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The Nano-Air is a lightweight, stretchy, breathable layer that’s designed for high-output activity. The recycled polyester face and liner fabrics both wear DWR finishes to repel light precipitation and moisture, and the pullover is stuffed with a lightweight layer of recycled polyester insulation. Notice I said “lightweight” twice? This pullover will disappear on your body, making it a great choice for hikes and trail runs in chilly conditions. But it’s super comfortable, too, so you can definitely wear it casually. And its slim, close-fitting cut allows it to slide right under a waterproof shell for more intense weather conditions.
You may be familiar with Patagonia’s other Nano line, the Nano-Puff. The Nano-Puff Jacket, the hallmark piece from this more insulated collection, is heavier and less breathable than the Nano-Air Pullover, which makes it a better choice for low-output activities and casual wear. If you expect to get your heart rate up outdoors, however, the Nano-Air is the jacket to wear.
REI doesn’t have many reviews for this jacket, but it’s a clear favorite over at Patagonia. Reviewers called it “incredibly comfortable” and “just the right weight for cool days.” It hits a sweet spot for fall and winter layering: It’s “lightweight, stretchy, surprisingly warm, and an easy everyday go-to.”
Half off on a Nano-Air jacket is a big deal, and sizes are already selling out—jump on this bargain ASAP before it disappears.
Fans of the country music icon George Strait will be excited to learn that it has just been announced that the legendary singer will be making a rare festival appearance. In 2027, the Country Music Hall of Famer will hit the stage during a three-day event that will feature performances from several other beloved performers.
When George Strait Is Returning to New Mexico
On September 1, 2026, Activated Events shared a press release with Men’s Journal that featured details about George Strait’s only planned 2027 festival performance. It revealed that the “Check Yes or No,” “Carrying Your Love with Me,” and “Amarillo by Morning” singer will headline the 2027 Boots in the Park festival in New Mexico. The event will mark the singer’s first festival performance since 2021.
Presale tickets for the 2027 Boots in the Park festival will be available on Thursday, September 10, 2026, at 10:00 AM MT. The general sale will then commence the following day, on Friday, September 11, 2026, at 10:00 AM MT.
The Boots in the Park festival is scheduled for May 14-16, 2027, and will take place in Albuquerque, New Mexico’s Balloon Fiesta Park. It will mark the fourth straight year the event will happen in the state and follow the 2026 edition, which was attended by more than 60,000 country music fans.
When Strait takes the stage, it will be the first time he performs in New Mexico since 2013. The press release quoted the iconic singer, who was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2006, discussing his return to the state. “New Mexico, it’s been way too long. While I’m not sure where else this next year will take us, I do know we can’t wait to see everyone at Boots in the Park next May.”
More Country Music Stars Will Be Joining George Strait During the Festival
Since the 2027 Boots in the Park festival is planned to be a three-day event with multiple stages, it will have plenty of time to feature a long list of country music artists. While many of those performers have not yet been announced, a handful of the names that will appear at the event alongside George Strait have been revealed. According to the press release, Jason Aldean, Brooks & Dunn, Zach Top, and Jon Pardi are all set to perform during the upcoming event.
Conway Twitty built one of the most successful careers in country music history, but even longtime fans may not realize just how dominant he once was on the charts.
Born on Sept. 1, 1933, in Friars Point, Mississippi, Twitty became one of country music’s biggest stars, scoring 40 No. 1 hits on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart between 1968 and 1986.
For years, that total stood as the most in the chart’s history.
Twitty’s run began with “Next in Line,” his first country No. 1, in 1968.
He followed it with a string of hits including “Hello Darlin’,” “You’ve Never Been This Far Before,” “Linda on My Mind” and “Don’t Take It Away.” Eleven of his 40 Billboard country No. 1s were songs he wrote himself.
His record eventually fell to another country legend: George Strait.
Billboard now credits Strait, 74, with 44 Hot Country Songs No. 1s, putting him ahead of Twitty’s 40.
Twitty’s career stretched far beyond country music, too.
He first found fame as a rock and roll singer, scoring a No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 with “It’s Only Make Believe” in 1958 before reinventing himself as a country star.
Twitty died in 1993 at age 59, but his chart legacy remains one of the most remarkable in country music.
When Clay Buchholz made his major league debut for the Boston Red Sox on August 17, 2007, there were little expectations for him other than to be a fresh arm for the first game of a day-night doubleheader.
