Shopping

An immersion blender, also called a stick or hand blender, goes to the food instead of the other way around. You put the blade end right into the pot, bowl, or cup and blend in place. That makes it handy for pureeing soup on the stove, whipping up a smoothie in a tall cup, smoothing...

Fresh waffles on a weekend morning are hard to beat, and a waffle maker makes them easy. Pour in batter, close the lid, and a few minutes later you have a crisp, golden waffle ready for syrup, fruit, or a scoop of yogurt. Waffle makers are also handy for more than breakfast: hash browns, grilled...

A Dutch oven is a heavy pot with a tight-fitting lid, and it may be the most versatile piece of cookware in the kitchen. It can sear meat on the stove, then go into the oven for a long, slow braise. It simmers soups and chili, boils pasta, fries chicken, and bakes crusty bread. Because...

A harness wraps around a dog's chest and shoulders instead of its neck. When the dog pulls or lunges, the pressure spreads across the body rather than landing on the throat. That makes a harness a popular choice for puppies, small dogs, strong pullers, and dogs that ride in the car or go on long...

A good picnic blanket turns any patch of grass, sand, or backyard into a place to eat, read, nap, or watch the kids play. A bad one soaks through the moment it touches damp ground, collects sand in every fold, and never quite fits back into its bag. Picnic blankets have changed a lot from...

A hard cooler is one of those pieces of gear that shows up everywhere once you own one. It keeps drinks cold at the beach, holds lunch on a road trip, carries food for a weekend of camping, and doubles as an extra seat at a tailgate. Coolers range from small lunch-size boxes to huge...

A good camping chair gets used far beyond the campsite. It comes to kids' soccer games, backyard fire pits, outdoor concerts, the beach, and fishing trips. A bad one sags, pinches, tips on uneven ground, or is too bulky to fit in the trunk with everything else. Camping chairs come in several styles, from basic...

Bath towels seem simple until you shop for them. Labels talk about Turkish cotton, ring-spun yarn, GSM, zero twist, and waffle weave, and prices range from a few dollars to far more for a single towel. The right towel depends on how you like it to feel, how humid your bathroom is, and how much...

You spend about a third of your life in bed, so sheets are worth a little thought. The right set feels good against your skin, suits the way you sleep, fits your mattress without popping off the corners, and holds up to years of washing. Shopping for sheets can be confusing, though. Labels talk about...

A hand mixer is one of the most useful small appliances for anyone who bakes, even occasionally. It creams butter and sugar for cookies, beats cake batter smooth, whips cream and egg whites, and mashes potatoes in a few minutes. It costs far less than a stand mixer and fits in a drawer. Hand mixers...

A good carry-on suitcase saves time and money on almost every trip. It skips the checked bag fee on many fares, avoids the wait at the baggage carousel, and keeps clothes and essentials with you if a connection goes wrong. For a long weekend or a short work trip, a carry-on is often the only...

An air fryer is a small countertop convection oven. A fan blows hot air around food in a basket or on a rack, which browns and crisps the outside much like frying, but with little or no oil. It heats up fast, cooks small batches quickly, and keeps the kitchen cooler than a full-size oven...

A hair dryer is one of the most used tools in the bathroom, so a good one pays off every day. The right dryer cuts drying time, gives more control over styling, and is comfortable to hold. The wrong one is loud, heavy, or too hot, and it can leave hair frizzy or dry. Most...

A robot vacuum takes one of the most repetitive chores off your list. Set a schedule, and it runs while you are at work, asleep, or out for the day, picking up crumbs, dust, and pet hair before they build up. It will not replace a full-size vacuum for deep cleaning, but it keeps floors...

A good daypack makes a hike more comfortable from the first mile to the last. It carries water, snacks, a layer, and safety gear without digging into your shoulders or bouncing on every step. A pack that fits poorly or is too small can turn a nice walk into a chore. Daypacks range from simple...

A working smoke alarm is one of the simplest and cheapest ways to protect a home. It gives early warning of a fire, often before anyone smells smoke, and those extra minutes matter most at night when everyone is asleep. Many homes have alarms that are old, in the wrong spot, or missing batteries, so...

A water filter pitcher is one of the easiest ways to have cold, better-tasting water on hand. There is nothing to install, it costs little up front, and it cuts down on bottled water. Many people buy one because their tap water tastes or smells of chlorine, and others want to reduce specific contaminants such...