\n<\/p>\n
Our expert Filter writers have spent the past year at your service: putting mattresses, coffee machines, secateurs, low-alcohol drinks, hair masks, sleep aids and more through their paces.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n The Guardian\u2019s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link.\u00a0Learn more.<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Yet we\u2019re curious (read: nosy) types here and wanted to know what they get up to when they\u2019re off duty, relaxing, exercising, cooking and parenting. So, we asked them for their recommendations for the best thing(s) they\u2019ve bought this year. A kids\u2019 toy that placates a two-year-old, tracksuit bottoms so good our writer owns three pairs, and the perfect hummus: these 49 products are all tried, loved and bought on repeat.<\/p>\n Antique typewriter<\/strong><\/p>\n View at eBayView at Etsy<\/p>\n For her 18th birthday, I bought my daughter a working, vintage typewriter for \u00a35 at a jumble sale. Every young person who sees it wants one. <\/strong>They seem to like old things, though what they see as old doesn\u2019t seem old to me. They love early digital cameras, for example, and I grew up on film. Caramel Quin<\/strong><\/p>\n Alaskan <\/strong>Husky faux fur throw<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a379.99 at John Lewis\u00a379.99 at Dreamland<\/p>\n Last winter, I got myself a heated throw. As I work in an office in the garden, the house heating isn\u2019t on during the day so lunchtimes are brrr. This made a huge difference. Rachel Ogden<\/strong><\/p>\n For more, see our guide to the best heated throws and electric blankets<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Air fryer oil spray<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a32.74 at Asda<\/p>\n I also swear by this oil spray for air frying chips and veggies \u2013 oil distributes evenly and the blend does a much better job than the spoonful of rapeseed I was using. RO<\/strong><\/p>\n Grind house blend coffee<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a36.25 for 200g at Waitrose\u00a329.95 for 1kg at Grind<\/p>\n Tin of Grind coffee<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a39 at Ocado\u00a39.95 at Grind<\/p>\n Everyone who knows me is aware that I am powered by coffee. Grind\u2019s house blend is really tasty, plus I have a mild addiction to its tins, which are brilliant for keeping my decaf ground coffee fresh. RO<\/strong><\/p>\n Bed Head Curls Rock Amplifier, 100ml<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a310 at Superdrug\u00a39.99 at Amazon<\/p>\n Benefit Bad Gal mascara<\/strong>, 8.5g<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a321.60 at Lookfantastic\u00a327 at Cult Beauty<\/p>\n Bed Head Curls Rock Amplifier: I have curly hair and this is the only product that doesn\u2019t frizz my hair. And Benefit Bad Gal mascara the only one to offer volume without clumps. Olivia Petter<\/strong><\/p>\n For more, see our guide to the best mascara<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Nintendo Switch 2<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a3395.99 at Nintendo\u00a3395.99 at Argos<\/p>\n Our best family buy this year has been the Nintendo Switch 2. It\u2019s a great console for party games, and plays existing Switch games (many of which offer free patches to take advantage of the Switch 2\u2019s improved graphics), as well as new titles. We\u2019ve already racked up hundreds of hours of gameplay, most of it communal, which is (usually) good for family harmony. Lise Smith<\/strong><\/p>\n Ninja Zerostick two-pan set<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a359.99 at Ninja\u00a389.99 at Argos<\/p>\n It may sound sad, but the best thing I have bought this year is a set of non-stick frying pans from Ninja. They\u2019ve revolutionised pancakes on a Saturday morning \u2013 no more scrubbing off burnt bits. Leon Poultney<\/strong><\/p>\n For more, see our guide to the best frying pans<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n <\/span> Photograph: Alamy<\/p>\n Charity shops, eBay and Facebook Marketplace are treasure troves for vintage furniture, if you keep an open mind and are prepared to scroll. I found a beautiful Georgian demi-lune side table on the latter for \u00a325. Antique brown furniture can be surprisingly cheap as it\u2019s largely out of fashion, but it\u2019s beautifully made and can