For anyone with a small kitchen, a magnetic stove shelf is an easy way to add additional storage.
Good magnetic shelves require no installation and have strong magnets to keep them firmly in place.
We found magnetic stove shelf options for large stoves, heavy items, and more.
In the kitchen, every bit of extra storage counts. A magnetic stove shelf is an easy way to keep seasonings, sauces, and other cooking essentials on hand without having to do any major installations, which makes it an especially attractive option both for smaller spaces and for rentals. All you have to do is stick it against any metal surface and you’re all set.
When shopping for a magnetic stove shelf, you’ll want to ensure that the shelf matches your oven’s measurements and can hold the weight of the items you’re looking to store, especially because many stove shelves aren’t built to hold super bulky or heavy items and can start to slide. We found options ranging from multi-purpose shelves that have hooks and paper towel racks for easy organization to magnetic shelves to fit oversized ovens.
What we like: Available in multiple colors, made of thick metal, comes with attachable hooks
This simple set includes two shelves that can be used throughout your kitchen. Choose from black, blue, red, or white color options to best compliment your decor. The shelves can hold up to five pounds, making them a great option for storing small items such as spices, sauces, or napkins. Complete with two hooks, you can also hang oven mitts and cooking utensils on each shelf.
If they won’t quite work on your stove, you can also easily attach them to any metal surface, including a fridge or microwave.
The best magnetic stove shelf for large stoves
Just place this magnetic shelf on top of your stove and you’re ready to go.
What we like: Available in multiple finishes and three lengths, made with materials that are easy to clean, customizable magnet placement
Whether you have a stove with a curved or flat top, this shelf is equipped with magnets that can be repositioned for a better, more custom fit. Available in four finishes, no matter which one you opt for your shelf will be rust-, corrosion-, and stain-resistant. The shelf is also available in three long lengths ranging from 20 inches to 30 inches, making it a great option for those with longer stovetops.
The shelf is hand-wash only but can be easily cleaned with warm water and dish soap. Because it’s designed to sit directly on top of your stovetop, it can also hold heavier items.
The best magnetic stove shelf on a budget
This shelf includes a non-slip rubber mat to prevent items from shifting.
What we like: Sleek simple design, made of sturdy steel
This steel shelf can hold up to six pounds and is a great option for storing various seasonings and spices, or even a couple of mugs. In addition to a non-slip rubber mat, the shelf also has a raised edge to stop items from falling and moving around. While it’s only available in matte black, it’s simple yet chic enough to match most kitchen decor. For those who just need a place for a few pesky items, this is a solid low-cost option.
The best multi-purpose stove shelf
A rust-proof powder coating ensures this rack will hold up over time.
Amazon
The FOLNG Magnetic-Shelf-Organizer can hold everything from oven mitts and spices to paper towels and can be used on magnetic and non-magnetic surfaces alike.
What we like: Foldable rod, waterproof, long-lasting, can be used on magnetic or non-magnetic surfaces
This waterproof rack can be used to help you organize various kitchen items thanks to its smart design that features a shelf, two removable hooks, and a wooden paper towel or drying cloth rod. When not in use, the rod can be folded up for a sleeker design. The rack has a heightened guardrail, which helps it hold up larger items such as jars or bottles without them slipping and sliding.
As an added bonus, you can also use this stove shelf on non-magnetic surfaces since, in addition to magnets, it also comes with screws and adhesives for those who prefer it to install it on a wall.
What we like: Has removable hooks and paper towel holders, foldable, holds up to 30 pounds
While many magnetic stove shelves hold just six to seven pounds, this shelf is equipped with three strong magnets that can support up to a whopping 30 pounds. The rack is available in black and white finishes and can be folded for easy storage when not in use. The two-tiered rack features five removable hooks, two paper towel holders, and two shelves that are far enough apart to allow plenty of space for taller items.
So you’ve finally found a garden hose that’s durable, easy to use, and doesn’t kink. Next, you’ll need a garden hose nozzle. It makes watering tasks more convenient and efficient, plus you’ll save water.
“It’s absolutely necessary to attach an adjustable nozzle to your garden hose,” said John Jo rs, a Florida Master Gardener and volunteer groundskeeper at the 35-acre Bonnet House Museum and Gardens. “Otherwise, you may find yourself running back and forth to turn your water spigot off and on as needed.”
There are a few different nozzle styles to consider, including pistol grip, fire-hose, and watering wand. If you plan on using your hose for a wide variety of tasks, Jors recommends a pistol grip nozzle with multiple spray options and adjustable water pressure.
But if you have trouble holding down a pistol grip for long periods of time, fire hose-style and watering wands are good alternatives. Learn which nozzle style and spray option you should use.
We tested garden hose nozzles of different styles on the same hose (our pick for the best hose overall, the Dramm ColorStorm Garden Hose). For each hose nozzle, we tracked ease of use, comfort, water pressure, spray distance, and durability. Read more about our methodology.
The Gardenite 10-Pattern Garden Hose Nozzle is the most versatile, reliable, and comfortable nozzle you can attach to your hose. All the spray patterns are consistent and using it won’t tire out your hand.
Pros: Many spray patterns, easy to switch among patterns, strong metal and rubber construction
Cons: The multiple settings may be superfluous if you only use your hose for a few tasks, jet setting doesn’t offer strongest pressure
With this Gardenite hose nozzle, you won’t have to worry about whether you’ll have the appropriate spray pattern for the task in front of you. The 10 patterns include “cone,” “shower,” “mist,” and “jet,” plus less common ones like “flat” and “vertical.” Whether you’re washing your dog, watering delicate plants, or hosing down dirt, you’ll be properly equipped.
It’s easy to twist the nozzle to the spray pattern you need, and the nozzle clicks clearly to let you know you’re ready to use your selected pattern. When you hold down the trigger, the water doesn’t shoot out aggressively — an issue I discovered with other nozzles. The nozzle also never leaked in all my tests.
The flow control knob at the back of the nozzle lets you adjust the pressure of each of the 10 patterns, allowing for even more adjustability.
Despite all these ways to diversify your watering experience, the jet option was a little disappointing and wasn’t as strong as our high-pressure nozzle pick below. Overall, the all-in-one design and quality construction of this nozzle still earn it our top position, but consider whether you’d rather have the versatility or a more specialized nozzle.
This nozzle has a pistol grip, with a front trigger that is made from metal and has indents for your fingers. The handle is cushioned rubber. These features combined make the grip as comfortable as it can get.
The best garden hose nozzle on a budget
Connie Chen/Insider
If you don’t want to spend a lot of money, the Melnor 5-Pattern Watering Nozzle is a solid alternative that still offers five spray options. Just be warned it’s not as durable as our other picks.
Pros: Affordable, easy to use, versatile
Cons: Can leak a little, not rugged, doesn’t offer long spray distance
A good, solid garden hose is an investment, and after spending that money, you might not want to splurge on an additional accessory. Luckily, this Melnor hose nozzle is very affordable, while still offering features you need and decent comfort.
This nozzle keeps it simple with five spray options that should suit most activities: shower, full, stream, flat, and mist. All the settings worked well and had strong, consistent pressure, though the spray distance fell short compared to the other nozzles. The mist option was especially effective.
The nozzle attached securely to my hose, but there were some small leaking issues. The droplets were tiny and didn’t significantly affect my watering experience but it’s worth noting since this was the only nozzle I tested that leaked at all.
It’s decently comfortable to hold — the rubber grip features indents for your fingers, but the back trigger section is made from plastic which is less comfortable than an all-rubber grip. There is a trigger lock to help prevent grip fatigue, so you don’t need to squeeze down the whole time you’re watering.
Made from a combination of metal, plastic, and rubber, the nozzle is lightweight, but you can’t bang it around the ground too much. In our durability tests, the metal pin that acts as a trigger lock fell out. While we know you won’t purposely drop your nozzle onto concrete repeatedly, it’s also good to keep in mind that this nozzle isn’t going to last for years. But if you need a temporary solution, or don’t use your garden hose often, it’s a quick and cheap buy with most of the features you need.
The best watering wand
Connie Chen/Insider
Avid gardeners will want the Melnor RelaxGrip Watering Wand, which offers a gentle shower of water, is long enough to reach tall hanging plants, and uses a comfortable thumb control rather than a pistol grip.
Pros: Long, less tiring to grip, ideal for delicate flowers and plants in hanging pots
Cons: Singular purpose, may have leakage problems after long-term use
If you have trouble holding down a pistol grip, you’ll love the easy thumb control of this nozzle. You simply slide the control up and down whenever you need to adjust the water flow. This smart design reduces the strain on your wrists and fingers, allowing you to water your garden for longer. The textured rubber grip is also comfortable with ergonomic indents for your fingers.
The thumb control acts as a sliding scale in that there isn’t a distinct click for each different flow setting. Instead, you might have to play around with the control at first to learn where the flow intensity changes and how far you should slide the control. Over time, you’ll have a better natural sense of how to control the water.
This watering wand has a long stick design (this version is 33 inches long from nozzle tip to end, while the short version is 15 inches long) that lets you reach tall branches with no struggle. The water travels smoothly all the way through, and the water flow is consistent.
It attached securely and didn’t leak, but after seeing some customer reports of leakage issues, we’ll keep an eye out for that in our long-term testing. Given the wand is made up of many distinct parts, it’s possible it may leak if any of the parts break. In our durability tests, however, the wand emerged unscathed and nothing broke.
Since this nozzle only offers a concentrated shower pattern, it’s best for gardeners who intend to use it frequently for their plants and flowers. It will not help you in the way of washing a deck or covering a large amount of ground.
The best high-pressure garden hose nozzle
Connie Chen/Insider
This simple and compact brass nozzle from Twinkle Star shoots out strong jets of water over long distances, making it perfect for chores that require some water pressure.
Pros: Made from sturdy solid brass, small, good jet and wide spray options
Cons: No two-way shutoff, less control over water flow
For grimy trash cans, a car in need of a good wash, or your deck that has so many layers of dirt it’s starting to change colors, it’s handy to have a high-pressure nozzle to do all the hard rinsing work for you.
The Twinkle Star is a long and slim nozzle that has powerful and efficient jet and wide spray settings. To use, you twist the nozzle in one direction to find the pattern you need. Though there aren’t specific settings that you can “click” into, the nozzle twists smoothly and the spray patterns transition well into each other. The one-way shutoff means you have to twist it off the same way you twist it on, which isn’t a huge dealbreaker, but it’s a little convenient. The nozzle attached securely to my hose and never leaked.
Its spray distance was long, on par with the Gardenite nozzle‘s. The high pressure and long spray distance are a great combo for attacking dirty surfaces from afar.
We also loved the solid brass construction. It’s resistant to rust and all-around durable, plus it looks sleek.
This product actually comes with two nozzles, a long one and a much smaller one. We wouldn’t recommend the small tip nozzle, as it wasn’t adjustable and couldn’t shut off the flow of water. It offered medium pressure and a very narrow spray, so we’re not sure what the use of this extra nozzle is. Stick with the long nozzle, and you’ll be set.
The best fireman-style garden hose nozzle
Connie Chen/Insider
A fire-hose-style nozzle like the Bon-Aire Hose Nozzle is perfect if you want versatile spray options without straining your hand.
Pros: Very comfortable to hold, strong rubber and metal construction, two-way shutoff
Cons: Less control over water flow
Rather than hold down a trigger, you only need to twist the barrel of the Bon-Air nozzle to start and stop the flow of water. Like a few of the nozzles above, it doesn’t have distinct spray settings, so you just gradually turn the nozzle to find the different options. Conveniently, the nozzle has two-way shutoff, meaning you don’t have to turn it back all the way to the beginning in order to stop the water flow.
I enjoyed using this nozzle a lot because it was comfortable to hold and all the water flow options were consistent in pressure. The jet and wide spray settings were especially strong.
Compared to the Twinkle Star nozzle, the Bon-Aire is bulkier but also likely more durable. Since most of it is encased in rubber, the metal middle section rarely touches the ground. If you drop it on the ground from a tall height, it simply bounces around.
Our gardening expert John Jors reminds us, “Although [a fire hose-style nozzle] is very durable, the spray options are limited and you won’t have the flow control you have with the pistol grip.”
This was certainly my experience with the Bon-Aire nozzle. It’s available for around the same price as our best overall pick, so choosing this nozzle is ultimately a matter of personal preference and comfort. It’s ergonomic and durable, but you will have the deal with the lack of distinct spray settings.
What else we tested
Connie Chen/Insider
What we don’t recommend and why
Gilmour Metal Pistol Nozzle: This simple nozzle is cheap but also really rugged. It’s metal all around and intuitive to use — just squeeze the trigger and the water flow will change depending on how hard you squeeze. My main critique is that it’s not comfortable to hold at all and has no cushioning for your fingers, so you’ll have to wear your own gloves. The nozzle is small, brittle, and stiff, and you’ll have to use the hold-open clip to spray continuously.
What we’re testing next
Amazon
Dramm One-Touch Rain Wand: Another promising watering wand has a similar thumb control valve to our current best wandering wand and looks to be durable and consistent.
Gilmour Swivel Connect 1-Pattern Nozzle: Gilmour’s innovative “swivel connect” design means that you can turn the nozzle in any direction without turning the hose itself, reducing annoying kinks and bends as you handle your hose. Though it doesn’t have multiple spray options, there is a comfortable thumb control valve.
Methodology
Connie Chen/Insider
We put all the hose nozzles through these same five tests:
Ease of use: We noted how easy or difficult it was to attach to the hose, how many spray options it had, and whether it leaked.
Comfort: We noted if the grip was ergonomic. If the nozzle had a pistol grip design, we timed how long we could press the grip down before it got too tiring to press.
Spray distance: On concrete, we measured how far the nozzle sprayed water when holding the hose at a regular position (a foot away from the body).
Water pressure: We measured the pressure of water coming out of the nozzle with a water pressure gauge. If there was more than one spray setting, we measured the low, medium, and high settings.
Durability: We dropped each nozzle on concrete from 10 feet high 10 times and noted scuffing, scratches, abrasion, and any broken or bent parts. We also left the nozzles outside for two consecutive weeks through various weather conditions, including sun and rain, noting any rust and other signs of wear and tear.
Garden hose nozzles FAQs
Connie Chen/Insider
Why do you need a garden hose nozzle?
It saves water. Water will not come out of your hose unless you open the nozzle, meaning you don’t need to run back and forth to the spigot. This is especially helpful if you’re using a long hose.
A garden hose nozzle helps distribute water in a more controlled manner than a garden hose alone. The regular flow of a garden hose alone isn’t always the best for tasks like watering delicate flowers or washing a car. The different spray options of a nozzle let you customize the flow to your specific task.
What are the different types of garden hose nozzles? How do you use them?
Pistol grip nozzle: Features a trigger that controls the amount or flow of water. Hold down the trigger (which may be in front of or behind the handle) to release water. The harder you press, the more water comes out.
Dial nozzle: Features a rotating dial of distinct spray patterns. It’s often combined with a pistol grip so you only need to hold down the trigger to activate the flow of water, while the dial setting controls the specific flow.
Watering wand or rain wand: A long nozzle that helps extend water flow to hard-to-reach areas. It’s usually controlled with a comfortable sliding thumb control.
Firehose (or fireman)-style nozzle: A large dial-style nozzle that does not have a pistol grip. The spray patterns are not distinct and must be gradually adjusted.
