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Dental hygiene is of utmost importance in our day-to-day lives, and a good toothbrush is one to keep your teeth healthy and shining. This Bitvae Ultrasonic Electric Toothbrush boasts over 3,800 five-star ratings on Amazon and is 55% off at $18.
The Bitvae Ultrasonic Electric Toothbrush is better than an old-fashioned analog toothbrush in many ways. The first way is that its motor can pulse at 40,000 strokes per minute at its highest setting. With that kind of power and the soft, W-shaped bristles on the nine heads it comes with, it can remove up to 7x more stains than an old-fashioned toothbrush.
Amazon
You get five power settings depending on your wants and needs with the Bitvae Ultrasonic Electric Toothbrush. By picking the right mode, you can work toward removing stains, polishing your teeth, and even using it for your daily cleanings. Plus, with a 4-hour runtime via the rechargeable battery, you can use this for 30 days without needing to dock it. Throw in the 8 replaceable heads that come with it, you get a value that’s hard to beat.
With an overall 4.4 out of 5-star rating from over 5,200 ratings, 71% of which are 5 stars, a lot of folks have left reviews. Here you can find people stating that it is “better than expensive brands” and that it offers “great value.”
Even at the regular $40 price, you can’t go wrong with the Bitvae Ultrasonic Electric Toothbrush, but at a 55% discount, it makes this a steal. If you feel like improving your dental hygiene routine, pick one of these up right now.
Picking the world’s best beers is both the best and hardest job. There are more than 9,500 breweries in America, and tens of thousands of other breweries filling just about every continent. (There’s no brewery in Antarctica—yet.)
But after plenty of research—and, uh, drinking—we’ve settled on a list of 50 of the best beers that are readily available. We tried not to select one-off IPAs that are only sold at taprooms for two hours on a Tuesday. Instead, most of these beers have decent distribution, meaning you won’t have to book a plane ticket to tick these beers off your bucket list.
In the list of great beers, we’ve of course included IPAs, but also stouts, sour ales, amber ales, lagers, pilsners, barrel-aged beers, and more of the most common brews you’ll spot at your favorite beer bar or store. This will also serve as a primer to help answer some of the most popular questions like what is craft beer that pairs best with specific seasons, meals, and occasions?
How Do I Choose a Good Beer?
This list is a great start to locate some great beers. At liquor stores and bars, chat with the employees. Ask them what’s fresh and what they like best. Their opinions are important, but it’s your taste buds that matter most. If you don’t like a beer, it’s no big deal. There’s always something fresh and new to try in your search of the best-tasting beers.
Behold, the top 50 beer brands. Best get cracking (p.s. learn how to open a beer bottle without an opener if you’re ever in a pinch)!
Best IPAs
Born in Britain during the 19th century, the hop-packed IPA has become modern American craft brewing’s favorite style of beer. If you’re still unclear what exactly is IPA beer, this highlight reel covers everything from hazy IPAs to triple IPAs that top 10 percent ABV. There’s no limit to what brewers can create.
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Style: Double IPA
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Style: Hazy IPA
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Style: IPA
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Style: Double IPA
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Style: IPA
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Style: Double IPA
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Style: IPA
Best Stouts and Porters
Dark and roasty porters and stouts, including the strong imperial versions, are excellent additions to any drinking arsenal. Porters tend to be on the milder, more chocolatey end of the spectrum, while stouts are typically a little stronger and more roasted. These are some of the best beers to drink in winter.
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Style: Porter
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Style: Imperial stout
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Style: Irish dry stout
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Style: Milk stout
Best Belgian and Trappist-Style Beers
Farmhouse ales and monk-made dubbels, tripels, and quadrupels are among the brewing industry’s most revered beers.
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Style: Saison
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Style: Tripel
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Style: Quadrupel
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Style: Golden strong ale
Best Blonde Ales and Pale Ales
Fragrant pale ales, crowd-pleasing blonde ales, and Germany’s kölsch are great beers when you need plenty of cans for a party.
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Style: Pale ale
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Style: Pale ale
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Style: Belgian pale ale
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Style: Kölsch
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Style: Pale ale
Best Wheat Beers
Wheat is the key ingredient in the Belgian-style witbier and German hefeweizen, creating easy-drinking hazy beers that are as smooth as the day is long.
