Denon has updated two of the more consumer-friendly home-cinema centerpieces in its X Series audio/video receivers, their first refresh since 2022. While the new AVR-X2900H ($1,349 USD) and AVR-3900H ($1,849 USD) retain a familiar chassis with a few cosmetic changes, more extensive internal changes reinforce amplification for more emotionally physical audio while staying faithful to the source material. And the design goal was not just about what you hear, but also what you donβt. We were given
Denon has updated two of the more consumer-friendly home-cinema centerpieces in its X Series audio/video receivers, their first refresh since 2022. While the new AVR-X2900H ($1,349 USD) and AVR-3900H ($1,849 USD) retain a familiar chassis with a few cosmetic changes, more extensive internal changes reinforce amplification for more emotionally physical audio while staying faithful to the source material. And the design goal was not just about what you hear, but also what you donβt. We were given the opportunity to preview these products at Denon headquarters in Kawasaki, Japan (a broader experience weβll share more about in the future), and we heard the sound of the sound, never undue pressure put on the hardware. [Disclosure: HARMAN International, the parent company of Denon, provided travel accommodations during the creation of this story.]
Demoed on a 7.2.2-channel system featuring Bowers & Wilkins 800 Series speakers, these Dolby Atmos AVRs delivered soundstage, dynamics, and detail throughout film scenes and orchestral scores, combining subtle dialog with heavy effects and full-range impact with low-frequency speed. Throughout both models, purposeful mechanical design introduces new digital features while managing EMC/noise conflicts. System architecture, including a new 32-bit eight-channel DAC, focuses on heightened stability and spaciousness. Balancing measurements with careful listening is Denonβs Sound Master, Shinichi Yamauchi, who ensures any changes to circuit geometry and/or components maintain suppleness, resonance, and spatial realism.
Denon AVR-X2900H 7.2 Ch. 95W 4K/8K Dolby Atmos AV Receiver Powered by HEOS
While Denon offers reinforced-rack/custom-install closet-grade receivers, the AVR-X2900H is for folks who want control without needing as big an investment in space and cash. A power tier above the recently refreshed AVR-S980H, itβs a 7-channel AVR rated at 95W per channel into 8 ohms, with dual subwoofer outputs. That makes it capable of running a 5.2.2 system, with support for both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. Audyssey Silver MultEQ XT calibration software out of the box, plus Dirac Live with a license purchased separately, allows for quick to comprehensive room correction. HDMI/gaming features include six inputs supporting VRR, ALLM, 8K/60 Hz or 4K/120 Hz, 8K/HDCP 2.3Β with Dolby Vision/HDR 10+, high-resolution audio support, 1440p passthrough, and AMD FreeSync. There are also two HDMI outputs (one eARC). There are four analog audio inputs, including a moving-magnet preamp for a turntable, plus Bluetooth, AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect/Qobuz Connect/Roon Ready, and Denonβs own HEOS wireless platform for other services. This means streaming music gets as much attention as other content, and that itβs easy to integrate the AVR-2900H into a whole-home audio system alongsideΒ Denon Home speakers, which can be used as wireless rear surround channels after a future firmware update.
Denon AVR-X3900H 9.4 Ch. 105W 4K/8K Dolby Atmos AV Receiver Powered by HEOS
The step-up AVR-X3900H, meanwhile, moves to 9.4 channels of amplification, 11.4 channels of processing, and 105W per channel, backed by higher-grade components and flagship-derived DSP. With four independent subwoofer outputs and the ability to add an outboard 2-channel amp, this allows for even more immersive 5.4.4 or 7.4.2-channel setups. And if speaker upgrades demand it, use the 11 preamp outputs to keep the 3900H as a hub while accessing even more power. Dolby Atmos and DTS:X are still supported, as is Sony 360 Reality Audio, AURO-3D, and IMAX Enhanced. Audyssey is upgraded to Platinum MultEQ XT32, and Dirac Live ART (Active Room Treatment) and Dirac Bass Control can be added. The HDMI inputs are the same, now joined by an additional output (one eARC). Five analog inputs are available, including the turntable, as are the streaming/HEOS ecosystem/connected speaker capabilities. Plus, there is a deep suite of IP-based Web UI setup tools, HDMI diagnostics, and additional control interfaces for CI and running dedicated rooms.
The Home Depot is running a sprawling spring sale on RIDGID tools with cuts on cordless kits, combo bundles, jobsite gear, and corded shop equipment. The 18V Cordless Oscillating Multi-Tool Kit with two 2.0Ah batteries and a charger drops to $109 (down from $316), a battery starter kit comes with a free SubCompact Brushless one-handed reciprocating saw for $169 (down from $446.97), and the 18V Drywall Cut-Out Tool Kit hits $79 (down from $207). If you have been waiting to buy into the RIDGID 18V
The Home Depot is running a sprawling spring sale on RIDGID tools with cuts on cordless kits, combo bundles, jobsite gear, and corded shop equipment. The 18V Cordless Oscillating Multi-Tool Kit with two 2.0Ah batteries and a charger drops to $109 (down from $316), a battery starter kit comes with a free SubCompact Brushless one-handed reciprocating saw for $169 (down from $446.97), and the 18V Drywall Cut-Out Tool Kit hits $79 (down from $207). If you have been waiting to buy into the RIDGID 18V platform, this is the kind of pricing that makes the case for you.
RIDGID 18V Cordless Oscillating Multi-Tool Kit with 2 2.0Ah Batteries and Charger $109.00 (was $316.00)
Oscillating multi-tools are the do-everything cleanup tool in any toolbox. It can take on flush cuts, plunge cuts in drywall, scraping, sanding tight corners, and chopping through stubborn hardware. This kit pairs the cordless multi-tool with two 2.0Ah batteries and a charger, which means you get the platform and the runtime to actually use it without buying batteries separately. At 66 percent off, it is the cheapest meaningful entry point to the RIDGID 18V system we have seen in a while.
RIDGID 18V MAX Output 2 x 4.0Ah Battery Kit and Charger with FREE SubCompact Brushless One-Handed Reciprocating Saw $169.00 (was $446.97)
Battery deals are usually boring, but this one is not. You get two 4.0Ah MAX Output batteries and a charger, plus a SubCompact Brushless one-handed reciprocating saw thrown in for free, for $169. The recip saw alone is a useful little tool for trimming hardware, cutting plastic conduit, and notching framing. Together this bundle adds up to about $277 in savings, which makes it a better deal than just buying the batteries by themselves.
RIDGID 18V Drywall Cut-Out Tool Kit with 2.0Ah Battery and Charger $79.00 (was $207.00)
A dedicated drywall cut-out tool sounds niche until you have one, at which point it earns its keep on every project that touches an outlet box, a recessed light, or a register cutout. This kit includes a 2.0Ah battery and charger and runs on the same 18V platform as the rest of RIDGIDβs lineup. At 62 percent off, it is hard to think of a better way to spend $79 if you spend any time working on walls and ceilings.
RIDGID 18V Brushless 4-Mode 1/2 in. High-Torque Impact Wrench Kit with 4.0Ah Battery and Charger $209.00 (was $329.00)
The 4-mode high-torque impact wrench is a workhorse that handles lug nuts, suspension bolts, deck screws, and rusted-on fasteners that defeat lesser tools. RIDGIDβs brushless version has four selectable modes for dialing in torque without snapping smaller hardware, and this kit ships with a 4.0Ah battery and a charger so you can start working immediately.
Looking to upgrade your macro photography kit? These great deals on dedicated macro lenses, ring flashes, tripods, focusing rails, and essential support gear will help you capture better close-up photos.
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Looking to upgrade your macro photography kit? These great deals on dedicated macro lenses, ring flashes, tripods, focusing rails, and essential support gear will help you capture better close-up photos.
Portland, Oregonβs Campfire Audio launched in 2015 as the logical continuation of founder and lead engineer Ken Ballβs ALOaudio. ALO, or Audio Line Out, was a company obsessed with the signal chain. And Campfire Audio emerged to produce hand-assembled in-ear monitors capable of transforming what the bespoke cables and boutique portable amps were transporting. With the 2016 introduction of the Andromeda [an IEM whose 10th anniversary edition weβll have more to say about in the future], Campfire A
Portland, Oregonβs Campfire Audio launched in 2015 as the logical continuation of founder and lead engineer Ken Ballβs ALOaudio. ALO, or Audio Line Out, was a company obsessed with the signal chain. And Campfire Audio emerged to produce hand-assembled in-ear monitors capable of transforming what the bespoke cables and boutique portable amps were transporting. With the 2016 introduction of the Andromeda [an IEM whose 10th anniversary edition weβll have more to say about in the future], Campfire Audioβs distinctive industrial enclosures were established alongside a layered and lucid house sound, the result of acoustic chamber experimentation focused more on overall organic timbre than eking out every millimeter of transients. That changes, however, with the introduction of the Chimeraβa summit-fi statement that sets out to add all possible technicalities and physicality to the spaciousness-first foundation.
