The 9 small coolers we tested

How we selected

We’ve tested large coolers, and plug in thermoelectric coolers, but we wanted to find something smaller with this post. We began our search by considering how and why we would use a small cooler. For example, if we were hiking, we wanted a backpack cooler that could hold enough drinks and food for two-to-four people and wouldn’t burden us down by being too heavy. For a beach day, we wanted a small cooler — soft, collapsible or hard-side — that had room for drinks, food, and dry goods that would last us eight hours and could keep everything cold and fresh under a hot sun.

We looked for coolers that had exterior pockets for carrying other items like wine bottles, cutlery, napkins, plates, etc., pretty much anything you might want for the beach or picnicking. We also wanted the coolers we tested to be made of strong, waterproof materials, sturdy, and comfortable to tote, whether by the handle or a shoulder strap.

Small coolers are available in a range of capacity. Hard-side coolers are measured in quarts, while soft coolers and backpacks are measured in how many cans it can hold. We chose a selection of hard-side, soft collapsible, and backpack coolers that had approximately the same capacity.

How we tested

We packed each cooler with ice and canned and bottled beverages, sealed them, and put them off into a closed room, approximately 65-70 degrees Fahrenheit in temperature. We checked each cooler at two hour intervals and recorded the percentage of ice that had melted. We also checked to see if the coolers had leaked. We resealed each cooler and checked at four hours and again at eight hours to determine if there had been any significant change.

Mostly, the coolers kept the beverages cold, but except for three, the ice had completely melted, and the cans were submerged in a puddle of cold water. Almost all the coolers with zippered enclosures did not prevent the ice from melting, and if the coolers were tipped on their side, water streamed through the zippers.

Important features to consider

During testing, several features stood out that you should look for when buying a small cooler. Small coolers have many advantages over large coolers. First and foremost is portability; a small cooler can literally be taken anywhere and are a favorite for outdoor enthusiasts. A small cooler is also space-saving since it can easily fit in a car trunk with camping or beach equipment. A collapsible soft cooler is also incredibly convenient, because it can be stored under a car seat, under the bed, or in a closet. Finally, a small cooler is versatile since it can be used picnics, beach days, or camping.

Type

Generally there are three types of small coolers: hard-side, soft collapsible, and backpack. They each address a different need.

Hard-side coolers are smaller versions of a large hard-side cooler, like, for example, the ubiquitous Coleman cooler. The small hard-sides are often called “personal” coolers because it allows you to carry several canned or bottled beverages along with sandwiches and fruit. These are most often used as lunchboxes.

Soft, collapsible coolers can also be used as lunchboxes, and they have the additional benefit of folding completely flat for storage and transport. The soft coolers come in various sizes, and most of the ones we tested could hold 20 or 30 cans and also have room for food and dry goods, like paper plates.

Backpack coolers are ideal for beach days or hiking. Backpack coolers often have several exterior pockets, and because of their design, they can expand as your loading it up with beverages and food. Of course, the more you pack the backpack, the heavier it will be and isn’t conducive to long hikes.

Capacity

Most of the small coolers we tested are marketed with photographs of their overflowing with a mountain of ice and an abundance of cans, bottles, and food. Nothing could be further from the truth. The coolers we tested had a capacity of anywhere between nine and 30 cans. It was possible to cram the cooler with cans, but overall the coolers did not meet the stated capacity. If you consider that you would need to add ice or ice packs, the capacity decreases. A few of the coolers do have larger sizes, but in our opinion, they’re no longer as portable and are only practical for tail-gating.

But if you’re looking for toting along a cooler for a beach day or hike, smaller is definitely better since when packed they’ll be easier to carry by yourself. Look for a small cooler that can accommodate both drinks and food, like the uniquely shaped Igloo Playmate, the collapsible TOURIT cooler bag, or the FORICH backpack, both of which have pockets specifically designed for dry goods, including plates, plastic forks/knives, and napkins.

Tight seal

The last thing you want is your food and beverages sloshing around in melted ice. Finding a small cooler with a tight seal can be tricky. Of the hard-side coolers, only the Igloo Playmate prevented ice from melting. Most of the backpack coolers we tested had good insulation, but because they all were zipper-closed, they could not be tightly sealed, resulting in a puddle of water in the bottom of the backpack.

Another caution to be aware of is that backpack coolers must stay upright at all times, because the melted ice streams through the zippers when the backpack is tilted on its side. The soft collapsible coolers were also sealed with zippers, but these had very thick insulation that kept ice from melting and seeping through the zippers.

Padded shoulder straps

If you’re looking for a collapsible soft cooler or a backpack cooler, definitely check out the padding on the shoulder straps. Collapsible coolers can be carried by its handle, but all come with an adjustable shoulder strap. Many soft cooler bags we tested had thin padding, which puts severe strain on the shoulder when you’re carrying a full cooler for any distance. The Coleman soft cooler bag had the best padding of the soft coolers we tested, and the FORICH backpack cooler also had excellent padding with added bonus of a breathable mesh material on the straps and back of the backpack.

The post The 9 Best Small Coolers appeared first on Your Best Digs.

Important features to consider

Design

There are many different glass water bottles in the market and one of the most important features to consider is design. For example, you can buy glass bottles for water or hot drinks like tea or coffee. These differences change the design of the water bottle or tumbler.

They can come with straws or mouths that feature sippers for easy drinking. Sippers allow you to gulp more water, while straws are suitable for people who don’t like to lift their entire bottle each time they drink water. If you want a bottle that’s easy to use during the day for exercising or driving, we recommend a lid that opens with one touch. If you’re going to use the glass bottle for drinks other than water, like iced coffee, we recommend something with a straw attachment.

If you’re interested in glass water bottles because you want to use less plastic, keep in mind that other parts of the bottle beside the body can also still be made of plastic, like the cap or the straw. Some brands offer caps made of different materials like bamboo or have designs where the mouth is made of glass.

Size

Since glass can be heavy, it’s essential to think about what size of glass water bottle you want to carry around all day. Many of the bottles and tumblers we tested ranged from 16 to 25 ounces because this was the average size and wasn’t too heavy. However, some brands sold water bottles with capacities between 8 to 32 ounces.

Cleaning

The less amount of parts included the faster the cleaning experience. Keep this in mind with glass water bottles or tumblers that include a straw because they often have more parts and need additional tools for cleaning. While the glass tumblers we tested were easy to use because they had wider mouths, the glass water bottles we tested needed bottle brushes to reach all the smaller crevices. Straws also need straw brushes too. We removed the silicone or rubber sleeves for some bottles to prevent any dirt between the sleeve and the glass surface.

Other features

Do you prefer to carry your glass water bottle in your bag? Make sure to pick a bottle with a secure locking mechanism to prevent leakage. Some bottles also have silicone seals that also keep leaks minimal and nonexistent.

Another feature is sleeves made out of silicone or rubber to help grip and reduce condensation. Often these sleeves are removable, but some glass water bottles are a little more difficult to remove and replace. Some silicone sleeves are designed not to be removed, making cleaning easier.

How we selected:

We selected nine glass water bottles and tumblers in various sizes and designs for under $35. These bottles also featured different ways of drinking, like wider mouths for sipping or gulping or straw attachments for easy drinking.

