Carbon Chemist

Tag: buying guides

  • Best 5 Soda Makers for Sparkling Water (2024)

    Best 5 Soda Makers for Sparkling Water (2024)

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    The carbonation renaissance is upon us. Whether it’s the obsession with hard seltzers like White Claw and its endless copycats or “better-for-you” sodas like Poppi and Olipop, people are craving that crisp, bubbly feeling in every corner of their palates. I’m one of them—simply addicted to bubbles. I try to keep it as healthy as possible by minimizing sugary sodas. I mainly just like simple seltzers or sparkling water.

    But “healthy,” for me at least, is more than just watching sugar in my drinks. Lots of these sparkling beverages contain “forever” chemicals known as PFAS. As seen in a Consumer Reports study from 2020, the amount of carbonated water products with high amounts of PFAS is much greater than still water products. Some of these are very popular brands with an ingredients list displaying nothing but carbonated water—so you’d never know unless you were otherwise aware of PFAS. Making bubbles in your own home is a good way to remedy this.

    Is It Cheaper to Make Your Own Soda?

    Bubbling up your own water is obviously the more sustainable route than buying countless bottles of the stuff, even if it’s in glass—it still creates avoidable waste. The primary drawback with carbonators is that you need to continue to replenish your CO2 canisters. Generally, they run about $17 to $30 each (depending on brand) for a 60-liter canister, which adds up, so you’re not necessarily saving money. Some brands also have recycling programs where you send in your empty canister and get it replaced with a full one so that you don’t just toss out the metal canisters. These recycling programs were included in my testing.

    Carbonators are a relatively simple technology. Generally, the gadgets just need a CO2 source and a means of pumping the gas into some water. I tested these first by using filtered water through a Zero Water filter. I was mainly looking for simplicity and something easy to use that makes a crispy, bubbly product. For the most part, all of these gave me a nice fizzy water. But some of them were a bit more complicated to use than others, mainly in terms of inserting the canister of CO2 as well as inputting the bottle. Others were as simple and smooth as could possibly be.

    Check out some of our other beverage-related guides, including Best Nonalcoholic Wines, Best Energy Drinks, Best Juicers, and Best Nut Milk Makers.

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  • 9 Best Advent Calendars (2024), Tested and Reviewed

    9 Best Advent Calendars (2024), Tested and Reviewed

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    There’s something undeniably exciting about Advent calendars. To me, they were the first example of a little treat. I’d get done with a hard day of being an 8-year-old and come home to crack open a cardboard door to eat some powdery chocolate. As an adult, spending just a moment every single day with a special little treat or gift can help you stop feeling overwhelmed by all the tree trimming and gift wrapping—enough so you can start enjoying the ride.

    Advent calendars are cooler now than they ever were when I was a kid, and the contents aren’t limited to novelty Santa-shaped chocolates anymore. I painstakingly tore into several cardboard doors to get to the bottom of the best Advent calendars. My favorites are below. Even if you start cracking into your calendar after December 1, don’t worry; a lot of Advent calendars are just 12 days. Plus, who needs rules? Just double up on treats if you start late!

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  • 16 Best Gifts for PC Gamers (2024): Headsets, Desks, Monitors

    16 Best Gifts for PC Gamers (2024): Headsets, Desks, Monitors

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    Shopping for a PC gamer is a perilous endeavor. What might look like a great sale on a GPU or gaming keyboard can turn out to be a bad deal because of some arcane spec that only the most die-hard forum-dwellers understand. If you’re shopping for the gamer in your life who lives that nerd life, we have a simple, accessible guide to what they might like.

    Be sure to check out our many other gaming guides, including Best Gaming Laptops, Best Gaming Headsets, Best Keyboards, Best Gaming Mice, and Best Game Controller. If your giftee is more of a console gamer, read our Best PS5 Accessories and Best Switch Accessories guides.