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Style: Hefeweizen
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Style: Witbier
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Style: Weizenbock
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Style: Witbier
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Style: Hefeweizen
Best Lagers, Pilsners, and Hybrids
When it comes to best-tasting beers, the world’s favorite kind is the crisp lager. We’ve cherry-picked lawnmower lagers, well-bittered pilsners, and hybrid lagers that play fast and loose with rules of fermentation.
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Style: Helles lager
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Style: California common
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Style: Doppelbock
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Style: Pilsner
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Style: Pilsner
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Style: Pilsner
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Style: Cream ale
Best Amber and Brown Ales
Rich and flavorful, amber and brown ales are among the most food-friendly styles of beer you can buy.
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Style: Brown ale
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Style: Amber ale
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Style: Brown ale
Best Barley Wines and Barrel-Aged Stouts
Strong, malt-rich barley wines and barrel-aged stouts are great beers to share with your drinking buddies.
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Style: Barley wine
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Style: Imperial stout
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Style: Imperial stout
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Style: Imperial stout
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Style: Imperial stout
Best Wild and Sour Ales
Wild yeast and souring bacteria provide these best-tasting beers with unique flavors and aromas that help push the very boundaries of beer.
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Style: Fruited sour ale
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Style: Fruited sour ale
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Style: Fruit lambic
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Style: Flanders red ale
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Style: Flanders oud bruin
Best Pumpkin and Christmas Beers
Every season is a reason to celebrate with a beer. Here are some of the world’s best reasons to crack a beer during Christmas and Halloween.
Although Airbnb has become a go-to option alongside hotels over the last decade for all kinds of travel, customers have started to notice that the service’s prices aren’t the bargain they used to be. In fact, average rates have risen about 35 percent since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. But when it comes to per-night pricing, one city stands above the rest.
According to a recent study from ChamberofCommerce.org, the coastal city of Oxnard, CA, boasts the highest per-night Airbnb prices of any major city in the country. An Airbnb rental in the seaside city of 200,000 to the west of Los Angeles runs a whopping $488 per night on average. That’s more than $100 more per night than second-place city Scottsdale, AZ, at $384 per night.
Some of that may be due to scarcity. While Scottsdale lists a whopping 1,370 Airbnb rentals per 100,000 residents, Oxnard only has 95.
Third place belongs to the rapidly expanding city of Austin, TX, at $373 per night, while Las Vegas, NV ($360 per night), and Honolulu, HI ($315 per night), round out the top five.
Of course, the study only looks at the country’s 115 largest cities, and many pricey vacation destinations lie in small towns and even rural areas. Still, it found some interesting patterns in the 160,000 listings it analyzed. Perhaps unsurprisingly, California dominates with seven of the 25 most expensive Airbnb markets, while Arizona follows with five. Overall, Miami has the most Airbnb listings per capita in the country, with 1,478 Airbnbs per 100,000 residents.
Check out the Top 10 below and read more about the study here:
After a four year hiatus, Black Mirror is finally heading back to Netflix on June 15 with what is being called the “most unpredictable, unclassifiable, and unexpected season yet.” On Wednesday, the streamer dropped the trailer for the five new feature-length episodes, which feature a jam-packed roster of big name guest stars.
The science fiction anthology series, which originally aired on Britain’s Channel 4 for the first two seasons from 2011 through 2013, moved to Netflix ahead of its third season. Prior to its recent hiatus, Black Mirror had racked up 14 Emmy nods and eight awards, including outstanding TV movie wins for “San Junipero” (2016), “USS Callister” (2017), and the groundbreaking interactive film “Bandersnatch” (2018).
Here’s everything we’ve learned about the five new episodes so far from the episode descriptions:
“Joan Is Awful” — Annie Murphy (Schitt’s Creek; Kevin Can F**k Himself) stars as “an average woman is stunned to discover a global streaming platform (an apparent spoof of Netflix) has launched a prestige TV drama adaptation of her life,” in which she is portrayed by real-life Salma Hayek Pinault. Rounding out the cast are Michael Cera (Arrested Development), Ben Barnes (Westworld; Shadow and Bone), Himesh Patel, and Rob Delaney.
“Loch Henry” — Samuel Blenkin, Myha’la Herrold (Bodies, Bodies, Bodies), Daniel Portman (Game of Thrones), John Hannah (The Last of Us), and Monica Dolan star in a tale about “a young couple travel to a sleepy Scottish town to start work on a genteel nature documentary, but find themselves drawn to a juicy local story involving shocking events of the past.”
