A good pair of ski socks can make or break your day on the slopes.
That’s why we spent more than 50 hours researching and testing lightweight and midweight ski socks. In the end, we decided that the men’s and women’s Smartwool Ski Targeted Cushion Over the Calf socks are the best for most people because they offer the ideal mix of comfort, cushioning, breathability, and support.
A great floor lamp can transform the dimmest corner of a room into the most inviting space for reading, relaxing, or working. And it can be the illuminating punctuation mark of a room’s decor.
Over the past few years, we’ve dedicated more than 60 hours to researching hundreds of floor lamps. Then we’ve assembled, inspected, and pelted them with basketballs to simulate the inevitable accidents that happen at home.
We know style is subjective, but we think our picks—for task, console, tripod, tree, arc, and rod lamp—will complement a wide variety of interior spaces.
Designed to provide a smooth, cushy ride at higher speeds and on uneven terrain, jogging strollers are preferred not just by runners but also by caregivers who like how easy they are to push and maneuver in everyday use.
After testing 18 models, we found that the Thule Urban Glide 2 is the best jogging stroller for people who are traversing mostly paved terrain. Though this model can handle the occasional off-road detour, too.
If you’re looking for a slightly narrower jogging stroller, with rugged wheels designed to handle off-road terrain, you may prefer the BOB Gear Wayfinder, our also-great pick.
There’s a specific brand of person who loves falling into the rhythmic lull of a long, sweaty run. Whatever type of runner is on your list—from avid marathoners to casual joggers to newbies kicking off their first Couch to 5K plan—they’ll likely appreciate something practical, something to aid conditioning or recovery, or something jovial to celebrate the practice itself.
A thoughtful gift needn’t be expensive to be perfect. A practical kitchen tool, new charging cables, or even a really good pair of socks can delight at a budget price. Here are the best gifts for $25 or less—note that although we made every effort to confirm that these items meet that threshold, prices can dance around a bit.
White elephant gift exchanges technically don’t have a winner, but the most successful Dirty Santa soiree has everyone leaving with a fun holiday gift that’s not only entertaining but useful. For this guide, we asked Wirecutter staffers to recommend the most hilarious, Yankee-swap-worthy gifts under $25 that made them smile. We think they’ll make you smile too.
I wasn’t always an ice snob. In fact, I rarely thought about the quality of the ice in my freezer—as long as it was frozen, it was good enough for me and the afternoon glass of Coke Zero that would get me through the rest of the day.
But then one day, I poured my emotional-support soda over a glass of clear ice chips, and as I sipped on a crisp, effervescent beverage that stayed bubbly until the last drop, I realized that the type of ice you use makes a difference, especially if you like fizzy beverages.
Great audio can draw you into a video game with bold effects, realistic details, and immersive soundtracks. A good gaming headset allows you to enjoy all of that while you chat with your friends and teammates, too. But even the best sound quality won’t do you any good if the headset isn’t comfortable to wear for long periods of time. After testing close to 20 new headsets in 2022 and 2023, we’ve found that the Razer BlackShark V2 is the most comfortable, best-sounding gaming headset for the price.
Fridges come in many different looks and layouts—and most do a fine job of keeping your food cold. Based on a survey of more than 5,000 Wirecutter readers and an AI-assisted analysis of 28,000 customer reviews, we can give you guidance on how to find the fridge that’s right for you.
Smart sensors are a bit like the power-ups you might aim for in a video game—add one or several to your smart home, and they’ll give your system a turbo boost.
These matchbox-sized devices are typically small enough not to stand out and are meant to be placed in areas where you want to monitor activity or changes in ambient conditions, and once something happens, they send you a smartphone alert. They can variously detect temperature or humidity, whether a door, window, or cabinet has been opened, or simply if someone or something has entered a room.
If you awake confused and panicked at the sound of your alarm clock beeping in the dark, you may find mornings more pleasant with a sunrise alarm clock, also called a wake-up light.
We dove into the research on circadian rhythms and woke before dawn with 10 different sunrise alarm clocks and two non-clock lighting devices.
Our favorite, the Philips Wake-Up Light HF3520, emits soothing red-tinted dawn and dusk simulations and gentle wake-up sounds.
Every morning, as I walk through my kids’ playroom to get to my home office, I pass thousands of Lego. Some are built into gleaming pre-determined sets from Lego Friends, Harry Potter, City and Technic. Others have been fashioned freehand into monsters, structures and vehicles sprung directly from the weird, creative minds of my kids.
Lego is a simple idea well executed: tiny plastic bricks that can literally build worlds that spans generations. From elementary age (if you’re old enough to know not to stick them in your mouth, you’re old enough to build with them) to old-as-the-hills, almost everyone can enjoy Lego.