Further helping justify the cost are the materials, including CNC-machined billet magnesium finished with a durable PVD coating, a carbon fiber-brass Damascus faceplate, machined brass nozzle, custom fasteners and vents, 2-pin connectors, plus an ALOaudio Valence-6 cable featuring copper + silver-plated copper conductors and 4.4mm balanced termination developed for maximum synergy. Thereβs also a black leather zipper case, two-pocket mesh Breezy Bag, ear tip selection, and various cleaning tools.
Samsoniteβs summer sale is live right now with discounts up to 43% off luggage, carry-ons, and sets. The deals range from single rolling bags to complete luggage kits, so thereβs something to accommodate every type of traveler. The real savings happen on the clearance models, which are discounted by more than 40 percent. Save that money now and splurge on souvenirs when you get to your destination.
Outline Pro Carry-On Spinner $125.99 (was $219.99)
Samsoniteβs summer sale is live right now with discounts up to 43% off luggage, carry-ons, and sets. The deals range from single rolling bags to complete luggage kits, so thereβs something to accommodate every type of traveler. The real savings happen on the clearance models, which are discounted by more than 40 percent. Save that money now and splurge on souvenirs when you get to your destination.
Outline Pro Carry-On Spinner $125.99 (was $219.99)
The Outline Pro is one of Samsoniteβs most reviewed hardside carry-ons, with nearly 10,000 ratings and a 4.7-star average. At $125.99 (from $219.99), this clearance colorway is more than 43% off and comes with TSA combination locks, four-wheel spinner wheels, and a 1.5-inch expansion zipper. The βClearanceβ tag means the color is being phased out, so you can get a top-notch bag for a huge discount.
Voltage DLX 2-Piece Set (CO/M) $233.99 (was $389.99)
The Voltage DLX is Samsoniteβs softside workhorse, and at $233.99 (from $389.99), this carry-on and medium checked bag set is 40% off. Softside bags flex to absorb overpacking better than hardside, and both pieces come with spinner wheels. Together, the two bags handle about a week of travel without needing to juggle multiple separate purchases.
Dropping from $519.99 to $299.99, the Pivot 3 3-Piece Set is the biggest absolute savings in the Samsonite summer sale: $220 off a full carry-on, medium, and large spinner collection. All three bags are hardside polycarbonate with TSA combination locks, expandable packing, 360-degree spinner wheels, and the brandβs EazyHOOK system for hanging a tote or duty-free bag on the handle. You rarely see a complete three-piece Samsonite hardside set under $300, and this sale is when it becomes possible.
Samsonite carry-on deals
Carry-ons take up the largest slice of the Samsonite summer sale, with the Voltage DLX Global at $125.99 and the Freeform Carry-On at $153.99 offering the best value for infrequent travelers. The Outline Pro Carry-On is $175.99 in standard colorways if you prefer more color options than the clearance variant above.
The Voltage DLX Large Spinner and the clearance Outline Pro Large both hit $179.99, and the Freeform Medium Spinner lands at $181.99. For checked bags specifically, this section of the sale has some of the strongest absolute-dollar cuts on the site right now.
Sets are where the sale gets interesting for travelers who want everything to match. The 2-Piece Set (CO/M) at $159.99 is the entry point for a coordinated carry-on and medium checked bag, while the Freeform 2-Piece (CO/L) at $335.99 covers a larger footprint for longer trips.
The Mother Lode Travel Backpack is the only bag in the sale, but itβs a standout: 40% off at $131.99 from $219.99. With 4.7 stars and nearly 9,500 reviews, itβs one of the most proven travel backpacks in the Samsonite lineup.
If youβve tried to buy a Canon G7X or a Fujifilm X100V-series camera lately, you may already know that advanced compact cameras have made a real comeback. Itβs not a full-on boom like the early 2000s, when every manufacturer cranked them out by the dozen, but thereβs real demand for small cameras that produce high-quality images outside what a typical smartphone can pull off. Panasonic has introduced the new LUMIX L10 to court that growing audience, and the result is a very promising (if a littl
If youβve tried to buy a Canon G7X or a Fujifilm X100V-series camera lately, you may already know that advanced compact cameras have made a real comeback. Itβs not a full-on boom like the early 2000s, when every manufacturer cranked them out by the dozen, but thereβs real demand for small cameras that produce high-quality images outside what a typical smartphone can pull off. Panasonic has introduced the new LUMIX L10 to court that growing audience, and the result is a very promising (if a little familiar) looking camera designed to handle just about every typical photography scenario.
The L10 ships in June for $1,499 in black or silver, with a limited $1,599 Titanium Gold special edition for LUMIXβs 25th anniversary. At its core is a Leica DC Vario-Summilux 24-75mm F1.7-2.8 zoom mounted to a 20.4-megapixel Four Thirds sensor, a pairing anyone who shot with the popular LX100 II compact will recognize on sight. The body lands between Fujifilmβs APS-C X100VI and Canonβs 1-inch G7X Mark III on both sensor size and price, slotting into territory Panasonic hasnβt covered since the LX100 II went off the menu.
The Leica zoom and Four Thirds sensor
An F1.7 maximum aperture at the wide end and F2.8 at the long end is unusual for a compact zoom at this price tier, and most compact zooms taper to a slower aperture as they extend. This one holds wide across the 24-75mm range. The same lens formula appeared on the LX100 II and powers Leicaβs current D-Lux 8, though neither pairs it with a 779-point Phase Hybrid AF system. The manual aperture ring on the precision-machined metal barrel lets you change apertures without diving into a menu, and AF macro from 3 cm at the wide end opens up close-up work.
The 4/3-type BSI CMOS sensor sits in a useful spot in the size hierarchy. Itβs almost twice the area of the 1-inch chip in the Canon G7X line and noticeably smaller than the APS-C sensor in the Fujifilm X100VI. The 20.4-megapixel effective resolution comes from a 26.5-megapixel total count, because the L10 uses a multi-aspect sensor design that maintains a consistent angle of view across 4:3, 3:2, and 16:9. Switching aspect ratios doesnβt recompose your shot, which is a quietly useful feature for anyone working between print and social. Dynamic Range Boost adds shadow detail in still images, though Panasonic hasnβt specified the stop count.
Fast AF, 30 fps burst
Phase Hybrid AF spreads 779 focus points across the frame, with AI-based subject recognition that covers eyes, faces, bodies, animals, vehicles, and what Panasonic calls Urban Sports. That last category is the catch-all for skateboarding, BMX, parkour, and the kind of action youβll find in Mountain Dew commercials. Burst tops out at 30 fps with the electronic shutter and 11 fps with the mechanical, fast enough to catch peak action without abandoning a tactile shutter feel. POWER O.I.S. handles stabilization, though Panasonic hasnβt quoted a CIPA-rated stop count yet.
Composition runs through a 2.36-million-dot OLED viewfinder and a 1.84-million-dot free-angle monitor that flips out for waist-level or vertical shooting. Both displays support a vertical UI, a nod to anyone shooting primarily for phone-format video and social.
Color science from camera to phone
REAL TIME LUT (look up table) is Panasonicβs in-camera color system, and the L10 makes it easier to use than past models did. A dedicated LUT button on the body gives one-press access, and up to two LUTs can be layered for more complex grades. Two new film-inspired Photo Styles ship as defaults: L.Classic for soft, muted tones, and L.ClassicGold for warmer amber highlights with a nostalgic contrast curve. Itβs similar to Fujifilmβs film βrecipesβ which apply specific looks to images as you shoot.
Magic LUT in the LUMIX Lab app uses AI color analysis to generate a custom LUT from a reference photo. Find an image whose color treatment you like, the app builds a profile, and you can load it back into the camera as a REAL TIME LUT. RAW editing, MP4 (Lite) clips for social sharing, and high-speed wired transfer all live in the same app. The Lab workflow pushes a step that traditionally lived in Lightroom or DaVinci onto the phone where most readers actually edit now.
Pricing across three colorways
Black and silver L10s ship in June for $1,499, both wearing a saffiano leather-textured finish over a magnesium alloy front case. At 508g with battery, card, and hot shoe cover, the body sits between a small mirrorless rig and a true pocket camera in carry weight. Panasonic is pricing the L10 about $100 below Leicaβs D-Lux 8, which uses the same Leica zoom formula in a different chassis.
