Read about how we tested ClassPass for several months, attending dozens of classes to see if it is worth the monthly membership prices compared to signing up for those studios and gyms directly.

How we tested

For two months, we gathered reviews and data from four team members on their personal experience using ClassPass in Southern and Northern California, including any previous experiences they have with ClassPass dating from 2018. We originally started with free trials and continued with paid memberships. Some of our reviewers upgraded membership tiers to fit their workout preferences. 

We tried a variety of in-person classes and studio locations, in addition to virtual on-demand classes including yoga, pilates, weight training and even a nail salon. This review describes our personal experiences using ClassPass: signing up for sessions on the ClassPass app or desktop site, traveling and using our memberships, comparing class prices with drop-in rates, and if it’s worth the price.

How does ClassPass work?

ClassPass is a subscription-based fitness model that allows you to try different studios and sometimes for a discounted price. If you like pampering yourself, they also feature wellness and beauty companies that offer massages, meditation, spa services, and even haircuts. With studio partners in over 2,500 cities, ClassPass lets you continue working out even when traveling. 

Depending on your membership level, you can pay between $19 to $159 and receive 8-80 monthly credits. You sign up for classes or appointments on a desktop, laptop, or app with the credits. We prefer using the personalized app because it’s easy to sign up for available classes on the go or cancel as long as you have Internet access. 

ClassPass even has 4,000 on-demand virtual classes (audio and video) so you can work out in your home. These videos are available on every membership tier, and you can choose from various workouts to exercise. 

ClassPass membership plans

There are five membership plans. You get a set number of credits each month. The higher the membership tier, the less expensive credit costs. After the trial membership, individuals will start at $49, giving you 23 credits. Depending on the studio, this will provide you with anywhere between 2-4 classes. 

Membership plans and prices

For someone just starting with working out (or ClassPass in general), we recommend starting with the default membership tier and adjusting as you go on. Of course, you can always add more credits until the next billing cycle or opt to upgrade early. 

Additional credits and prices

If you need to buy more credit during the month consistently, upgrading your membership may be a good idea to reduce the amount of money you pay–since it’s typically cheaper to pay for credits upfront. You can also roll over credits if you don’t have the opportunity to use them within the same month. 

Note that there is no pro-rated price, so you will pay the total upgraded tier price no matter when you upgrade. So, for example, if your billing date is the first of every month, but you run out by the 15th and you want to upgrade to the next tier, you will still need to pay for the total price of the next tier. 

Classpass Cost vs. Direct Price comparison

If you’re wondering if paying for ClassPass is cheaper than paying for a drop-in price for a studio, it can get a little complicated to figure out because it depends on the credit price of each class and how much you pay for each credit based on your membership tier. So here’s a breakdown of some popular studios nearby us in Orange County, California. 

During our tests, we noticed that credits change depending on each class’s timing, demand, availability, and popularity. So a CorePower C1 class on Monday at 10:00 AM could be 8 credits one week because it was empty, and the next week, the same class could be 11 credits because more people have signed up. 

Mobile app & class booking experience

Booking a class was the most accessible experience, and we loved using the app. The ClassPass app is available on IOS and Android. The app allows you to book classes, cancel classes, add friends, view on-demand videos, manage your account, and adjust your membership.

Homepage

On the homepage, the app shows you options for similar classes you’ve previously attended, price drops, and new classes you might be interested in. We didn’t run into any issues throughout our time using the app. We especially liked the options to customize the homepage to our liking with buttons under each category that let you “see more of this” or “see less of this” category. 

Finding & booking classes

You can filter by activity, location, availability, and time when searching for a class. The search also gives you a visual map to see nearby studios with open spots. 

Once you click on the studio, you get more information about the company, including reviews, contact information, amenities, parking instructions, and similar businesses. The “view schedule” button is super easy to spot because it’s bright blue at the bottom of the screen. Each class is listed with a date, time, title, teacher, and how many credits it takes to join. 

Once you reserve a spot, the app informs you about fee cancellation deadlines (typically 12-14 hours before the scheduled class). If the class is booked, you can also add a notification if someone drops out and opens a spot.

What’s great about the app is that if you have a workout partner or friend, you can add them on ClassPass and send them information about your upcoming class so they can join. Of course, you can also send them a direct link to the class to sign up. 

On-demand video classes

We do have one caveat, and that is trying to find the on-demand videos on the mobile app; They are located at the VERY bottom of the search page. Using your phone for on-demand videos can also seem annoying with such a small screen. The ClassPass mobile app offers both visual on-demand videos and audio workouts. To use on-demand videos on the desktop site, click on the “Videos” link located on the upper right corner. There is currently no option for on-demand audio class for the desktop site.  

There are many different types of workouts available, and you can use a filter to find the class you want. For example, you can filter by specific activities, workout length, body focus, equipment, or collaborative partners, like Sweat Factor or Daily Burn. What’s great about these on-demand videos is that they don’t require additional credits; you can do as many as you want.

After testing several virtual classes, we thought it was a good option for days when you can’t get to the studio or travel without any ClassPass studios nearby. In addition, each virtual class is already filmed, so you can go at your own pace and pause the video if you need extra time between sets.

On-demand audio classes

Audio classes describe the type of workout, time frame, level of exercise, and calorie burns. The interface of each audio workout is similar to other audio apps with a movable timeline, play/pause button, 30-second skip or back buttons, and volume, and it also includes music genres based on your preference in between the reps. This is great for intermediate to advanced customers familiar with workout moves and can take directions easily. 

ClassPass pros

After trying out ClassPass for two consecutive months at home and during travel, here are our pros and cons about using it as a way to exercise. 

• Variety – There are various types of workouts and studios available and even beauty and wellness appointments like haircuts or acupuncture. 
• Try new gyms without commitment – You can try a new studio or gym without initiation fees or fear of signing up for additional trial memberships.
• Travel – If you travel & want to continue working out, ClassPass has 2,500 studio locations all over the world. This is an excellent option for popular studios with multiple locations to continue working out when traveling.
• Price – Depending on the studio, some ClassPass classes are cheaper than drop-in rates directly from the studios. Some gyms also offer a half-off discount on your first class, so it’s even more affordable! Some classes drop their prices if there are still spots to fill – even by 30-50% off. 
• Achievements badge – If you’re motivated by earning badges, ClassPass also offers achievement goals to make exercising feel more like a game and less like a chore. 

ClassPass cons

• “Free” but lacking trial – Some things like massages or beauty services are not available on the free trial. You must upgrade to a paid membership to view the prices and sign up. 
• No pro-rated prices for upgrades – If you want to upgrade to a higher membership tier mid-month, you must pay for a full-price membership. So it might be worth it not to upgrade until it’s closer to your billing date. 
• Sold-out classes – Many classes are already waitlisted or sold out even a week in advance. In addition, some studios only open a certain amount every week, or spots open specifically for ClassPass. 
• Class variety on ClassPass – Not all classes from the studio are available to ClassPass students (like Pure Barre only opens up Classic barre classes but not their Empower, Foundations, Align, or Reform classes). 
• Credits change based on the individual – We’ve tested this with multiple users and noticed that sometimes credits would differ from person to person even though they sign up for the same class simultaneously.

Tips to make the most of a ClassPass membership

• If you want to sign up for a sold-out class, check the app about 13 hours before the class begins because some people may drop the class before the fee cancellation deadline. 
• We have also noticed that the cost of a class will decrease closer to the date because there is availability, and the studio wants to fill the class. We sometimes canceled and re-signed up for the same class the day before to use fewer credits. However, this is also a risk because your spot might get quickly taken up. 

If you have health insurance plans with Kaiser, you may be eligible for discounts on memberships.

Is ClassPass worth it?

We believe ClassPass is worth the price if you are interested in taking a variety of exercises, are just beginning your workout journey, or want to work out while you are traveling. Paying on membership for ClassPass to exercise in 3-4 different studios per month will be cheaper than signing up for 3-4 individual memberships at every location. However, if you prefer working at a specific gym or have a dedicated workout plan with a committed gym, you might be wasting your money. 

After using ClassPass solely for working out for several months, we tried almost a dozen studios and locations throughout California. We have thoroughly enjoyed signing up for different exercises, and working out feels less like a chore and more like a game. 