What nozzle and spray type do you use for…
Watering flowers or a vegetable garden: Use a flat spray or shower delicate plants with a rain wand because it’s the most gentle spray type. Make sure to water at soil level at the base of the plants. It’s best to water them in the morning, before it gets too sunny and hot, so that less water will evaporate.
Watering trees and shrubs: Drip lines are ideal, and if you’re using a hose, you actually shouldn’t use a nozzle. Simply place the hose on the ground near the tree and let water slowly and steadily dribble out. Rotate the hose around the tree (in a ring shape) periodically.
Washing a car: Use a jet spray with any of the nozzles above except the rain wand. If you’re just doing a light rinse, a setting like a full shower could also work.
Power-washing a deck: Use a jet spray with any of the nozzles above except the rain wand.
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The best iPhone cases provide extra style and protection.
Quality varies depending on the price, but there’s an option for every budget.
Our favorite iPhone cases come from brands like , Speck, Nomad, Otterbox, and others.
Table of Contents: Masthead Sticky
A great iPhone case should serve a few different purposes. First and foremost, it should protect your iPhone from scratches, scuffs, and dirt.
But given the number of times most of us pick up our phones each day, it’s also important that your phone case is easy to grip. At the same time, a good case should also add some style to your device. At the very least, it shouldn’t hinder your device’s aesthetics or make it too cumbersome.
We’ve tested nearly two dozen products to find the best iPhone cases. Whether you’re looking for extreme protection, an attractive wallet case, or just a slim shell to prevent smudges, these are the best iPhone cases we’ve found.
Best general purpose cases: Speck casesSpeck Presido 2 Perfect Clear, Presidio 2 Armor Cloud, and Presido Pro
Lisa Eadicicco/Insider
While some cases specialize in durability or sleekness, Speck‘s sweet spot is right in the middle.
Speck cases provide more heft and protection than cheaper covers, but aren’t quite as big and bulky as Otterboxes.
That’s also reflected in the pricing: Speck’s cases certainly aren’t cheap, with some models costing about $60 at their regular price. But they’re also not as pricey as certain specialty cases.
Speck offers a variety of cases made to fit models as old as the iPhone 7 all the way through to the new iPhone 12 lineup. So no matter which iPhone model you have, there’s probably a case that fits. Speck cases come in many styles, from clear cases to ones with grips, printed patterns, and a glittery or ombre finishes. The options will vary depending on your phone model.
I love how the Presidio 2 Perfect Clear with Grips doesn’t add too much bulk to my iPhone but still feels protective. The grips are also perfectly placed, making it easy to hang on to my phone securely. But this case is more stiff than some others we’ve tested, making it more difficult to remove.
The Presidio 2 Armor Cloud, meanwhile, claims to have air capsules that compress to suspend your phone on a cushion of air to prevent damage, although other companies have made similar claims. Regardless, the Speck cases we tested handled a 5-foot drop onto a marble floor with ease, showing no signs of damage.
In our grease test, Speck’s Presidio 2 Perfect Clear and Armor Cloud cases picked up a seemingly normal amount of smudges, while the Presidio 2 Pro looked particularly greasy. Each case was easy to clean using a lightly dampened cloth with warm water, but the Presidio 2 Pro and Armor Cloud still show some streakage if you look very closely.
Worth a look:
Presido 2 Perfect Clear with Grips (small)Presidio 2 Armor Cloud (small)Presidio 2 Pro (small) Best for classy designs: Native Union cases
Native Union Clic Card, Clic Wooden, and Clic Canvas
Lisa Eadicicco/Insider
We love Native Union’s iPhone cases for their attractive designs made from materials like leather, wood, and fabric.
While protection is the main reason you may choose to put a case on your iPhone, style is important too.
The cases are super slim, barely adding any extra heft to your device. And for how nice they look, they aren’t all that much more expensive than other cases on this list. The Clic Canvas fabric case for the iPhone 12 currently costs $30, while the Clic Wooden for iPhone 12 is priced at $40, and the Clic Card wallet case for iPhone 12 Mini costs $50. If you have a slightly older iPhone, the prices will be even cheaper.
The downside about Native Union’s cases, however, is that the selection isn’t very big. They only sell cases for the iPhone 11 generation and higher.
The Clic Wooden case also isn’t the most durable if your phone takes a hard fall. After being dropped from five feet onto a marble floor, the Clic Wooden case had a small chip near the bottom. But more importantly, the iPhone 12 it was protecting came away unscathed.
These cases can also be more difficult to maintain depending on the model. The Clic Canvas requires an eraser to clean, and we were unable to find instructions for cleaning the Clic Wooden. But thankfully the Clic Card can be cleaned with a damp cloth and mild hand soap.
The Clic Card and Wooden didn’t get unusually smudgy when we held them with dirty fingers, and the Clic Card looked good as new after following Native Union’s cleaning instructions. We used the same method to clean the Clic Wooden, but it still looks a little smudgy when the light hits in at certain angles.
Still, these cases are a great choice for those who care about looks first and foremost, and they’re reasonably priced.
Worth a look:
Clic Card (small)Clic Canvas (small)Clic Wooden (small) Best cases on a budget: Smartish cases
Smartish Gripzilla, Kung-Fu Grip, and Wallet Slayer
Lisa Eadicicco/Insider
Smartish’s cases are some of the cheapest you’ll find, but they don’t compromise on quality.
Smartish makes it hard to justify spending a lot of money on an iPhone case. Their cases typically cost $20 or less but don’t feel like it, and they come in a variety of colors and finishes. Smartish offers cases for iPhones as old as the iPhone 5S, making it one of the few companies still making cases for 5-year-old iPhones.
I’ve been using the for the iPhone 12, a sturdy general-purpose case priced at $20. It’s not the most attractive case, but it feels well-built and is a great middle-ground between a slim case and a heavy-duty case. It’s also easy to put on and remove from the phone, which is always a plus.
The is also a great choice for those who want a no-frills case for basic protection. It has a course finish that makes it easy to hold — as its name implies — and a flexible, jelly-like build that makes it easy to put on and remove from the phone. Best of all: it’s only $12.
Smartish’s cases also provide enough protection should your phone take a tough fall. After dropping each case mentioned below from a height of five feet onto a marble floor, neither the cases nor the phones they were protecting showed any signs of damage.
However, these cases attracted the most smudges and debris of all the cases we tested in our grease test. But they were also among the easiest to clean, and looked brand new after a quick wipedown with warm water and soap.
Overall, Smartish’s cases prove that you don’t need to spend close to $50 for a quality case that checks the boxes when it comes to basic protection.
Worth a look:
Gripzilla (small)Kung Fu Grip (small)Wallet Slayer (small) Best leather cases: Nomad cases
Nomad Rugged case with MagSafe and Rugged Folio
Lisa Eadicicco/Insider
Nomad’s leather iPhone cases impress when it comes to looks and protection, and they’re reasonably priced.
Nomad’s iPhone cases may be pricey, but they’re made of high-quality Horween leather to back it up. You can even smell the leather upon unboxing the case.
The company’s Rugged case is sleek yet protective, with the company claiming that it can withstand a 10-foot drop. While we didn’t test these cases in a 10-foot drop, the Nomad Rugged and Rugged Folio held up just fine when being dropped from five feet onto a marble floor. The MagSafe compatible cases also snap in place against my MagSafe Duo charger more easily than most cases I’ve used before.
Nomad’s iPhone cases are definitely on the high-end of the spectrum when it comes to price, but the difference in quality is certainly noticeable, especially when it comes to the Rugged Folio wallet case. It just feels more durable and premium than cheaper leather wallet cases we’ve tested. Each leather case also comes with a packet of leather conditioner to keep it clean.
Nomad’s cases attracted some mild smudging in our grease test, but I’m impressed with how easy they are to clean with soap and water. Although the cases looked a bit streaky while wet, they were back to normal after air drying for a few minutes.
Nomad’s selection is better than that of some companies like Native Union, but it’s still fairly limited. It only sells iPhone cases for the iPhone XS/XR series, the iPhone 11 series, and the iPhone 12 series, so you’ll have to look elsewhere if you have an older phone.
Worth a look:
Rugged Case MagSafe (small)Rugged Folio (small) Best for extra durability: Otterbox cases
Otterbox Symmetry Series+ with MagSafe, Otterbox Defender Series, Otterbox Commuter Series
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Otterbox has become synonymous with durability and rugged protection when it comes to smartphone cases, and that’s still true in 2021.
The company makes a wide selection of cases that vary when it comes to their level of protection, from relatively slim models to all-encompassing shells that come with multiple layers and pieces. Some newer models like the Symmetry Series + are also compatible with Apple’s new MagSafe charger.
Otterbox also offers cases made to fit models as old as the iPhone 5, so there’s plenty of choice. Prices will vary depending on the case and phone model, but newer cases for the iPhone 12 tend to cost around $60 while older ones can be found for about $30.
Although many other cases offer decent protection, part of what makes Otterbox stand out is its extra protection around the iPhone’s ports. Even cases like the Commuter Series, which is on the slimmer side for an Otterbox, include a cover for the Lightning port. The Symmetry Series +, which is considerably thinner than other Otterboxes, is also rated for three times as many drops as the military standard.
The downside, however, is that Otterbox’s extra durable design means its cases can be difficult to remove. It takes a decent amount of prying and pulling to remove the Commuter Series case thanks to its protective yet stiff build.
The Otterbox Defender rugged case also looks intimidating to remove, but once you get the hang of disassembling it it’s actually not so difficult.
Unsurprisingly, the Otterbox Defender, Symmetry Series Plus, and Commuter Series cases all passed our 5-foot drop test onto a marble floor with ease. They also showed minimal smudging in our grease test, and were among the easiest to clean with soap and water. Some Otterboxes come in multiple pieces, so just be sure to clean any debris that gets in any creases.
Worth a look:
Pro Symmetry Series+ Case with MagSafe (small)Defender Series (iPhone 8/7) (small)Commuter Series Case (small) Best for regular protection: Urban Armor Gear
Urban Armor Gear Pathfinder, Plyo Crystal, and Lucent cases
Lisa Eadicicco/Insider
‘s (UAG) cases are generally more flexible and less expensive than Otterbox’s, while still providing an impressive level of protection.
The company sells cases for the iPhone 6S and higher, making its selection a bit smaller than Otterbox’s and Smartish’s, but still wide enough to cover most iPhone owners.
The is the case to go with if protection is your top priority. It comes with two layers of protection and meets military drop test standards, which is lower than the 3x military drop rating that Otterbox’s MagSafe-enabled $60 Symmetry Series + promises.
But UAG’s is also considerably cheaper at $40 and provides enough protection for basic drops. During our five-foot drop test on a marble floor, the UAG successfully guarded the iPhone 12 it was protecting from scuffs and scratches. The thick edges even prompted the case to bounce upon hitting the floor.
If you don’t want a case that screams rugged like the Pathfinder, the $40 also offers decent protection in a much more subtle design. The clear case still has thick corners for impact resistance and meets military drop standards, but doesn’t have the Pathfinder’s Rugged look.
I also really enjoy the $30 , which I’ve been using on an iPhone SE. It’s one of the easiest cases to install and remove, but its thin design means it isn’t the most protective for drops. While the Pathfinder and Plyo Crystal aced our drop test, I noticed some very minor scuffs at the bottom of the iPhone SE afterwards.
These cases also picked up a normal amount of smudges during our grease test, but the fingerprints looked most noticeable on the Plyo Crystal. We were unable to find maintenance instructions on UAG’s website, but these cases were still among the easiest to clean. After a little soap and water, smudges cleared almost immediately.
Worth a look:
Pathfinder (small)Plyo Crystal (small)Lucent (small) Other we considered
TwelveSouth BookBook Vol. 2, SurfacePad, and Journal
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: TwelveSouth makes leather wallet cases for the iPhone 12 series, iPhone 11 series, iPhone SE (2020), and iPhone 8, 7, and 6S Plus. While these cases are plenty spacious, we ultimately don’t feel like they’re the best wallet cases available. The $70 BookBook Vol. 2, which resembles a leatherbound book, feels a bit too bulky to be practical. This case as well as the TwelveSouth’s SurfacePad and Journal provide a lot of storage, but aren’t as flexible as other wallet cases we’ve tested, which makes it difficult to use with one hand. TwelveSouth’s cases may serve a niche, particularly if you love the novelty of having an iPhone case that looks like a book. But for most people, we’d recommend the similarly priced Nomad Rugged Folio or a cheaper non-folio case with a card slot, like Smartish’s Wallet Slayer.
Survivor: We also considered the Survivor Extreme, which has a four-layer construction and is rated to protect against 16-foot drops, for our extra durability category. But this case is too difficult to uninstall to make it our top pick. While it’s common for rugged cases to have a multi-layer design that makes them challenging to install or remove, we had to use pliers to get this case off our iPhone 12.
How we tested
The iPhone cases included in our guide from Speck, Nomad, Native Union, Otterbox, Urban Armor Gear, and Smartish.
Lisa Eadicicco/Insider
For this guide, we judged iPhone case brands based on a variety of criteria to determine the best picks. A large part of the decision comes down quality of each brand’s cases, which we decide based on the following factors:
How durable the cases are
The build quality of the materials used in the case
Whether the case is easy to grip
How easy it is to put on and remove each case
How easily each case picks up dirt and grease
How easy it is to clean each case
We also evaluate each brand based on other factors including the selection of cases available and price.
To test durability, we dropped a compatible smartphone wearing each case from a height of five feet onto a marble floor. We then examined the case and the phone for signs of damage.
In addition to protection, we also know looks can be important to a case’s overall value. That’s why we’ve tested how well these cases resist smudges from greasy fingers, and how easy they are to clean. To do this, we rubbed our hands in a bowl of one of the messiest (and most delicious) store bought snacks available — Nacho Cheese Doritos — and wiped our hands all over each case. We then cleaned each case by following the manufacturer’s guidelines unless specified otherwise.
Wetsuits protect you from cold water, allowing you to surf, swim, or dive longer than if you didn’t wear one.
Choosing a wetsuit depends on how you’ll use it as surfers have different needs than kayakers, for instance.
Our top pick, O’Neill’s Psycho Tech, features water-resistant neoprene, durable stitching, and a comfortable fit.
For anyone who doesn’t live in the tropics, wearing a wetsuit while surfing is a necessity. Paddling out to a break with water temperatures anywhere below 65 or 70 degrees Fahrenheit without a generous helping of rubber can range from slightly uncomfortable to downright deadly – but wear the right wetsuit and you’ll quickly forget all about the hypothermia-inducing water temp (for the most part).
Surfing isn’t the only water sport one might wear a wetsuit for, however. Paddleboarders, kayakers, and divers, among others, also don neoprene getups to keep cold water from cutting their outings short – but not every wetsuit is a jack-of-all-trades type of suit. What one person might need for kayaking might be too cumbersome or ill-fitting for a surfer.
To help anyone shopping for a new suit, I’ve field-tested a number of wetsuits from top brands like O’Neill and Rip Curl, consulted with diving and surfing enthusiasts, and conducted plenty of research to come up with a list of the best currently available.
The O’Neill Psycho Tech is made with water-resistant neoprene to keep it from retaining water, and its top-notch stitching makes it almost watertight.