Then-manager Terry Francona downplayed his arrival, telling reporters before the start that it “doesn’t matter if he throws a no-hitter, he’s going back down” to the minor leagues.
Buchholz was solid in that debut, giving the Red Sox 6.0 innings while allowing three earned runs and picking up the win against the Angels. Still, as Francona had forecasted, the 23-year-old was quickly demoted back to Triple-A Pawtucket after the game.
But when he returned to the big leagues just over two weeks later, Francona didn’t even get the chance to take the ball away from his young pitcher, who went out and tossed one of the most improbable no-hitters in MLB history.
Riding a four-game losing streak as the calendar turned over to September, Boston turned to Buchholz to provide a spark against the visiting Baltimore Orioles. What he ended up giving them was something that had never been done in franchise history, as he became the first Red Sox rookie to pitch a no-hitter.
The Sox jumped out to an early lead that night behind big hits from Kevin Youkilis and David Ortiz. A three-run homer from Youkilis in the sixth inning put Boston up 8-0, but the focus had shifted to what was happening on the mound. A sensational diving stop and throw from fellow 23-year-old Dustin Pedroia to cut down a head-first sliding Miguel Tejeda in the bottom of the seventh kept the no-hitter rolling into the late innings, igniting a tense but raucous sold-out Fenway crowd.
Buchholz came into the game with just six innings of MLB experience, throwing 91 pitches in his first outing. By the end of the eighth inning, his pitch count had climbed to 102, but Francona didn’t hesitate to send his guy back out for a chance at history.
13 pitches later, Buchholz had done it. Dropping in a curveball on Nick Markakis for a called third strike, the young righty from Texas had thrown a nine-strikeout no-hitter just two weeks after the Red Sox manager had joked about such a feat to underscore the certainty of his demotion.
The performance lives on as the only of its kind in Red Sox history. He became just the third player to throw a no-hitter in one of his first two career starts, and the only Red Sox rookie to ever throw one.
To this day, only 24 rookies have ever tossed a no-no, with Reid Detmers the most recent example on May 10, 2022. The Red Sox saw another no-hitter less than a year later when Jon Lester did it on May 19, 2008, which marks the last the franchise has seen.
Buchholz went on to pitch just two more games that year and did not crack the postseason roster as Boston claimed another World Series Championship, but his unbelievable September 1st performance was the start of an iconic 13-year career, 10 of which were spent with the Red Sox.
That rumored foldable iPhone didn’t come from nowhere. Experts from CNET, PCMag, Mashable, Popular Science, ZDNET and Lifehacker examine Apple’s most important tech reveals.
Part of the United States could receive its first snowfall of the fall season later in September.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association updated its prediction this week for the El Niño, which continues to get stronger, prompting the possibility of significant weather in September. There is now a roughly 90 percent chance of a “significant” weather event during the 2026-27 winter season.
Regions including the Rocky Mountains areas in Montana, Idaho, Utah and Wyoming could get hit with first snowfall as early as September. The latest projections for September snow come from Accuweather.
Meanwhile, snowfall could continue in other regions later in October and November.
“Snow chances should increase in the Rockies during November, especially in Colorado, Utah and New Mexico, where a couple of early-season snow events are possible,” Accuweather said.
Some U.S. states are bracing for snowy conditions.
(Will Waldron/Albany Times Union via Getty Images)
Meanwhile, an updated map from The Old Farmer’s Almanac is predicting which U.S. regions could receive “more snow” than usual this year.
Multiple U.S. regions are bracing for snowier than usual conditions throughout the winter months.
“Love snow? You may be in luck. A snowier-than-normal winter is expected from central New England through the Appalachians, in the Intermountain region and Pacific Northwest, and in Alaska,” the prediction reads.
U.S. states bracing for snowier than usual conditions include:
North Carolina
Virginia
Maryland
New York
Massachusetts
Pennsylvania
Connecticut
Vermont
New Hampshire
Farmer’s Almanac map.
Old Farmer’s Almanac.
More snow doesn’t mean colder temperatures, though
While some U.S. regions will be getting hit with more snow than usual, winter temperatures across the board are expected to be higher this season.
It’s expected to be a “milder” winter.
“A milder winter doesn’t mean the cold is taking the year off. Across much of the country, temperatures are expected to be near normal or warmer than normal. But colder-than-usual temperatures are expected from central New England south through the Appalachians and into the Ohio Valley. Hawaii will also be cooler than normal,” the prediction adds.
“And remember: ‘Above normal’ is relative. While it won’t be as cold as usual, it’s still winter!”
