Consumer Reports 02.2022

STAY SAFE IN THE BEST DEALS ON HEALTHY CEREALS
BACK SEAT P. 52 CELL PHONE PLANS THAT TASTE GREAT

FEBRUARY 2022 REVIEWS & RATINGS

Big-Screen TVs
Toaster Ovens
Robotic Vacuums
Heating Systems
Food Processors
Wireless Headphones
Backpacks

HOW
TO GET THE

YOU NEED

Wide awake at 2 a.m.? We’ve got secrets for a good night’s rest,
including CR’s complete insomnia toolkit.

Your Road Map to
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want with the Build & Buy Car Buying Service. You’ll save an
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*Between 1/1/20 and 12/31/20, the average savings off MSRP experienced by consumers who
connected with a TrueCar Certified Dealer through the Consumer Reports Auto Buying Program
and who were identified as buying a new vehicle from that Certified Dealer was $3,217. Your actual
savings may vary based on multiple factors, including the vehicle you select, region, dealer, and
applicable vehicle-specific manufacturer incentives, which are subject to change. The MSRP is
determined by the manufacturer and may not reflect the price at which vehicles are generally sold
in the dealer’s trade area, as many vehicles are sold below MSRP. Each dealer sets its own pricing.

CRM22C2

Contents FEBRUARY 2022, VOL. 87 NO. 2

24 How to Get the PRODUCTS RATED
IN THIS ISSUE
Sleep You Really Need
BIG-SCREEN TVs
Smart solutions for when you P. 10
can’t nod off, or you wake up in
the middle of the night, and more. ROBOTIC VACUUMS
Plus, our toolkit for a good night’s P. 11
sleep, including our top-rated
mattresses and pillows.

R AT I N G S

GIFT BASKET COMPANIES
P. 13

34 Be a Winner 42 Is Dark Chocolate 46 The Best Cell Plan SHEET PANS
P. 14
in Today’s Hot Really Good for You? Deals for Everyone
PHOTO, COVER: ADOBE STOCK Real Estate Market
It’s been touted as a health Our experts have found
Home prices are up, food, but some bars are the cell phone plan that
and inventory is down. better for you than others. will meet your needs and
But there are still ways Here’s what dark chocolate save you money. Plus: The
to buy the dwelling of can do for you and the service providers that rate
your dreams. brands even milk chocolate highest for value, customer
lovers will love. support, and more in our
CR member survey.
TESLA MODEL S
R AT I N G S P. 60

FEBRUARY 2022 CR.ORG 3

Contents

Which Vehicles Have P. 17 PRODUCT UPDATE 7 Building a
the Safest Rear Seats?
We share our scores for 13 CR Insights 20 The Top Cereals Better World, Together
35 cars, trucks, and SUVs. We’re working toward more
The most (and least) reliable From Our Tests accessible broadband and
P. 52 heating systems, a clever CR’s search for truly healthy reducing antibiotic use.
strategy for avoiding unwanted bowlfuls that also taste great.
DEPARTMENTS & COLUMNS emails, the best backpacks 8 Your Feedback
for travel, the health benefits RATI N GS
10 What We’re of tea, and more. Readers’ comments about
IN EVERY ISSUE our recent content.
Testing in Our Labs … R AT I N G S
Toaster ovens with 6 From the President: 19 Recalls
convection, food processors, 62 Index
wireless headphones, Fighting for More 63 Selling It
fitness bands, and more. Consumer Choice
Less competition in the ROAD REPORT
RATIN GS marketplace means higher
prices, and lower-quality 51 Ahead of the Curve
12 Ask Our Experts goods and services.
Auto ratings, news, and advice.
Why topping off your gas
tank isn’t good for your car, 52 Staying Safer in
the best ways to connect
on a video call between the Back Seat
iPhones and Androids, and CR’s new Rear-Seat Safety
how to get that air-fried Score reveals which cars protect
taste and crunch—without back-seat passengers best.
an air fryer.
R AT I N G S

58 How to Get a Fair

Deal on a Car
With pandemic shortages,
some vehicles are selling
above their MSRP. Here,
the best ways to navigate the
current car-buying climate
and save.

60 Road Test

We rate the Nissan Frontier
and the Tesla Model S.

R AT I N G S

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For Selling It send items to

4 CR.ORG FEBRUARY 2022

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CRM22ASN

FEBRUARY 2022 CR.ORG 5

From the President

Fighting for More President and CEO Marta L. Tellado
Consumer Choice
Senior Vice President, Chief Operating Officer Leonora Wiener
LONG GONE ARE the days Vice President, Chief Content Officer Gwendolyn Bounds
when cell phones were
optional. They enable Editorial Director, Print Ellen Kunes
us to work, travel, order Deputy Editors, Print Amanda Lecky, Diane Umansky, Natalie van der Meer
food, and connect to
entertainment, family, Design Director Mike Smith Creative Director, Brand Young Kim
and the world. As with any Associate Design Director Ronald Sequeira
essential product, we want Art Directors Tammy Morton Fernandez, Ewelina Mrowiec
the best choices, which Photo Editors Lacey Browne, Emilie Harjes, Karen Shinbaum
is why this month’s issue
includes a guide to picking Senior Director, Content Development Glenn Derene
the phone service best Deputy Director, Content Development Christopher Kirkpatrick
suited to your priorities Associate Directors, Content Development Scott Billings, Althea Chang-Cook
and budget. (See “The Enterprise Kevin Doyle, Editor; Perry Santanachote, Writer/Reporter
Best Cell Plan Deals for Senior Director, Content Impact & Corporate Outreach Jen Shecter
Everyone,” on page 46.) Special Projects Joel Keehn, Director; Margot Gilman, Associate Director; Lisa L. Gill,
But no amount of tactical advice protects consumers Rachel Rabkin Peachman, Brian Vines, Deputies; Ryan Felton, Scott Medintz, Writers
from a mobile service market with too much consolidation Editorial Director, Digital Erle Norton
and too little competition. Until recently, there were just Senior Director, Product Testing Maria Rerecich
four major carriers. With 2020’s roughly $30 billion Sprint/ Associate General Counsel Camille Calman
T-Mobile merger, which CR opposed, we’re down to three. Director, Lab Operations Lilian Kayizzi
Fewer consumer choices, of course, means less competition
in the marketplace, which tends to translate into higher CARS: Editors/Writers: Keith Barry, Jeff S. Bartlett, Jonathan Linkov, Mike
prices, lower-quality goods and services, or both. You Monticello, Benjamin Preston Auto Test Center: Jake Fisher, Senior Director; Jennifer
can save money by using one of the smaller providers Stockburger, Director Product Testing: Michael Bloch, Steve Elek, Kelly Funkhouser,
we recommend. But the range of consumer choice they John Ibbotson, Chris Jones, Alex Knizek, Anita Lam, Ryan Pszczolkowski,
represent is somewhat illusory: They all piggyback on the Mike Quincy, Gabriel Shenhar, Shawn Sinclair, Emily A. Thomas, Joe Veselak
cellular networks of the big three companies.
This troubling dynamic isn’t limited to cellular carriers. HEALTH & FOOD: Lauren F. Friedman, Content Lead Editors/Writers: Trisha
Anti-competitive behavior is rampant in our economy, Calvo, Kevin Loria, Catherine Roberts Policy Lead: Brian Ronholm
nowhere more glaringly than in the tech sector, where
Amazon has been accused of manipulating prices to drive HOME & APPLIANCE: Sara Morrow, Content Lead Editors/Writers: Tanya A.
rivals out of business, and Apple and Google have been sued Christian, Jennifer Cook, Mary Farrell, Keith Flamer, Paul Hope, Deb Silber,
for allegedly using their dominance over phone app sales to Daniel Wroclawski Product Testing: John Galeotafiore, Emilio Gonzalez, James
benefit themselves over others. Nanni, Testing Leads; John Banta, Susan Booth, Tara Casaregola, Lawrence
That’s why CR has called on government agencies to enforce Ciufo, Enrique de Paz, Bernard Deitrick, Cindy Fisher, Rich Handel, Misha
existing antitrust laws, including stopping mergers and Kollontai, Ginny Lui, Joan Muratore, Joseph Pacella, Christopher Regan, Frank
acquisitions likely to reduce competition. And we’re urging Spinelli, Dave Trezza Market Analysts: Mark Allwood, Kelly Moomey, Courtney
new measures that recognize how our economy has changed Pennicooke, Antonella Pomilla, Marion Wilson-Spencer
and that update consumer protections for the digital world.
We’ve already seen early steps in the right direction. MONEY: Editors/Writers: Tobie Stanger, Penelope Wang
But a lasting shift requires businesses, government, and
consumers to work together and take real action. The best TECH: Jerry Beilinson, Content Lead Editors/Writers: Octavio Blanco, Nicholas
option for us all is a competitive economy that prioritizes De Leon, Thomas Germain, Yael Grauer, Melanie Pinola, Chris Raymond, Allen
better consumer choices, not bigger corporations. St. John, Kaveh Waddell, James K. Willcox Product Testing: Richard Fisco, Glen
Rockford, Michael Visconti, Testing Leads; Elias Arias, Antonette Asedillo, Steve
Marta L. Tellado, Blair, Claudio Ciacci, Charles Davidman, Cody Feng, Bill Fitzgerald, Fred Garcia, PHOTO: MELANIE DUNEA
President and CEO Henry Parra, Richard Sulin, Maurice Wynn Market Analysts: Min Kim Bryant,
Follow me on Twitter Odalys Grieco, Nish Suvarnakar Policy Lead: Justin Brookman

@MLTellado Chief Scientific Officer James H. Dickerson
Food Safety James E. Rogers, Director; Tunde Akinleye, Amy Keating, Sana Mujahid
Product Safety Ashita Kapoor, Associate Director; Juan A. Arguello

Content Operations Robert Kanell, Director
Copy Editing Leslie Monthan, Copy Chief; Noreen Browne, Alison France,
Wendy Greenfield
Fact Checking & Research David Schipper, Associate Director; Tracy Anderman,
Sarah Goralski, Christine Gordon, Karen Jacob, Jamison Pfeifer
Planning & Production Nancy Crowfoot, Associate Director; Eric Norlander,
Manager; Letitia Hughes, Terri Kazin, Aileen McCluskey
Premedia William Breglio, Associate Director; Eugene Chin, William Hunt,
Anthony Terzo

Photography John Powers, John Walsh
Imaging Francisco Collado, Mark Linder

Chief Research Officer Kristen Purcell
Consumer Engagement Testing Charu Ahuja, Director; Linda Greene, Dana
Keester, Paul Ritchey
Statistics & Data Science Michael Saccucci, Director; Debasmita Das, Kristen
Dorrell, Dina Haner, Keith Newsom-Stewart
Survey Research Karen Jaffe, Simon Slater, Associate Directors; Dave Gopoian,
Kendra Johnson, Debra Kalensky, Martin Lachter, Jane Manweiler, John McCowen,
Adam Troy, Tian Wang, Tess Yanisch

Consumer Insight Frank Yang, Associate Director; Ipsita Arora
Member Support Sue Melfi, Director; Donna Murianka
Marketing Dawn Nelson, Senior Director
Procurement Operations Steven Schiavone, Associate Director
Administration Decarris Bryant, Dawn Yancy Elleby

VICE PRESIDENTS: Financial Planning & Analysis JoAnne Boyd; Chief Digital
Officer Jason Fox; Advocacy David Friedman; Chief Intelligence Officer
Esther Han; General Counsel Michael Hubner; Research, Testing & Insights
Liam McCormack; Chief Human Resources Officer Rafael Pérez; Chief
Marketing Officer Lauren Stanich; Community & Corporate Engagement
Sharee McKenzie Taylor; Chief Social Impact Officer Shar Taylor;
SVP, Chief Financial Officer Eric Wayne

6 CR.ORG FEBRUARY 2022

Building a Better World, Together    Join with us to make a safer, fairer, healthier marketplace

CALL TO
ACTION

A recent CR investigation found that almost a third of
popular spices and herbs—40 of the 126 products we
tested—contained concerning levels of heavy metals.
In most of those products, the amount of arsenic, lead,
and cadmium combined poses a health risk for anyone
regularly consuming them in typical serving sizes.
In children, exposure can affect brain development; in
adults, it can contribute to central nervous system and
reproductive problems, and can damage kidney
and immune function. Help us urge the Food and Drug
Administration to set stricter limits on heavy metals in
food by signing our petition at CR.org/spices0222.

More Accessible Broadband Reducing

internet access has become a vital necessity, almost as Antibiotic Use

essential to our lives as utilities like water and electricity. what’s at stake
Antibiotic drugs are gradually
Yet far too many of us either lack access to broadband or becoming less effective at
treating human illnesses.
struggle to afford it. Almost a quarter of households are not
One reason is that many
connected to the internet via broadband, according to a industrial farms overuse
antibiotics in animals, often
June 2021 nationally representative CR survey of 2,565 U.S. to prevent diseases caused by
overcrowded and unsanitary
adults—32 percent of them because it costs too much, living conditions. Such
unnecessary use creates more
25 percent because it’s not available in their area. Of those opportunities for microbes to
evolve, rendering antibiotics
who do have broadband, 24 percent say it’s difficult to afford. less effective. This also leads missed its own deadline for
to drug-resistant strains of announcing reduction targets.
CR has long urged policymakers to address these prob- bacteria, such as salmonella how cr has your back
and campylobacter, which CR has spent years putting a
lems, and our efforts are now bearing fruit: The federal are commonly spread by food spotlight on this problem and
animals. More than 35,000 promoting good stewardship
infrastructure bill signed into law in November includes people die each year from of antibiotics by encouraging
antibiotic-resistant infections, their use only for people and
$65 billion for new broadband access and affordability according to the Centers for animals who need them to treat
Disease Control and Prevention. a diagnosed illness.
initiatives, many of which CR has long championed. Some
In 2018, McDonald’s, the Now we are organizing
$42.5 billion will go to building out broadband infrastructure, nation’s largest purchaser of consumers to send messages
beef, committed to reducing the directly to the McDonald’s
with a focus on underserved markets. An additional amount of antibiotics it uses in CEO and board of directors, to
the raising of its beef. At the time, let them know that action on
$14.2 billion will extend subsidies created in response to the CR and other consumer groups antibiotic reduction is overdue.
applauded the announcement. what you can do
pandemic to help low- But the fast-food giant has Join us in telling McDonald’s
to live up to its commitment
income families afford high- by reducing the use of
medically important antibiotics
speed internet. in its supply chain. You can
find the CR petition at
The law will also require CR.org/antibiotics0222.

providers to use a stan-

dardized format to describe

ILLUSTRATIONS: JOHN RITTER 23% their service offerings and
prices. Modeled on food
of American households lack nutrition labels, they’ll help

high-speed internet access. consumers understand

32% of 25% say it’s exactly what they’ll get for
them say not avail- their money, and enable
it costs able where them to comparison shop for

too much. they live. providers and service plans.

Source: June 2021 nationally representative CR survey of 2,565 U.S. adults. FEBRUARY 2022 CR.ORG 7

Your Feedback

In our December 2021 article “The Trouble With extension office can give you
Spices,” CR’s tests revealed that some popular products advice. For a packaged soil or
contained unsafe amounts of lead, arsenic, and cadmium. other growing medium, look for
Readers wrote in with their concerns, as well as tips for DIY the OMRI Listed seal, which means
spices. To add your voice, go to CR.org/safespice0222. the product has been assessed
for heavy metals by the Organic
THANK YOU for your article. dry each separately in the sun. I’D LIKE TO HEAR whether fresh Materials Review Institute.
We were taking supplementary When dried, we either mince, spices (specifically oregano and
turmeric but, based on the or pulverize in a coffee mill thyme) from the supermarket I’m curious why cinnamon, a
article, have decided that (paprika and sage), for winter are also contaminated (or likely commonly used spice, was not
without further study, it is use. Many of these herbs can to be contaminated). And evaluated. Would be helpful to
not a good idea. That said, be grown indoors or on a deck, if I was going to try and grow indicate if there are any safe
we were surprised about all and some are winter-hardy, at my own, what is the chance brands vs. brands to avoid here!
the herbs that were on the least in western Oregon. We that my home soil or potting —Leigh Durlacher, via CR.org
list as potentially having have always enjoyed growing soil/other growth media from
contamination. For the last our own herbs and are happy big-box garden stores is going EDITOR’S NOTE For this test,
several years we have been to see that is also a safer and to have these heavy metal we chose the most popular herbs
growing our own herbs, such less expensive method of contaminants? and spices with the greatest
as oregano, thyme, rosemary, obtaining cooking herbs. —Denis Bergquist, via CR.org potential risk for heavy metal
sage, basil, and tarragon, as —John Martin, Sweet Home, OR contamination. “We didn’t see
well as paprika peppers. In EDITOR’S NOTE Fresh herbs can evidence in our review of the
early fall, we harvest all our MY HERBS GROW easily in pots, contain heavy metals, depending scientific literature that metals
herbs, remove the stems, and and I bring them inside over on the soil they’re grown in—and in cinnamon were a problem,”
the Michigan winter. CR gives it’s hard to know what type of soil says James E. Rogers, PhD, CR’s
WRITE Go to other ways to dry your own was used to grow the herbs you’re director of food safety research ICONS: ELIAS STEIN
CR.org/lettertoeditor herbs, but I dry mine by pulling buying at the supermarket. If and testing. “However, because
to share your comments off the leaves and allowing you want to grow your own, have we didn’t test it, we can’t be sure
for publication. them to dry on a plate. the soil in your yard tested. Your what risk cinnamon might pose.
—Beverly Tulett, via Facebook local agricultural cooperative We would consider including it
in future testing.”