Cyclists who live in small spaces know the conundrum: You want your bike easily accessible but hate tripping over it all the time.
After spending some 30 hours researching dozens of indoor bike-storage stands, we assembled and tested the 10 most viable options, leaving our bikes at their mercy for days—and sometimes weeks—on end.
The stand takes minimal effort and expertise to install, it’s lightweight and strong, and it can accommodate one or two bikes of any variety—mountain, road, hybrid, and even step-through cruisers.
Cyber Monday isn’t just about tech. And these reader favorites prove it, with the most popular deals among Wirecutter readers running the gamut from laptops to kitchen tools to outdoor gear.
Take a look below to find the most popular deals on expert-vetted Wirecutter picks, all on sale at truly great prices.
You can also check out the Wirecutter Deals page for the latest discounts on more Wirecutter picks that meet our rigorous testing and pricing standards.
A great crib will be versatile and solidly constructed, as well as an attractive centerpiece in your child’s room.
We spent 15 hours researching hundreds of cribs, and three days assembling and converting 10 of them, before concluding that the DaVinci Kalani 4-in-1 Convertible Crib is the best choice for most families. This sturdy crib converts to a daybed, toddler bed, and twin bed, offering the potential for years of use.
Every morning, as I walk through my kids’ playroom to get to my home office, I pass thousands of Lego. Some built into gleaming pre-determined sets from Lego Friends, Harry Potter, City and Technic. Others have been fashioned freehand into monsters, structures and vehicles sprung directly from the weird, creative minds of my kids.
Lego is a simple idea well executed: tiny plastic bricks that can literally build worlds that spans generations. From elementary age (if you’re old enough to know not to stick them in your mouth, you’re old enough to build with them) to old-as-the-hills, almost everyone can enjoy Lego.
My favorite birthday gift to give is the good old classic box that comes, charmingly, in a tub designed to look like a Lego brick. It contains hundreds of bricks in various shapes, sizes and colors, and appropriately lists the recommended ages of 4 to 99.
Many people consider pizza to be food of the gods. But making it from scratch at home is challenging because regular ovens don’t get hot enough to create pizzeria-style pies. So if you’re an aspiring pizzaiola, you may want to invest in an Ooni portable outdoor pizza oven that does just that. We love two versions of the Ooni: the Ooni Koda 16 (our top pick) and the Ooni Fyra 12 (our budget pick).
Fashion may be subjective, but these Cyber Monday deals on Wirecutter’s favorite apparel are definitely some of the best we’ve seen. Whether you’re shopping for yourself or looking to give the gift of style this holiday season, chances are you’ll find something to love. From cozy pajamas and soft robes to stylish everyday wardrobe staples, these are the clothing and apparel deals we’re most excited about.
If you have ever been bumping down a country road, belting out your favorite tunes from the car stereo, only to have it turn to angry static the moment you enter a radio signal-free zone, then you know precisely what it was like to wake up every morning in our bedroom with a crummy old clock radio.
It is a pitiable way to start the day’s NPR updates reduced to a series of broken phrases, like a deranged Mad Lib, daggers thrown by your spouse because you insisted on bringing that cursed electronic into her life.
Well, problem solved, relationship healed, we’re gonna live happily ever after.
At a glance we check the time without fiddling with anything (it’s got a cool retro LED clock!). Whatever audio I want to listen to—music, radio, podcasts, news, books— streams in clarion perfection, and in an instant using a voice command to the third partner in our marriage (Alexa). Setting an alarm clock involves no hacking of arcane menus or button mashing as before.
Rarely has a relationship win been so thoroughly, easily, and affordably achieved.
Cyber Monday has all but arrived. And Apple superfans know how rare it is to see a truly good deal on the company’s shiny gizmos—which makes these discounts on Wirecutter’s Apple picks that much better.
Black Friday sales are everywhere. Most are bad. But some are legit deals on tried-and-tested Wirecutter picks. And some have grabbed the attention of our readers more than others.
Here are the Wirecutter-approved Black Friday deals that our readers have loved the most.
You can also check out the Wirecutter Deals page for the latest discounts on more Wirecutter picks that meet our rigorous testing and pricing standards.
A clean litter box is essential to the well-being of your cat (and your nostrils).
If the box is constantly full, your pet might avoid nature’s call as long as possible, which can result in serious health problems. Your cat may also be inclined to take their business elsewhere, which is stressful for everyone.
Scooping daily is the rule of thumb, but transferring those scoops to the trash gets messy. And for many, this is a chore that’s all too easily ignored—until the box turns seriously gross.