    Updated October 2024: We’ve added the LG Ultragear Gaming Monitor, Corsair Scimitar Elite Wireless, Elgato Stream Deck+, Steam Deck OLED, and HyperX Quadcast 2 S.

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    The best advice I can give when shopping for a PC gaming enthusiast is simple: If you’re unsure, just ask. Ask if they have a favorite mouse, keyboard, or headset brand they’ve been eyeing. Ask if there’s anything else they’ve been thinking about picking up for themselves. If you’re still not sure, and you don’t want to get them the wrong thing, there’s another one-size-fits-all gift that no PC gamer will dislike: a Steam gift card. With this, the PC gamer in your life will be able to pick out a game from a vast online store. Most popular titles are around $60, so use that as a baseline for how much to add to the card.

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  • 9 Best Toiletry Bags, Tested and Reviewed (2024)

    9 Best Toiletry Bags, Tested and Reviewed (2024)

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    There were multiple great bags we tried whose features or designs just didn’t add up to a place in the top spots above. However, everyone has something different they’re looking for in a toiletry bag, so while not perfect for us, some of these options may still be perfect for you.

    State Bags Benson Toiletry Kit for $68: This is a solid, simple bag with three mesh pouches and a snap-in/snap-out plastic envelope that could theoretically hold something messy like a toothbrush or bar of soap. The navy version I tested had a coated polyester wipe-clean exterior and interior made from recycled bottles, and I liked that it had the option to hang. However, the organization was more rudimentary than similar-category bags we tested, and it was missing some of the thoughtful details featured on other bags in the same price range, like a quick-access pouch on the back and a larger hook with a rubber tip to prevent slipping. (This bag’s thick, small plastic hook wasn’t even wide enough to hang on a towel rack.)

    July Hanging Toiletry Bag for $85: I own and love July’s carry-on suitcase, so I was excited to try the brand’s popular hanging toiletry bag. It’s a great design with a zippered pouch on the back, plus a body that zips flat to reveal PVC and pouch zip compartments and a large, rubber-tipped metal hook that tucks away. It looks well-made and stylish with leather trim and gunmetal hardware, but my husband took it on a business trip and found that its pockets are actually quite small, confirming a worry I had when I tested it in my bathroom at home. It wouldn’t be an issue if the bag itself were small, but it took up a full quarter of the carry-on.

    Fjallraven Kanken Toiletry Bag for $55: I love this thing, which makes me feel like a Red Cross nurse on the battlefields of World War II. It’s made from a proprietary Fjallraven fabric blend that combines organic cotton with recycled polyester, so it feels like fabric but is more waterproof and durable. It has a clamshell design with a sturdy interior plastic hook. My quart bag of bottles goes into the enormous lower zip compartment, my toothbrush and deodorant in the top compartment, and there’s mesh pockets and MOLLE webbing so that your tiny things are easily visible. However, its dimensions are very large, so this might not be for you if you’re a minimalist with just a toothbrush and a comb. —Adrienne So

    Calpak Clear Cosmetics Case for $85: Constructed largely of water-resistant, wipe-clean PVC, this clear cosmetic case (I tested the medium size) zips all the way around and folds flat to reveal two zippered compartments and one smaller zippered mesh bag. It also looks like a cute little purse with its 16 trendy color options, dual handles, and metal bottom studs. However, contents aren’t as easy to access as other cosmetic cases that just open from the top—you have to lay the Calpak flat to open both sides, which requires a 16-by-10-inch footprint, and the all-clear construction isn’t very discreet.

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  • 16 Best Gifts for Babies and Toddlers, Editor Tested and Reviewed

    16 Best Gifts for Babies and Toddlers, Editor Tested and Reviewed

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    One of the most intimidating things I ever did in my twenties was attend my first baby shower. I was still in college, and if there was an online registry of some kind, nobody bothered to share it with me, so I went in completely blind trying to shop for a random sorority sister’s baby. I went with a safe choice: A cute set of baby body soap and lotion. Now, I wish I could go back in time and help out overwhelmed college me. After both having my own child and spending my working hours testing all kinds of parenting gear, I’ve come to discover there are a ton of fun gifts to give little ones.