While there are cons with any workout membership, like some popular classes selling out when they’re released, we could still find workouts nearby. There are many pros, especially if you need motivation to exercise. Read below to see our experience. 

Conclusion: who benefits from ClassPass?

If you are ONLY interested in pilates, have found your favorite studio, and want to take multiple classes a week, you might consider the studio’s monthly unlimited membership if you have a dedicated workout at a gym and don’t want variety. 

If you love variety in exercising or are just getting into working out, we think ClassPass is a good option because you spend less money and don’t need to commit to just one studio. ClassPass allows you to try different workouts and teachers to see which fits your body best. Even just visiting two studios within a month seems worth it for a membership class because drop-in rates are so high. 

Comparing drop-in class prices versus ClassPass credits, you are saving money. Where typical pilates drop-in class prices are about $30, a single ClassPass session can be half the price. The highest membership price from ClassPass is $159 for about 7-16 classes per month, which is still a lower price than popular studios’ monthly unlimited memberships.

The post How Does ClassPass Work & Is It Worth It? appeared first on Your Best Digs.

For context, my group went to Universal Studios, Hollywood, on a Wednesday in late July 2023. Super Nintendo Land has been open for five months and is still insanely crowded. I also opted for the early entrance add-on for Super Nintendo Land due to the Mario Kart restriction on Express Passes. 

How much is the Universal Studios Express Pass?

The Universal Studios Hollywood website states that the Universal Express Pass costs $199 and up, depending on the day you visit. During the off-season, like September or January, you can find the lowest-priced Express Pass tickets at $199 in the middle of the week. And during peak season months of July and August, prices can range between $209-$319. Guests ages two years or younger are free and don’t need tickets. 

For a Wednesday in July 2023, one-day general admission cost $149, and the Universal Express Pass was $295 per ticket–a $146 upgrade. So it’s typically double the price of a regular one-day ticket. 

How does the Universal Express Pass work?

The Express Pass is an upgraded ticket with special line privileges. It’s still the same sized physical piece of paper as a regular ticket that you need to carry with you throughout the day. Ride operators scan a barcode on your ticket at the entrance to every ride with an Express Pass lane, helping you skip long lines. But let’s see if the pass is worth it for you.

Benefits of the Express Pass

The Express pass lets you bypass a typically large crowd in the standard standby line and save yourself from hours of standing in line. Only a limited number of Express Passes are sold daily, so they can sell out beforehand. 

The Express Pass allows you to bypass 10 of the park’s 11 rides and attractions ONCE each ride that day by scanning the barcode on your ticket upon ride entry. However, if you want to ride an attraction again, you must line up in the regular standby line. Note, even though you bypass a majority of the standby line, some wait time is included, but it stays within 10-15 minutes. 

These are the attractions that have an Express Pass line:

• 10 Rides:
  • Despicable Me Minion Mayhem
  • Flight of the Hippogriff
  • Harry Potter & the Forbidden Journey
  • Jurassic World – The Ride
  • Kung Fu Panda Adventure
  • Revenge of the Mummy – The Ride
  • Studio Tour
  • The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash
  • The Simpsons Ride
  • Transformers: The Ride-3D
• WaterWorld show with priority seating
• Access to Super Nintendo Land without a reservation when the park has reached capacity for the day and a reservation is required to enter Super Nintendo Land. This can happen during peak season months like July and August. 

What the Express Pass does not include

Almost all of the rides and attractions at Universal Studios Hollywood have Express Pass, there is one ride restriction currently, and it’s the most popular ride, Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge. So if you’re thinking about getting the pass for Mario Kart, it won’t work, and you’ll have to wait in the general admission line. 

If your main reason for visiting Universal Studios Hollywood is for Super Nintendo Land, I recommend buying the Super Nintendo World Early Access Ticket and the Express Pass ticket. This lets you enter the park and Super Nintendo Land ONE HOUR before the general public.

With this early entrance, we could ride Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge in under 40 minutes instead of the two to three-hour wait it became once the park opened. The early entrance ticket starts at $20 daily and rises during peak season. 

Is the Universal Studios Express Pass worth it?

The Express Pass is not cheap, so it takes some consideration to weigh out the cost. Overall we saved over SEVEN HOURS of waiting in line this day, letting us ride just about every major ride we wanted to. Without this, we would have to spend more time in line and less relaxing, eating, or enjoying the park.

The pass let us ride nine out of 11 rides and attractions in the entire park long before closing. Note, the only reason we didn’t do all the rides was by personal preference (some people weren’t up for huge roller coaster drops). 

Here’s a breakdown of our day WITH the Express Pass:

• Time spent in line: 10 minutes per ride, 1 hour 30 minutes total  
• Time spent relaxing/eating/wandering/exploring the park: 13 hours 30 minutes

WITHOUT the Express Passes, it would be more like:

• Time spent in line: 1 hour per ride (minimum), 9 hours total
• Time spent relaxing/eating/wandering/exploring the park: 6 hours 

The Express Pass is a must-have if:

• You’re visiting from out of town or out of state and only have one day to visit the park
• You don’t have time to spend the whole day at the park but want to see multiple rides
• You have kids that you know could not handle 60+ minutes wait in line

Consider skipping the Express Pass if:

• You’re buying an annual pass and will return to the park multiple times anyway
• You don’t plan to go on at least three rides with Express Pass lanes
• You’re visiting during a time of the year you know it isn’t crowded
• You’re on a tight budget and just want to enjoy the shops, games, and walking around the park most of the day

It’s worth paying for an Express Pass if you have the option because you spend less time in line and have more opportunities to do other activities, like playing games, relaxing in air-conditioned stores, and staying away from the heat. 

Tips for using the Express Pass

• Park tickets require you to choose which day you’ll attend the theme park, so make sure your schedule for that day stays clear. Universal Studios Hollywood states that all tickets are non-transferable, non-refundable, and non-exchangeable.
• Make sure everyone in your group purchases an Express Pass; otherwise, your trip might exclude some members who can’t bypass the general standby line. Or you might end up choosing to wait in the standby line with non-Express Pass holders, which negates the use of the pass altogether. 
• Purchase your Express Pass tickets at least one month ahead because a limited number are available daily.
• The Express Pass includes one-day admission, so you only need this ticket to enter the theme park.
• When you first scan your online tickets at the front gate, make sure you receive a physical ticket from the workers. Each ticket includes your name and a bar code you must scan at each Express Pass ride entrance. 
• Download the Universal Studios Hollywood app to keep an updated notification of wait times and if rides and attractions accept Express Pass tickets.

How to buy the Express Pass

Since Express Passes are limited in quantity per day, I recommend purchasing them on the Universal Studios Hollywood website. You can also buy Express Passes at the front gate, but they can sell out which would change your entire day’s itinerary, so I recommend buying them online as soon as you can confirm a day you want to attend the park. 

To purchase tickets online, click the “tickets” button on the Universal Studios Hollywood website. Then, click on the “Universal Express” option and continue to choose your specific date. Each price differs by date. Finally, add the number of guests. Guests two years or younger don’t need a pass and are free to attend. 

How much is it to upgrade to the Express Pass?

The minimum cost to upgrade is $90, but it can be up to $170 extra. The price of a regular ticket ranges from $109 to $149, and the price of an Express Pass ticket ranges from $199 to $319. So on typical low-season days which aren’t busy you can expect to pay about $90 to upgrade to the Express Pass. During busier seasons, the prices of both tickets go up so you can expect to pay up to $170 to upgrade your ticket to Express Pass.

Suppose you originally purchased a general admission ticket and want to upgrade a regular ticket to an Express Pass. In that case, you can upgrade your ticket by calling Universal Studio Hollywood at 866-258-6546, or you can wait until the day of your trip and upgrade at the front gate. 

However, I recommend upgrading over the phone since Express Passes can sell out early. If you try to upgrade at the gate you may not be able to if they have sold out. Currently, there is no way to upgrade tickets online. 

What hotels include the Universal Express Pass?

The Universal Express Pass for Universal Studios Hollywood does not come with any accommodations. The Express Pass only comes with one-day admission inside the theme park on the specified date you choose from online or at the front gate. 

The post The Express Pass at Universal Studios: Is It Worth It? appeared first on Your Best Digs.