How we tested:

Cleaning

We cleaned the bottles multiple times by hand and ran them through the dishwasher, noting what additional tools they needed to clean, like bottle or straw brushes. We also observed how many items needed cleaning.

Leak/seal tests

We added colored water inside each bottle and laid it on its side for up to 30 minutes to test if there were leakage issues. We performed leakage tests by flipping each bottle over and shaking it repeatedly. Since the tumblers have openings for straws or sippers, we didn’t want to lay them on a flat surface because they would leak regardless. So we tested the glass tumblers by positioning them horizontally over the sink to test their lid seals.

Ease of use

For each glass bottle, we tested each bottle for an entire week throughout our errands, events, driving, work, and gym time. While we didn’t test dropping these bottles purposefully, some bottles were accidentally dropped, and we noted any damage.

The post The 9 Best Glass Water Bottles appeared first on Your Best Digs.

Typically, a classic outdoor watering can hold up to two gallons of water and features handles at the side and top for easier maneuverability. It also has a shower nozzle that gently showers water evenly over plants. By comparison, the indoor watering cans we tested topped out at 1.2 gallons in size for easier handling and smaller plants.

Each garden can range in size or has specific needs depending on the plants, so we realized that no matter what type of watering can (or garden tools, like pruning shears) you choose, it needs to be easy to use and be within your price range. This review includes watering cans under $50, have varied handle designs, range in capacity from ½ to two gallons of water, and are made from different materials.

We tested these watering cans multiple times a week over the span of two months in a backyard garden with plants in the ground, container beds, terracotta pots, plastic seed containers, and fabric grow bags in various sizes.

Important features to consider

Water capacity – When we couldn’t water the plants with our garden hose due to reach, we opted for a watering can. For bigger planters or multiple plants that need watering, a larger watering can that’s at least two gallons in water capacity will reduce the number of times you need to refill the can. However, if you have smaller planters or don’t want to lug around large amounts of water, a smaller one-gallon watering can be sufficient in your garden.

Material – Watering cans are typically made from plastic or metal (galvanized, stainless steel, or copper). Plastic watering cans are more affordable than metal cans and are lighter in weight. However, if you want to reduce the amount of plastic in your life due to potential microplastics leaching into your garden, then metal watering cans are your best bet.

Spout length – If you have plants that require ground watering or need to water a lot of small crevices between plants or containers, you may need to consider a watering can with a long and narrow spout. The longer spouts reduce crouching or bending over while using the watering can.

Spout type (shower vs stream) – Many outdoor watering cans have a shower head attachment. This allows for a wider area of watering compared to a single stream spout because there are multiple holes the water goes through. The shower attachment also streams out in an even slower pour than a single stream spout.

If you have plants that can’t get their leaves wet or have hard-to-reach plants in small crevices, you may want a single spout that reaches them directly near the root. Note that the single-stream nozzle pours water fairly quickly, so you may need to handle these more carefully than shower attachments; otherwise, you may damage the plants or interrupt the soil near the roots of the plants.

Ergonomics – Hauling two gallons of water can be heavy after a while, so it’s important to have comfortable handles on watering cans to help ease your wrists while working. Larger watering cans typically have two handles: one on the side to hold the can and one on the top to help pour the water out. Sometimes, one long handle is connected from the back to the top, which allows you to position your handle in many positions depending on what you’re watering or adjustable for easier weight distribution. We prefer a sturdy and thick handle on the top and bottom (or attached handle) because it’s easier to pour water without too much strain on our wrists.

The post The 8 Best Outdoor Watering Cans appeared first on Your Best Digs.

Table of contents

• Range & battery life calculations
• Charging the battery
• Cargo space
• Tesla camping accessories
• Camp mode, sleeping & bathroom breaks
• Final thoughts

Range & battery life calculations

With regular internal combustion engine cars, we never really think twice about range since there are gas stations everywhere. But with an electric car, even though charging stations are growing at an impressive rate, they are still sparse enough that you need to look up where chargers are going to be on the way to your destination.

Total range: 327 miles. The max charge our Long Range Model Y can hold is 327 miles of range. This figure is what Tesla uses based on EPA findings and we’re unsure if it adjusts for loss of capacity on older batteries.

Actual battery range used per mile driven: 1.5. In other words, 50 miles driven would use “75 miles of range” according to the Tesla app. 1-2 weeks before the trip we were keeping track of the power we used in kWh. We averaged around 280 kWh/mile with typical fan, AC usage, and mixed city & highway driving.

Camp mode battery usage: 1% per hour of running this mode. We watched some other videos and read articles of others using this. Of course extreme temperatures will use more, so we erred on the side of caution and went with a high estimate of the car using 1% of charge (3.14 miles) per hour that camp mode is on. So about 25.12 miles for 8 hours of sleep.

Campsite distance: 50 miles from home. Driving there would use 75 miles of range, and same on the return trip.

Final tally: 75 miles of range to reach the campsite, 50.24 miles of range used to sleep two nights, 75 miles of range to get back home = 200.24 range miles total.

This gave us a buffer of about 114 miles left over in case we used more than anticipated for any reason like steep mountain drives, extra cabin cooling for overheat protection in hot weather, keeping food cool, or extreme temps at night.

Charging the car

We’ll need to do some planning here regarding how often we need to charge. We need enough power to drive to the campsite, run camp mode (which we learned uses 1% of charge per hour), so factor in how many days you’ll be tehre, and enough power to drive home.

First charge at home. We set the battery to charge up to ~95% capacity, around 314 miles, since it’s better for the battery and regenerative braking works out of the gate. Charging to 100% shuts off regenerative braking, so the total range ends up being the same, but puts more strain on the battery.

Charge before arriving to the campsite. Let’s say you’re staying at the campsite for three days, and using camp mode each night. You should factor at least eight hours of camp mode each night (24 hours total) including some power for overheat protection during the day. So if the car estimates you’ll arrive at the campsite with under 24% of charge, you should find a charging station before arriving at the campsite. There was a Supercharger station about 11 miles before reaching the campsite in case we wanted to top off before reaching camp, or if we needed to leave mid-camp to charge. So given our 114 miles of charge buffer range we didn’t stop to charge the battery before reaching the campsite.

Charging at the campsite. Some campsites you can book have charging outlets for RV hookups. However these may be low wattage so unless you’re camped out for a while, it’s probably not a good idea to rely on this for anything other than topping off for camp mode.

I also want to be ready for emergencies, in case we need to leave unexpectedly. Ideally there’s enough charge to make it all the way home when we arrive. This means not arriving with barely enough power to last camp mode, even if we’re able to get a trickle charge in at the campsite.

Cargo space

We had two people sitting in the front and packed the rest to the brim. We filled in the sub trunk, front trunk, leg area in the back seat, folded the larger backset forward and loaded up. The Tesla Model Y is rated with a max cargo space of 68 cu. ft. Here’s everything we managed to cram into the 5-seater Model Y in order of largest to smallest.

• 13′ x 13′ canopy for shade
• 1 twin size folding foam mattress
• Solo Stove – Bonfire camping stove
• 54 qt Coleman cooler from our cooler review
• 47″ x 28″ x 28″ folding camping table (Mountain Summit Gear)
• normal queen sized pillows (not compact camping ones)
• 2 seventy-two quart plastic bins for food and cooking & cleaning supplies
• 1 Coleman – Triton two-burner stove and fuel cans: propane, isopropane mix, butane
• 1 large Osprey backpacking pack
• 1 Incase – ICON backpack from our college backpacks review
• 1 gym bag from our gym bag review
• full size tripod & mirrorless camera

Tesla camping accessories

For a more thorough guide of all Tesla accessories for the Model Y and 3 see our other post here. However, for any camping trip’s good night sleep you need to stay dry, stay warm, and not break your back during sleeping.

