The Filter is turning one. Since we launched a year ago, we’ve run, hiked, camped and swum; we’ve drunk 455 cups of coffee; washed 34 loads of clothes; slept on mattresses for 2,240 hours, and much more, testing a total of 2,040 products – from coffee machines to gin – to bring you the most rigorous, informed and entertaining buying advice.
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We’ve even had a decent stab at identifying the preferred lipstick of a global icon. And we’ve helped you consume less – and look after your precious things, from your phone to your wooden kitchen utensils, to make them last longer.
To celebrate our birthday, we’ve asked our contributors – and our readers – to tell us the one thing they’ve tested or bought from our 409 articles (and counting) that they’ve loved the most. We’ve included a few of our personal favourites here on the Filter, too.
From a slow cooker to a sleep mask, a highchair food catcher to a hot brush, here are 50 tried, tested and genuinely loved recommendations.
The Filter products we (and you) love the most
A perfectly portable blender
Ninja Blast cordless blender
£49.99 at Ninja£44 at Amazon
After reading the Filter’s best blenders article, I actually went out and bought the cordless Ninja Blast for making protein shakes. It’s fantastic, and I can stick it in my gym bag for a quick protein hit after a workout. Leon Poultney
Go retro with an MP3 player
Snowsky Echo Mini
£49.99 at AMP3£66.99 at eBay
I’m a big fan of the Snowsky Echo Mini from my list of the best MP3 players. It’s a great (re)introduction to portable music players, and the fact that it’s shaped like a cassette tape gives it a whole extra layer of charm. Alan Martin
Mix it up with cordless blending
KitchenAid cordless hand blender
£219 at KitchenAid£219 at Amazon
I really liked the rechargeable battery concept of the KitchenAid Go cordless hand blender that I tested for best blenders – not being tied to a plug socket makes all those little jobs so much easier. Rachel Ogden
Beach campfire, in a candle
Smoky sea salt candle
£28 at Cornish Sea Salt
I hugely enjoyed testing scented candles and diffusers. But the one I’m obsessed with is the Smoky Sea Salt candle by Cornish Sea Salt: it makes you feel like you’re sitting around a campfire on the beach. I can’t get enough of it. Kate Jacobs
Sleep aids for a blissful 40 winks
Photograph: Jane Hoskyn/The Guardian
Otty Original Hybrid mattress
From £499.99 at Otty
The Otty Original Hybrid mattress is my lone five-star review of the year, and the only one I subsequently bought for keeps. It continues to slay the competition. Jane Hoskyn
For more, read our guide to the best mattresses
MyHalos blackout sleep mask
£9.99 at Amazon£12.99 at eBay
The best thing I’ve tested is the MyHalos blackout sleep mask, which costs less than £15 and romped to victory in my roundup of the best sleep aids. I now have four, such is my fear of losing one to holiday baggage handlers or the eye mask fairy. JH
Cosy socks
Heattech cable socks
£7.90 at Uniqlo
We featured a pair of Heattech socks last Christmas that quickly became the most popular item ever on the Filter (since overtaken by the Otty mattress and a sub-£10 mascara, among other things). I finally succumbed to curiosity and bought myself a pair towards the end of winter, and they were just perfect for the shoulder season, keeping me warm even with bare legs. I’ve since developed a full-blown obsession with Uniqlo technical fabrics (Heattech scarves, Airism shorts …), but I don’t think I can hold the socks fully responsible. Monica Horridge
Lovely booze-free bubbly
L’Arjolle Zero sparkling equilibre
£13.45 at Wine at Home
