The Best Light Therapy Lamp

Shifts in the number of daylight hours—due to changing seasons or long-distance travel—can have varying effects on people. For some, limited daylight hours can sap energy. For others, the effects can be more serious. After putting in 33 hours of research—including reading two books and five comprehensive studies on the subject and interviewing one of the scientists who discovered seasonal affective disorder (SAD)—we’ve concluded that the Carex Day-Light Classic Plus is the best light therapy lamp to treat SAD symptoms.

Dismiss

The Best Waterproof Tough Camera

If you plan to bring a camera with you when you go rock climbing, skiing, or snorkeling, it makes the most sense to have a waterproof tough camera that can withstand modest falls and can work while completely submerged underwater.

After putting in 20 hours of research and testing, and subjecting our test cameras to rough handling and a swim in a pool, we’ve concluded that the OM System Tough TG-7 is the best choice. It’s tough, it captures 4K high-definition video, and it takes good-looking photos without any futzing on your part.

Dismiss

The Best Nonalcoholic Drinks

I don’t drink alcohol, but I love to drink—you can catch me guzzling green apple Gatorade, swirling homemade kombucha, and squirreling away cans (not bottles!) of Coke from the corner store every chance I get. I live a very satisfying beverage life sans booze, but soda doesn’t always cut it when I want to feel included in a toast, bring drinks to share at a picnic, or sit and sip on something that is itself the main event.

Dismiss

When Is the Best Time to Buy a TV?

Quality TVs now come at a lower everyday price than ever. One example: Our pick for the best budget 4K TV, the Hisense U6K Series Google TV, sells for under $500 in the 55-inch size. Just a few years ago, a similar-size TV of comparable picture and sound quality would cost hundreds more.

But there are key times throughout the year when you can save even more, and with a big enough discount, you might even be able to spring for a higher-tier model equipped with features such as a brighter display, deeper black levels, and—important if you’re a serious gamer—faster refresh rates.

Dismiss

The Best Flashlight

The smartphone in your pocket probably has a flashlight, and it’s probably pretty good at shining about 3 feet in front of you. But you can get far better illumination, versatility, ergonomics, and durability with the ThruNite Archer 2A V3, a flashlight that has a lot in common with its costlier competitors. We settled on this model after spending four weeks in the New Hampshire woods with 26 flashlights, draining almost 80 batteries, researching the topic for over 55 hours, reading through countless threads at a number of flashlight enthusiast forums, and speaking to a man who has personally reviewed almost 200 flashlights.

Dismiss

I Was a Professional Carpenter for 10 Years. Here's the Screwdriver I Use at Home.

The Megapro 13-in-1 is the ultimate kitchen-drawer tool.

Dismiss

The Best Humidifier

The best humidifier releases gradual, consistent moisture throughout a room, making you feel healthier and more comfortable. And it doesn’t require constant maintenance or leave dank puddles of dew to dapple everything you own. Sounds simple, right? You’d be surprised how hard it is to find.

After testing dozens of humidifiers over the years, we think the Wi-Fi–enabled Levoit LV600S Smart Hybrid Ultrasonic Humidifier is close to that ideal: It’s quiet, durable, and easier to deal with overall than any other humidifier we’ve tested, with a 1.5-gallon tank that will last all day.

Dismiss