MY GROUND TURMERIC and
ginger were on CR’s “con-
cern” list! After reading this,
I made sure to find a store
near me that sells the
noncontaminated brands.
—Chrissy Lee, via Facebook

IGNORANCE IS NOT BLISS. We
can have foods without high
levels of heavy metals and
toxins, and I am thankful that
tests are being done to shine
a light on this issue so we can
make safer choices.
—David Ryan, via Facebook

HEARING
AIDS

REGARDING YOUR December
2021 article “Big News About
Hearing Aids,” I have been

8 CR.ORG FEBRUARY 2022

using hearing aids for over more noticeable. I’m on TIRE-BUYING TIPS that I need … but I welcome
30 years. I have used Oticon, my third set and have no the lower prices!
Siemens, Phonak, and others— reservations about wearing Your “Tire-Buying Checklist” —Andrew Kovarik,
most in the $3,000 range. them or letting people know (“Get the Best New Tires Edwardsville, IL
All improve your hearing I use them. for Less,” December 2021)
somewhat. But despite all the —Masha Bean, via Facebook left off one item: Check I WAS PLEASANTLY surprised
promises made, most advanced the Department of that my traditional hearing aid
aids are still deficient in FOR YOUR FIRST hearing Transportation stamp on doubles as a Bluetooth speaker
filtering out background noise. aids, you need to have a the tire sidewall to make for my smartphone.
To my surprise, I have had the period of adjustment. My sure you are not buying —Bob Foos, via CR.org
most success with a $1,500 audiologist started me with old tires. Some “buy 3 tires,
pair of aids purchased a level of adjustment that I get 1 free” promotions are EDITOR’S NOTE Being able to
at Costco (and previously could tolerate: She tapped, a way to get rid of old tire connect to devices such as your
recommended by CR). In did typing, and crumpled stock. Consumers need smartphone is a big advantage
my experience, what distin- paper to find the level. Every to learn how to read the of the Bluetooth hearing aids.
guishes the Costco aids is few weeks she adjusted them last four digits of the DOT One note: Using the Bluetooth
the unlimited, no-charge to be louder as I adapted to code—first two digits are function (to stream audio while
care offered by Costco. They ignoring background noise. the week, last two digits are watching a movie, for example)
clean the units, change the It took almost two months to the year. It is recommended can drain your hearing aid’s
domes, and tweak the Blue- get to the normal hearing level. that tires be replaced every battery more quickly.
tooth connections whenever I am so grateful I had a PhD- six to 10 years regardless of
necessary—all for free. I am told level audiologist to help me. a vehicle’s mileage. TV
that Costco audiologists do not I love my aids and wear them —Melanie Homer, ANTENNAS
receive sales commissions. If every minute I’m awake. Jacksonville, FL
true, this makes me respect —Jean Hilliard Barnes, YOUR DECEMBER 2021
their counsel even more! via Facebook editor’s note Tires do article “Get Free TV With
—Roger H. Lourie, indeed age and can deterio- an Indoor Antenna” (CR
West Palm Beach, FL MOST HUMANS with normal rate over time—even when Insights), suggests mounting
hearing can hear sounds at they’re just sitting on the shelf an antenna directly on a
I DON’T UNDERSTAND why a frequency level between unused! CR recommends window. Many people now
there would be a stigma 20 and 20,000 hertz. that you never drive on a tire have windows with “low-e”
attached to having a hearing (Frequency, sometimes that is 10 or more years old. glass, which blocks infrared
aid. No one cares if you get referred to as pitch, is the (Some car manufacturers (heat) and longer-wavelength
glasses, and those are a lot number of times per second recommend replacement at electromagnetic radiation,
that a sound pressure wave six years.) When buying new such as TV signals. So an
CONNECT repeats itself.) Most people tires, check to make sure they antenna on such a window
WITH US with hearing loss can hear were not manufactured more would work poorly.
certain ranges of sound fine than two years ago to ensure —Robert Haas, Tualatin, OR
FACEBOOK but have hearing loss in other that you’ll be able to drive
frequency ranges. My hearing on them for a long time. EDITOR’S NOTE Though
fb.com/consumerreports is much worse in the higher we have not tested for this
fb.com/SomosCR sound range but normal in particular issue, some
the lower tone range. If a manufacturers agree that
YOUTUBE person with issues like mine low-e, or low-emissivity, glass
bought hearing aids that just has a coating that blocks
/consumerreports amplify everything and they infrared radiation and may
turn them up to correct the also block TV signals. The
INSTAGRAM high tones, they would also be antenna manufacturer Mohu,
amplifying the sound ranges for example, advises that
@consumerreports that don’t need to be amplified. consumers who have windows
The only way I would buy with low-e glass try placing
TWITTER over-the-counter or direct-to- the antenna on a wall directly
consumer hearing aids is by beside the window instead,
@consumerreports having an audiologist create an which may resolve the issue.
@SomosCR audiogram for my hearing-loss
levels and buy hearing aids that
PINTEREST can be programmed with that
audiogram to amplify only the
/consumerreports sound range and sound levels

LINKEDIN

/company/
consumer-reports

ILLUSTRATION BY JASON SCHNEIDER FEBRUARY 2022 CR.ORG 9

What We’re Testing
in Our Labs ...

In our 63 labs, we continually review and rate products. Here, timely picks for this month.

Convection Toaster Ovens

WE TESTED: 49 models GREAT TOASTING & BAKING QUICK TOASTING & LONG NICE PRICE & EASY TO CLEAN
WE TEST FOR: How well a WITH EASY-TO-USE CONTROLS WARRANTY (3 YEARS)
toaster oven bakes muffins Black+Decker 8-Slice Digital
and cookies, how evenly Breville Smart Oven Air Cuisinart Deluxe Extra Wide TO3290XSD
it toasts bread, how easy it Convection BOV900BSSUSC Convection TOB-135N $100
is to clean, and more. $400 $180
67
ABOUT THE SCORES: 74 69
OVERALL
Median: 57 OVERALL OVERALL SCORE
Range: 35-74 SCORE SCORE
GREAT BIG-SCREEN DEAL (75")
Big-Screen TVs EXCELLENT ALL-AROUND (77") SUPERB SOUND &
RELIABLE BRAND (77") Hisense 75U6G
WE TESTED: 55 models with LG OLED77C1PUB $1,050
70-inch or larger screens $2,900 Sony XR-77A80J
WE TEST FOR: Picture quality, $3,000 62
including detail and color 84
accuracy of images; sound 84 OVERALL
quality; versatility of included OVERALL SCORE
apps and services; and more. SCORE OVERALL
SCORE
ABOUT THE SCORES:

Median: 65
Range: 49-86

Ask Our Experts Removing dust and fingerprints on an OLED, LCD, or plasma ILLUSTRATION: SERGE BLOCH
screen TV is easy, but it does require a careful touch or you
My flat-screen could damage the screen. Turn off the TV: It’s easier to see dirt
TV looks dusty. and smudges when the screen is dark. Use a soft, anti-static
How should I microfiber cloth—the kind used to clean eyeglasses. (Don’t use
clean it? paper towels or tissues; they can scratch screens.) Wipe in circles
with light pressure—pressing too hard could cause damage. For
10 CR.ORG FEBRUARY 2022 stubborn stains, slightly dampen the cloth with distilled water
and gently try again. Never spray water directly onto the screen
(water can get inside your TV and break it). Don’t use chemical
cleaners, such as Windex, which can ruin screens.

Wireless Headphones for $50 or Less For the latest ratings of these
and other product categories,
WE TESTED: 22 models RELIABLE BRAND WITH BARGAIN BUDS readers with a Digital or All Access
WE TEST FOR: Quality of sound, GREAT SOUND membership can go to CR.org.
including tonal accuracy, Skullcandy Dime
clarity, and more. We also Sennheiser CX 150BT True Wireless NICE ON-EAR HEADPHONES
survey CR members to assess $40 $25
a headphone brand’s JBL Tune 510BT
predicted reliability. 70 $35

ABOUT THE SCORES: 73 OVERALL 67
SCORE
Median: 62 OVERALL OVERALL
Range: 36-73 SCORE SCORE

Food Processors for $100 or Less GOOD VEGGIE-SLICING
POWERHOUSE
WE TESTED: 50 models EFFICIENT CHOPPING & GRATING LARGE-CAPACITY CHOPPER
WE TEST FOR: How well Magic Bullet MB50200
a model chops onions and Hamilton Beach 8-Cup NutriChef NCFP8 Kitchen Express 2-in-1 (4-cup
almonds, slices celery and Stack & Snap 70820 Multipurpose 12 Cup capacity)
mushrooms, shreds carrots $100 $75 $60
and cheddar cheese, grates
Parmesan cheese, and more. 61 60

ABOUT THE SCORES: 67 OVERALL OVERALL
SCORE SCORE
Median: 61 OVERALL
Range: 35-81 SCORE SLIM & BUDGET-FRIENDLY

Fitness Trackers VERSATILE COLOR TOUCH SCREEN ACCURATE & EASY TO USE 3Plus HR Plus
WITH LONG BATTERY LIFE $40
WE TESTED: 22 models Fitbit Inspire 2
WE TEST FOR: How easy the Amazfit T-Rex Pro $100 72
tracker is to use, including $140
its heart rate accuracy, OVERALL
screen readability, versatility 84 84 SCORE
of features and apps, step
count accuracy, and more. OVERALL OVERALL GOOD AT CLEANING BUT
SCORE SCORE VERY SMALL DIRT BIN
ABOUT THE SCORES:
Shark Ion 750 Connected
Median: 71 $228
Range: 30-84
66
Robotic Vacuums Under $350
OVERALL
WE TESTED: 12 models BEST FOR PET HAIR BEST FOR CLEANING CARPETS SCORE
WE TEST FOR: How well a
vacuum cleans carpet and Eufy 11S iRobot Roomba e5
bare floors and picks up pet $200 $320
hair, how well it cleans along
edges and corners of a room, 70
how noisy it is, and more.
OVERALL
ABOUT THE SCORES: 72 SCORE

Median: 66 OVERALL
Range: 32-72 SCORE

Note: We rate different products according to different testing protocols; as a result, COMING NEXT MONTH Coffee Makers & More
Overall Scores of one product category are not comparable with those of another.

Ask Our Experts

When filling my gas tank convection ovens, as well as in and family members, “but it
I sometimes ‘top it off’ after two convection toaster ovens. can be tricky to find the best
the fuel pump automatically option when Android users
shuts off. Is this safe to do? Even without using any oil, seek to connect with those
our full-sized ovens turned out who use Apple devices,” says
IT’S NOT UNCOMMON for drivers the entire life of your vehicle. nicely golden fries—albeit not CR tech editor Nicholas De
to keep going after the pump Additionally, when you overfill quite as beautifully browned Leon. One option is to use
clicks off to round up the dollar your tank, the likelihood that as when we cooked them in Apple’s well-known videochat
amount of the sale. But this is you spill a few drops of gas a countertop air fryer. The app, FaceTime—but the Apple
a potentially dangerous habit on the ground near the pump often small capacity of stand- user needs to be the one to
that could end up costing increases. That’s a potential alone air fryers lets hot air initiate the call: Just open the
you, our experts caution. fire safety hazard—as well as circulate around food quickly, FaceTime app, tap “create
This practice can damage an environmental one. plus some offer basket- link,” then follow prompts
the onboard refueling vapor style accessories for better to share that link with the
recovery (ORVR) system, a Should I buy an air fryer, or browning. But a full-sized Android user via text or
charcoal canister that collects can I get similar results just oven has the benefit of holding email. When the Android user
potentially harmful fuel using my regular oven? much more food. As for the clicks the FaceTime link,
vapors, by saturating it with toaster ovens, a Breville model they’ll be prompted to
fuel. When damaged, it might IF YOU HAVE a convection oven we tried (shown on page 10 join the video call.
not do its job of collecting those or convection toaster oven, of this issue) outperformed
vapors (emitting them into the you can mimic the crispy a competitor from Cuisinart, One method for Android
outside air instead), triggering fried texture that an air fryer delivering crispy, golden food. users to initiate video calls
the “check engine light” to go provides, also without using to those with iPhones may be
on. Repairing the ORVR system a lot of oil to do it. That’s If you have a convection to employ the Google Duo
can cost hundreds of dollars— because the convection setting, oven or toaster oven that app, which comes standard
money you’ll be spending on a in which hot air is constantly doesn’t have an air-fry setting, on most Android phones,
part that otherwise should last circulated, using one or look for a convection “roast” or and is also available in Apple’s
more fans, employs the same “bake” setting, and use a dark app store. Google Duo lets
technology as countertop air sheet pan (these heat up faster you videochat with up to
fryers. In fact, some full-sized than light-colored ones) to get 32 people, and anyone with
ovens and newer toaster ovens the crispiest results, advises the app can initiate the call.
even have a dedicated “air fry” Tara Casaregola, CR’s test If the person doesn’t pick up,
setting. To see how well these engineer in charge of ranges, you can even leave a quick
work, we made batches of cooktops, and wall ovens. video message. Another
frozen fries in a few full-sized option: You can both download
I have an Android phone. Is an app such as Skype or
it possible to videochat with Signal, which also allows any
friends who have iPhones? party to initiate or receive a
video call. All the apps listed
THERE ARE PLENTY of video- above, including FaceTime,
chat apps you can use to use end-to-end encryption,
keep in touch with friends which is designed to protect
your personal data from
digital snoops.

LEARN We have more than
140 in-house experts
who research, test,
and compare. Submit
your questions at
CR.org/askourexperts
… and watch for the
answers.

12 CR.ORG FEBRUARY 2022 ILLUSTRATIONS BY SERGE BLOCH

Product recommendations and practical advice

IN THE KNOW

Great Gift
Baskets
for Less

THE WEBSITE PHOTOS of GREAT Olive & Cocoa
gift baskets always look so VARIETY &
tempting: Delicious fruits NICE 3/5 O R D E R I N G
and chocolates, cheeses and PACKAGING
gourmet popcorn—all of them 5/5 R E C I P I E N T
wrapped to perfection in
beautiful containers. But just SATISFACTION
how closely will the basket
you’ve ordered for a friend or 3/5 SENDER
colleague actually resemble
what’s pictured online? SATISFACTION

ILLUSTRATIONS: RODRIGO DAMATI. PHOTO, TOP: JOHN WALSH/CONSUMER REPORTS To find out, we asked 25 CR photos of their gifts with their was shown online. Mouth, the (one called their box “elegant
staffers to purchase gift baskets senders so that they could also top-ranking company, got high and sophisticated”). Harry &
for co-workers from several score how happy they were scores for satisfaction from David, perhaps the most well-
popular gifting websites. Each with what they’d ordered. its gift baskets’ senders and known gift basket company we
basket (or box) cost about $100 receivers. Knack, like Mouth, tried, got the lowest scores. Our
before taxes and shipping fees, None of the gifts arrived lets users customize what’s in staffers reported three separate
and senders noted the variety looking exactly like the highly their packages, and received instances of receiving damaged
of options and ease of ordering. styled images on the website. high marks for recipient pears. A few people felt Harry
When the gift packages arrived, But nearly all senders thought satisfaction. Olive & Cocoa also & David didn’t pack enough in
we then asked the recipients that the gifts they’d sent were got some raves from recipients its baskets, given the price.
how satisfied they were with a pretty close match to what
their gift basket or box. We
also asked recipients to share

MOST SATISFYING & A NICE GREAT DIY GOOD VARIETY BUT SOME
SELECTION OF GIFTS GIFT OPTIONS FRUIT ARRIVED DAMAGED

Mouth Knack Harry & David

4 /5 O R D E R I N G 4 /5 O R D E R I N G 3/5 O R D E R I N G

4/5 R E C I P I E N T 5/5 R E C I P I E N T 4/5 R E C I P I E N T

SATISFACTION SATISFACTION SATISFACTION

4/5 SENDER 3/5 SENDER 3/5 SENDER

SATISFACTION SATISFACTION SATISFACTION

For our full rankings of gifting companies, go to CR.org/basket0222. FEBRUARY 2022 CR.ORG 13

CR Insights

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

Sheet Pans You’ll Love

A SHEET PAN is a staple in any kitchen—but an was to clean and performed abrasion tests on the
inferior one can leave you with unevenly cooked pans to gauge the durability of their top surfaces.
food and be nearly impossible to clean. So in our
search for the perfect sheet pan, we put 19 of them In the end, we found a few near-perfect pans
to the test: We loaded up each one with neat rows (shown below), and noted some key differences
of sugar cookies to assess how evenly the pans between the nonstick coated pans and the uncoated
baked both the bottoms and tops. Then we evaluated pans we tested: “Coated pans tend to heat up and
how well each sheet pan handled a complete dinner cook food faster,” says Bernie Deitrick, the CR
of chicken thighs, potatoes, onions, carrots, and engineer who conducted our tests. “But the uncoat-
celery. Finally, we checked to see how easy each pan ed pans tend to bake more evenly and are more
durable over time.”

