For millions of Americans, COVID-19 didn’t just change what we buy — but how we bought it. Experts forecast that U.S. consumers will spend nearly $710 billion online in 2020 (an 18 percent increase). For Gear Patrol readers, that meant increased interest in office chairs, home-fitness equipment and, of course, face masks. Here, our 50 most popular buying guides of the year.
Our 50 Most Popular Guides of 2020
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CourtesyThe Best Office Chairs You Can Buy
Gear PatrolStarting at just over $100, we’ve tested nearly 75 desk chairs and narrowed our list of the best down to 19. Whether you’re on a budget or looking at a more permanent work-from-home situation, we’ve got a rec for you.
The Best Sofas & Couches You Can Buy Online
Chandler BondurantWhether you’re into leather, mid-century modern or a good deal, we’ve pulled nearly 30 of our favorite sofas and couches to window shop.
The Best Mattresses to Buy Online
SaatvaUpgrading the thing you spend 40 percent of your life perched on is a wise move, pandemic or not.
The Best Desks to Buy Online
BranchSmall desks, standing desks, cheap desks, normal desks — there is a desk for every kind of work from home office setup here.
The Best Bed Sheet to Buy Online
BrooklinenWe tested dozens and dozens of bed sheets to find the ones that are actually worth buying. Hint: “Egyptian” cotton and high thread counts ain’t it.
The Best Reading Chairs You Can Buy Online
Design Within ReachFor reading, for napping, for minutes spent not working.
Outdoors
CourtesyThe 12 Best Down Jackets of 2021
Chandler BondurantThese top picks for lightweight, innovative down jackets will keep you warm from when the leaves fly until the snow melts next spring.
The 10 Best Rain Jackets of 2020
Chandler BondurantA lot has changed since heavy, unbreathable plastic rain slickers were standard all-weather apparel; today’s rain jackets are lighter, softer, more breathable, stretchy and more waterproof than ever.
The 10 Best Coolers of 2020
Chase PellerinLooking to hide some sandwiches and 85 cans of beer from a bear?
The Best Hiking Boots of 2020
Chase PellerinThe definitive guide to the best hiking boots available now, with reviews for each boot, plus tips and trivia to know before you buy.
The 12 Best Synthetic Down Jackets of 2021
Chandler BondurantSynthetic insulation rivals down in warmth and surpasses it in durability and water resistance.
The 10 Best Camping Blankets of 2021
KammokMade using the same functional materials as sleeping bags, camp blankets are perfect for casual camping and fit right in around the house too.
The Best Face Masks from Outdoor Brands
Outdoor ResearchThey’re bringing technical expertise to a COVID-19 staple, and the results are predictably impressive.
Style & Watches
CourtesyThe Best Lightweight and Breathable Face Masks
CourtesyBreathe easy and stay cool with these options.
The 18 Best Hoodies for Men
Courtesy HuckberryIn the world of outerwear, the hoodie embodies versatility. These are the 18 best options for men in both zip-up and pullover styles.
The Best Everyday Face Masks Available Now
Joe TornatzkyApparel brands are answering the call for face masks in the fight against coronavirus.
The 50 Best Boots for Men
Gear PatrolThis guide to the best boots for men covers ten categories, including work boots, Chelseas, chukkas and more.
The 17 Best Sweatshirts for Men
HuckberryThe crew neck sweatshirt is perfect for a light summer layer or a winter layering piece. These are the best on the market.
The 12 Best Overshirts Men
Taylor StitchAn ideal transitional layer, the overshirt will keep you warm on chilly evenings and crisp mornings.
The 21 Best Basic T-Shirts You Can Buy
Courtesy HuckberryThe best plain t-shirts you can buy, from the multi-packs to the one-off grails.
The 12 Best Jeans for Men
Standard & StrangeFrom Everlane’s Japanese Stretch Selvedge Denim to Chimala’s generously style, these are the best jeans for most guys to wear every day.
The 13 Best Slippers to Wear at Home
QuoddyFrom Minnetonka, Ugg, Haflinger and more.
The 5 Best Aluminum Suitcases Worth Your Money
Chandler BondurantAluminum carry-ons seem purpose-built for protecting your belongings — and for making other travelers jealous. Here are the five best.
The 30 Best Affordable Watches Under $1,000
CourtesyFrom $80 to a grand, these are the best watches to get when you don’t want to spend a fortune.
READ NOW
10 Important Military Watches from World War II
Fellows AuctioneersFrom the A-11 to the Panerai Radiomir to the little-known A.T.P, we explore the Second World War’s horological gems.
The 50 Greatest Watches of All Time
Gear PatrolIt wasn’t easy, but we picked our 50 favorite timepieces and compiled them into an ultimate master list.
The 10 Best New Watches of 2020
OmegaTime itself seemed to slow down this year, but these new timepieces are sure to keep you on track.
Fitness
CourtesyThe 12 Best Gym Shorts for Every Kind of Workout
Gear PatrolAll of the best training and recreation options, none of the jorts.
The Best Gym Shoes for Every Type of Workout
NobullWhether you crave CrossFit, hoist heavy weights or bounce around, there’s a sneaker here for you.