“Beyond the Sea” — The third episode features an all-star cast including Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad), Josh Hartnett (Pearl Harbor), Kate Mara (House of Cards), and Rory Culkin (Signs). Set in an alternative 1969, two men go on “a perilous high-tech mission wrestle with the consequences of an unimaginable tragedy.”
“Mazey Day” — A troubled starlet is “dogged by invasive paparazzi while dealing with the consequences of a hit-and-run incident.” The episode stars Danish actress Clara Rugaard as the starlet, with Zazie Beetz (Atlanta) and Danny Ramirez (The Falcon and the Winter Soldier) as the photogs hoping to hit it big with the first snap of her.
“Demon 79” — Finally, in conjunction with Red Mirror Productions, “a meek sales assistant is told she must commit terrible acts to prevent disaster.” Set in Northern England in 1979, the episode stars British actors Anjana Vasan, Paapa Essiedu, Katherine Rose Morley, and author David Shields.
Speaking with Netflix’s Tudum, series creator Charlie Booker, who wrote all five of the new episodes, explained his rationale behind the new season.
“I’ve always felt that Black Mirror should feature stories that are entirely distinct from one another, and keep surprising people—and myself—or else what’s the point?” Booker said. “It should be a series that can’t be easily defined, and can keep reinventing itself.”
Booker continued that he started off this season by “deliberately upending” core assumptions about what to expect, as both a challenge and to keep things fresh for himself and viewers alike.
“Consequently, this time, alongside some of the more familiar Black Mirror tropes we’ve also got a few new elements, including some I’ve previously sworn blind the show would never do, to stretch the parameters,” he added. “The stories are all still tonally Black Mirror through-and-through—but with some crazy swings and more variety than ever before.”
Sounds like it’s going to be a wild ride—and we’d expect no less from Booker and company. You can watch the full trailer below.
Sharing some of my favorite apps and programs that I use every day in my business!
Hi friends! How’s the week going so far? We’re hanging out over here – so glad to be done with the school hustle and bustle- and have quite a few appointments and things to do today. I have to take my car to get fixed (wah), head to the eye doctor (my eyes have been driving me crazy with the dry air and pollen), and getting some little goodies together for friends that are coming into town.
(my updated Work from Home setup is here! I now have an eye-level screen that has wireless connection to my computer so I don’t have to look down. I can also use it to watch streaming service, internet content, and apps.)
For today’s post, I wanted to share some of the apps and programs I use in my business. I’ve had some more requests for business and behind-the-scenes type posts, and quite a few of ya let me know that you enjoy when I pull the curtain back and share more about how things operate over here.
It’s easy to think that writing a blog is simply adding some text and photos to a page… but it’s a lot of unseen tasks and juggling. 90% of the work I do is all behind-the-scenes, from research, graphic design, crafting workouts and meal plans, filming content, taking photos, invoicing, emails, brand partnerships, Pinterest, email marketing, the list goes on and on.
There are quite a few tools that help me to stay on track and organized, and I thought I’d share some of my faves in this post! Many of these are helpful even if you don’t work in the online world, especially Canva and Voxer.
Canva is like having a magic wand for your creativity! It’s a super fun and easy-to-use tool that lets you design stunning visuals without the need for any design skills. Whether you’re a student, a social media enthusiast, or someone who just loves adding a little flair to their projects, Canva is your go-to. With its endless collection of templates, fonts, and images, you can create eye-catching graphics, personalized invitations, beautiful presentations, and so much more.
I’m NOT great at graphic design, but Canva makes it very easy. You can also use it to create beautiful invitations, gift tags, and printables for your fam. (Summer Chore Chart coming in 3….2….)
Leadpages is an incredible tool for entrepreneurs, marketers, and business owners who want to create high-converting landing pages, pop-ups, and sales funnels with ease. With its drag-and-drop interface and extensive library of customizable templates, Leadpages takes the guesswork out of designing and optimizing landing pages. Whether you’re looking to capture leads, promote products, or grow your email list, Leadpages provides the tools and features you need to create compelling and visually stunning pages that drive results.
With seamless integration options, analytics, and A/B testing capabilities, you can track your performance and make data-driven decisions to continually improve your conversions. Say goodbye to the days of hiring expensive web designers or struggling with complex coding—Leadpages empowers you to create professional-looking pages that effortlessly convert visitors into loyal customers.
I’ve used Leadpages for many years, and while it’s on the pricey side, it’s easy to use and I find that it’s my go-to when I want to create a simple landing page. I made this landing page on Leadpages for our Summer Challenge! We start on Monday if you want to join!!