1. Twin-sized mattress. There are some sites that sell Tesla gear and offer a mattress that fits in the back of the Model Y. Some are actual custom solutions for a perfect fit, but many as we’ve found out, are simply taking a product that already exists and rebranding it as their own! We found out one of those are using a certain brand of foam mattress, which we tracked down to be the Milliard – Tri Folding Mattress, available at a much lower price at other retailers.

We typically use a super compact blow up sleeping pad but since we had more cargo space, we went for a thick folding memory foam mattress. This is a huge comfort upgrade because we’re side sleepers and the REI blowup pad starts to get uncomfortable when side-sleeping quickly. We used a normal twin-sized bedsheet to cover it and it fit perfectly. We also used two queen-sized pillows from home for comfort and it fit perfectly.

2. Windshield sun shade. Necessary for keeping the un-tinted windshield from scorching the seats and damaging the dash. This sunshade (we got one from BASENOR) is a standard accessory for every day short trips around town but helpful for sleeping in the car too. This is the type that has black on one side, and a more reflective silver on the other, and you can awkwardly maneuver a fold-up when not in use. It’s not as insulating as the thick, foamy, folding type, but its much more compact.

3. Window privacy shades. This provides privacy and blocks out light. We bought these camping side window shades from TGBROS since BASENOR was out of stock. We were camping with around 15 people, with the bonfire right next to our car so we wanted privacy if we went to bed while anyone was still awake. No companies seem to keep this item in stock for very long, perhaps because it’s a niche product. But we got lucky and snagged one before it went out of stock shortly after. The side shades just kinda snap into place and stay with wire tension similar to a typical windshield shade. The back shade however was sized too small so there was no tension on the shade frame and the window frame, we had to supplement with duct tape to hold it in place.

4. Roof privacy shade. If you thought installing the windshield shade was awkward, meet the roof’s privacy shade. This one is version 2 of the Tesmanian roof shade, which I believe the only difference from version 1 is including two self-adhering magnets to keep the shade from sagging in the middle. This thing is huge, so you need to have it folded as it enters the car, or unfold it in the car then hope you have it in the right orientation since the roof is not the same in the front as the back. It has 8 clips to slide into the gray frame of the car which can easily fall out during positioning.

Due to the size of this shade, I’m certain other brands will have the same pitfalls. But this, paired with an optional fully opaque 2nd layer to block out light over the mesh fabric, does the job to cut down or block all the light on the roof for camp nights.

5. All-weather floor mats. It’s camping so naturally we’re going to drag a lot of dirt and rocks back to the car. We were camping next to a beach so for sure there was going to be moisture, sand and then some that we didn’t want to deal with on carpet mats. Out with the carpet, forever in with these all-weather mats.

The two most popular brands for all-weather floor mats are 3D MAXpider and Tesmanian. I don’t love the huge logo the 3Ds have and have only seen the Tesmanians in photos and videos but it looks flimsy or cheap the way the finish of the material is so I skipped both. I found a set of mats from Taptes that looked exactly like the texture of the 3Ds but without the huge brand logos.

Camp mode, sleeping & bathroom breaks

Contrast it with the more basic Climate mode you can toggle from your car which is meant only to cool the cabin down and maintain a temperature, camp mode adds more functionality. Released in December 2019 via a software update, “Camp Mode” is one of the temperature settings you can toggle on the fan/AC screen. Camp Mode lets you keep the fan on, set whatever temperature you like, maintain lights, play music, and charge devices.

We tried this out for two nights with manual settings the first night at 72F, and accidentally discovering you can leave “auto” mode as well at 72F but prefer the manual mode with a slower fan around 2 or 3. Temperatures were pretty pretty mild, dipping into the 60s at night, and not really heating up until 8-9am to the high 70s, but having a stable 72F inside was very cozy, needing only a light blanket to stay comfy.

One concern we had was dealing with bathroom breaks in the middle of the night. At home we occasionally will go once at some point, so we were concerned about how this would play out in terms of comfort and noise. We were parked pretty close to another car so we’d need to be pretty careful opening the door to step down from a pretty high distance from the foam mat to the car or the floor. The way the doors are designed, you can hold the latch on the outside and press the door in, so you don’t wake your partner with slamming to door, but the problem is once you’re back in the car you have no choice but to slam the door shut.

Similarly the trunk opening and closing latch and motor are pretty loud with the extra concern about watching your partner’s feet so they don’t get slammed. Given this foot slamming risk, the side door was a safer option, but we needed to remove the privacy shade before leaving the car (since the window moves down when opening the door), and putting it back on after returning. Given its polyester-like material it is loud topped with a door-slamming cherry on top. Bathroom breaks are definitely doable, but a bit different than with a zipping tent door.

Final thoughts

Sleeping on a mattress, with cabin temperature control is a nice upgrade from tent camping, and it’s not something you can really do in a normal internal combustion engine car without running the engine all night. There are many upgrades from blow-up mattress pads to a thick foam mattress, better sound insulation, full light blocking if you choose, and of course not having to set up a tent. If your campsite is close enough to home, or if there’s a charging station close enough to the campsite or even an electrical outlet at the campsite, camping in a Tesla is better in many ways, with a few tradeoffs that are to me, worth it.

The post Tesla Camping in a Model Y: Accessories & Planning appeared first on Your Best Digs.

We also tested the less-well-known narrow-neck Klean Kanteen bottle, which performs better in insulation tests because of the smaller opening letting less heat in or out. It’s also preferred by some of our testers because they feel it’s easier to drink from.

The Tests

Cold water test

We filled a large stockpot with water and dumped in about 4 pounds of ice from a handy portable ice maker. We let the ice melt, since it soaks up extra heat when it melts, and it’s hard to ensure there isn’t more of that thermal capacity going into one bottle or another. If you’re actually trying to keep a drink cold for 24 hours, pack in as much non-melted ice as you can.

We measured the temperature of the water over the course of 40 hours. The peak outdoor temperature was 94 degrees Fahrenheit, and the bottles were all in the sun for about an hour. Overnight lows were around 73°F.

There are two control subjects in this test group: An un-insulated stainless steel klean kanteen, a YETI Rambler Insulated Tumbler with an even larger non-sealing lid than the wide-mouth bottle.

As expected, the bottle with no insulation tracks very close to ambient temperature after just two hours. (That’s why it dips overnight and rises during the second morning.) Also no great surprise after past tests, the Klean Kanteen with its narrow mouth managed to beat the other insulated bottles.

What was a bit of a surprise is how poorly the YETI tumbler performed when the sun hit in the morning. You can see that the tumbler is insulating well on the first day, but the large, thin plastic lid is clearly a liability when it comes to soaking up solar heat.

The other surprise was the Hydro Flask, which starts to gain significantly more heat than the other two bottles after the third hour. By the middle of the second day, the difference was about 7°F compared to less than 1°F between the other two.

Easy drinking

Here’s the test that’s far more subjective.