We’ve been cat owners for several years and are always around cats and cat parents. Just like products for humans, we consistently buy and test new variations of cat accessories to find the best-designed and most durable items for our favorite family members.

While we understand each cat is different, we have access to test items on several cats of different breeds, sizes, and demeanors so we can find the best accessories, like cat scratchers. In the past, we’ve tested automatic litter boxes (like the Litter-Robot 4), cat toys, cat trees, nail clippers, litter mats, and even cat food. When it comes to our pets, we go above and beyond with our testing requirements to make sure we pick the best items.

The 8 Cat Scratchers we tested

Important features to consider

Type

Most cats have textural preferences for their scratching surfaces. Scratchers are often made of corrugated cardboard, sisal rope, woven sisal, jute, or polyester carpet. Sisal rope or woven sisal are often the most popular because the rough texture allows the cat’s claws to grip the material during scratching and helps with grooming. Sisal is also extremely durable and long-lasting.

Carpet (often polyester carpet) is the softest material, but the woven texture still allows cats to grip the fabric and scratch. This material doesn’t last as long as sisal. Corrugated cardboard can also mimic a softer, bark-like texture for cats who prefer a different material. It’s also important to mention that cardboard (whether cheap or reinforced corrugated cardboard) disintegrates into smaller pieces and is often messier than other fabrics.

Build quality and durability

While corrugated cardboard falls apart quicker than sisal or carpet, remember that all scratchers are meant to be used and will break down eventually. However, buying from reputable brands known for their build quality is still important. Scratchers with reinforced corrugated cardboard, like from the brand Coching, won’t disintegrate as quickly as cheaper cardboard designs.

We love the height for vertical scratching posts because it gives cats room to scratch and stretch on instinct. But you must also have sturdy and heavy bases to prevent cats from toppling the scratcher. We also prefer posts to be glued and stapled securely to prevent cats from hurting themselves.

Shape & size

Cat scratchers come in many varieties, like vertical posts or horizontal scratchers. We suggest choosing a scratcher that allows your cat to scratch and stretch in their natural preference. For example, if your cat tends to scratch a couch while standing on their hind legs, we suggest buying a vertical scratching post.

Budget

Scratchers come in many affordable prices, but sometimes these prices can dictate the material used or the design of each scratcher. We found cheaper scratchers tend to be made of cardboard or have less durable builds than more expensive scratchers. Modern designs like the scratchers from Fukumaru were often more expensive.

Other features

Other features you should consider are extra toys that help entice cats to use the scratchers more than your expensive furniture. Some scratchers are made for multiple cat households because they offer more posts or different scratching areas. If your cat loves being in high places, it’s also useful to have scratchers with platforms or different levels to sit on top of to entice them to use the scratchers.

How we selected

We picked a variety of materials like woven sisal, sisal rope, jute, cardboard, and carpet in horizontal and vertical scratcher designs all under $50. Many of these scratchers are from popular brands, and we also received recommendations from other cat parents. In total, we tested eight different types of scratchers to see how they would fare against our five resident cats.

How we tested

In the span of three months, we analyzed each scratcher in three categories: ease of assembly, durability, and design. We tested these scratchers with the help of six cat testers:

• Gob: Ginger cats are known to be playful and aloof, and Gob is no different. This five-year-old kitty loves to snuggle as much as he likes to get his wiggles out by chasing or scratching vertical posts. He’s currently 12 pounds and measures 19 inches.
• Kit Kat: Our 11-year-old senior cat is also our biggest kitty at 18 pounds and measures __ inches. He loves to give the biggest stretches on vertical posts and is always on the hunt for scratchers tall and sturdy enough for his stature.
• Jelly Bean: Our tiniest cat, Jelly Bean dwarfs her brother Kit Kat at eight pounds and __ inches in length. She’s five years old and prefers cardboard scratchers for her delicate little paws.
• Marshmellow: As an ex-street cat, Marshmellow now spends the day looking forward to her next meal, kicking scratching posts, and sleeping on cat trees. She’s five years old and 15 inches long.
• Mizuki: This six-year-old grey calico is 12 pounds and measures about 20 inches long. She loves a good treat and typically loves scratching on vertical posts or cardboard scratchers.
• Mikasa: Two-year-old Mikasa is also a grey calico like her older sister Mizuki and is 10 pounds and 18 inches long. She’s a little bit more reserved but also loves cardboard scratchers.

Ease of assembly

During assembly, we paid attention to how detailed the instructions were to follow if the scratchers came with any tools to make assembly easier, and how fast it took to put them together. The smoother the assembly process, the closer they ranked out of 10 per category.

Durability

We ranked all the scratchers out of 10 in three categories: material choice, stability, and if it can be repaired. Materials like sisal and jute scored higher than corrugated cardboard because they are stronger materials and have less tendency to disintegrate within a couple of months of testing. We ranked its score lower during testing if a scratcher moved or tilted over. We noted if repairing scratchers were easy or possible. Some materials like cardboard couldn’t be repaired because they disintegrated, but sisal rope or jute can be replaced easily, and they ranked higher.

Design

Scratchers are necessary for many cats, but that doesn’t mean they have to be ugly. We ranked the design of each scratcher on three specifics: aesthetics, size of the scratching area, and extra features like toys or platforms. Aesthetics include offering different colors, sizes, and overall design. The more of these characteristics each scratcher has, the higher they scored out of 10. Scratchers also scored higher if they had a larger-sized scratching area because it allowed cats to scratch from more areas and lasted longer. Extra features like toys that enticed cats to scratch more or platforms were scored higher out of 10.

The post The 8 Best Cat Scratchers appeared first on Your Best Digs.

We’ve been proud cat parents of an adopted fur baby for about four years now and are no strangers to scooping cat litter. We reviewed the Litter-Robot 3 after using it for many years and reviewed the upgraded Litter-Robot 4 as soon as we could get it in our hands after testing many other brands of automatic litter boxes in the past. You can see all of our cat and pet product reviews here.

What is a Litter-Robot?

If you’re not familiar, the Litter-Robot is a self-cleaning litter box that automatically scoops dirty litter whenever your cat relieves itself. The machine rotates to sift out the clumped litter, putting it into a waste drawer, then sifts back in the unused litter into the box. The Litter-Robot sets itself apart with its sleek design, quiet scooping features, wifi connectivity and custom mobile phone app.

Litter-Robot 4 vs. 3 feature comparison table

Design

The Litter-Robot 4 has a clean and modernized design we like a lot better.

The first noticeable difference between the Litter-Robot 3 Connect and the Litter-Robot 4 is the design. Where the former tends to look like a bulky spaceship, the Litter-Robot 4 has a sleeker and minimalist aesthetic that fits most homes. The Litter-Robot 3 Connect comes in gray or beige colors, while the Litter-Robot 4 comes in black or white (a small detail we prefer because the colors look more modern).

Over time there will be more kitty litter that eventually settles all around the unit, and the Litter-Robot 4 is a little more seamless in terms of number of panels to wipe down.

Overall dimensions & entrance dimensions

The Litter-Robot 4 wins with a smaller footprint, and larger entrance.

Although both machines weigh 24 lb, the Litter-Robot 4 has smaller overall dimensions of 29.5” x 22” x 27” (height x width x depth). The Litter-Robot 3 Connect is 2.25 inches wider at 29.5” x 24.25” x 27”. One of the main differences in design is the size and shape of the entrance. The newer iteration of the Litter-Robot has a circular opening that’s 15.75” x 15.75”, whereas the Litter-Robot 3 Connect has an oval-shaped entrance that’s 15.5” high by 10.25” wide. If you’ve got larger cats, we recommend the wider entrance of the Litter-Robot 4.

There are also differences in the height from the floor to the entrance of each Litter-Robot. The Litter-Robot 3 Connect has a 13.4” height, and the Litter-Robot 4 has a height difference of 12”. Each litter box has a platform below the entrance to help the cat enter. If you have a senior or larger cat with mobility issues, you can buy a ramp for the Litter-Robot 3 to help them reach the entrance. Note that the ramp for the Litter-Robot 4 won’t be available until 2023.

Sensors: safety and health

Both machines’ sensors are similar, but the Litter-Robot 4 adds a feature to measure and track your cat’s weight.

