Throughout 2024, the CNN Underscored team has been hard at work testing new products to find the best worth buying. In every one of our hands-on, objective review roundups, we pick the top products across various categories, from electronics and health and fitness gear to home and kitchen essentials.
Each time we kick off our rigorous testing process, we begin by conducting extensive research on the top contenders in each product category. Then we create a testing pool of products and go hands-on with each one, judging them by our preestablished criteria. We run them through multiple tests in a real-world setting over several weeks or even months. In other words, we understand the importance of being thorough.
August was no different as we tested a variety of well-made and reliable products, including electric bikes that help with commuting to the office, smokeless fire pits that provide warmth and also give your food a unique wood-smoked flavor, minimalist shoes that let you enjoy the freedom and flexibility of walking barefoot and home theater projectors that bring a high-quality cinema experience to your living room. Below is a selection of the best products we tested in August.
Audio
Best Jabra wireless Bluetooth earbuds
Jabra Elite 10 (2nd Gen)
Best Jabra earbuds
Everything from their chic design to their build quality and sound architecture is on point with the Jabra Elite 10 (2nd Gen) wireless earbuds. They offer many smart features, strong noise cancellation and versatile sound in a sleek design. Now is the perfect time to grab a pair (or several) while supplies last.
Best noise-canceling headphones
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones
Best noise-canceling headphones
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra noise-canceling headphones provide the absolute best noise cancellation of any pair of headphones we've tested. They also offer exceptional 3D audio performance and smart functionality as well as an aesthetically pleasing user experience that makes them worth their high price tag.
Beauty and grooming
Best electric toothbrushes
Philips Sonicare 4100 Electric Toothbrush
Best electric toothbrush
The Philips Sonicare 4100 electric toothbrush offers simple, useful features like a pressure sensor and timer that make a big difference from traditional manual toothbrushes. It’s affordable, effective and compatible with various replacement brush heads from Philips and third parties. During testing, we liked the gentle mode that made it easy for us to get used to high-tech brushing.
Best hair dryers
Revlon One-Step Volumizer and Ionic Hair Dryer
Best hair dryer
We were able to achieve ultra-shiny, frizz-free hair with the Revlon One-Step Volumizer and Ionic Hair Dryer during testing. It includes a nondetachable brush head with nylon pin bristles, letting us both dry and brush through our hair at the same time.
Best waterproof mascara
Beauty Pie The Perfect Waterproof Mascara
Best waterproof mascara
The Perfect Waterproof Mascaraby Beauty Pie added volume and a long-lasting curl to our lashes during testing. Plus, we liked that it’s infused with vitamins to help our lashes stay healthy.
Coffee
Best portable espresso machines
Wacaco Nanopresso Portable Espresso Maker
Best portable espresso machine
The Wacaco Nanopresso portable espresso machine makes espresso shots anywhere you can access hot water. With a weight of just 11.9 ounces, this manual tool pumps hot water through a pressurized head to produce quality crema on top of delicious espresso.
Electronics
Best projectors under $1,000
Epson Home Cinema 1080
Best budget projector
The Epson Home Cinema 1080 is a home cinema projector that combines an exceptionally bright and sharp picture with bright, clear colors. Its picture quality is hard to beat, proving itself to be the most versatile projector we tested.
Emergency preparedness
Best first aid kits
Red Cross Deluxe Family First Aid Kit
Best first aid kit
The Red Cross Deluxe Family First Aid Kit has a ring-binder-style design that is easy to use. It’s comprehensive and filled with high-quality items that are the essentials recommended by the Red Cross.
Health and fitness
Best barefoot shoes
Lems Primal Zen
Best barefoot shoes
Those new to minimalist shoes will appreciate the Lems Primal Zen barefoot shoes with their thick 4.5-millimeter insole made of recycled cork. These cushioned, vegan-friendly shoes provided more support than some thinner, less-cushioned shoes we tested.
Best electric bikes
Velotric T1 Urban E-Bike
Best electric bike
The Velotric T1 is an excellent electric bike that feels like riding a nonelectric one. It’s slim, sporty and built with quality hardware. It has a modest motor built into its rear wheel that gives enough boost to make every ride that much more relaxed, making headwinds and slight grades easier.
Best online prescription glasses
Eyebuydirect
Best online prescription glasses
Eyebuydirect has a huge collection of name and house brands from which to choose. Its try-on tools were also the easiest to use of all the eyeglass retailers we tested, and we were pleased with the great pair of glasses this site made for us. The only downside about this retailer was its short return period.
Best sports bras
Fabletics (Yitty) No-Bounce High-Impact Sports Bra
Best sports bra
During testing, our editors loved the great support the Fabletics (Yitty) No-Bounce High-Impact Sports Bra provided during workouts and everyday activities. It was extremely comfortable and even provided extra cooling.
Best trail running shoes
La Sportiva Bushido 3
Best trail running shoes
If you usually prefer the challenge of running on uneven trails with rocky terrain, then the La Sportiva Bushido 3 shoes are a great choice thanks to their impressive traction, durability and stability. These shoes even helped make flat stretches and steep hills easy to manage during testing. Plus, we liked their extra-sticky rubber on the sides and soles, which helped us navigate technical trails and make quick descents easier.
Best yoga mats
Lululemon The Mat 5mm
Best yoga mat
Lululemon’s The Mat 5mm is a high-performance, reversible mat that impressed us with its thick and remarkably nonslip material. It’s practical yet stylish and comes in 10 different colors.
