Hannah Schwob for NYT Wirecutter Budget pick With backlit controls, a latching lid, a built-in FM radio, and a slim design, this player offers a great way to enjoy CDs on the go. But in sound quality it’s a step down from our other picks. With its slim, disc-shaped, plastic enclosure, the Klim Nomad looks…

In this edition of The Recommendation, some Wirecutter journalists share the mainstays in their cozy routines, from a perfect sweater to quenching skin care. Fall temperatures finally hit New York City this past week. If you squint at the very tops of trees, errant leaves here and there are starting to burst into vibrant oranges…

Lighting falls into three primary categories: ambient, task and accent. Ambient lighting provides your base level of light, such as from ceiling fixtures, recessed lights, or a chandelier. Task lighting provides focused light for activities; think reading lamps and standing lamps. Accent lighting acts as a design element, adding layers of light to create a…

Michael Hession/NYT Wirecutter Top pick Proton VPN’s free subscription shines because it is one of the few that don’t limit your data. In the shady world of free VPNs, Proton VPN stands out with its trustworthy reputation and lack of a data cap. This is a free VPN you can rely on and use every…

I’m no stranger to scars. I have several from previous surgeries; such is life as a spoonie, or someone with chronic illness or pain. But last year, I spent nearly 10 months in a medical intensive care unit and five months on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) life support. My lungs and heart were failing. A…

These terms specifically relate to gaming TVs. If you need to brush up on basic TV terminology first, check out our original TV buying guide. TV vs. monitor: In the strictest sense, a TV is defined as a display device with a built-in TV tuner to pull in over-the-air signals, and a monitor is any…

Michael Murtaugh/NYT Wirecutter Top pick This compact scale is best for home cooks who want fast, consistent results when baking or cooking. The affordable Escali Primo Digital Scale is the best scale for most home-baking and cooking needs. In our tests it was one of the quickest and most accurate scales we tried, with one…

I need a gift for a pregnant mom who is having her second child. I’m attending a “sprinkle” and don’t want to get a baby gift, but rather a gift for the mom-to-be. — J.C. From gifting expert Samantha Schoech: I think that’s the perfect sentiment, especially since she probably saved a lot of the…

CHRISTINE: Hey there, it’s Christine. This week on the show, we’re talking about how to get the best deals on travel. Seeing new places can be incredibly fun, mind-expanding, fulfilling. It can also be really expensive, so we’re tackling how to do it all for less. Earlier this week, we dropped an episode with Elaine…