The Litter-Robot 3 Connect has a Cat Sensor that primarily uses your cat’s weight to indicate when your cat steps on the platform or enters the globe. For safety reasons, each cat must weigh at least five pounds to use the Litter-Robot 3 Connect. We noticed that the noisy cycle cleaning would intrigue our cat, and he would step on the platform at the start of cleaning, interrupting and pausing the cycle.

The newer Litter-Robot 4 has laser and weight sensors that help keep your cat safe and they also give you updates on your cat’s health (like their weight and litter box usage). The OmniSense detection laser-based sensors help you know when your cat enters the litter box and give you real-time litter levels and waste drawer levels–so you have all this information at the palm of your hands with the Whisker mobile app.

The Litter-Robot 4 also has weight sensors that differ from the Litter-Robot 3 Connect in that it offers litter box activity and will also weigh your cat whenever it uses the litter box. Your cat’s weight is sent to the Whisker app so you can monitor their weight along with your cat’s litter box history. We like that we can get more health information from this new model.

However, we have noticed that the sensors are somewhat more sensitive and see that the cycles get interrupted at least once a day. We also think that the laser sensors are a bit fussy when giving us litter levels, but this also may be due to the lighter-weight wheat litter we use.

Noise when “scooping” & sifting

The Litter-Robot 4 wins as the MUCH quieter machine.

We used a digital sound level meter to give you some concrete results, held about 20″ away from the litter box as we ran the scoop/sifting cycle. The ambient noise level in the room was 38 dBA. The Litter-Robot 3 Connect measured approximately 60-62 dBA average during the litter sifting cycle with a high of about 65 dBA. By comparison, the Litter-Robot 4 measurured much lower at an average of 40-55 dBA with a max of about 59 dBA.

The Litter-Robot 4 is quiet enough to not startle or intrigue our cat during the cleaning cycle like the Litter-Robot 3 Connect. The Litter-Robot 3 Connect makes a very obvious sounding motor rotation noise when it runs a cycle. We can hear the cycling from the bedroom one room away. However, it was never loud enough to be alarming or startling.

But it is shocking how quiet the Litter-Robot 4 is by comparison–there’s barely any noise. This softer sound is due to the new QuietSift patented technology that produces WhisperQuiet sifting noise when cleaning. We noticed that the sound from the brushes cleaning the machine during the cycle is louder than the actual motor. We appreciate this new tech because we don’t hear the device throughout the day, and it’s less distracting for our cat.

Machine setup, wifi & app connection

The Litter-Robot 4 wins this one, even if it’s a small detail.

Both the Litter-Robot 3 Connect and 4 came fully assembled out of the box, and we just needed to follow Whisker’s set-up instructions on how to start the machine. Connecting them to the custom Whisker app was the only slightly tricky part of setting up either machine.

The Litter-Robot 3 Connect only had the QR code in the lower back in a very hard-to-scan spot. We have our machine in a tight spot, so setup (and subsequent re-connections) required pulling out the device, which wasn’t great because the machine was dirty.

The Litter-Robot 4 has a QR code showing when you pull out the litter tray, which makes way more sense. It’s interesting we just happened upon this code because the instruction manual still says it’s only in the back of the machine.

Waste drawers

The Litter-Robot 4 wins this category.

The Litter-Robot 3 Connect has a Drawer Full Indicator that uses infrared emitters and sensors to let us know when the device is full. We were often notified by the app once a week that we needed to change out the waste bag, but once we opened the drawer, there was still a lot of empty space left.

Due to the design, the dirty litter would frequently pile up in the center of the waste drawer. This pile alerted the machine that it was full even when there was plenty of empty space on the sides. We would need to either change out the bag or push dirty litter to the sides to reduce the number of garbage bags we used.

With the Litter-Robot 4, Whisker redesigned the waste drawer shape and added a new distance sensor that better notifies us when the waste drawer is full. The Litter-Robot 4 waste drawer is rectangular, less deep, and slightly wider. We’re notified of a full waste drawer about once every 7-10 days for one cat, and the drawer is full compared to the empty spaces in the Litter-Robot 3 drawer. Another distinct design change of the new unit is it’s designed to have the bag completely cover the waste drawer, whereas in the 3 the bag clips are inside the drawer–which meant sometimes litter fell onto the edges of the bag when sifting and missed the bag. On the Litter-Robot 4 it seems to catch the waste better, with no noticeable increase in litter falling outside of the drawer into the base of the unit.

The new redesign also reduces the time we need to clean up litter bags. If you have extra cash burning a hole in your pocket and want bags that fit the waste drawers perfectly you can spend between 55 cents to $1 buying them from Litter-Robot. However, even with this new size and shape drawer on the updated unit, it still fits the same Kirkland garbage bag size running us about 17.5 cents per bag. Litter-Robot recommends using 9-11 gallon waste bags, but we use 10-13, and they fit just fine.

Litter tracking / scatter

The Litter-Robot 4 wins this one, but we’re not sure how it achieves it.

When using the Litter-Robot 3 Connect, we noticed an equal amount of litter tracking as our manual litter box, even with additional accessories like the fence and ramp. After trying out many litter mats, this helped reduce the amount of scatter.

After using the Litter-Robot 4 for six months with the included fence attachment, we noticed less litter scattered outside the litter box and throughout the house. While we can’t entirely be sure why this has changed, we think it may be the device’s different design, especially the step platform. We noticed a lot more litter accumulating on the step platform than on the litter mat and the floor. However, it’s important to understand that litter tracking is completely normal in cat behaviors and varies between cats.

No matter what machine you use, or what litter you use, we’ve always experienced some litter tracking. We actually mounted a cordless vacuum nearby (from our lightweight vacuum review) to do a quick cleanup daily.

Cleaning the machines

Litter-Robot recommends cleaning the globe portion of the machine every one to three months, but this entirely depends on how many cats use the litter box and how messy it becomes. For both the Litter-Robot 3 Connect and Litter-Robot 4, the cleaning experiences were similar because the parts are similar–a globe that can be hosed down and a more sensitive bonnet and base with electronic control panels and wires.

Before cleaning anything, we recommend reading the Litter-Robot manuals to avoid damaging your machine. In between deep cleanings, you can easily do wipe-downs on the outer parts of the machine or change out waste drawer liners when it’s full. Deep cleaning both machines take an hour or two of your time because the base and the bonnet can only be wiped down with towels and cleaning sprays due to the fragile electronic parts. There are also many small crevices to vacuum in both variations.

Overall experiences

After using the Litter-Robot 4 for over six months, we like this machine’s new additions and redesign. Compared to the Litter-Robot 3 Connect, this new iteration is quieter, helps notify us of our cat’s weight, and reduces the number of times we tend to the waste drawer.

Even though both devices look like large litter boxes, the new redesign is also a more minimalist and sleeker design. While we loved using the Litter-Robot 3 Connect, we can’t deny it’s a large eyesore that we pushed towards the corner of our laundry room. Whisker also sells furniture that hides the Litter-Robot 3 Connect too, if you want to disguise the machine in your home.

Conclusion: Is the Litter-Robot 4 worth the cost?

The Litter-Robot family is a luxury item that will help lessen the load of scooping up kitty litter, so we can assume it’s not necessary for some cat parents. At $549, the Litter-Robot 3 Connect is already a high-priced item and we still think it’s a great automatic litter box option to have compared to any manual scooping setup. The Litter-Robot 4 makes many small improvements across the board which are arguably all nice to have but not essential. If you can afford the price increase, we think the Litter-Robot 4 is worthwhile.

The post Litter-Robot 4 vs. 3 Comparison: We Tested Both! appeared first on Your Best Digs.

The Litter-Robot is a self-cleaning litter box that can accommodate up to four cats in one household. Compared to other automatic kitty litter boxes, the Litter-Robot differs in its circulating globe design that thoroughly scoops up and filters dirty litter instantly. Note that if you use lightweight litter (like wheat or corn-based litter pellets), you may have some leftover clumps that you need to scrape once a day, as we experienced.

When we transitioned our cat Gob into the new Litter-Robot 4 from our old Litter-Robot 3 Connect (see our review), it was easy for him to acclimate even though it had a different design. Also see our Litter-Robot 4 vs. 3 comparison post.

If you’re new to the Litter-Robot family, Whisker has a guide on how to introduce your cat to this device. The latest version, Litter-Robot 4, features a sleeker redesign to increase comfort for cats of all sizes and shapes with a wider entrance and many tech features.