Kajabi is a game-changing all-in-one platform that empowers content creators, educators, and entrepreneurs to build and grow their online businesses with ease. It provides a comprehensive suite of tools and features designed to streamline your entire digital business ecosystem. From creating and hosting online courses, membership sites, and coaching programs to managing marketing campaigns and sales funnels, Kajabi has it.
With its intuitive interface and user-friendly design, you can effortlessly customize your website, design beautiful landing pages, and deliver engaging content to your audience. Kajabi also offers powerful marketing automation, email marketing, and analytics tools, allowing you to nurture your leads, build meaningful relationships, and track your business performance. With Kajabi, you can focus on what you do best—sharing your expertise and growing your online business—while the platform takes care of the technical aspects, providing you with a seamless and professional online presence.
If you want to create a course or membership site, I highly recommend Kajabi. I use this platform for Fit Team – all of the workouts are bonuses are organized beautifully – and also for Total Body Reset and my new program that will launch this fall. You can use this link for 30 days free!
Voxer is a dynamic and versatile communication tool that takes the concept of instant messaging to a whole new level. Combining the convenience of text messaging with the power of voice, Voxer allows users to send real-time voice messages, text messages, photos, and even share locations. It’s like having a walkie-talkie in your pocket, enabling seamless and efficient communication with individuals or groups.
With Voxer, you can collaborate on projects, or simply stay connected with friends and loved ones. The ability to hear someone’s voice adds a personal touch and brings conversations to life in a way that traditional text messaging can’t. Whether you’re using Voxer for work or personal purposes, it’s a fantastic tool that enhances communication, fosters connection, and makes staying in touch a breeze.
I use Voxer for my 1:1 clients, with my team, and to catch up with friends! I’m super slow at typing on my phone, so it’s much easier to send a quick voice message.
Asana is a game-changing project management tool that revolutionizes the way teams collaborate, organize, and track their work. With its intuitive interface and powerful features, Asana helps streamline workflows, improve productivity, and keep everyone on the same page.
From creating and assigning tasks to setting deadlines, attaching files, and tracking progress, Asana provides a centralized platform for teams to manage projects efficiently. Its user-friendly design and customizable project boards make it easy to visualize and prioritize tasks, ensuring that everyone knows what needs to be done and when. Asana also offers seamless integration with other popular tools, allowing for smooth collaboration and efficient information sharing. Whether you’re working on a small team or managing complex projects with multiple stakeholders, Asana is a reliable and efficient tool that empowers teams to work together seamlessly and achieve their goals.
I use Asana with my team and it makes it super easy to keep track of upcoming blog posts, delegate tasks (like SEO and graphic design) and see what’s in the pipeline.
So tell me, friends: what are your all-time favorite apps and programs that you use? They could be work-related or just for fun!
Hi friends! I missed my April book roundup so I’m sharing the books I read in April, and most of the books from May + if I’d recommend adding them to your collection.
Hi hi! Happy Monday and I hope my US friends are enjoying a relaxing Memorial Day. Today, I’m praying for those who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our country. “Thank you” will never be enough, and I’m holding our Gold Star families in my heart.
Summer is officially in full swing over here! We had a little end-of-the-year get-together, it was Liv’s First Communion (I’ll share some pics in Fri Faves), and we’ve been living in the pool. We spent all day yesterday floating around at the Lodge, eating delicious food, enjoying cocktail samples, and chatting with friends. It was the perfect day. Friendly reminder that tomorrow is the last day to get 20% off HigherDOSE at this link and with the code MDW2023.
For today’s post, I wanted to share a book recap! I totally missed my recap for April, so I’m combining April’s books + most of May’s in this post. There was quite a mix of subjects and genres, and a couple of huge home runs. Here are all of the details!
Books I’ve read lately (and if I’d recommend them!)
This thrilling novel is like a rollercoaster ride of secrets, surprises, and suspense. Set against the backdrop of a glamorous wedding, the story unfolds with twists and turns that will keep you hooked from start to finish. Lucy Foley’s skillful storytelling brings the characters to life, and you’ll find yourself completely immersed in their world. With its picturesque setting, intriguing plot, and a dash of romance, “The Guest List” is the perfect escape for anyone craving a delightful blend of mystery and excitement.
I tend to stay away from thriller-ish books, but I’ve read a few Lucy Foley books and enjoy them. Plus, I don’t find them to be overly violent or gory. If you’re looking for a beach read that you can blast through, I definitely recommend it. 8/10
A wedding celebration turns dark and deadly in this deliciously wicked and atmospheric thriller reminiscent of Agatha Christie from the New York Times best-selling author of The Hunting Party.
