October Testing Report: Mattresses and Mary Janes

Surely we reached peak chili crisp like three years ago, right? Wrong! Here it appears again, this time combined with peanut butter. And guess what? Match made in heaven. This jar was the star of my fridge for a couple of weeks. It’s great to cook with (e.g., when making a satay-inspired sauce), but I usually just ate it by the spoonful or on toast with an egg and whatever leafy greens were on hand. It’s completely addictive if you think of peanut as a savory rather than sweet condiment, as I do. —Katherine Gillespie, writer

I’ve been trying out a few of Biom’s wipes for the past few months. While the wipes themselves are perfectly good, what I really like are the reusable dispensers: minimal, with no logos or branding, perfect for leaving out on the counter. (Biom does include label stickers or inserts you can add so you know what kind of wipes are in the container.) I’ve found the disinfecting wipes especially useful in my kitchen. I can keep the dispenser right by the sink and grab a wipe whenever I need without having to rifle through my cabinets. With two cats that are persistent about jumping on the counter, a quick and easy way to disinfect has been tremendously helpful when I’m getting ready to cook. The dispensers also keep the wipes fresh, so I haven’t had to worry about them drying up before I’ve gone through a roll. —Amelia Jerden, writer

I recently ran out of my K-beauty cleanser, which was the perfect excuse to give this crowd favorite a go. Beyond the striking blue bottle and deceptively plain, clear gel formula, this face wash is efficient, and I understand the hype. I didn’t pack this on a recent trip and felt the difference. It’s gentle on my perioral dermatitis–prone skin, a key factor I consider in a cleanser as we enter colder months, which tend to exacerbate flare-ups and flakiness. I’m a devout double-cleanser, and this one entirely clears my first-step jojoba-oil cleanse (to remove makeup and SPF) without leaving me feeling stripped. I easily follow up with a physical exfoliant, and my skin still doesn’t feel excessively dry but is instead squeaky clean and shiny, just how I like it. —Najwa Jamal, updates coordinator

I’ve been using this stroller caddy for a few months now, and at this point it’s safe to say I’m a fan and it’s staying. My past stroller caddies have never been quite right, always either too big (a whole tote hanging over my stroller) or too small (my nanny likes to shove a lot of things in there), but this one really is just right. It’s not bulky and it doesn’t hang low, while also fitting a baby bottle, my own beverage of choice, a little Tupperware of puréed lunch, some tiny toys, a bib, a phone, and a wallet. My favorite part is that it zips closed and also has a bunch of inner pockets so you’re not left desperately digging around when it’s paci o’clock. Plus the colors are fun. —Lauren Levy, lead editor

I’ve been testing this mattress out for about two weeks and absolutely love it. When you order one, you choose a “feel” — medium, plush, firm, or a combo of any of those — and we chose the plush, which has been a luxuriously cushy departure from our last mattress, which was medium-firm. Despite the plushness, the edges still feel secure and I never worry that I’m going to roll off if I get too close. I’m a side sleeper and my husband is a back or side sleeper, and without a doubt we’re both sleeping better and waking up more refreshed on the Nest mattress than we were before. I’ll be writing a full review for our “best mattresses” story soon — but so far, so good. —Hilary Reid, senior editor

My husband and I moved to a larger apartment back in May and finally have space for a queen-size mattress. Ever since, we’ve been on the hunt for our Goldilocks mattress that’s not too soft and not too firm. After taking Helix’s sleep quiz, we initially settled on the brand’s Midnight Luxe mattress to test. Upon arrival, though, the mattress felt a little too soft and, after a few nights sleeping on it, gave my husband some unfortunate back pain. I also wasn’t a fan of the quilted pillow topper, which dug into my hips. Helix graciously allowed us to swap out the mattress for its firmer Twilight model, which feels closer to our needs. It’s a little on the firm side for my liking, especially as I get further into my pregnancy, so I’m on the hunt for a topper I can maybe add to my side of the mattress for more support. —Ashley Wolfgang, newsletter editor

I’ve long been a fan of Margaux’s ultracushy Phoebe flats (which I’m wearing as I type this), and now I’m a big fan of its new Phoebe boot, too. They were comfortable straight out of the box, and what I love most about them is the 1.5-inch heel height. At five feet, eight inches, it can be hard for me to find a pair of black leather ankle boots that aren’t flat but also have a lower-than-two-inch heel. These are one of the only pairs I’ve tried that truly hits the sweet spot of a slight lift without necessarily feeling like “heeled ankle boots.” —H.R.