TOP UNCOATED PAN BEST VALUE & BEST NONSTICK &
BUT HEAVY (3 LB.) LIGHTWEIGHT (1 LB., 9 OZ.) EASY TO CLEAN

!0 All-Clad D3 $0 AmazonCommercial !0 Williams Sonoma

Stainless Jelly Aluminum Baking Goldtouch Pro Nonstick
Roll Pan $150 Half Sheet 2 Pack $25 Non Corrugated
Half Sheet $33
90 OVERALL 88 OVERALL
SCORE SCORE 83 OVERALL
SCORE

5/5 E V E N N E S S 5/5 E V E N N E S S 4/5 E V E N N E S S BARGAIN, DURABLE
5/5 DURABILIT Y 5/5 DURABILIT Y 3/5 D U R A B I L I T Y NONSTICK
2 /5 C L E A N I N G 2 /5 C L E A N I N G 5/5 C L E A N I N G
$0 Mainstays (Walmart)

Gold Nonstick Aluminized
Half Sheet Pan $8

81 OVERALL
SCORE

4/5 E V E N N E S S
4/5 D U R A B I L I T Y
4/5 C L E A N I N G

CR Time Traveler CHOCOLATE 1945 As World War II
ends, American stores are
1923 Mars Wrigley launches a new restocked with affordable
chocolate bar with malted milk, cocoa products. But when we
which it names “Milky Way.” examine some of them, some
contain so much sediment that

they taste “rusty.”

1907 1939 We test 25 candy bar 1959 Chocolate is the second-
The first brands—all priced at 5 cents— most-popular flavor of ice
Hershey’s and warn readers about the
Chocolate cream (after vanilla) in the U.S.
Kisses risk of tooth decay from In CR’s tests of 45 brands of
are sold. eating candy. Nestlé’s chocolate ice cream, Hershey’s
gets excellent marks for quality—
Puffed takes honors as the
best milk chocolate bar. and costs less than most.

14 CR.ORG FEBRUARY 2022 10 20 30 40 50 !0

WORSE BETTER RECOMMENDED

REPAIR OR REPLACE?

THE MOST RELIABLE Predicted reliability

HEATING SYSTEMS GAS FURNACES

IN OUR RECENT surveys of consumer- Payne 5/5
owned heating systems*, we asked CR
members how long they expected their Trane 5/5
systems—natural gas furnaces, boilers,
or heat pumps—to last. Owners of heat Coleman 2/5
pumps reported a median life expec-
tancy of 15 years, and those who owned Luxaire 2/5
gas furnaces or boilers said they were
hoping for about 20 years. But, on York 2/5
average, our analysis of the survey found
that all three types of heating systems Frigidaire 2/5
are likely to experience a breakdown
halfway through that life expectancy—at Maytag 2/5
eight years for heat pumps and 10 for
gas furnaces and boilers. White-Westinghouse 2/5

The good news: CR members who paid BOILERS 5/5
for repairs out of pocket reported them Burnham 5/5
costing between $300 and $400, no Crown 5/5
matter which system they had. That’s Lennox 2/5
thousands of dollars less than buying Dunkirk 2/5
a new system, so it’s often worth Utica Boilers
attempting a repair first. When you do
need to buy a new system, you’ll want HEAT PUMPS
one that lasts. At right: the most and
least reliable brands from our survey. American Standard 5/5

To see our full reliability ratings with more brands, Digital Trane 5/5
and All Access members can go to CR.org/heat0222.
Frigidaire 2/5

Maytag 2/5

White-Westinghouse 2/5

*Results are based on our 2019 and 2021 Summer Surveys of 36,348 gas furnaces, 13,458 heat pumps, and 2,137 boilers owned by members who
installed a new system between 2005 and 2021. Predicted reliability ratings are based on a statistical model that estimates problem rates for
systems that are not covered by a service contract or extended warranty by the end of the eighth year of ownership for heat pumps and by the
end of the 10th year of ownership for furnaces and boilers. We also control for the number of months these systems are used per year.

1986 In CR’s taste tests, 2014 In a test of 21 chocolate Hu Organic
we find that a less pricey bars, our testers crown Trader Simple Dark
American-made Ghirardelli Chocolate
milk chocolate bar (39 cents Joe’s dark chocolate bar 70% Cacao
per ounce) rates higher than as a CR Best Buy—saving $1.50 $6.70
a Swiss-made Lindt bar
per serving compared with
(55 cents per ounce). a dark chocolate Scharffen

Berger Bittersweet bar.

1971 “Willy Wonka & 1996 CR tests 12 brands of 2022 We try 10 dark
the Chocolate Factory,” boxed chocolates—and the chocolate bars to find
quality varies widely. Godiva, healthy, high-cacao choices
starring Gene Wilder, a top-scoring brand, offers that are tasty enough to be
hits theaters. The smooth chocolate with fresh- enjoyable. The Hu bar,
tasting fillings such as the above, is moderately sweet,
film’s chocolate river raspberry preserves above. with strong fruit flavors.
was reportedly made
with real chocolate.

For our reviews of more dark chocolate bars, turn to “Is Dark Chocolate Really Good for You?” on page 42. FEBRUARY 2022 CR.ORG 15

CR Insights

FOOD IQ™ ASIDE FROM PLAIN WATER, tea is the most popular beverage in the world. And that’s a good PHOTOS, PREVIOUS SPREAD, BOT TOM LEFT TO RIGHT: GET T Y IMAGES; MARS; CONSUMER REPORTS; STEVE SCHAPIRO/CORBIS PREMIUM HISTORICAL /GET T Y IMAGES; CONSUMER REPORTS. PHOTOS, THIS PAGE: GET T Y IMAGES
thing: Research suggests that drinking tea may lower your risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2
The Healthiest diabetes, and more. Some experts even recommend drinking 2 to 3 cups a day. But different
Tea for You types of tea offer different health benefits. Here, we compare the perks of four common teas.

BLACK TEA GREEN TEA OOLONG TEA WHITE TEA

This is the most caffeinated Made from the same leaves This tea is made from the White tea is made from
type of tea—about 50 mg as black tea but steamed to same leaves as green and young tea leaf buds that
in one 8-ounce cup—which prevent oxidation, green tea black tea, but oolong leaves are rapidly steamed and dried
is about half of what’s in has long been celebrated for are partially dried and then right after picking. This stops
a cup of coffee. Black tea its health properties. Its combo rolled gently to allow partial those leaves from browning.
leaves are rolled or crushed of caffeine (about 30 mg in oxidation. This process can Because of its mild color
to release an enzyme 1 cup) and plentiful amount of give oolong a yellow-green and flavor, many people
that oxidizes its catechins catechins can boost mental color (some are more brown think that white tea contains
(a type of antioxidant), alertness, and even raise your when rolled harder). Oolong little caffeine, but a brewed
giving the brew its rich flavor metabolic rate so that you tea can have slightly more cup can have roughly the
and color. Drinking it regularly burn more calories (though caffeine than green tea, and same amount of caffeine
may help strengthen your the effect may be too small to a decent amount of anti- as green tea. A benefit of
bones: In one study, post- help you lose weight). Some oxidants. In particular, oolong drinking this tea is that it
menopausal women who data suggests that green tea has a type of antioxidant has more catechins than
drank black tea regularly can also reduce cholesterol called theasinensins, which other types of teas, which
over five years had higher and blood pressure, and so may reduce inflammation may help keep blood vessels
bone mineral density than lowers your risk of heart and offer some immune open, as well as help the
those who didn’t. attack or stroke. system protection. body break down fat.

CR TIME SAVER DO YOU SPEND time every day trashing promotional and EmailOnDeck. When you go to any of
emails you don’t want? Try this easy strategy to these websites, they’ll provide you with a free,
STOP GETTING stop all that junk from cluttering up your inbox. temporary email address and an inbox for
UNWANTED viewing any messages sent to it for a short
EMAILS The problem starts when online retailers period of time (typically about 10 minutes).
offer you coupons—like 15 percent off your first
purchase—for subscribing to their newsletters or Or, for extra convenience, you may prefer
signing up for their promotional emails. These to use Firefox Relay, a temporary email
deals are tempting, but it’s also how you end management service that Firefox users can
up with an inbox full of junk emails that use up download as a browser extension. (Go to relay.
storage space and make it harder for you to see firefox.com to sign up.) Once you’ve downloaded
the emails you really do want to read. the extension, it allows you to generate and fill
in a temporary email address directly into
The good news is that you can still get a any web page you’re on. The service will also
promotional discount without inviting a new remember the temporary email addresses it has
flood of emails into your inbox. You just need created for you for different sites, in case you
to use a temporary email address generator, want to reuse it in the future.
such as 10MinuteMail, Temp Mail, MinuteInbox,

16 CR.ORG FEBRUARY 2022

EDITOR’S CHOICE

Patagonia Black Hole Mini MLC
$170 (shown at left)
(19.5Hx12.25Wx6D inches)

Pros: A versatile bag with thoughtful
design that includes lots of mesh pockets
and cubbies for organization. It’s easy to
carry and was able to fit in every item we
packed, with a bit of room to spare.
Cons: If you fill it to the brim (with more
items than we did), it might not fit under
an airline seat.

CR SMART SHOPPER BEST FOR BUSINESS TRAVEL

The Best Backpacks Incase EO Travel
for Travel Backpack $180
(21.5Hx15Wx5D inches)
WHEN YOU HEAD to the books; tech items such as a
airport, you want your free camera, a laptop, and charging Pros: This polished-looking pack
“personal item” to be both cords; an umbrella; a water offers smart organizers and a large
easy to tote and able to include bottle; snacks; sunglasses; capacity, perfect for carrying a
necessities—while still sliding pens; and more. We also portable office setup (laptop,
neatly under the seat in front assessed how comfortably each mouse, etc.) as well as a change of
of you. A backpack is just the backpack could be carried clothes. And its compression straps
thing for the job, but when our for long stretches of time, its help it squeeze under a plane seat.
editors took a close look at 10 general sturdiness, and how Cons: The lack of a waist strap
“travel” packs, we found that easily a full bag fits under an leaves your shoulders carrying all of
some work better than others. airline seat. the pack’s weight.

All of the bags we tried are Several of the backpacks SMALL & BUDGET-FRIENDLY
roughly 18 to 21 inches high we tried handled these basic
and 13 to 15 inches wide (a tasks well (see four smart Ebags Pro Slim Laptop
range that should meet most picks at right), but our hands- Backpack $100
airline size requirements), down favorite is the Patagonia, (18Hx12.75Wx8.5D inches)
and all were priced at $300 or above, for its winning combi-
less. We evaluated how well nation of size, utility, comfort, Pros: This sturdy, slim bag offers
each bag accommodated and and sturdiness. many smart organizing pockets and
organized roughly 30 essential comfy shoulder straps for a lower
items, including personal care For more backpack reviews, go to price than most.
products; a change of clothing; CR.org/backpack0222. Cons: It isn’t as spacious as other
bags we tried, so it’s better for
lighter packers. It also lacks the
overall refinement of pricier bags,
such as the Incase above.

LARGE & RUGGED

Yeti Crossroads 27L $230
(19.75Hx12Wx9D inches)

Pros: It’s roomy inside, water
resistant outside, and very
comfortable to wear even on long-
haul adventures.
Cons: The Yeti is pricier and bulkier
than many of the bags we evaluated
(it weighs 3.6 pounds), and is not as
ideal for business travel because it
lacks organizing touches like slots
for pens and small items.

Note: This review is part of CR’s “Outside the Labs” program, and is separate from our lab testing and ratings. Though the products mentioned here may not currently be in 17
CR’s ratings, they might eventually be tested in our labs and be rated according to an objective, scientific protocol.

CR Insights

THE BEST WAY TO COOK ...

Secrets to Perfect Stovetop Rice

No rice cooker? No worries. It’s surprisingly easy to make fluffy,
tasty rice in a pot on your stove. Just follow these foolproof directions.

20 MINUTES STEP 1 STEP 2 STEP 3
to cook most white rices
45 MINUTES Using a mesh strainer, rinse If you’re using heartier grains For most types of white rice,
to cook most brown rices your rice in cool water until such as brown rice, or Japanese you’ll need to add about 1¼ to
it runs clear to separate any short-grain rice (typically used 1½ cups of water to the pot
TOOLS NEEDED clumps and get rid of the in sushi rolls), it’s generally for every cup of rice you want
excess starch on the grains. a good idea to soften up the to cook. Brown rice and wild
■ A fine-mesh strainer It also helps reduce the dirt, rice by soaking it in a bowl of rice tend to need more water:
■ A large mixing bowl or dust, and arsenic that can water for at least 30 minutes about 2¼ cups of water to
pot for soaking rice be present in rice: Rinsing to an hour. This helps ensure 1 cup of rice. When in doubt,
■ A cooking pot big enough can reduce your exposure that your rice ends up tender, use the measuring tip below.
for your rice to double to arsenic by 30 percent. not crunchy.
in size, with a tight-fitting
lid to prevent steam
from escaping

LOW CR STAFF TIP
Measure
water with your
fingertip.

Water

STEP 4 STEP 5 Rice

Bring to a boil uncovered, then Once the water is absorbed, Aimee Soriano, manager of data operations at CR,
reduce the heat to low, cover the rice is done. Leave the lid relies on what she calls an ancient Asian secret
with lid, and cook until the on and remove the pot from to achieving a perfect rice-to-water ratio—without
water is absorbed. Steam heat. Let it stand for 10 minutes a measuring cup. “I place my fingertip on the bottom
should steadily plume from the before fluffing with a fork. of the pot and measure the rice to the first knuckle,
sides of the lid, but reduce heat If it’s undercooked, put it in then add water to the next knuckle,” she says.
if water bubbles out. Set a timer a microwave-safe bowl, cover
for 20 minutes for white rice it, and microwave for 1 to
and 45 minutes for brown rice. 2 minutes to help soften it.

18 CR.ORG FEBRUARY 2022

RECALLS TO STAY INFORMED ABOUT RECALLS FOR YOUR VEHICLES, READERS WITH
MEMBERSHIP CAN USE OUR FREE CAR RECALL TRACKER AT CR.ORG/MORE.