Pros: Warm, almost watertight stitching, lightweight, quick-drying
Cons: A little pricey
O’Neill’s Psycho Tech is the kind of cozy, stretchy, almost watertight suit that becomes oh-so-precious to cold-water surfers when winter storms roll through and leaky seams threaten to end surf sessions early.
If there’s one company I’d put all my good faith in keeping me from the wrath of hypothermia, it’s the late, lauded laureate and godfather of the modern wetsuit, Jack O’Neill.
O’Neill puts a lot of money into research and design, and while the US military doesn’t exactly endorse or use any single wetsuit, they’ve frequently sent personnel out in O’Neill suits. That alone may or may not speak volumes to you, but the US military is not known to be one to skimp on matters of national security.
This wetsuit is flexible, and I’ve found it to hold up in temperatures considerably lower than their rating. My old Psycho II model from 2009, which saw heavy service through 2010 and has seen service in most of the years since, is still, shockingly, in pretty good shape. The new Psychos are miles ahead, but there aren’t enough problems or even one single tear in my suit that warrant tossing mine out just yet.
Cleanline Surf, the Pacific Northwest’s coldwater surf aficionados, called the Psycho Tech “the pinnacle of wetsuit technology and performance.” The site goes on to taut it for being lightweight, warm, durable, and flexible — I don’t disagree.
Also, the TechnoButter neoprene rejects water so well that it stays light even when wet, and it dries much faster than most suits.
The best budget wetsuit for women
Rip Curl
Rip Curl’s Dawn Patrol suits cost less than $200, feature an easy-to-use rear zip entry, and have both stitched and glued seams for added durability.
Pros: Easy in and out via a rear zip entry, stitched and glued seams, inexpensive (as far as wetsuits go)
Cons: Its 3/2 millimeter thickness won’t keep you warm very long in colder water temps
Rip Curl’s Dawn Patrol suits are extremely flexible, thoroughly stitched, taped, and glued, and very reasonably priced.
The suit has been a bestseller for several years and being blindstitched, glued, and taped for under $200 certainly hasn’t hurt its reputation. It also comes in both men’s and women’s designs, but, I must make a full disclosure: I’ve never owned one, though I’ve envied them from close and afar over the years.
The best budget wetsuit for men
Vissla
VISSLA’s 7 Seas is economical but doesn’t cut any corners to deliver a functional wetsuit at a fair price.
Pros: Price tag, sleeve gaskets, stitching and gluing, 1-year warranty
Cons: Neoprene retains water and gets a little heavy
I tried VISSLA’s 7 Seas model in New York this late spring and was hot in the 3/2-millimeter full suit. That’s a good sign. I also caught up with an old friend on Montauk who’s in his third season with the same model, which is as much as most people ask of even a luxury suit. That was good enough for me.
It fit me exceptionally well, which is a shock because I’m six feet tall, generally, stay shy of 160 pounds, and almost no company designs standard suits sized for stick-figured string beans like me.
The seams are held together by double blind-stitching and taped three times over, which somewhere around five years ago was unthinkable for a suit under $200. Matter-of-factly, this suit is designed in much the same way one of my nicer suits from about 10 years ago was, only that one cost me about twice as much. The suit’s also backed by respective 1-year warranties for both the neoprene and the stitching.
Although the neoprene retains water and gets heavy, the suit is remarkably stretchy — maybe stretchier than Patagonia’s Yulex suits — and the wrist gaskets that are located a few inches above the cuff really kept water from getting up my sleeves and slowing my paddling. Further, taking water up the sleeves in fall or winter is shockingly chilling.
I also liked the fuzzy lining, which is akin to , but, again, this suit is less than half the price (at the time of this publishing). While Patagonia’s suits are nice, and I love mine, I don’t see any need to step up unless you really feel like spending the extra money or you’re going to be surfing in exceptionally cold waters where you’ll probably want the best technology you can get.
The best non-neoprene wetsuit
Patagonia
There are other non-neoprene suits emerging on the market, but my Patagonia suits have lasted through a lot, and it will take a lot for another suit to knock them off their throne.
Pros: Long-lasting (as long as if not longer than most neoprene suits), neoprene-free, almost petroleum-free, very warm, so you can often get away with a thinner suit
Cons: Not cheap, maybe a little stiffer than neoprene suits
Patagonia’s current crop of wetsuits comes via a biochemical company called Yulex. Yulex manufactures neoprene from the guayule plant, a hardy shrub native to the Southwestern United States that’s used to make rubber that’s both renewable and nearly chemical-free.
The latest Yulex-branded suit now has a new patterning intended for “improved fit and increased mobility.” Yulex’s brand of rubber often had a reputation among wetsuit users as being stiff compared with neoprene, which isn’t generally a good thing for water enthusiasts. However, the suits do feature a fuzzy synthetic liner that makes the inside of the suit feel silky smooth while also doing well to make me feel warmer in frigid water.
The company now uses a water-based glue in all its suits, eliminating the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that were used for decades. The new suit also includes solution-dyed fabrics that reduce water consumption and CO2 emissions by 86% and 96%, respectively.
Of course, as goes with the Patagonia story, everything is Fair Trade Certified, and you’ll also get Patagonia’s Ironclad Guarantee, so if you’re not thrilled with your new suit, you can send it back.
What excites me most about this suit is that, although Patagonia hasn’t made the leap to zipperless suits, the corrosion-resistant zipper on this suit is now actually replaceable, so if it wears out before the wetsuit does, you can extend its life a little longer. This is great news because oftentimes the collar or zipper area is the first thing to wear out on a wetsuit.
Learn more about Patagonia and Yulex’s bio-rubber here.
The best wetsuit for paddlesports
Amazon
If you’re tired of hanging up your paddles for the winter, O’Neill’s O’Riginal spring suit is just enough to keep you comfortable as water temperatures reach the 60s and maybe the 50s.
Pros: Flexible, breathable, affordable
Cons: The chest rubber can be overly sticky
Because our bodies are mostly out of the water when paddling, we tend to work up a sweat beneath a neoprene wetsuit. While any combination of layers can do the trick, I’ve found that a farmer john-style (sleeveless) wetsuit with flatlock seams works best unless you’re dealing with temperatures below 50° F or so, at which point I’d opt for a dry suit. Stohlquist makes a good one for men and women.
Since you’re getting such a thorough upper body workout, I’d suggest avoiding sleeves, which apart from causing you to overheat also tend to constrict movement and cause chafing. O’Neill’s O’Riginal spring suit is 2 millimeters thick and comes with flatlock seams, and at less than $100 can’t really be beaten.
If it’s a little cooler, you might want one with full-length legs (the women’s model, the Bahia, comes in a 1.5mm), or a 3mm. O’Neill doesn’t make the sleeveless suit in a 3mm, but Aqua Lung does, for men and women. Anything above 3mm tends to get a little too hot for paddlesports, at least if you’re not getting in the water.
If you want to spend even a little more money — unless you’re surfing in one of these suits, keep in mind that quality might not be quite as paramount — Patagonia’s Long John (men’s) and Long Jane (women’s) are $169 and worth it. They’re made of the same non-neoprene Yulex rubber as Patagonia’s other suits, but flatlock-stitched so that they breathe a little better.
How to shop for a wetsuit
Open-cell vs. closed-cell wetsuits
Apart from temperature, what you’ll be doing in or on the water is a major deciding factor for which wetsuit is best. If you’re swimming or surfing, a floaty, hydrodynamic closed-cell or single-piece suit is likely your best bet. These are either chest- or back-zipped and come with different sleeve and leg cuts.
But if you’re diving, a closed-cell wetsuit allows too much water flow between it and your skin. You’ll find yourself feeling stiff and cold, and stiff and cold are never what you want while diving for long periods of time. An open-cell wetsuit provides suction between the skin and suit that’s nearly watertight. While these types of suits are a pain to get in and out of, they keep you much warmer and allow for much greater flexibility underwater.
Editor’s note: If you use a little eco-friendly dish soap, getting into an open-cell wetsuit is much easier.
Open-cell suits usually don’t have zippers apart from the wrist and leg cuffs but closed cells come in a variety of different zipper configurations. Some manufacturers are starting to develop zipperless models, too, which could eliminate zippers altogether — at least on more expensive suits.
Zipper variation
Back-zip suit: Back-zip wetsuits are the original design, and almost always cheaper than chest-zip or zipper-less suits. They’re fine for swimming in temperate waters on relatively warm days, but I’ve found that having cool water seep down your back on a chillier day — or in the middle of winter, for that matter — can be miserable.
Chest-zip suit: Usually more expensive, chest-zip wetsuits tend to keep you warmer thanks to a smaller, well-protected zipper that sits on the front of the suit. This also makes them the most difficult to get in and out of, but, overall, we think they’re worth it. They tend to last longer, and some even allow for the neckpiece to be replaced, which is often the first thing to wear and tear on a wetsuit.
Zipperless: I haven’t yet tried out a zipperless wetsuit, though I’ve been hearing positive buzz about O’Neill’s Hyperfreak Comp zipless model. It would be more of a performance suit than most require, and it’s hard to say whether the lack of a zipper will, in turn, stretch the suit more or keep us warmer, but we will see how they fare over time and update this guide with our findings.
Wetsuit thickness and temperature rating
Wetsuit thickness is measured in millimeters, and the core is most often thicker than the extremities to keep your body temperature up while allowing for more mobility in the arms and legs. This is why you’ll see two — or sometimes three — numbers, listing the core’s thickness first (e.g., 3/2, or 4/3/2).
Temperature rating corresponds with thickness, for the most part, but varies some from company to company and material to material, but here’s a basic rule of thumb:
Mid 60s to low 70s: 2 mm
Low 60s to high 60s: 3/2 mm
Low 50s to low 60s: 4/3 mm, or 4/3/2 mm
Low to high 40s: 5/4 mm, or 5/4/3 mm
High 30s to low 40s: 6/5 mm or 6/5/4 mm
Upper 30s and below: While a good 6/5- or 6/5/4-millimeter suit can do you well in the upper 30s, it’s tough to stand it any colder. There are 7/6- and 7/6/5-millimeter wetsuits, but they become impedingly stiff at that point. A good 6/5 or 6/5/4 with hood, boots, and gloves will take care of most of us through winter.
Not all sizing is consistent
Size charts vary from company to company, so make sure to have a look at the chart to be sure which one fits you best. Unless you get a custom suit, none are likely to fit you perfectly but you should be able to get close enough.
Stitching and seams
Not all wetsuits are created equal, and while most are made of neoprene — and come from the same factory in Taiwan, despite different brand names — it’s the stitching and seams that make all the difference.
Overlock stitching: This is the most basic stitching, and it will let water flow through your suit like Victoria Falls. Okay, not really, but I save these cheap suits for spring and summer, or when it’s not exactly board-short temperature, but a constant flush is actually refreshing.
Flat stitching: This is probably a little fancier than the stitching they taught you in Home Economics class. By no means is it watertight, but it lies flatter and holds up better than basic overlock stitching.
Blindstitching: Blindstitched suits have even narrower stitching than flat-stitched ones, and the seams are usually glued, which does a pretty good job of preventing water seepage.
Sealed, taped, glued: This is a definitive step up, and usually what you’ll find with blindstitched suits. Once you get into blindstitching, you start to notice that very little water seeps through your suit, and you stay relatively dry inside. The best of these suits are also sealed and taped both inside and out, but the full combination is where suits start to get above the $500 price tag, which isn’t crucial for most. Still, if you plan to be surfing in sub 55-degree Fahrenheit temps, we highly recommend forking over the extra dough.
Here’s what every first-time wetsuit owner should know:
Wash your suit every time you use it, or at least as frequently as you can stand to. Wetsuits take on everything you put into them, from your sweat, sunscreen, seawater, and yes, urine. While it may not damage your suit, it will surely smell bad.
And even though Helen Hunt does it, it’s not exactly a good idea to pee in your wetsuit, for obvious reasons. Regardless of whether or not you decide to relieve yourself in your suit, get a wetsuit shampoo, and follow its instructions well. Do NOT use any old soap for this, or you’ll be sorry.
Store your wetsuit in a dry, shaded area with plenty of ventilation. We all know what happens to wet things in confined spaces, but hanging your wetsuit to dry in the sun is surely the quickest way to end its life.
Hang your wetsuit loosely on a thick-framed clothes hanger, a proper wetsuit hanger, or fold it loosely. If you hang a wetsuit on a sharp wire hanger, it will stretch out. If you fold it too tightly, it’ll crease. I roll mine up when I travel to avoid creasing.
How to choose a diving wetsuit
Shutterstock/Merla
A simple, closed-cell suit like a surfing wetsuit works above the surface where you have heat from the sun and little pressure, but when you get below the surface, it can get stiff and cold. An open cell suit will keep you much warmer and more flexible, whether you’re freediving or using scuba tanks.
I’ve never actually owned an open-cell diving suit — I use a surfing suit to dive, which I assure you is less than ideal — so I called on a lifeline: an old friend who spends his workdays and sometimes his nights underwater in the marrow-chilling depths of New Zealand’s Marlborough Sounds. If anyone has earned the authority to deem a wetsuit good or bad, we figure it might be a commercial diver, after all.
A commercial diver’s input
The array of both open cell and closed cell diving suits in the locker where he works is almost exclusively with Beuchat and Cressi wetsuits, and while many of the members of the dive team do wear closed cell suits to work, they don’t last as long — maybe that’s intended. Open cell suits are snug, and almost suction-cup your skin, which is extremely efficient for keeping you warm, but makes them very difficult to get on and off.
When we would go spearfishing together — I in my 5/4-millimeter closed-cell surfing wetsuit, he in his 7-millimeter open-cell diving suit — I’d be in and out of my suit in half the time it took him to roll his on and off. But, by the same token, he could still feel his hands and feet after an hour of diving. Meanwhile, my lips would be turning blue.
Bottom line: If you’re going to be in even moderately cold water, save yourself the agony of freezing and put up with the nuisance of stretching into a skin-tight open cell suit.
How to shop for a dive suit
If you’ve never worn or owned a diving wetsuit before, you’ll probably want to go to the local dive shop and have the pros sort you out, or at the very least fit you.
When picking out a diving suit, color, or rather pattern, is a consideration that goes beyond aesthetics. If an experience with wildlife is what you’re after (even if you’re not in search of dinner), then a camouflage suit is probably a good idea, simply because you won’t startle as many creatures as quickly as you would with a black suit, or one of any color, really.
Also, note that camouflage is relative: If you’re going to be in open water, you’ll want a rhapsody in blue, and if you’re going to be in kelp, coral, or rocks, you probably want to look for a more greenish-brown pattern.
A few drawbacks
The main downfall of many closed-cell suits is that they are made of or coated with a softer, more delicate rubber-like neoprene skin which, while it keeps you warmer and leaves you agiler in the pressured depths, is highly prone to tearing.
Also, always make sure your wetsuit is wet when you’re pulling it on, and follow instructions for care and maintenance like these, from Aqua Lung. Never leave any wetsuit in the sun but especially not a suit with skin material, which will melt and stick to itself, a tragedy not covered by any warranty far as I’m aware.
Aqua Lung, Beuchat, Cressi, and Mares are companies that have all been around since recreational diving has, more or less, and they all have similarly long legacies and popular standing with commercial and recreational divers alike.
Pros: Tighter-fitting, more watertight, keeps you warmer, less constricting
Cons: Can be more expensive, much more delicate, difficult to don and doff
Apple’s 10.2-inch iPad is the best tablet for most people.