With this new iteration, the Litter-Robot 4 is remarkably quieter than the Litter-Robot 3 Connect when it’s cycling–we almost didn’t realize it was cleaning. The quiet cycling sound didn’t startle our cat as often, either. Not only does it look aesthetically better, but they also moved the control panel to the top of the globe for better accessibility. We liked having better access to these buttons and knowing the machine’s status based on the colors changing (for example, red means a cat is detected, and flashing blue means the waste drawer is full).

How much does the Litter-Robot 4 cost?

The Litter-Robot 4 costs $699 from the manufacturer at the time of this writing and comes with wifi connection to link with their custom app. Whisker also sells starter bundles that include kitty litter, extra garbage bags, an odor trap, and a litter mat at $859; this would save you $60 if you are already planning to purchase these accessories. Of course, you are welcome to buy these accessories separately. We prefer other brands of litter mats.

Litter-Robot 4 dimensions

While the Litter-Robot 4 is smaller than the previous version, it’s still a large piece of furniture to place in your home. The overall dimensions are 22’’ x 29.5” x 27,” so it’s essential to keep this size in mind before purchasing and ensuring you have enough room in your household.

The footprint of the Litter-Robot 4 is 22’’ x 27’’, and the entryway for the cats is 15.75’’ x 15.75”. Our cat is 12 lbs and measures 19 inches long (nose to base of the tail). Whisker advises that the litter box needs to sit on a cool, dry, and flat surface without touching any walls to prevent it from tipping over or overheating while in use.

The platform of the entryway is 6.9” from the ground, so you need to make sure that your cat can jump this far from the floor to reach the entrance. Currently, Whisker does not have a ramp option for the Litter-Robot 4 yet (this will launch in 2023), so keep this in mind for senior cats with less mobility.

Machine setup experience

Find a flat and firm surface for the Litter-Robot 4 to sit. Whisker recommends using the same location as a previous litter box to help your cat transition to a new device. Ensure the Litter-Robot 4 isn’t touching any walls and is nearby a power outlet. If you’re using a litter mat or rug, place this in front of the unit.

The Litter-Robot 4 comes fully assembled, but here is a breakdown of its parts: the globe (the inner main compartment your cat will use), the base (with a waste drawer), and the bonnet (a semi-circle that covers the globe with control panel buttons).

Fill the machine with kitty litter to the max line inside the globe–this is about one gallon by volume or 8-10 lb. Whisker recommends using their kitty litter; however, we’ve used wheat-based litter, which has worked for us. You can use standard clay or a heavier brand of kitty litter for this machine, but Whisker does not recommend using wood pellets or any non-clumping or loose-clumping litter like newspaper because they will not get filtered and get stuck in the machine.

Plug your machine into an outlet and press the power button; this should start an initial cleaning cycle that lasts two minutes. For more set-up information or tips on how to introduce your cat to the Litter-Robot 4, check Whisker’s website.

Litter-Robot 4 mobile app: Whisker

The Litter-Robot 4 works with the Whisker app, and if you already have a Litter-Robot 3 Connect, you can add another machine to the same account. The Whisker app tracks your cat’s litter box usage, similar to the Litter-Robot 3 Connect. For example, when a cleaning cycle begins and ends and if the waste drawer is full.

When you open the app, you can choose which litter box profile to view, and it’s accompanied by an icon of what the machine looks like with its current litter levels. With the new Litter-Robot 4, there is new information we can gather, like your cat’s weight, how much litter is in the inner chamber, and can eventually track which cat is using the machine (this feature is slated to come out in 2023).

Our favorite parts about the user interface are the home page that gives you a colorful graphic on litter levels, how much your cat currently weighs, and recent activity. You can also look at the cleaning cycles in the past week and the month to see any changes in your cat’s behavior. The Whisker app also gives you control over your machine, like putting on the light, placing the device in sleep mode, turning it off or on, or just doing a simple cycle.

It’s especially helpful when we’re traveling and have a catsitter, so we still know our cat is keeping up his daily litter box usage. Typically, we use the Whisker app a few times a week to check his litter box usage, if our cat’s weight is okay, current litter levels, and whenever the app tells us that the waste drawer is full.

Daily & long-term maintenance

Daily scooping

We like using wheat-based litter for environmental purposes because it’s eco-friendly and sustainable, and we found that this type of litter also works in the Litter-Robot 3 Connect and the Litter-Robot 4. However, because it’s not as heavy as clay litter that clumps easily, it doesn’t sift through the filter as easily. As a result, a small amount of used litter is left inside the globe after a clean cycle. To ensure it stays clean between each deep clean, we do an “end-of-the-day” scrape to remove any leftover used litter.

This may sound crazy because the Litter-Robot is supposed to reduce the number of times you clean the litter box, but we don’t mind this extra task. Compared to a traditional litter box where it’s full of dirty litter throughout the day until you scoop, using the Litter-Robot 4 reduces labor and odors because it filters out dirty litter with every use.

Trash bags / How often does Litter-Robot 4 need to be emptied?

Litter-Robot 4 comes with a few waste drawer liners with a 9-11 gallon capacity; however, we use 10-13 gallon Kirkland garbage bags because they’re more affordable, and we already use them for our garbage cans. In addition, the Whisker app typically tells us to change out the litter bag about every two weeks (or earlier) based on our cat’s usage.

Deep cleaning the Litter-Robot

Litter-Robot recommends deep cleaning the machine every one to three months, depending on your cat’s routine. Deep cleaning means taking apart the machine, using soap and water to clean the globe, and wiping down the rest of the machine.

If you have more than one cat, you will need to clean it more often. However, you can usually get away with wiping it down every few weeks. We use paper towels and a natural cleaning spray to wipe down the bonnet, fence, and outside base to remove any dust and particles of litter. We also change the waste drawer bag and vacuum up any leftover litter when prompted.

Deep cleaning this machine was similar to cleaning the Litter-Robot 3 Connect–i.e. this took a good portion of the afternoon. We recommend reading the user manual to understand how to disassemble the globe from the bonnet and the base and learn how to properly clean each part without damaging the electronic control panels, wires, and sensors. Cleaning the Litter-Robot is probably one of the caveats of owning this machine because it’s much more time-consuming and delicate to clean than traditional, manual litter boxes.

Health features

The Litter-Robot 4 has new sensors that are part of its OmniSense Detection system. The detection system includes laser-based sensors that monitor when your cat uses the device, real-time litter, and waste drawer levels. After using this device for a few days, we ended up silencing notifications except for waste drawer limits because we ended up with so many messages from Whisker giving us up-to-date information. The levels are fairly accurate from our experience.

Weight sensors also help weigh your cat, and SmartScale technology keeps you up to date on the Whisker app. Similar to our experience with the Litter-Robot 3 Connect, we also loved using the custom Whisker app. This app gives you instant notifications whenever your cat uses the litter box. It took a few uses for our cat’s weight to be accurate on the website, but since then, it’s stayed consistent.

Odor control

The Litter-Robot 4 is still a litter box, so there are still some odors, especially after our cat uses it. However, we’ve noticed it’s better at controlling odors than the Litter-Robot 3 Connect. The waste drawer redesign allows for a tighter seal around the used litter and prevents odors from escaping. You can adjust the cycle timer to sift litter quicker once your cat relieves itself. The faster the Litter-Robot 4 filters dirty litter, the fewer odors will escape from the device.

Does the Litter-Robot contain scatter?

Although the Litter-Robot 4 has a wider entrance than its previous iteration, we noticed less litter scattering after our cat used the litter box. We think it’s due to the new redesign with a wider stepping platform that catches more excess litter off the cat’s paws. This may be entirely subjective based on your cat’s personality, so if you have issues with litter outside of the Litter-Robot 4, some accessories can help you.

Whisker sells a litter trap mat to help cats kick off excess litter on their paws before walking elsewhere in your home. Note that we tested litter mats, and our cat prefers another litter mat because he’s more enticed to kick off the excess litter on the softer microfiber fabric. In addition, the Litter-Robot 4 now comes with a fence to prevent litter from escaping the globe as your cat kicks out excess pieces.