The Titanium Gold special edition arrives at $1,599 in limited quantities, primarily through the Panasonic Store. The kit adds a special edition lens hood, a leather strap, a threaded shutter button, and a gold-themed menu system that carries the finish from the body into the UI. The rear branding sits in a position visible only to whoever is holding the camera. The $100 premium covers the accessories and cosmetic upgrades.
The standard black L10 carries the saffiano leather-textured finish in a flat, professional matte. It ships with the standard kit and is the configuration most likely to show up on retailer shelves at launch. The Lab app, REAL TIME LUT, dedicated LUT button, and Leica DC Vario-Summilux zoom are all standard. Weβre working to get one in for a full review.
The silver L10 is mechanically identical to the black model at $1,499 and leans into the LX100 II nostalgia for buyers who remember the original. Itβs the same color treatment Panasonic favored across the LX100 series, and the rangefinder-adjacent look Leica has long favored for its M-line cameras. The silver model ships in June alongside the black.
Panasonic LUMIX L10 Titanium Gold Special Edition $1,599
The 25th anniversary Titanium Gold edition runs $1,599 and includes a special edition lens hood, a leather strap, a threaded shutter button, and a gold-themed menu system that carries the finish from the body into the interface. The rear branding is positioned to be visible only to the person holding the camera. Limited quantities ship through the Panasonic Store in June.
We test hundreds of products every year, ranging from hardcore outdoor gear and power tools to home theater systems and kitchen appliances. Seriously, you should see our offices. Theyβre cluttered with products and we wouldnβt have it any other way.Β
While we love gear and gadgets, not all of them deliver on their promises. We know what itβs like to buy a new device only to find that it doesnβt solve the problem you wanted it to solve. Thatβs why we created the Popular Science Proven badge.Β
We test hundreds of products every year, ranging from hardcore outdoor gear and power tools to home theater systems and kitchen appliances. Seriously, you should see our offices. Theyβre cluttered with products and we wouldnβt have it any other way.Β
While we love gear and gadgets, not all of them deliver on their promises. We know what itβs like to buy a new device only to find that it doesnβt solve the problem you wanted it to solve. Thatβs why we created the Popular Science Proven badge.Β
We put everything we review through rigorous testing. That includes empirical testing when appropriate, but more importantly, we use these items. After all, a TVβs stated contrast ratio doesnβt mean much if that 4K Blu-ray of Alien you bought doesnβt look perfect.Β
What makes a product worthy of the PopSci Proven badge?
While the specific methods vary, any product with a Proven badge meets a set of criteria developed by the staff across decades of combined experience reviewing products.Β
It does what it says
When a product makes a claim, you want to know that itβs being honest. That rain jacket will keep you dry on a hike. Those headphones will block out the crying baby three seats behind you on your flight. We decode all the marketing speak youβll read in the press release and see how well these things actually work.
Itβs worth your money
Words like βvalueβ and βbudgetβ get a bad rap when used synonymously with βcheap.β We donβt think that way. An expensive home pizza oven can be a great value if it will last for years and totally eradicates your costly delivery habit. Whether something is $15 or $1,500, it has to earn its price tag.
It solves a problem real people actually have
Scroll through social media for five minutes and youβll find products that make ridiculous promises and address problems that donβt exist. A Proven product makes life simpler, more accessible, more sustainable, more enjoyable, or more productive.Β
Itβs designed to last, not break and make you buy a new one
We canβt tolerate planned obsolescence. Products with the Proven logo have to be built to last and offer a reasonable warranty should something go wrong. We give bonus points to products that actually get better with age. Nothing beats the patina on a well-crafted pair of boots or the unique brassing that happens to a camera that goes everywhere with its owner.Β
While Proven will mostly apply to new products, weβll also be retroactively applying badges to products weβve loved for years. Some items have already stood the test of time and we appreciate that.Β
If you see the badge going forward, know that itβs something weβd use ourselves. In fact, check our offices and youβll find that most of them, weβre already using on the regular.
Every dad is different. Some of them are weird (like me) and some of them are weirdly normal. Either way, finding the best Fatherβs Day gift can be a challenge. Thatβs why weβre here. We spend all day reviewing and recommending products, so we have fantastic alternatives to the typical ties and beef jerky fare. So, regardless of what your pops is into, thereβs something on this list for them. And hey, chuck a crayon drawing in there instead of a card. A little sappy nostalgia never hurts on Fath
Every dad is different. Some of them are weird (like me) and some of them are weirdly normal. Either way, finding the best Fatherβs Day gift can be a challenge. Thatβs why weβre here. We spend all day reviewing and recommending products, so we have fantastic alternatives to the typical ties and beef jerky fare. So, regardless of what your pops is into, thereβs something on this list for them. And hey, chuck a crayon drawing in there instead of a card. A little sappy nostalgia never hurts on Fatherβs Day.
Best tabletop campsite lantern: GigaPower Tabletop Lantern
The Snow Peak Tabletop LED Lantern is a $100 dimmable camp light that produces a warm even glow rather than the white blast of most camp lanterns. Snow Peak is the Japanese outdoor brand that designs camp gear like high-end furniture: matte aluminum body, frosted diffuser, tactile aluminum knobs. It runs on Snow Peakβs proprietary battery or USB. It looks at home on a campsite picnic table or on a nightstand in your bedroom, which is the design language Snow Peak has made its signature.
Best illustrated reference book: Hungry Minds The Book
The Hungry Minds Book is a hand-illustrated encyclopedia of mechanisms, biology, optics, and social systems, 400 pages from a small Florida-based studio. Every illustration starts as a pencil sketch and finishes in lithographic ink. The cover is silver-embossed and the binding is sewn. Chapters cover anatomy, bicycles, animation, festivals, and sushi, which sounds scattered until you spend twenty minutes inside one. A five-pound coffee-table object that rewards being opened. Popular Science readers can get the premium gift box for free by clicking βsee itβ above. The first 20 customers can get 20% off with LEARNLIKEDAD20.
The Vuarnet Racing 05 sunglasses come equipped with mineral glass lenses instead of polycarbonate, which makes them slightly heavier but offers a visibly sharper image with optical clarity polycarbonate doesnβt match. The acetate frame is hand-finished in Italy. The Racing 05 is the investment pair that replaces three rounds of $100 sunglasses and tends to outlast the cars it rides along in.
The NorrΓΈna Falketind dri1 is a $399 lightweight rain shell built around dri1, NorrΓΈnaβs own waterproof-breathable membrane. The cut is alpine, seams are minimized to reduce failure points, and the jacket packs into its own hood pocket. Skimp on a jacket in this category and it will start to flake and disintegrate a year or two in. You wonβt have that problem here. With proper care, this will last for years, even under heavy use.
Best limited-edition notebook: Moleskine NASA-Inspired Edition
The Moleskine NASA-Inspired Notebook is a $37 limited edition with Apollo-era graphic design on the cover and a sealed envelope at the back containing a small commemorative print. Inside, itβs the classic Moleskine ruled paper that has barely changed in decades because users love it so much. The whole package feels like a nice gift and itβll actually come in handy for everyday use.
Best digital writing tablet: reMarkable Paper Pure
The reMarkable Paper Pure is a $399 e-ink writing tablet that drops the front light and color display of the Paper Pro to bring the price down by $180, per our full review. The textured screen and 21-millisecond pen-to-ink latency match the Proβs, so the writing feel doesnβt compromise. The chassis is built with screws and snaps for repairability, weighs 0.79 pounds, and the battery runs three weeks on an hour of daily note-taking.
If your pop loves his pooch, get him a leash worthy of his best friend. The reflective mesh leash is super durable, so even large dogs can pull on it without worry. The wrist loop closes with a simple magnetic Fidlock clip, so itβs easy to get on and off, but only when you want to. The auto-locking Talon Clip provides a super-sturdy point of contact with a leash or a harness, so the whole package is secure (and handsome) from end to end.
Best chore coat: Carhartt Crafted Series Drill Painter Chore Coat
Carhartt Crafted Series Drill Painter Chore Coat $150
Carhartt jackets look better once theyβre broken in and thatβs especially true here. Made from 9-ounce 100% cotton drill, this jacket is designed to break in and patina the way Carharttβs original painter coats did a century ago. The rest of the feature sheet includes Two-piece sleeves for mobility, metal button front, snap cuffs, an interior chest pocket, and exterior pockets sized for brushes and carpenter pencils. The Crafted Series is Carharttβs elevated line with cleaner cuts over the same construction. Youβll want to steal it once your dad has worked in it for a while.
