Our newly expanded testing primarily reflects shower coverage, shower force, water consumption, and ease of use. For shower coverage, we assess how uniform the spray pattern is for each showerhead. To evaluate shower force, we use a force gauge underneath the shower and compare that measurement with an ideal, most comfortable value. A shower can…
This year marks a decade of REI’s observance of the consumer high holy day, Black Friday. 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…
Weatherproofing. Every model needs an IP (weatherproofing) rating to survive outside, so if you don’t see one, don’t buy those lights. There’s usually a lower rating for the control box compared to the rest of the lights, so be sure you can put that somewhere that’s a little less exposed to the elements. (As mentioned…
Many of our favorite TVs and monitors feature displays with high refresh rates, promising smoother on-screen action and a sharper picture. The same is true for the best Android phones and all of Apple’s iPhone Pro models (since the 13 Pro and onward). Today, every iPhone 17 model can reach a 120-Hz refresh rate. It…
Signs of this crisis are not merely anecdotal. A 2025 report by the Consumer Federation of America found that the average home insurance premium increased (PDF) by nearly 25 percent from 2021 to 2024. But premiums grew even faster in many regions, and more than half the respondents to CR’s 2024-2025 survey of 23,917 U.S….
Allen St. John Allen St. John has been a senior product editor at CR since 2016, focusing on digital privacy, audio devices, printers, and home products. He was a senior editor at Condé Nast and a contributing editor at publications including Road & Track and The Village Voice. A New York Times bestselling author, he’s…
Leather, suede, silk, and linen: These are all items that should be dry-cleaned and not machine-washed to protect the fabric, says Sarah Armstrong, new product brand manager at the home appliance maker Maytag. Shoes: Leather, wool, velvet, silk, and shoes with cork soles or any kind of beading on them would be damaged if you…
Potty training a puppy is not for the faint of heart—especially if you live in a cold climate and are introducing them to the concept of going outside in the snow, rain, or biting cold. There are times when puppy pads are a lifesaver. If you live in a high-rise apartment, are away for most…
Prior to publication, CR contacted the manufacturers of all 23 products we tested and shared our results and methodology with them. Five companies have not responded to our requests for comment: BSN, Dymatize, Jocko Fuel, Muscle Milk, and Owyn. Optimum Nutrition declined to comment, and Huel did not respond to questions about the amount of…
Despite touting ambitious goals of making America healthier, the Trump administration on Monday revealed in court documents that it is backpedaling on a ban on cancer-causing asbestos. Last year, under the Biden administration, the Environmental Protection Agency took a long-awaited step to ban the last type of asbestos still used in the US—chrysotile asbestos, aka…