The bride – the plus one – the best man – the wedding planner – the bridesmaid – the body.
On an island off the coast of Ireland, guests gather to celebrate two people joining their lives together as one. The groom: handsome and charming, a rising television star. The bride: smart and ambitious, a magazine publisher. It’s a wedding for a magazine or for a celebrity: the designer dress, the remote location, the luxe party favors, the boutique whiskey. The cell phone service may be spotty and the waves may be rough, but every detail has been expertly planned and will be expertly executed.
But perfection is for plans, and people are all too human. As the champagne is popped and the festivities begin, resentments and petty jealousies begin to mingle with the reminiscences and well wishes. The groomsmen begin the drinking game from their school days. The bridesmaid not-so-accidentally ruins her dress. The bride’s oldest (male) friend gives an uncomfortably caring toast.
And then someone turns up dead. Who didn’t wish the happy couple well? And perhaps more important, why?
TBH SO much happened, and at the same time, nothing really happened. I’m usually a fan of Jeannette Walls, but this book was not it for me. I feel like I could rattle off multiple plots for 20 minutes and still not be able to fully explain what this book was about. Initially, I was wrapped into the story but then got bored as it dragged on and on. 2/10… yikes.
Sallie Kincaid is the daughter of the biggest man in a small town, the charismatic Duke Kincaid. Born at the turn of the 20th century into a life of comfort and privilege, Sallie remembers little about her mother who died in a violent argument with the Duke. By the time she is just eight years old, the Duke has remarried and had a son, Eddie. While Sallie is her father’s daughter, sharp-witted and resourceful, Eddie is his mother’s son, timid and cerebral. When Sallie tries to teach young Eddie to be more like their father, her daredevil coaching leads to an accident, and Sallie is cast out.
Nine years later, she returns, determined to reclaim her place in the family. That’s a lot more complicated than Sallie expected, and she enters a world of conflict and lawlessness. Sallie confronts the secrets and scandals that hide in the shadows of the Big House, navigates the factions in the family and town, and finally comes into her own as a bold, sometimes reckless bootlegger.
You will fall in love with Sallie Kincaid, a feisty and fearless, terrified and damaged young woman who refuses to be corralled.
Hands in the air if you had no idea of the atrocities that Paris Hilton has endured. From being abducted in the middle of night, to years of abuse at “elite” boarding schools, she’s been through some horrible circumstances. It was heartbreaking to hear everything she experienced in her own voice, as I listened to this one on Audible. I’ve always been a Paris fan – I admire her grit and could always tell she was strategic and a hard worker – but this book just left me cheering for her even more. It’s also a testament to how unfair the media and paparazzi were to women in the 1990s and early 2000s (like Britney Spears). 9/10 recommend.
Paris rose to prominence as an heiress to the Hilton Hotels empire, but cultivated her fame and fortune as the It Girl of the aughts, a time marked by the burgeoning twenty-four-hour entertainment news cycle and the advent of the celebrity blog. Using her celebrity brand, Paris set in motion her innovative business ventures, while being the constant target of tabloid culture that dismissively wrote her off as “famous for being famous.” With tenacity, sharp business acumen, and grit, she built a global empire and, in the process, became a truly modern icon beloved around the world.
Now, with courage, honesty, and humor, Paris Hilton is ready to take stock, place it all in context, and share her story with the world. Separating the creation from the creator, the brand from the ambassador, Paris: The Memoir strips away all we thought we knew about a celebrity icon, taking us back to a privileged childhood lived through the lens of undiagnosed ADHD and teenage rebellion that triggered a panicked—and perilous—decision by her parents. Led to believe they were saving their child’s life, Paris’s mother and father had her kidnapped and sent to a series of “emotional growth boarding schools,” where she survived almost two years of verbal, physical, and sexual abuse. In the midst of a hell we now call the “troubled teen industry,” Paris created a beautiful inner world where the ugliness couldn’t touch her. She came out, resolving to trust no one but herself as she transformed that fantasy world into a multibillion-dollar reality.
Recounting her perilous journey through pre-#MeToo sexual politics with grace, dignity, and just the right amount of sass, Paris: The Memoir tracks the evolution of celebrity culture through the story of the figure at its leading edge, full of defining moments and marquee names. Most important, Paris shows us her path to peace while she challenges us to question our role in her story and in our own. Welcome to Paris.