HONDA SUVs & GOODMAN MANUFACTURING KUBOTA UTILITY VEHICLES return items free by mail via a
PICKUP TRUCKS GAS FURNACE DRAIN PANS scheduled pickup from your home.
Kubota Tractor Corporation is To schedule a free pickup, call
Honda is recalling almost Goodman Manufacturing recalling about 48,875 RTV-X1100C 800-776-5191. For details, call Hart
725,000 vehicles, including the Company is recalling about model utility vehicles because the Consumer Products at 800-776-
2019 Passport SUV, 2016-2019 298,300 evaporator coil drain floor mats can warp or degrade 5191 or go to harttools.com.
Pilot SUV, and 2017-2020 Ridgeline pans installed with residential and interfere with the throttle pedal,
pickup truck, because their condensing gas furnaces in an posing crash and injury hazards. AMAZON BASICS MATTRESSES
hoods could open while driving. upflow configuration because The vehicles were sold at authorized
The issue is due to a combination the molded plastic drain Kubota dealers nationwide from Amazon is recalling about 15,300
of factors, including a faulty pan can overheat, melt, and April 2013 through September 2021 Amazon Basics Memory Foam
hood latch striker design and a deform, posing a fire hazard. for $21,300 to $22,950. mattresses because they fail
gap between the hood and the The equipment was sold at What to do: Stop using the vehicle to meet the mandatory federal
grille that could cause the hood heating and cooling equipment and contact an authorized Kubota flammability standard for
to open while the vehicle is in independent dealers nationwide dealer, call the company at 888- mattresses, posing a fire hazard.
motion, blocking the driver’s from January 2019 through 458-2682, or go to kubotausa. The mattresses were sold on
view of the road. November 2021 for $200 to com for details. If the floor mat is Amazon from April 2020 through
What to do: Owners can $1,200 per unit (drain pan warped or degraded, consumers March 2021 for $150 to $450.
call Honda at 888-234-2138. paired with evaporator coil). Or will receive a new one that will be What to do: Amazon is contacting
Honda’s ID for this recall is PBV. you may have purchased a installed by the dealer and secured all purchasers to arrange for
Depending on the vehicle, bundled product including the to the floor. If the floor mat is not direct shipment of a cover
Honda dealerships may repair coil, furnace, installation, and warped or degraded, the dealer for consumers to place over the
the hood and install a striker ancillary parts and supplies, will complete a modification to mattress, free of charge. Call
support plate, or completely or may have purchased the the mat by trimming it and then Amazon at 877-444-3765 or
replace the hood with a new evaporator coil drain pan alone securing it to the floor. go to amazonmattressrecall.
part. These repairs will be as a replacement product. expertinquiry.com for details.
performed free of charge. What to do: Contact Goodman HART NAILER TOOLS
Owners who have already Manufacturing at 888-520-0579
paid for a related repair should or go to goodmanmfg.com for Hart Consumer Products is recalling IMPEX FITNESS DUMBBELLS
contact their Honda dealership details and to register for a free about 15,700 Hart 18-gauge 2-inch
about a reimbursement. repair by a qualified technician. brad nailers because the contact Impex Fitness is recalling about
sensor on the nailer can malfunction 77,200 Olympic dumbbell handles
and involuntarily discharge a nail, because they can drop weights
posing a risk of serious injury to when held perpendicular to the
the user or bystanders. The nailers floor, posing an injury hazard.
were sold at Walmart stores The handles were sold at Dick’s
nationwide and online at walmart. Sporting Goods stores nationwide
com from April 2021 through and online at dickssportinggoods.
September 2021 for $130 to $160. com from July 2015 through July
What to do: Stop using the 2021 for about $50.
recalled nailer and return it to What to do: Stop using the handles
any Walmart USA store for a and call 800-999-8899 or go to
full refund. Consumers may also impex-fitness.com for details.

FEBRUARY PRINTERS SNOW BLOWERS SPACE HEATERS For more info, go to
IS THE CR.org/buy0222.
BEST TIME
TO BUY …

FEBRUARY 2022 CR.ORG 19

PRODUCT THE LATEST
UPDATE RATINGS FROM
OUR LABS

The Top ALL
Cereals WHOLE-
From Our GRAIN
Tests If the box says
“100 percent whole
CR evaluated 32 cereals, grain,” you’re
searching for the ones good to go.
that taste great and are
good for you, too. LOOK
FOR FIBER
by Rachel Meltzer Warren At least 4 grams
is fine. If it has more,
check to see whether VITAMINS
processed fiber—which AND
might not be as good
for you—has been MINERALS
Some cereals are
added. fortified with these,
but skip any that also
LOWER contain lots of
SUGARS
Don’t focus on added sugars.
total sugars. Added
sugars are what
matters. Look for less
than 6 grams per
serving.

20 CR.ORG FEBRUARY 2022 ILLUSTRATION BY KATIE EATON

Y OU MAY LOVE a bowl of Grain-Free Has Downsides
Froot Loops, but you’re
probably under no illusion Their higher protein and lower sugars
that eating it is good for you. content can make grain-free cereals
But what about Flax Maple seem appealing, particularly to people
Pecan Crunch or Smart Start? on a paleo or keto diet. The ones we
looked at range from 4 to 12 grams of
“Whole-grain cereal— protein and 0 to 4 grams of added sugars
per serving; some are sweetened with
especially if you eat it with milk and allulose or monk fruit, sugar substitutes
with negligible calories. (The grain
add some fruit—could be a pretty good cereals have 2 to 15 grams of protein
and 0 to 18 grams of added sugars.)
way to start your day,” says Joan Salge They aren’t low-carb, though. Their
carbs come from bean flours, cassava (a
Blake, RDN, a nutrition professor at root vegetable), and tapioca and potato
starches instead of from grains. Those on
Boston University. Indeed, eating it may A LITTLE SUGAR the higher side for protein rely, in many
ISN’T A BAD THING cases, on processed isolated proteins
lower risk of heart disease and type 2 from sources like lentils, milk, and peas.
TO BE CLEAR, a cereal
diabetes. However, the kind of cereal doesn’t have to be sugar-free You don’t have to go grain-free to
to make it a healthy get more protein. Serving cereal with
you pour into your bowl matters. breakfast. “Let’s pick our a cup of low-fat dairy or soy milk, or
battles wisely,” says Joan ¾ cup of low-fat yogurt, adds around
“Even among whole-grain cereals, Salge Blake, RDN. If some 8 grams of protein, similar to an egg,
sugar helps you make a fiber- Keating says. As for sugars, several
there are nutritional differences,” rich, nutrient-packed cereal lower-sugar grain cereals in our tests
part of your morning routine, earned top marks for taste. None of
says Amy Keating, RD, a Consumer it’s worth it. the six grain-free cereals was a flavor
standout. They also cost around twice
Reports nutritionist. For example, And our testers gave as much as traditional cereals.
several lightly sweetened
a serving of that healthy-sounding cereals high marks for Portion Size Matters
nutrition and taste. Among the
Smart Start has about the same added- 10 that are recommended in Cereal serving sizes range from ⅔ cup to
our ratings, eight had around 1 ½ cups. That amount can look puny in
sugar content—4½ teaspoons—as a 1 teaspoon (4 grams) of added a bowl, and most people eat more. In a
sugars or less per serving, and CR test, participants were asked to pour
serving of Cap’n Crunch. Shopping for all received Excellent or Very out the amount of cereal they’d typically
Good taste scores. eat. Almost everyone overpoured—by
cereal also means assessing on-trend 43 to 114 percent more than the serving
CR’s nutrition experts on the box when using a medium-sized
“wellness” ingredients like flax and recommend choosing a cereal bowl, depending on the type of cereal.
with less than 6 grams of
turmeric, and intriguing health claims added sugars (1 ½ teaspoons). That’s not necessarily unhealthy, but
When you consider the fact you should be aware of how much you’re
such as “grain-free.” that people tend to eat more eating. For instance, 2 cups of Post Great
than one serving of cereal in a Grains Raisins, Dates & Pecans, which
CR nutrition and sensory experts meal, you see how the sugars received a Very Good nutrition score,
can add up. One way to keep has over 500 calories. “Pour the amount
munched their way through 32 cereals— the sweetness without you normally eat, and measure it,”
overdoing it on added sugars Keating says. “Then do the math so you
both traditional and grain-free options— is to blend half a serving of a know how many calories and how much
favorite sugary cereal with sugars and sodium you’re really getting.”
that at a glance seem good for you. Our half a serving of a less sugary
one. Or try topping a lower-
findings can help you start the day with sugar option with fruit, which
will add fiber, as well as
a bowl that’s healthy and tasty. sweeten it up without any
added sugars.
ICONS: ELIAS STEIN Look Past Names and Claims

Wholesome-looking packaging and
one or two “superfood” ingredients
don’t necessarily translate to a better
cereal. In our tests, classics such as
Cheerios and Grape-Nuts Flakes rated
better for nutrition than newcomers
with ingredients like flax, turmeric, and
ancient grains. “These ingredients don’t
guarantee extra benefits and, in a few
cases, had drawbacks,” Keating says. For
example, Nature’s Path Organic Golden
Turmeric Cereal is among the lowest in
fiber in our tests, while Special K Protein
Honey Almond Ancient Grains is high
in added sugars and has soy protein
isolate, a highly processed ingredient.

FEBRUARY 2022 CR.ORG 21

Ratings   Out of the Box Our tests of 32 healthy-sounding cereals uncovered surprising differences in nutrition
and taste. Cereals are listed from best to worst by nutrition score.

Product Ratings Pricing Nutrition Information Flavor + Texture Description

Nutrition score
Taste score
Price per package/
package size
(price per serving)
Serving size (cups)
Calories
Total fat (g)
Saturated fat (g)
Carbs (g)
Fiber (g)
Added sugars (g)
Protein (g)
Sodium (mg)

TRADITIONAL CEREALS

!0 Nature’s Path Organic 40 40 $5.30/13 oz. 1 160 2 0 31 7 5 5 170 Toasted-wheat and slightly sweet flavors.
Heritage Flakes ($0.59) Crunchy and slightly hard even in milk.

!0 Post Grape-Nuts Flakes* 40 40 $4.00/18 oz. 1 150 2 0 34 5 3 4 200 Slightly sweet and crispy, with a big toasted-
($0.33) grain flavor that intensifies in milk.

!0 General Mills Cheerios* 40 40 $3.00/9 oz. 11⁄2 140 3 1 29 4 2 5 190 Toasted-oat flavor with very little sweetness
($0.50) or other flavors.

!0 Post Great Grains Raisins, 40 50 $4.70/16 oz. 3⁄4 200 4 0 40 4 4 4 140 Fruit is moist and chewy. Not too sweet. Stays
Dates & Pecans* ($0.59) crunchy in milk.

!0 General Mills Total* 40 40 $4.00/16 oz. 1 140 1 0 33 4 5 3 190 Has toasted-wheat, slightly sweet, and malty
($0.36) flavors that intensify in milk.

!0 One Degree Organic Foods 40 40 $7.20/12 oz. 3⁄4 180 2 0 39 3 4 3 260 A little gritty. Big toasted-corn flavor and
Sprouted Ancient Maize Flakes ($1.03) 1 130 1 0 30 4 slightly sweet. Stays crisp in milk.
4 35 4
!0 General Mills Wheaties* 40 40 $5.00/16 oz. 5 3 240 Toasted-wheat and lightly sweet malty flavors.
($0.42)

!0 Kind Honey Almond 40 50 $6.00/15 oz. 2⁄3 250 11 Moderately sweet, with honey and cinnamon
($0.75) 7 6 80 flavors. Lots of toasted almond slices and

coconut flakes.

!0 Post Grape-Nuts Original* 40 40 $4.90/21 oz. 1⁄2 200 1 0 47 7 0 Big toasted-wheat and barley flavors. Malty
($0.49) 6 280 but not sweet. Hard, even in milk, but the

longer it sits, the softer the texture becomes.

!0 Barbara’s Multigrain 40 40 $4.70/14 oz. 1 140 2 0 31 5 7 5 210 Sweet, with flavors of brown sugar and
Spoonfuls Original ($0.47) molasses.

Food For Life Organic Ezekiel 40 30 $7.70/16 oz. 1⁄2 190 1 0 38 5 1 Strong grain flavor with some cinnamon and
4∶9 Cinnamon Raisin ($0.96) 7 130 very little sweetness. Crunchy and slightly

hard even in milk. Hard raisins.

Post Bran Flakes* 40 30 $6.40/16 oz. 1 110 1 0 29 7 6 4 190 Toasted-wheat and bran flavors with very
($0.49) slight sweetness.

Nature’s Path Organic 30 50 $5.40/12 oz. 1 240 8 1 41 5 9 7 210 Big pecan and maple flavors that are
Flax Plus Maple Pecan Crunch ($1.08) enhanced by milk.

Cascadian Farm Organic 30 40 $4.00/12 oz. 11⁄4 260 2 0 54 5 9 6 240 Tastes mostly of wheat. Milk brings out sweet
Multi Grain Squares ($0.80) and malty flavors.

General Mills Wheat Chex* 30 40 $3.00/14 oz. 1 210 1 0 51 8 6 6 340 Toasted-wheat flavor and very lightly sweet.
($0.50) Stays crispy in milk.
Quaker Oatmeal Squares
Cinnamon* 30 40 $4.00/15 oz. 1 210 3 1 44 5 9 6 190 Moderately sweet, with cinnamon and brown
($0.57) sugar flavors. Crunchy and hard even in milk.
Kellogg’s Raisin Bran
30 40 $3.00/24 oz. 1 190 1 0 47 7 9 5 200 Lots of large, moist, sugar-coated raisins.
($0.27) Toasted-wheat flavor. Stays crispy in milk.

Quaker Life* 30 40 $3.70/18 oz. 1 160 2 0 33 3 8 4 200 Toasted-grain flavor, with sugar crystals
($0.31) throughout. Crispy but softens in milk.
Cascadian Farm Organic
Hearty Morning Fiber 30 30 $4.00/15 oz. 1 220 4 1 51 10 10 6 180 Toasted-grain with slightly sweet and honey
($0.67) flavors. Slightly bitter and gritty.

22 CR.ORG FEBRUARY 2022 *Fortified with vitamins/minerals.

Product Ratings Pricing Nutrition Information PRODUCT
UPDATE

Flavor + Texture Description

Nutrition score
Taste score
Price per package/
package size
(price per serving)
Serving size (cups)
Calories
Total fat (g)
Saturated fat (g)
Carbs (g)
Fiber (g)
Added sugars (g)
Protein (g)
Sodium (mg)

T R A D I T I O N A L C E R E A L S Continued

Barbara’s Puffins Multigrain* 30 30 $4.30/10 oz. Moderately sweet and vanilla flavors. Some
($0.61) 1 130 1 0 33 4 7 3 100 pieces taste stale and get stuck in your teeth.

Milk intensifies sweetness.

Nature’s Path Organic 30 30 $5.80/11 oz. 1 160 2 Sweet, with distinct cinnamon, turmeric, and
Golden Turmeric Cereal ($0.73) 1 34 2 6 2 190 ginger flavors. A bit spicy, but milk mellows

the flavor. Stays crunchy in milk.

Kashi Go Crunch 3 40 0 $4.90/14 oz. 3⁄4 190 3 0 38 9 11 9 100 Sweet, with brown sugar and cinnamon
($0.70) flavors. A bit crumbly.
Kellogg’s Special K Protein
Honey Almond Ancient Grains* 30 40 $4.00/11 oz. 11⁄3 220 3 0 38 6 9 15 270 Honey and maple flavors somewhat
Kellogg’s Frosted Mini Wheats ($0.80) overpower grain flavor. Sparse almonds.
Original*
30 40 $3.30/24 oz. 1 210 2 0 51 6 12 5 10 Moderately sweet. Crispy, but gets very
Kellogg’s Special K* ($0.30) soft in milk.

Kellogg’s Smart Start* 30 40 $4.40/18 oz. 11⁄4 150 1 0 29 <1 4 7 270 Mild toasted-rice and slightly sweet flavors
($0.34) 11⁄4 240 1 that are enhanced by milk.
GRAIN-FREE CEREALS
20 30 $5.00/18 oz. 0 56 3 18 5 260 Quite sweet, with a hint of cinnamon.
($0.63)

Forager Project Organic 40 30 $6.00/7.5 oz. 1 110 1 0 26 4 3 4 Slightly gritty. Has vegetal, floral. and
Grain-Free Os Cinnamon ($0.86) 5 cinnamon flavors. Stays crispy in milk. Made

from cassava, beans, and pea protein.

Milk intensifies the very slight bitter and vegetal

Love Grown Grain Free 30 20 $6.00/8 oz. 1 130 4.5 1.5 21 4 4 10 75 flavors and makes it slightly mushy. Slightly
Cinnamon Sweet Potato ($1.00) cinnamony. Made from pea protein, cassava,

tapioca and potato starches, and almond flour.

Seven Sundays Grain Free 30 20 $7.00/8 oz. Very little sweetness. Slight cinnamon flavor with
Real Cinnamon ($1.17) 1 140 2 1.5 24 2 2 5 10 some bitterness. Crunchy and slightly tough.

Made from cassava and sunflower protein.

Three Wishes Grain Free 3 30 $10.00/8.6 3⁄4 120 2 0 18 3 Quite sweet, with big cinnamon flavor. Made
Cinnamon oz. ($1.43) 3 8 130 from chickpeas, tapioca starch, and pea

protein. Sweetened with monk fruit and sugar.

Cinnamon and vegetal flavors, with some

Kashi Go Grain Free 30 20 $5.50/7 oz. 1 160 7 1 18 5 0 12 160 maple. Slightly bitter. Made from lentil and pea
Cinnamon Vanilla ($1.10) proteins, chickpea flour, and tapioca starch.

Sweetened with monk fruit and allulose.