Best cat litter to use in the Litter-Robot 4

Whisker recommends using natural and clumping clay litter for the Litter-Robot 4 that they sell on their website. However, if your cat is used to other types of litter, like more environmentally friendly wheat or corn-based litter, these will also work because they are small enough to pass through the filters.

The Litter-Robot 4 can now use litter beads or crystals that are small enough for the filters. However, whisker doesn’t recommend using non-clumping or weak clumping materials like newspaper or wood pellets because they won’t filter out the screen.

Warranty

Whisker wants to ease any anxiety you might have about transitioning your pet to the Litter-Robot, so they offer a 90-day trial to see if it works for your household. They also have guides on how to introduce your pet to this machine. Each purchase also comes with a 3-year warranty. Whisker also prioritizes sustainability through its products by selling replacement parts for almost every piece of the Litter-Robot. So if one part breaks in the future, you can easily buy it directly from the company with instructions on how to repair it yourself.

Is the Litter-Robot worth it?

The Litter-Robot 4 is a hefty machine with an equally hefty price, so it’s essential to consider a few things before purchasing, like having enough space in your house for the device, if you’re okay using an app for a litter box, and if it’s in your budget. It’s also important to understand that your cat needs to be at least three pounds to use the Litter-Robot 4.

After using the Litter-Robot 4 for almost two months, we definitely think it’s worth it for our household because it reduces the amount of sifting and scooping we have to do daily. The cleaner the litter box, the healthier it is for our cat. We recommend the Litter-Robot 4 to anyone who loves cats but hates daily cleanup.

The post Litter-Robot 4 Review: Cat-Testing a $700 Litter Box 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.

Durability/Safety

Buying well-made toys that are strong enough to last multiple play times ends up saving you money in the long run and are potentially safer to use. While some toys are meant to be replaced after usage like cardboard scratchers, other types like kickers or wands must be durable enough to withstand pulling, biting, and tearing from your cat’s sharp teeth.

Variety

It’s great to have a variety of toys available for your cat to mix it up. Cats are notorious for getting over toys quickly–like toddlers–so it’s nice to change up playtime with different toys to entice them to move. Some cats prefer one type of toy over other varieties like wands or interactive toys, so it’s nice to test out new types.

Budget

No matter your budget, you can find a toy your cat likes and within your budget. Smaller toys like wands and springs can be under $10; electronic toys are often more expensive, with prices upwards of $20 and more.

How we selected

We selected over 15 types of toys that ranged in price from $3 to $50 to make sure we hit different price points for all cat owners. We also reviewed a variety of toys like interactive and electronic toys, wands, kickers, catnip fillers, and small-budget toys.

How we tested

We tested over 15 cat toys for several months with three cats of various ages and personalities:

• Gob: A four-year-old ginger domestic short hair cat that loves to hunt his prey. His favorite thing is relaxing on his bed during the day and playing with feathered wands at night.
• Bounce: A one-year-old gray, domestic short hair that is super playful and loves to eat. He’s got a lot of energy and can jump on the highest counters to reach his toys, like wands and anything with feathers. He loves chasing and playing hide and seek with mom and dad the most.
• Marshmellow: A five-year-old calico, domestic short hair, an ex-street cat who loves to cuddle and play. She loves bringing her “fresh caught” play mouse to mom and dad every night. During the day she loves wrestling with her cat scratcher and being chased by her older brother Kit Kat.

Over several months, we tested various toys with these three cats, reviewed each toy’s durability compared to their price points, and analyzed if they were safe to use and any additional health benefits. Additionally, many of these chasers had our cat running up and down their cat trees too!

The post The 19 Best Cat Toys appeared first on Your Best Digs.

Currently using: Spigen – GaN USB-C charger, Anker – Dual USB-A charger

I carry a bunch of electronics when I travel. The primary ones are a cell phone, watch, laptop, headphones, and white noise machine, and I need a way to charge everything in case my destination doesn’t have chargers.

Many hotels have USB-A ports built into their clocks and power outlets, but I have USB-C cables too. I can’t run the risk of not being able to charge everything, so I pack everything I need regardless of destination, but I’ve pared it down to essentials.

I carry a charging block with 2 USB-C ports and one charging block with 2 USB-A ports. I like the new GaN chargers because they are the latest tech–they can charge at higher watts with a much smaller design and less heat output.

For the USB-C port charger, I use the Spigen – GaN 452 45W dual USB-C port charger. It also comes in a slightly smaller 35W version and a larger 65W version. For me, 45W over two devices is plenty because my 13” laptop doesn’t draw that much power. For the USB-A charger, I use the Anker – 12W dual port charger. This is a lower watt charger, compact yet enough power for my white noise machine, and Apple Watch.

Dopp kit / toiletry organizer

Currently using: Eagle Creek – Pack-It

Having one of these helps me stay organized. Sure you can throw everything into a plastic zip top bag but having a nicer dopp kit gives more structure and organization options for your bathroom and shaving supplies.

I prefer a flat design like this from Eagle Creek, as opposed to the taller bucket style designs or the designs that fully open and split in half, or any ones with two large equal sized compartments. I prefer one large compartment with a few smaller ones for organization, like this has. Some dopp kits I passed on have larger secondary compartments that dedicate a lot of space to things I don’t want to spend that space on–such as 3-4 uniform bottles for travel liquids, but this is just me. I cherry-pick my liquid products and go for containers compact as possible, and they all don’t need to take up as much space as some of these dopp kits require.

I must admit I’ve used the same bag for almost 20 years and only recently upgraded to this Eagle Creek toiletry organizer. Must-haves for me in a dopp kit are water-resistance since its near the sink, the size is large enough to fit all my goods without too much leftover space, it fits in my backpack, and that its more flat so items are easier to access without everything stacking on each other.

Nail clippers

Currently using: Seki Edge – SS-101

Nail care is essential. Nothing’s worse than being out on a trip getting ready to head out to dinner and realizing your nails are long and unsightly! I used to carry a nail clipper, cuticle trimmer, and cuticle pusher, but for most trips, simply carrying a nail clipper does the job.

I bought the Seki Edge – SS-101, first in 2017, and now own three of them. One of them is in my dopp kit dedicated to travel and the others are in the bathrooms at home. The catcher on it is a dream. I can’t even believe I used to just hover my clipping sessions over a trash can hoping it would catch them all. The only complaint is that the angle of the clipper’s lever is a bit steep, so it feels slightly awkward to hold and clip–I’m sure it’s designed to maximize leverage and make clipping easier. I’ve yet to find a better clipper though.

Face lotion

Currently using: Youth To The People – Superfood Air-Whip Moisture Cream (travel size), First Aid –  Ultra Repair Firming Collagen Cream

My first face lotion requirement is that it’s clear of harmful ingredients like phthalates, formaldehyde, parabens, talc, or other unsettling chemicals. My second requirement is that it either comes in a travel size enough for 1-2 weeks for two people, or its texture allows me to transfer it to a good travel lotion container.

I like using First Aid’s Ultra Repair Firming Collagen Cream and Youth To The People’s Superfood Air-Whip Moisture Cream because they’re both clean products with no synthetic added fragrance. I always like to moisturize before flying because my skin has a tendency to get dry during flights and both of these lotions keep my skin from drying up.

Sunscreen: face and body

Currently using: Supergoop! – Mineral Matte Screen, Supergoop! – Mineral Sheer Screen, Native – Unscented Body Sunscreen

Similar to face lotion, I prefer to buy the safest and cleanest ones available. I also am allergic to most chemical sunscreens, so I need to buy physical or mineral-based sunscreens. Some of my favorite everyday face sunscreens are Supergoop’s Mineral Matte Screen because it’s tinted and doesn’t leave a white cast and Supergoop’s Mineral Sheer Screen because it’s lightweight.

For reapplying sunscreen throughout the day, I also like to use Supergoop’s (Re)setting Mineral Powder for easy application. My favorite body sunscreen is Native unscented body sunscreen because there isn’t a white cast and it doesn’t feel sticky. This comes in a small and large tube–the small tube makes it easier to dispense an exact amount, but I can’t pass up the immense savings of the larger 5 fl oz tube (50% cheaper per oz).

Facial cleanser

Currently using: Youth to the People – Superfood Cleanser for foaming cleanser.

