Best Battery Leaf Blower Brands

Our experts say that a handheld leaf blower will work well for most people, especially if you’ve got a modest yard with only a few leafy trees. Battery handheld blowers now make up the lion’s share of models that CR tests, and they’re a particularly good choice because they are lighter weight and quieter than…

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How to Shop for a Car Loan

That shortens the time you’ll be paying interest on the loan, says Alain Nana-Sinkam, co-founder of Remarkit Automotive, a firm that analyzes market trends. Putting down more money up front also means you’ll be paying interest on a smaller amount, costing you less overall. “With interest rates trending higher, CR recommends that buyers make a…

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Welcome to the Future of Noise Canceling

This blurring of the lines between audio and health devices looks set to be a trend across the industry. “We really want to make sure that we take care of our customers’ hearing,” says Miikka Tikander, the Helsinki-based head of audio at Bang & Olufsen. Tikander points to recent data about the decline in hearing…

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New SUVs Really Do Have Worse Visibility, Study Shows

As SUVs have grown in popularity, automakers have given them more aggressive exterior designs that have reduced forward visibility. For example, drivers of a 1997 Honda CR-V could see 68 percent of the area 33 feet in front of the vehicle, but drivers of a 2022 model can only see 28 percent of that same…

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Best Battery-Powered Snow Blowers of 2025

But should you choose a battery snow blower instead of a gas snow blower? “Battery snow blowers are really nipping at the heels of comparably sized gas models in terms of performance, and they offer advantages that gas snow blowers can’t match,” says Dave Trezza, who oversees CR’s snow blower tests. Battery-powered machines start instantly with…

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Talking Cars 486: The All Questions Episode

Main theme: This week, the podcast panel opens the mailbag to answer your pressing questions about car buying, maintenance, safety, and the auto industry. We even bring in some special guests! Audience Questions• Should I get a new car if my really old car still works fine?• Does the “don’t buy a new car in…

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A CR Ergonomics Expert Shows Off His Home Workspace

In his case, the field of play is a compact New York apartment, and the equipment is a sophisticated blend of modern engineering and scrappy, real-world ingenuity. He doesn’t just study how people work; he brings those lessons home with him, navigating the same cramped spaces and long hours as the rest of us, but…

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The 73 Best Deals From REI’s 2025 Holiday Sale

Today is the last day of REI’s Holiday Sale. For the past 10 years REI has shut its doors for Black Friday, suggesting that instead potential customers should get outside and enjoy the world around you. That’s great advice, but of course Black Friday is also one of the biggest retail spending days of the…

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