But the cheaper Amazon Fire HD is worth considering for those mostly interested in watching video.
Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S7 is a great choice for Android users, as it comes with the excellent S Pen.
There aren’t nearly as many tablet options as there are smartphones, but there’s a tablet for pretty much anyone.
You’ll hear it from us, and you’ll hear it from most tech authorities – the most highly recommended tablet for most people is almost always going to be Apple’s standard iPad. At its $329.00 full retail price, it’s affordable enough while offering the best set of features and apps. And if there’s ever a deal on Apple’s standard iPad, it’s pretty much a no-brainer for anyone in the market for a tablet.
Still, there are other worthwhile options, especially when it comes to lower price ranges that might be more suitable for certain users, like kids, or using a tablet exclusively as a video streaming device where power and features don’t really matter.
And there’s the opposite end of the spectrum: powerful tablets that are better suited for professional users who can justify paying a premium for better performance. For example, the newly announced iPad Pros offer the same M1 processor found in Apple’s newest MacBooks, but most people probably don’t need laptop-grade performance in their tablet.
The 10.2-inch iPad is a great tablet for the vast majority of tablet users, and it supports the Apple Pencil.
Pros: Incredible price for an iPad, slick aluminum design, Touch ID for security and Apple Pay, great screen, supports the Apple Pencil
Cons: Light on entry-level storage, no expandable storage
Apple’s standard 10.2-inch iPad offers the best balance of price, performance, and features out of any other tablet we’ve tried.
Starting at $330, the 10.2-inch iPad is a great inexpensive option as a general purpose tablet for running normal apps, streaming videos, playing games, and browsing the web. It runs on the same A12 processor that spun the wheels in the 2018 iPhone XS series, but it’s still a very capable processor.
The 10.2-inch iPad is also perfectly suitable as a lightweight productivity tablet. It can be paired with a Bluetooth keyboard or keyboard case to type up documents, messages, and emails without any issue. For more intense productivity where you think a mouse would be beneficial, your best bet will be a tablet with mouse support, like Apple’s iPad Air or Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S7.
If taking notes or drawing is a criteria, the 10.2-inch iPad supports the first generation of the Apple Pencil, which is fine for general use. If note-taking or drawing is a primary driver for getting a tablet, however, we’d recommend again looking at the iPad Air that supports the second generation Apple Pencil for a more precise and responsive feel, or Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 that includes the excellent S Pen.
And finally, Apple’s iPads are generally the best tablets to buy in general largely because of the wider availability of apps that are specifically designed for iPads. On top of that, as with any Apple product, Apple’s physical stores are good resources for repairs, and users have a clear idea of where to bring their iPad if something goes wrong.
The best budget tablet
Amazon
The latest Amazon Fire HD 10 (2019) is super affordable, but it still delivers a good set of features that you’ll enjoy using for watching videos and running simple apps.
Pros: Low price point, performs basic functions of a tablet well, offers expandable storage with a memory card slot, good for kids, works especially well for those with Amazon Prime accounts
Cons: Not a high performer, slow at charging, restricted to Amazon’s app store, no access to Google Play Store
Based on our own experience with previous generations of Amazon’s Fire HD 10, as well as reviews of the current model from PCMag and Tom’s Guide, Amazon’s Fire HD 10 is an ideal and inexpensive tablet for simple video streaming and browsing the web. It has a 10-inch screen with 1080p resolution and a decent processor for running basic apps.
Amazon’s tablets are also excellent options for kids due to their extensive parental controls, and features and apps for kids. The Fire HD 10 is a good option, but the smaller and cheaper Fire HD 8 or Fire HD 7 may better suit smaller children.
Note that Amazon’s tablets are restricted to Amazon’s own app store and don’t support Google’s Play Store, which means app selection will be more limited than a typical Android tablet or iPad. Most popular streaming apps can be found in Amazon’s app store, except for YouTube’s dedicated app. There’s a workaround where you can watch YouTube videos from the web browser, however.
You can check the app selection in Amazon’s own app store before buying to make sure it has the apps you’ll want to run here.
The best high-end Android tablet
Samsung
Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S7 is as stylish as it is powerful, you can use it as a laptop in a pinch, and it comes with the superb S Pen stylus.
Pros: Gorgeous screen, fast processor, S-Pen stylus is included, and powerful speakers
Cons: Expensive compared to most Android tablets
Samsung has been making excellent Android tablets for years, and its recently launched Galaxy Tab S7 continues that tradition. It’s a high-end Android tablet that can compete with Apple’s iPad Pro on nearly every level.
The Tab S7 is a stylish, well-made tablet with a metal frame and back. The keyboard case is sturdy and it turns your tablet into a quasi-laptop. Although this tablet doubles as a laptop, it is a tablet first and foremost.
Samsung sure knows how to make astonishingly beautiful screens. The Tab S7 has a gorgeous 10.5-inch Super AMOLED screen. I watched lots of Netflix and Prime Video on the tablet, and I was really impressed by the clarity, color reproduction, and intensity of the brilliant screen. The tablet’s 128GB of storage gives you ample space for downloads, and it’s expandable with a microSD card.
Every Tab S7 comes with Samsung’s S-Pen stylus, which is great for drawing and feels like a real pen. I love to draw on tablets, and I was impressed by the lack of lag on the Tab S7. Palm rejection works well, and it’s a great tablet for drawing or note-taking.
It is an expensive price to pay — especially for an Android tablet, but if you want the best iPad Pro alternative, this is it.
The best tablet for professionals
Lisa Eadicicco/Business Insider
Apple’s iPad Pro comes in 11-inch and 12.9-inch sizes with specs that are so high-end they surpass some laptops.
Pros: Gorgeous screens, new design with smaller bezels, excellent specs, high-end performance, Pencil is superb for drawing, two screen sizes, now comes with mouse support
Cons: Very expensive, accessories are extra
Apple recently announced updated iPad Pros that are the first to include its M1 processor. This is the same chip that runs Apple’s newest MacBook computers, bringing big gains in power and battery life.
Additionally, the new iPad Pros come equipped with a Thunderbolt connector for more accessory compatibility, optional 5G connectivity, and up to 2TB of storage. The 12.9-inch model also features a Liquid Retina XDR display powered by mini-LED technology for enhanced brightness and clarity. The iPad Pro is available for preorder on April 30, with shipping expected in mid-May.
We look forward to reviewing the 2021 iPad Pro. But in the meantime, we still like that the 2020 iPad Pro has slim bezels, a stunning sharp screen in two sizes, and a powerful processor.
You can get it in 11- and 12.9-inch screen sizes to suit your preferences. The 12.9-inch screen is great for digital artists who need room to roam, while the 11-inch model offers a little more portability.
Regardless of the model, the 2020 iPad Pro is a powerhouse. The A12Z Bionic processor is so high-powered it can surpass some laptops. Apple’s entry-level model comes with 128GB of storage, but you can get up to 1TB if you want to spend a whole lot of money. Apple no longer sells the 2020 iPad Pro, but you can still find it through retailers like Amazon.
We recommend picking up the new Apple Pencil if you like to take notes or draw. It may cost $129, but the new version charges wirelessly and magnetically attaches to your iPad for easy storage.
Apple’s Keyboard will also cost you a pretty penny, so we recommend going for a third-party case and keyboard. — Malarie Gokey
The best tablet for kids
Amazon
If you feel a little nervous handing your mobile devices to your kids, the Amazon Fire 7 Kids Edition tablet comes with a tough case to keep it safe.
Pros: Great price for a tablet designed for kids, includes a tough exterior case that will protect the tablet if the child drops it, includes a two-year replacement warranty for any damage that occurs
Cons: Doesn’t contain powerful components, tablet runs slower than most models
The Amazon Fire 7 Kids Edition provides a tough case that will protect the tablet, even if the child drops the tablet (as long as it’s not dropped in a toilet). Laptop Mag says parents can feel comfortable allowing their children to use the Fire 7 because of the two-year accidental-damage warranty it comes with.
Although the sound quality of the Amazon Fire 7 Kids Edition tablet is below average, Wired says the small size of this tablet with a 7-inch screen works great for young children.
There’s a lot of children’s content on the Amazon tablet, along with several features for setting up parental controls, which is great. You will have to download the content through apps before accessing the content, but the tablet’s simple interface works great for kids to operate on their own.
This admittedly isn’t the most powerful tablet, as it features below-average processor speed and less-than HD resolution on the screen. But, kids aren’t likely to complain, or even notice.
The Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Edition is a slightly bigger option with better performance, and it’s barely more expensive at $140. Still the Fire 7 Kids Edition is more portable and its performance is just fine for kids while costing $40 less.
The best small tablet
Hollis Johnson/Business Insider
The iPad Mini is essentially a smaller replica of the standard 10.2-inch iPad. Just watch out for its higher price tag.
Pros: Compact, good performance, sharp screen, works with the Apple Pencil
Cons: Dated design, expensive for what it is
The 2019 iPad Mini is Apple’s small tablet that’s powered by the capable A12 Bionic chip, and it supports the first-generation Apple Pencil, which makes the Mini a great tablet for note taking or drawing.
The Mini‘s 7.9-inch Retina display has a sharp 2,048 x 1,536-pixel resolution, too, so you can really enjoy watching videos, reading, and creating on the screen.
You can choose between 64GB or 256GB of storage and three color options: Silver, Space Gray, or Gold). If you want to keep the price down, you can get the Wi-Fi-only version, but there is also a Mini with both cellular and Wi-Fi connections.
Our main gripe with the iPad Mini is that it’s a smaller version of the $330 10.2-inch iPad with nearly the same specs, and yet it costs $70 more. That higher price casts a shadow over the iPad Mini, as it’s hard to justify paying extra for something smaller, especially if it’s a year old already. Still, it’s the best small tablet there is.
How to pick the right tablet for you
Amazon
Operating systems for tablets
As with smartphones and laptops, you can choose among a few different types of operating systems with tablets. Picking the right OS will enhance your enjoyment of the tablet you select.
Apple’s iOS: For many people, the name iPad is synonymous with tablets. Although the iPad wasn’t the first tablet on the market, it’s credited with making tablets popular and invigorating the tablet market in 2010. The iPad runs Apple’s iOS operating system, which also powers the iPhone. iOS has a great interface and works equally well on a smartphone or tablet screen. There are tons of special apps made for the iPad, which makes it an excellent investment. However, because only Apple-branded iPads can run iOS, you’ll pay more for them versus tablets with other operating systems.
Google’s Android: You also may be familiar with the Android operating system, managed by Google. Android powers many different kinds of smartphones. It’s also very user-friendly and offers tons of apps. There are numerous Android tablets to choose from, and they range in price from under $10 to around $600 and up.
Amazon’s Fire OS: Fire OS is a special ecosystem, rather than an operating system, as it runs on top of Android. Basically, it brings Amazon’s services to the forefront of the OS and you download apps from Amazon’s app store. Amazon also has special software for kids on its kid-friendly tablets. These Fire tablets are much more affordable than any other kind of tablet.
Microsoft’s Windows: Microsoft has tweaked the Windows operating system to make it far more user-friendly than older versions of Windows, meaning it works equally well with a traditional desktop computer or a touchscreen tablet. When running Windows on a tablet, you’ll have access to a lot of traditional software, but you’ll find a significant lack of apps compared to Apple or Android. However, since these tablets run Windows, they can be used as full laptops.
What to look for in a tablet
Tablets have a lot of different strengths, depending on the one you choose. Think about what you want to do with the tablet, and you’ll be able to find one that’ll perfectly meet your needs.
Battery Life: Completing a really long car trip in successful silence may depend on whether your tablet has a long battery life. Battery life typically can range anywhere from 4 to 12 hours, depending on the tablet model and screen size. Seven hours is about average.
Connectivity: Different tablets allow you to make a connection to the Internet in a few different ways. Most will offer Wi-Fi connectivity, allowing you to connect to your home or work network. Others also include the ability to connect to a cellular network, much like a smartphone, and access the Internet through the cell network. However, you must have a cellular account with a monthly fee to use it.
Fast Processor: Look at the CPU and GPU chips included in your tablet. Newer, more powerful chips will give you faster performance levels. Some Windows tablets even have laptop-level processors inside, so you can use them as portable PCs. However, you will pay more for more power.
Keyboard: Most tablets are able to connect to a physical keyboard for typing, making it easier to input data into the tablet versus using the digital keyboard on the screen. Some tablets are 2-in-1 devices, meaning the keyboard/screen configuration looks more like a laptop because the two are connected. You then can fold up the keyboard to make it work like a tablet.
RAM: RAM is the amount of memory used to operate software and apps. This is different from the type of memory used for data storage. The more RAM you have available on the tablet, the better it will perform, but the more you’ll have to pay.
Screen Resolution: Tablets that can display more pixels will have a sharper image that looks great. If you want to watch movies on the tablets, having a resolution of at least full HD quality (1,920 x 1,080 pixels) will be very desirable.
Screen Size: The size of the tablet’s screen marks the most important feature for most people. Larger screens work better for things like watching movies, drawing, or playing games. Of course, screen size plays a direct role in the size of the tablet, too. So if you want a smaller tablet, you’ll want a smaller screen.
Storage: Tablets have an interior solid state drive (or SSD) for storing apps, movies, games, and more. You may be able to add more storage through a Micro SD memory card, although not all tablets have a memory card slot. Some tablets rely on cloud storage for extra storage. You may want extra storage for movies, books, and games.
Stylus: Some people love having a stylus for working with the tablet, especially if they’re drawing by freehand. Not every tablet can make use of a stylus, and some stylus pens don’t work as well as others. So if you need one, do your homework to find a tablet that can take full advantage of the features of the stylus.
Fresh flowers are a thoughtful way to commemorate any occasion – they also make great last-minute gifts.
We ordered 29 bouquets from 13 well-known brands and had them delivered to 10 testers all over the country.
UrbanStems is our top pick for its quality and options, including plants, dried bouquets, and subscriptions.
Whether it be a holiday, a milestone, sympathy, or just because, sending fresh flowers is a thoughtful way to let someone know you’re thinking of them. And it’s easier than ever: a plethora of online delivery services have streamlined the process down to a couple of clicks. There are now dozens of these merchants out there, with a wide array of options – fresh bouquets, live plants, dried or preserved arrangements, subscriptions, and more – all at varying price points.
While our reporters and editors have used nearly every one of these services to send loved ones bouquets over the years, we wanted to know exactly how they stack up against one another. To find the best flower delivery service, we ordered 29 arrangements from 13 popular brands, sending the flowers to Insider Reviews team members all over the country. Our goal was to find a service that delivers the freshest, most attractive flowers that arrive on time no matter your location. You can read more about our methodology, and find out more about what services didn’t make the cut here.
Here are the best online flower delivery services in 2021
Best flower delivery service for preserved roses: RoseBox
Best flower delivery service for fresh roses: Roses Only
Best flower delivery service for dried bouquets:
The best flower delivery service overall
Lauren Savoie/Maria Del Russo/Rachael Shultz/Insider
UrbanStems makes some of the most stunning bouquets we’ve found and offers something for everyone, with a diverse selection of fresh flowers, dried flowers, plants, gifts, and subscriptions.