Carol Connare, Editor-in-Chief, The Old Farmer’s Almanac, adds that winter weather won’t look the same everywhere.
“Winter won’t look the same everywhere this year. While much of the country is headed for a milder season, some areas will still see plenty of cold and snow. Check the forecast for your region to see what’s ahead,” Connare said.
Winter officially begins on December 21, though meteorologically, it’s set to start on December 1.
As a Who What Wear editor, I spend a lot of time online shopping. Sometimes I even like to set parameters for myself to see what I can find, and today’s self-invented challenge was to shop with a budget of $100 and under.
My mind first went to wardrobe staples that will get the most wear, including fall basics for the season ahead. I’ve been loving my $38 Baby Rib 3/4 Sleeve Boatneck Top in navy from Los Angeles Apparel and want to get a black one as well—it’s the perfect weight for crisp, cool weather. This made me think about Almina Concept‘s $68 High V-Neck Tank, which I’ve also had in my cart. Starting in September and lasting until it gets too cold, I pretty much live in tights from Swedish Stockings, so I’ll be ordering a few new pairs from them as well.
For beauty: the cult-favorite nail polish brand Celisse recently launched its first-ever red, and I can’t wait to try it; I keep hearing everyone, from my facialist to our beauty editor Kaitlyn McLintock, sing the praises of Prequel’s affordable glycerin cleanser; and I’ve been loving m.ph by Mary Phillips’s The Overliner Lip Liner Pencil, so I’d like to try the Lip Ciggy Sheer Lipstick Balm from the line as well. I’ve also been obsessing over the Dries Van Noten lipstick packaging. Since I love a good bath, I want HigherDose‘s $39 Serotonin Soak Magnesium Bath Salts, and the $95 Yves Durif Vented Brush and $58 Dior Foundation Stick have both been on my wish list as well.
Shop Fashion
Los Angeles Apparel
Baby Rib 3/4 Sleeve Boatneck Top
J.Crew
Garçon Classic Button-Up Shirt in Baird Mcnutt Irish Linen
J.Crew
Luna Pant in Cotton Poplin
Reformation
Swedish Stockings Svea Sheer Tights
Almina Concept
High V-Neck Tank
Shop Beauty
Celisse
Quickcoat in Celisse Red
Prequel
Prequel Skin Gleanser Face Wash, Moisturizing Glycerin Cleanser, Dry Skin
Rhode
Glazing Mist Hydrating Face Spray
DIOR
Forever Skin Perfect 24h Multi-Use Foundation Stick
BYREDO
Bal D’afrique Hair Perfume
RŌZ
Salt Scalp Scrub Exfoliating Detox Shampoo With Aha & Bha
Dries Van Noten
Refillable lipstick
Yves Durif
Vented Brush
FLAMINGO ESTATE
Prinsesstårta Fragrance Oil
HigherDOSE
Higherdose Serotonin Soak Magnesium Bath Salts
Westman Atelier
Hydrobalm Sheer Tinted Lipstick With Peptides and Hyaluronic Acid
The NFL is a league built on parity and the idea that, in any given season, any team can rise from the bottom of the standings and compete for a championship. The 2025 season proved this concept, with the Patriots going from AFC East bottom-feeder to Super Bowl participant. As we head into the 2026 season, every team’s fanbase is asking the same question: Why not us? It’s a nice thought. But here, in reality, stories like last year’s Pats come along maybe once or twice a decade. Typically, we can whittle down the true Super Bowl contenders with reasonable accuracy before the season even begins. And that’s what I’ll be doing here. I’ve considered the title cases for all 32 teams and narrowed them down to a group of seven that can realistically win a Lombardi Trophy next February. So let’s look at what makes these teams title contenders before examining the group of fringe contenders who just missed the cut, along with why they were left out. One of these seven teams will win the Super Bowl: The Rams were one unlucky two-point conversion away from earning home-field advantage in the playoffs, which may have been enough to get Sean McVay’s team to the Super Bowl. It would have been easy – and maybe even sensible – for the Rams to just run it back and hope for better luck. Instead, they traded for Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett, added a lockdown cornerback in Trent McDuffie, and then lured Aaron Donald out of retirement. They were already one of the favorites to hoist the Lombardi trophy before those additions. Now, they’re the clear favorites. They check all the boxes you look for in a title contender: The acquisition of Garrett commanded a lot of the offseason attention, but adding McDuffie and Jaylen Watson to the cornerback room could be the moves that propel L.A. over the championship hump. The Rams secondary could be pushed around and picked on last season. That’s not happening with two physical corners like McDuffie and Watson on the field. Even if opposing quarterbacks can stay upright long enough to get a pass off with Garrett and Donald collapsing the pocket, finding open receivers will be a challenge. More concerns exist on the offensive side of the ball, where an injury to Davante Adams or Puka Nacua could leave the team lacking in big-play ability. The offensive line is thin, as well, and reigning MVP Matthew