I’ve been a fan of Amy Porterfield forever and have always enjoyed her Online Marketing Made Easy podcast, so I was definitely interested in reading her new book.
Amy is a powerhouse in the world of entrepreneurship, and spills all her secrets on how to gracefully transition from a soul-sucking job to pursuing your passion and building a thriving online business. With her signature blend of tough love and practical strategies, Amy empowers you to ditch the nine-to-five grind and create a life on your own terms. It’s like a bootcamp for your mindset, pushing you to step out of your comfort zone and chase your dreams with unwavering determination.
I do think this book is geared more to true beginners in their online entrepreneurship journey. There were a couple of gems that I could use in my current business model, but highly recommend this book if you’re just getting started. 8/10
Ever wish there was a step-by-step blueprint to design your life for financial freedom, lifestyle flexibility, and major impact?
Are you ready to go from being stuck and complacent to courageous and capable of creating a business offering you the time and financial freedom you never dreamed possible?
Through sharing her tried-and-true strategies, inspiring stories, and mindset shifts, Amy Porterfield, host of the top-rated podcast Online Marketing Made Easy and a 9-to-5 escapee who built an 8-figure online business on her terms, reveals:
· Why you don’t need to know exactly what your business is going to be to get started
· Tips to navigate the 5 most common boss traps, including self-sabotage and “superwoman syndrome”
· How to use your 10 percent edge to build a foolproof marketing plan
· The keys to set up your business to avoid trading your time for money
· How to craft your first offer and overcome the fear of putting it out there
You can have more time, flexibility, recognition, income, and impact. You’re capable of so much more than you know. You’ve got this!
Nora Goes Off Script
Nora writes fluffy romance scripts for a living, but her most recent work of art has a sad ending: the husband leaves and doesn’t come back. It also happens to be a true story about her life. When the actor playing her ex-husband decides to take a vacation from the Hollywood bustle and stay on her property, her world is flipped upside-down.
This book is a cupcake of a summer beach read: sweet, witty, and so enjoyable. I didn’t want it to end and wish I could read it for the first time all over again. If you’re looking for a summer read, this is it!! 10/10
Nora Hamilton knows the formula for love better than anyone. As a romance channel screenwriter, it’s her job. But when her too-good-to-work husband leaves her and their two kids, Nora turns her marriage’s collapse into cash and writes the best script of her life. No one is more surprised than her when it’s picked up for the big screen and set to film on location at her 100-year-old home. When former Sexiest Man Alive, Leo Vance, is cast as her ne’er-do-well husband, Nora’s life will never be the same.
The morning after shooting wraps and the crew leaves, Nora finds Leo on her porch with a half-empty bottle of tequila and a proposition. He’ll pay a thousand dollars a day to stay for a week. The extra seven grand would give Nora breathing room, but it’s the need in his eyes that makes her say yes. Seven days: It’s the blink of an eye or an eternity depending on how you look at it. Enough time to fall in love. Enough time to break your heart.
Filled with warmth, wit, and wisdom, Nora Goes Off Script is the best kind of love story—the real kind where love is complicated by work, kids, and the emotional baggage that comes with life. For Nora and Leo, this kind of love is bigger than the big screen.
So tell me, friends: what’s the best book you’ve read recently? Any summer travel book recs? Please send them my way!
xo
For how often running is characterized as a solitary and stoic pursuit—it’s just you, your shoes, and the road—it’s all too easy for the sport to become entangled in modern accessories. A lot of that’s due to tech; if you wanted to, you could listen to a podcast through bone-conduction Bluetooth headphones, and you could do it in a virtual group running class projected onto the screen of a multi-thousand-dollar treadmill (so much for a simple, solitary activity). I’d suggest leaving it all behind—even your earbuds—except for the one high-tech gadget I recommend to all: a Garmin watch.
When it comes to GPS watches, I’m partial to the Garmin Forerunner line of running watches; I’ve used the same one to train for and complete five marathons. I recently had the chance to test the new Garmin Forerunner 965 while gearing up for an upcoming marathon relay and I must say, the future of activity tracking watches is bright.