    This guide encompasses gifts ranging from the newborn stage all the way through finishing out 1-year-old-hood, so you can come back to this guide to shop for your favorite baby-to-be’s shower and first couple of birthdays. Babies change a lot, and ridiculously fast, so I’ve mentioned what ages or milestones I used as markers for some of these gifts. But don’t be afraid to gift something on the early side: Better to give something they’ll grow into for the coming months rather than something they’ll grow out of tomorrow!

    If you’re looking for more parenting gear, don’t miss our guides to the Best Strollers, Best Baby Monitors, Best Breast Pumps, and Best Travel Strollers. If you’re shopping for older kiddos, don’t miss the Best Subscription Boxes for Kids and the Best STEM Toys for Kids.

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  • 10 Best Mobile Games for iOS and Android

    10 Best Mobile Games for iOS and Android

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    Don’t doomscroll more depressing news, use that phone to lift your mood instead. The best mobile games will bring a little joy to your day, whether you’re killing time on the commute or chilling on the couch. And these games are all addictive slices of gaming pleasure that we have been gorging on for years.

    As smartphone screens and processing power have grown, the lines between mobile gaming and just gaming have blurred, and you can find tons of great mobile games that have been ported or adapted from other systems (Minecraft, Call of Duty, Fortnite, Roblox, Stardew Valley, Grand Theft Auto, and the list goes on). But all of these titles are best enjoyed on other platforms. Our picks here are games that work especially well on your phone.

    Snag one of the best mobile controllers to level up your smartphone gaming. You may also be interested in subscription services like Google Play Pass or Apple Arcade. You can even play some Android games on your PC now.

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  • 19 Piping Hot Gifts for Coffee Lovers (2024)

    19 Piping Hot Gifts for Coffee Lovers (2024)

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    I didn’t consume my first cup of coffee until the ripe age of 24, when I was forced by a former employer to attend an ad hoc cupping session. At first I found the taste of black coffee repulsive, but my small-chain coffee shop employer did not comp the cost of more palatable options like the Minty Mocha Freeze, so my taste buds were forced to adapt. I slowly learned to enjoy the ritual of brewing a fresh pot of coffee in the morning, and I soon began to relish the opportunity to hang with my dad and chug coffee all day when I visited my parents around the holidays. Just two guys drinking Folgers from a crusty Mr. Coffee while reruns of NCIS and Law & Order: SVU air in perpetuity on the television.

    I eventually moved to Portland, Oregon, during the height of coffee’s so-called “third wave,” and landed a job at a high-volume café and bakery. At this point my coffee consumption escalated from a physiological necessity to a more considered, bespoke experience. Roasters like Stumptown and Coava taught me about the principles of extraction, Black Rabbit taught me how to clean and maintain my shop’s La Marzocco, and a since-shuttered Seattle Coffee Gear outpost stoked my interest in the ever-expanding universe of grinders, brewers, boilers, and doodads that promise exquisite cups of coffee in all manner of scenarios.

    Whether your budget is $4 or $400, there’s no shortage of thoughtful gadgets that make excellent gifts for family, friends, or total strangers in a hotly contested white elephant exchange. We’ve included only products and accessories our team has personally tested, vetted, and used to brew their own coffee at home.

    Be sure to check out our many other buying guides. We have a few coffee-related guides, including our favorite cold-brew coffee makers, espresso machines, portable espresso makers, and cappuccino machines.

    Updated October 2024: We removed a few old picks and added new ones, and refreshed links and prices throughout.

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  • 8 Best Bed Frames (2024), Tested and Reviewed

    8 Best Bed Frames (2024), Tested and Reviewed

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    This adjustable base is from the makers of one of our favorite mattresses you can buy online and one of our favorite mattresses for side sleepers. It runs on electricity to move the hydraulic-like motors below, which raise both the head and foot area of the bed. It comes with a wireless Bluetooth-enabled remote with buttons to adjust the head and foot portion of the bed up and down, a built-in flashlight, and a button to bring the frame down to a flat level.