Moderately sweet and cinnamony. Airy

Magic Spoon Grain-Free 3 3 $9.80/7 oz. 1 140 7 1 15 2 0 12 150 texture; sticks to teeth. Made from milk
Cinnamon ($1.96) proteins and tapioca starch. Sweetened with

monk fruit and allulose.

HOW WE TEST: The nutrition score is ingredients in the cereal, such as in. The taste score is based on the ingredients are so different, grain-free
based on values from the nutrition preservatives and isolated proteins or results of a tasting panel of trained cereals are rated separately.
facts panel (e.g., sodium, fiber, added fibers. The quantity of whole grains and sensory experts. Cereals were tasted
sugars), and the number of processed organic certification are also factored with and without milk. Because the

10 20 30 40 50 !0 FEBRUARY 2022 CR.ORG 23

WORSE BETTER RECOMMENDED

How to Get the

24 CR.ORG FEBRUARY 2022

You Really Need

Can’t wake up in the morning? Can’t fall asleep at night?
Whatever is disrupting your dreams, we have expert
advice and new tools to help get you snoozing soundly.

BY MICHELE LENT HIRSCH

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY JOE DARROW

SLEEP PROBLEMS ARE a hallmark of modern American life—perhaps never 6 hours sleeping might be instructed
more so than recently. Back in 2016, the Centers for Disease Control and to lessen their in-bed time by 2½ hours
Prevention found that a third of Americans were getting too little sleep at for a week. If that cuts down on
night. But then came the stressors of the pandemic, job losses, disrupted unwanted wakeups, they may slowly
schedules, and closed schools, which kept record numbers of Americans up add back in-bed hours.
at night or unable to wake up in the morning.
Though you can ask a sleep doctor
As many as 2 in 3 Americans reported getting either too much or little about CBT-I, you can learn to do
sleep, in a survey from the American Psychological Association in the it on your own, too, Pelayo says.
pandemic’s second year. And though some parts of life are now returning Consider an app, like CBT-i Coach,
to normal, the insomnia of the past two years may be stubbornly hanging which Stanford University developed
on: Many people continue having more trouble falling asleep or staying in collaboration with the federal
asleep, or have seen unusual shifts in their sleep schedules. government. (The app’s makers say
it’s not a replacement for therapy.)
All of this is taking a toll. “These different types of sleep changes seem to You can also teach yourself strategies
be closely related to [problems with] mental health,” says Karianne Dion, a to employ when you can’t fall back
graduate student in clinical psychology at the University of Ottawa. Research asleep, such as taking some slow, deep
she co-authored, published in the Journal of Sleep Research in 2021, found breaths, aiming for about six breaths
“worse symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression” among those who are per minute.
sleeping less or going to bed later and waking up later than before.
PROBLEM
Researchers have long known that anxiety and depression can lead to
sleeplessness, while sleeping poorly can increase the likelihood of anxiety Nature always
and depression. But a good night’s rest is also critical for a strong immune calls in the middle
system, as well as for health overall. Insufficient sleep over time is associated of the night—often
with a greater risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease, multiple times.
according to the CDC. It can lead to memory and cognitive issues as well.

So how can we get the sleep we need? It’s not easy to just flip a switch and
start sleeping soundly again—if you ever did in the first place. Here’s how to
solve seven common problems that can interfere with your rest and your health.

PROBLEM medicine and author of “How to S O L U T I O N “Waking up once during the PHOTO, FACING PAGE: STOCKSY
Sleep: The New Science-Based night to use the bathroom is completely
I often wake up in the Solutions for Sleeping Through the normal,” says Abigail Maller, MD,
middle of the night or Night” (Artisan, 2020). In this context, an assistant clinical professor of
early in the morning hypervigilance refers to focusing too pulmonary, critical care, and sleep
and then can’t much on what might disrupt your medicine at UCLA.
get back to sleep. slumber—before you doze off and
even while you’re sleeping. This But if you find that you awaken two
S O L U T I O N If light coming into your leads to an acute awareness of your or more times each night for restroom
bedroom is the issue, light-blocking environment and, paradoxically, can visits, try reducing the salt in your
products like blackout curtains make it harder to sleep. diet, Maller suggests, because excess
or a sleep mask may do the trick. sodium—which your kidneys will try
(See pages 28 and 29 for more ideas.) The best way to address this to flush out—can contribute. You may
You might also want to cut back on— is a form of cognitive behavioral also want to avoid fluids in the 2 hours
or cut out—caffeine (which can keep therapy (CBT) known as CBT-I—the before bed, while making sure you
you perky long after you’ve consumed “I” stands for insomnia, for which hydrate well earlier in the day.
it) and alcohol (which can interfere it’s often the go-to treatment. CBT-I
with deep sleep). offers techniques that can help you If these steps have little effect,
identify and modify thinking patterns consult your doctor. The awakenings
Many people, however, sleep lightly and habits that keep you from “may be a symptom of an underlying
due to “hypervigilance,” says Rafael sleeping. For example, people who issue” such as a sleep disorder or
Pelayo, MD, clinical professor at spend 9 hours in bed at night but only diabetes, says Maller. The good news is
Stanford University’s division of sleep that treating the root medical problem
may reduce your middle-of-the-night
bathroom trips as well.

26 CR.ORG FEBRUARY 2022 ILLUSTRATIONS BY CHRIS VAN ROOYEN

PROBLEM

When I get into bed, my
mind races, and it takes me
too long to fall asleep.

S O L U T I O N Lying in bed with your asleep faster than a control group. PROBLEM
bedroom dark, quiet, and at a It’s also helpful to establish a
comfortable temperature, try a short I get at least 7 hours
relaxation exercise—like tensing and consistent bedtime and wake time, of sleep (go me!)
then relaxing groups of muscles, so your body gets used to falling asleep but still wake up
starting at your feet and finishing with when you need it to. And avoid all exhausted.
your neck and face. This may reduce screens for at least a half-hour before
physical tension in the body and bed. In the few hours before you S O L U T I O N Expert groups like the
help short-circuit thoughts that can turn away from your TV and phone, American Academy of Sleep Medicine
interfere with sleep, according to the consider shielding your eyes from recommend that most adults get 7 to
National Institutes of Health. their glow by using blue-light-blocking 9 hours of sleep a night. So if you’re
glasses or an app like f.lux or Night getting only 7 hours, start by upping
If you’ve been in bed for a while Shift. Blue light suppresses your body’s that to 8 or even 9.
and still can’t nod off, go to another production of melatonin, a hormone
room and do a calming activity, that helps signal to your brain that it’s [ CONTINUED ON PAGE 30 ]
rather than lying there watching time to sleep.
the minutes tick by. Wait until you
feel sleepy again before returning to
your bedroom.

Longer-term, have a plan for
heading off nighttime fretting: Before
getting under the covers, make a
habit of writing down the next day’s
tasks, rather than holding it all in your
head. One small 2018 study found
that people who spent 5 minutes
creating a to-do list before bed fell

WHEN IF YOU HAVE consistent periodic limb movement breathing, blood oxygen option is prone to false
TO SEE sleep issues that disorder (repetitive leg levels, snoring, eye and negatives and may
A SLEEP interfere with your daily and foot movement leg movements, and require follow-ups.
EXPERT life, tell your doctor—who during sleep), they are more. In the case of
may refer you to a sleep likely to advise an suspected narcolepsy or Insurance for sleep
specialist. If the doctor overnight sleep study for hypersomnia, you’ll also studies can vary, so
suspects issues like a definitive diagnosis. spend some daytime check first. And if
sleep-disordered hours at the center, says you’re simply interested
breathing (such as These studies usually Abigail Maller, MD, a in learning more about
obstructive sleep apnea), take place at specially sleep specialist at UCLA. how you sleep, consider
narcolepsy (daytime designed sleep centers, a smartwatch—like the
episodes of falling asleep where you’ll have your For sleep apnea, you Apple Watch Series 6
suddenly), idiopathic own room and bathroom. may be able to do an model pictured on the
hypersomnia (excessive As you sleep, technicians at-home overnight study, cover—or fitness tracker
daytime sleepiness), or will typically record your with equipment lent to with sleep-tracking
brain waves, heart rate, you. Note: This popular capabilities.

FEBRUARY 2022 CR.ORG 27

YOUR TOOLKIT FOR A GOOD

WHILE SMART SLEEP HABITS—like taking time to unwind each Medicine in Baltimore. (Ditch pillows that no longer support
night—are crucial, optimizing your space can also help set your head and neck, learn when to replace a mattress at
you up for quality slumber. For many, this means a cool, dark, CR.org/newmattress0222, and see mattress and pillow
and quiet bedroom. It’s also key to remember that pillows ratings on pages 32 and 33.) If your bedtime setup could
and mattresses don’t last forever, says sleep expert Rachel use an upgrade, here are seven of CR’s highly rated sleep
Salas, MD, a professor at Johns Hopkins University School of products and several other interesting items to check out.

2
6
5

1

1 2 3 4

Mattress Pillow Sheets Air Purifier

A mattress that’s While what’s comfiest in Almost half the sheets in Allergens like pet dander can
uncomfortable or sagging a pillow may be a matter of CR’s tests shrank so much cause stuffiness, interfering
from age may leave you personal preference, it’s over time that they no longer with sleep. An air purifier can
struggling to sleep through generally best to pick one fit. And who wants to wake remove many allergens from
the night or waking up stiff with solid support that holds up with a bottom sheet the air, helping you breathe
and sore. Mattress shoppers up over time. This one that’s all askew? After a easier. This is the only
take note: This brand got outranked the other 17 in year of washing, these still CR-tested air purifier that
high scores for comfort. our tests. fit a 14-inch mattress. rated a Best Buy.

!0 AVOCADO GREEN !0 COOP HOME GOODS $0 L.L.BEAN PIMA COTTON $0 BLUEAIR

MATTRESS PILLOWTOP PREMIUM ADJUSTABLE PERCALE (280 thread count) BLUE PURE 211 +
$2,100, queen size LOFT PILLOW $62 $149, queen size $300

79 90 74 85

28 CR.ORG FEBRUARY 2022 ILLUSTRATION BY SINELAB

NIGHT’S SLEEP MORE
SNOOZE-
7 FRIENDLY
STUFF
3
4 BLACKOUT
CURTAINS
5 6 7 The persistent glow
of street lights can
Weighted Blanket Cooling Pad Programmable make it hard to fall
Thermostat asleep at night. In the
Sleeping under a weighted A cooling pad that sits morning, bright rays
blanket may help ease under a fitted sheet may These let you optimize the of sunshine can make
anxiety and insomnia in some help keep hot sleepers more temperature of your bedroom it tough to stay
cases. Interested? Look for comfortable on steamy for sleep. (Rachel Salas, MD, asleep. Blackout
one that’s 10 percent of your nights. Some can also add advises 65° F to 69° F.) Some curtains are lined to
body weight. This blanket heat if the need to warm up can be challenging to set, but keep out all kinds
and its cover are both arises. Our top-rated cooling this model is easy to operate of light that may
machine-washable. pad does both. and has a clear display. otherwise seep
through and around
HARKLA CHILI OOLER $0 HONEYWELL HOME VISION regular window
WEIGHTED BLANKET $639 to $1,360 coverings. And if you
(15 pounds) $110 to $115 PRO 8000 TOUCH TH8110R share your bedroom
5/5 OVERALL SCORE $145 with someone who
keeps different hours,
85 an eye mask may
prevent light from the
hallway, bathroom, or
reading lamp from
waking you.

WHITE NOISE
MACHINE
House or street
sounds getting in the
way of your rest? One
of these small devices
may be a welcome
addition to your
bedtime arsenal—
although evidence of
their efficacy as a
sleep aid is mixed. You
can also check out
white noise apps or
try tuning in to radio
static instead.

AROMATHERAPY
If a relaxing,
electronics-free
bedtime routine
doesn’t help you
unwind enough at
night, try inhaling the
scent of lavender—via
an essential oil
diffuser or a pillow
that contains sachets
of the flower. This can
ease insomnia,
according to a 2021
research review.

10 20 30 40 50 !0 $0

POOR EXCELLENT RECOMMENDED CR BEST BUY

[ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 27 ] and make sure to get some sunlight have serious health consequences, like
each morning. If you can’t do this, you a higher risk of stroke. Symptoms can
Next, figure out whether you’re might want to ask your doctor about also include daytime sleepiness, high
sleepy or fatigued. Sleepiness means trying a light-therapy device. blood pressure, and night sweats.
you feel drowsy and have a hard time
staying awake, Maller says. Fatigue, PROBLEM Helping your partner get to the root
in which you feel tired but don’t find of their snoring will enable you to
staying awake difficult, is a symptom My partner’s loud sleep—and, Pelayo says, “you may save
of many illnesses—including anemia, snoring and tossing their life.” So urge them to see a doctor.
thyroid disease, and depression—that and turning keep
may not be directly related to sleep. me awake. The most common treatment for
OSA is a continuous positive airway
Discuss ongoing fatigue with your S O L U T I O N Allergies, congestion, or a pressure (CPAP) machine, which sends
primary care provider, Maller and deviated septum can all cause snoring. a constant flow of air into your airway
Pelayo suggest. And if you’re constantly But routine snoring can also be a sign through a mask and tube attachment
sleepy, ask for a referral to a sleep of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), in worn during sleep, and is often at
specialist. It could be a sign of some which a physical obstruction in the least partially covered by insurance.
form of sleep apnea, in which breathing throat—often the tongue—interferes These were once uniformly noisy and
stops and starts during sleep. with breathing during sleep. This can bulky, but many modern CPAPs are far
sleeker, smaller, and quieter.
The doctor may also test you for other
sleep disorders that leave you exhausted Once a CPAP user gets used to the
after a good night’s rest. (See “When device—and settles on a mask that fits
to See a Sleep Expert,” on page 27.) In properly, which can take a few tries—the
addition, bruxism (clenching or grinding
your teeth during sleep) can get in the
way of rest. Headaches and jaw pain in
the morning are telltale signs. A dentist
can check your teeth for wear and fit
you with a mouthguard that may help.

PROBLEM PHOTO, PREVIOUS SPREAD (WOMAN): GETTY IMAGES. PHOTOS, THIS SPREAD: GETTY IMAGES

I always fall asleep in
the living room after
dinner, wake up, and
then can’t fall asleep
again at bedtime.

S O L U T I O N Brief naps are not necessarily
a problem, especially if you take them
after lunch and before dinner. But
nodding off on the couch in the evening
and then feeling wide awake once you
get into bed is “a typical pattern in
chronic insomnia,” Pelayo says.

If you can’t resist the lure of a comfy
couch, doing something active at that
time, like taking a walk, may keep you
from dozing off. But you may also need
to reset your circadian rhythm. Here’s
how: Get up at the same time each day,

30 CR.ORG FEBRUARY 2022

snoring should completely stop. If not, CAN SUPPLEMENTS
adjustments to the device can help. HELP YOU SLEEP?

If your partner moves around a lot They may, in certain instances. Shopper’s tip: A seal from a group
and it’s ruining your sleep, consider like the U.S. Pharmacopeia or ConsumerLab.com provides
whether it’s time for a new mattress. some assurance that products contain what their labels claim.
In CR’s tests, mattresses are tested
for “stabilization” or bounciness—a Melatonin meta-analysis found that, on
measure of the likelihood that average, people fall asleep only
movement on one side of the bed will This popular supplement is made about 7 minutes faster
disturb someone on the other side. from a natural or synthetic version after taking melatonin. Talk to
Consider trying mattresses together in of the hormone melatonin, which your doctor before trying this
a store to see how they feel when you signals to your body that it’s time supplement, and consider taking it
move around, suggests Chris Regan, to sleep. It can be helpful for older only occasionally: Research is still
project leader for CR’s mattress testing. adults (who produce less melatonin) pending on the safety of long-term
and those with wonky body clocks use, beyond about three months.
PROBLEM (night owls, jet-lagged travelers,
and night-shift workers). But a 2013
I work irregular
hours, which makes Iron
it hard to sleep
when I need to. Iron deficiency is closely linked to be your issue? Consult a doctor
restless legs syndrome, a condition before self-treating. Taking iron
S O L U T I O N Sleep issues are common marked by uncomfortable sensations could mask a more serious problem.
among overnight workers and those with in the limbs and an uncontrollable Plus, in people without a deficiency,
inconsistent schedules—going in, say, at urge to move them—which can supplementing could lead to iron
10 a.m. one day and 7 a.m. the next. interfere with sleep. Think this might overload, which can damage organs.