Pros: Lots of options to choose from, including dried bouquets and plants; attractive floral designs in a range of styles, sizes, and prices
Cons: Some testers noted flowers lasted a few days less than other brands
UrbanStems offers a robust selection of modern, fresh bouquets, along with dried flowers, plants, candles, chocolate, and subscriptions. It’s a great one-stop shop to find something that feels unique to your recipient. We tried the Juliet, Luna, and Double the Pink Champagne fresh bouquets, along with the Aspen dried bouquet and Claude plant. Everything arrived on time and in excellent condition. The arrangements were some of the freshest, most attractive bouquets we tested, and were filled with lively, creative blooms in a range of colors.
The bouquets lasted a little over a week — average for fresh-cut flowers — and the dried bouquet and plant are still going strong. The site is also very easy to navigate and lets you filter by occasion, color, price, and more.
The best for flower delivery service for farm-fresh flowers
Lauren Savoie/Connie Chen/Insider
Farmgirl Flowers offers unique and playful arrangements that change with what’s in season and with many blooms sourced from California farmers.
Pros: Whimsical, in-season blooms; each bouquet is unique; moderately priced; offers some rare flowers; some florals are grown in the US
Cons: Surprise bouquets not ideal if you have specific flowers you want to include or avoid; some customers report wilting or short-lived blooms
If you’re after an arrangement that looks like it was recently plucked from the garden, Farmgirl Flowers offers inventive and playful bouquets based on what’s in season. Farmgirl’s flagship offerings are the Mini, Midi, and Maxi bouquets, available either wrapped in burlap or “mittened” in a vase. You don’t get to choose what you receive; instead, Farmgirl puts together a bouquet based on what’s available and in season. The company’s website and social media give you an idea of what to expect, but every bouquet is slightly different, giving it a special, unique feel.
I received a Midi and a Maxi, and had another Midi sent to a tester in California. I love that the arrangements had a whimsical, wild shape to them, and they were gorgeous from every angle. The Midi and Maxi both appeared the same size when I first received them, but after a few hours in water, the Maxi’s closed buds opened up to create a fuller bouquet.
If you want your bouquet to include (or avoid) certain flowers, Farmgirl also offers a few dozen specialty bouquets, including some rare blooms like flower breeder David Austin’s Juliet and Patience roses.
The best flower delivery service for custom arrangements
Lauren Savoie/Connie Chen/Insider
Floracracy‘s custom arrangements are a unique way to mark life’s meaningful moments, and make gifting flowers feel incredibly personal and special.
Pros: Completely customizable arrangements, online tool helps you choose the right arrangement, beautiful presentation and packaging, thoughtful extras like a petal pressing book and mini shears, letter writing service
Cons: Online tool can be a bit tricky to navigate, lots of packaging (though most is compostable or recyclable), few budget options
If you really want to wow your giftee with something special, a custom arrangement from Floracracy is perhaps the most personal flower gift you can buy. Every aspect of the design can be customized, from the shape, to the colors, to the blooms. If you’re not sure where to start, the company’s design tool walks you through a quiz that lets you select the intended recipient, occasion, and meaning you wish to convey, and then makes a recommendation for you. Each flower is paired with a meaning from the company’s thorough research of historical flower symbolism. You’re also given the option to write a letter yourself or have the company write one for you based on information you provide.
The arrangements we received from Floracracy were the most lush and vibrant we’ve ever seen from a flower delivery service. Each arrangement comes with a coordinating vase, a handbound book for pressing petals, and an illustrated card with each of the flowers and their meaning. Our blooms lasted almost three weeks; longer than any other arrangement. While this service is pricier and requires some of your time to design, it makes for a truly meaningful and memorable flower gift.
The best flower delivery service for same-day delivery
Lauren Savoie/Jenny McGrath/Insider
FTD offers hundreds of bouquets, gifts, and plants for delivery in all 50 states and 150 counties, with many options for same-day arrival.
Pros: Orders filled by local florists; a large selection of bouquets, plants, and gifts
Cons: Experience can vary based on which florist fills your order, designs are more traditional and less modern
When you need to send flowers fast, a floral wire service is your best option. Florists’ Transworld Delivery Service (FTD) has been in the flower delivery business for more than 100 years and partners with local florists to fufill and deliver orders in all 50 states and more than 150 countries. In many cases, you’ll also have the option of same-day delivery. The arrangements lean toward more traditional colors and flowers, instead of more modern or unique designs.
Compared to other similar floral wire services, both my testers and I had the better experience with FTD. The bouquets and plants we received were fuller, fresher, and in better condition than blooms from 1-800-Flowers. Of course, since orders are typically filled by local florists, your experience may vary depending on who ultimately fills your order.
If you need to send flowers quickly, internationally, or to hard-to-reach places, FTD is the best same-day service we’ve found.
BloomsyBox offers a la carte bouquets and plants, but its wide variety of subscription plans are where the service really shines.
Pros: Multiple weekly and monthly plans to choose from, offers month-to-month and prepaid plans, bouquets are gorgeous, a la carte bouquets and plants available
Cons: Don’t get to choose which flowers are in your bouquet, which might not be a good option for those with allergies or pets
Flower subscriptions are a great way to brighten someone’s day on a more frequent basis — or to liven up your own home with regularly-scheduled blooms. BloomsyBox offers a robust fleet of weekly and monthly subscription options at reasonable prices. You can pay month-to-month or save a few dollars by prepaying for 3-, 6-, or 12-month subscriptions. While the retailer also sells a la carte bouquets and plants, we think it’s subscriptions offer the best value.
I tried BloomsyBox’s priciest subscription: its NYBG Collection. Each bouquet in the subscription curated by the New York Botanical Garden’s floral experts and features blooms that are in season. A portion of the subscription goes to supporting the NYBG’s plant science and conservation efforts.
I’m two bouquets into my 3-month subscription and so far, everything has been stunning. It’s a nice treat each month when I get an e-mail in my inbox saying my bouquet is on the way. April’s bouquet featured white and purple lilies with a bunch of lush greenery, while March’s selection was a springy mix of pink roses and purple veronica. I highly recommend BloomsyBox’s subscriptions to anyone looking for a bit of floral cheer on a regular basis.
The best flower delivery service for preserved roses
Lauren Savoie/Maliah West/Hannah Freedman/Insider
Preserved roses are incredibly popular and can last more than a year with proper care. We love Rosebox for preserved roses because of its robust selection of arrangements, vases, and colors.
Pros: More than 20 rose color options, many container types, smell and look like fresh roses, can last a year or longer with proper care
Cons: Don’t have the same feel as real roses
If you’ve been on Instagram lately, chances are you’ve seen these trendy preserved roses somewhere on your feed. Usually packed into boxes or displayed in a classic ball arrangement, these flowers are incredibly popular with influencers and celebrities.
We tested three preserved rose brands and found the quality very similar. Ultimately, we chose RoseBox as the best preserved roses for its diverse range of color and display options. We particularly liked that its plentiful display containers had discreet branding or none at all, unlike other preserved rose brands that their cover containers (which can’t be separated from the flowers) with logos.
Almost all of RoseBox‘s 90+ products can be customized with 21 or more different rose color options. One of our testers opted for turquoise, while others opted from more classic red and pink varieties.
Preserved roses are expensive, no matter what brand you choose. A single preserved rose will cost you anywhere from $44 to $89, which is the same price as a full-sized bouquet from most of our other top picks. Expect a medium-sized array of preserved roses to cost about $300. That said, they can end up being an economical alternative to buying flowers every week. We’re eager to see if our arrangements live up to their purported longevity.
The best flower delivery service for fresh roses
Lauren Savoie/Katie Decker-Jacoby/Insider
As the name implies, Roses Only sells just one product but it does it remarkably well, delivering some of the most pristine, stunning, long-stemmed roses we’ve ever seen.
Pros: Stunning roses; beautiful presentation; long-lasting flowers; available in quantities from six to 100
Cons: Limited product and color choices.
Roses are such a big seller that I made sure every arrangement I received as part of this guide included at least some of them. Having seen the spectrum of what’s out there, I can confidently say that Roses Only delivers the most pristine, long-lasting roses I’ve found.
So much care is put into the delivery: the cartoonishly perfect long-stemmed roses (which you can order in quantities of six to 100) come packaged in a long, elegant box with a linen ribbon, and every rose has its own water reservoir to ensure it arrives pristine. The roses themselves are flawless, with big velvety petals. They lasted about two weeks and gradually opened up until each bud was about the size of my palm. At about $8 per flower, Roses Only sells some of the most expensive roses out there, but if it’s just fresh roses that you’re after, no flower delivery service does it better.
Th best flower delivery service for dried bouquets
Lauren Savoie/Insider
Fresh flowers have a short lifespan but dried florals from can last for years with proper care and feature inventive colors and textures not found in traditional fresh bouquets.
Pros: Unique and inventive designs, each arrangement comes with a coordinating vase, options change seasonally, arrangements can last a year or longer with proper care
Cons: Order processing can take up to five business days, limited edition collections can sell out quickly
No matter how pretty the bouquet, fresh flowers will all eventually wilt. Dried bouquets are a good solution for those who love the look of florals but hate the upkeep. Some of the most creative and beautiful preserved arrangements we’ve seen come from .
The offerings change seasonally, but at the time of our testing the brand featured a winter collection and Valentine’s Day collection, both featuring ornamental grasses and filler flowers dyed dreamy pastel colors. We tried from the winter collection and from the Valentine’s Day collection. Each bouquet comes fully arranged and delicately packaged with its own matching ceramic vase. The Rose features miscanthus, pampas grass, ruscus, helecho fern, and bunny tails in varying shades of pink, set in an ivory porcelain vase. It currently lives in my office, where it makes me smile every time I walk past it. I love knowing that I’ll get many, many months of enjoyment out of it.
The fact that ‘s collections change with the season makes each arrangement feel special and limited edition. Order processing can take up to five business days, so you’ll want to plan ahead if you plan on gifting one of these dried arrangements, especially considering the limited edition collections can sell out quickly.
What else we tested
Caitlin Petreycik/Lauren Savoie/Insider
We tested 12 brands for our guide to the best flower delivery services. Here are the ones that didn’t quite make the cut.
Ode à la Rose (starting at $54.99): Founded by two Frenchmen who were disappointed by the bouquet selection available in New York City, Ode à la Rose makes beautiful, minimalist bouquets often consisting of just one to three flower types each. The bouquets we received from Ode à la Rose were breathtaking, and this service is a fantastic option if you live in New York City, Philadelphia, or Chicago where you can choose from a wider selection of arrangements and have the option of same-day delivery. However, the selection is limited, especially for nationwide delivery (only 10 bouquets were available for delivery to Boston). Our Gemma and Felice bouquets were gorgeous, though, and we’re looking forward to seeing this service expand its offerings.
The Bouqs Co. (starting at $39): Many of our reporters and editors have ordered bouquets from the Bouqs, and we’ve been impressed with this brand in the past. However, compared to other services we tried, bouquets from the Bouqs were notably smaller and less full. My grand Santa Cruz’n arrangement was supposed to have 120 blooms, but actually came with about half that and several stems were wilted. A small note on the product page says “please note that spray roses feature multiple smaller blooms per stem,” but I still only counted around 60 in my arrangement. The packaging also wasn’t very protective; my flowers were zip-tied directly to the shipping box with only a single sheet of paper laid over them for protection. Our California tester had a similar experience; her bouquet arrived small and wilted, though it perked up a bit in water. While we hoped that our experience was an outlier, other review sites have also noted a dip in the quality of Bouqs bouquets in the years since the service launched. We’ve always loved the diverse selection of creative bouquets from The Bouqs, so we hope it fixes these issues soon.
(starting at $32): This preserved rose brand sends its arrangements packed in lidded boxes. When it arrives, you remove the lid and pull on the box strings to “pop” the roses up above the lid of the box for presentation. The popping mechanism was unique (and nice for storage), and the roses felt softer and more natural than other preserved roses we’ve tried. However, our testers thought the large and prominent logos on all the containers cheapened the presentation, and the website isn’t intuitive to navigate.
1-800-Flowers (starting at $34.99): Before the internet, calling 1-800-Flowers was the primary way to send bouquets to someone if you didn’t know a good local florist. The retailer still offers hundreds of bouquets and gifts, now through its website, many of which are available for same-day delivery via local florists. While the selection is robust (I counted 53 bouquets available for same-day delivery in my area), the website is a bit tricky to navigate. Even when I specifically browsed for flower bouquets, the results were integrated with gift baskets, edible arrangements, and teddy bears, and there was no way to filter out the categories I wasn’t interested in. It made finding what I wanted more tedious. The bouquet I received was skimpier and less impressive than others from similar services and only lasted a week. Our California tester noted that the orchid she ordered wasn’t packed very well for shipping, and a lot of the gravel and soil in the container was spilled when it arrived.
Venus Et Fleur (starting at $44): This preserved rose brand delivered fresh-smelling, attractive roses. We loved the quality of the blooms and the creative options available on the site. However, we wished there were more container options; especially those that don’t have Venus Et Fleur branding so prominently displayed.
Our testing methodology
Lauren Savoie/Insider
To find the best flower delivery service, we conducted hands-on testing of every brand in this guide. We ordered two to three arrangements from each brand, evaluating the selection, ordering, and delivery process. We sent bouquets to testers in different parts of the country — including New York City, Boston, Los Angeles, Seattle, rural Colorado, and suburban Connecticut — to see if quality and delivery time varied based on location. In all, we tested 29 bouquets from 13 brands. Here’s what we looked for in the best flower delivery service:
Ordering: We scrutinized the ordering process of each service, noting whether the website was simple to navigate, what the product selection was like, and how easy it was to place an order. We also looked at shipping options and estimated delivery times.
Delivery: We noted whether the arrangements arrived when they said they would (all did), evaluated packaging, and looked at the condition of the flowers when they first arrived. Testers across the country compared notes; we found delivery times and quality consistent across the country.
Quality of flowers: We looked for full bouquets of lively-looking flowers that matched the description and photo of the arrangement we ordered online. We read all care instructions and followed them meticulously, noting how long the flowers remained fresh enough to display.
Consistency: A good flower service should deliver quality blooms no matter the location of your recipient. Our testers across the country took photos and detailed notes about delivery and bouquet quality to compare experiences.
What we’re testing next
We continue to test flower delivery services in pursuit of the best place to buy bouquets. Here are some brands we’re currently testing or looking forward to testing:
Matilda’s Bloombox ($39 per arrangement): Matilda’s Bloombox is somewhere between a subscription service and a DIY kit. Each box costs just $39 and contains all the flowers you need to craft a stunning floral arrangement. However, right now the service is primarily limited to the San Francisco Bay area and Austin and Houston, Texas. The company does offer nationwide delivery with a fee, but only with the “gift a box” option.
Bouquet Box (starting at $119): Like Matilda’s Bloombox, Bouquet Box offers you a chance to hone your flower arranging skills with a kit of flowers and instructions for arranging them. Bouquet Box appears to be pricey compared to other comparable services, but we’re looking forward to giving it a try.
Fresh Sends (starting $55): We’ve been seeing these modern, newspaper-wrapped bouquets all over social media. Fresh Sends offers two products: a one-time purchase or a subscription, both in either “regular” or “full” bouquets. You don’t know what sort of arrangement you’ll be receiving; the offerings change daily. We’re interested in trying this popular, modern service.
Good sheets help you sleep better. It’s important to buy a set that’s comfortable and long-lasting.
We tested 14 sheets and consulted three experts to find the best sheets for every need.
The is soft, breathable, and made from durable extra-long-staple cotton.