This is four light sources in one body: a 1,700-lumen flood, an 800-lumen spot, a 365-nanometer UV mode for inspection work, and a green laser pointer. It charges magnetically or over USB-C, and the flat aluminum body is comfortable in a pocket in a way most cylindrical flashlights are not. This is a gift heβll carry around with him every single day.
DECKED is best known for engineered truck-bed drawer systems, but the Payloader is a stackable garage storage bin engineered to bring tough storage into the house. Sizes run 32 to 133 liters, lids hold up to 200 pounds static, and the bins lock into a Stable Stack formation so a tower of three doesnβt slide off itself. Lifetime warranty. Iβve been testing these in my house for a few weeks and Iβve already dropped them several times with no breakage.
Best cutting board: STEELPORT SteelCore Cutting Board
This edge-grain Oregon big-leaf maple board has a steel matrix embedded inside it, which keeps the board flat against the dimensional movement that warps and splits ordinary wooden boards over time. STEELPORT hand-finishes them in Portland. The Oregon Maple variant has a recycled paper-composite reverse with a juice groove for raw proteins. At 0.75 inches thick, STEELPORT claims itβs the thinnest end-grain board on the market. Plus, it looks nice enough to keep on the counter all the time without having to stash it away in a cabinet.
A 1.5-inch AMOLED screen peaks at 2,000 nits of brightness, so this adventure-ready watch is visible in just about any conditions. Dual-frequency GNSS provides accurate location data even if youβre battling a canyon or tree-cover. Free downloadable offline maps and a 65-hour run time per charge (with GPS turned on) make this a wearable that you can rely on during off-grid adventures.
Best high-resolution camera: Sony Alpha 7R VI
Alpha 7R VI: Full-frame Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera $4,499.99
Yes, this is an expensive camera, but consider this a passive aggressive attempt on my part to get my kids to buy me one. The A7R VI is built around a 66.8-megapixel fully-stacked Exmor RS sensor and shoots blackout-free continuous bursts at 30 frames per second. That means photographers donβt have to choose between high-res images and high-speed shooting. Dynamic range hits 16 stops. In-body stabilization claims up to 8.5 stops under ideal circumstances. Real-time Recognition AF+ uses skeletal pose estimation to predict where a moving subjectβs face will be next. This is a beast of a camera thatβs worthy of pro work.
Not every dad is great at building a fire with wood, and thatβs OK. The Infinity relies on a propane tank you swap when it runs dry. Twin burners put out up to 72,000 BTUs combined, the unit runs five and a half hours on a 20-pound tank at maximum output, and the dual-burner geometry recreates the swirl pattern of a real wood fire. You get all the ambiance and warmth without the kindling, false starts, and ash cleanup.
Despite its small size, this box delivers 1,000 amps of starting power, enough for any gas engine up to six liters or any diesel up to three. It weighs 2.4 pounds and works as a portable USB power bank. The built-in 100-lumen LED offers seven modes of illumination depending on your needs. All those featured are wrapped in an IP65-rated case to protect against dust and water. It may really get your dad (or you) out of a jam down the line.
The KEEN Utility Targhee Blur is a $210 lightweight work boot, the work-boot version of KEENβs long-running Targhee hiker. KEENβs ReGEN+ midsole returns 60 percent of energy per step, the carbon-fiber composite safety toe is 15 percent lighter than steel and meets ASTM F3445 and F2413. Inside, the KEEN.DRY membrane keeps water out without trapping moisture in. The Targhee Blur is available in mid or low collar heights, both with reflective webbing for low-light visibility. Plus, they look a lot cooler than your dadβs old boots.
Best cooling underwear: Duluth Trading Armachillo Cooling Boxer Briefs 3-Pack
Many dads arenβt willing to splurge on underwear, so you have to do it for them. Jade-infused cooling fabric make these boxer briefs some of the most comfortable weβve ever worn at work or the gym. Microscopic jade particles embedded in the nylon-spandex knit are dense enough to draw heat away from the skin, which makes the fabric measurably cool to the touch and not just moisture-wicking. The Armachillo briefs solve an actual hot-summer problem in a way most $25-a-pair boxer briefs cannot.
Best electric shaver: Philips Norelco i9000
Philips Norelco i9000 Wet & Dry Shaver with SenseIQ $229.96
Disposable razors are over. This rechargeable shaver has a SenseIQ sensor inside that reads beard density 500 times per second and modulates cutting power on the fly. The Triple Lift & Cut head pulls flat-lying hairs upright before cutting them, which is the difference between a clean shave and a close-but-not-quite one. The motor and battery carry a five-year warranty. Self-sharpening blades last two years between replacements.
Best gaming headset: Turtle Beach Stealth Pro II
Turtle Beach Stealth Pro II Wireless Gaming Headset $349.99
The Turtle Beach Stealth Pro II runs 60-millimeter Eclipse dual drivers, Japan Audio Society-certified 24-bit/96kHz hi-res wireless over a 2.4GHz USB transmitter, Dolby Atmos spatial audio, and adjustable active noise cancellation. Does that sound nerdy? Yes, but itβs also awesome and if your dad is a true gamer, heβll appreciate all of it. Dual swappable 40-hour batteries mean zero downtime between charges. CrossPlay 2.0 handles up to four USB transmitters, so the Stealth Pro II moves between PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Bluetooth without rewiring.
Best washable wool rug: Revival Rugs Mori
Revival Rugs Mori Washable Wool Rug (6' x 9', Guava) $799
Dad needs a rug to tie the room together. The Revival Rugs Mori is a $799 hand-knotted wool rug (in the 6β² Γ 9β² size) built around a washable construction most wool rugs canβt claim. Revival works with artisan partners on washable yarns and weave geometry that survive a wash cycle without the dry-cleaning intervention traditional wool rugs require. Three colorways: Guava, Matcha, Sakura. The Mori is the rug pick for someone who appreciates the look of a hand-knotted wool rug without the maintenance overhead.
Best mechanical keyboard: CHERRY XTRFY MX 8.2 Pro TMR Wireless
You donβt have to know how magnets work to appreciate this high-end keyboard. Tunnel Magnetoresistance (TMR) switches replace the typical sensors most premium gaming keyboards rely on. CHERRY claims 0.01-millimeter precision and lower power draw than Hall-effect equivalents. The 8,000Hz polling rate works in 2.4GHz wireless, Bluetooth, or wired modes. Hot-swappable sockets accept the brandβs magnetic switches or traditional mechanical switches, which is rare in the category. TKL layout, PBT keycaps, 300 hours of gaming on the 8,000mAh battery. Plus, it sounds awesome.
The Traeger Irontop 2-Burner is a $499 flat-top grill provides edge-to-edge heat across the cooktop as default rather than luxury. That means the burgers at the center of the surface cook at the same speed as those around the edge. The two-burner has 504 square inches of cooking surface. The four-burner steps up to 648 square inches at $599. Both ship with integrated wind guards, a P.A.L. accessory rail, side shelves, and a three-year warranty.
Ticks are the worst, but theyβre a way of life when you spend a lot of time outside. The Opinel No. 12 Explore is a $60 folding knife with a built-in tick remover, a notched slot on the handle that slides under an embedded tick and lifts the head out cleanly. If you donβt get the whole bug out, it could regenerate over time and increase your risk of disease. A Virobloc safety ring locks the blade and the handle is glass-filled polyamide.
Best commuter backpack: Chrome Industries Barrage 18L
Roll top bags can save your gadgets and everyday carry during bad weather. The welded main compartment is exceptionally resistant to the elements, which makes this a great pack for commuting or spending time outdoors. The Barrage has an exterior webbing cargo net for awkward loads and an internal 15-inch laptop sleeve. The floating tarp liner is made from recycled auto-glass and the main fabric is 1050D recycled nylon. PFAS-free. Best of all: it looks really cool.
The smallest cooler in Yetiβs lineup is sized for one person going out for the day rather than a family tailgate. It holds 12 cans or nine pounds of ice with the same Permafrost pressure-injected polyurethane insulation and ColdLock gasket as the big Tundra. The AnchorPoint tie-down slots are built to strap the cooler to a paddleboard, motorcycle saddle, ATV, or golf cart. To make it an even better gift, fill it up with cans of Arnold Palmer (or any other beverage he may like).
The Watershed Ocoee is a submersible dry bag from $167 in standard colors, sized to fit under a kayak deck or a boat seat. The ZipDry zipper is the same closure Watershed sells into the military waterproof-gear category, rated IP68 for full submersion rather than splash resistance. 10.5 liters of capacity, 1.5 pounds, plus rugged carry handles and hard lash points for tie-downs.