We’ve been testing water bottles since 2017, and there are three ways to think about drinking from them.

Some like sipping from wide-mouth water bottles, since that opening is more like a cup and the top rim is less likely to hit your nose.

Others prefer a narrower mouth, since it allows you to hydrate without worrying as much about spilling.

A third option is to drink from a spout — all of the water bottles we tested can be fitted with an optional spout or straw lid. The spout restricts you to drinking much more slowly, but it ensures you don’t spill all over your shirt. If you’re trying to keep water ice-cold for an entire day in the heat, a spout also keeps heat from rushing in every time you drink.

Cleaning

The wider a bottle’s mouth is, the easier it will be to clean with a good kitchen scrubber.

There are two reasons not to put a vacuum-insulated-stainless-steel bottle in a dishwasher. The first is over concerns about joints inside the insulating sleeve being stressed by the heat, which causes the metal to expand and contract and may damage soldered joints or plugs. The second concern is about damage to that eye-catching colored coating. YETI says all of their bottles are designed to take the heat of a dishwasher. Hydro Flask and Klean Kanteen both say not to put any of their insulated bottles in the dishwasher.

The Hydro Flask – Wide Mouth

The Hydro Flask is one of the most popular insulated water bottles on the market, starting as a humble Oregon design team selling bottles in 2009 and eventually growing a brand strong enough to sell for $210 million in 2019.

Hydro Flask has stayed a steady course, expanding into other lines of insulation-related gear but keeping their water bottles front and center. Redditors and Instagrammers alike are very enthusiastic about the brand and their very generous policies toward replacing things like broken caps or even entire bottles.

Pros

• Lifetime warranty
• Wide selection of sizes and colors
• Popularity makes accessories easy to find

Cons

• Insulation performance is only average
• Narrow lid openings not very narrow
• Wide lid openings not very wide

The YETI Rambler Bottle

The YETI – Rambler Bottle is strong competition for Hydro Flask. This is another brand that has skyrocketed from humble beginnings to a widely-recognized brand. They’re probably still better known for their coolers and the original Rambler insulated tumblers, but this bottle has made big waves.

The main points of innovation YETI has made are in design, with a mouth, lid and accessories all innovating slightly over what other manufacturers are doing. The Mag Dock spout cap has the best features of CamelBak’s excellent Chute Mag bottle. The Bottle Cup Cap turns the YETI into a thermos.

But at the end of the day, this bottle is still vulnerable to dents and scratches, just like any other bottle, and it will set you back $5–10 more than either of the other top-tier brands, or a whopping $35 more than generic insulated bottles.

YETI’s warranty is also only five years, while both of the competitors in this price bracket are offering a lifetime warranty to offset the steep initial investment.

Pros

• The widest mouth of any insulated water bottle
• Rugged design is guaranteed dishwasher safe
• Innovative caps for sipping, chugging and pouring

Cons

• Only a five-year warranty
• Price is usually higher

The bottom line

Choosing between YETI and Hydro Flask is tough. If you like wide-mouth openings, they’re both fine, though the YETI is wider. Both have excellent straw lid options, though YETI also has a few interesting spout designs to choose from. Both bottles keep your drink cold for a full day, though the YETI has an advantage.

If you’re worried about durability, either bottle will dent if you drop it on its side when it’s full of water, so finding the handle or carry system that works for you is essential. That said, the folks in charge of Hydro Flask’s lifetime warranty are very generous when it comes to accidental damage, while YETI’s warranty runs out after five years.

All in all, we think the YETI Rambler Bottle is the better of these two ultra-popular brands, but for the best insulated water bottle our money is still on a dark horse contender: the Klean Kanteen – Classic insulated.

Klean Kanteen has innovative lids and gives you the option of a narrow-neck design to keep drinks cold even longer than the YETI. It’s also a bit less expensive and easier to find. Klean Kanteen has a lifetime warranty, though they don’t guarantee their bottles against damage from a dishwasher like YETI does for the first five years.

Best Overall: Klean Kanteen

This lesser-known insulated bottle has most of the best attributes of competing brands. It's not as cheap as a generic bottle, but you will get a full lifetime warranty for a lower price than either Hydro Flask or YETI.

See Price at Amazon.com

The post Hydro Flask vs Yeti: Which Is Better? appeared first on Your Best Digs.

• How we selected products to test
• 1. Best compression sleeve: Bauerfeind
• 2. Best wraparound knee brace: Mueller
• 3. Best knee strap: McDavid
• Other knee braces we tested
• Who needs a knee brace?
• Important features to consider
• The bottom line

How we selected products to test

After interviewing an orthopedic surgeon and physical therapist and reading through running blogs and articles from trusted review sites like Wirecutter, we compiled a list of features that makes for a standout brace:

• Excellent support to effectively reduce pain or discomfort
• Comfortable fabric
• Relatively breathable materials
• Design that allows for a reasonable range of movement
• Uncomplicated and fairly easy to put on

With these requirements in mind, we selected seven highly rated compression sleeves, wraparound braces and knee straps—and then assigned each one to seven highly active testers to try them out during their regular workouts.

Note: For this review, we chose to test compression sleeves, wraparound knee braces and knee straps, all of which provide light to medium support. For more heavy-duty support, we strongly recommend consulting your doctor to determine the right one for you.

The knee braces covered in this article are meant to temporarily ease pain or provide light compression or support. Because there are many different kinds of knee injuries that each require a specific type of knee brace, sleeve or strap, it’s essential to talk to your doctor to determine the right one for you.

1. Best Compression Sleeve: Bauerfeind

Out of the compression sleeves we tested, the Bauerfeind – Sports Knee Support was the clear winner, and can be used to apply light to medium pressure to ease a variety of injuries and conditions. Though its price point is more than triple that of the other sleeves in our lineup, this is one case in which you get what you pay for.

Made of stretchy knit fabric, this sleeve has thinner, aerated sections over the legs and the back of the knee for breathability, as well as ribbing along the top and bottom edges to help keep it in place. The sleeve’s knee is heavily cushioned, which makes it a bit bulky. However, our tester raved that he felt no knee pain either during or after his very vigorous workout.

Best Compression Sleeve: Bauerfeind

The Bauerfeind - Sports Knee Support provides excellent nonslip, breathable support for running and action sports.

See Price at Amazon

The Bauerfeind brace is easy to put
on—our tester simply pulled it on inside out up to his ankle, and then rolled it onto his leg. Strategically placed silicone patches inside the brace hold it in place on the leg; our tester noted that it stayed firmly in place and didn’t slide. Though the brace is tight at first, it quickly warms to the body to provide firm yet comfortable compression and support. The only downside was a noticeable tightness behind the knee.

Key takeaways

• The Bauerfeind – Sports Knee Support brace is made of comfortable, stretchy knit fabric that’s well-aerated for breathability.
• This brace does not budge during activity, warming to the body and providing excellent knee support.
• Though higher priced, the Bauerfeind is superbly designed and well worth the price tag.

2. Best Wraparound Knee Brace: Mueller

The Mueller – Adjustable Knee Support wraps around the leg and then is held in place with several strong Velcro straps, allowing for plenty of adjustment and customization. Though braces with straps can be confusing, the Mueller brace includes clear instructions and even features a diagram printed on the interior of the brace that shows how to strap it into place. Our tester reported that the adjustability made a difference—the brace’s level of support was strong, and being able to tweak the angle of the compression noticeably alleviated impact on her joints.