Even if you have the perfect mattress, it can be hard to fully enjoy your time in bed without a comfortable set of sheets.
Though bedding brands are often quick to show off high thread counts, they’re less important than you might think. The type of fiber and weave also help determine the sheet’s texture, breathability, and durability. Percale and sateen, for example, are both made of cotton but have different weave structures, resulting in different feels.
“When finding sheets that will last and provide comfort and a relaxing night’s sleep, take a look at the material first and thread count second,” said Ave Bradley, senior vice president of design and creative director at Kimpton Hotels. Kimpton uses 200-300 thread count cotton sheets from Frette in its rooms.
Dennis Chan, director of retail product at Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, said his team looks at the fabric drape (the way the fabric hangs), hand feel, and construction of weave when sourcing bedding for hotels worldwide. Four Seasons produces its own line of bedding in its Four Seasons at Home collection, featuring 350-thread count sateen weave cotton sheets.
Top hotel brands like Four Seasons and Kimpton outfit their rooms in 100% long-staple cotton sheets because they’re soft, breathable, and durable, resulting in luxurious and memorable sleep experiences for their guests. Long-staple cotton has longer fibers, so it’s stronger and softer than shorter-staple cotton, which is why we also generally recommend 100% long-staple cotton in our best picks. However, we’ve also included options like flannel and linen, which hold heat differently and may be more appropriate for specific seasons or those who tend to sleep cold or hot.
To test the best sheets, we washed and dried each set according to its respective instructions at least five times, looked at how each set fit on a 10-inch-thick mattress, and slept on each set to note texture, overall comfort, breathability, and coolness. Read more about how we tested in our methodology and consult our FAQs section for more on thread count, materials and fiber types, and fabric care, including input from a textiles scientist.
The percale sheets feel amazing on your skin — simultaneously light, crisp, and soft — and prove that quality materials are more important than thread count.
Pros: High-quality construction, very soft and comfortable, fitted sheet is labeled, accessible price
Cons: Lack of prints and patterns, fitted sheet may be loose on thinner mattresses
Of all the percale cotton sheets I tested, L.L.Bean’s set stood out for its ultra softness and comfort. It’s our overall best pick because it boasts a bit of everything that most shoppers are looking for: lightweight, breathable, and cool fabric; crisp yet soft feel; and strong construction that can reliably stand up to multiple washes.
The sheets are made from pima cotton, which is a high-quality, extra long-staple cotton. Karen Leonas, who holds a doctorate in textile chemistry and is a professor of textile sciences at the Wilson College of Textiles, NC State University told us extra long-staple cotton is even stronger and more resistant to abrasion than long-staple cotton. That’s likely why the L.L.Bean sheets are extra soft and durable, even though the 280-thread count is on the lower end of the spectrum. They also had a great feel even after many washes and experienced no loose threads or shrinkage in the last three months.
The fitted sheet fit generally well and never slipped off, but there was a little excess (it fits up to 15-inch mattresses) on my . I loved that the long and short sides were labeled, a thoughtful touch that always sped up the annoying task of putting on my sheets. (When you’re constantly trying and washing different sheets, you notice and appreciate these things.)
The sheets are available in a handful of light colors and they have hemstitched detailing (decorative threading at the edges). If you prefer a simple look that fits into pretty much any room style, the L.L.Bean sheets won’t disappoint. If you like fun prints and patterns, try Brooklinen’s sheets. They came in a close second to L.L.Bean for comfort and durability and are also reasonably priced.
There’s nothing gimmicky or “special” about these L.L.Bean sheets and that’s what makes them so great. They’re simply well-made, extremely comfortable, and dependable — the best you could want out of something you’re sleeping on every night.
The best cooling sheets for summer
Connie Chen/Insider
The cool, airy, and beautiful linen sheets from Sijo will be your summer favorite, or if you regularly sleep hot, a durable yearlong standby.
Cons: Doesn’t come in as many colors and sizes as competitors, may experience some shedding
Linen is a contentious textile. It wrinkles very easily, feels a bit rough, and is notoriously expensive. On the other hand, some prefer the casual, lived-in look, and it does get softer with time and use. Most importantly, because it’s made from hollow flax fibers, which absorb moisture and let air pass through, linen is breathable and stays dry even on the warmest, stuffiest nights.
Sijo sheets are the best linen sheets I’ve tried because they strike the right balance of comfort, coolness, durability, and price. After a couple months of testing, they knock out our former best pick, MagicLinen, because of how downright soft and comfortable they are, even while having the signature grainy texture of linen. And, they get softer and better after multiple washes. If your preconception of linen is that it’s too scratchy to enjoy, Sijo’s sheets will change your mind. They’re also airy and light, keeping me cool on California spring-nights-that-already-feel-like-summer (we recently had temps in the high 80s in late March).
I personally loved the wrinkled look, especially combined with the soothing Blush color. I’m also a fan of Sky, a dusky blue. The color and overall construction have held up well so far, and the fabric continues to feel both substantial and lightweight. You should expect some shedding in the first few washes — it’s a natural part of the process but a little annoying to pick off your bed.
Unlike with MagicLinen, I didn’t have any sizing issues with Sijo’s sheets. All the sets have a 15-inch depth. You can also opt in or out of a flat sheet, which provides great flexibility and can bring the price of your purchase down.
The best flannel sheets for winter
Connie Chen/Insider
It’s hard to imagine snuggling in anything but Pinzon‘s thick flannel sheets on a cold winter night. They’ll keep you warm and cozy without causing you to overheat.
Pros: Plush and cozy feel, heavyweight, breathable, affordable
Cons: Lots of dryer lint, only available in solid colors, may be too warm for hot sleepers
Imagine you’re nestled in a cabin in the woods, far, far away from the people and bustle of regular life. There’s a fire crackling nearby and you have a book in one hand and a mug of tea in the other. That’s what it feels like sleeping in these flannel sheets, even if the reality is that you’re laying your head to rest in a modern city high-rise.
There’s no better fabric than flannel to bundle your body in during fall and winter (and even beyond, if you don’t sleep hot). Pinzon’s flannel is thick, soft, and cozy from the very first use and the comforting feeling only gets better over time. They’re velvety and a little fuzzy, but were never itchy and uncomfortable. Though the sheets are very warm, they never felt stifling or unbreathable, despite the fact that I sometimes sleep warm. However, if you regularly sleep hot, the flannel sheets may be too stifling.
These sheets make it dangerously tempting to take midday naps curled up like a cat or to sleep in every day as if it were a Sunday free of commitments and appointments. I consistently felt like I slept better and deeper because of how warm and comfortable these sheets are. Fortunately, there’s been no shrinkage or pilling to get in the way of that comfort.
Still, there are a few small inconveniences. Out of the package, they have a slight chemical odor, so you’ll need to wash them before the first use. Also, be prepared to empty out a thick layer of fuzz from your dryer lint trap every time you wash them. If you have thicker or high-loft pillows, the pillowcases may be a tight fit. I used them on my Casper and Leesa pillows (both moderately-sized pillows), and the pillowcases were a bit difficult to pull on.
The best hotel sheets
Connie Chen/Insider
When you don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars a night to sleep at a luxury hotel, ‘s smooth and luxurious sateen sheets will take you there instead.
Pros: Luxury hotel-approved, quality materials, washes well, brand has long manufacturing history
Cons: Only available in white
Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, and Kimpton hotels worldwide turn to this iconic name for their bedding needs. We’re talking about none other than Italian luxury brand Frette, once the official maker of linens for the Italian royal family.
Sleeping in Frette’s soft and smooth sateen sheets, you’ll certainly feel like royalty. H by Frette is Frette’s consumer line of linens and whisks you away into the sumptuous hotel bed of your dreams. But rather than paying for just a single night in a high-end hotel, you’re dropping $300 for years of hotel luxury in your own room.
The sheets are, of course, only available in white, and you can get them in or depending on your preference. The resulting bed looks simple, clean, and fresh, and while housekeeping staff isn’t included with your purchase, you’ll probably feel motivated anyway to maintain the signature hotel style yourself because of how sleek and composed the all-white look is.
Frette uses 100% extra long-staple cotton, so even though the set doesn’t have the extraordinarily high thread count (300) you might expect from hotel sheets, it feels very soft. Extra long-staple cotton is also very durable — important for hotels where housekeeping teams are washing each room’s sheets constantly, and important for you as a consumer if you want to be sure your investment goes a long way.
Sateen sheets can be too warm for me sometimes, but Frette’s felt perfect and cooler than other sateen sets I’ve tried. The sheets have a subtle gloss and a silky feel and they remain comfortable after every wash.
You’ll find less expensive and equally comfortable sheets in the rest of this guide, but if you specifically want the sheets used in and approved by hundreds of hotels, then you’ll be very happy with Frette’s. Whenever I rotate through my sheets, I look forward to this set because I know it’ll feel like a treat.
Pro tip: “When recreating this [hotel] experience at home, think about using high lofting pillows, quality sheets and a plush duvet with a duvet cover for the ultimate luxury experience,” says Chan.
The best sheets on a budget
Connie Chen/Insider
Threshold‘s sheets are popular among Target shoppers because they’re comfortable, thoughtfully designed, and best of all, affordable.
Pros: Affordable, great fit
Cons: May trap body oils more, smell terrible out of the package
It’s the price tag that’ll catch your eye first, then the great fit and soft feel that’ll sell you completely on these budget-friendly sheets from Target brand Threshold. Of all the sets I tested, Threshold’s fitted sheet was the easiest to put on and fit my mattress the best, despite being designed for mattresses up to 18-inch deep. The extra stretch in the corners of the sheet made a big difference and helped the sheet cling to my mattress without showing excess material on top. It also has a top and bottom label to speed up the fitting process.
Once on, the sateen sheets are smooth and silky. They’re made from 100% cotton and have a 400-thread count, which is on the higher end of all the sets I tried. I noticed after some use, however, that they seem to trap body oils more readily and feel greasier than other sets, making them less pleasant to sleep on. I wondered if this was because Target uses a short-staple cotton, or if they applied some kind of treatment over the sheets to give them their “performance” qualities (wrinkle-resistant, bleach friendly), but the brand didn’t respond to my requests for additional clarification. The problem does seem to go away if I wash the sheets more often.
Either way, I had a comfortable experience overall; they just weren’t the best of all the sheets I tried. And though they’re touted as “performance sheets,” most notably as being wrinkle-free, they certainly wrinkle. The best way you can get rid of the wrinkles, as with all cotton sheets, is to iron them.
Be warned — the sheets have a strong sour and chemical smell when you first take them out of their packaging. The smell lingers even after the sheets are aired out for a couple of days, so you’ll definitely want to wash them first.
If you’re on a budget, a college student, or a frequent host looking to outfit a guest bed, these sheets are a smart decision. We’re continuing to test and wash them to look for any durability issues, but so far we haven’t run into any.
What else we tested
Connie Chen/Insider
What else we recommend and why
Brooklinen: As I mentioned earlier, it was a tight race between Brooklinen and L.L.Bean. We still highly recommend Brooklinen because the brand offers incredible value for long-lasting, comfortable, and beautiful sheets. But the set we tested (Brooklinen’s most popular) may be too warm for some people because of the sateen weave, which is why we ultimately picked L.L.Bean’s cooler percale. Read our full review of Brooklinen sheets here.
Boll & Branch: Boll & Branch uses cotton that’s both GOTS- and Fair Trade-certified, so if you live an organic lifestyle, or are trying to incorporate more organic products into your cart, you’ll love these ethically and sustainably made sheets. The sheets are comfortable and durable but keep in mind that the manufacturing process and certifications do come at a cost. Read our full review of Boll & Branch sheets here.
MagicLinen: MagicLinen recently lost its spot as our top linen pick because it wasn’t as comfortable or affordable as Sijo. There are a few reasons you might still want to buy MagicLinen, though: it comes in a lot more colors and sizes, including twin and deep-depth. If you’re willing to pay a bit more to find a specific style and fit, MagicLinen’s a good place to shop durable and airy linen sheets. Read our full review of MagicLinen sheets here.
: Riley’s percale sheets are softer than other percale sheets, but not more so than L.L.Bean’s. They felt cool and held up to all our washes well. I also appreciated the fair price point, and the flexibility of opting for the add-on flat sheet, instead of being stuck with one you don’t want.
What we do not recommend and why
Crane & Canopy: We liked the comfortable feel and embroidery of these extra-long staple, 400-thread count cotton sheets. Like L.L.Bean and Brooklinen, they’re made from high-quality cotton and have a mid-tier thread count — but they’re a lot more expensive. Since there are no other distinct features to set Crane & Canopy apart, we prefer L.L.Bean and Brooklinen for their better value.
Serena & Lily: The home brand has many pretty and composed sheet options, like this Classic Ring Sheet Set, which has a percale weave and a 310-thread count. The feel is indeed crisp and cool, but it’s a bit pricey for what you get and our other sheet picks offer better value. We also noticed after the first wash that there were already some loose threads on the pillowcases.
Italic: Long-staple cotton percale sheets made by the same manufacturer of Frette, Four Seasons, and St. Regis sheets for $75? The Slumber Cotton set is definitely enticing for this reason, and it’s comfortable to sleep in. However, Italic has a $100/year membership model, so buying this set only makes sense if you plan on purchasing other goods from the site. We recommend first browsing the rest of the online shop to see if you’re interested in the other home products, clothing, and accessories. Otherwise, you’ll be paying $175, which isn’t any more competitive than our picks above.
Ettitude: Ettitude’s claim to fame is using bamboo lyocell for its sheets. They’re made from 100% organic bamboo with a water-efficient manufacturing process and the result is uniquely soft, silky, and cool. However, we noticed they’re more delicate than other fabrics and the sheets showed more pilling and abrasion after we washed them.
Bespoke Post: A defining characteristic of percale is that it’s crisp and airy, like your favorite button-down shirt. The problem I experienced with Bespoke Post’s new percale sheets are that they’re too crisp and can rustle loudly if you move in your sleep (which is probably most of us). It also held onto and showed body oils easily, and you’d need to wash the set frequently.
Our testing methodology
Connie Chen/Insider
Here’s how we tested the sheets over a period of five months. Knowing that this is a fairly short amount of time, we’ll continue to follow these steps in the upcoming months and note any changes.
Washed and dried each set according to its respective instructions at least five times. Usually, we washed the sheets in a cold cycle with gentle detergent and dried them on a low tumble cycle.
Put the fitted sheet on a 10-inch-thick mattress and noted slipping, sliding, post-wash shrinkage, and stretchiness of elastic.
Slept on each set for at least one week and noted texture, overall comfort, breathability, and coolness.
What we’re testing next
West Elm/Instagram
Brooklinen: Brooklinen’s sateen sheets usually get all the love, but we’re also interested in its other fabrics. Each set of its cozy made-in-Portugal linen sheets is individually garment-dyed, so you’ll feel like you have a unique piece of bedding.
West Elm: West Elm’s Fair Trade-certified linen sheets are popular among linen lovers. They come in around the same price as MagicLinen’s and are also available in many beautiful colors, so we’ll mainly be comparing their comfort and durability.
Kassatex: These long-staple cotton, 300-thread count sateen sheets seem promising, especially considering a Queen set is only $100. We look forward to putting these inexpensive sheets through all our tests to see how they stand up over time and how they compare to our current picks.