If you need to sleep during the day Vitamin D
so that you can work at night, keep
your bedroom as dark as possible. A growing body of evidence suggests slept longer, and had better sleep
Blackout curtains are a must. “Strategic a link between low levels of vitamin D quality than those who received a
napping”—timing naps for maximum and sleep troubles. One study of 89 placebo. But other research has
benefit—can help, too, says Maller. For adults with sleep disorders, published found that in certain populations,
overnight workers, a nap right before a in 2018, found that when people the supplements have no positive
shift (or even during, if it’s permitted) whose vitamin D levels were on the effect on sleep, or may worsen it.
may boost alertness and performance. low side, but not deficient, took What to do? Talk to your doctor about
Limit these naps to 60 minutes or supplements regularly for eight weeks, vitamin D testing and whether
less, to reduce the chance you’ll enter they said they nodded off faster, supplements might be worth a try.
deep sleep. “Waking from deep sleep
can be associated with grogginess and Valerian
disorientation,” Maller says.
This root has been used for centuries mixed findings may be due to the
You may want to consult with a to treat insomnia. And several variable quality and instability of
sleep specialist to figure out what nap- studies suggest that this supplement active ingredients in valerian,
time would help you most, based on may help people fall asleep faster and according to a 2020 research review,
your schedule. And though it may not wake up less often at night—though so be sure to check for a trustworthy
be for everyone, modafinil (Provigil) next-day grogginess may occur. But seal on the bottle (see more on seals
is a prescription wake-promoting other studies show no benefit. Such at CR.org/seals0222).
medication approved by the Food and
Drug Administration for shift-work
sleep disorder, and some other issues.

Ratings   A Better Bedtime Story Start with a mattress that supports your size and sleep style and a pillow that
keeps its shape and is right for your favorite slumber position, whether that’s your back or your side.

Brand + Model Overall Price Survey Test Results Features
Score Results

Comfort
Owner
satisfaction
Petite side
sleeper
Average side
sleeper
Large/tall side
sleeper
Petite back
sleeper
Average back
sleeper
Large/tall back
sleeper
Durability
Stabilization
Firmness rating
Resists
bounciness
Eases
movement
Grips
Retains warmth
Mattress-in-
a-box

INNERSPRING MATTRESSES

!0 Avocado Green 85 $1,600 50 40 40 50 50 50 50 50 50 30 7 0 0 4 0

$0 Denver Mattress Doctor’s Choice Plush 82 $750 30 30 40 40 40 50 50 50 50 30 3 0 0 4

!0 Casper Original Hybrid (2020) 82 $1,285 40 40 50 50 50 30 30 40 50 40 3 0 0 0 0
81
!0 Ethan Allen 81 $3,250 40 40 50 40 40 50 40 40 50 40 5 0 0 6
EA Signature Platinum Plush

!0 SleepFresh Hybrid $1,100 – – 40 40 40 50 50 50 50 30 3 0 0 0 0

!0 Avocado Green Mattress Pillowtop 79 $2,100 50 40 40 40 40 40 40 30 50 30 5 0 0 4 0 0
79
!0 Charles P. Rogers 78 $1,500 40 40 40 40 40 50 50 50 50 40 6 0 0 8
Powercore Estate 5000

!0 Casper Wave Hybrid $2,300 40 40 40 40 40 50 40 30 50 30 2 0 0 4 0

$0 Beautyrest BR-800 12” Medium Firm 78 $770 30 30 40 40 30 50 50 50 50 40 6 0 0 0

!0 Big Fig The Mattress for a Bigger Figure 77 $1,900 – –0 40 30 30 50 50 50 50 40 6 0 0 0 0 0

!0 Charles P. Rogers Real Bed 76 $1,200 40 40 40 40 30 40 40 40 50 50 3 0 0 4

$0 Tuft & Needle Nod Hybrid 76 $675 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 50 40 4 00 0
MAT-NODH-01-Q 76

!0 Sealy Posturepedic $1,900 30 30 40 40 40 50 50 40 50 30 4 0 00
Performance Copper II

!0 Leesa Legend 76 $2,000 40 40 40 30 30 40 40 40 50 40 3 0 0 0 0

$0 Beautyrest Silver BRS900-TSS 75 $790 30 30 40 40 30 40 40 50 50 40 4 0 0 0
Medium Firm Tight Top

!0 Sealy Posturepedic Premium Silver Chill 75 $2,000 30 30 40 40 30 50 40 40 50 30 3 0 0

!0 Diamond Intention Hybrid 75 $1,900 – – 30 30 30 40 40 30 50 40 2 0 0 6 0
75
$0 Sealy Posturepedic 75 $710 30 30 40 30 30 50 40 40 50 40 5 0 0 0
Lawson LTD Cushion Firm

!0 Beautyrest PressureSmart 11.5” Firm $1,200 30 30 40 30 30 50 50 50 50 40 7 0 0 0

!0 Tuft & Needle Hybrid with Pillow top 75 $1,345 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 50 30 4 0 0 00

FOAM MATTRESSES

!0 Essentia Stratami 82 $3,200 50 50 40 40 40 50 50 40 50 50 6 0 0 0 0
81
$0 Casper Original (2020) 81 $1,100 40 40 40 40 40 50 50 50 50 40 6 0 0 0 0
80
!0 Reverie Dream Supreme II 79 $3,600 40 40 40 40 40 50 40 40 50 40 4 0 0 8
Hybrid Sleep System Firm 78
78
$0 Sleep On Latex Pure Green Firm 76 $1,000 40 40 40 40 40 50 50 50 50 40 7 0 0 0 0 0

!0 Avocado Latex Mattress $2,200 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 50 40 5 0 0 4 0

!0 Tuft & Needle Mint $995 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 50 50 4 0 0 0 0 ICONS: ELIAS STEIN

!0 BedInABox Tranquillium $1,160 40 40 40 40 30 40 40 40 50 40 6 0 0 0 0

!0 Lull The Lull $800 40 40 40 40 30 50 40 40 50 40 6 0 0 0

32 CR.ORG FEBRUARY 2022

Brand + Model Overall Price Survey Test Results Features
Score Results

Comfort
Owner
satisfaction
Petite side
sleeper
Average side
sleeper
Large/tall side
sleeper
Petite back
sleeper
Average back
sleeper
Large/tall back
sleeper
Durability
Stabilization
Firmness rating
Resists
bounciness
Eases
movement
Grips
Retains warmth
Mattress-in-
a-box

F O A M M AT T R E S S E S Continued

$0 Novaform 10” SoFresh 76 $500 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 50 40 5 0 0 0 0
Responsive Foam 76
75
!0 Purple The Purple Mattress 75 $1,200 40 40 40 40 30 40 40 30 50 40 3 0 0 0 0
75
!0 GhostBed The GhostBed $950 40 40 40 40 40 50 40 40 50 40 7 0 0 0 0
80
!0 GhostBed Luxe 77 $1,534 40 40 40 40 30 40 40 30 50 40 4 0 0 0 0
77
!0 Sealy Essentials 12” $800 30 30 40 40 40 40 40 30 50 30 2 0 00

ADJUSTABLE AIR MATTRESSES

!0 Sleep Number 360 p6 Smart Bed $2,600 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 50 50 4 0 0 0
!0 Saatva Solaire $3,045 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 50 40 4 0 0 0
!0 Personal Comfort H10 Bed $2,700 40 40 40 40 40 50 50 50 50 40 6 0 0 0

Brand + Model Overall Price Test Results Features
Score

Side support
Back support
Resilience
User
preference
Breathability
Washable
Memory
foam
Cooling
properties
Type
Retains
warmth

PILLOWS

!0 Coop Home Goods 90 $62 50 50 50 50 40 0 0 Memory foam and 0
Premium Adjustable Loft microfiber 0
85 $150 50 50 30 50 50 Cover only 0
!0 Sleep Number ComfortFit Ultimate Blend of memory 0
72 $170 50 30 50 40 20 Cover only 0 foam pieces and down
!0 Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Cloud Breeze 71 $40 50 30 40 50 20 Cover only 0 alternative fibers
Dual Cooling 71 $90 50 50 10 40 50 Cover only
Visco elastic polyurethane
!0 Sealy Memory Foam Gel 0 (memory foam) & gel

!0 Avocado Green 0 Polyurethane foam pad

Latex and kapok

HOW WE TEST: The Overall Score for In cases where we have insufficient 1½ inches tall, and 110 to 127.5 pounds transfer. We also note ease of changing
mattresses is based on member survey data to provide a brand-level for the petite sleeper scores, and a man position on the mattress. Firmness is
feedback on comfort and owner 6 feet, 2 inches to 6 feet, 4 inches tall, rated on a 1 to 10 scale, with 10 being
satisfaction, as well as our tests –rating, indicated by a gray dash ( ), we and 220 to 242 pounds for the large/tall firmest. Price is approximate retail for
of side- and back-sleeper support, sleeper scores. The average sleeper is a queen-size mattress without a box
durability, and stabilization. give the model weighted average scores an average of those two sizes. Durability spring. For pillows, the Overall Score is
Comfort and owner satisfaction for comfort and satisfaction. Support indicates a mattress’s ability to keep based on how well they support back and
ratings are based on recent surveys for side sleepers is the ability of a its original shape, height, firmness, and side sleepers, whether they maintain
on CR members’ experiences with mattress to keep a side sleeper’s spine support after a simulated eight to 10 their shape over time, user preference
more than 69,718 mattresses relatively horizontal. Support for back years of use. A high stabilization score data, and whether they allow moisture to
purchased within the past decade. sleepers is the ability of a mattress indicates little or no bouncing or vibration dissipate. Go to CR.org for further details
to maintain the natural curve of the and complete ratings.
sleeper’s spine. In our support tests, we
use a woman 4 feet, 11½ inches to 5 feet,

10 20 30 40 50 !0 $0 FEBRUARY 2022 CR.ORG 33

POOR EXCELLENT RECOMMENDED CR BEST BUY

BE A WINNER
IN TODAY’S
HOT REAL
ESTATE MARKET

Prices are up, inventory is down, and many buyers are
feeling desperate. Here’s how to navigate the tricky homebuying
game—and also look for something completely different.

By Lisa L. Gill
Illustrations by Fabio Consoli

34 CR.ORG FEBRUARY 2022



TO SWEETEN A RECENT OFFER Census, median house prices in the
ON A SMALL HOUSE WITH A U.S. increased 29 percent from January
FEW ACRES HERE IN TEXAS, 2019 through September 2021. In some
NEAR AUSTIN, I PLEDGED TO markets, including Austin, Miami,
KEEP JENNY AND JEREMY—TWO Phoenix, and Tampa, Fla., prices
AGING DONKEYS THE SELLER increased even more.
NO LONGER HAD USE FOR.
For sellers or owners looking to
Caught up in the adrenalin of the property,” my agent, Jeffrey Slanker take value out of their homes by
deal, I didn’t take into account just at Keller Williams Realty, told me. refinancing, it’s a dream come true.
how expensive it could be to care for But it can be a nightmare if, like me,
two large animals—a cost I later learned But I was undeterred, raising you’re trying to buy.
can easily top several thousand dollars, the question: Who, exactly, was
per donkey, per year, especially as the jackass here? According to CR’s survey, to seal the
their health deteriorates. deal 28 percent of home buyers made
While the deal didn’t pan out—the offers over asking price, and 44 percent
That same real estate frenzy led seller wound up removing the listing bid on multiple homes. Seven percent
me astray in other ways, too. I turned altogether—there’s much to be gained included “escalation” clauses saying
a blind eye to the poor condition from my experience. their offer automatically rises when
of the septic system, the seemingly higher bids are received, while more—
ancient well, and even the fact Since the pandemic began, 50 million 26 percent—agreed to purchase homes
that the land survey required to people like me have either shopped “as is,” which means without requiring
purchase the property had yet to be for a house or attempted to purchase sellers to make fixes.
completed. Worse, no one seemed one, according to a September
to know who owned the mineral 2021 Consumer Reports nationally Despite the hurdles, home ownership
rights underground. (That’s a thing representative survey of 2,341 adult remains a key way to build wealth,
in Texas and can be a real headache Americans. Of those who were especially for the middle class and
if it turns out a company can drill for looking for a home, only 30 percent people of color, who may have fewer
oil on your property.) successfully closed on one. other investments, says Mitria Spotser,
director of housing policy at the
Worst-case scenario, I could be To say the U.S. housing market is Consumer Federation of America, a
on the hook for about $55,000 in overdrive is an understatement. consumer advocacy organization.
in additional costs with all those From March 2020 through March 2021, She estimates that home ownership
problems, including the care of the the number of existing homes for sale accounts for about two-thirds of the
donkeys—a figure that could go far shrank by about 30 percent, according average family’s total assets.
higher “if other issues emerged after to the State of the Nation’s Housing
purchasing the 50-year-old house and 2021 report by the Joint Center for Here, we’ll share tips on how to
Housing Studies of Harvard University. navigate this new real estate landscape
And based on data from the U.S. if you’re trying to buy. We’ll also
explain how you can use the increased
value in your present home to make
improvements, as well as look at
options for nontraditional dwellings
and communities where prices might
be more affordable.

Lisa L. Gill

When she’s not
shopping for real
estate, Lisa covers
pharmaceuticals,
health insurance,
healthcare costs,
and consumer debt.

36 CR.ORG FEBRUARY 2022

HOW TO BUY
A HOME
RIGHT NOW

IF YOU CAN’T AFFORD to pay more Home Prices Have Sweeten your offer where you can.
than the asking price or to buy a home Skyrocketed To add value, you might, for example,
without contingencies, there are other offer to let the sellers stay in the
ways to make your offer stand out. In most parts of the country, home for a set time after closing—
Consider these tips. the median cost of real estate potentially free, if you can manage
has reached record highs. it. Doing this worked for 8 percent of
Search listings on Tuesdays and people who bought homes during the
Wednesdays. In a hot market, deals for NORTHEAST pandemic, according to CR’s survey. I
homes are often made over the weekend, tried this gambit myself. Because the
with listings updated to “pending” or $500K property with the donkeys had been
“in contract” at the start of the week, the sellers’ vacation home for decades,
says real estate agent Slanker. Waiting till WEST I offered to let them return free of
midweek to search online will spare you $400K charge for one week a year. Another
the disappointment of latching onto great idea, Leonard says, is to agree to let the
homes that have already come and gone, U.S. sellers keep a portion of the money in
and help you identify properties that escrow—the deposit buyers make at the
might be languishing, with owners who $300K start of a real estate deal—in the event
may be more willing to negotiate on price the transaction falls through. “We have
or other terms. (Be aware, too, that there MIDWEST SOUTH clients who say the seller can keep
could be issues with the home that have $2,000 or $3,000 of the escrow if the
kept other buyers at bay.) Then check the deal doesn’t happen,” he says. “That’s
listings again starting Thursday evening how we compete with all-cash deals.”
because that is when brand-new listings
are most likely to post, Slanker says. Write a love letter. Telling owners
in writing about yourself, and why
Ask for “up-front underwriting.” you’re interested in their home,
This takes the promise of a mortgage may help seal the deal—and is
preapproval—a conditional agreement something 22 percent of people in
from a bank to lend you money—a step CR’s survey said they did. Letters
further, and can be helpful if you’re up should be heartfelt and clear. “You’re
against buyers who “can close quickly trying to make a business transaction
because they’re making all-cash offers,” personal,” Slanker says.
says Wilson Leonard, an agent at Banyan
Real Estate in Denver who previously 2019 2020 2021 SEPT. ’21
ran a mortgage services company. With
up-front underwriting, your financial
information—your credit history, debt-to-
income ratio, employment, and income—
is vetted in advance. If you’re approved,
you get a firm pledge for a loan of a fixed
amount, saving several weeks of back-
and-forth with paperwork after you’ve
had an offer on a home accepted.

Source: U.S. Census. FEBRUARY 2022 CR.ORG 37

5

2

10
6

79

1 3
8 4

GET SMART ABOUT INSPECTIONS

TWENTY-SIX PERCENT of buyers in CR’s survey VERY IMPORTANT LESS CRITICAL PHOTO: TK TK
bought a home as is—but you should consider that
only if you have deep pockets. Surprise fixes can be 1 Condition of the 6 Age of appliances
costly—for example, a new well can cost tens of foundation
thousands of dollars. Most people buying a home 7 Condition of exterior
should have it inspected by a professional. Look for 2 Condition of plumbing, and interior paint
one through organizations such as the American septic tanks, and wells
Society of Home Inspectors or the National 8 Condition of exterior
Academy of Building Inspection Engineers. Also ask 3 Age and condition of fencing, outbuildings,
friends or family for recommendations. And if the electrical wiring, and
inspection does not include it, check for mold, and landscaping
contaminants in water, and radon—a colorless, circuit breakers and boxes
odorless radioactive gas that can cause lung cancer. 9 Age of lighting, bath,
Here’s what’s most important—and what’s less so. 4 Age and condition and kitchen fixtures
of water heater, and
10 Age of bath and
heating and cooling systems kitchen cabinets

5 Age and condition
of roof

Consider off-market homes or on an MLS (multiple listing service) Listing Network offered by Midwest
“pocket listings.” If you have your eye database, ask your agent whether they Real Estate Data, a national service.
on a particular home that isn’t for sale, are aware of pocket listings. These
ask your agent to contact the owners are listings that are more informally Don’t get discouraged. CR’s survey
and make an offer anyway, says Scott marketed by word of mouth and found that 44 percent of homebuyers
Westfall, a real estate consultant and usually shared among agents working said they had to make offers on two or
owner of CGP Real Estate in Virginia in the same office, Westfall says. Your more homes before one was accepted.
Beach, Va. Or to get a jump on a agent may be able to find these as Fifteen percent made more than five
property before it is broadly advertised well if they have access to the Private before getting to yes.

