
Wirecutter’s 5 Most Popular Picks in October 2019
by Annam Swanson and Wirecutter Staff
These five awesome picks were the most-purchased Wirecutter recommendations in October.
’Tis the season for deals
Here’s how to prepare:
1. Bookmark our Black Friday page.
2. Follow @wirecutterdeals.
3. Sign up for our deals newsletter.
New + updated
- The Best Gifts for 3-Year-Olds
yesterday
- The Best Gifts for 2-Year-Olds
yesterday
- The Best Gifts for 1-Year-Olds
yesterday
- The Best Bed Pillows
yesterday
- How to Find Black Friday Mattress Deals
yesterday
- The Best Electric Blanket and Heated Mattress Pad
yesterday
Deals We Love
Price drops on products we already love
Thanksgiving prep starts now
Thanksgiving may fall late this year, but it’ll still be here before you know it. Time to preorder the turkey, finalize the guest list, and take stock of what you need, whether it’s a bigger roasting pan, a better apron, or just a lot more plates.
Electronics

The Best Wireless Earbuds
by Lauren Dragan
Offering great sound, comfort, and convenience in a true wireless design, the Jabra Elite 65t is our pick for the best wireless earbuds.

Amazon Echo vs. Google Home: Which Voice Controlled Speaker Is Best for You?
by Grant Clauser
We spent months living with voice-controlled smart speakers, and we think the Amazon Echo and Google Home are both pretty good, depending on your needs.

The Best NAS for Most Home Users
by Thorin Klosowski and Joel Santo Domingo
Synology’s DS218+ is still the best 2-bay NAS device for home users because of its speed, useful features, and (relative) ease of use.
Home & Garden

The Best Bed Pillows
by Autumn Whitefield-Madrano and Jackie Reeve
Our favorite pillow for side- and back-sleepers is the supportive Nest Easy Breather. Stomach-sleepers should try the Sleep Number PlushComfort Ultimate.

The Best Electric Blanket and Heated Mattress Pad
by Courtney Schley and Alex Arpaia
We think most will be happier with the Sunbeam Premium Quilted Heated Mattress Pad, but if you want a blanket, try the Sunbeam Velvet Plush Heated Blanket.

Amazon Echo vs. Google Home: Which Voice Controlled Speaker Is Best for You?
by Grant Clauser
We spent months living with voice-controlled smart speakers, and we think the Amazon Echo and Google Home are both pretty good, depending on your needs.

How to Get Better Indoor Air Quality
by Harry Sawyers
Use these items to clean your home’s air, reduce the sources of respiratory problems, and limit the infiltration of new particulates.
Kitchen & Dining

The Best Pie Plate
by Christine Cyr Clisset and Marguerite Preston
After nearly 50 hours baking dozens of pies since 2013, we’re confident that the Emile Henry 9-Inch Pie Dish is the best pie plate for most people.

The Gear You Need to Start Sous Vide Cooking
by Nick Guy
We’ve been testing sous vide gear for over four years now, and here's what we think you need to get started.

The Best Folding Tables
by Thorin Klosowski
After setting up and breaking down nine folding tables, we’d choose the sturdy and compact Office Star Resin Multipurpose Table for extra table space.
Money

The Best Business Credit Cards
by Taylor Tepper
Our business credit card picks can help a small-business owner access an all-important line of credit, good customer service, and even rewards.

Discover it Business Card Review: A Solid Cash-Back Card That Doesn’t Require a High Credit Score
by Jenny Hoff
The Discover it Business offers straightforward rewards and acclaimed customer service, and qualifying doesn’t require an excellent credit score (740-plus).

Chase Freedom Review: An Honest Assessment
by Sally French
With this credit card, you earn 5% in bonus categories that Chase determines each quarter. See if your spending lines up.

The Best Credit Cards With No Foreign Transaction Fees
by Sally French
Foreign transaction fees typically add about 3% to purchases made abroad. Luckily, these credit cards don’t charge them.
Travel

The Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards
by Taylor Tepper
Our travel rewards credit card picks reward big flyers, folks who can get big value out of an annual-fee card, and those who want rewards with no annual fee.

Traveling With Only a Carry-On
by Kit Dillon
If there’s one thing our staff has learned working remotely all over the world, it’s “Don’t check a bag unless you have to.” Here’s how to avoid it.

How to Sleep Well (or at Least Better) While Traveling
by Christine Ryan
Our sleep and travel editors recommend gear for coping with travel-induced insomnia, vetted through hours of testing and years of personal experience.
Office

The Best Business Credit Cards
by Taylor Tepper
Our business credit card picks can help a small-business owner access an all-important line of credit, good customer service, and even rewards.

The Best Home-Office Setup Under $1,000
by Mark Smirniotis
You can put together a high-quality home work space on a modest budget.

The Best Office Chair
by Thorin Klosowski and Melanie Pinola
After a fresh round of testing, we still think the Steelcase Gesture is the best office chair for most people. It’s been our favorite since 2015.