Despite all the ballerinas and flats I’ve tried over the years, I was lacking a staple black pair I can slip on without thinking. And there is not a pair I’ve long coveted more than these. They’re even more elegant in person, and the soft lamb leather has a lovely sheen — I’m excited to see how it will patina. Everything about them is delicate, from the tubular, almost grosgrain-like strap (not flat, as I’ve often encountered) to the silver hardware and signature red stitch on the back. All the fine-tuned details are what make the fit so comfortable, including the elongated cut. I went with my normal size, which left me with just enough room that I could see myself wearing them with fine ribbed socks come colder temps. I was able to wear these out of the box without any issues. Never did my feet feel cramped or swollen in these, even after a full day of walking, and the subtle cushioning on the back edge of the shoe prevented my ankle from getting rubbed raw. —N.J.

I typically haven’t been a big fan of the classic U-shaped travel pillow. They never seem to be quite comfortable enough for me to sleep with and are also bulky to carry. This latex-foam travel pillow from Avocado certainly doesn’t beat the bulky allegations, but it is surprisingly supportive for actually sleeping on an airplane. I recently took it on a lengthy flight between North Carolina and California and was pleased to find that I was able to sleep upright in my seat with this pillow. Latex foam tends to be springier and more flexible than polyurethane foam, but still plenty sturdy. I think this works well for a travel pillow, which needs to support your head and neck but also not feel too restrictive. I also appreciate that you can clip the two ends of the “U” together to hold the pillow in place, and the organic-cotton cover feels pleasant against the skin. The downside is that this pillow takes up quite a bit of space in your personal item or carry-on. It comes with a carrying bag, which you can squish the pillow into and then clip onto your purse or duffel bag, but it’s still pretty large. I wouldn’t necessarily bother for a short flight, but I’d certainly consider bringing it again for a cross-country or international flight. —A.J.

After a year of washing and drying (oops) a set of personalized waffle pouches I’ve been loving from Etsy, the larger one croaked (its inner lining melted and tore upon attempted revival, leaving an ugly hole). Abbode’s versions always looked so darling, and after stopping into its now-closed Elizabeth Street boutique a few times, I decided to give one of its pouches a try. You can choose from 12 colorways, 24 font colors, and eight fonts, which makes these endlessly customizable. (You can also add one of Abbode’s signature icons alongside your initials.) I went with the Burgundy Fig with my initials in icy blue. Not only is this pouch a delight to see in my suitcase, it can carry a lot — upwards of a dozen full-size skin-care products, from long and stout bottles to clunky tubs and tubes. When a bottle of toner leaked inside, I was able to hand-wash the pouch without any color bleeding or shrinkage. I think these would be a fantastic gift. —N.J.

I’d never tried anything from Lilysilk before I was sent these pants, and I’ve truly been impressed. They are absolutely sweatpants, but the front seam and overall tailoring make them look dressy enough that if you were to pair them with a crisp oversize button-down and some nice flats, you could wear them to work no problem. The material feels high-quality and hasn’t pilled at all since I’ve worn them, and the drape of the fabric through the legs (not too wide, not too skinny, and a generous full length) makes them surprisingly elegant. —H.R.