A LT E R N AT I V E Community
PATHS Living
TO HOME Pros and Cons
OWNERSHIP
PROS
AFTER REPEATEDLY COMING
up against all-cash buyers willing to SUPPORT Sharing
forgo inspections, my search for a home values, resources, and
in Texas was going nowhere fast. So I responsibilities fosters
started looking for something different. connection with others.
Here are some options I found for
people who might not be looking for just FINANCING Conventional
a new home but also a new way of life. mortgage can typically
be obtained.
COMMUNITY LIVING
GREEN Carbon footprint
AT NEU COMMUNITY, opening soon in can be smaller.
Austin, there are no bidding wars. Instead,
PHOTOS, TOP TO BOTTOM: KATHY O’CRAVEN, JANE CROSSON buyers are received on a first-come, COMMUNITY GARDENING Village Hearth Cohousing in CONS
first-served basis. You can put down Durham, N.C., which bills itself as a “55+ intentional
as little as $4,995 toward the purchase community for LGBTQs, friends, and allies,” turned its usual REQUIREMENTS Level of
of a futuristic-looking “pod” made of Friday happy hour into a planting session last spring. community engagement
skyscraper glass and metal. The pods can might not suit everyone.
be bought individually or in multiples,
and configured in numerous ways. PROXIMITY Neighbors
may live very close to
When you purchase at Neu, you’re one another.
not buying the pods but shares in a
co-op. “It’s the idea that the people RULES If you sell, the
living here own the community,” says new owner will probably
Jonathan Jenkins, CEO of Neu, adding have to agree to the
that they are priced for retirees or community’s rules.
people on single incomes.
studio starter pod. Even with its small U.S. known as “intentional” living—
I toured a 320-square-foot model of a footprint, the home feels spacious, with groups of people who share the same
built-in cabinets and closets, a Murphy values or vision and purchase homes to
bed, and a full kitchen. live together in communities.

Bonus: fewer cars. Neu will limit Another example is PDX Commons
gas-powered vehicles by using a in Portland, Ore., an environmentally
community car-sharing program. Such conscious condo community for those
sustainable living is part of what’s in the “last third of their life.” It was
driving a larger movement across the co-founded by people who wanted to

FEBRUARY 2022 CR.ORG 39

live among others dedicated to aging TINY HOUSES Napa model from Mint Tiny House
well at home in a supportive community Company in Vancouver, Canada.
near stores, parks, and cafés. To join, WHAT HAS BEEN a fringe curiosity for Once you add things like a drawer
members purchase a condo unit with more than a decade, mostly suited for dishwasher, a washer-dryer combo,
one to three bedrooms, and share a do-it-yourselfers who want to live in and a tiled shower with glass doors,
communal kitchen and other areas. A smaller spaces, tiny houses have gone it costs $100,425.
two-bedroom, two-bath condo sold last mainstream, and even have a foot in
March for $560,000. the luxury market. And then there’s the 375-square-
foot Escher tiny house by New
There are at least 4,000 intentional For a house to be considered “tiny,” Frontier Design in Nashville, Tenn.
communities across the U.S., says it’s typically 400 square feet or less— It features dark wood finishes and
Cynthia Tina, co-director of the compared with an average American floors, two bedrooms, a chef’s
Foundation for Intentional Community, home of about 2,300 square feet. kitchen, a walk-in closet, a custom tile
a nonprofit that supports these groups shower, and a garage-door-like wall
throughout the U.S. Go to its website, at High-end builders have gotten that opens to the outdoors. Prices
ic.org, to search for something similar. onboard with designer-quality homes begin at $209,000.
such as the 26-foot long, 8 ½-foot wide
Prefab and DIY kits are also options.
Tiny House One example: the 187-square foot Vista PHOTOS: STUDIOBUELL PHOTOGRAPHY; DESIGN: DAVID LATIMER/NEW FRONTIER DESIGN
Pros and Cons Boho home from Wisconsin builder
Escape. Originally a joint project with
PROS Ikea, the house starts at $45,989 and is
delivered on a flatbed truck.
SAVINGS Less expensive
than traditional homes. New technology can make DIY
S U S TA I N A B I L I T Y homebuilding less complicated.
Substantially reduced Boxabl, in Las Vegas, makes a
energy costs because of 375-square-foot, $49,500 “foldable”
smaller footprint. home—replete with fixtures, finishes,
and electrical—that literally unfolds.
PORTABILITY Some It can be put together in a day, with
homes are built on trailers. walls and floors that lock into place.

FINANCING Some The biggest hurdle might be where
homes may qualify for to put a tiny house if you don’t own
recreational vehicle loans. land or have a spot reserved in a tiny
house community. Zoning, building
ALL THE COMFORTS OF HOME The Escher tiny house, from CONS codes, and permitting still favor
New Frontier Design, has a tricked-out kitchen, a king-size traditional homes, though that’s
master bedroom, and a stylishly designed bathroom. And OUTLOOK Home changing. In early 2022, Oakland,
it’s on wheels, so you can go mobile. might not increase in Calif., will allow tiny houses to
value and cannot be be primary residences on private
borrowed against. property. And last year, Evanston, Ill.,
approved zoning for tiny “efficiency”
FINANCING Conventional houses as primary dwellings.
30-year mortgage not
obtainable; an RV loan or Meanwhile, here in Texas, I found
other financing won’t custom homebuilder Fine Grain
qualify for federal tax Designs in Austin after renting a
break or loan protection. tiny house the owner and his wife
had built. I’d fallen in love with
STORAGE Limited storage the poured concrete countertops,
space; additional storage subway-tiled bath, oak floors, hand-
units may be needed. cranked windows, cubby storage,
and vaulted ceiling. Now I just need
PLACEMENT Many a place to put it!
localities do not permit
tiny houses as primary
residences.

40 CR.ORG FEBRUARY 2022

HOW TO
TAP YOUR
HOME’S
VALUE

IF BUYING A NEW HOME isn’t in the Consider a Refi and other community empowerment
cards for you but you’re itching for a With Cash-Out If: programs and is based in New York
change—a new kitchen, a dedicated City. You are ultimately going to need to
work space—and need a lump sum of 1 You have more than 20 per- pay the new, larger mortgage back.
money to do it, now may be the time to cent equity in your home.
tap the value you have in your house, A couple of caveats. While the
especially if it’s worth more than when 2 Your home’s value has process of applying for a cash-out
you first bought it. increased since you refinance is basically identical to that
of a regular refi, typically banks won’t
A common way to do this is by taking purchased the home. do it if you have less than 20 percent
out a home equity loan. Another is by equity, says Westfall at CGP Real Estate.
doing what’s called a cash-out refinance, 3 You plan to use the funds
a type of new mortgage that monetizes to reinvest in the home And you should expect to see
the equity you have in your home, says some additional refinancing costs that
Robert Heck, vice president of mortgage or to pay down expensive debt, you won’t face with a regular refi.
services for Morty, an online residential such as credit cards. Nationally, the average closing costs
mortgage broker and consultant firm. for a single-family residential refinance
Interest on these mortgages is typically 4 You can secure favorable were $3,398 last year, according to
lower than on home equity loans. new terms on a mortgage, figures from ClosingCorp, a real estate
industry data tracking firm. But cash-
Whereas a regular refinance like a lower interest rate out refi lenders may impose slightly
replaces your current mortgage with and lower monthly payments. higher interest rates on the new loans,
a new one for the same balance, a perhaps 0.125 to 0.25 percent more,
cash-out refinance replaces your That includes paying for upgrades that than they do for regular refis.
mortgage with a new one for more increase a home’s resale value; paying
than you presently owe, with the down more expensive debt, such as Even so, a cash-out refinance might
difference going to you in cash. credit cards; or beefing up emergency give you a lower interest rate if you
or retirement savings. bought your home when mortgage
Rising real estate values have made rates were much higher.
cash-out refinances a useful tool for “You should use the money only for —Additional reporting by Octavio Blanco
more people. In the second quarter of a profitable purpose,” says the Rev.
2021, the average homeowner gained Dr. Charles Butler, who helps run a
about $51,500 in equity. Homes in nonprofit that offers housing counseling
the West saw the largest bumps—in
Idaho, $97,000; Washington, $102,900;
Los Angeles, $116,300—according to
figures by CoreLogic, a real estate
industry research firm.

In the second quarter of 2021 alone,
homeowners withdrew $54 billion in
cash-outs, according to Freddie Mac,
the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.

Home lending pros recommend that
you use the money you extract from
a cash-out refinance very carefully.

FEBRUARY 2022 CR.ORG 41

Is Dark Chocolate

Really Good for

What’s new, healthier, and tastier, and the brands to try if you only like milk chocolate.

BY SALLY WADYK A ■ PHOTOGRAPH BY GREGORY REID

42 CR.ORG FEBRUARY 2022

T’S NO SURPRISE that most of us believe a bar

I of dark chocolate is essentially a health food.
Headlines have touted its nutrition benefits for
years. But much of the scientific evidence to date
has been contradictory.

It’s true that potent antioxidants called flavanols
are plentiful in the cacao beans used to make

chocolate. And the darker the chocolate, the more

cacao—and potentially the more flavanols—it contains.

Like other antioxidants, flavanols have been shown to

help blood vessels “relax,” reduce inflammation, and lower cholesterol.

“Giving people chocolate or cocoa flavanols is going to have an effect on blood-

vessel function and can improve blood flow,” says Diane McKay, PhD, an assistant

professor at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts

University. It seems logical that better blood flow would be good for both your

heart and your brain, but “we don’t yet know definitively that eating chocolate is

going to help prevent heart disease or improve cognitive function,” she says.

You? In fact, the research indicates that making it a healthier dessert option
you may need high doses of cocoa than cookies or cake, which are
flavanols to see an effect, which would typically higher in sugar and made
likely require taking flavanols in pill with refined flour.
or powder form, not as chocolate
candy. For example, you’d probably An ounce of dark chocolate can have
need to eat 600 calories’ worth of dark 3 to 5 grams of fiber, about the same
chocolate to get the 500 mg a day of amount as a 6-ounce apple. It also
pure cocoa flavanols that researchers supplies about 65 mg of magnesium
at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in (nearly as much as a half-cup of cooked
Boston are currently testing for their spinach) and 203 mg of potassium
effect on heart-attack and stroke risk. (the amount in a half-cup of cooked
broccoli). Dark chocolate is higher in
“If you want the health benefits fat than milk chocolate, but much of it
of flavanols, there are other ways is a combination of the heart-healthy
to get them,” says the study’s lead monounsaturated kind and stearic acid,
author, JoAnn Manson, MD, chief of a type of saturated fat that doesn’t raise
the hospital’s division of preventive cholesterol. Still, many people enjoy
medicine. Some of these include green their chocolate sweet and milky, and
tea, berries, grapes, apples, and other dismiss dark chocolate as bitter, grainy,
antioxidant-rich foods. dry, and chalky. If that’s been your
experience, you might want to give it
However, if you’re going to eat another try.
chocolate, a bar with a higher cacao
percentage is a better treat than a milk- “There are more high-quality
or white-chocolate one. Milk chocolate bars available now made in small
not only has less cacao and fewer batches using beans that have been
flavanols but also contains about twice carefully harvested, roasted, and
as much sugar as dark chocolate. White processed to enhance f lavor,” says
chocolate has cocoa butter but no cacao Michael Laiskonis, chef and director
solids, and as a result has no flavonols. of the Chocolate Lab at the Institute
Its sugar content is comparable to that of Culinary Education in New York
of milk chocolate. City. The result? Bars that taste
smooth, creamy, fruity, and even
Dark chocolate also contains a surprisingly sweet.
surprising amount of nutrients,

FEBRUARY 2022 CR.ORG 43

Tips for Healthy Eating and dried-fruit notes, which can make most satisfaction out of even a small
the chocolate taste sweeter, says Megan portion. “Put a small piece in your
If you’re going to work dark chocolate Giller, author of “Bean-to-Bar Chocolate: mouth, chew a couple of times, but
into your diet, the following strategies America’s Craft Chocolate Revolution” mostly let it melt over your tongue,”
can help you get the most benefits—and (Storey Publishing, 2017), and founder Laiskonis says.
enjoyment—out of it. of Chocolate Noise, a tasting company. PAIR IT. A dark bar that contains
TRANSITION TO DARK. Milk chocolate BUY BETTER BARS. Buying quality bits of dried fruit, nuts, or sea salt
can have as little as 10 percent cacao, chocolate is similar to buying fine wine can taste sweeter than a plain dark
and a high-quality bar has only or good coffee. The ingredients, where bar, even if both contain the same
about 27 percent. So milk-chocolate and how they’re grown and harvested, cacao percentage. But beware of
lovers may need to ease into the dark and how they’re processed and turned other sweet add-ins—like caramel
side. Start with a bar that has about into a chocolate bar all play a huge role or marshmallow—that significantly
60 percent cacao. It can also help to in the taste of the final product. “The increase the sugar content. You can
look for cocoa butter in the ingredients skill and mastery of the chocolate maker also eat dark chocolate with some
list. Cocoa beans are 50 percent fat, can help transform even a 100 percent fresh berries or dried apricots (both
and many chocolate producers use cacao bar into something rich and of which pack additional flavanols),
extra cocoa butter to create a smoother, creamy that doesn’t taste like baker’s blending the bitter and sweet tastes in
creamier texture, Laiskonis says. chocolate,” Giller says. To get started, your mouth. Tea, even unsweetened,
Another tip: Try a “single origin” bar, refer to the Top Picks in “Find a Tastier is another great dark-chocolate
which is made with cocoa beans from Dark Chocolate,” on the facing page. companion. Combining the two
one country or region. Beans grown in EAT IT MINDFULLY. Tasting the subtlety balances out the slight bitterness of
Madagascar, Belize, and the Dominican of the flavors will allow you to get the the chocolate.
Republic are most likely to have berry

Chocolate With a Conscience: Cocoa beans can be grown in ways that harm the
environment, exploit workers, or are otherwise unethical.
What Those Many terms on labels are used to indicate that a
Labels Mean company doesn’t engage in those practices, but some
labels carry more weight than others. Below, we explain
what these terms actually promise—and what they don’t.

Fair Trade Rainforest Alliance

There are three main certified fair-trade seals on chocolate: This seal indicates that some or all of the chocolate
Fair for Life, Fairtrade, and Fair Trade Certified. These ensure is sourced from farms that have met Rainforest Alliance
that farmers are paid more than market price for cocoa and standards for protecting farmers, forests, wildlife, and
that no serious labor violations occur on the farms, such as local communities.
child labor or substandard wages.

Sustainable Direct Trade

This is a broad term intended to convey that the chocolate This indicates that the cocoa farmer and the cocoa buyer
was produced using environmentally responsible practices. work with each other directly (rather than through a third
Because the term is vague and unregulated, it’s difficult to party) to set terms and conditions. While this in theory
know for certain whether it’s actually meaningful. reduces the chances of exploitation, exactly what those
terms and conditions are can vary.

44 CR.ORG FEBRUARY 2022

Find a Tastier Think dark chocolate is too bitter to be enjoyable? CR’s
Dark Chocolate professional tasting panel tested 10 bars and found that
it’s possible to find high-cacao chocolate that’s smooth
and fruity. Here’s the nutritional info for approximately an
ounce of each bar, plus reviews from our panel.

TOP Ghirardelli Intense Dark Chocolate Chocolove Extreme
PICK Dark Chocolate 88% Cocoa $3.25

Twilight Delight 72% Cacao $2.90 Rich and fudgy. Moderately bitter; little sweetness.
Creamy and smooth. Melts slowly in the mouth.
Mellow and slightly fruity with flavors
of nuts and coffee. Creamy and smooth.