Best Wraparound Knee Brace: Mueller

Fully adjustable and made of durable neoprene, the Mueller - Adjustable Knee Support brace provides customized, targeted support.

See Price at Amazon

This brace is made of soft neoprene, with a pleasant thickness that feels supportive and durable. Due to the brace’s thick material, multiple straps and firm support, our tester was definitely aware of it during wear; however, she could move well in the brace, and reported that the support it provided was well worth it and ideal for those who need more rigidity while recovering from an injury. Because of the customizable straps, this brace doesn’t slide; however, you may need to tighten the straps more if you tend to sweat a lot.

Key takeaways

• Made of soft, thick neoprene, the Mueller – Adjustable Knee Support wraparound brace delivers firm, customizable support for the knee.
• This brace features diagrams on its interior to simplify application.
• Though the Mueller brace is on the stiff side, the strong support it provides is worth the firm feel.

3. Best Knee Strap: McDavid

Our tester was pleasantly surprised by the McDavid – Knee Strap, which provided excellent support for such a thin, simple band. The inside of the strap has a soft yet firm roll of foam that lies comfortably against the patellar tendon to stabilize the patella, making it perfect for treating patellar tendonitis, runner’s knee and jumper’s knee. The McDavid’s adjustable Velcro straps allow you to tighten it to your liking. Our tester found it best to tighten the strap snugly, which also ensured that it didn’t fall down during exercise.

Best Knee Strap: McDavid

The slim, simple McDavid - Knee Strap provides firm yet comfortable support that’s easy to put on and take off.

See Price at Amazon

The McDavid strap is made of thin yet durable neoprene that breathes well and is very comfortable to wear overall; our tester felt that she could do anything while wearing this brace. Easy to put on and take off, the strap was only slightly irritating on bare legs when worn for an extended period of time.

Key takeaways

• The McDavid – Knee Strap features an interior roll of foam that puts gentle yet firm pressure on the patellar tendon, stabilizing the kneecap effectively.
• Except for the slight irritation we felt on our bare legs after wearing it for a while, the brace is extremely comfortable overall.
• The breathable Velcro-and-neoprene McDavid strap is easy to put on and take off.

Other knee braces we tested

Powerlix

Combining a healthy dose of firm compression and breathability, the Powerlix – Knee Compression Sleeve is a good budget alternative to the Bauerfeind brace. Though the Powerlix felt restrictive around our tester’s legs, he also noted that he forgot he was wearing it at one point, and his knees didn’t feel as tense as usual for a few days after wearing it. The Powerlix is stretchy and slim enough to wear under clothes, if a little on the warm side.

Rehband

With a cushy thickness that rivals the Mueller brace, the Rehband – Rx Knee Support compression sleeve is well-padded and very comfortable, but feels stuffy and sweaty after a while under clothes. On the plus side, the Rehband stayed firmly in place on our tester and never felt like it was slipping down during exercise.

Cambivo

The Cambivo – Patella Knee Strap is more complicated than the McDavid, with two plastic buckles on either side that our tester found a little confusing to adjust at first. The Cambivo has a soft, plush front cushion and provides a wide range of movement, but unfortunately grew itchy after a while and was not as supportive as the McDavid strap. The Cambivo may work for lighter activities like walking, but not for running or vigorous sports.

Techware

The wraparound Techware – Pro Knee Brace felt clunky to our tester, who reported that it felt less breathable than other braces he’d worn. Though he didn’t feel any pain in his knee after wearing this brace, it did slide during his run. Despite the brace’s interior silicone strips, we had to tighten it quite a bit to get it to stay in place. Because he needed to tighten it so much, it felt stiff and wasn’t comfortable to wear during exercise.

Who needs a knee brace?

“If you’re having a lot of knee pain that you didn’t have before, it’s like the check engine light has come on in your car,” says orthopedic surgeon and founder of Easy Orthopedics Daniel Paull. “It’s worth seeing your orthopedic doctor so you can get an accurate diagnosis—and if you need to wear a knee brace for temporary support until you see your doctor, there’s nothing wrong with that.”

Knee braces work by stabilizing the knee to restrict its range of motion, to prevent injury or stop a current injury from worsening. Some knee braces help keep your knee cap in alignment, while others can prevent you from bending your knee too much and risking further injury.

“A knee brace or sleeve also provides improved awareness and support of your knee while you remain active,” says Michael Hildebrand, physical therapist and owner of M3 Physio. “If there’s no improvement after two to three weeks, see your doctor or physical therapist for an evaluation to determine the best course of action for your knee pain.”

How can you prevent a knee injury in the first place? Both Daniel and Michael recommend strengthening the muscles around the knee to provide more stability and lower your chance of getting hurt. Runners should cross-train with exercises like squats, deadlifts and both seated and standing calf raises to build the hip, knee and ankle muscles. For runners, Daniel also recommends investing in a good pair of running shoes (and insoles, if you need them) and replacing them regularly—every 500 miles or so.

Important features to consider

Compression sleeves

Compression sleeves are stretchy cylinders of fabric that are pulled over the knee and surrounding leg area. Because they aren’t adjustable, it’s vital to measure your leg and knee to determine correct sizing (see the “fit” section below).

Used for a variety of injuries and conditions, sleeves apply light to medium compression throughout the knee area, which not only helps redistribute harmful pressure on the knee joint, but also eases pain and provides the wearer with extra support and stability. Compression sleeves also help keep the knee warm, which increases circulation to the area and relaxes the surrounding muscles and tendons.

Wraparound knee brace

Just as its name implies, wraparound knee braces wrap manually around the knee area, and then are secured in place with Velcro. More supportive than compression sleeves, wraparound knee braces are fully adjustable and can be tightened to the user’s exact preference. Wraparound braces are best for those recovering from injury, who need more rigid support to keep the kneecap firmly in place.

Knee strap

While compression sleeves and knee braces cover the entire knee and usually the area just above and below it, knee straps wrap tightly around the patellar tendon specifically, which is located just below the patella (kneecap). Applying pressure to the patellar tendon in this way stabilizes the kneecap, eases strain and reduces patella tracking (which is when the kneecap shifts too far out of place). Knee straps are especially good for treating patellar tendonitis, runner’s knee and jumper’s knee.

Open vs. closed patella

The difference between open and closed patella braces is straightforward: Open patella braces have a hole over the kneecap, which provides support while relieving pressure on the knee specifically.

Fit

After choosing which type of knee brace you need, the next most important factor is the fit. This will make all the difference in whether a brace stabilizes your knee effectively. If the brace is too loose, it won’t provide the compression you need; if it’s too tight, you won’t be able to wear it for long before you start losing blood flow below the knee.

Here’s the rule of thumb: If your brace or sleeve is moving around during activity, it’s too loose. If it feels painful or is cutting off your circulation, it’s too tight. The ideal balance is a snug fit that isn’t uncomfortable or so restrictive that you can’t move. If a knee sleeve is offered in different sizes, don’t guess at which size you need. Measure yourself so the brace fits you accurately under your running shorts or sweats, so it can stabilize your knee effectively.

Breathability

Knee braces come in a variety of fabrics, the most common being neoprene, knit, polyester and nylon-spandex. Neoprene tends to be the heaviest and least breathable of the three options; however, if you need a stiffer sleeve that will keep your knee warm and extra stable, it may be your best bet.