Stafford needs all the protection he can get now that he’s entering his age-38 season. Still, this is the NFL’s most talented roster that’s led by one of the NFL’s best coaches in Sean McVay. This is a Super Bowl-or-bust season for Los Angeles. The defending champs took a few hits in the offseason, losing running back Kenneth Walker and a handful of second-tier starters along the defense. Other than that, this is largely the same team that won a title in February, and they’d be the title favorites once again if not for L.A.’s busy offseason. One thing we can bank on: Head coach Mike MacDonald will have his defense playing at an elite level once again. The defensive line has been the key to the unit’s success, and all of its key pieces return in 2026. The Seahawks are light at cornerback but will play with three safeties more often than not, so that’s more of a minor concern than it would be for other teams. There’s no reason to expect any falloff from this bunch. If safety/slot defender Nick Emmanwori, an All-Rookie selection a year ago, makes the leap and plays at an All-Pro level, the Seahawks’ defense may even improve over last season. There are some offensive concerns with coordinator Klint Kubiak becoming the Raiders’ head coach. MacDonald went outside the building to find his replacement but went back to Kyle Shanahan’s coaching tree to poach 49ers assistant Brian Fleury. Big plays powered the Seahawks’ offense – and offset some of quarterback Sam Darnold’s turnover issues – so his primary task will be keeping Seattle’s explosive play rate up. If the first-time offensive coordinator can do that and help Darnold cut down on the turnovers, Seattle will be just as formidable as the loaded Rams. The Ravens have not been a well-coached team the past two seasons. If new head coach Jesse Minter can clean up penalties and coverage busts on defense, it will go a long way. And if new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle, who comes over from Ben Johnson’s staff in Chicago, can get Lamar Jackson back to his MVP form, Baltimore can regain its place among the AFC’s contenders after last year’s disappointment. The defense will almost certainly be better. Minter, one of the sharpest defensive minds in the sport, got top-10 results out of a Chargers’ defense with far less talent than what he’ll be working with in Baltimore. The pass rush gets two major boosts with Nnamdi Madibuike returning from injury and Trey Hendrickson joining from the rival Bengals. Depth is a concern, but if this unit is healthy and Minter lives up to the hype, this will be a championship-level defense. Jackson’s play will determine if the offense can keep up. The two-time MVP battled injuries throughout 2026 and didn’t play his best ball when he was on the field. Jackson took far too many sacks last season, but he says he wasn’t as eager to leave the pocket last season because of the injuries and vowed to run more now that he’s healthy. That should help the two-time MVP get his groove back and elevate this offense back into the top-10. The 2026 Chiefs showed us that rostering an elite quarterback isn’t enough to keep a team in title contention. So, while it feels like Josh Allen is capable of carrying the Bills to a Super Bowl, only one or two things have to go wrong for them to experience their own season from hell. Buffalo has just enough quality around Allen to make this shortlist of contenders. The offensive line, which powered one of the league’s best run games a season ago, lost left guard David Edwards to free agency, but everybody else is back. Running back James Cook is primed for another monster season, and the receiving corps added the perimeter threat it so desperately needed with the trade for D.J. Moore. No more relying on Keon Coleman for downfield targets. The Bills’ offense won’t change much, but with Sean McDermott out as head coach, Buffalo’s defense is getting a makeover. First-year defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard has been a favorite among football nerds for years thanks to his work in the college ranks. McDermott ran a structurally sound defense, but smart quarterbacks had no trouble picking it apart. Leonhard’s scheme will give them more to think about. Denver’s Super Bowl aspirations still hinge on quarterback Bo Nix. A fractured ankle robbed him of a chance to prove he could lead the Broncos to a Super Bowl, but he’ll get another crack at it with another strong roster. Denver did lose a stout run defender in John Franklin-Myers and starting safety P.J. Locke, but the defense is stacked, and the front office used the money saved from those departures to add some firepower to the passing game in the form of receiver Jaylen Waddle. Everything is in place for a Super Bowl run … if the quarterback play is sufficient. There will be a new voice in Nix’s ear this season, with head coach Sean Payton relinquishing play-calling duties to Davis Webb. The first-time offensive coordinator is just three years into his coaching career and has never called plays in a game that counts. It’s