I was surprised to discover there are some really good non-alcoholic wines out there that taste like the real deal. The L’Arjolle Zero sparkling equilibre was my favourite: with fine bubbles and depth of flavour, it’s a convincing alternative to real bubbly. I’m planning to get in a few bottles for Christmastime to moderate the intake a little and offer booze-free imbibers something tasty. Sophia Longhi
A forever dress
Reiss Atelier maxidress
£428 at Reiss£428 at Next
This Reiss Atelier dress was one of the most expensive things I’ve recommended, and I hesitated to include it, but it is a truly beautiful piece that I will wear for ever. Also – it’s on offer now! Jess Cartner-Morley
A boot to hike for
Sorel waterproof sneaker boot
£139.49 at Sports Shoes£155 at Sorel
And I never get tired of recommending my Sorel hiking boots. Sturdy but lightweight, ridiculously comfy, not stupidly expensive – and they actually look nice too. JCM
Pitch-perfect camping
MSR Hubba Hubba NX tent
£474.99 at Cotswold Outdoor£560 at Go Outdoors
I take my MSR Hubba Hubba tent wild camping all the time: it’s quick and intuitive to pitch and has two roomy porches, so it’s easy to share with another camper. And our Boutique Glamping bell tent comes to weddings, festivals and family camps with us; I love having headroom. Sian Lewis
For more, read our guide to the best tents
A knife made for gardens
Niwaki hori hori knife
£32 at Niwaki£32 at Burford
My green-fingered aunt bought me a hori hori knife from Niwaki (as recommended in our piece on gifts so good we buy them on repeat) and I’m obsessed: it makes weeding really fast – and fun! SL
Joggers to pep up the WFH wardrobe
Adidas Originals Firebird track pants
£60 at Adidas£60 at Asos
I bought the Adidas Firebird joggers in green after Peter Bevan highlighted them in his 50 men’s summer wardrobe updates. I wanted to update my work-from-home attire, so I don’t feel like such a slob when I pop out on my lunch break. These fit the bill perfectly: they’re comfy to sit in all day, but they also look good – plus they add a nice pop of colour to my wardrobe. Lily Smith
Steamed rice microwave-style
Sistema rice steamer
£7.99 at Currys£7.99 at Amazon
I’ve always wanted a rice cooker, but I don’t have the counter space. So when I saw Joanne Gould recommend this affordable microwave version in her review of the best rice cookers, I gave it a go. It produced much more delicious and less starchy rice than I’d ever managed in a saucepan, and all for £7.99. LS
The perfect hot brush
GHD Duet Blowdry hairdryer brush
£379 at GHD£379 at Lookfantastic
I thought nothing would make me part with my well-tried and very trusted Revlon One Step hot brush, but the GHD Duet Blowdry I tested for best hot brushes really did blow me away. A new favourite. Lise Smith
The great kickstart coffee machine
De’Longhi Magnifica Evo bean-to-cup coffee machine
£419.99 at Lakeland£580 at Argos
My family loves our De’Longhi Magnifica Evo bean-to-cup coffee machine (a kind house-warming gift), which takes the sting out of waking up by brewing fresh barista-style coffee at the touch of a button. It’s quick, easy to clean, and has a handy milk steamer for lattes and cappuccinos. I can’t face the morning without it. LS
For more, read our guide to the best coffee machines
Brilliant slow cooking
GreenPan stainless steel slow cooker
£215 at Currys
Ninja 8-in-1 slow cooker
£149 at John Lewis£150 at Argos
Two of the snazzy slow cookers I tested during my epic kleftiko saga were particularly brilliant (the GreenPan and Ninja Foodi Impossible 8-in-1). Joanne Gould
Microwave toasties
Morphy Richards Mico
£19.99 at Morphy Richards£19.99 at Amazon
