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Stink! Sweat! Pimples! Cramps! Puberty Is Coming. Prepare Your Kid With These Tools.

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When puberty rears its hormonal head, being prepared with the proper products can help “the awkward years” feel much less so. Kids need help figuring it all out. And, given the paltry guidance many parents received a few decades back, many of us do too. “If there’s something about your experience growing up that was horrible or traumatizing for you, you have the ability to make it better for the next generation’s relationship with their changing body,” says Charis Chambers, a Georgia-based gynecologist who goes by @theperioddoctor on Instagram. We talked with experts, crowdsourced with fellow moms and dads, and drew on our own experience as tween parents. And we’ve landed on some basic yet essential tools to help maturing kids learn to care for themselves as they grow. from Wirecutter: Reviews for the Real World https://ift.tt/ftdjX4I via IFTTT

The FCC Banned New Foreign-Made Wi-Fi Routers. Here’s What That Means.

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The topic of Wi-Fi routers is almost never a hot-button political issue. We all grouse about them occasionally — especially when the internet goes down for some inexplicable reason — but subjects of international intrigue? Not so much. That all changed when the Federal Communications Commission issued a ban on foreign-made Wi-Fi routers last week, citing security issues. Basically all routers are made outside of the US, including the one you’re using to connect to the internet right now. But you don’t need to throw out your router and go off the grid, appealing as that may sound. Here’s what you need to know about the ban and how it affects you. from Wirecutter: Reviews for the Real World https://ift.tt/mClHKJr via IFTTT

The Best Robot Lawn Mower

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New robotic lawn mowers have eliminated the nuisances that kept older models from delivering what most folks are hoping for: a big lawn mowed constantly, with zero oversight and minimal maintenance. Several such mowers have been emerging in the past few years, and they’re quite pricey. But they’re already looking good enough to shift the conversation on what’s possible in lawn care. We’ve tested one model so far (with plans for testing more ). It’s the Husqvarna Automower 450XH EPOS. We’ve been more than impressed with its capabilities, but it’s important to understand its limitations, because it’s not a fit for every lawn. from Wirecutter: Reviews for the Real World https://ift.tt/n4zrfuH via IFTTT

The Best Pregnancy Test

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A pregnancy test result should be clear and trustworthy. Choosing a reliable test upfront may save you the emotional turmoil of an uncertain result. Or, at the very least, it will save you some cash. We’ve assessed 37 different tests, scoured online reviews and manufacturers’ testing data, and talked with a clinical chemist, a fertility specialist, and an expert on the pregnancy hormone hCG. We’re confident that First Response Early Result is the home pregnancy test to take. Of course, the best test for you depends on your needs and your budget. We have recommendations for other traditional wand tests , digital wand tests (which display a “yes” or “pregnant,” or “no” or “not pregnant” result on a screen), bulk packs of test strips , and store-brand tests . from Wirecutter: Reviews for the Real World https://ift.tt/F4VPqRL via IFTTT

The Best Menstrual Cups and Discs

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Over the span of just three cycles, a reusable menstrual cup or disc can save you money. And switching to a menstrual cup or disc reduces the number of disposable tampons or pads you’d ordinarily toss in the trash. The best option for you largely depends on your anatomy . We’ve tested 50 menstrual cups and discs since 2016, and we’ve found that Cora’s The Easy-Does-It Cup is the best cup for first-time users because it’s easier than most to fold, insert, and remove . If you’re already comfortable with using a menstrual cup, the MeLuna Classic comes in many more size, shape, and stem options. We also have picks for people with low cervixes , high cervixes , and wide vaginas . If you prefer menstrual discs — which generally have a higher capacity than cups and rely on tension, rather than suction, to stay put in the vaginal canal — we like the Saalt Disc most overall. We recommend the Flex Reusable Disc for heavier flows. from Wirecutter: Reviews for the Real World https://ift...

I’m Wirecutter’s Style Expert. These Are My Go-To Spring Sneakers.

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In this edition of The Recommendation, our style expert dishes on how she’s wearing three fashionable sneakers this spring. Plus: 8 perfect white tees. This past winter — frigid, slushy, and seemingly interminable — didn’t present the ideal conditions for testing sneakers. But as a style writer, I do a lot of wacky things in service of fashion. So when I wasn’t tromping around in ugly, outfit-ruining snow boots, I spent this freezing February pacing my Brooklyn apartment (and occasionally venturing outside) in more than a dozen pairs of totally weather-inappropriate shoes. Sustained by visions of springtime, I was looking for chic, wear-anywhere styles that paired well with both casual and polished ensembles. I gravitated toward low and lean silhouettes, stuck to classic designs, and avoided microtrends (sorry, freaky toe shoes ). In the end, I found eight stylish-yet-practical pairs to feature in our brand-new guide . Now that the grass is finally poking through and the air is wa...

The Best Hiking Boots

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Whether you’re going on a day hike with friends or tackling an ambitious backpacking route, you need a good pair of hiking boots to protect your feet and stabilize your ankles. Over nine years, we’ve worn 61 pairs of hiking boots while trekking more than 1,650 miles and taking some 2 million steps across all types of terrain. We chose the Salomon Quest 4 Gore-Tex Hiking Boots ( men’s and women’s ) as the best hiking boots. They are breathable and waterproof, and they provide solid traction and support. These boots also have several essential features—including a wide toe box, sturdy heel protection, and a gusseted tongue—that allowed us to hike comfortably for miles. from Wirecutter: Reviews for the Real World https://ift.tt/w8F4WYB via IFTTT