The Wirecutter 2021 Year in Review

This year we celebrated our 10th anniversary as a company (and our fifth as part of The New York Times). Because of the pandemic, however, we did it virtually.

We’ve come a long way since Brian Lam created Wirecutter, in 2011. Our catalog of recommendations has grown exponentially since then, and our staff has tripled in size since 2016, when we joined the Times.

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from Wirecutter: Reviews for the Real World https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/blog/year-in-review-2021/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=RSS%20Feed

How to Organize and Store Christmas Decorations

If you want to start your holiday season off right, then you need to end last year’s holiday the right way, too. And that means cleaning up your decorations in a way that sets your future self up for success. Nothing kills that festive winter mood like having to fight with tangled nests of string lights or finding that the paint has flaked off all of your favorite ornaments because you didn’t store them right.

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from Wirecutter: Reviews for the Real World https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/guides/how-to-store-christmas-decorations/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=RSS%20Feed

The Best Drones for Photos and Video

If you’re an aspiring aerial photographer or videographer, a drone is your ticket to the sky. After test-flying 19 models, we think the DJI Mavic Air 2 is the best drone because it combines a high-end camera with the latest autonomous technology for less than $1,000. We also recommend the DJI Mavic 3 and the DJI Mini 2. Pilots of all skill levels will find that DJI’s drones are exceptionally reliable and easy to fly.

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from Wirecutter: Reviews for the Real World https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-drones/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=RSS%20Feed

The Best Treadmill

You might choose to walk or run inside on a treadmill for any number of reasons: inclement weather, dark conditions, unwelcoming terrain, commitments that keep you at home. Whether your goal is a couple of no-frills miles or a full-blown immersive workout, a treadmill can be a useful and convenient training tool. After walking and running on 24 treadmills over the past five years, we think the NordicTrack Commercial 1750 is a great choice for people who are looking for a dependable, versatile treadmill with a smooth ride and a sturdy build. Its straightforward design is easy to navigate, and it has a color touchscreen, Bluetooth connectivity, and an optional subscription to on-board workout content if you need an extra dose of motivation.

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from Wirecutter: Reviews for the Real World https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-treadmill/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=RSS%20Feed

The Best Portable Chargers and Power Banks for Phones and Tablets

Whether you’re a glued-to-your-screen smartphone owner who can never make it through a day on a full charge—or someone who just needs an occasional battery boost—USB power banks are a panacea for low-battery anxiety. After putting in 21 hours of research and 55 hours of testing, we’ve found the best portable power banks to meet a wide range of needs, chargers that offer you peace of mind whenever wall outlets are out of reach.

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from Wirecutter: Reviews for the Real World https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-usb-battery-packs/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=RSS%20Feed

Ask Wirecutter: How Do I Throw an Inexpensive New Year’s Eve Celebration at Home?

Ask Wirecutter, an advice column written by Annemarie Conte, explores the best approaches to buying, using, and maintaining stuff. Email your biggest product-related problems to askwirecutter@wirecutter.com.

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The Fizzy Joy of Cheap Costco Champagne

In my parents’ house, every day is a day worth celebrating. Whether they’re throwing an effervescent party or quietly cuddling while watching Parts Unknown, my parents always have flutes of bubbly in hand. They have a seemingly endless supply of Champagne stowed away, just waiting for an occasion—any occasion!—to be opened. You’d think they’d go broke with this kind of behavior. But, no, they’ve found the ultimate loophole: Costco.

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from Wirecutter: Reviews for the Real World https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/blog/cheap-costco-champagne/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=RSS%20Feed

The Best Thermal Underwear

Do you like exercising, hiking, or playing outdoors in the cooler months? How about working in the yard or going for walks? Do you do fieldwork, fish, or hunt? Go to sports practice or play in the snow? Chances are, there’s some outdoor activity you do in the winter months, and if so, a set of comfortable, functional base layers—lightweight pieces of clothing to wear under sweaters or jackets or pants—is a worthwhile investment.

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from Wirecutter: Reviews for the Real World https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-mens-base-layers-and-thermal-underwear/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=RSS%20Feed

The Best Care Packages to Show Everyone How Lucky They Are to Know You

At its most basic, a care package is an assortment of little treats and pleasing non-necessities, gathered together and sent by post. Care packages are sent to acknowledge life transitions, from joyous occasions, such as engagements and births, to difficult trials, like divorce or illness. Yet sending someone a care package shouldn’t depend on whether you have time to run to multiple stores, bundle up a handful of trinkets, and ship it all out. A care-package service will help you assemble the optimum assortment, while eliminating the logistics. We assessed 13 such services and tested five to find those with the best-quality items, the widest selection, and the most seamless ordering process.

