The Anatomy of a Wirecutter Guide
In Wirecutter parlance, “picks” are what we call our top recommendations. Here’s a summary of each type of pick:
Top pick: This is the product that we recommend most people buy, based on our testing, the features it has, and the value it offers for its price. (If you don’t look at any other section in a guide, we won’t hold it against you.) Often, we recommend just one top pick, but sometimes we have multiple top picks based on different preferences. This section is where we critically explain why this item is the best choice rather than just issuing a blanket statement telling you that it’s the best. We do so via comparative statements like “Of the 23 models we tested, this one proved to be the best by far in X, Y, and Z respects,” so you can understand our methodology and how the top pick performed against other contenders.
Runner-up: As the silver medalist, the runner-up usually stands out from the competition but may have a drawback or two, such as a lack of a certain feature or an outdated look. Other times, a runner-up is a runner-up simply because of our testers’ preferences. It’s a perfectly solid option for people who demand quality but don’t sweat the small stuff. Often, it’s also the model that we recommend people buy if the top pick is sold out.
Best for: These picks are best suited for a particular need, aesthetic, or environment. They might be best for a particular body type, for instance, or a small apartment, or older kids. They may stand out to a specific type of shopper for a particular feature, but they may not be the best choice for most people. Rather than letting these stellar alternatives languish in the Competition section, we explain why they might be the right fit for your situation. For example, the Zojirushi Stainless Steel Mug has been our top-pick travel mug for years, and its leakproof design makes it perfect for carrying in a tote or backpack. However, the Contigo West Loop 3.0 is our pick that’s best for drivers, as that mug fits better in most car cup holders.
Budget pick: If a budget pick were a song lyric, it would be from Bruce Springsteen’s “Thunder Road”: “You ain’t a beauty, but hey, you’re all right.” And sometimes that’s enough. The budget pick is good, especially for its price — it probably doesn’t have all the bells and whistles, but it gets the job done.
Upgrade pick: Sometimes, a particular item is worth splurging on, especially if you really care about the benefits it can provide. For example, our top-pick Dutch oven is the roughly $100 Lodge 6-Quart Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven, but if you’re a dedicated cook and have an extra $300 to spare, our upgrade pick, the Le Creuset Round Dutch Oven, is worth the price, as it’s the kind of thing that performs extremely well and is passed down through generations.
