If your home isn’t equipped for central air conditioning, mini-splits may be a smart alternative, particularly if you don’t want to install and remove clunky window units each season. Mini-splits, also known as ductless air conditioners, can cool large spaces quickly and quietly. Mini-splits are a type of heat pump. They cool your home by…
As we get out of the house, the gear-obsessed WIRED Reviews team is writing about our favorite bags and EDCs. Today, reviewer Martin Cizmar raves about his Topo Designs backpack. You can also check out other Bag Check stories where WIRED writers share their carryall of choice. Topo Designs may just make the best bags…
We evaluate fuel economy under standardized conditions, using a specific procedure on our test track to calculate stop-and-go city-driving numbers and a 5-mile stretch of a nearby high-speed road for highway mileage. (Learn more about how Consumer Reports tests cars.) Below, you’ll find the recommended vehicles that get the best fuel economy overall: Each gets…
Merino wool is a super fiber. The best merino wool clothing somehow manages to be comfortable in 95-degree heat, and merino base layers keep you warm well below freezing. Unlike synthetic fibers derived from petroleum, merino wool is natural and renewable. Merino wool’s versatility means there’s a bewildering array of blends and options to choose…
Brandon Herrera, a prominent gun influencer with over 4 million followers on YouTube, said in a video posted this week that while it was unfortunate that Pretti died, ultimately the fault was his own. “Pretti didn’t deserve to die, but it also wasn’t just a baseless execution,” Herrera said, adding without evidence that Pretti’s purpose…
For a while it seemed like the diarrhea-inducing parasite cyclospora was everywhere. Confirmed and suspected cases number more than 22,000 across 15 states, with 517 people requiring hospitalization. Two people in Michigan died. But now, with signs that the outbreak is slowing down, experts say lettuce is probably safe to eat again. The reason? Most…
Keith Flamer Keith Flamer has been a multimedia content creator at Consumer Reports since 2021, covering laundry, cleaning, small appliances, and home trends. Fascinated by interior design, architecture, technology, and all things mechanical, he translates CR’s testing engineers’ work into content that helps readers live better, smarter lives. Prior to CR, Keith covered luxury accessories…
But there has been negative news about gas ranges. Outside studies and CR’s own testing have found that cooking on a gas stove may produce byproducts that are bad for the environment and can pose risks to the respiratory health of certain vulnerable people. While research is ongoing, one thing is clear: Ventilation is critical…
Our testing shows that you have lots of great options. The top six phones in CR’s ratings are separated by just 1 point in Overall Score. And even the most basic models represent a leap in technology from a decade ago. That means you don’t have to buy the No. 1-rated phone to get a…
Many major retailers will adjust the price of an item if a customer can show it’s available elsewhere for less when they check out. A number of popular stores, however, do have policies for post-sale considerations, whether you find a better price elsewhere or the item goes on sale where you bought it. Some may…