bring depth to a room. Kate Jacobs<\/strong><\/p>\n Cosrx snail serum, 100ml<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a323.90 at Sephora\u00a324.99 at Boots<\/p>\n Snail serum for my skin. I know, I know, disgusting idea, but I swear it works. The brand says it\u2019s ethically harvested \u2026 Jess Cartner-Morley<\/strong><\/p>\n Paper diary<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a3100 at Smythson\u00a3100 at Selfridges<\/p>\n I\u2019m very old-school: I still have a paper diary. And it has to be Smythson. Luxury is an overused word, but to me real luxury isn\u2019t fancy pants logos but having top-class versions of the things you handle many times a day. I\u2019ve already ordered my 2026 handbag-sized Panama, with a gold pencil. Every year I spend hours agonising over the colour \u2013 this time I\u2019ve gone with cerulean. JCM<\/strong><\/p>\n Embroidered cushions<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a319 at La Redoute\u00a320 at Debenhams<\/p>\n The best things I\u2019ve bought for my home this year are pairs of rectangular pillows. They instantly make a double bed look pleasingly hotel-ish. Inexpensive and charming, and a tiny thing that gives me a sense of control in a world full of chaos. JCM<\/strong><\/p>\n Flying Goose sriracha mayo sauce, 455ml<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a33.60 at Saisnbury\u2019s<\/p>\n And the best thing I\u2019ve bought for my kitchen is this Flying Goose sriracha mayo. Unbelievably delicious on everything from eggs to stir-fries. I am addicted. JCM<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/span> Photograph: David J Green\/Alamy<\/p>\n Clothes <\/strong>on Vinted. I got some great wide-leg Levi\u2019s that I now wear all the time. Sophia Longhi<\/strong><\/p>\n Herd tote<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a320 at Herd<\/p>\n I\u2019ve just bought another Herd medium tote bag. They\u2019re perfect for the beach, the kids\u2019 swimming lessons and for taking Vinted parcels to the lockers. Roomy, durable (I\u2019ve had my older one for five years and it still looks great), fun and sustainable \u2013 what\u2019s not to love? Zo\u00eb Phillimore<\/strong><\/p>\n Shokz OpenFit 2+<\/strong> headphones<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a3179 at Shokz\u00a3179 at John Lewis<\/p>\n I got the Shokz OpenFit 2+ headphones with running in mind. They loop over the top of the ear, providing a secure, comfortable fit, while the earphones sit over the ear canal rather than pushing in like a pair of earbuds. This makes them naturally hear-through, great for runners who need to safely negotiate areas with busy traffic. The only downside is that you\u2019ll need to play audio at a high volume. But these headphones are excellent at bringing out the detail in mid-range frequencies, from podcasts to the electronic percussion on Silent Shout by the Knife. Pete Wise<\/strong><\/p>\n Klm Nal shorts<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a3119 at Flannels\u00a3119 at Frasers<\/p>\n I\u2019m incredibly picky when it comes to clothes. This year I tried the Klm Nal shorts from lesser-known Swedish outdoor brand Kl\u00e4ttermusen, and they\u2019re perfect \u2013 light, stretchy, comfortable and surprisingly durable for such a thin fabric. Paddy Maddison<\/strong><\/p>\n Arc\u2019teryx <\/strong>Hoody<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a3210 at Cotswold Outdoor\u00a3260 at Arc\u2019teryx<\/p>\n This Arc\u2019teryx Atom Hoody is comfortable in a broad range of temperatures and perfect for layering. The brand offers an in-house repair and re-proofing\/washing service for those lucky enough to live near a store. PM<\/strong><\/p>\n Busy board<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a315.99 at Etsy\u00a322.95 at Montessori Toddlers<\/p>\n A wooden Montessori \u201cbusy board\u201d for my two-year-old son. It has various coloured LED lights, switches, buttons, keys, knobs. I whip it out when we\u2019re travelling or if he\u2019s about to go into meltdown mode, and nine times out of 10 it does the trick. PM<\/strong><\/p>\n Sebson water alarms<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a315.99 at Amazon<\/p>\n Towards the end of last year, we found out that the cold tap that feeds our washing machine had been leaking. To cut a long story short, it ended up as an insurance job, with a rented dehumidifier, redecoration and new