BAR SIZE 3.5 oz. FAT 11 g FIBER 3 g BAR SIZE 3.2 oz. FAT 15 g FIBER 4 g
CALORIES 130 SATURATED FAT 7 g ADDED SUGARS 6 g CALORIES 160 SATURATED FAT 9 g ADDED SUGARS 3 g

TOP Hu Organic Simple Green & Black’s Organic
PICK Dark Chocolate 70% Cacao $3.50

Dark Chocolate 70% Cacao $6.70 Coffee and berry flavors. Creamy and smooth.
Melts quickly in the mouth.
Moderately sweet with strong dried-fruit
flavors (think raisins or prunes) and hints
of caramel. The texture is slightly crumbly.

BAR SIZE 2.1 oz. FAT 13 g FIBER 3 g BAR SIZE 3.5 oz. FAT 13 g FIBER 3 g
CALORIES 180 SATURATED FAT 8 g ADDED SUGARS 8 g CALORIES 170 SATURATED FAT 3 g ADDED SUGARS 9 g

TOP Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Lily’s Extremely Dark Chocolate
PICK 85% Cacao $4.30

72% Cacao 60 cents

A smooth, less-intense dark chocolate; A strong, bitter bar. No fruit; has an odd, slightly
a good one for milk-chocolate lovers to try. herbal flavor. Slightly waxy texture means it doesn’t
melt easily. Sweetened with stevia and erythritol.

BAR SIZE 1.65 oz. FAT 11 g FIBER 4 g BAR SIZE 2.8 oz. FAT 14 g FIBER 7 g
CALORIES 160 SATURATED FAT 7 g ADDED SUGARS 8 g CALORIES 150 SATURATED FAT 8 g ADDED SUGARS 0 g

Alter Eco Organic Dark Chocolate Lindt Excellence
Classic Blackout 85% Cacao $4 Dark Chocolate 85% Cocoa $4

Intense chocolate flavor with notes of fruit and Deep roasted flavor with hints of coffee
coffee. More bitter than sweet. Creamy and smooth. and coconut. Mild bitterness. Creamy.

BAR SIZE 2.82 oz. FAT 17 g FIBER 3 g BAR SIZE 3.5 oz. FAT 14 g FIBER 4 g
CALORIES 190 SATURATED FAT 10 g ADDED SUGARS 4 g CALORIES 170 SATURATED FAT 8 g ADDED SUGARS 4 g

Beyond Good Organic Madagascar Theo Organic Pure Dark
Pure Dark Chocolate 80% Cocoa $4.50 70% Dark Chocolate $4.25

Fruity but slightly sour, and has very little Lightly sweet and bitter with roasted, woody,
sweetness. Some bitterness, with a slight and slight berry flavors. Slightly grainy texture.
grainy texture.

BAR SIZE 2.64 oz. FAT 11 g FIBER 3 g BAR SIZE 3 oz. FAT 11 g FIBER 3 g
CALORIES 150 SATURATED FAT 7 g ADDED SUGARS 5 g CALORIES 170 SATURATED FAT 6 g ADDED SUGARS 9 g

Note: Bars are listed in alphabetical order with the top picks listed first. FEBRUARY 2022 CR.ORG 45

The Best
Cell Plan
Deals for
Everyone

From young families to people ages 55+,
modest data users to heavy streamers, we’ve
got the services that will help you save.

BY MICHAEL FRANK

WE GET IT. Changing providers in the previous year reported rank near the top for value, customer
cell phone plans sounds saving money—with nearly one-third support, and overall satisfaction.
like a major headache. pocketing more than $30 per month.
AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon? They
The three big How? Often by looking beyond end up in the bottom third. In fact,
carriers—AT&T, the Big Three. Many of the plans AT&T is the lowest-scoring provider,
T-Mobile, and Verizon—bury all sorts recommended on the following pages receiving our worst rating for value and
of caveats in the small type of their come from smaller providers that lease reception. T-Mobile—which had for years
plan descriptions, making it hard to excess wireless capacity on cellular placed higher than its chief rivals—took
compare offerings, much less figure networks built and maintained by a dip in 2021, too. After merging with
out what you’re getting and how much AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon. (There’s Sprint in 2020, the carrier dropped in
it truly costs. no escaping them entirely.) almost every category, slipping from
But based on Consumer Reports’ above average to average for value,
survey findings, it’s worth the effort In our ratings of cell phone plans, customer support, and data quality.
to shop around. In 2020 more than based on the input of 61,785 CR Even carrier-owned alternatives like
half of CR members who switched members, providers such as Consumer Verizon’s Visible rate higher.
Cellular, Mint, and Ting generally

46 CR.ORG FEBRUARY 2022 ILLUSTRATIONS BY SAM ISLAND

Before shopping plans, it helps to There are settings that break down before “throttling” their own patrons
know how much cellular data you use the data totals by app, too, helping to alleviate network congestion.
each month for things like checking you identify the data hogs. (Social
email, getting GPS directions, and networking and streaming apps are For most people, that’s not a deal
streaming music on the go. Without common culprits.) To keep costs breaker. If you’ve ever been throttled
that info, it’s easy to end up paying for down, use the WiFi in your home for using up the high-speed data
more data than you really need. to download podcasts, movies, and allotment on your “unlimited” plan,
playlists to your phone before going you know that it can be annoying, but
To see how much data you use on out. There’s no extra charge for data it’s not the end of the world.
an iPhone, go to Settings > Cellular > use via WiFi.
Carrier Services, then click on View My Want to see how much you can save by
Data and Msg to receive a text with the If there’s one catch to sidestepping switching providers? We studied dozens
total for your current billing cycle. The the Big Three, it’s this: During peak of plans to find the ones that best suit
process may vary on Android phones, traffic hours, the major carriers users with varied data needs—everything
but try going to Settings > Network & reserve the right to slow data speeds from a modest 5-gigabyte helping to a
Internet > SIMs to find out. for customers from smaller providers heaping all-you-can-eat buffet.

Here’s what we found.

FEBRUARY 2022 CR.ORG 47

Best Low- MINT’S 10GB/ VISIBLE’S TWIGBY’S
Cost Plans MONTH PLAN $40/MONTH 300-MINUTE PLAN
UNLIMITED PLAN
FOR THOSE WITH MODEST $20 per line $9/month
DATA NEEDS NET WORK: T-Mobile $40 a month or less NETWORK: Verizon
TALK AND TEXT: Unlimited per line TALK AND TEXT: 300-minute
IF YOU USE data sparingly, you can cut in the U.S. NETWORK: Verizon limit in the U.S.
way down on costs with one of these TALK AND TEXT: Unlimited
offerings. All are prepaid, which means you Ten gigabytes is more than in the U.S. We don’t yet have CR
purchase data up front, and if you use it up enough data to download ratings for Twigby (see
in a given month, you buy more as needed. favorite podcasts or even That’s a great price for a page 50), but for those
a TV show to your phone plan with no data cap—as in, who don’t need any cellular
via cell signal. After three no limit on streaming, etc. data, that’s a rock-bottom
months, however, you have And when you add lines, the price. And the ability to
to commit to a year’s rate drops. So two lines apply your minutes to calls
service to lock in the rate. cost $35 each; three, $30 and texts overseas comes
If you run over the monthly each; and four, $25 each. in handy for those with
data limit, you don’t get Kids left the nest? Reach loved ones abroad. If you
charged for more. Mint out to customer service or can’t resist a little
simply slows the data search “Discussion Boards” streaming on the go, the
speed down—just like AT&T at Visible.com and enter the company has a 5GB plan
might for unlimited plan word “Party” to find other ($29/month) and a 10GB
members who use up their folks willing to share the plan ($39/month). The
high-speed allowance. So deal. Don’t worry; they service is accessible via
music or videos streamed won’t see your bill. It’s just most phones from AT&T,
via cell connection might a clever way for Visible to Boost, T-Mobile/Sprint,
get a little choppy. increase membership. Verizon, and Virgin Mobile.

Best Plans T-MOBILE’S 55+ TING’S FLEX PLAN MINT’S 55+ PLAN
If You’re 55+ ESSENTIALS PLAN
$10 a month per line $15 a month per line
FOR THOSE WHO CAN EASILY $55/month for two lines NETWORK: T-Mobile and NET WORK: T-Mobile
MANAGE THEIR DATA USE NET WORK: T-Mobile Verizon TALK AND TEXT: Unlimited
TALK AND TEXT: Unlimited TALK AND TEXT: Unlimited in the U.S.
THERE ARE MANY options specifically for in the U.S.; free texting to/ in the U.S.
people 55 and older, but not all are good. from nearly 200 countries Here again, you’re looking
AT&T dangles an Unlimited Elite plan This plan allows you to at a prepaid plan. Mint
discount for AARP members, for instance, If you and your partner purchase data as you requires you to pay for
but for two lines the monthly fee amounts travel from state to need it at a reasonable the first three months
to $130. The picks here are much less state and like to stream $5/GB. The rest of the up front and then 12
expensive and still include options for movies on your phones service is inexpensive. months at a time to lock
those who occasionally like to FaceTime or videochat with friends And it’s fairly easy to hold in the rate for a year.
with family or stream music out by the pool. and family no matter on to your existing phone But if you can swing that,
where you are, this plan because Ting offers you get 4GB of data per
is pretty compelling. You comprehensive coverage month at a nice price.
get unlimited data use via the networks of By comparison, Consumer
throughout the U.S., T-Mobile and Verizon. Cellular’s 3GB plan
though T-Mobile does starts at $25/month
reserve the right to slow for one line. Those who
speeds once you surpass need just one line but
a whopping 50GB in a lots more data should
month. To get this rate, consider Mint’s $30/
you must agree to have month Unlimited plan.
your monthly payment
automatically deducted
from a credit card or
checking account.

48 CR.ORG FEBRUARY 2022

Best Plans VISIBLE’S CONSUMER US MOBILE’S
for Families UNLIMITED PLAN CELLULAR’S UNLIMITED ALL
UNLIMITED PLAN
FOR THOSE WHO CONSUME DATA $40 a month or less $100 for four lines
LIKE HUNGRY TEENS per line $90 for three lines NETWORK: Verizon and
NETWORK: Verizon NET WORK: AT&T and T-Mobile
WHEN YOU’VE GOT more than two people TALK AND TEXT: Unlimited T-Mobile TALK AND TEXT: Unlimited
on your plan, it’s hard to parcel out the in the U.S. TALK AND TEXT: Unlimited in the U.S.
gigabytes—especially when some of those in the U.S.
people are mighty fond of Spotify, TikTok, In case you missed our CR hasn’t rated this
and YouTube. The plans at right provide praise for this plan in the If you don’t need four or provider yet. Beyond the
unlimited data use at a reasonable price. low-cost category, it bears five lines, this plan is very nice price, you might enjoy
repeating, because the cost-effective for families the data speed—250 Mbps,
price per line dips as you of three. If you’re unhappy according to US Mobile,
add more people. Want with the service in your which is pretty close to the
four lines on Verizon’s area, it could be a good 300 Mbps claimed by
cheapest unlimited plan? way to improve your Verizon’s 5G Home Internet
It’ll cost you at least $140/ coverage, too, because service. Think of it as
month. At Visible, you don’t you get access to both getting low-cost access
get extras like free access AT&T and T-Mobile to the more powerful
to Disney+ or Hulu (see networks. networks of Verizon and
below for plans with great T-Mobile. US Mobile also
perks), but with savings offers “free perks” such as
like this, who cares? You Audible and Disney+, but
can decide for yourself if you have to pay for them
you want to pay to watch first, then submit receipts
“The Beatles: Get Back.” to verify your subscription.

VERIZON’S PLAY MORE T-MOBILE’S MAGENTA UNLIMITED PLAN
UNLIMITED PLAN MAX PLAN BY METRO

$180 for four lines $200 for four lines $120 for four lines
NETWORK: Verizon NET WORK: T-Mobile NET WORK: T-Mobile
TALK AND TEXT: Unlimited TALK AND TEXT: Unlimited in TALK AND TEXT: Unlimited
in the U.S. the U.S., Canada, Mexico in the U.S.

Best Plans If your family likes to If you’re often on the This plan from a small
for Perks stream while on the go, move, using a phone as a provider owned by
this plan lets you do so at WiFi hot spot for your T-Mobile costs more than
FOR THOSE WHO WANT up to 720p, which is good. laptop, the Magenta Max the Visible Unlimited plan
UNLIMITED DATA AND MORE It also includes regular Plan provides 40GB of above, but it has a few
access to Disney+, Hulu, mobile data at impressive perks that add to its value,
THESE DAYS, MANY providers sweeten and ESPN+ (together, called speeds. It offers free including 15GB a month of
plans by bundling in services such as the Disney Bundle), plus six access to Gogo Inflight hot-spot data that can be
Amazon Prime, HBO Max, or Netflix free of months of access to Apple WiFi for domestic travel. used by various plan
cost. If you’re already paying for one of Music and one year of And it includes Netflix members at once. It also
those services, this could be a way to save access to Discovery+, (streamed on two devices includes membership in
money. But be careful. Limited-time offers Apple Arcade, and Google at once, if you’d like), Amazon Prime, which
could end up costing you more once they Play Pass for gamers. After and unlike some Verizon typically costs $119 a year.
expire. All things considered, here are some time limits expire, Apple streaming perks, that As with similar plans, your
of the more attractive offerings out there. Music costs $9.99 a Netflix deal doesn’t streaming speeds may get
month, Discovery+ $6.99 a expire as long as you reduced in peak traffic
month, and Apple Arcade keep at least one phone times, but only from high
and Google Play Pass $4.99 on the plan. to standard definition—and
a month. The rate also we’re talking about saving
reflects the savings for $80 a month vs. T-Mobile’s
choosing autopay and Magenta Max.
paperless billing.

FEBRUARY 2022 CR.ORG 49

Ratings   Final Call As these scores from our 2020 Fall Survey confirm,
CR members often prefer the value, customer support, and
overall satisfaction offered by smaller cell service providers.

Provider Reader Survey Results

Overall
satisfaction
score
Value
Customer
support
Data
Reception
Telemarketing
call frequency

HOW TO SWITCH Ting 90 50 50 40 30 40
PLANS BUT KEEP Consumer Cellular 89 50 50 50 30 30
YOUR PHONE Mint Mobile 88 50 – 40 30 30
Visible 86 50 – 40 30 –
You can probably change cellular Spectrum Mobile 85 40 40 40 40 30
companies without buying a new Google Fi 85 40 30 40 30 40
phone, especially if it was made Republic Wireless 84 50 – 40 30 30
in the past five years. TracFone 84 40 20 30 30 30
Cricket 83 40 30 40 30 30
To find out for sure, you can Straight Talk 83 40 20 40 40 30
call the new provider or often MetroPCS 82 40 30 30 30 30
just type the IMEI (international Credo Mobile 82 30 40 40 30 30
mobile equipment identity) Total Wireless 80 40 – 30 30 –
number unique to your phone T-Mobile 78 30 30 30 20 30
into an online tool on the Boost Mobile 77 30 20 30 20 40
carrier’s website. U.S. Cellular 76 20 40 30 30 20
Verizon Wireless 74 20 30 30 30 20
To find the IMEI, you may be Lively 74 20 40 20 30 –
able to just dial *#06#. AT&T 70 10 20 30 10 30

Owners of iPhones can also go HOW WE SURVEY: Ratings are Value, customer support, and they didn’t receive any phone
to Settings > General > About. based on a 2020 Fall Survey data reflect average scores calls from a telemarketer in the
Then scroll down to the number. of 61,785 CR members in the on a scale from very poor to seven days prior to taking this
U.S. Overall satisfaction score excellent. Reception is based on survey. These ratings reflect
The steps will vary on Android represents their views on their the percentage of respondents the experiences of CR members,
phones, but it’s relatively easy current cell phone service who reported having adequate who may not be representative
to find the instructions for your provider, with 100 indicating cell phone reception both of the general U.S. population.
model with a Google search. completely satisfied, 80, very inside and outside the home.
satisfied, and 60, somewhat Telemarketing call frequency –Dashes ( ) indicate insufficient
If you’re still paying off your satisfied. Differences of less pertains to the proportion of
phone, you’ll have to settle up with than 5 points aren’t meaningful. members who reported that sample size to provide a rating.
your old provider before exiting its
plan. You also need to make sure
the device isn’t “locked” to that
carrier’s network. (Every carrier
will unlock your phone if you’ve
paid it off.) For info on how to get
yours unlocked, you can go to
CR.org/unlock0222 or call your
current carrier.

Once you sign up for a new
service, you’ll receive a new
SIM card for your phone. After
installing it, contact the new
provider to port over your phone
number. Companies are required
to let you take the number with
you. Some allow you to handle
this online; with others, you’ll
need to call.

50 CR.ORG FEBRUARY 2022