If your dad is the type whose tee shots occasionally need a search party, the Cobra OPTM X driver is 2026βs rescue club. Bringing βstay in playβ energy, this glossy black fairway finder has a carbon crown that looks sharp at address, plus a subtle βCβ that works as a clean, non-distracting alignment cue. It feels well-balanced, especially in 44.5β Tour Length for increased accuracy, and brings real forgiveness through the MOI (Moment of Inertia) and POI (Products of Inertia) design that helps reduce twisting and side spin when contact gets spicy. Plus, FutureFit33 fine-tuning allows Dad to dial it in and stop donating balls to the woods. The adjustability makes it especially great if you donβt know how the recipient plays. (And if youβre feeling really generous and Dadβs into 3-D printing, you can help with his putting, too.)
Best high-end low-profile turntable speaker: Andover-One SB
Andover-One SB Audiophile Powered Speaker Base $1,999
Vinyl dads can easily take over any space while building a shrine of glowing components. But they donβt have to redecorate an entire room with cascading chords to prove they care about sound. They just need an Andover-One SB and a well-maintained turntable. This powered speaker base proves component hi-fi can be high-end. Itβs clean in look and sound, packing a built-in phono preamp, 200 watts powering six speakers for a fleshy, full-range response, a Class A headphone amplifier, and multiple inputs into furniture-grade wood with a tempered-glass top. For the digital-friendly dad, add a reference streamer like the Bluesound Node ICON or use Bluetooth aptX HD. The multi-driver array, featuring four 3.5-inch ultralinear aluminum-diaphragm woofers and two Air Motion Transformer folded-ribbon tweeters, works with panoramic S/M/L audio modes to tune presentation no matter the placement. And Isogroove feedback elimination keeps the platter vibration-free, no matter how freely the volume knob turns.
Coffee nerds have so much in common with audiophiles. Both are obsessed with micro-calibrated gear and swapping components in and out in the pursuit of clarity. So if you know a dad as obsessed with puck preparation as he is running a carbon-fiber anti-static brush over every album, you know a dad who needs the Mazzer Philos premium light commercial single-dose grinder. Like a summit-fi digital audio converter, this $1,495 hand-assembled, heirloom-quality Italian appliance (available in black and silver) takes whatever beans itβs fed and extracts previously masked tasting notes with minimal morning commotion. A wide dial covers espresso to pour-over to batch brew coarseness, and the near-zero-retention vertical burr + chute knocker + Dose Finisher system lets you move between origins and brewing methods without yesterdayβs beans staging a comeback. Swappable 64mm flat burrs give him a chance to tune for vibrant light and full-bodied dark roasts, and the option to switch from stepped to stepless mode gives grind settings the same obsessive precision as establishing the perfect listening position.Β
Dad undoubtedly has a vibe. But what if he could have an aura?!? Thatβs what this collection from BrΓΌMate brings. That and all-day hydration. The Dark Aura collectionβs brushed metallic blue-purple gradient looks good on thirst-quenchers of every size, from the Strova 18oz with its flavor-preserving ceramic liner and leakproof BevLock lid to the Era Flip 40oz, a cup holder-friendly tumbler with its SoftSip straw and leakproof SlideSeal lid. Whether itβs hot coffee (ground with the Mazzer above, obviously) or a reservoir of some cold refreshing beverage, dad will feel stylish hydro-hauling in one of these twilight chrome containers.
Best compact connected speakers: Bose LifeStyle Ultra
If your dad wonβt admit his hearing isnβt what it used to be, but the TV volume when he watches something might be threatening to give everyone else in the room tinnitus, the Bose LifeStyle Ultra soundbar is the upgrade he needs. AI-powered Speech Clarity separates dialogue from explosions, scores, and general streaming-service murk, so he gets bigger, clearer sound without turning the living room into an endurance challenge. Add the glass-topped Subwoofer for serious low-end response, then bring in the compact Ultra Speakers as wireless rears when you want a more immersive experience. After that, dad can build a whole-home system room by room, placing speakers as compact height-enhanced endpoints or even more expressive stereo pairs fed by AirPlay 2, Google Cast, Spotify Connect, and Bluetooth. More detail, less subtitles and shouting matches.
Best kitchen upgrade: Boardsmith butcher block
The Boardsmith Premium End Grain Butcher Block $230+
When it comes to cooks, you already think Dad is a cut above. Even before you taste anything, you know based on his taste in knives and his actual knife skills. He turns mise-en-place into theater. And the Dad that is the kind of chef who gets weirdly specific about his bladeβs edge needs an appropriate prep surface. Knife-friendly Boardsmith premium end grain butcher blocks β¦ or cutting boards, or charcuterie boards, or utensil sets β¦ are made in a family-owned shop in Frisco, Texas. And they bring a substantial stage for slicing, dicing, carving, etc. You can pick from four sizes of maple, walnut, cherry, or some handsome combination, customized with or without finger grooves and juice grooves and feet. Dad will never get bored with this board.
Best balanced and aligned putter: L.A.B. Golf VZN.1i
Cresswell, Oregon, iconoclasts L.A.B. Golf have a vision for getting zero-torque putters in more golfersβ bags, and part of that is getting their VZN.1i in more golfersβ hands. If Dad is looking for stability and repeatability, but heβs not looking to answer any βWhat is that?!?β questions on the course, this more familiar, still ultra-forgiving shape could quiet his aesthetic concerns and also any worries that he wonβt lock the target line. Still center-shafted and hand-balanced, the VZN.1i goes beyond the D-shaped mallet head of the OZ.1i and brings a fang-style putter to the lineup. A 303 stainless-steel insert with deeper millingΒ gives a crisp, deeply satisfying zing and hotter launch off the face. As for that cutout and the crown lines, their geometry helps with optical alignment. Plus, itβs also a βgimmie getterβ/ball scoop, so it takes more pressure off the back while it keeps more putts on track. Get hexagonal, stay squared.
Our digital lives often drive fandoms in the very analog: record players, cassettes, and yes, fountain pens. For some people, theyβve always been the thing, but plenty of newcomers are arriving via social mediaβand thatβs exactly what makes this such a good gift. Your dad likely doesnβt already have one, but if he is always talking about writing that novel, heβs probably at least a little curious and not sure where to start.
LAMY, a German writing instrument brand, is known for reliability, and the AL-star is an easy entry point that feels more premium than its price tag suggests, thanks to its lightweight aluminum body. It refills with cartridges and comes in a range of nib sizes; we recommend starting with medium. LAMY does make a left-handed nib, but pro tip: We have yet to find any left-handers who want to deal with ink that can easily smear before it has time to dry. Add a pack of refill cartridges in a few fun colors to make it feel a little more special right out of the box.
Cycling dads will happily upgrade everything on their bikeβexcept the lock, which somehow stays βgood enoughβ until itβs very much not. The Hiplok Switch 105 fixes that. Itβs a 105 cm (about 41 inches) folding lock made from hardened steel bars and solid rivets, offering real security (Sold Secure Bronze) without the usual bulk. It folds down compactly and clicks into a boss-mounted bracket, so whether itβs on the frame or the fork, itβs always along for the ride instead of rattling around in a bag. At just over a pound, itβs manageable, and long enough to loop through larger frames, including many e-bikes.
Still prefer a heavy-duty chain for some urban adventures where youβre not obsessing over every ounce or wanting to drag a bag? The HiplokΒ GOLD Wearable Chain Lock is a burly belt thatβs not as awkward as it appears and gives you confidence that your bike is secure outside of the coffee shop.
Samsungβs 2026 monitor lineup goes up for order today, headlined by the industryβs first 6K gaming monitor and an expanded run of OLED Odyssey panels. Order a qualifying model through 9:59 a.m. EDT on June 9 and youβll pick up either a Samsung credit worth up to $300 or a free gear bundle like the Galaxy Buds4 Pro or a Samsung Music Studio kit at checkout, depending on which model you choose. The new 32-inch Odyssey G8 6K earns the largest $300 credit on a $1,599.99 monitor, the 43-inch Movingst
Samsungβs 2026 monitor lineup goes up for order today, headlined by the industryβs first 6K gaming monitor and an expanded run of OLED Odyssey panels. Order a qualifying model through 9:59 a.m. EDT on June 9 and youβll pick up either a Samsung credit worth up to $300 or a free gear bundle like the Galaxy Buds4 Pro or a Samsung Music Studio kit at checkout, depending on which model you choose. The new 32-inch Odyssey G8 6K earns the largest $300 credit on a $1,599.99 monitor, the 43-inch Movingstyle Essential qualifies for a $200 credit at $899.99, and every other 2026 Odyssey, ViewFinity, and Smart model thatβs shipping today is in the same offer. The full Samsung 2026 monitor launch offer is live now and runs for two weeks, which is the only window to get this much money back on these monitors before they settle into the normal price cycle.