Parachute: Parachute’s name often comes up along with fellow direct-to-consumer darlings Brooklinen and Boll & Branch, all of which launched around the same time. We’re testing its sateen sheets and loving their smooth, soft feel so far. We need to sleep in them and wash them more to determine long-term durability.
FAQs
Connie Chen/Insider
Does thread count matter?
Yes, to a certain extent. However, don’t use it as your sole determining factor because its definition can be manipulated, and after a certain number, the difference in feel and durability is negligible.
Thread count is the number of yarns per inch, horizontally and vertically. Leonas tells us that a ply yarn (two single yarns twisted together) has traditionally been considered one yarn, but in recent years, some brands have been using total ply yarn count as the thread count, resulting in an artificially high number.
Remember that thread count only applies to cotton sheets and single yarn weaves. All of our best cotton sheets fall in the 300-500 range, and you likely won’t need anything beyond that.
What are the different types of sheets?
The quality and type of material do matter. Below, we define, compare, and contrast different materials, fabrics, and terms you’ll often run into while shopping for sheets.
Drape: The fluidity or rigidity of a fabric. A fabric with high or fluid drape, such as silk, is flowy and clings more to the object. A fabric with low drape is stiffer and holds its shape more.
Long-staple cotton: Cotton with longer-staple fibers that result in smoother and stronger yarn. This is compared to short-staple cotton, which has fiber ends that stick out and cause the sheets to be rougher and less abrasion-resistant. Brands will generally call out when they use long-staple cotton; otherwise, you can probably assume it’s short-staple. Leonas says the industry definition of long-staple cotton is a fiber length of 1.15-1.22 inches.
Egyptian cotton: Cotton grown in Egypt. It’s often assumed that Egyptian cotton is long-staple, but it could also be lower-quality, short-staple cotton that just happens to be from Egypt, so be careful of this labeling, and look specifically for “long-staple cotton.”
Pima cotton: Also known by its trademark name, Supima cotton. Extra long-staple cotton that is grown only in the US and has a fiber length of at least 1.5 inches. Extra long-staple cotton is even smoother, more flexible, and more resistant to pilling than long-staple cotton.
Percale: A type of cotton weave where one thread is woven another thread into a tight, grid pattern. It has a matte, crisp feel. It’s airy and more breathable.
Sateen: A type of cotton weave where three or four threads are woven over one thread into a looser grid pattern. It has a smooth, silky feel and a slight sheen to it. Compared to percale, it’s less breathable and may not be suitable for sleepers who run hot. According to Leonas, sateen has a tendency to snag more easily and also show dirt more readily, due to its unique “float” weave. If you enjoy the feel and look of sateen, keep in mind that sheets made using this weave require a little more care and maintenance.
Polyester: A type of synthetic fiber that may be blended with cotton or used to make microfiber. It’s less breathable and traps moisture more easily, and it may not be suitable for people with sensitive skin.
Microfiber: A type of synthetic material made with very fine polyester fibers. It’s very soft and drapeable, but doesn’t breathe well.
Lyocell: Also known as tencel. A type of fiber made from wood (often eucalyptus) pulp. It’s soft, silky, and breathable.
Linen: A type of fiber made from flax plants. It’s slightly rigid, with a rougher texture, and it feels cool and breathable. It wrinkles easily.
Flannel: A type of fabric made with thickly woven wool or cotton. It’s brushed to give it a slight soft and fuzzy texture, and it feels warm.
What are the different sheet certifications?
You may notice that some of our best picks have a Standard 100 by Oeko Tex certification. This label means the final sheet product has been independently tested for more than 100 harmful chemical substances and is safe for human use. While it’s not the only certification out there, it’s widely used and known in the textiles industry. Our experts say you should look for the Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certification for basic safety, but if you also care about manufacturing, look for STeP by Oeko Tex. It checks for environmentally friendly, socially responsible, and safe practices all along the production process.
The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) is another certification, used specifically for organic textiles. GOTS-certified sheets contain at least 95% certified organic fibers and meet environmental and social standards at every stage of processing and manufacturing.
What’s the best way to care for your sheets?
According to various bedding brands, you should wash your sheets every 1-2 weeks, and alternate sets to preserve their quality. We recommend following the specific care instructions that come with the sheet set you buy. Based on our experience, brands generally advise washing the sheets in a cold or warm cycle with gentle detergent, then drying in a low tumble cycle. Hot water can make colors bleed, cause shrinkage, and weaken fibers. Drying at a high heat can also weaken fibers and cause pilling.
What’s the best way to prevent wrinkles?
For all its great properties, cotton naturally wrinkles, and that’s thanks to its molecular structure. Leonas explained to us that wrinkles basically happen when hydrogen bonds form as your sheets bump around in the dryer. “The only way to get rid of those bonds is to flip some water on it, or apply high heat. That’s why we use a lot of steam when we press things,” she says.
If you want to get rid of wrinkles, the best way is to iron them before fitting them onto your bed, or removing them from your dryer a little before the cycle ends and fitting them onto your bed while slightly damp.
Are alternative fibers any good?
Alternative fibers like bamboo lyocell or microfiber are appealing because they’re often very comfortable and affordable. In our testing experience, however, their durability doesn’t match up to that of cotton or linen. They’re more prone to pilling, abrasion, and shrinkage. Plus, the production and care of these alternative fibers can be murky and bad for the environment. The shedding of microfiber, for example, is polluting the ocean.
Many doctors recommend not sticking anything in your ears, especially Q-tips or metal tools.
Some recommend drops or irrigation systems for loosening hard wax.
Keep in mind that wax is a normal substance made for a reason by your body.
Ear wax is the natural safeguard for your ear canal, acting as protection against sand, bugs, and dirt getting in and damaging your canal or eardrum. But if ear wax builds up too much, it can impair your hearing – everything sounds muffled, and it can give you that feeling like you are underwater. Instead of reaching for a cotton swab or Q-tip, which experts say aren’t safe because they can puncture your eardrum and do other damage, try one of these products instead.
According to Omid Mehdizadeh, MD, otolaryngologist (ENT) and laryngologist at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California, irrigation systems are “perfectly fine as long as there’s not too much pressure and as long as it’s comfortable.” He says to avoid using cold water in the ear, which can cause vertigo or dizziness. Irrigation systems are one of the tools ENTs would use in the office if a patient came in with excessive ear wax, and is a home remedy you can try without doing harm.
In addition, if people have an uncomfortable amount of ear wax clogging the ear, it can help to liquefy the wax with drops, which Dr. Mehdizadeh says are usually composed of peroxide, which fizzes in the ear. “It’s okay for one to two weeks max, but not on a regular basis because it can cause irritation.”
What we like: No ball syringe, simple mechanism, gentle
This irrigation system is ideal because it offers a simplistic mechanism involving a spray bottle with three disposable tips. It doesn’t have a lot of extra bells, whistles, and complicated parts that make ear wax removal intimidating. Some systems have the ball syringe to suck out the remaining fluid and wax, but this one doesn’t, which means it can be considered safer than other products that are supposed to be inserted into the ear. In fact, ball syringe options fall in the category of things Dr. Mehdizadeh thinks may be dangerous to insert in your ear.
The price is reasonable, and you can buy replacement tips if you plan on using it more than three times. One downside of this design is that it doesn’t come with instructions, but there are instructional videos on the purchase site that can help.
The best ear drops
These drops use a doctor-recommended active ingredient.
What we like: Non-irritating formula, super easy to use, loosens wax
This popular and affordable alternative to a pricey doctor’s visit can help loosen the toughest ear wax. The active ingredient is the doctor-recommended carbamide peroxide, and users can expect a foaming, cracking, fizzing sound and feeling when they try it. This simply means it’s working well and should not be alarming. The formula claims to be non-irritating, and it’s one of the easiest-use processes for ear wax removal.
The best water irrigator for kids
This option made just for young kids has miniature tips that won’t damage small ears.
Dr. Mehdizadeh says the only way parents should be trying to clean ear wax out of their kids’ ears without a medical professional is with an irrigation system such as this one. The small bottle and miniature tip make this a more manageable option for a young child, as opposed to the adult irrigators.
Parents can simply have a child lay down, with a towel handy, and slowly fill the ear canal one drop at a time, then set a 15-minute timer and wait. Afterward, you can use the bulb to rinse the ear or allow it to drain naturally.
Should you remove ear wax?
Ear wax is an oil secreted by the ear canal, which Dr. Mehdizadeh explains as a collection of oil, skin, debris, and dirt. While it seems gross with its light yellow to dark brown color, he says it has a protective effect: it’s moisturizing and antibacterial and is protecting your eardrum and ear canal.
So, there’s no real reason to try to remove ear wax unless it’s impairing your hearing or causing discomfort. Still addicted to those cotton swabs? Be aware that they are “pushing the wax in deeper,” and that nothing should go into the ear to the point that you can’t see it or you risk painful injuries such as eardrum perforation. If the above products don’t work, or you are unsure how to use them correctly, consult your primary care physician or an ENT.
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Parade
You wear underwear every day, so it should be the most comfortable and durable clothing you own.
Luckily, brands Tommy John, Everlane, and Parade are getting it right.
We’ve rounded up the best underwear brands for women, plus our favorite styles to shop, below.
Underwear. You won’t give it a second thought if it’s fabulously comfortable, but if it’s anything less than that, it’s all you’ll be able to think about. But thankfully, there are plenty of options these days that are as comfortable as they are playful, and you really can’t ask for more when it comes to your undergarments.
But how do you know if your underwear is or isn’t working for you? One, if not the most important factor to consider is comfort. Does your underwear stay in place all day or does it continuously ride up? Does your underwear feel like your second skin or is it irritating? It’s also crucial to check out material. Underwear fabrics should not only be soft and cozy, but sound enough to withstand several washes. And if you have a more active lifestyle, you might want to find underwear that’s made of stretchy, breathable materials.
And if you purchase a pair of underwear that you realize doesn’t look or feel quite right, many online underwear companies have satisfaction guarantees. That typically means you can get a replacement, refund, or store credit. Hopefully, though, this list of brands and product recommendations can help guide you down a path that most suits you.
Here are the best places to buy underwear in 2021:
Table of Contents: Masthead Sticky
Updated on 1/14/2021 by Katie Decker-Jacoby. Updated prices and links. Rewrote the introduction and summary bullets.
Tommy John may have started off with men’s underwear, but its new feminine Second Skin and Air underwear collections prove that the company’s designers know a thing or two about what people want in a great pair of underwear. That means no scrunching, chafing, bunching, or riding up. And boy does Tommy John’s underwear deliver on its promise that there will be “no adjustment needed.”
The Insider Reviews team tested out both the Second Skin and Air underwear collections and loved every pair. From the sexy thong and cheeky styles to the practical and attractive briefs, Tommy John’s underwear is super comfortable.
The Air collection is fantastic for hotter weather or workouts because it’s made with improved ventilation, moisture-wicking, and deodorizing fabric. The Air underwear comes in briefs, cheeky, and thongs that are made from 77% Nylon mesh and 23% Spandex.
What to buy:
Everlane
Everlane
Everlane goes back to basics with supremely soft Supima cotton that’s ethically sourced and transparently priced.
If you don’t want to spend $20+ on one pair of underwear, you’re in luck, because our favorite basics brand Everlane has an underwear collection. The online company is known for its transparent pricing and ethically produced clothing, so you can feel good about the underwear you’re buying.
Everlane’s underwear collection features bikini, thong, hipster, and high-rise hipster styles that are all made with Supima cotton that’s grown in the United States and made into underwear at ethical factories. The cotton’s extra-long fibers are super soft on your skin and the material is breathable.
All of Everlane’s underwear is completely basic, or as the ad campaign says, “No frills. No bows. No bullsh*t.” It’s your everyday underwear. It’s made for you and puts your comfort above anything else.
If you’re looking for affordable, high-quality underwear that’s made ethically from the best material, Everlane’s Supima cotton underwear is for you.
What to buy:
Aerie
Aerie
You only have to pay $25 for 6 pairs of underwear from Aerie, but just because it doesn’t cost an arm and a leg doesn’t mean it’s not a fantastic piece of underwear.
Beyond the unbeatable price point, Aerie also makes truly comfortable and dependable underwear. Simple and unfussy, the majority of these undergarments are made of good ol’ cotton. But we’re not fazed by the lack of rayon, satin, and silk.
To say that Aerie has a wide selection would be an understatement — No matter what kind of style or color or print you’re looking for, this brand has it.
If all this isn’t enough to convince you to give Aerie a try, perhaps the message that the company is trying to send will do the trick. The brand’s #AerieReal campaign may have first debuted in 2014, but it’s still appealing to people who aren’t buying feminine underwear from airbrushed supermodels. The company has long pushed for honest acceptance of people’s bodies, and when it makes underwear this wearable, it’s pretty easy to accept yourself.
What to buy:
TomboyX
Lyndsey Byrnes/TomboyX
TomboyX makes gender-inclusive underwear that ranges in style from thongs to 9-inch boxer briefs and comes in sizes XS to 4X.
TomboyX adapted masculine-style underwear like trunks and boxer briefs to suit women’s bodies, giving people who prefer wearing underwear styles that aren’t traditionally feminine a more tailored option.
If, for example, you prefer wearing men’s boxer briefs, but you’re sick of feeling that annoying bunching that comes from creating space for certain parts of male anatomy, TomboyX has boxer briefs for you. Whether you want boyshorts, 4.5-inch long shorts, 6-inch long shorts, or 9-inch long shorts, TomboyX has you covered.
The company also makes more traditionally feminine styles like thongs, bikinis, and briefs. Sizes range from XS to 4X to suit many different body shapes and sizes, so there really ought to be something for everyone.
The underwear is made with Standard 100 by Oeko-Tex cotton that’s eco-friendly. You can also get MicroModal and athlete-friendly Active Drirelease fabric if you prefer.
Bright, colorful, and extremely budget-friendly, Parade is perfect for those looking to stock up on comfortable underwear.
Parade is known for stretchy, comfortable, can-barely-feel-them underwear — from cheeky-cut briefs to high-waisted thongs. The underwear comes in two materials; the Re:Play fabric is made of breathable, recycled yarn, while its Silky Mesh is stretchy, breathable cotton you can barely feel against your skin. There are also five different styles to choose from, so you can always get a comfortable pair of panties
The Insider Reviews team tested Parade’s underwear and found all of the styles they tried to be super comfortable. Reporter Mara Leighton relies on the Parade Thong as her go-to workout undergarment, because of the material’s silky feel and non-roll waistband.
Parade also wins points for its commitment to fun colors and patterns. The brand is constantly rolling out new collections, from bright neons to kitschy mesh dots. The only drawback — Parade can sometimes have low stock in its popular styles, especially during the brand’s many sales. So snap up your favorites when they’re available.
What to buy:
Other shops to consider:
MeUndies
While we tend to favor the brands mentioned above after testing, we’d also recommend picks from these shops, too:
Hanky Panky: This brand is responsible for many cult-favorite lace styles — primarily thongs. While we love Hanky Panky underwear, they’re admittedly a little pricey for what you’re getting. If you’re a fan it’d be wise to stock up during annual sale events.
Spanx: We’re fans of the brand’s pants and bras, but we haven’t yet tested their underwear. However, the brand offers a good style variety, comfortable materials, and a decent XS-3X size range.
MeUndies: We think MeUndies makes some of the most comfortable underwear ever, and the brand has the best variety of patterns.