Garmin Forerunner 965 Specs at a Glance
Size: 47.2mm wide, 13.2 mm thick
Weight: 53g
Battery Life: Up to 23 days in smartwatch mode (claimed)
Touchscreen: Yes
Waterproof Rating: 5 ATM (pressure equivalent of a depth of 50 meters/164 feet)
Garmin Forerunner 965 Review: Pros & Cons
Pros
Cons
Bright, colorful screen and good touchscreen functionality
Only available in a 47mm case size
Very accurate GPS tracking and heart rate monitoring
Raise-to-view doesn’t always work that well
AutoSelect satellite mode is accurate and efficient
No LTE connectivity
Has all of Garmin’s top fitness metrics
Allows you to listen to music without your phone
Key Features
One of the major updates that the 965 and its smaller companion, the 265, bring to the Forerunner line is an always-on AMOLED display—in other words, a full-color, very bright watch face. The watch also has an ultralight titanium bezel (previous Garmin watches have plastic bezels) and a few new features like more detailed maps and deeper training metrics. It also comes with a USB-C charging cable, which brings that element up to the current spec for most tech devices.
The 965 currently occupies the top spot in the Forerunner collection. That means it comes packed with all the metrics for tracking not only running—outside, indoors, at the track, on trails—but also cycling, swimming, triathlons, hiking, backcountry skiing, HIIT workouts, and nearly any other active pursuit you can think of (yes, even pickleball). In addition to sport tracking, the 965 includes the important basics of GPS tracking and heart rate monitoring as well as altitude, pace, sleep, stress, VO2 max, and much more.
For battery life, Garmin says the 965 maxes out at 23 days in smartwatch mode and lasts up to 31 hours in GPS mode. Keep in mind those numbers will always be rough approximations, and the actual battery life will depend on how you use the watch and how you toggle its settings (like, for instance, the always-on display).
GPS & GNSS
One of the cooler features the watch offers is called SatIQ/AutoSelect, a setting where the watch can switch between GPS and multiband GNSS for location tracking. GNSS is more accurate in areas with tall buildings and tree cover, but it sucks up more battery life. Toggling on SatIQ/AutoSelect allows the Forerunner 965 to automatically use GNSS when it needs to and the less power-heavy traditional GPS when it doesn’t, so you get accurate location tracking across a range of environments (and optimized battery life).
Tanner Bowden
Heart Rate Monitoring & Useful Reports
The Forerunner 965 uses Garmin’s Elevate V4 heart rate sensor, which also records your breathing rate, heart rate variability (HRV), and blood oxygenation. But what’s more interesting (and useful) than the individual output from these sensors are the algorithm-backed reports and summaries that Garmin’s software uses them to create. One example is Training Readiness, which is a numerical top-line score that combines your sleep quality, recovery, training load, HRV status, and stress to give you an idea of how hard to push in your next workout.
Another helpful readout is the Morning Report, which appears on your wrist each morning when the watch senses you’ve woken up. It shows you info about your HRV status, Training Readiness, sleep, a suggested workout for the day, and, most importantly (in my opinion), the weather.
Then there are all the metrics that are directly attached to each activity you record—pace, heart rate, time spent in the different heart rate zones, running power, training effectiveness, split times, elevation, etc. These are must-haves in a GPS watch, but what’s nice about the 965 is how its big, bright screen can display them in easy-to-read graphs; previously, I’d have to log into the Garmin Connect app on my phone or laptop to look at these metrics.
Tanner Bowden
Drawbacks
The deep activity tracking and detailed reports were highlights, but I did come across a few issues with the 965 during my testing.
A Clunky Map
It’s cool to look at a full-color map of where you ran in the watch’s activity summary, but moving around that map is a clunky experience. You’d think you’d be able to use the touchscreen to drag it around like you do on your phone; instead, you have to tap small touchscreen arrow buttons that barely move the picture at all.
24/7 Wear
Another thing to watch out for is that a handful of the top-tier summaries, like Training Readiness, require you to wear the watch 24/7, so if you prefer not to sleep with a watch on or don’t care about sleep data, you’ll also be missing out on some of these other features.
Is the Garmin Forerunner 965 Worth It?
As I mentioned before, I’ve been using the same Garmin watch—the Forerunner 245 Music, which is now four years old—to get me to and through five marathons. Even though it’s one of the most basic watches in the Forerunner lineup, the 245 is still a great running watch that can give you all the metrics you need to make real progress in your training.
Yet wearing the 965 was a notable step up. It reminded me of when I bought a car made in 2019 after having driven a 2001 model for two decades: I discovered that not all new features and tech updates are overcomplicated distractions (I actually like having heated seats and a rearview backup camera). Still, I don’t use all of them; I bought the thing for its all-wheel drive, not the SiriusXM radio.