impossible to know how he’ll handle the monumental task; but even if he falters, having a Hall of Fame play-caller as a “break glass in case of emergency” option lowers the concern. If you’re wondering how the Eagles managed to win 11 games and another NFC East title while the offense was imploding on and off the field, just look to the other side of the ball. Philadelphia’s defense finished as a top-three unit for a second year in a row and carried the team back to the playoffs. The ceiling could be even higher in 2026. The Eagles patched up the biggest hole in their defense by adding cornerback Riq Woolen to play opposite of star Quinyon Mitchell. Philly’s pass defense was solid last season but struggled to get off the field on third down. Coordinator Vic Fangio prefers man coverage in third-and-medium situations, but with Adoree Jackson or Kelee Ringo getting torched, it wasn’t an effective strategy. While Woolen isn’t an elite cover corner by any means, he is a ball-hawk who can create turnovers if teams repeatedly try him. A secondary is as strong as its weakest link, and Philly’s weakest link will be sturdier this season. On the defensive line, the Eagles are banking on development from young players like Jalyx Hunt and Nolan Smith Jr. to make up for their numerous offseason losses. They also added veteran edge rusher Jonathan Greenard, who comes over after a down season in Minnesota. If Philadelphia can get just average pass rush production from its defensive ends, this could be the NFL’s best defense, which will keep the defending NFC East champs in contention even if the offensive issues persist. The Texans are included here solely out of respect for Demeco Ryans’ defense, which would have been good enough to drag Houston’s frustrating offense through the AFC playoffs if not for C.J. Stroud picking the worst time to play his worst-ever game. The Texans quarterback averaged 4.5 yards per attempt and threw four interceptions in the season-ending loss to the Patriots. Three of those picks were thrown over a nine-play stretch that staked New England to a double-digit lead that felt insurmountable based on how the Houston offense was playing. So, why should we expect a different outcome next January? For starters, Stroud is a much better quarterback than he showed last postseason. He may not be the franchise savior he appeared to be after his rookie season, but he’s capable of producing top-10 play for long stretches. With a truly elite defense, that’s good enough to make a run. Houston also improved its offensive line, which has been the root cause of its problems over the past few seasons. And with Stroud entering his second season in coordinator Nick Caley’s offense, there should be fewer growing pains for the offense early on. If this offense can be just mediocre, the Texans should run up another double-digit season. If Stroud can avoid another postseason stinker, the ceiling is much higher. These teams could sneak into the Super Bowl — but they aren’t winning it. The Patriots have a better roster than they did a year ago, and new WR1 A.J. Brown is a perfect match for Drake Maye’s game. But the defense is due for regression against a tougher slate of quarterbacks than in 2025, and the offensive line remains a work in progress. This offense has the potential to reach some serious highs, but we’ve been saying that for years now, and Joe Burrow and Co. have yet to produce a truly elite season. While the defense has improved, it still looks like a mediocre group at best. The Lions still haven’t filled the Graham Glasgow-sized hole in the middle of its offensive line and are banking on a Dolphins castoff or a rookie to hold down the fort at right tackle with Penei Sewell swinging over to the left side. Detroit needs its offensive line to return to elite status to get this team back on track for title contention. I’m not sure it can. The Jaguars are an organization on the rise, but they’re still another strong offseason – and another leap from Trevor Lawrence – away from being a true title threat. If the defense avoids regression and Lawrence finds consistency, they’re capable of a deep postseason run. Even then, it’s difficult to imagine them going toe-to-toe with the NFL’s top contenders. The roster is old and already injured. If this were Madden, and we could turn off injuries, the 49ers would have enough talent to challenge Seattle and Los Angeles in the NFC West. But we can’t, and they probably won’t. Even Ben Johnson knows that the regression gods are out to get Chicago this season after riding last year’s devil magic to a divisional title and an impressive playoff run. The Bears are headed in the right direction, but progress isn’t linear, and the division will be tougher, with Detroit and Minnesota likely to improve. Patrick Mahomes is coming off a late-season ACL tear, and the Chiefs made no meaningful improvements to the roster outside of adding running back Kenneth Walker. It will be another uphill climb just to make the playoffs. If not for Mahomes, they’d be nowhere near this list.