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from Wirecutter: Reviews for the Real World https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/gifts/best-care-packages/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=RSS%20Feed

At-Home COVID-19 Antigen Test Kits: Where to Buy and What You Should Know

Rapid antigen tests offer a quick and easy way to screen for COVID-19 at home, detecting active infections, including in asymptomatic individuals, in about 15 minutes. Often called just “rapid tests” or “at-home COVID tests,” more brands of at-home tests are now available, and they can be a valuable tool for managing life during the pandemic.

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from Wirecutter: Reviews for the Real World https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/at-home-covid-test-kits/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=RSS%20Feed

Seat, Step, Plant Stand, Side Table: An Ode to Stools

A good stool can be the keystone of your home. Once you have one, it seems to make everything else in your space click into place, even if “everything else” isn’t that much. When I was in my 20s, I arranged entire homes around a sturdy wooden stool that I’d had as a child. In various apartments I used it as a bedside table, a makeshift bookshelf (its rectangular seat was the perfect size and shape for stacking books), a mini media console for watching TV on my laptop, a planter stand, and a side table. At some point, I gave the stool to a friend who was moving to an apartment with no furniture at all. “You’ll need a stool,” I said. As do you—if you don’t own one already. They’re cute, they’re practical, and they’re delightful.

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from Wirecutter: Reviews for the Real World https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/blog/ode-to-stools/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=RSS%20Feed

The Best VR Headset

Virtual reality can be an arresting way to step into engaging virtual worlds, even if it’s still a new technology that remains far from being a “most people” purchase. We think the Meta (formerly Oculus) Quest 2 is the best headset for most people because it’s the easiest to use and offers access to the widest range of games and experiences. However, because Meta makes the Quest headsets, you’ll need a Facebook account to use a Quest 2.

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from Wirecutter: Reviews for the Real World https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-standalone-vr-headset/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=RSS%20Feed

The Best Multi-Tool

When you carry a multi-tool, a whole world of problem-solving and empowerment opens up. It’s like keeping a flashlight in your pocket: If you don’t carry one, you can’t imagine ever using it, but once you have it, you use it seven times a day. Over the past few years, we’ve tested 23 multi-tools in rural New Hampshire—fixing fences, slicing hay-bale twine, even assisting in the birth of a lamb on a cold March morning. And the Leatherman Skeletool CX stood out as the best. It has a sleek, lightweight design and a minimal lineup of well-executed essentials. So this multi-tool is easier to use and carry because it’s unburdened by an abundance of rarely used tools. In fact, the Skeletool’s pliers, knife, screwdrivers, and bottle opener were all we ever needed to deal with minor fixes and get on with our day.

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from Wirecutter: Reviews for the Real World https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-multitool/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=RSS%20Feed

Why We Love Bosch Dishwashers

A dishwasher’s job is pretty simple in theory—spray a bunch of hot water and detergent at the dishes until all the food comes off.

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The Best Mattresses for Back Pain

Contrary to popular belief, your aching back doesn’t need a firm-as-a-plank mattress. In fact, there is no specific mattress that’s best for back pain.

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from Wirecutter: Reviews for the Real World https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/mattresses-for-back-pain/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=RSS%20Feed

The Best Karaoke Machines

Are you cravin’ a croonin’? Are you pining to perform? Do you have a hankering to howl out your favorite songs for a small but fervent flock of friends, to soak in that sonic glory underneath the sweaty stage lights of your living room? Then you, my dear troubadour, may need your very own karaoke machine.

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from Wirecutter: Reviews for the Real World https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-karaoke-machines/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=RSS%20Feed

Saatva Mattress Reviews: An Honest Assessment

In the crowded field of online mattresses, Saatva stands apart in fundamental ways. It delivers its mattresses via truck, instead of in a box. And even though, like other online sellers, it has rapidly expanded its line, Saatva remains focused on a range of “luxury” designs, all costing, with the exception of its Youth model, more than $1,500 (for a queen).

