To make sure the vehicles we highlight represent smart buys, we concentrated on models with a strong Overall Score, factoring road-test performance, owner satisfaction, reliability, and safety. (Learn more about CR car ratings here.) Below, we list potential savings and negotiation target prices. The cars are in descending order based on the percent of potential…
To rate vacuums on how well they pick up pet hair, we devised a pet hair lab test for full-sized upright and canister vacuums in which technicians take 5 grams of long, feathery fur from Maine Coon cats and scatter, stomp, and smash the hair into a medium-pile carpet. Then we make multiple passes with…
If you decide that an OTC hearing aid may work for you, check out our evaluation of eight models. Also, considering the following questions can help you narrow down your choices. How customizable is it? OTC hearing aids come in two types: self-fitting and preset. With a self-fitting hearing aid, you’ll typically use a smartphone…
To evaluate the best method for clipping a dog’s nails, we ordered four of the most popular dog nail clippers and grinders. We used each system with our 9-year-old skittish border collie, Gavyn, evaluating each for ease of use, ease of cleanup, and noise level. We also spoke with veterinarians about the best nail clipper…
There’s plenty more bounty, from standards like in-ear sensors for auto-pause to advanced options like computational voice isolation for notably clear calling and Spatial Audio with head tracking (if you’re into that) via gyroscopes and accelerometers. The Pro 2’s IPX4 water resistance could (and should) be better, but they atone with an excellent battery life…
In an industry that prides itself on disruption, dressing down became its own kind of dominance, while also reflecting the tech ideology of the time: Innovation over tradition, efficiency over excess, and—at least in its early days—a belief that technology existed to serve people, not just profit from them. Indeed, in the early 2000s and…
Trixie, 8-Year-Old Pit Bull, 56 PoundsTrixie enjoys rearranging any available household blankets and pillows to meet her high comfort standards. When not building nests she strives to kiss every person she meets to fight the bad reputation that some pit bull owners have brought to the breed. Zuzu, 1-Year-Old Shih Tzu, 11 PoundsZuzu enjoys shredding…
Dog shoes are designed to protect your dog’s paws from the elements, whether that means hot concrete during the summertime, puddles during rain showers, or icy winter conditions. They come in nearly as many designs as human shoes. You’ll find adorable boots, rain boots, “sneakers” with traction, and even Croc-like sandals. But how effective are…
Other Touchscreen Gloves We Tested Sealskinz Waterproof Cold Weather Gloves. Photograph: Simon Hill Some of the touchscreen gloves we tried fell short of a recommendation for one reason or another. Marks and Spencer Knitted Gloves for $18 or £10: A gift from my in-laws, these knitted gloves from reliable UK retailer Marks and Spencer are pretty…
The temptation with down jackets is get the warmest one you can. If you’re spending the winter in northern Wisconsin as I did while testing these, that’s not a bad idea. But if you’re just looking for a little extra warm during shoulder season trips, or even high altitude summer backpacking, you don’t need an…