Posts

The Best Roll-Top Dry Bag

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When you’re planning a watery adventure — be it kayaking, canoeing, or even just camping in dicey weather — a roll-top dry bag should be at the top of your gear list. After testing 15 dry bags, we’re confident that the Ortlieb Dry-Bag is the most dependable, moderately priced, durable, and easy to use of the lot. It closes readily, packs well into other, larger bags, and comes in more sizes than any other bag we tested. from Wirecutter: Reviews for the Real World https://ift.tt/JgBv0oE via IFTTT

The Best Fishing Rod for Most Anglers

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You could easily spend thousands on a fishing rod that’s ultra lightweight or designed for a specific species. However, most casual fishers — and even some experts — would be happier with something more versatile and less expensive. We’ve spent hundreds of hours over the past decade testing spinning rods (and reels) for casual anglers on reasonable budgets, and right now our favorite all-around rod for most people is the Ugly Stik Carbon Inshore Spinning Rod . (We also have a standalone guide to fishing reels .) It’s approachable enough for a novice to learn on, yet it performs well enough for a seasoned veteran to depend on. And it won’t give up its ghost without some considerable abuse. from Wirecutter: Reviews for the Real World https://ift.tt/d5PJwcO via IFTTT

The Best Fishing Reel

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You could easily spend thousands on a fishing reel that’s ultra lightweight or designed for a specific species. Does that sound familiar? It should, at least if you’ve read the companion guide to this one, our guide to the best fishing rod . And the message in these two guides is the same: Most casual fishers — and even some experts — are likely to be happier with something more versatile and less expensive. We’ve spent hundreds of hours over the past decade testing spinning reels and rods for casual anglers on reasonable budgets. For the past eight years, our favorite all-around reel for most people has been the Daiwa BG Spinning Reel . Like our favorite fishing rod (the Ugly Stick Carbon Inshore Spinning Rod ), it’s approachable enough for a beginner to learn on, yet it performs well enough for a seasoned veteran to rely on. from Wirecutter: Reviews for the Real World https://ift.tt/kTsEfCg via IFTTT

The Best E-Reader

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A dedicated ebook reader is pretty astonishing. It puts an entire library of books in the palm of your hand, it’s smaller than a paperback, it lasts for weeks on a single charge, and it gives you an excellent reading experience. After testing every competitive ebook reader available in the US, we can say that Amazon’s 2024 Kindle , its cheapest model, is the best for almost everyone. from Wirecutter: Reviews for the Real World https://ift.tt/dyAwI5J via IFTTT

The Best Robot Mop-Vac Combos

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In an ideal world, you’d clean your floors every day, staying ahead of dust and grime and watching your home transform into a spotless, sparkling palace. We live in the real world, however, where a host of other household responsibilities and chores vie for our attention. The newest robot mop-vacuum combos are designed to bridge the gap. And as long as you set your expectations accordingly (these things aren’t miracle workers ), a good robot mop-vac combo can handle day-to-day floor cleaning with consistency and aplomb. After testing a range of models priced between $400 and $1,600, we think the Narwal Freo Pro offers the best combination of performance and value. from Wirecutter: Reviews for the Real World https://ift.tt/UIbfPBG via IFTTT

Our Favorite Plant Pots and Stands

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My mother has always had the magic touch with houseplants. But after several failed attempts at keeping my own plants alive (including various dead cacti and a forgotten coffee plant in a bathroom window), I assumed her skills had skipped a generation. Then plant pots turned everything around. During the pandemic, I lived outside in my garden, and when I wasn’t outside, I was scrolling for ideas to add to my garden. I discovered so many lovely plant pots, but some of my favorites were too delicate to put outside. If I wanted the pretty pots, I’d have to learn to keep indoor plants alive. By the end of that summer, I was collecting handmade pottery and diligently studying houseplant care. Now I have an indoor garden filling up my office. It turns out that putting a houseplant in a gorgeous pot is an excellent way to remind yourself to pay attention to it (and to its health). If you’re also looking for some pots to show off your indoor greenery, this guide offers 13 stunners to catch...

Skip the Stain Removers. This Laundry Detergent Is All You Need.

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One of the best things about working at Wirecutter is having access to exceptionally discerning experts on a wide range of topics. Have a mold problem in your house? Liam McCabe is just a Slack message away. Want to revive a pilly sweater ? Zoe Vanderweide ’s got you. And when it comes to laundry, Andrea Barnes is the preeminent expert on getting things clean. Even as someone who has been knee-deep in cleaning for years now, I’m always learning something new from Andrea about the chemistry of laundry detergents and how the ingredients in each formula work together to get stains and odors out of clothing. She explained to me, for example, that instead of adding borax to weaker laundry detergent for better odor removal, I could save time and money by using one of our laundry detergent picks instead. And since I’m sensitive to scent and artificial fragrance, Andrea suggested Tide Free & Gentle. In our testing, Tide Free & Gentle's formula proved to be excellent at odor...