32-inch IPS panel with 224 PPI at native 6K resolution
165Hz refresh at 6K, 330Hz at 3K via Dual Mode
DisplayPort 2.1 for full-bandwidth 6K signal
HDR10+ Gaming with automatic brightness and contrast tuning
AMD FreeSync Premium and NVIDIA G-Sync Compatible
The 32-inch Odyssey G8 G80HS is the first 6K gaming monitor on the market and it lands at 224 PPI of pixel density on an IPS panel. Samsung paired the resolution with a 165Hz refresh, which matters because most existing 5K and 6K monitors max out at 60Hz or 75Hz and were built for productivity rather than games.
6K is a ton of pixels, so Samsung equipped it with Dual Mode, which drops resolution on the fly to flip the screen into a 330Hz, 3K esports display. You keep the high-fidelity workspace for single-player and creative work, then toggle into a competitive frame rate when you load into a match. DisplayPort 2.1 is the connector that makes all of this possible. Itβs the first widely-adopted DisplayPort spec with the raw bandwidth to push native 6K at 165Hz, and there isnβt a previous-generation port on the back of this monitor that could carry the same signal. The G8 also supports HDR10+ Gaming, which adjusts brightness and contrast dynamically without manual calibration per title, plus AMD FreeSync Premium and NVIDIA G-Sync Compatible for tear-free output on whichever GPU youβve already got.
At this pixel density, the 32-inch screen is big enough to keep two full-resolution windows side by side without scaling, which makes the same monitor a credible single-screen setup for code editors, video timelines, and large-format design work. The $300 order credit is the largest reward in the entire 2026 launch lineup, and Samsung doesnβt typically run promotions like this on a flagship monitor outside the first two weeks, so the effective out-of-pocket math is better right now than it will be for the rest of the year.
Samsung The Movingstyle Essential 43-inch 4K UHD Smart Monitor $899.99 (with $200 early order reward)
The Movingstyle Essential rolls from room to room on a height-adjustable stand that tilts, swivels, and pivots, which is what makes a 43-inch 4K panel actually live up to its smart-monitor billing. Samsung built in its full Smart TV interface and the Samsung Gaming Hub for cloud gaming with no console required, so the same screen handles a workday spreadsheet, a Friday-night movie, and a stint of Fortnite over the couch. At checkout you pick one of three rewards on this tier: a $200 Samsung store credit, a Music Studio 5 kit, or the Galaxy Buds4 Pro, so the right choice depends on whether youβd rather have cash to spend on a soundbar later or working earbuds now.
Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 27-inch 4K Gaming Monitor (G80SH) $1,099.99 (with $200 early order reward)
The 27-inch OLED G8 is the volume play in Samsungβs new gaming lineup, with 4K resolution at 240Hz on the QD-OLED Penta Tandem panel Samsung is calling out for improved brightness, efficiency, and panel durability. A single USB-C port handles 98W of laptop charging alongside the video signal, and the Glare Free coating cuts the reflections that have always been the weak spot of OLED panels in well-lit rooms. At $1,099.99 with the $200 credit, this is the cheapest way into Samsungβs higher-spec OLED tech without paying the 32-inch tax on top.
Samsung Odyssey Gaming Monitor Deals
Every 2026 Odyssey shipping today qualifies for either a $200 or $300 Samsung credit, with the 32-inch models earning the larger reward. The 27-inch G8 5K is the volume pick for high-refresh IPS gaming without paying the OLED premium, and the 32-inch OLED G7 brings the new 4K OLED panel into the lineup at a sub-$1,100 price.
The ViewFinity S8 line is Samsungβs productivity-first family, built for creative work that benefits from pixel density and Thunderbolt 5 bandwidth instead of refresh rate. Only the curved 40-inch model is shipping in this launch wave, and the 27-inch S80HF arrives later this summer. If youβve been waiting on the 27-inch, hold off on the credit math until July when that model lands.
Amazonβs pre-Prime Day Anker sale is live right now, three weeks before the actual event kicks off on June 23rd. The sale runs across wall chargers, power banks, wireless chargers, and docking stations, with cuts of up to 35% on most of the lineup. The Anker Prime 20,100mAh Power Bank drops to $125.99 (was $179.99) and the 13-in-1 USB-C Triple-Display Docking Station is $139.99 (was $199.99). Whether these hold through Prime Day or bump back up before then is anyoneβs guess, but the prices are r
Amazonβs pre-Prime Day Anker sale is live right now, three weeks before the actual event kicks off on June 23rd. The sale runs across wall chargers, power banks, wireless chargers, and docking stations, with cuts of up to 35% on most of the lineup. The Anker Prime 20,100mAh Power Bank drops to $125.99 (was $179.99) and the 13-in-1 USB-C Triple-Display Docking Station is $139.99 (was $199.99). Whether these hold through Prime Day or bump back up before then is anyoneβs guess, but the prices are real right now.
The Anker Nano 45W USB-C Charger has a built-in Smart Display that shows real-time wattage output on the face of the brick, and a Care Mode that automatically throttles back when a phone hits 80% to protect the battery long-term. Itβs a single USB-C port, compact and foldable, and at $27.99 itβs the least expensive way to get into Ankerβs Smart Display lineup. Most people who track charge speeds will find it useful. Everyone else just has a very good 45W GaN charger at a price that makes it easy to keep one at a desk and another in a bag.
Anker 100W 3-Port GaN USB-C Charger with Smart Display $49.98 (was $69.99)
One wall outlet, enough wattage for a laptop, tablet, and phone
The Anker 100W 3-Port GaN USB-C Charger puts 100W total across three USB-C ports, with a smart display and touch control to see and adjust per-port output. With a single device plugged into the top port, you get the full 100W, enough for a 16-inch MacBook Pro at full charge speed. With all three ports active, it splits automatically. At $49.98 itβs 29% off and covers the most common use case: one charging brick, everything on your desk, no hunting for the right outlet.
Anker Prime 3-in-1 Qi2.2 25W MagSafe Charging Station $149.99 (was $229.99)
Ankerβs best MagSafe dock, $80 off list and Qi2.2 certified at 25W
The Anker Prime 3-in-1 Qi2.2 25W Charging Station is certified to the Qi2.2 standard, which pushed the MagSafe peak from 15W to 25W on iPhone 16 and later. It charges iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods simultaneously, with a built-in AirCool aerospace-grade thermoelectric cooling system that keeps the phone pad running at full 25W without throttling under sustained load. The on-unit display shows per-device wattage in real time. At $149.99 itβs the biggest dollar-amount discount in the current sale, $80 off a model that doesnβt typically go this low.
Anker Wall Charger and Cable Deals at Amazon
The Anker 140W 4-Port MacBook Charger with Smart Display is $64.99 (was $89.99), which is enough single-port output to run a 16-inch MacBook Pro at full speed while simultaneously charging an iPad and two phones off the other three ports. The Prime 100W 3-Port Foldable GaN Charger at $39.98 (was $69.99) is the deepest percentage cut on any single item in the current sale at 43% off.
Anker Wireless Charger and Car Charger Deals at Amazon
The Anker Zolo Qi2 MagSafe Charging Pad 2-Pack at $23.99 (was $39.99) is the biggest percentage cut in the wireless section at 40% off, which works out to under $12 per pad. The 3-in-1 Cube MagSafe Charging Stand drops to $89.99 (was $129.99) for a compact foldable unit that handles iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods together.
The Anker Prime 14-Port Docking Station is $169.99 (was $269.99), a 37% cut on the 160W dual-4K model, and the top-end Prime TB5 Thunderbolt 5 dock is $339.98 (was $399.99), which supports 120 Gbps transfer and dual 8K display output. On the budget end, the USB-C to HDMI adapter is $12.99 and the 5-in-1 hub is $15.99.
Iβm watching Oslo wake from Vigeland Park, the grass and granite glazed by a North Sea sigh. Hundreds of figures hold poses around me. Angry children, entwined couples, and elders all wear features smoothed by 80-plus winters β¦ and nothing else. Carved and cast by namesake Gustav Vigeland, these nude statues are stripped of uniforms in favor of unifiers. They display no decorations or discernible hierarchies. Yet they share textured stone expressions of unshielded experience. This mineral muscul
Iβm watching Oslo wake from Vigeland Park, the grass and granite glazed by a North Sea sigh. Hundreds of figures hold poses around me. Angry children, entwined couples, and elders all wear features smoothed by 80-plus winters β¦ and nothing else. Carved and cast by namesake Gustav Vigeland, these nude statues are stripped of uniforms in favor of unifiers. They display no decorations or discernible hierarchies. Yet they share textured stone expressions of unshielded experience. This mineral musculature exists to remind those bearing witness that we are born bare, equal before weather and time. It renders Norwegian humanism into a physical manifesto celebrating intrinsic dignity and communal resilience.