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from Wirecutter: Reviews for the Real World https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/saatva-mattress/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=RSS%20Feed

The Best Tripod

Many of today’s cameras and lenses come with truly impressive image stabilization built right in, but there are always occasions—such as time-lapse or macro photography—when it makes sense to put your camera on a tripod. After spending 60 hours researching tripods and 30 hours testing 16 of the most promising models, we found the Vanguard Alta Pro 2+ 263AB100 kit to be the sturdiest platform for challenging shooting situations. It has the tallest maximum height among the tripods we tested, and it’s very stable. It’s also easy to set up and break down, and built to withstand years of use.

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7 of the Best Deals You Can Still Get in 2021

For our last round-up of 2021, we want to celebrate what makes our deals great by bringing you exceptional discounts on Wirecutter-recommended gear, gifts, and essentials—all for under $100. Whether you’re dreaming of crafting the perfect cocktail or picking up some practical tools for around the house, these are the best discounts still kicking. Some may even arrive prior to the holidays—just in time to check off those last minute gifts on your list.

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from Wirecutter: Reviews for the Real World https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/money/best-deals-availble-2021/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=RSS%20Feed

The Best Apple Wireless Charging Stations

If you’re in the Apple ecosystem, there’s a good chance you’re all in: iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods. One way to keep each of these devices powered is to run three cords to three adapters—but the best way is to use a single charging station. If you have an older iPhone, Mophie’s 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Stand is the best charging station, offering fast wireless power for all your Apple gear (well, except for your MacBook and iPad) in a tidy, convenient design that’s worth the price. And if you’ve upgraded to an iPhone 12 or 13 with Apple’s MagSafe charging and mounting system, don’t worry—we have a pick for you, as well.

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The Best Cutting Boards

A good cutting board is a workhorse in any kitchen. Above all, it should be large, providing ample space for carving or chopping, and relatively easy to care for. We recommend the OXO Good Grips Carving and Cutting Board for those who want a plastic board, and the Teakhaus Edge Grain Professional Carving Board with Juice Canal (15" by 20") for those who want wood. Both boards feel good under a knife, and they stood up to many sharp cuts, dark stains, and strong odors better than the competition. Plus, after years of long-term testing, neither board has split or egregiously warped from misuse.

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The Best Underwear for Kids

Many kids are notoriously picky about their undies, and for good reason: Irritating wedgies, itchy tags, chafing trims, and scratchy fabrics make a lot of underwear no fun to wear. We spent four months testing 37 styles from 15 different brands. And we’re confident that the soft, durable undies from Hanna Andersson are the least likely to have your child whining about what’s covering their behind.

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from Wirecutter: Reviews for the Real World https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-kids-underwear/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=RSS%20Feed

The Best Memory Foam Mattresses You Can Buy Online

Weeding through the endless foam-mattress options online can feel as exhausting as suffering through a bad night’s sleep. But we’ve tested dozens of mattresses since 2016 so you don’t have to.

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The Best 4K TV on a Budget

If you want a 4K TV that supports all the latest video and gaming technologies but doesn’t cost a fortune, we recommend the TCL 5-Series. Although it can’t match the image contrast and brightness of the best LCD TVs and OLED TVs, the 5-Series still delivers a great-looking 4K picture, and it comes in 50-, 55-, 65-, and 75-inch sizes to fit most rooms. Plus, it’s available with either the Roku TV or Google TV streaming platform built in, so you can choose the system that you prefer.

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Ebikes Are Scarce. Maybe You Should Build One.

Just like regular bikes, electric bikes experienced a pandemic boom—and have become equally hard to find in stores. That’s why adding a motor to the bike you already have can often be easier than finding a new ebike. How do I know? Let me tell you.

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from Wirecutter: Reviews for the Real World https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/blog/build-ebike/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=RSS%20Feed

The Best Skillet

After more than 70 collective hours of research and testing since 2014, we still think the tri-ply All-Clad Stainless 12″ Covered Fry Pan is the best skillet for the money. It’s a durable pan that heats extremely evenly. No other pan gets the kind of raves the All-Clad receives from professionals, enthusiasts, and home cooks alike. Yes, it’s expensive, but we think it’s worth the money considering it will last a lifetime.

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The Best Online Flower Delivery Service

Don’t underestimate the ability of flowers to turn someone’s day around. Whether you’re sending a bouquet to mark a holiday, celebrate a milestone, or make nice after an argument, we think UrbanStems is the best flower delivery service. Of the nine companies we tried, its stylish arrangements were the most beautiful, the freshest, the most well packaged, and the easiest to order.

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