The Essential Ergonomic Gear for Your Home Office
by Erica Ogg
We’ve spent over a thousand hours testing more than 100 pieces of gear that encourage ergonomically healthy posture.
Appliances

Every Dyson Product We’ve Tested, Ranked
by Harry Sawyers
Our take on Dyson’s gear, and how essential (or unnecessary) all of it is.

The Best Electric Pressure Cooker
by Lesley Stockton
After 60 hours of research and testing, we’re confident the Instant Pot Duo 6-Quart is the best electric pressure cooker you can get.

The Best Sous Vide Machine and Gear
by Tim Barribeau and Nick Guy
After testing dozens of models, we think Anova’s fast, accurate, and affordable Precision Cooker Nano is the best tool for sous vide cooking at home.
Health & Fitness

10 Gifts for the Skin-Care Obsessed
by Justin Krajeski
We spoke with experts from Goop and Men’s Health to find the best skin-care gifts for skin-thusiasts, from a 93-year-old cream to a rose-quartz face massager.

The Best Boxer Briefs for Men
by Kit Dillon
After researching dozens of boxer briefs and testing eight, we recommend the Saxx Undercover and Mack Weldon 18-Hour Jersey briefs for their comfort and support.

The Apple Watch Is the Best Smartwatch for iPhone Owners
by Nick Guy
The Apple Watch Series 5’s always-on screen is worth the money if you’re upgrading from a Series 2 or older version.

The Best Bike Basket
by Eve O'Neill
After considering 15 baskets and testing four of them on our everyday errands, we recommend the Wald Multi-Fit Front Basket for most recreational cyclists.
Baby & Kid

The Best Gifts for 3-Year-Olds
by Caitlin Giddings and Wirecutter Staff
Many of the best gifts for 3-year-olds encourage role-play and make-believe—or help teach cooperative play.

The Best Gifts for 2-Year-Olds
by Caitlin Giddings and Wirecutter Staff
The best gifts for 2-year-olds challenge their fine motor skills and let them bounce, scoot, and wiggle out their abundant energy.

The Best Gifts for 1-Year-Olds
by Caitlin Giddings and Wirecutter Staff
The best gifts for 1-year-olds encourage open-ended play. And embrace the unwrapping as part of the joy of gift-giving.
Outdoors

The Best Ski Socks
by Colin Rosemont

The Best Bike Basket
by Eve O'Neill
After considering 15 baskets and testing four of them on our everyday errands, we recommend the Wald Multi-Fit Front Basket for most recreational cyclists.

Great Gear for Picnics and Grilling
by Wirecutter Staff
We spent over 85 hours researching and testing—and selected our favorite tools and gadgets from past guides—to bring you the best gear for picnics and cookouts.

The Best Rain Boots for Men and Women
by Eve O'Neill
We’ve found nine pairs of rain boots that’ll do more than just keep your feet dry—they’ll match your style and environment no matter what you need.
Pets

What to Buy Before Adopting a Cat
by Kaitlyn Wells
If you’re adopting a cat, you’ll need more than just a litter box and some food—here are the things you should have before you bring your kitty home.

The Best Winter Jackets and Raincoats for Dogs
by Rebekah Valentine
We took 10 dog jackets on dozens of walks. The WeatherBeeta 300D Deluxe Reflective Parka is the best for keeping your dog warm and dry this winter.

The Best Dog Beds
by Nick Guy
After testing 13 models, we think the Majestic Pet Products Suede Bagel Dog Bed is the best traditional dog bed—but we have picks for other styles, too.
Hobby & Crafts

The Best Record Player Setup for Beginners
by Adrienne Maxwell
Start your vinyl music journey here with our picks for turntable, receiver, speakers, and more.

Board Games We Love
by Wirecutter Staff
Thousands of board games are released each year—we share some staff favorites that require more strategy, have deeper narratives, or are particularly beautiful.

The Best Nintendo Switch Accessories
by Wirecutter Staff
We’ve researched and tested dozens of cases, controllers, stands, docks, and other accessories for the Nintendo Switch to separate the good ones from the junk.

The Best Ukulele for Beginners
by Brent Butterworth
The Alvarez RU22C is the best ukulele for beginners because it has great sound and styling, and its concert-size body is good for kids and adults alike.
Gifts

The Best Gifts for 3-Year-Olds
by Caitlin Giddings and Wirecutter Staff
Many of the best gifts for 3-year-olds encourage role-play and make-believe—or help teach cooperative play.

The Best Gifts for 2-Year-Olds
by Caitlin Giddings and Wirecutter Staff
The best gifts for 2-year-olds challenge their fine motor skills and let them bounce, scoot, and wiggle out their abundant energy.

The Best Gifts for 1-Year-Olds
by Caitlin Giddings and Wirecutter Staff
The best gifts for 1-year-olds encourage open-ended play. And embrace the unwrapping as part of the joy of gift-giving.



















