    The Legget & Platt app (available for iOS only) can act as a remote as well—a huge sigh of relief for a generally scatterbrained person like myself who’s prone to losing things. In the app, you name your bed, make the same adjustments, and save your favorite positions so you can easily go back to them. The bed frame is sleek—not bulky at all—and is around 13 inches off the ground, making extra storage space underneath that I didn’t have before. The legs are virtually invisible, although the zero-clearance design allows the base to be used without the legs if using platform bases.

    The adjustable frame rises in half-inch increments from 13 to 18 inches from the original base, and the motor is fairly quiet. The base works with mattresses designed to flex, without shifting inside materials or weakening the structure, and is compatible with nearly all Saatva mattresses. For non-Saatva mattresses, check with the manufacturer to ensure it’s compatible with an adjustable base.

    Saatva provides a 10-year warranty as well as free in-room delivery and setup, and the men were done in less than 15 minutes, even putting my old mattress back on for me. I often work in my bed and use pillows to prop me up, and this took away the need to be surrounded by a dozen or so of my favorite body pillows. This customizable frame would work great for those with mobility issues or health issues like acid reflux, restless leg syndrome, sleep apnea, or sciatica (among other things). This bougie bed base isn’t completely necessary for me, but it’s a fun luxury to have. —Molly Higgins

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  • The Best Samsung Phones of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

    The Best Samsung Phones of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

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    Most people buy phones directly from their carrier, but if you’re reading this guide, I suggest you buy an unlocked smartphone. When you buy a carrier phone, it’s “locked” to that network. That means if you want to switch carriers, like move from Verizon to T-Mobile, you’ll have to ask your carrier to unlock the device, and this can be a huge headache. (Especially if you’re traveling and want to use an international SIM card.) Asking a carrier to unlock a phone usually has a few requirements, like making sure your device is paid off, or waiting for a set period of time. Unlocked phones, on the other hand, don’t have this problem. You’re free to use whatever carrier you want, whenever.

    Carriers also mask the true cost of a smartphone. AT&T may entice you with a $36 per month payment for a shiny new Samsung flagship, when in reality, that means you’re paying $1,300 on a smartphone over 36 months. Did you really want to spend that much? Or will a cheaper phone suffice? Also, you’re more likely to get software updates faster as they come directly from Samsung, and there’s often far less preinstalled bloatware to deal with.

    All to say, buy unlocked! You can buy unlocked Galaxy phones directly from Samsung and most third-party retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart.

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  • 4 Best Dehumidifiers We’ve Tested and Reviewed

    4 Best Dehumidifiers We’ve Tested and Reviewed

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    The first thing to think about is how you’re going to drain the water from the dehumidifier. In the basement, the best thing you can do is to use the dehumidifier’s continuous water drain tube to either the sump pump or a drain. If those options are not available, you might be emptying the tank multiple times a day. The first time I put a dehumidifier in the basement, the tank was filled in three hours’ time. It’s all about the drainage. Also, knowing how to read a label. If a dehumidifier is listed as “50 pints,” that means the appliance can remove 50 pints of water from the air in a 24-hour period; it’s not the internal tank capacity. Also, look for the maximum area coverage. For example, the Honeywell Smart 50 pint can remove 50 pints of water from a 4,000-square-foot area in 24 hours.

    If you, like me, also need a dehumidifier in your city apartment, then consider buying one that’s easy to move around with wheels and a handle. Some of these machines are heavy. Also, a small dehumidifier in the bathroom is a good idea to keep the dampness at bay, especially if you have mold growing on your grout.

    Lastly, do not drink the water collected in your dehumidifier tank. That water is not potable. Pour it down the drain. A dehumidifier is not creating distilled water; that’s a different process and appliance.

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