In testing toastie makers, I came across a nifty microwaveable version from Morphy Richards that will have to be prised out of my cold, dead hands when the time comes to pass it on to the lovely people at Gratitude Upcycle in Barnet. However, shout out to the McGuigan Mid shiraz red wine – which I tested for my piece on the best mid-strength drinks – as it’s the most surprising thing I keep buying; at 7% it just about tastes like the stronger stuff and is a good Sunday option. It’s in loads of supermarkets, too. JG
Smash the potato mashing
Oxo Good Grips smooth potato masher
£12 at Dunelm£12 at Amazon
I included the Oxo Good Grips potato masher in my Father’s Day gift guide, and it has revolutionised my mashing game. Light, fluffy and sorting your mash in seconds, it beats a wire-based design hands down and its ergonomic hand position is much easier to use. It’s also a doddle to clean: you won’t find old bits of potato stuck in the curves next time you go to mash. Charlie Allenby
Big props to no-drops food-catcher
Highchair food catcher
£39.95 at Amazon
I’ve got a nine-month-old, and there are an awful lot of things you throw cash at in the pursuit of making your life easier. One thing I couldn’t live without, though, is the Catchy. It’s essentially a bit of plastic that you fit beneath a highchair, and it catches any food, cutlery, plates and cups tossed over the side. They can then be plonked back in front of your baby because they haven’t hit the deck. CA
Hydrogen + hydration in a bottle
Echo water flask
£283.99 at Healf£299 at Amazon
I was sceptical about the hydrogen-infused water bottle (the price, the price!) in my test of the best water bottles, but became a convert – chug a bottle of it and there’s no dehydration the morning after boozing. A gamechanger. Zoë Phillimore
Juice on the go
Anker Nano power bank
£19.99 at Anker£19.99 at Amazon
As someone who uses my phone for everything, from paying for things to unlocking my front door, it cannot be without battery. The Anker Nano – rated best for portability in Pete Wise’s test of the best power banks – gives me peace of mind that I won’t lock myself out of the house if my phone dies. ZP
The rise-and-shine alarm clock
Lumie Bodyclock Spark 100 sunrise alarm clock
£99 at Argos£99 at Boots
I had modest expectations when I started writing the Filter’s guide to the best sunrise alarm clocks, but the Lumie Bodyclock Spark 100 dazzled me with its natural-feeling sunrise simulation. It often woke me pleasantly before the alarm went off. Pete Wise
Budget-but-still-the-best child’s bike seat
Polisport Bubbly Maxi Plus child seat
£45 at Halfords
A dirt-cheap Halfords child bike seat. I tried frame-mounted bike seats from a number of leading brands, from £35 up to £140. In the end, it was the cheapest of the lot that caused the fewest headaches. Paddy Maddison
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Go-to cross-body bag … and refillable deodorant
Round mini shoulder bag
£14.90 at Uniqlo
Fussy Tropic Tonic deodorant starter pack
£15 at Fussy£8.71 at Holland & Barrett
I discovered the brilliant Uniqlo cross-body bag. I also had the confidence to invest in Fussy deodorant: it’s expensive, and too much to spend when you aren’t sure if it works – but you were correct, it does! Pippa
Nice ice, baby
Lékué ice cube box
£17.50 at John Lewis£8.93 at Amazon
In a bid to become the adult I always wanted to be – someone who always has ice in the house – I bought the Lékué ice box from one of our gift guides last Christmas. The abstract-shaped cubes are sharp and stylish, and were small enough to fit in my daughter’s water bottle this heatwave summer. Hannah Booth
Ultimate camping mattress for one
Coleman Supercomfort single camping mat
£124.95 at Outdoor Action
My wife caught sight of Linda Geddes gamely testing camping mats and was taken by the write-up of the Coleman Supercomfort. She ordered a single mattress immediately, and tells me it’s excellent. I’m not allowed anywhere near it. Andy Shaw
