This 2018, I went a little crazy on the product testing. Ever since I started writing gift guides, I get emails from all kinds of cool brands offering samples for me to consider. It’s hard to turn down — plus, I’m sick of reading gift guides where the writers clearly haven’t tested the products themselves. I’ve made it my goal not to recommend anything I haven’t tried and enjoyed enough to buy.
After I test products, I mostly end up giving them away as gifts, or donating them to local charities — but some products were so good I had to keep them for myself. Over the next few weeks, I'll be doling out an extensive list that follows all those products: out of over 200 products I tested in 2018, these are the ones I still use, would or have bought myself again, and recommend most highly.
Best Mattress: Nectar Mattress
ADVERTISEMENT
I slept on a Casper for two years before I tried this Nectar mattress, and to me, there was no contest. While I often woke up with a sore back from my Casper, the Nectar mattress is plush-feeling while still firm enough to please my partner. Also delivered straight to the door, it arrives neatly rolled up in a bag, expanding to full, plush thickness within a few hours — and comes with a 365-day home trial, so if you don’t like it, you can return it.
Best Air Purifier: Dyson Pure Cool Tower Fan
This fan has a nighttime setting for quieter use, which has come in handy for me. But what makes the Dyson Pure Cool Tower Fan extra-special is that has a real-time it LCD monitor that shows the indoor pollution you can’t see in real time, and then reacts automatically using an algorithm, with a filter system that captures 99.97 percent of microscopic allergens and pollutants. Having a clean room and white noise is key for my sleep, so this helped me on multiple levels.
Best Timesaver: Roomba 960
Having a Roomba feels like having a little robot dog who cleans up after you — I call him Roombi. I wasn’t sure how well the Roomba 960 would clean, but it really works. I use it often, and recommend it highly.
Most Practical Home Fitness Aid: Wellness Fitness Mat
Designed to be less-ugly for home use, the Wellness Fitness Mat is wonderfully cushy and easy to clean. I use mine all the time for working on the floor and lifting weights while watching TV. Definitely nicer than a yoga mat, and since you won’t roll it up, the invitation to stretch on it will always be there.
Best Kitchen Appliance: KRUPS Air Fryer
This KRUPS Air Fryer is perfect for lazy cooks like me. I toss in some pre-cut frozen fries, or even broccoli flowers, and enjoy a crispy snack in less than 20 minutes, all with little or no oil required. It’s become a go-to kitchen tool.
Best For Night-Sweaters: Nest Cooling Mattress Protector
I’m a night-sweater, but the Nest Cooling Mattress Protector seems to have helped keep stains and sweating to a minimum. It also makes my mattress extra-comfy, with a thick layer of gel memory foam.
Best Way To Get Your Steps In: Lifespan Under-Desk Treadmill
I tested the Lifespan Under-Desk Treadmill a few years ago, and I loved it so much that I had to buy one when I moved to California. While I use it mostly for watching TV and working out at home, I also sometimes do actual work on it. Get your steps in and be perfectly distracted by your computer while you do it. Well worth the investment.
Scouted is here to surface products that you might like. Follow us on Flipboard. Please note that if you buy something featured in one of our posts, The Daily Beast may collect a share of sales.