Nylon-spandex, polyester and knit are best for sweat-wicking, and choosing between the three will come down to personal preference; polyester and nylon-spandex have the feel of standard workout clothing fabric, while knit tends to be softer and slightly thicker. Knit braces may also feature aeration panels—a plus if breathability is a priority for you.

The bottom line

To determine the best knee braces, we took the recommendations of an orthopedic surgeon and physical therapist and put seven top-rated knee straps, wraparound knee braces and compression sleeves to the test.

The best-performing compression sleeve is the well-aerated, nonslip Bauerfeind – Sports Knee Support, which is admittedly more expensive than the other contenders but well worth the price. Our pick for best wraparound knee brace is the fully adjustable Mueller – Adjustable Knee Support brace, which provides strong, customizable knee support. Finally, the best knee strap is the superbly designed, easy-to-use McDavid – Knee Strap, which delivered excellent support for such a simple, streamlined strap.

Best Overall: Bauerfeind - Sports Knee Support

The Bauerfeind - Sports Knee Support brace conforms well to the knee area and doesn’t budge during activity, providing a great balance of cushioning and aeration for both support and breathability.

See Price at Amazon

The post The Best Knee Braces appeared first on Your Best Digs.

If you don’t have access to a bike shop, though, you’ll need several measurements — your height, inseam, torso length and arm length — to buy a bike online. There is no industry standard for bike sizing, and sizing varies from one manufacturer to another. So it’s a good idea to have your exact measurements at hand.

Choosing the style of bike — mountain, road, hybrid — is your first step before measuring since their frames are somewhat different in design. How and where you want to ride your bike is a crucial factor in determining the right size for you.

Bike frame terminology

When researching the type of bike you want to buy, you’ll see several terms of which you need to be aware to ensure that you purchase a properly sized bike.

Top tube

This is the horizontal tube that runs from the seat post to the handlebars. The length of the top tube will determine your reach to the handlebars and your posture while you’re riding.

Bike frame size

The industry standard is that road bikes are measured in centimeters, while mountain bikes are measured in inches. Some manufacturers provide sizing charts that are based on a person’s height, such as x-small, small, medium, large, etc. This vertical measurement is taken from the middle of the pedal crank to the top of the seat tube.

Standover height

An important measurement is standover height, which, for road bikes is 2″ higher than your inseam and for mountain or commuter bikes is 3″-4″ higher than your inseam. This additional height allows for safe and comfortable standing over your bike when you’ve dismounted.

However, these sizes are different for different styles of bikes, so it’s not a one-size-fits-all scenario. For example, a top tube that measures 54 centimeters is usually considered to be a medium, but in some cases, it may actually be a small, depending on the bike’s model and manufacturer.

So although it may seem the easiest to choose a bike size like you would choose clothing size, it won’t necessarily be accurate, which is why you should take certain measurements to ensure a good fit.

Figuring out the right size bike for you is a lot easier than properly fitting a bike helmet.

Example of bike-sizing process

1. First, measure your inseam with a measuring tape from floor to your crotch. In this example, a 6’1″ man has a 33″ inseam.
2. Next, measure your torso from your crotch to your sternum (the v-shaped indentation at the base of your throat. Our 6’1″ man’s torso measures 25″.
3. Measure your arm from the tip of your collarbone to the middle of your closed fist (where you would grip the handlebars. In our example, it’s 30″.
4. Add torso and arm lengths together, divide by 2, then subtract 6 from that total, and you’ll have the top-tube length, so for our 6′”1 man, the ideal top tube length would be 21.5″

According to the following bike size chart, a 60 centimeter road-bike frame or an extra-large mountain-bike frame should fit our 6’1″ man.

Whatever size bike you decide to buy, one of our top picks for the best bike rack will support it securely in your garage or home.

Road bike sizing chart

A road bike is designed for smooth and fast riding on paved areas. It has a lower-placed handlebar to encourage a forward-leaning position. A road bike’s frame is rigid, which transfers the power of your pedaling directly to the wheels. Road bikes are always measured in centimeters because it allows for a more precise fitting to your body.

Mountain bike sizing chart

A mountain bike is designed for control and stability over rugged terrain. Its frame is more upright than a road bike and allows for better visibility for the rider. A mountain bike’s frame often has forward or full suspension to absorb bumps. The industry standard is to measure a mountain bike in inches.

Kids bike sizing chart

When buying a kids bike, it’s important to remember that a child will soon outgrow it. Experts recommend buying a bike that’s slightly larger, which will allow for the child’s growth. The child’s height and inseam measurements (in inches) are necessary for ensuring the bike is a good fit. Sizes for kids bikes are grouped together by wheel size; for example, 12″, 14″, 16″, etc.

Final thoughts

Every bicycle expert strongly recommends sizing a bike to fit your body on the actual bike you want to purchase. Even if you use our sizing charts to buy a bike online, it’s worth your while to find a bike shop to make adjustments because all bikes will need to be adjusted to ensure that you have an enjoyable and comfortable ride.

Our guides, however, are a great starting point, and if you’ve measured yourself correctly, it’s likely that you’ll be able to make the adjustments to your new bike yourself.

The post Bike Size Chart: What Size Bike Do I Need? appeared first on Your Best Digs.

What PSI should bike tires be?

On the sidewalls of your tires, you’ll see the manufacturer’s recommended pressure range for PSI (pounds per square inch). Different bike tires have different ranges, and narrow tires need more pressure than wide tires. The recommended PSI for different tires are:

• Road bike tires: 80–130 psi
• Mountain bike tires: 25–35 psi
• Hybrid tires: 40–70 psi

Experienced cyclists can often estimate whether their tires need to be pumped by pinching the tire between their thumb and forefinger. The more accurate way of knowing when your tire should be pumped is by measuring its pressure with a pressure gauge; if the air pressure is measured below the recommended PSI, it’s time to pump.

First pump your bike tire to the middle of the range for the recommended PSI. You also need to take your body weight into account. Tires that bear a heavier rider need more PSI. Weather conditions and terrain also affect how a bike rides, so you’ll need to experiment with different PSIs to feel what’s most comfortable to you.

How to pump a tire with a Schrader valve

A Schrader valve is the type of valve you’ll find on car tires, older bike tires and mountain bikes. It consists of a metal pin in the center of a threaded valve, and a rubber cap that’s screwed onto the valve. Most bike pumps like those we reviewed have a dual head to accommodate both Schrader and Presta valves or a single head with an adapter.

If your tire has a Schrader valve

1. Unscrew the rubber cap and put it someplace where it’s easy to find (like your pocket).
2. Check the tire’s PSI using a pressure gauge or a bike pump with a built-in gauge, like the Topeak – Road Morph G.
3. The pump’s Schrader head is the larger of the two openings. (It’s usually marked with the letter S.) Put the opening onto the tire valve, pressing down so the opening covers the valve.
4. The pump head will have a lever that either pushes up or to the left or right. The lever closes off the Presta opening and locks the Schrader opening onto the valve.
5. Keeping your eye on the gauge, pump until desired PSI is reached. As the pressure increases, it will take more effort to pump.
6. Open the lever, pull up on the head, and screw the valve cap back on.

