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Steven John

Freelance writer

Steven John has been writing about gear, travel, apparel, and other topics since 2011, with articles published by Insider, Forbes, The Daily Beast, Mashed, and many more. He runs the outdoor gear and activity site, Dad Gear Review.

  1. air quality
    The Very Best Window Air ConditionersA sweltering home makes for a miserable summer.
  2. air quality
    The Very Best Portable Air ConditionersThey’re powerful, quiet, and efficient.
  3. garden
    The Best Rakes, According to Garden and Lawn Care ProfessionalsWhat to use to clean up leaves, tight spaces around shrubs, and planter beds.
  4. cleaning
    The Best Biodegradable (and Compostable) Trash Bags, According to ExpertsPlant-based trash bags that are as durable as plastic.
  5. outdoor leisure
    The Very Best Portable GeneratorsNever lose power again.
  6. outdoor leisure
    The Best Leaf Blowers, According to ExpertsClean up leaves twice as fast as you could using a rake.
  7. outdoor leisure
    The Best Lawn Mowers, According to ExpertsGrass choppers that get the job done effectively and efficiently every time.
  8. garden
    Ask Me About My Super-Quiet Electric Yard ToolsThey’re so much better for the environment, too.
  9. outdoor leisure
    These Incense Sticks Instantly Shoo the Mosquitoes AwayThey smell quite pleasant too.
  10. shampoo and conditioner
    After Decades of Dandruff, This Shampoo Fixed My Flaky ScalpThe flaking was so bad I avoided touching my hair in public.
  11. food and drinks
    Healthier Candies That Still Satisfy My Sweet ToothIncluding lollipops that taste like actual fruit.
  12. travel
    The Best Kid-Approved Travel Games (That Are Also Fun for Adults)Including Pass the Pandas, Spot It!, Uno (of course), a dice version of Settlers of Catan, and more
  13. gifts
    The Best Gifts for Dads Who Like Fire, According to a Dad Who Likes FireFrom a tiny blowtorch, to extendable sticks for roasting marshmallows or hot dogs, to pine cones that emit colorful flames as they burn.
  14. toys
    My Two Kids Would Rather Play With This Speaker Than Watch a MovieIt’s like Radiolab for children.
  15. decor
    The Best Christmas Lights, According to Experts and a Very Festive HomeownerBecause your yard deserves a little Christmas spirit, too.
  16. furniture
    We Tested 10 Sofas-in-a-BoxThese start-ups want to be Casper, but for couches.
  17. this thing’s incredible
    The $20 Doorbell Camera That Made Me Stop Pining for a RingFinally, I can hear the doorbell from every corner of my house.
  18. recommended by experts
    Everything You Need for Remote Learning (for Every Type of Kid)How to improve at-home schooling, according to education experts.
  19. electronics
    Why Didn’t Anyone Think of a Right-Angled iPhone Cable Sooner?It’s made horizontal gameplay, bedtime scrolling, and charging in a cup holder so much easier.
  20. ingenious design
    My Mega-Portable Power Station Can Charge 11 Devices at the Same TimeIt’s about the size and weight of a 12-pack of beer.
  21. men’s activewear
    The 7 Things I Wear (From Head to Toe) to Keep Dry During My Sweatiest WorkoutsFrom the shirt to the long-sleeved shirt (on cooler days) to the shorts to the underwear to the socks to the headband to the hat.
  22. style
    The Best Men’s Running Clothes and Shoes for Every Kind of WeatherA runner who has hit the road almost five days a week for more than a decade shares his go-to gear for all seasons.
  23. home improvement
    Which Screwdrivers Do You (Really) Need?Not knowing anything about screwdrivers doesn’t mean you’re never going to need one.
  24. outdoor leisure
    The Five Tools You Should Always Have on Hand for Clearing Snow and IceYou might already have an ice scraper, but do you have a windshield cover?
  25. headphones
    What I Tell Friends Who Ask Me What Bluetooth Headphones to BuyYou can get crazy about specs, but these are best for most people.
  26. tech boot camp
    What, Precisely, Are ‘Slofies’ For?Apple wants its new slow-motion selfie to be a game changer. The reality is a little more confusing.
  27. tech boot camp
    How the iPhone’s New Ultrawide Lens Actually Works (and When You Should Use It)Travel photography will never be the same.
  28. you can do this