The anytime massage gun
Bob & Brad Q2 Pro massage gun
£89.99 at Amazon
I tested dozens of massage guns and was impressed by the Bob & Brad Q2 Pro – a small-but-mighty pummeller that’s portable. I packed it in my 100-mile ultra drop bag and, with 17 miles to go, its soothing muscle mashing turned me from the Tin Man to skipping Dorothy. Well, almost. Kieran Alger
Bye chub rub, hello comfy run shorts
Light control thigh slimmers, two-pack
£20 at M&S
My Marks & Spencer chub rub shorts were featured in our guide to keeping cool in hot weather. They’ve saved me for many summers now. Rhiannon Evans
A game for all ages
Marble run
£15 at Argos£20 at John Lewis
I also bought my son the marble run he asked for last Christmas. Both my kids loved it, actually … as did I. RE
Stylish twist on the waterproof coat
Patent faux leather coat
£36 at Sainsbury’s
Inspired by the Filter’s feature on how to look good in wet weather, I upgraded my waterproof jacket. It hadn’t occurred to me that a faux patent leather jacket could work just as well as a traditional waterproof. Sabine Wiesel
Open your eyes to the swim mask
Defy Ultra swim mask
£115 at Aquasphere£97.55 at Amazon
The Aquasphere Defy Ultra swim mask – which I included in my roundup of cold-water swimming essentials – is the most expensive pair of goggles I’ve bought, but worth every penny. I’ve swum multiple long-distance events in them. I look a bit like I’m wearing ski goggles and often get comments, but for comfort and field of vision in open water, they’re excellent. Ella Foote
Brilliant babygrows with two-way zips
Two-way zip baby sleepsuits, four-pack
From £19 at Next
I was pregnant when Paddy Maddison’s article on baby gear parents wouldn’t go without came out, and soon discovered that it should be illegal to make newborn babygrows or sleepsuits without two-way zips. I love these ones from Next. If you have a pregnant friend, do them a favour and get them a pack. Laura Potter
Shoes to climb high in
Veloce climbing shoe
£110 at Nevisport£140 at Go Outdoors
After writing my climbing kit article, I bought some Scarpa Veloce climbing shoes that were recommended by the coach I spoke with. They’re now my favourite ever climbing shoes. Tom Bruce
An actually leak-proof water bottle
Ion8 water bottle
£12.99 at Decathlon£13 at Argos
The Ion8, voted top budget option in Zoë Philimore’s test of the best water bottles, is the only leak-proof bottle I’ve used. It’s managed to survive in both my daughters’ school bags without an incident. Rebecca Goodman
Camping loveseat for outdoor comfort
Kelty low loveseat
£114.95 at Wildbounds£148.95 at Amazon
The Kelty loveseat camping couch won me brownie points when I bought it for my other half’s birthday. Well made and robust, it comfortably sits two people in a slouchy, relaxed manner. Perfect for evening campsites with a glass of beer in hand. Deborah
For more, read our guide to the best camping chairs
The frying pan that’s chemical-free
De Buyer steel round pancake pan, 30cm
£59.98 at Nisbets£57 at Amazon
I’m a convert to frying pans with no coating that you season with oil instead. Having researched Pfas-free pans, I decided that even if the health risks are uncertain, I want to try to minimise the number of products I buy that contain forever chemicals because of the potential environmental cost. So I’m gradually replacing our pans with stainless steel and carbon steel ones. I’ve also discovered the joys of cooking with a crepe pan: as well as turning out excellent pancakes, my De Buyer Mineral B crepe pan is great for toasting wraps, and making okonomiyaki (Japanese fritters). Linda Geddes
The truly magic wand (vibrator!)