True & Co: For those of us who don’t want our underwear to be just barely there, the hipster is the perfect underwear, and True & Co makes great hipsters.
Lively: Lively is another great underwear startup that makes affordable underwear at $10 a pair or 3 pairs for $25. We like the brand’s underwear as well as its bras and recommend both.
What we’re looking forward to testing:
Knix
We’re constantly on the hunt for our new favorite pair of underwear. Here is what we’re testing next:
Knix is known for its leakproof period underwear that rivals other, similar brands on the market. But it blends that functionality with fashion, and regularly releases beautiful collections of chic prints and colors. Plus, it’s ultra-inclusive advertising is a breath of fresh air. We’re looking forward to seeing how the period underwear stands up.
Stripe & Stare:The brand is known for delicate, feminine “knickers” in kitschy patterns and colors. But don’t like the girlish prints fool you. Stripe & Stare is made from Tencel Mirco Modal, an eco-friendly fabric that is totally sustainable. The brand claims its the softest material we’ll ever wear — a challenge we’re ready to accept.
Also called a coffee press, coffee plunger, or cafetière, the French press is as basic and foolproof as coffee-making gets. Toss a roughly estimated amount of coarsely ground coffee into a basin, pour some fresh-off-the-boil water (our experts suggest around 200 degrees Fahrenheit), let it sit for four or five minutes, gently push the plunger down, and serve.
But while French presses are straightforward devices, some function better than others, and you’ll want to keep a few things in mind when shopping for one.
First, consider the beaker’s material. Your main options are glass, plastic, ceramic, or stainless steel. Glass and ceramic are easier to break, but they’re more traditional looking, and won’t impart a faint metallic or plastic taste the way some claim stainless steel and plastic options do. (We, for the record, didn’t detect any of those flavors from either material during our tests.) Stainless steel is durable and retains heat the longest (especially when it’s double-walled and vacuum-sealed), but it’s the most expensive option. Plastic may be able to withstand falls better than glass, but it’ll scratch and eventually crack in the long term.
“When I choose a French press, it’s all down to how easy it is to clean and if the grinds will be properly filtered when I push down the filter,” said Coffee Project NY co-founder Sum Ngai.
We tested nine French presses using both of those metrics, making at least three pots of coffee with three different sizes of grounds in each press, then monitoring the fine particulate and sludge left behind before washing them (you can find a more detailed explanation of our testing methods here). We also noted how sturdy the presses felt, whether their handles were cool to the touch and if the plungers felt tightly-sealed.
Because most of the French presses we tried out were good – it’s hard to botch such a simple gadget – we highlighted the three that will suit most people based on material, ease of use, durability, price, availability of replacement parts, and, to some degree, aesthetics.
The Bodum Chambord is about as timeless as French presses get. It’s unfussy and operates smoothly, and replacement parts (screens, braces, etc.) are affordable and easily attainable.
Pros: Affordable, simple to use, easy to find (also affordable) replacement parts
Cons: Won’t survive a fall from your kitchen counter, those who prefer finer grounds or use blade grinders might find fine particulate in their brew (look to the Espro 7), doesn’t retain heat well
There’s probably no French press more widely recommended than the Bodum Chambord (which, wouldn’t you know it, is by a Portuguese brand), and it’s what you’ll find on most countertops in both coffee shops and home kitchens. It’s also what our friends at Brooklyn Roasting Company exclusively use in their testing lab.
The Chambord‘s borosilicate glass is good at withstanding heat, but doesn’t do much in the way of retaining it (at least not compared to the double-walled, vacuum-sealed stainless steel of our investment pick, the Espro P7). Heat retention doesn’t matter that much in the world of French presses, though; if you’re not going to drink the coffee right away you should pour it into a carafe so it doesn’t sit in the grounds and become bitter.
While some French presses we tested had plungers that left gaps around the edges, the Chambord‘s was tightly sealed. That being said, a small amount of fine particles did get through — to completely eliminate any speck of grit you’ll have to invest in a press with a micro-filter, like the Espro P7.
Cleaning any French press thoroughly is not the easiest task, but we found that plunging soapy hot water through the strainer and checking for stray grounds did the trick, and the Chambord certainly wasn’t among the more difficult French presses to clean. Again, a French press with a micro-filter, which doesn’t have as many crevices in which to catch grounds, will be easier to wash.
Speaking of grounds, the French press you choose may be informed by the way you prefer to grind your coffee. If you tend to use finer grounds, or if you use a grinder that doesn’t churn out uniform grounds (as is the case with most blade grinders) you might want to look to a press with a finer filter so that you don’t end up with as much fine particulate in your brew.
Can you spend more on a French press? Of course, but the uptick in quality will be fairly marginal. Can you spend less? Yes, but only a little — there is a slightly cheaper version Bodum makes called the Brazil, which is the Chambord with the steel trap swapped for plastic. We recommend the Brazil for budget-minded folks (and those who have a penchant for breaking things), and you can read more about it here.
Otherwise, the Chambord is the right price point for most people, and replacement parts are affordable and easy to find. And, when you do drop and break it, picking up a new one (or a new beaker, at least) won’t cost too much, nor will a filter.
Like most other French presses, the Bodum Chambord comes with a one-year limited warranty.
Bodum’s Brazil is, at its core, the very same French press as the Bodum Chambord, just pared down and a bit more durable with plastic in lieu of glass and steel.
Pros: Simple, operates smoothly, durable, easy to find replacement parts
Cons: Perhaps not as elegant as the Chambord, doesn’t retain heat well
While you won’t get the elegance of the Chambord in Bodum’s economy model — the Brazil’s plastic beaker is held in place with a black plastic frame, as opposed to borosilicate glass in gleaming steel — you will get the same exact coffee. That’s because both models contain identical filtering mechanisms.
I personally have owned several Brazils and Chambords over the past decade, and I’ve found that they produce the same brew. Like with the Chambord, you’ll find a few stray grounds here and there, but that’s standard unless your French press has a micro-filter.
Again, if you’re working with a blade grinder or a cheaper burr grinder that doesn’t churn out the most consistent grounds, a French press with a finer filter might be in order to keep any significant amount of particulate, and maybe even thick sludge, from working its way into your coffee. That is, unless you like it that way; if so, you’re not alone (see Turkish coffee or cowboy coffee).
Replacing the Brazil’s filter (18-ounce or 32-ounce) is the same as replacing the Chambord’s since they’re identical and won’t sting too much. The glass beaker is also easy to replace, although doing so may cost the same as or even more than buying a whole new press, depending on which size you’re after.
The Brazil is a more affordable and more durable answer to the slightly more expensive (and alluring) Chambord with the same one-year limited warranty.
The best stainless steel French press
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The Espro P7 is an investment piece, but retains heat exponentially better than glass or plastic French presses and comes with a micro-filter that prevents finer particulate from finding its way into your mug.
Pros: Virtually indestructible, fine mesh filter keeps fine particulate out of your coffee, affordable replacement parts, extremely easy to clean
Cons: Some say the dual micro-filters rob your brew of flavor (though we didn’t find that to be the case)
While all of our picks will get the job done and last about as long as you can manage not to drop them, there are a few reasons you might consider investing a bit more in a French press. The main one being, a press with a micro-filter will keep finer particles out of your coffee.
The Espro P7’s excellent two-part micro-filter system — two very fine mesh baskets attached to the plunger — leaves you without the bit of sludge that invariably ends up at the bottom of most cups of French press coffee. The coffee made in the P7 was the cleanest out of all the presses we tried.
Outside of buying a press with a micro-filter, the only other way to ensure your French press coffee remains sludge-free is to get a burr grinder that produces uniform grounds without too many fine particles. That’s not to say that a blade grinder won’t grind your beans (if only in a very basic way), but achieving even decent consistency with one is difficult.
A big interest in stainless-steel French presses is heat retention. While they do invariably keep your coffee hotter longer, it’s important to recognize that, as with tea, leaving your coffee steeping (even after pushing the plunger down) leads to a bitter flavor. Unless you’re going to drink your coffee within about 45 minutes, it’s best to decant it into a thermos or pitcher to keep warm and prevent it from over-steeping.
The P7 was the easiest French press to clean thoroughly since coffee grounds don’t get stuck in its extra-fine mesh. Just note that as with most stainless steel cookware and appliances, a scouring pad will scratch up the exterior so use a soft sponge.
This was also the most durable French press we tried due to the stainless steel construction. The brand’s warranty, called the “Friends for Life Guarantee,” only protects against manufacturing flaws. That being said, you’re unlikely to find any, and if something goes wrong with the filter, replacements aren’t terribly expensive (though they’re more than twice the price of Bodum’s).
So long as you don’t misplace the Espro P7, or drive a car over it, it’s worth the investment, especially for those who are a) constantly breaking their glass French presses or b) looking to banish fine sediment from their coffee mug once and for all.
What we also recommend
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: This French press built into a mug is not the only one out there, but it’s the only one we’ve tested so far. It does its job well, but we’d like to compare it to other travel French presses before deciding whether to include it in our guide.
Coffee Gator: Coffee Gator makes a highly competitive vacuum-sealed, double-walled, stainless steel press, but as with most designs, you’ll find a good deal of sediment at the bottom of your cup. We like the travel container that comes with this press and allows you to pack it for a day on the road or trail, but when looking for a true upgrade, we found a finer filter to be paramount. If all you’re after is something indestructible, look no further.
Coletti: Coletti’s Boulder Camping French Press is arguably the heaviest-duty French press we’ve tested. It has a large, welded-on handle, an ultra-tight silicone seal (which is great for keeping your coffee hot at camp), and keeps grounds out of your cup with the best of them. It’s not available yet, but we highly recommend it for people who are extra rough on things.
Frieling: Frieling’s French press is well-designed and appointed with high-grade steel. It also now offers a dual-filter setup, so in function, it’s highly competitive with the Espro P7. The only real difference is that it comes with a five-year warranty, compared to Espro’s “Friends for Life Guarantee.” Still, it’s by no means a bad option.
Stanley: If you’re looking for something for camping, boating, or RVing, there’s hardly a better choice than Stanley’s robust line of drinkware. This French press comes in multiple sizes and can just about withstand a tumble into the campfire like the original, if it weren’t for a few plastic modifications, including the handle.
What else we considered
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Le Creuset: Le Creuset’s ceramic French presses certainly have aesthetic appeal, but in our experience, they’ve been too easily breakable, and oftentimes the filter either doesn’t quite fit in the first place or begins to warp over time, allowing too many grounds to end up in your coffee.
Simpli Press: This is an attractive device if you ask us, but the trap in the bottom, which is supposed to come up with the plunger for easy cleaning, doesn’t catch and gets stuck. Otherwise, the fine filter (akin to the Espro P7’s system) works well.
What we’re looking forward to testing
There are lots of travel French press mugs or mugs with French presses built-in, but we have only tested one from Bodum so far. For our next update, we’re looking forward to trying out the models below.
Bodum Travel Press ($29.99 on sale): Considering Bodum’s success in our testing of regular French presses and the brand’s long-standing status in the world of French press, we’d be remiss not to consider its travel option. With essentially the same components as the Chambord and Brazil, we imagine it will perform well, but with so many other designs within the travel press market, we can’t make any predictions, either.
Espro P1 ($39.95): Essentially our upgrade pick above built into a travel mug, the Espro P1 contains a microfilter that looks as easy to use as its less portable bigger sibling. At a competitive price with other travel French press options, this looks like a strong contender.
GSI Commuter Javapress ($20.73 on sale): Foregoing the plunging rod for a secondary inner mug, the GSI take on the travel French press looks both novel and convenient. We’re usually fans of their camping gear, and their Coffee Rocket earned a top spot in our guide to the best coffee-making gear for camping.
Stanley Classic Travel Mug French Press, 16 oz. ($35): A rugged and utilitarian design, Stanley’s vacuum-sealed double-walled stainless-steel travel mug is the basic design of Stanley’s original (and 100-year-old) model comes with a fine filter, and seems easy to clean.
Otterbox Elevation 20 French Press Lid ($29.99): This is an alternate lid for the brand’s existing thermoses, and it would be interesting to see how it works and if it’s compatible with the Espro P1, which is essentially our stainless steel pick built into a travel mug, and GSI, which foregoes the plunging rod for a secondary inner mug.
Our testing methodology
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Before selecting French presses to test, we spoke to Sum Ngai of Coffee Project NY, Jordan Rosenaker of Atlas Coffee Club, and Jim Munson, CEO of Brooklyn Roasting Company to learn what their favorite presses were and what the most critical components of a French press are.
Here are the criteria we looked for during each test:
Ease of use: We checked to see if each French press’s plunger worked smoothly, and noted whether or not there were gaps between the presses’ filters and beakers. We also paid attention to the size and placement of the handle size; a poorly-designed handle could leave your knuckles grazing hot glass.
Ability to handle different sizes of coffee grounds: We filled each press three times with 54 grams of coarse grinds and water at 200° Fahrenheit. We used a Kruve sieve to measure the grinds to ensure accuracy and consistency: 1150 micrometers, 1220 micrometers, and 1280 micrometers. We gave each pot a quick stir and let it steep for four to five minutes (four minutes for finer grounds, five minutes for coarser grounds) before evaluating the coffee.
Amount of sludge left behind: While we kept an eye out for residual fine particulate and sludge after decanting each pot into a Kruve carafe, the amount found in each batch was almost identical, save for the finer (600-1000 micrometer) grounds, which left more fine particulate matter in all but our stainless steel pick, the ESPRO P7.
Effort to clean: We aggressively washed each strainer, although we found them all to be fairly sturdy. As mentioned earlier, the P7’s filter was the easiest to clean and coffee grounds didn’t get stuck in its ultra-fine mesh.
How to make French press coffee
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There’s some debate as to the “perfect” way to make French press coffee, and Brooklyn Roasting Company offered a ratio of 16 milliliters of water to 1 gram of coffee for those who want to be technical. That said, the brand’s CEO, Jim Munson, never measures out his grounds and prefers to use what he calls “the grandma method,” which Julia Childs herself taught him. It goes like this:
Fill a one-liter French press with about an inch of grounds (somewhere in the range of 1100-1200 micrometers, as we watched him).
Fill the carafe with water just off a boil, letting it rest for 30 seconds to a minute before pouring.
Pour the water over the grounds, give it a stir, cover it with the plunger, and let it steep about four minutes before gently plunging and serving.
Pour right away, as it will get bitter if it steeps for too long.
Here we should mention that your coffee grounds should be anywhere between the size of coarse sand and fine breadcrumbs (or 600 to 1300 micrometers), according to various experts and texts we consulted, including “The Craft and Science of Coffee.”
You can also check out this guide we put together on how to make French press coffee, but it all comes down to personal preference and can be as freeform an art or as exact a science as you’d like.
How to clean a French press
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Coffee pots of all types are breeding grounds for mold spores and bacteria, so it’s important to clean them regularly. However, French presses — typically consisting of a plate, a spiral, and a layer of mesh — can be tricky to clean, and coffee grounds get stuck inside them easily. Here’s the cleaning method we find the most effective:
Fill the basin or carafe of your French press with hot, soapy water (regular dish soap works here).
Plunge the plunger back and forth to create a froth. This will generally get out most of the grounds.
You can go and pick out any stray grounds, but that might be a bit much for most people, and plunging the hot soapy water takes care of any mold or bacteria anyway.
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