Itβs a philosophy that follows me from Osloβs bustling Havnepromenaden west to the wonky timber alleyways of Bryggen and the rain-varnished, pine-lined Mount FlΓΈyen switchbacks above. It accompanies me north along the rocky slopes and 360-degree fjord views at Bruviknipa.Β
Itβs a mindset that seems stitched into the design details coming out of Norwegian technical outerwear company Helly Hansenβs waterfront headquarters. It becomes the lens through which I experience several stimulating days in June 2025, learning about hydrophobic face fabrics, RECCO reflectors for searchability, friluftsliv (βopen-air livingβ), and the annual Open Mountain Month. [Disclosure: Helly Hansen provided travel accommodations during the creation of this story.]
Founded in 1877 by sea-captain Helly Juell Hansen, the brandβs first products were coarse-linen slickers soaked in linseed oil. This workwear was makeshift armor against squalls that could soak sailors and sink fortunes. Today, Helly Hansen patterns that same survival instinct into performance textiles with 3L HELLY TECH membranes and LIFA waterproof/breathable fibers.Β
In a building staring out at the harbor, nestled roughly 70 km north of its origins, the company produces garments that are pressure-tested by lab scientists and professional partners before they ever reach storefronts. These include Search-and-Rescue (SAR) organizations like theΒ Norwegian Peopleβs Aid (NPA), alpine medics, and mountain guides who canβt afford a single wardrobe malfunction.
Whereas Vigelandβs frozen choreography memorializes the cycle of life, Helly Hansenβs taped seams and articulated sleeves celebrate the comfort to go about daily life. From commuting to summiting, a hardshell makes endurance something achievable. From contemplating cultural psychology in a drizzle to a simulated helicopter rescue demo, this clothing enables my curiosity.
My private thoughts on Osloβs public spaces are echoed in Helly Hansenβs introductory presentation. The company declares its guiding light to be producing professional-grade gear βto help people stay and feel alive.β But its protective gear isnβt meant to separate you from the elements so much as allow you to endure natureβs power.
We proceed to a product overview with Philip Tavell, then-vice president at Helly Hansen. He gives us insight into how Helly Hansen delivers its βTrusted By Professionalsβ promise to 55,000 of them worldwide. Itβs a process built on conversations and observations. βSometimes people say [they need] something but act differently when they actually use the product,β Tavell explains.Β
βThey make us improve. They make us be curious. They force us to find solutions that we didnβt know existed.β
When Helly Hansen designs a product, the company asks ski patrol, sailors, SAR volunteers, and other sleet-proof stoics to complain about what exists and what doesnβt. They try prototypes, destroy prototypes, and in the process expose what a garment should and could withstand. Their worst-case scenarios inform everyone elseβs everyday rainwear.
Helly Hansen ambassador Izzy Holmes gives a professionalβs perspective on the input that goes into something like an Odin Infinity Minimalist Jacket. Mountain guides were searching for a waterproof, windproof shell in their pack that they βdonβt even want to be able to feel,β Holmes explains. But they also needed something they could always count on when fast-moving alpine weather turns. What they (and us) got is just 7.6 ounces but still 3.5 layers, breathable and packable for high-output adventuring.Β
And Tavell acknowledges the womenβs shell must be built with the same technical ambition as the menβs. Women in the field are doing the same work and facing the same hazards, so they voiced frustration that brands thought they should get a βdumbed-down version.β
Helly Hansen Odin Infinity Minimalist Jacket
An NPA representative reinforces the stakes: when conditions have everybody heading home, volunteers have to go out and help those who canβt get in, and at that point, βwe canβt discuss if the clothing is good enough; it should just work.β For this reason, zippers are shortened because a waist belt needs space, and a pocket is removed because a harness makes it ornamental.Β
The accumulated failures that inform successful workwear then trickle down to aestheticized rainwear, even if the reflective details that make a SAR uniform recognizable are less likely to. But one thing thatβs shared is a repairability focus when new products are constructed. Replaceable zippers, snaps, Velcro, and other mechanical spare parts that can keep a jacket in service are a cornerstone of sustainability.
In-the-field anecdotes and accidents make for dramatic scenes and adjusted seams, but the stress tests begin way before fabric sees any vistas for validation. Off an unassuming corridor, Helly Hansenβs lab is where the indignities begin. Here, passing a standard test is merely a starting point. Shedding water for 30 seconds in controlled intervals doesnβt answer the questions asked by real-world exposure, which can last for hours. Something needs to address the grind of rain-soaked backpack straps on shoulders or the rub of salt-stiffened sleeves on sides. Somebody needs to account for the drag of oily hands on zippers or being dried badly, then stuffed into/pulled from a pack repeatedly.Β
The lab does its best to recreate and stretch past the conditions most clothes encounter. That means withstanding pressures, wet and dry abrasion, and punctures that bridge the gap between industry expectations and real-life weather, friction, and sweat, not to mention the lazy violence of daily use. Weβre shown a waterproof test of the HELLY TECH Professional system that goes up to a 50,000-millimeter hydrostatic-head (HH) rating, though the promise communicated is an expedition-grade 20,000mm to be on the safe side.
Next to more traditional ways of measuring prolonged hydrostatic pressure or air permeability sit the custom chambers. Thereβs the cut-testing machine built around an actual ski edge, inspired by real Norwegian national team incidents. And then thereβs the shock box. First, fabric samples, new and old, are turned into small bags loaded with tennis balls. Then, they are soaked, dropped, tumbled, scraped, contaminated, and just rudely treated with salt, sand, Velcro, sandpaper, and metal edges to watch the material age in fast-forward.Β
This accumulated abuse is all part of the proving ground for Helly Hansenβs signature waterproofing technologies. Itβs also part of addressing the larger PFAS puzzle facing every shell maker. A waterproof jacket has to keep liquid out and let body vapor escape. And it has to do it through a laminate whose face fabric is absorbing physical punishment. So, itβs the labβs job to make that contradiction measurable. They take field feedback and provide product managers with data that shows the full picture of whatβs achievable.
Resisting wet-out used to be achieved in part with Durable Water Repellent (DWR) chemistries that repelled both water and oils. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) treatments moved surface energy down to roughly 6-12, good for both water and oils, weβre told in the lab. But the regulatory and industry-wide transition to PFAS-free hydrocarbon finishes hit roughly 25-30, enough for water repellency but only moderate oil resistance.Β
Helly Hansenβs top-tier no-added-DWR solution, LIFA Infinity Pro, took proprietary fibers developed in the 1970s for base layer moisture management and applied advanced textile engineering to heat and stretch them into a waterproof/windproof membrane. They then paired this sweat siphon with a highly breathable backer and a woven, inherently hydrophobic LIFA face fabric. In the labβs language, the goal is to βlet water-hating fabric do all the work by itself,β rather than overloading it with chemical treatments. That system came to market in 2020.
A newer iteration of LIFA Infinity is found in the Odin Infinity Minimalist Jacket. It utilizes a bicomponent ePP microporous membrane made without solvents and a recycled face fabric with a PFC-free DWR to facilitate an even softer, lighter, more pliable product. Itβs a lot of invisible engineering β¦ putting chemistry and construction and thought into a garment so reliability is the thing you donβt have to think about.Β
If Oslo supplied philosophy, and headquarters provided proof, the next stop offers perspective.