flooring in two rooms. So, I\u2019ve invested in a handful of water alarms: small plastic boxes with a pair of electrical sensors in the base. If the sensors are connected by moisture on the floor, they let off a piercing shriek. Andy Shaw<\/strong><\/p>\n JLab Go Pop headphones<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a329.99 at JLab\u00a329.99 at Amazon<\/p>\n Garmin Forerunner 970 smartwatch<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a3629.99 at Cotswold Outdoor \u00a3630 at Millets<\/p>\n Saucony Men\u2019s Endorphin Speed 5<\/strong> running shoes<\/strong><\/p>\n Men\u2019s, \u00a3180 at SauconyWomen\u2019s, \u00a3145 at Sports Direct <\/p>\n The JLab Go Pop ANC headphones are basic, and the sound isn\u2019t perfect, but I love how compact they are; the battery life is good, and they stay put with good comfort on my runs. The Garmin Forerunner 970 is probably my top pick of the running watches I\u2019ve tested this year. Lovely looking, impressive array of training firepower and a \u201cwow\u201d bright screen. If you\u2019re looking for a great all-round, versatile running shoe, the Saucony Endorphin Speed 5 has been a pick from the dozens of shoes I\u2019ve tested this year. Kieran Alger<\/strong><\/p>\n Jo Loves Chestnut candle<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a355 at Cult Beauty<\/p>\n Kirsten lamp<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a349.50 at M&S<\/p>\n This Jo Loves Roasted Chestnuts candle is the best candle in the world. Hands down. I love it so much that I started to hunt down mini versions on Vinted. Candles are often given to people who aren\u2019t keen on them, so many bargains can be found. I also got the Kirsten lamp from Marks & Spencer that everyone loved, and the joy-to-price ratio is unmatched. M&S even does a slightly different version now, too. Rhiannon Evans<\/strong><\/p>\n Adidas tracksuit bottoms<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a360 at Adidas\u00a360 at Asos<\/p>\n Without doubt, it\u2019s my Adidas Originals loose tracksuit bottoms. I wear them around the house and can dress them up with a blazer. Two pairs just aren\u2019t enough, so I\u2019ve just ordered the new brown shade, perfect for autumn. Sabine Wiesel<\/strong><\/p>\n Hex chair<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a384.95 at Wildbounds\u00a378.97 at Amazon<\/p>\n The Crazy Creek LongBack Hex chair has been my most used outdoor kit this year. It\u2019s so simple, so comfortable and so easy to tuck in a backpack, beach bag or throw in the car. Most outdoor chairs are bulky and cumbersome, but this is genius. Ella Foote<\/strong><\/p>\n Machi Koro<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a321.99 at Zatu Games\u00a323.99 at Magic Madhouse<\/p>\n We got this for our spirited nine-year-old, who loves a board game. It has been the most all-round entertaining game we have played as a family for a long time. He can play it with his friends as well as with us. Simple, entertaining and totally away from digital stimulants! EF<\/strong><\/p>\n Sch\u00f6fferhofer Radler wheat beer, 12 x 500ml<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a322.95 at The Whisky Exchange\u00a324.95 at Beerhunter<\/p>\n The craft beer revolution may be stalling, but I\u2019ve loved the way indie brewing has shaken up the blokey old world of boozing. My product of the year is Sch\u00f6fferhofer wheat beer. At 2.5%, this fruity beer is light enough to keep me from getting drunk, but doesn\u2019t have the thin or synthetic taste that some low-percenters do. Jane Hoskyn<\/strong><\/p>\n For more mid-strength alcohol ideas, see our guide to the best<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Musto Corsica waterproof jacket<\/strong><\/p>\n From \u00a3126 at Musto<\/p>\n My other standout recent buy is my Musto Corsica jacket. I\u2019m under 5ft tall and I love a bargain, so I\u2019ve always tended to buy \u00a310 coats designed for 13-year-old boys and have them fall apart on me within months. A desire to stay dry \u2013 and basic shopping wisdom \u2013 demanded that I spend more on a carefully chosen item that would go the distance. It has already proved its worth on hikes. Even the fact that my arms are slightly too short for its sleeves (my fault, not its) means my hands stay extra toasty. JH<\/strong><\/p>\n Nuby baby bottle maker<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a340 at Argos\u00a324.99 at