Best Floor Pump: Topeak - Joe Blow Sport III

This sturdy and durable floor pump easily and securely fits Schrader and Presta valves and takes the least amount of effort to pump a bike tire to recommended PSI.

See Price at Amazon.com

How to pump a tire with a Presta valve

A Presta valve is found on road bikes and some mountain bikes. It’s a slender valve with a nut at the top that is loosened and tightened before and after inflation. Almost all new bike pumps have a head with openings for both Schrader and Presta valves, or they have an adapter for switching from Schrader to Presta, like one of our top picks, the Topeak – Road Morph G.

If your tire has a Presta valve

1. Unscrew the valve cap.
2. Loosen the brass nut at the top of the stem. Press down on the stem, and if you hear a short burst of air escape, it’s loosened enough.
3. Put the smaller opening of the pump head on the valve. If your pump has an adapter, switch the opening from Schrader to Presta.
4. Flip the pump head’s lever to close off the Schrader opening and attach the Presta opening to the valve.
5. Pump until the gauge registers the desired PSI.
6. Flip the pump’s lever open and remove the head from the valve.
7. Tighten the brass nut, and screw the dust protector back on.

Best Mini Pump: Lezyne - Micro Floor Drive

This lightweight yet powerful mini pump has an ingenious ABS flip chuck that lets you switch from Schrader to Presta by simply turning it over.

See Price at Amazon.com

Pumping bike tires at a gas station

If you’re out riding and your tires need air, you could give them a quick inflate with a CO2 injector, like the one we reviewed. But if you don’t have a CO2 injector in your bag, and you forgot your mini pump, then you can pull into a gas station and inflate your tires there.

If you don’t have a pressure gauge, ask the station attendant for one. Inflate your tires to optimal pressure in short bursts; a gas-station air pump has very high pressure, and you run the risk of popping your tire.

A gas-station air pump will only fit a Schrader valve. But if your tires have Presta valves and you don’t have a Presta valve adapter, there’s still a way to inflate them.

1. Unscrew the Presta valve cap.
2. Use scissors or a knife to cut off the pointed tip at the rim.
3. Unscrew the valve stem.
4. Turn the cut valve cap upside down, and place it on top of the valve stem.
5. Screw the cap onto the stem.
6. Put the pump head over the now-modified valve, and inflate your tire in short bursts.
7. When your tire is at optimal pressure, remove the pump head, and unscrew the cap. You’re ready to ride again!

The post How to Pump Bike Tires appeared first on Your Best Digs.

Cleaning your bike chain is a simple process since you don’t need to actually remove the chain from your bike.

Tools you’ll need

• Several rags
• A stiff brush, like this one, or a hard toothbrush
• Bio degreaser
• Bike chain lubricant, wet or dry, depending on terrain and weather conditions
• A chain-cleaning tool (optional)

Steps for cleaning a bike chain

1. Put your bike on a stand or horizontal rack, like one of our top picks for best bike rack. You’ll want to keep your bike elevated and its wheels free-moving while you clean the chain.

2. Apply some bio degreaser on a clean, dry rag, and hold the rag to the chain. Revolve the pedal backward slowly, keeping the rag on the chain as it moves. If your chain is extra dirty and grimy, you can use the chain-cleaning tool. Fill the tool’s receptacle with bio degreaser and run the chain through the tool.

3. To remove dirt from the cassette (the sprocket cluster attached to the rear wheel’s hub), apply bio degreaser to the stiff brush. Hold the brush on the cassette while pedaling the chain forward. Make sure to get the brush bristles in between the chain links.

4. If there’s still built-up grime, use the rag to “floss” it out in between the gears.

5. Wait for the degreaser to dry.

6. Apply the lubricant to the chain, one drop at a time between each link, slowly revolving the pedal backward.

7. Hold another clean rag to the chain, pedaling backward, and remove any excess lubricant.

8. Take your bike down off the rack. You’re ready to ride!

The post How to Clean Bike Chains appeared first on Your Best Digs.

Table of contents

• Compare the best car phone mounts
• 1. Best overall: iOttie – HLCRIO125
• 2. Runner-up: AF4-KK-NA
• 3. Budget pick: iOttie – HLCRIO127
• Other products we tested
• How we selected products to test
• How we tested
• Important features to consider
• The bottom line

Compare the best car phone mounts

1. Best overall: iOttie – HLCRIO125

The iOttie – HLCRIO125 was the sturdiest, most secure and most versatile of the car phone mounts we tested. It also offered the best options for placement in a location that will ensure a safe driving experience.

The iOttie is a suction/adhesive mount. The suction cup is meant to be attached directly to the windshield. It can be repositioned on the windshield at any time and will keep the device locked securely in place. The iOttie has an adjustable bottom tab (or “the foot” as it’s called in the instructions), which allows the device to grab any size phone securely. It also has a telescoping arm that can extend 5 inches to 8.3 inches, a feature that also gives you additional options for placement.

A plastic plate or “dashboard pad” with an adhesive backing is provided for affixing the iOttie to the dashboard. It’s not reusable, and repositioning it will leave adhesive stuck to the dashboard. Before permanently adhering the iOttie to your dashboard, we recommend trying out different positions (as our team did) by affixing it with double-sided tape to find out which position works best for you.

Top Pick: iOttie - HLCRIO125

The iOttie’s sturdy design and variable options for placement ensure that it holds the phone security and enhances safety while driving.

See Price at Amazon.com

The iOttie’s patented Easy One Touch system consists of two side arms that automatically grip the side of the phone and lock into place. Two smaller arms beneath the side arms are the lock release: when pushed they spring apart, releasing the phone. The locking arms are a bit tricky at first, since you need to apply a bit of pressure to close them onto the phone. The release, however, lets go of the phone at the slightest touch.

The iOttie mount is more expensive than the other mounts we tested. However, its superior construction, stability and durability make this iOttie model well worth the higher price.

Key takeaways:

• The iOttie dashboard and windshield mount holds the phone securely even over bumpy roads.
• It can be placed anywhere on the dashboard or windshield, offering the safest option for visibility and minimizing driver distraction.
• It has the most solid and durable construction of the other mounts we tested.

2. Runner-up: Kenu – AF4-KK-NA

The Kenu – AF4-KK-NA Airframe Pro is an air-vent car phone mount and was the easiest and most straightforward device to install — it’s a single piece that simply inserts into any air vent. It holds the phone with a strong, expandable spring clip that can accommodate wide phones up to 3.6 inches and over-sized phone cases.

The Kenu’s rubber clasp is a plus, as it won’t scratch the vehicle’s air vents. We clipped the phone into the Kenu — in both landscape and portrait modes, thanks to its 360-degree pivot ball — toward the bottom of the phone so that it sat higher in the device and didn’t block the car’s back-up camera. The mount’s rotating clip can be adjusted to fit horizontal, vertical and angled air vents.

Runner-up: Kenu - AFT-KK-NA

The Kenu has a simple and straightforward design with a strong, non-slip grip and can hold larger phones in either landscape or portrait mode.

See Price at Amazon.com

Although an air-vent mount minimizes the driver from being distracted, it can’t be used with the car’s heating on, which would heat up your phone, unless air flow can be redirected to the floor. It’s fine to use, however, when you have the air conditioning on. Using this type of mount is also dependent on where your air vents are located; if they’re too low, the driver will be forced to look down and away from the road.