Home
Best bath mats
Dorai Dual Bath Stone Mat
Best bat mat
A stone mat may not be the first thing you think of when you think of bath mats, but the Dorai Dual Bath Stone Mat will change that. This mat is far more hygienic than fabric mats, it can be cleaned easily using mild soap and water and dries almost instantly. During our testing, we found it durable, highly absorbent and skid-resistant.
Best electric lawn mowers
Ego Power+ Select Cut LM2135SP Electric Lawn Mower
Best electric lawn mower
The Ego Power+ Select Cut Electric Lawn Mower excelled at mowing through our standard lawn on a single charge during testing. It’s self-propelled, which also makes it easy to operate.
Best fire pits
Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0
Best smokeless fire pit
The Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0 is a smart, efficient choice for anyone looking for a portable and sleek fire pit. This good-looking unit sports an upgraded base plate that facilitates airflow, and its ash pan is removable, making cleanup a breeze. We liked that we could use just wood and kindling to start our fire during testing.
Best patio heaters
Hiland Outdoor Patio Heater HLDS01
Best patio heater
The Hiland Outdoor Patio Heater HLDS01 is a powerful propane-fueled heater that provides superior heat output during testing. It offers a stylish finish with practical features like an adjustable tabletop that serves as a handy spot for resting a drink.
Best shower heads
Kohler Forte Shower Head
Best shower head
The Kohler Forte Shower Head is elegantly designed, provides an immersive shower experience and is low-flow and energy-saving. During testing, we enjoyed its three soothing spray settings: a drenching, full-coverage rain shower; a pulsating massage; and a "silk spray" super-dense mist.
Kitchen
Best air fryers
Ninja AF101 Air Fryer
Best air fryer
During testing, we appreciated the Ninja AF101 Air Fryer’s sturdy, solid feel. We found the control panel of this air fryer to be extremely straightforward and convenient to use. It performed nearly perfectly in our food tests, and its nonstick basket and tray insert were simple to clean afterward.
Best blenders
Vitamix 5200 Blender
Best blender
The self-cleaning Vitamix 5200 Blender is a high-powered blender with a unique two-part lid and tamper design that was a pleasure to use during testing. Its control panel was easy to use, and its large capacity made it an all-around useful and versatile blender for making soups, nut butter or smoothies.
Best toaster ovens
Cuisinart Convection Toaster Oven
Best toaster oven
The Cuisinart Convection Toaster Oven features a variety of cooking functions, comes with useful accessories and is big enough to fit nine slices of toast. During testing we loved its ability to distribute heat, producing top-notch results.
Outdoor gear
Best bug spray
Proven Insect Repellent Spray
Best bug soray
The Proven Insect Repellent Spray is so light, we almost forgot we were wearing it during testing. The nonaerosol can is equipped with a long pump, so spraying felt nice and easy, and its small nozzle is incredibly good at applying the spray evenly. Picaridin is Proven’s active ingredient, comprising 20% of its formula, and it’s one of the best at repelling bugs.
Best camping tents
REI Co-op Base Camp 4
Best camping tent
The REI Co-op Base Camp 4 was a standout during our car camping tests due to its thoughtful, comfortable design and durability in rain and wind. It has an astonishing number of interior pockets. Plus, its large, windowed doors, full-mesh roof and side ventilation panels allow ample airflow too.
Sleep
Best cotton sheets
L.L.Bean 280-Thread-Count Pima Cotton Percale Sheet Set
Best cotton sheets
The L.L.Bean 280-Thread-Count Pima Cotton Percale Sheets are breathable, crisp sheets that comfortably regulated our temperature throughout testing. Their eyelet hem along the top sheet and pillowcases was a nice touch, making it feel like we were sleeping on sheets straight out of a hotel.
Best pillows for stomach sleepers
Saatva Latex Pillow
Best pillow for stomach sleepers
During testing, we loved the Saatva Latex Pillow’s supportive, squishy and malleable feel. It has a removable inner core made of shredded latex, which is completely encased so the fill doesn’t spill out. Its outer layer is filled with down-alternative fibers too.
$165 (queen) at Saatva Mattress
Best sleep masks
Mavogel Cotton Sleep Eye Mask
Best sleep mask
The Mavogel Sleep Mask is soft on the eyes and comfortable on the head. During testing, it never moved during the night, no matter our sleep position. We also think its nose wire is genius as it blocks all the light extremely well.
Travel
Best hard-shell carry-on luggage
Away The Bigger Carry-On
Best hard-shell carry-on luggage
For the everyday traveler, we think Away's Bigger Carry-On is a great pick because its interior layout makes it so simple to pack a week's worth of clothes. Its iconic design also looks great. If you want to travel lighter, know it’s also available in a smaller variant named The Carry-On for $275.
Best wallets for men
Leatherology Thin Bifold Wallet
Best bifold wallet
The Leatherology Thin Bifold Wallet sports a no-nonsense layout that gave us quick and easy access to all its contents during testing. We also loved its soft leather material that felt broken in right out of the box.
Vacuum cleaners and mops
Best car vacuums
Black+Decker Max Flex BDH2020FL Handheld Vacuum
Best car vacuum
During testing, this vacuum allowed us to easily reach under our car seats and clean the floor using the extendable hose and curved handle. It's also quite compact, but its canister is big enough for most jobs. Plus, we loved its trio of attachments that can help clean up any mess.
Best robot vacuums
Roborock Q5 Max+ Robot Vacuum
Best robot vacuum
If you’re looking for a vacuum-only robot floor cleaner with powerful cleaning capabilities and an intuitive app, then the Roborock Q5 Max+ Robot Vacuum is your best choice.