The Wirecutter Favorites: Life Enhancers

From a space heater that saves a marriage to sunscreen that saves a surfer’s skin, Wirecutter’s staff opens up about the best things they bought in 2024.

Guests: We heard voicemails from Wirecutter staffers including Mel Plaut, Ingela Amundson, Annemarie Conte, Jackie Reeve, Brent Butterworth, Katie Okamoto, Zoe Vanderweide, Liam McCabe, Elissa Sanci, Alex Aciman, Kathleen Squires, Julia Bush, Claire Wilcox,  Jon Chase,  Lauren Dragan, and Dorie Chevlan. 

Products We Recommend: 

• Mel Plaut likes: Vornado AVH10 space heater
• Ingela Amundson likes: Sterilite Stacking Laundry Basket
• Annemarie Conte likes: Garmin Forerunner 165 watch
• Jackie Reeve likes: Donner DUC-1 Concert Ukulele
• Brent Butterworth likes: JBL Go 4 Bluetooth Speaker
• Katie Okamoto likes: HAY Matin Table Lamp 
• Zoe Vanderweide likes: Harper Wilde Bliss Triangle Bralette
• Liam McCabe likes: Gordon 20-in-1 Multi-Tool
• Elissa Sanci likes: Trtl Pillow
• Alex Aciman likes: Comfort Colors 1717 Adult Heavyweight Tee
• Kathleen Squires likes: The New York Times Premium Birthday Edition book
• Julia Bush likes: Adizero Adios Pro 3 super shoes
• Claire Wilcox likes: Blue Lizard Sensitive Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50+
• Jon Chase likes: Channel Master FLATenna
• Lauren Dragon likes: WhiteBark Workwear Full Cross-Back Apron
• Dorie Chevlen likes: Cuisinart Round Flip Belgian Waffle Maker WAF-F30
• Christine Cyr Clisset likes: Technivorm Moccamaster KBT coffee maker
• Caira Blackwell likes: Lilysilk 25 Momme Oxford Envelope Luxury Pillowcase
• Rosie Guerin likes: ViscoSoft 3 inch Memory Foam Mattress Topper

Additional Reading: 

• The Best T-Shirt I Ever Bought Came From a Midwest Strip Mall. I Tracked It Down on Amazon.
• I Test Bras for a Living. The Harper Wilde Triangle Bralette Is the Only One I Actually Wear. 
• Super Shoes Aren’t Just for Olympians. But Do Casual Runners Really Need Them?
• The Silly-Looking Trtl Travel Pillow Is the Only Way I Can Sleep on Flights

We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more›

Wirecutter Social and Website

Instagram: /wirecutter

Threads: /@wirecutter

Twitter: /wirecutter

Facebook: /thewirecutter

TikTok: /wirecutter

LinkedIn: /nyt-wirecutter

Website: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/

Newsletter: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/newsletters/

The Wirecutter Show is executive produced by Rosie Guerin and produced by Abigail Keel.Engineering support from Maddy Masiello and Nick Pitman. Episodes are mixed by Catherine Anderson, Efim Shapiro, Rowan Niemisto, Sophia Lanman, and Sonia Herrero. Original music by Dan Powell, Marion Lozano, Elisheba Ittoop, and Diane Wong. Wirecutter’s deputy publisher and general manager is Cliff Levy. Ben Frumin is Wirecutter’s editor-in-chief. Hosted by Rosie Guerin, Caira Blackwell and Christine Cyr Clisset.

Find edited transcripts for each episode here: The Wirecutter Show Podcast