After trying out different types of facial cleansers throughout the years, I really prefer using Youth to the People’s Superfood Cleanser for my daily face wash. It’s a foaming cleanser that comes in a liquid form and has a light and fresh scent that isn’t too overpowering. This gentle face wash removes all the oils and sunscreen from my face even when using mineral sunscreen.

The Superfood Cleanser is made with 100% vegan ingredients and includes anti-inflammatory and soothing ingredients like green tea and aloe. Since I have sensitive skin, I prefer using products without too many synthetic ingredients like dimethicone or phthalates.

I like that Youth to the People sells different sizes to use for traveling, every use with a pump, and a value refill size. The travel size also comes in a recyclable glass bottle like the other sizes, but it’s a bit of a hassle to pour out the liquid into your palm. You always have the option to transfer it to an easier bottle.

Utilitarian packing cubes

Currently using: Eagle Creek – 3 Pc. Starter Set

We tested 9 different packing cubes to find this gem. The Eagle Creek – Pack-It Starter Set quickly became my go to utilitarian packing cubes because they’re well-built, durable, and easy to use. The set comes with two packing cubes and a folder organizer to prevent wrinkles on dress shirts or pressed clothing.

Made of durable nylon body and thick piping around the lid and bottom of each cube, these organizers were structured and kept their shape even after they were filled with clothing. I especially love the mesh lid so I can easily figure out which packing cube had specific clothing.

The folder organizer is basically a rectangular storage case with four flaps that gently secures the center of stacked shirts. This single case can hold up to eight to twelve shirts. It also includes a thick, plastic template that instructs you on how to fold the shirt to fit the case.

Upgraded packing cubes

Currently using: Thule – 1 Piece Clean/Dirty

When I’m not using the Eagle Creek – Pack-It Starter Set, I’m using the Thule – 1 Piece Clean/Dirty as an upgraded packing cube (or when I’m going on a shorter trip). This individual Thule (pronounced “too-lee”) packing cube is 14.61 x 10.87 x 1.54 inches and has a dual compartment design that helps you reduce the number of packing cubes to bring. I love that I can fit an entire weekend trip’s clothing options in one bag. And dual function also acts as a dirty clothes bag when packing to go home.

The Thule – Clean/Dirty cube is bluesign® approved and is designed with environmental sustainability and social responsibility criteria in mind. What’s great is that it also comes with a lifetime product warranty. Although it’s pricier than most packing cube options, I think the durable water-repellent fabric, smooth zippers, and thoughtful design are worth the upgraded price.

Rolling suitcase

Currently using: July – Checked, July – Checked Plus

For over a decade, I used an expanded carry-on size rolling suitcase for all my trips, but wanted an upgrade. Recently, I’ve upgraded my suitcases to July Checked and Checked Plus luggage and I never looked back. Since I use the July Carry All backpack as a carry-on, I only use checked luggage for suitcases.

The July Checked luggage measures at 26″ x 18.75″ x 11″, weighs 8.3 lbs, and has an 80 L capacity. This bag is great for long weekends. The larger July Checked Plus has a 110 L capacity, weighs 10.5 lbs, and measures 30.25″ H x 19.75″ W x 12.5″. I found the Checked Plus size is perfect for week long trips or International travel because it can hold a lot more.

Swivel wheels are a must and each of these suitcases comes with July’s proprietary SilentMoveTM wheels that are easy to move around and quiet on any surface. Its smooth extendable handle has 20 height settings to make moving the luggage easy for any traveler. The hardshell case has a pebbled surface, comes in an array of modern colors that make it easy to spot on the conveyor belt, and it’s also reinforced with metal corners.

Laptop backpack

Currently using: Incase – Icon Pack, REI – 18L Ruckpack (discontinued, from our laptop backpack review), July – Carry All Backpack Series 2

I need a bag to keep things on me at the airport and during flights that I don’t want to check in. I want one that’s waterproof on the outside so I can wipe it down, and one that can stand up on its own without having to hang or lean on anything. But this bag also needs to fit under the airplane seat and still spare some legroom.

The items I always have on me for a flight include: noise canceling earbuds or headphones, a jacket, a phone and laptop charger, tissue paper or napkins, sunglasses, and snacks for the flight. An 18L backpack can be tight if I’m stuffing a medium sized jacket in and something chunky like headphones. If you know you’ll be carrying one or more chunky items like that I’d try to go 20L or more for a backpack.

After testing many backpacks on our backpack review post, I’ve continued using the Incase – Icon Pack for many years. Of course for different occasions, sometimes I want a larger or smaller bag to fit different items, so like anything else it’s not meant to serve all purposes. But this backpack fits all of my travel needs and has lasted over three years without really showing any signs of wear.

Travel jewelry case

Currently using: Becko – jewelry roll

Whenever I’m traveling, I like to carry some jewelry for everyday wear and also for nice dinners or events. Previously, I just used Ziploc bags or pill cases, but it didn’t really help with organization or keeping my jewelry safe. I’ve now found my holy grail of travel jewelry cases (see our full review here) with the Becko – Jewelry Roll.

This travel roll case is lined with a soft velvet-like fabric and has a suede casing that protects the jewelry on the inside. At 5.91″ x 8.1″ x 0.8″, it’s small enough to put in a carry-on, but also has a large capacity to hold different types of pieces like seven necklaces, 16 pairs of earrings, over a dozen rings, and watches or bracelets.

Cheap sunglasses

Currently using: Joopin (Rayban Wayfarer replicas)

I used to own a pair of Ray-Ban Clubmaster oversized sunglasses and lost them on vacation. Then rebought it and a few years later lost the next pair in Hawaii. And I almost never lose anything else throughout the year. Not cool

I like the design of the sunglasses, but just don’t want to risk the loss anymore. Now I travel with cheap but still good looking (in my opinion!) sunglasses. The frame and lens build quality doesn’t feel lacking, and they provide full UV protection. I’ve yet to lose this new pair for a few years, but after 3 years of ownership one of the joints finally broke and I bought a fresh pair for under $12.

Ear plugs

I have sensitive ears, so I always pack a pair of reusable earplugs. We tested a bunch of disposable and reusable ear plugs here before. You never know when you’re going to attend a spur of the moment show, a loud club, or if you’ll have noisy hotel neighbors. Far too many times I’ve been in this situation and no workers at the show or hotel have extra pairs of plugs to hand out.

Disposable ones are cheap, but I like that the reusable ones come with a case to keep them clean, and you reduce waste. During flights and while waiting at airports, I’ll be using my noise canceling headphones though and not ear plugs.

White noise machine

Currently using: Marpac Yogasleep – Portable White Noise Machine

One of my top travel accessories that helps me get a restful night’s sleep is my Marpac Yogasleep – Portable White Noise Machine. Whether it’s a hotel, Airbnb, or a friend’s house, I can sleep like a baby because this portable white noise machine lulls me to sleep and cancels out any noise from my environment. It’s even our top travel pick for our Best White Noise Machines review.

I’ve used this machine for over two years of travel and nightly use. It easily covers the noise of city streets, barking dogs, or outside conversations. At full charge and unplugged, this lightweight machine lasts twelve hours of constant, digital white noise to get you through a relaxing night. I like to bring a micro-USB cable that it comes with and plug adapter to recharge the machine during the day on longer trips. At 3.5 inches and under four ounces, it’s small enough to fit into a backpack or small purse for any trip.

Noise canceling headphones

Currently using: Apple – Air Pods Pro 2 (what a mouthful), Bose – QuietComfort 45, Apple – Air Pods Max

The Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones provide a better seal on my head than the main headphones I use, the Apple AirPods Max. It’s great at blocking out noise while in an airplane cabin, including the loud engines and nearby crying children.

Bose is a perfect fit for someone who has a smaller sized head and tiny ears. The tighter fitting seal doesn’t leave gaps because the space between your head and the band isn’t as spacious as other brands like the Apple AirPods Max. The Bose are also lighter in comparison to the Apple AirPods Max, so if your head is too small, they will easily fall off with slight movements.

One issue with the Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones is its inability to turn off or adjust the active noise cancellation, and instead, using the “aware” feature that allows some passive noise to seep through the headphones.