    How to Brighten Up Any Room (or Dim It a Little) in Under 30 MinutesSometimes you want a room to be bright, and sometimes you want softer lighting. With a dimmer switch you get either. Whenever you want.
  29. dupes week
    Dropps Detergent Pods Have Saved Me $150 a Year on SoapI could stop at their chlorine-free, dye-free, hypoallergenic laundry detergent, but they also make dishwashing pods and we’ve switched to those, too.
  30. dupes week
    I Own 7 Sleeping Bags, and This $30 One Keeps Me As Warm As the One for $150Like, so warm you have to use the foot vent.
  31. dupes week
    The by Far Cheapest Air Purifier I Own Seriously Rivals the Second-CheapestBelieve me, it’s pretty damn fresh up in here.
  32. women’s sleepwear
    These PJs Replicate the Feel — If Not the Cute Prints — of Hanna Andersson’s.If my eyes were closed, I wouldn’t be able to tell the difference. But they cost much less.
  33. dupes week
    This $850 Signature Sleep Mattress Is As Comfortable As My CasperCasper is worth every penny. But this one is genuinely comparable if you’re watching your budget.
  34. fitness and sports
    These Shoes Give Me The Benefits of Barefoot Running (Without the Bare Feet)They allow me to hit the ground the same way I would if barefoot — meaning centered on my feet, letting me more explosively take each new stride.
  35. dupes week
    The Apple Dongle Dupe Recommended by the Guy at the Apple StoreThe employee will remain anonymous, but the dongle he suggested does more than Apple’s and costs less than half the price.
  36. dupes week
    For Baby No. 2, I Found Diapers Like Honest Company’s (For 10 Cents Less Each)This can add up to hundreds in savings over the course of a year of diapering.
  37. trust me i should know
    The 5 (Not Totally Hideous) Sunglasses I Wear to Hike, Bike, Ski, Row, and RunAll of them are technically designed and durable — and many of them could even pass as stylish.
  38. trust me i should know
    The 5 Portable Grills I Use for Camping, Tailgating, and Even Fine DiningIncluding propane, charcoal, electric, and open-fire grills for cooking up a feast just about anywhere.
  39. this thing’s incredible
    Nothing Keeps Me As Cool on My Runs As This Unstylish Sun-Blocking ShirtIts exterior is covered in tiny white dots made of titanium dioxide, the same stuff used in many sunscreens.
  40. trust me i should know
    Backpackers hikes Kesugi Ridge Trail in Denali State Park, Alaska.
    The 7 Hiking Socks I Wear on the Trail (and the Street)Hiking socks are literally made for walking, and I find them so comfortable they’re often my go-to socks for everyday wear.
  41. interviews
    Francis Lam on Storytelling Techniques, Trend Fatigue, and Avocado Toast“I’m tired of hearing people shit on other people.”
  42. trust me i should know
    Hotdogs
    The 5 Best Pellet Grills for Low, Slow (and Smoky-Tasting) BarbecuePellet grills let you use wood pellets for true smoked flavor.
  43. outdoor leisure
    The 5 Waterproof Socks I Wear to Go Kayaking, Hiking, and SkiingEven if you have waterproof shoes, they’re a good idea.
  44. cool places
    A Noodle Shop That Strives for Authenticity by Breaking With Tradition“We wanted to make a more creative version, and we add our own little twists to fit the New Yorker’s palate.”
  45. post reality
    Want to Try Augmented Reality? This Is the Hardware You’ll NeedWhile phones are perfectly suitable AR devices, if you want to make 3-D models or battle zombies the right way, you’ll need dedicated hardware.
  46. compulsive shopping
    I Can’t Stop Buying BalaclavasBut these five have me covered for almost any situation.
  47. augmented reality
    10 Cool Augmented-Reality Apps That You Might Actually UseGoogle Play and the App Store are awash with augmented-reality apps, and many of them are terrible. Here are ten that actually show AR’s potential.
  48. fitness and sports
    The Best Weighted Vests for Making All Kinds of Exercise Much HarderTrain with it, and once you take it off, you’ll be amazed by your endurance.
  49. tech boot camp
    5 Parenting Gadgets for the Tragically Sleep-deprivedWith the assurance of the well-rested, I can promise you: These gadgets work.
  50. tech boot camp
    5 Time-saving Kitchen Gadgets That Help Me Make Meals in MinutesThe only way to cook faster would be to eat your food raw.
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