Pack on my back, To Helly & Back playlist of black metal and blackened rock in my ears, we shuffle to early a.m. shuttles. A short flight to Bergen and weβre back on a bus heading to OsterΓΈy, one hour northeast and Northern Europeβs largest inland island. Weβre welcomed at Klyvvikje, a greeting complete with folk costumes and hand-hammered artistry made in a blacksmithβs forge on the farm, a property in our hostsβ family for over 100 years. Weβll stay here overnight, not far from the village of Bruvikβthough we only see that from above.Β
We have just enough time to snack and repack before we hit the trail. We arrive expecting one of the 200 to 240 days of downpours that annually sweep Bergen, the rainiest city in Europe, then continue into the nearby fjords. What we encounter is balmy, suspiciously kind. Itβs downright disorienting. Temperatures pushing the 70s, out go the rain layers and out comes the Solen UPF 50+ sun protection. Weβre only going on a day hike, but ounces matter when youβre ascending over 500 meters (1,873 ft). We head relentlessly uphill until we summit the Bruviknipa massif at 822 meters (2,697 ft).Β
After many, many stone steps and stacked curves, weβre greeted by a Norwegian flag at the summit register, plus a panoramic view of the SΓΈrfjordenβs deep blue mountain mirror [shown above]. My Cascade Mid-Cut Hiking Boots maintain stability, and Helly Hansen Blaze Softshell Hiking PantsΒ stretch stylishly as we complete our trek, around five hours and 9 kilometers (5.76 mi) round-trip. Β
Back at the farm [shown below], we set up our tents along the edge of the property, guests appreciating the hospitality you donβt get hut-to-hut hiking. But if there had been any more space between the farm and the water, we might not have even had to ask permission. Norwayβs 1957Β Outdoor Recreation Act codified that anyone and everyone has the right to hike through and camp on any land at least 150 meters from an occupied structure. Just leave no trace. This makes it easier to access the 20,000 kilometers of marked hiking trails and over 500 cabins maintained by Den Norske Turistforening, the Norwegian Trekking Association.Β
The mountainsβ lavender silhouettes soften against the luminous half-light sky as we crowd around a fire and raise Aquavit to a rewarding day of good weather and goodwill. SkΓ₯l! (βcheers!β) rings out repeatedly alongside the would-be clink of our paper cups. The sun may not want to go to bed, but I do.Β
We wake up to homemade waffles and dockside yoga, all safely recovering from yesterdayβs calf-burning climb.
But what if we hadnβt? Thatβs the question posed as part of the morningβs dramatic RECCO demo.
Using a makeshift fjord-side landing pad, pilots from a SAR team based in northern Norway land a helicopter [shown below]. With them are representatives of the Swedish reflector-and-detector system, which is incorporated into several products weβve been carrying, like the Odin 9 Worlds 3.0 Shell Jacket and Resistor Backpack, and could be key to a successful recovery mission.Β
All of this is weather permitting, of course. The helicopter system is best deployed for bigger summer searches, like finding a mountain biker, mushroom picker, or hunter. Or for finding a hiker, as we soon see simulated. While the trail we took the day before seemed benign on our idyllic afternoon, that same path could be dangerous once the light dips or someone slips. Taken up in small groups, we do a sweep in the direction of the mountain we traversed. In our headsets, we hear quickening feedback and watch a meter flash red [shown above] as we approach a reflector stashed strategically in a gully.
A RECCO-equipped jacket plays an important role for both the wearer and SAR organizations, as reflector sales help place detectors and train personnel without cost to rescue teams. Typically, however, the RECCO badge has been associated with winter and ski wear. Or, at the very least, a premium price point, like the $400+ Odin 9 Worlds or Odin Infinity Minimalist jackets. Helly Hansen, however, saw an opportunity to make more people searchable and fund more detectors in the market, so they started putting RECCO in the 2025 Loke Jacket, its most affordable, high-volume shell.Β
After all, Helly Hansenβs annual Open Mountain Month events encourage and empower people to connect with the outdoors and each other (with guidance from professionals). And if youβre going to push for that, part of the social contract is making safety feel less like a luxury upgrade and more like a shared responsibility.Β
Two days later, back on land and back in Bergen, itβs finally rainy enough to put the Odin 9 Worlds 3.0 Shell to good use. Taking advantage of my limited time and growing tolerance for precipitation, I wander the harborβs cobblestone contours, secure in a garment that will hold up. And, should curiosity carry me into some troll-infested, goat-inhabited forest beyond city limits, it could also help a rescue team narrow the search. Helly Hansen canβt make the elements disappear, but it can minimize the messiness of meeting them head-on, a technical expression of the old Scandinavian conviction that thereβs no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing.Β
Ooniβs Memorial Day sale is the last sitewide cut before late summer, with every current-generation oven 20 percent off and a few legacy models cut deeper. The cheapest current-gen Koda 2 drops to $399.20 (was $499), the 1st-generation Karu 12 hits $249 (was $349) as the cheapest path into real wood-fired pizza Ooni currently sells, and the bundle pages stack that 20 percent on top of accessory packs that were already discounted. The Karu 2 Pro is the multi-fuel pick in PopSciβs best pizza ovens
Ooniβs Memorial Day sale is the last sitewide cut before late summer, with every current-generation oven 20 percent off and a few legacy models cut deeper. The cheapest current-gen Koda 2 drops to $399.20 (was $499), the 1st-generation Karu 12 hits $249 (was $349) as the cheapest path into real wood-fired pizza Ooni currently sells, and the bundle pages stack that 20 percent on top of accessory packs that were already discounted. The Karu 2 Pro is the multi-fuel pick in PopSciβs best pizza ovens guide, and Memorial Day weekend is the cutoff, so the next few days are it.
The Koda 2 is Ooniβs cheapest current-generation gas oven and the one most first-time buyers should land on, with a 14-inch deck that fits a true 12-inch pie and dual-zone burners that let you drop the back flame so crusts donβt char. At $399.20 itβs $99.80 off, which is the same dollar cut Ooni has run at past sales, and the under-$400 price keeps it firmly in starter-oven territory without dropping back to the 1st-generation hardware. If you want a current Ooni and have never owned a pizza oven before, this is the default.
The 1st-generation Karu 12 is the deepest cut in the entire Ooni sale at 29 percent off, and at $249 itβs the cheapest path into real wood-fired pizza Ooni currently sells. It cooks the same Neapolitan-style pies as the 2nd-generation Karu 2 in roughly the same time, just without the redesigned chimney and viewing window. For anyone who wants to try wood-fired before committing to the current-gen platform, or who simply wants a backup oven that runs on charcoal when the propane tank goes empty mid-cookout, this is the price to act on.
The Koda 2 Essentials Bundle wraps the same 14-inch Koda 2 above with the peel, turning peel, brush, infrared thermometer, and gloves, which together would cost $245 outside the sale. The bundle saves $122.80 versus buying the oven and accessories separately, and at $491.20 itβs the cleanest βeverything you need to launch a pizza this weekendβ pick in the sale. Itβs worth the upgrade over the bare oven if you donβt already have a peel and donβt want to spend Memorial Day weekend chasing accessories at full price.
Ooni Pizza Oven Deals
Every current-generation oven is 20 percent off, with the three legacy 1st-generation models cut deeper. The Karu 12 lands the deepest at 29 percent off, and the 1st-generation Koda 16 at $499 is the cheapest 16-inch gas oven Ooni still sells.
Bundles are where the biggest dollar savings hide, since the 20 percent sitewide cut layers on top of accessory packs that already discount their contents. The Koda 2 Max Outdoor Kitchen Bundle is $383.80 off (the largest dollar cut in the sale), the Koda 2 Max Essentials Bundle is $288.80 off, and the Karu 2 Pro Ultimate Bundle is $265.80 off, all bigger cuts than any standalone oven. The Volt 2 indoor electric oven only shows up via these bundles in the sale, since it isnβt discounted on its own.
Every peel, cutter, and serving tool is 20 percent off. Ooniβs perforated peels are the ones to grab if youβve been launching pies off a solid peel and watching them stick, since the slots let semolina fall through instead of riding the pie into the oven and burning. Smaller bundles like the Pizza Peel Bundle and the Brush and Turning Peel Bundle stack additional savings if you need more than one tool.
Cast iron is what turns an Ooni from a single-purpose pizza oven into something you can roast, sear, and bake in. The Dual-Sided Grizzler Plate at $64 is the most versatile single pan (grill marks on one side, smooth searing surface on the other), and the Roasting Pan opens up the Koda 2 Max for whole chickens and trays of vegetables at 900 degrees.
Dough boxes, scales, and topping stations all see 20 percent off, with Ooniβs frozen Dough Balls 24-pack down to $79.20 if youβd rather skip kneading entirely. The Pizza Topping Station at $120 is the kit that makes assembly-line pies for a backyard party feel like running a real pizzeria instead of crowding a kitchen counter.
Gas burners, conversion kits, and replacement baking stones are all 20 percent off, which matters if you already own a Karu and want to add the gas option, or if your existing stone has finally cracked. The $112 Karu 2 Pro gas burner is the cheapest way to convert a wood/charcoal Karu 2 Pro into a weeknight gas oven without rebuying the platform.
Modular tables, oven covers, and Ooniβs Connect Digital Temperature Hub are all 20 percent off. The Modular Table at $260 is the cheapest way to get a Koda or Karu off the patio table and onto a permanent setup, and the infrared thermometer at $52 is the single most useful $50 you can spend on pizza, since stone temperature determines whether your crust leopards or burns.
All three Ooni-branded cookbooks are 20 percent off, with Pizza Czar by Anthony Falco at $28 being the one to buy if you want recipes from a real consultant whoβs helped open pizzerias from Brooklyn to Bangkok rather than just Ooniβs house style.
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