 2022 paper in the journal Cureus found the highest rates of skin cancer diagnoses occurring from July to October. 

    Simple steps like wearing sunscreen, avoiding the sun from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and wearing protective clothing can all help reduce the risk. Sunshine in the winter, of course, can cause similar damage, but in the summer you’re out a whole lot more and wearing a whole lot less. That—like summer as a whole—spells trouble.

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    Jeffrey Kluger

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  • A beginner’s guide to smart sous vide

    A beginner’s guide to smart sous vide

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    French for “under vacuum,” sous vide cooking involves immersing vacuum-sealed food in a temperature-controlled water bath until the food is cooked to your liking. It might sound intimidating, and it’s true that this cooking method was once the province of professional cooks with expensive equipment. But that’s not the case anymore — not only is sous vide cooking more accessible than ever now, but there are a number of sous vide machines out there that don’t cost a fortune. And, like a lot of kitchen tools now, many sous vide devices even have companion apps and Wi-Fi connectivity that make the process even more automated. If you’re curious about giving sous vide cooking a go, we’ll walk you through the process of choosing the right machine for you and share some of the tips and tricks we’ve learned through our own experiments.

    If you’re going to choose a sous vide machine, we definitely recommend getting a smart one, which means it either has Bluetooth or WiFi capabilities (or both). That’s because this often adds a whole lot more features than you might otherwise have. We suggest getting models with a companion app that will help you set up and monitor your sous vide temperature remotely. Bluetooth-only models work when you’re within 30 to 40 feet of the cooker, while those with WiFi let you supervise your food from anywhere in your home, or as long as you’re on the same network. We also tend to prefer apps that come with recipes already on it, especially if you’re new to sous vide cooking and need some help getting started.

    Anova

    At a minimum, the other items you need to cook sous vide are a large metal pot (big enough to fill with water) and zipper-lock freezer bags to put the food in. Alternatively, you can use reusable silicone bags such as these from Stasher. Rather than using a vacuum sealer to get rid of air, you would use the water displacement method: Immerse the bagged food in the water while partially unsealed, and water pressure will push the air through the opening. Once everything is mostly underwater, you can seal the bag and it’ll stay submerged.

    If it still floats, you can stick one or two spoons in the bag, and that will hopefully weigh things down. (J. Kenji Lopez-Alt from Serious Eats also suggests using a large binder clip attached to the bottom of the bag along with a heavy spoon.) If you’re concerned about water getting in the bag, you can attach the bag tops to the pot with binder clips, thus keeping the bag upright.

    If you’re really serious about sous vide, you might want to invest in some specialty equipment. Instead of pots, for example, you could opt for large restaurant-grade plastic containers by Cambro or Rubbermaid. Not only is plastic a better insulator than metal, but there’s generally more space for more food, which is handy when you’re cooking for a crowd.

    Whether you use a pot or a plastic container, it’s best to cover the vessel with plastic wrap when cooking for long periods, to keep evaporation to a minimum. Some companies, like Chefsteps, offer custom silicone pot lids that are made specially to accommodate their sous vide cookers. Alternatively, Lopez-Alt offers a much cheaper and more ingenious solution: cover your water in ping pong balls. They’ll slow down evaporation.

    RubbermaidRubbermaid

    Additionally, while zipper-lock bags work well for most tasks, it’s still not a bad idea to get a vacuum sealer along with thicker plastic bags designed specifically for sous vide. For one, this lets you sous vide vegetables or braised meats, which typically require a higher temperature. (Zipper-lock bag seams might fail when it’s that hot.) This also lets you freeze a bunch of food, vacuum seal them and sous vide packets straight from the freezer, which is convenient for batch cooking.

    You likely already have this at your disposal, but another handy tool is a good skillet to sear your meat. That sous vide device might be able to cook your steak to medium rare, but it won’t be able to brown it. A cast iron skillet, on the other hand, will. You could also consider a torch like the Bernzomatic TS8000, and we’ve seen others use a Searzall — but a cast iron skillet is far more affordable than either option. Of course, if you have a grill, you can use that too.

    There are other miscellaneous items that could prove useful. Lopez-Alt likes having a pot lid organizer immersed in the container to help separate several submerged bags. If you want to make custard, yogurt or breakfast cups with your sous vide cooker, you should get yourself some mason jars too.

    One more indispensable item worth considering: a trivet to rest your water vessel on so you don’t destroy your countertop.

    Since affordable sous vide cookers have been in the market for a few years now, there’s no shortage of recipes and guidelines online to help you figure out what to do with your newfangled kitchen gadget. The links below are some of our favorites, though bear in mind that a lot of this is based on personal taste. Your mileage may vary.

    It only makes sense that the maker of one of the most popular sous vide machines also has a deep library of sous vide recipes. If you’re ever at a loss as to what to make via sous vide, simply peek at this website, where you can search for recipes from professionals and amateurs alike.

    We’ve mentioned it several times here already in this guide, but Serious Eats truly is a remarkably useful resource for all things sous vide. Its guide to sous vide steak is a favorite among Engadget staffers, as is its take on slow-cooked sous-vide style eggs, which results in some of the best eggs I’ve ever had.

    Years before making the Joule, Chefsteps made a name for itself as a cooking school with a heavy emphasis on food science, tech and molecular gastronomy. That’s probably why the sous vide recipes from Chefsteps are some of the more creative ones we’ve seen. One recipe, for example, teaches you how to make that perfect chicken breast along with the perfect accompaniment for said chicken breast — perhaps a crunchy apple fennel salad and a buttery carrot puree. Other favorite recipes include wonderfully tender salmon filets, juicy pork chops and Chefsteps’ own interpretation of the “sous vide egg bites” you sometimes find in certain Starbucks shops.

    This is actually a cookbook from the people behind the Nomiku WiFi sous vide machine (which has since been discontinued), but the recipes in it will work with any sous vide device. Not only does it have beautiful photographs, but it also offers fantastic recipes like jerk chicken wings, duck confit and chocolate pots du creme.

    Instant Pot Smart WiFiInstant Pot Smart WiFi

    Instant Pot / Best Buy

    (Instant Pot / Best Buy)

    Aside from immersion circulators like the ones mentioned here, you could also opt for multi-purpose appliances that offer sous vide-like functions. Several Instant Pots, for example, offer such a feature. Unfortunately, however, they do not circulate the water like the aforementioned immersion circulators, and the temperatures aren’t quite as precise (which is a definite downside if you need something cooked to a specific temperature). But if you don’t really care about that, or you just want to dabble occasionally in sous vide, this might be a viable option.

    If you’re dead set on a multi-tasking appliance and you have the money to spend, consider the Anova Precision Oven. Thanks to its use of steam, you can indeed use it to cook foods via sous vide but without the need for plastic bags. It also uses a fan to circulate the moist air around the food and a probe thermometer helps keep foods at a precise temperature. And, of course, the Precision Oven can be used as a regular oven as well, and is great for baking breads and bagels. It is, however, quite expensive at $700 and takes up a lot of counter space.

    Images: Will Lipman for Engadget (Anova / holiday light background)

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    Nicole Lee

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