Amazon<\/p>\n Stokke Yoyo <\/strong>pushchair<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a3305 at John Lewis\u00a3339 at Stokke <\/p>\n Vapour plug-in<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a37.49 at Superdrug\u00a38.50 at Boots<\/p>\n As a new mum, three things have been far and away my best purchases. One, a Nuby RapidCool baby bottle maker. You pour boiled water into it, shake it, tap the top, and when the word \u201cNuby\u201d changes from yellow to green, the water is the perfect temperature for baby formula. It says it takes two minutes, but often it\u2019s far quicker. Two, the Yoyo BabyZen pram. It\u2019s compact, so it fits in narrow hallways; it\u2019s light, so you can lift it \u2013 with baby and shopping \u2013 on to a tube or bus; and it folds down so small that it fits in the overhead compartment in a plane. I got mine from Vinted. And three, a Calpol Vapour Plug-in, which releases lavender and camomile through the night to clear your baby\u2019s airways. Laura <\/strong>Potter<\/strong><\/p>\n Cotton trousers<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a359 at Lucy & Yak<\/p>\n Arket heavyweight <\/strong>T-shirt<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a335 at H&M\u00a335 at Arket<\/p>\n Lucy & Yak straight-leg cotton trousers and Arket heavyweight T-shirts form my daily outfit for school drop-off and Zoom meetings. Rebecca Goodman<\/strong><\/p>\n Meaco Sefte pedestal fan<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a3180 at Argos\u00a3186.99 at Amazon<\/p>\n Meaco\u2019s Sefte pedestal fan. I bought one last year and it proved excellent, then I managed to snag another one immediately before the heatwaves this year. So good I\u2019ve literally bought it twice. Samuel Gibbs<\/strong><\/p>\n Desk mug<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a317.99 at Decathlon\u00a317.99 at Mountain Warehouse<\/p>\n When my son was born, we could never finish our coffee before it got cold due to the unpredictability of dealing with a newborn, so I bought a Contigo Streeterville desk mug, and it was so good, I quickly got another. SG <\/strong><\/p>\n Shoe Goo II, 26.6ml<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a38.19 at Amazon<\/p>\n Fabri-tac glue<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a312.50 for 59ml at Bobbin Girl\u00a314.95 for 118ml at Amazon<\/p>\n Two types of glue: Shoe Goo II, which saved my silver cowboy boots. The sole fell off halfway through a festival, and I assumed that would be the end of them, but I stuck them back on, and they are almost as good as new. And Fabri-tac glue: strong, clear-drying fabric glue that\u2019s brilliant for quickly knocking up items of fancy dress, without needing to go near a sewing machine! Linda Geddes<\/strong><\/p>\n Glowxie glass foot file<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a316.99 at Glowxie\u00a316.95 at Amazon<\/p>\n I\u2019m training to run my first ever London Marathon next April, raising funds for the Positive East HIV charity. As a runner who also loves to wear strappy high heels, this glass foot file is the best I\u2019ve ever used. It transforms heels from scratchy to smooth in moments, and rinses perfectly clean, unlike pumice stones. Alix Fox<\/strong><\/p>\n Delhicious hair mask, 175g<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a39.95 at Superdrug\u00a310.70 at Notino<\/p>\n This Delhicious mask is like CPR for bleached, almost-dead tresses like mine. Amla and coconut provide amazingly effective hydration, and smell glorious. Founded in the UK by husband and wife team Zak and Zara, who were inspired by their Indian roots. AF<\/strong><\/p>\n For more<\/strong><\/em>, see our guide to the best hair masks<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Rugby shirt<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a3115 at Life of Ease<\/p>\n Rugby shirts are a fashion staple for another autumn\/winter, so my Life of Ease organic cotton version from last year is coming back out. It washes brilliantly and, a year on, the herringbone collar has stayed stiff and<\/em> soft. Founder Hermione\u2019s mother still hand packs all of the deliveries, so receiving your order feels really special. Hayley Spencer<\/strong><\/p>\n Striped shirt<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a395 at With Nothing Underneath<\/p>\n Hands down, the best work shirt you\u2019ll ever get your hands on for under \u00a3100. The cuts