The Kenu is about the same price as the iOttie – HLCRIO125, and if you prefer an air-vent mount over one that’s permanently placed, this sturdy and well-made model is an excellent choice.

Key takeaways:

• The Kenu has a simple and solid construction that makes it one of the easiest mounts to use.
• It attaches securely to air vents, and its expandable grip clip can hold wide phones up to 3.6 inches in landscape or portrait positions.
• Its 360-degree pivot ball accommodates horizontal, vertical and angled vents.

3. Budget pick: iOttie – HLCRIO127

The iOttie – HLCRIO127 is a compact mount that inserts into your car’s CD player and can hold phones and cases up to 3.5 inches wide. It grips onto your phone with the same One Touch mechanism as the dashboard model. Rather than connect to a telescoping arm, this iOttie’s holder is inserted into a small, sturdy mount that is then slid into your vehicle’s CD player.

Like the dashboard model, the mount has a swivel ball that can pivot at any angle to adjust the phone into portrait or landscape mode. Depending on your dashboard’s configuration, when your phone is positioned in portrait mode, it might block your rearview camera.

iOttie - HLRCIO127

The iOttie is solidly built and will stay firmly in place in the CD slot. It’s a good budget choice for cars with CD players.

See Price at Amazon.com

The iOttie CD mount stayed secure in the CD player in our compact car and pickup and held the phone in place even over bumpy roads. The minivan we used for testing, however, is a newer model and didn’t have a CD player. As CD players are increasingly phased out, the iOttie CD mount will inevitably go the way of the rotary phone. Pricewise, it’s middle-of-the-range for car phone mounts, and for now, it’s a dependable option for car-phone use while driving.

Key takeaways:

• The reasonably priced iOttie – HLRCIO127 CD mount is a solid, sturdy choice for cars with CD players.
• It has secure placement in the CD player and holds the phone in place even over bumpy roads.
• Its One Touch mechanism tightly grips the phone, but it can take some effort to release.

Other products we tested

Exogear – EGEM-TCD

The Exogear – Exomount is another CD mount with a 360-degree rotation and up-and-down tilt. It has a strong locking screw that secures the plastic tabs that are inserted into the CD player. The Exomount has a spring-clip arm similar to the iOttie, but both the plastic casing and spring are a bit flimsy. The expandable arm can accommodate phones up to 3.5-inches wide, but a phone with a thick case won’t be held as securely since the mount is only .5-inches deep. As with other CD mounts, visibility of the back-up camera could be impaired.

WizGear – Magnetic Air-Vent Mount

The WizGear – Magnetic Air-Vent Mount has an alligator clip that is inserted into any car vent and tightened into place with a screw. Three steel plates with adhesive backing are attached to your phone — you don’t need to use all three; they’re provided for attaching larger phones. You then align the metal plate(s) to its exceptionally powerful magnet, and the phone holds on to the mount. The steel plate does interfere with wireless charging, however, so you need to place it below the QI chip.

Although we had no issues with the WizGear when secured to our car’s and minivan’s vents, it did not fit the center vent of our pickup. The left vent worked well, but while we were driving, our hands blocked sightlines, and we couldn’t see the phone. We also had an issue with the WizGear’s alligator clip getting stuck in the minivan’s vent. We rated the WizGear at the lower end of the list because it won’t hold a phone in a thick case as securely as other mounts.

FlePow – Magnetic Phone Mount

The FlePow – Magnetic Phone Mount is a heavy and sturdy metal mount with a 360-degree rotation. FlePow’s magnet holds the phone in place on the mount, which is permanently adhered to the dashboard. The manufacturer advises that the FlePow’s adhesive could melt at temperatures warmer than 75 ℉, which actually did not prove to be the case. In fact, the adhesive was so powerful, we had to search for special solvents and tools to remove it.

The FlePow is only two inches tall, which limits options for placement of the steel plate on the phone, unless the device is mounted on the edge of the dashboard. The mount could also be mounted vertically, but you would need to test this before adhering it. A phone positioned in landscape will most likely have more options for placement on the top of the dashboard than a phone that’s in portrait mode.

SCOSCHE – MagicMount: Not recommended

The SCOSCHE – MagicMount magnetic dashboard mount is well made, and its rare-earth magnets are strong, but it simply didn’t work. It’s a large weighted pad — 5.5” x 6.5” — with a curved adjustable arm. Like the WizGear, a metal plate holds the phone to the magnet. The pad is then placed on your vehicle’s dashboard, and its weight alone — without any adhesive backing — is supposed to hold it in place. However, in all of our test vehicles, the SCOSCHE slid around on the dashboard and did not secure the phone.

Cellet – PH650: Not recommended

The Cellet – PH650 cup holder mount is solidly constructed and will fit most vehicles’ cup holders, thanks to a sprocket that can be screwed or unscrewed to adjust its width. It has an extendable arm that can elevate the phone 10 inches. The clip that connects to the arm grips the phone tightly, even a phone with a thick case. The main problem with this type of car mount is that it’s too tall for a front cup holder and can only be inserted into a back cup holder to the right of the driver. This position forces the driver to continually look to the right to see the phone, and because of this sightline issue, we can’t recommend the Cellet.

How we selected products to test

We consulted a wide range of websites, including resources for shoppers like Consumer Reports. We also read through hundreds of Amazon reviews by consumers who rated car phone mounts in different categories: dashboard/windshield, weighted dashboard mat, vent, CD and cup holder. From this analysis, we chose eight highly rated car phone mounts to test and assessed the advantages of each style.

How we tested

Our team of two testers unpacked the mounts and installed the devices in three different types of vehicles: a compact, a pickup truck and a minivan. Each mount was driven in the three vehicles under varying road conditions, including highways and well-paved or bumpy side streets. Problems, pluses and minuses were noted.

The final assessments were made based on which items were easiest to work with and also provided the best quality with a special emphasis on safety while driving.

Important features to consider

Each state has different laws regarding car phones; some apply to handheld phones, others to all phones in cars, including hands-free devices. Some of the laws apply to all drivers in the state, some to only novice or commercial drivers. It is essential to check the laws for your state; your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles website is a good place to start.

But regardless of your state’s laws, no driver should be distracted while driving. With this in mind, we paid special attention to how each car-phone mount’s placement might affect a driver’s focus on the road.

The configuration of your vehicle’s dashboard and center console also play a role in which car phone mount to choose. The shape of your dashboard and the location of your car’s air vents, CD player and cup holders should also be considered in determining how safe a car phone mount would be.

The bottom line

We are a mobile society and we love our phones. When we were considering which car phone mount was the best, a decisive factor was whether its placement allowed the driver to safely look at the phone without taking his/her eyes off the road.

Our choice for the best car phone mount is the iOttie – HLCRIO125 . It’s sturdily made, stays securely in place and offers the best options for safe placement. If you prefer an air-vent mount, our runner-up Kenu – AF4-KK-NA has a simple, easy-to-use design that will minimize driver distraction. Our budget pick, the iOttie – HLCRIO127 , is a CD mount that gripped onto our phones even when we drove over bumpy roads.

Best Car Phone Mount: iOttie - HLCRIO125

The sturdiest and most versatile of the mounts we tested, the iOttie can be affixed anywhere on the dashboard or windshield, offering the safest options for driver visibility.

See Price at Amazon.com

The post The Best Car Phone Mounts appeared first on Your Best Digs.