If you have an iPhone, it’s hard to not appreciate the quick connectivity and overall seamlessness of connectivity from any AirPods product. The Max is good, and quick to take off and put back on when traveling through the airport and plane, however the seal on the ear cups were not as good as the Bose for me. The tiniest bit of air leakage made a big difference in noise cancellation. I ended up switching to the AirPods Pro 2, for a wayyy smaller footprint, less weight, and much better noise canceling performance due to a proper fit.

Reusable water bottle

Currently using: Hydro Flask – Lightweight

Bringing a reusable water bottle while traveling is so helpful. Most airports in the US we’ve traveled to have refillable water fountains for bottles near the restrooms so we refill an empty water bottle once we get through security. One tip is to make sure you drink all of you water BEFORE you go through security, otherwise, this will alert TSA and you may need to go through security before again.

Our favorite water bottle to bring on trips is the Klean Kanteen 20 oz. or the Hydro Flask lightweight because it helps keep the water cold for long periods of time. Both of these models fit most cup holders and fit in our carry on backpacks. This is also a good option for bringing hot liquids too since it’s a metal container. The looped lid is also great for hooking onto your backpack while traveling.

Travel bag

Currently using: Sherpani – Vale Crossbody Purse

For any trip, I enjoy using the Sherpani – Vale Crossbody Purse as a travel purse because of its versatile style and usefulness. Its 13.5” x 14” x 4.5” size fits a 24 oz Hydroflask, wallet, iPhone 13 Pro, and a medium-sized jacket easily. This bag is made with anti-slash fabric and has locking cable attachments and zippers to prevent thieves from stealing your bag or valuables.

It’s also designed with many interior and exterior pockets to help organize all your items. The sleek design is reversible so you can wear it in different ways or colors. You can wear it as a shoulder bag, crossbody, or messenger bag–I love the different options. It’s very easy to wear it from daytime tours to nighttime dinners.

Dirty laundry bag

Currently using: Sea to Summit – Ultra-Sil compression dry sack

My favorite bag to bring with me for dirty clothes is the Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil compression dry sack. I originally purchased this for camping trips and I’ve found it’s useful for all sorts of trips. It’s really helpful to separate your soiled clothing from clean clothes in your luggage. There are three straps that help compress the bag into ⅓ of the original size. The eVent fabric allows air to pass from the inside out, but also prevents water from entering in case you’re by the beach.

This might seem a bit overkill for most people, so cheaper dry sacks or even a trash bag also work for a dirty laundry bag. The main idea is that you’re able to separate dirty from clean clothes when traveling. Some hotels will even give you a laundry bag in the room too.

The post The 18 Best Travel Accesories & Gear appeared first on Your Best Digs.

Important features to consider

Type

Pruning shears or garden shears come in different types like bypass, anvil, ratchet, or thinning scissors. Each of these varieties has specific qualities that help in pruning your garden. For this review, we solely reviewed bypass and thinning shears.

• Bypass pruners are the most common and have sharp blades that cross when cutting and are best for green branches and stems up to half an inch (or more).
• Anvil pruners have a double-edged top knife that slices into a stationary base blade and is best for cutting dead branches or stems.
• Ratchet pruners have comfortable handles and are easier to maneuver for people who need assistance in leveraging grip strength.
• Thinning scissors are great for removing small stems like tomato plants or tiny seedlings.

Max cutting thickness

Many pruners indicate the maximum branch thickness they can successfully cut through. The size indication is often listed on the product packaging or online unless they were thinning pruners meant for smaller branches or stems. However, after testing, we noticed that these limits weren’t entirely accurate because they also depended on strength of the user’s hands.

Left/right-handed model availability

Are you left or right-handed? Do you have people in your household that are both? Most pruners are made for right-handed people, but brands carry left-hand-specific pruners. All the pruners we tested are right-handed but could work as left-handed pruners, except that the blade faces the opposite side so you lose some visibility of the branch you’re cutting.

Build quality and repairability

Build quality is important to consider when you buy any tools, especially if they’re used and stored outside. Pruning shears come with blades of hardened steel, titanium (coated), carbon steel, and nonstick. Depending on your gardening plans, each material has its pros and cons.

Coated blades are great to prevent sap from sticking if you’re cutting green stems–all you have to do is wipe them down after each use. If you want a longer-lasting tool, hardened or carbon steel blades are super durable, and you can sharpen them later on–however, they require more upkeep that involves using oil to prevent rust.

If you want a single product that lasts a lifetime, pick a pruner you can repair easily. Some pruner brands we tested sold new springs and blades (like Felco), but few sold or offered instructions on how to replace the garden shears. Budget brands were cheaper, but if you are concerned about repairing your tools and are more eco-conscious, then repairability is a big feature to consider.

Budget

Pruning shears come at various prices dependent on brand, type, and quality. You can find shears at prices ranging from under $10 to over $60. If you are tight on a budget, there are low-priced pruners that can do the job. However, we’ve found that pruners that were higher priced have better warranties, are made with sturdy materials, and are easy to repair. You typically need to pay a higher price for a longer-lasting tool.

How we selected

We tested over ten varieties of pruning shears ranging in price from $7 to $60. While there are different types of shears, we focused on the two most popular: bypass pruners and thinning scissors.

Bypass pruners are typically used for cutting green (or stems still attached to living plants or trees) and are the most widely available. Thinning scissors can also cut live plants, but their slimmer-shaped blades allow for delicate cuts to plants like tomatoes or vining plants like cucumbers.

Between these two types of pruners, we picked some of the most well-known brands like Felco and Corona Tools and budget brands like Gonicc and Vivosun.

How we tested

For several months during the Spring and Summer gardening seasons, we tested eleven pruners in different scenarios. We tested indoor and outdoor plants and trimmed thorny rose bushes and thicker citrus tree branches, crops like corn, tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, kale, and other vegetables. Many pruners stated that they would easily cut through a maximum of ¾ of an inch thick stems; however, we quickly found out this couldn’t happen without a lot of grip strength.

We tested each pruner on average and smaller-sized hands to review comfort levels and ergonomics, especially for a few pruners specifically made for smaller hands. For reference, we tested each pruner with two gardeners with small (6 ½ x 3 inches) and average-sized (7 1/4 x 3 1/2 inches) hands.

Lastly, we compared the durability and maintenance of each pruner. Depending on the blade material and the pruner’s overall repairability, some pruners require higher maintenance after each use, while others just need a quick wipe.

The post The 10 Best Garden & Pruning Shears appeared first on Your Best Digs.

Important features to consider

Type (mesh, box, compression)

Various packing cubes are fit for different types of trips and travel needs. Mesh paneling helps organize and identify what’s in your luggage. Compression packing cubes help fit more clothes into your luggage. Ultra-lightweight packing cubes are for those mindful of weight when using checked-in luggage or on a backpacking trip. Packing cube sets come in different price ranges and there are many affordable options under $50. In addition, many packing cubes differ in materials, type, and brand name. They are also available in individual cubes or sets with different sizes.

Build quality/durability

Durability is a priority when finding packing cubes because you want to keep your clothes organized but safe. Some packing cubes are differentiated by labels like water resistant or water repellant. This label describes how much moisture can get through the materials of the packing cube.

Some brands also have rip-stop fabric that prevents the cubes from tearing or ripping during travel or packing. Having durable and smooth gliding zippers with pulls for a better ergonomic feel is another feature we look for when purchasing packing cubes. This is especially important when using compression bags that need durable zippers when condensing the cube. Finally, we’ve found that durability and quality range in price, so you can get well-made packing cubes no matter your price.

Other features

Keep in mind other features you may want to keep track of, like washability, the number of zippers, handles, or how wide the lid opens up. Being able to wash packing cubes in between trips is very helpful. While some brands can be machine washed, others need more care and are hand washed and line dried. Some people prefer multiple zippers for easier control (in case of one breaks). Handles help stabilize the cube for compression or moving the packs around your luggage. And lastly, we prefer lids that open fully for easier packing.

How we selected & tested

Over three months and dozens of trips, we tested nine packing cubes of different brands, materials, and made all under $50 (check out our post on the best travel gear too!). These trips included international, domestic, weekend, and long-term trips, and we used these cubes in carry-ons, check-in luggage, weekenders, and backpacks. In addition, the packing cubes organized an array of clothing from fine dining and cocktail attire to extreme cold weather snowboarding gear.

The post The 9 Best Packing Cubes for Travel appeared first on Your Best Digs.