are so flattering, the prints are chic, and the fabrics make you feel good. There\u2019s one for pretty much every type of look, but to up the ante on your office attire, I recommend the Boyfriend. HS<\/strong><\/p>\n Ramona\u2019s hummus, 500g<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a33.50 at Ocado\u00a33.65 at Waitrose<\/p>\n The search for the perfect hummus has officially been called off: Ramona\u2019s Original Heavenly hummus is the one. Dip a breadstick, a carrot, a spoon, whatever. Matt Collins<\/strong><\/p>\n Worx cordless combi drill<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a399.99 at B&Q\u00a3100 at Argos<\/p>\n Turning 40 this year, the other item I\u2019ve been delighted with is an undeniably middle-aged staple: a cordless combi drill. It\u2019s bloody brilliant, especially given how compact it is. I now get actively excited at the prospect of hanging shelves, shower curtains, picture frames, garden wires \u2026 MC<\/strong><\/p>\n Darn Tough low-cut socks<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a315.95 at Wildbounds\u00a326.99 at Debenhams<\/p>\n Darn Tough heavyweight socks<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a337.99 at Sock Snob\u00a339.99 at Mountain Warehouse<\/p>\n Darn Tough makes lovely merino wool socks, but while the prices are daunting, its lifetime replacements are a magical idea. I\u2019m slowly replacing my entire sock drawer with a collection of all the variants, from light, low-cut socks for running to heavyweight socks for when I\u2019m out on the mountain bike in winter. Once a hole appears, you request a replacement and send a photo of your socks chopped in half. They then give you a code to order a new pair for free (delivery is free). I keep the chopped up ones and use them as hand warmers to go over the top of gloves for cold-weather cycling \u2013 or gardening. Sasha Muller<\/strong><\/p>\n Shower filter<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a344 at B&Q\u00a344 at Boots<\/p>\n My shower filter has not only improved my hair health, but also saved me from having to spend hours scrubbing limescale from my shower screen. I use the renter-friendly, refillable filter from Tappwater, but there are so many options available. Sarah Matthews<\/strong><\/p>\n For more, read the Filter\u2019s one<\/strong><\/em>-year roundup of the 50 things we loved this year<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Our expert Filter writers have spent the past year at your service: putting mattresses, coffee machines, secateurs, low-alcohol drinks, hair masks, sleep aids and more through their paces. The Guardian\u2019s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link.\u00a0Learn more. Yet we\u2019re curious (read: nosy) types here and<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":29943,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[52],"tags":[79,5424,320,3999,337,17645,891,15507,809],"class_list":{"0":"post-29942","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-technology","8":"tag-arent","9":"tag-duty","10":"tag-experts","11":"tag-filter","12":"tag-life","13":"tag-pairs","14":"tag-style","15":"tag-swear","16":"tag-theyre"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29942","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=29942"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29942\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/29943"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=29942"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=29942"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=29942"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}The best things Filter writers bought this year<\/h2>\n
Just my type<\/h2>\n
Cosy, cooking, and coffee<\/h2>\n
Curls and swirls, lashes and locks<\/h2>\n
Game on!<\/h2>\n
Pan-orama<\/h2>\n
Fabled tables on the cheap<\/h2>\n
Senses working overtime<\/h2>\n
Jeans genie<\/h2>\n
Definitely my bag, baby<\/h2>\n
Listen up, right<\/h2>\n
Outdoor essentials and toddler toys<\/h2>\n
Leak prevention<\/h2>\n
Sole searching<\/h2>\n
Scents and sensibility<\/h2>\n
Suits you<\/h2>\n
Outdoor comfort and family fun<\/h2>\n
Craft beer and cosy clothing<\/h2>\n
Brilliant for babies and toddlers<\/h2>\n
WFH staples<\/h2>\n
Hot and cold heroes<\/h2>\n
Sticky stuff to stick with<\/h2>\n
From head to toe<\/h2>\n
Getting shirty<\/h2>\n
Great dips and drill bits<\/h2>\n
Happy feet<\/h2>\n
No, limescale, no!<\/h2>\n