My most-worn piece of apparel this month (outside of my running shoes) is this rugby top from Alex Crane, which is known for its beachy, comfortable linen apparel. I have long been a fan of its buttoned tops, so I was curious to try a fall layer from the brand. It has the thickness of a classic rugby shirt but is very soft to the touch, like other Alex Crane tops I’ve tested. It’s become my go-to work top — it’s a little dressed up compared to a crewneck, but not too casual. I normally wear a medium, but I ordered a size up, and the extra room gives it a slightly more relaxed look, which I like. —Jeremy Rellosa, associate editor

It’s difficult to find good pointelle for more-reasonable-than-Leset prices, but they’ve done it over at Paige DeSorbo’s brand, Daphne. I run hot while I sleep, and these soft yet breathable shorts have been the only pair I want to sleep in during this unseasonably hot October. I imagine once the temperature (finally) drops and I replace my bed’s summer quilt with a comforter, they’ll still be the only shorts I want to sleep in. I sized up to a medium and love that they sit loosely on my hips without being too baggy. —Bella Druckman, writer

I just got back from a weeklong California road trip with my infant daughter, which was predictably difficult at times but made much easier by Cybex’s latest infant car seat. I especially appreciated its built-in reclining function, which lengthens and expands the seat to make it more comfortable for the baby when outside of the car. It’s especially handy when using it as a stroller seat (it fit perfectly on our Joolz Aer 2 travel stroller after purchasing the snap-on car-seat adapters) or when transferring an already-napping baby to her crib for the night. I was concerned that attaching it with a seatbelt would feel less secure or be more finicky without the quick-release base that we use in our car at home, but the simple and intuitive routing made it easy to install in several Ubers and the rental car. Comfort-wise, the mesh padding was highly breathable throughout the heat-wave conditions we were experiencing in California last week, and the retractable sunshade — which my wife and I started calling the cone of silence — provided great napping conditions for our baby throughout the 700-mile coastal road trip. —Michael Zhao, senior writer

I’ve been pleasantly surprised by this playful yet elevated soap made by Bubble Skincare alums Caroline Valentini, Lindsay St. Clair, and Zee Carlstrom. I’ve been using this citrusy scent in my bathroom and love the strong notes of mandarin and lavender that I get as I lather. But most importantly, as someone with sensitive skin, I’m picky about my soap, and this one has never dried out my hands. The $20 price tag is a nice plus, too. Given the colorful packaging and cheeky names, I think the soaps would make a great gift for a teen or college student with their own bathroom. Stocking stuffers, maybe? —B.D.

There’s been a resurgence of interest in retro media lately, and that’s just in analog formats like vinyl and cassette. Even CDs are cool again, so I’ve been looking at some of the New Wave of CD players. Among them is the pint-size but almost ridiculously full-featured FiiO DM15, which may look like a portable CD player of days gone by but has a bit more under the hood. It plays your old and new CDs, rips them to digital files, transmits over Bluetooth to your speakers or headphones, and even has a USB-C DAC to function as a high-resolution audio player if you hook it up to your computer (and it has a rechargeable battery so you can take it with you, though it’s a little boxy and substantial to be a true portable). The headphone amp even has an audiophile-friendly balanced output, and you can tailor the sound to your taste with onboard EQ settings (so far, I like it flat but can see the utility) and a couple of enhanced bass modes. It does more than anything else I’ve looked at in such a minute package — and sounds good, too, playing back CDs or files. —Michael Berk, editor

For almost an entire decade, a pour-over has been my main method for at-home coffee-making. But after developing a taste for more espresso this spring, I decided to try an automatic machine. I’ve been testing the TK-02 from Terra Kaffe for the past few months. It’s very efficient. The water heats up quickly, the included milk-steamer attachment is easy to use, and customizing my settings feels intuitive. I like my coffee very strong, so it took a few brews to tweak the settings and make sure I was getting a stronger shot with each brew. I was a bit wary of using a machine that runs digitally (I lean more analog with my tech usage), but the screen is extremely easy to navigate. In fact, it’s made my morning-coffee routine very simple: I wake up the machine, then press one button, and I have a doppio ready for sipping. —J.R.