The 3 Best At-Home Rowing Machines
NordicTrackFinding the perfect indoor rowing machine for your space can be tricky.
The 18 Best Running Shoes Available Right Now
NikeThis list of top performers incorporates recent winners and time-tested standbys to help you find the perfect pair.
The 10 Best Yoga Mats Money Can Buy
Lottus LifeWhether you’re a newbie or an expert, these superlative mats will support you through any practice.
The 12 Best Fitness Apps Right Now
CourtesyCountless apps strive to help make you fitter, stronger, leaner, looser and more relaxed than ever before. Here are our favorites.
Tech
Courtesy24 Great Vintage Cameras You Can Still Buy
CourtesyThese 24 cult vintage shooters will help you find your creative eye, set you apart from the shutterbug crowd and still produce photos that’ll make your (less talented) friends and family envious.
The Complete Sonos Buying Guide: Every Speaker, Soundbar and Amp Explained
Photo by Henry Phillips for Gear PatrolSonos has been synonymous with wireless speakers for more than a decade. The company basically invented the multi-room category of home audio, starting as a software company in the early 2000s before integrating its Wi-Fi-enabled network into hardware a few years later. Here is everything you need to know about its latest, best-in-class offerings.
5 Gadgets That Clean Your Smartphone For You
CourtesyYou probably aren’t cleaning your smartphone as often as you should. Fortunately, there are devices that specialize in sanitizing your smartphone and other gadgets for you. Instead of using disinfectants or some other liquid to kill your harmful bacteria and germs, they use UV light.
The Best Wireless Headphones for Running and Working Out
JaybirdNot all headphones work for running or exercising, even if they are wireless. If you have a pair that isn’t sweatproof, there’s a good chance they’ll die on you. And if they don’t fit your ears, well, they’re probably not going to stay in, either. Sport headphones add a new dimension to your workout. So if you often find yourself lifting weights, running on the roads or trails, or doing a total body workout, it’s time to swap out your basic buds for a pair that goes the extra mile.
The Best Turntable and Speaker Combos That Make Vinyl Easy
Photo by Chase Pellerin for Gear PatrolWhile true that traditional turntable setups have a lot of moving parts, that’s the nature of the beast — if not vinyl’s main allure. There’s also an easy workaround. These days, a bunch of turntables and speaker systems come with integrated components (like a phono preamplifier or amplifier) and they make listening to vinyl as hassle-free.
The Best Wireless Earbuds of 2020 – Which Is Right for You?
CourtesyThis definitive guide to the best wireless earbuds of 2020 explores everything you need to know before buying your next pair of wireless earbuds, including what to look out for and which options are best.
The Best MagSafe Accessories for the iPhone 12 (So Far)
MomentOne of the best things about all the new iPhones is Apple’s new MagSafe charging system. In addition to improving charging, MagSafe opens up the door for whole new ecosystem of the accessories that work with the new iPhone models. Apple has already released a number of MagSafe cases, chargers and event a minimalist wallet. But more and more third-party makers are coming out with MagSafe accessories of their own. Here are the best so far.
The 8 Essential iPhone 11 Cases of 2020
PeelWhen choosing a case for your iPhone, there is no clear-cut “best overall” winner. A lot of it depends on you and how you use and treat your iPhone. Do you want a super-thin case so that your iPhone fits nicely in your pocket? What about a case that add some extra protection? Or do you want a case that doubles your iPhone’s battery life? To make things easier, we’ve picked the best iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro cases in a number of different categories.
The Perfect Apple Desk Setup, Four Ways
Gear PatrolNo two people work alike — our vocation and habits make sure of that. What most of us can relate to, though, is the need to curate our home or office workstations the way we want. And we’re all dipping our hands into the same pool of devices — computer, mouse, keyboard and speakers — and hoping the right mix will allow us to become our most productive, efficient and creative self. So what to choose?
Food & Drink
CourtesyThe Best Coffee Makers
Gear PatrolTesting out coffee makers is fun until you’re on your fifth cup and you can’t steady your hand anymore. We narrowed down a seemingly endless selection of coffee makers into a list of the six essential brewers that’ll cater to your every need.
The Best Coffee Grinders
Chandler BondurantIf you’re into coffee, you should be into coffee grinders. These are the buzz-worthy models to buy.
The Best Coffee Roasters in America
Chandler BondurantBuy better coffee beans, and your mornings will be better, too. We promise.
The Best Online Meat Companies
Crowd CowEvery cut of meat from every type of animal delivered straight to your door like some sort of meat fairy.
The Best Cast-Iron Skillets
Photo by Chandler Bondurant for Gear PatrolThe cast-iron skillets that’ll last you your entire lifetime and probably the lifetimes of your children and grandchildren.
The Best Kitchen Knives
Chandler BondurantStop being roasted by Gordon Ramsay, and just be Gordon Ramsay. Well, not really, but these knives will make you feel like a Michelin-starred chef.
The Best Bourbon Whiskeys
Henry PhillipsObviously, everyone needed some whiskey this year.
Where to Buy Wine Online
Wine.comWine subscriptions, online bottle shops and local wine producers — we found some of the best places to order wine online because hauling bottles home is not fun.