Doxy die cast wand
£131.55 at Secrets Shop£154.99 at Boots
I named the Doxy Die Cast as my No 1 wand vibrator in my test of the best vibrators, and I stand by that decision. It’s unapologetically loud and hefty, and packs so much power that I’ve witnessed it make women climax through thick jeans. Alix Fox
Must-have beauty gadget
Ziip Halo
£379.99 at Ziip Beauty
There are so many beauty gadgets with high-ticket prices that it’s hard to know what’s worth investing in. The Ziip Halo microcurrent device, which I featured in my piece on at-home beauty treatments, is one of the unicorns. I’ve been using it for six months, a few times a week, and my skin looks more glowing, firmer and more snatched around the jaw. It’s so small that it fits in my makeup bag for holidays, too. Hayley Spencer
Electric toothbrush with pearly service
Suri 2.0 electric toothbrush
£105 at Suri£105 at Boots
I bought a Suri toothbrush and, while it’s definitely more of a pleasure to use than my previous one and is more sustainable, the thing I was most impressed with was the customer service. It stopped working, but I received a prompt response, and a replacement handle was posted to me straight away. Lisa Foreman
The pregnancy pillow you always needed
Dreamgenii pregnancy pillow
£37.99 at Robert Dyas£53.99 at Debenhams
A lot of pregnancy pillows are good at supporting your tummy while elevating the legs, but they’re less good at looking after your back. The Dreamgenii did both beautifully, keeping me in a stable position without waking at 3am to stuff cushions behind my lower back. The flat section joining it together also meant nothing moved about in the night – other than the baby, and me getting up to pee. It saw me through two pregnancies, as well as being a handy feeding pillow after each of my sons arrived. My husband tried (unsuccessfully) to pinch it for himself. Lucy Pavia
Elevate your home dining
Delouis mayonnaise
£3.25 at Ocado£3.30 at Waitrose
After testing so many delicious foods for the food filter, I’m slowly building a shopping list of my favourites. Here are a few standouts: Delouis mayonnaise (incredible, minimally processed dijon mustard), Ollie’s kimchi (a fiery, funky and lively local ferment), Cauldron authentic organic tofu (clean, complex and well priced) and M&S pitted green queen olives (delicious chunky gordal olives). Tom Hunt
Secateurs that are a joy
Niwaki GR Pro secateurs
From £84 at Niwaki£99.99 at Crocus
It was love at first snip with Niwaki’s GR Pro secateurs. I’d seen them about, but never before had the pleasure of taking a plant to task with them; the experience of testing a pair out for the Filter’s roundup of the best secateurs was a joy. The cut is more of a glide, and they sit so comfortably in the hand that it feels like being reunited with a favourite jumper. Matt Collins
The gorgeous gunk-free cafetière
Espro P7 French press
£85.09 at Amazon
Of the products I’ve tested, I’ve developed something of a soft spot for the Espro P7 French Press. The Espro has gone on a camping trip and a holiday to Scotland, and it’s been a godsend. It’s insulated so we could brew a litre of gorgeous-tasting coffee and work our way through it without it going stone cold, and the filter prevented 99% of the sludge from getting into our mugs. Spending almost three figures on a cafetiere may sound a bit bonkers, but when it makes great, gunk-free coffee and keeps it warm for an hour in the middle of a Welsh field, it almost seems like good value. Sasha Muller
The ultimate office chair
Herman Miller Aeron chair
£1,385 at Herman Miller£1,399 at John Lewis
The Herman Miller Aeron chair, from my test of the best office chairs. I loved it, my wife loved it, and the courier was mildly horrified when we sent it back, as he barely ever had to return one. Sadly, we can’t afford it. Stuart Andrews
Hats off to the best cap
Original Pirate Material cap
£45 at Scrt
I bought my husband the Original Pirate Material cap from Peter Bevan’s 50 men’s summer wardrobe updates just in time for Glastonbury. He loves the Streets and is never without a hat, so it was the perfect fit. Judging from the number of people we saw wearing the cap around Worthy Farm, I think a fair few Filter readers had the same idea. Ella Jinadu
Hair care, honey pot style
Gisou Honey Gloss ceramide therapy mask
£19 for 75ml at Cult Beauty£19 for 75ml at SpaceNK
The best thing I’ve tested this year, hands down, is the Gisou Honey Gloss ceramide therapy hair mask. I had tried the brand’s original mask before, and found it pretty average, but this new formulation somehow made my glossy hair dreams come true without weighing my hair down. It’s an investment, but if you have long, thick hair you want to look after, it’s a brilliant choice. Sarah Matthews
Stirring stuff from a great fan
Lume air circulator fan
£149 at Lume
The best product I tested for the Filter this year was the AirCraft Lume fan. It’s so well made that it’s practically silent, so the biggest challenge is forgetting it’s on. It has a cute backlight, too. Unsurprisingly, it’s been on preorder ever since we recommended it. Caramel Quin
For more, read our guide to the best fans
Do you have a favourite Filter buy? Let us know at thefilter@theguardian.com