Before coughing up $600 for a new Garmin Forerunner 965, you or I might ask ourselves what features we actually need and value—I would definitely like better battery life and satellite functionality than what my 245 offers, and I’d also like an altimeter—and follow that up by asking if there are any other good options from other brands.
Other Options to Consider Buying
Let’s say you want that AMOLED display; your other options within the Forerunner line are the 265 or 265S (the same watch but in a smaller 42mm case). The 265 came out at the same time as the 965 and is essentially a less powerful version of it. For $150 less, you sacrifice full maps, some battery life, and a few of the deeper training metrics (ones I don’t think I’d miss), but you still get everything else I mentioned earlier.
If you decide that multiband GPS is a top priority, you can get it for even less in the Forerunner 255 ($350), or you can retain many of the other top-end features (including the touchscreen) but lose the AMOLED by opting for the Forerunner 955 ($500).
Outside of the Garmin line, you might check out the Coros Apex 2 Pro ($499), which has an impressive claimed battery life of 75 hours in GPS mode, advanced satellite connectivity, and a solid companion app, or, if you want a really smart smartwatch and have an iPhone, consider the Apple Watch Series 8 ($399+). It has an AMOLED display and Apple has really amped up its running metrics, though they still aren’t quite as comprehensive as what you’ll find in the Forerunner 965. (Check out the Men’s Journalrunning watch guide for a full suite of options.)
Tanner Bowden
The Verdict
The Garmin Forerunner 965 is an excellent GPS watch for running and all sorts of other activities. Sitting at the top of the Garmin running watch line, it’s absolutely loaded with features and functions. It offers myriad ways to analyze your workouts and physical health both during and after you’re active, and it does all that on a big, beautiful screen.
But since many of those features are already available on other Garmin devices, that AMOLED screen is the key factor here. If you really want that tech but don’t need Garmin’s full array of top fitness watch features, you’d likely be just as happy with something more affordable (like the Forerunner 265).
There is nothing wrong with spoiling your pet, and if there has ever been a time to splurge a little extra, it’s right now. The second annual Amazon Pet Day starts tomorrow, May 2, and is similar to Prime Day in the sense that it’s a 48-hour sale with thousands of incredible deals. The sale includes massive markdowns on all sorts of pet supplies like dog beds, toys, treats, crates, and more. One of the best early deals by far is the large Arien Orthopedic Dog Bed, which is a staggering 64% off at just $45.
This isn’t like an ordinary dog bed. Instead of cheap filling, it’s made using orthopedic egg crate foam that provides ample amounts of support and relieves pressure points. It’s ideal for pets of all ages, but can be most beneficial for older dogs who might be suffering from arthritis and joint pain.
The unique design has a raised edge that makes the perfect headrest and supports their neck while they sleep. Plus, the removable cover is soft to the touch, has a non-skid bottom, and “cleans like a dream,” according to one shopper.
Given that the bed comes vacuum sealed in a compact box, the foam can take up to 48 hours to fully expand. We suggest allowing it to air out in a separate room before giving it to your dog to ensure it’s able to expand properly and take its shape. Once it does, they can start reaping the benefits.
“When I went looking for a new dog bed for my beagle it had to meet my strict criteria,” wrote a 5-star reviewer. “The Arien life dog bed does this better than I thought possible. Best dog bed ever!”
Consider this your opportunity to get ahead of the rush of Amazon Pet Day and take advantage of early deals while you can. After all, it doesn’t get much better than a large orthopedic dog bed for just $45. Thankfully, deals are available to all shoppers but a Prime membership is required to score free two-day shipping.
Standup paddleboarding is less than two decades old, so it’s still considered a new sport to many people. For the first-timer, SUP can appear intimidating: It involves balancing on what looks like a large surfboard (a standup paddleboard) while simultaneously using a single-blade paddle to move and maneuver on the water.
The sport certainly has its challenges, but there’s good news for beginners: SUP is relatively easy to learn, and it has one of the most supportive and inclusive communities you can find. For example, Reddit is home to an engaged online SUP community where paddlers from around the globe share stories, post tips, and discuss their favorite gear. Anecdotally, I’ve found that most paddlers are eager to strike up conversations about SUP or offer advice to newcomers. Not only will you paddle yourself into better physical shape, but this sport will also give you a dose of confidence, new friends, and countless possibilities for adventure.
New paddlers will want to start on flat water, but once you get comfortable on the board, you can begin to explore a variety of SUP disciplines including SUP surfing, whitewater, racing, downwinding, multi-day expeditions, and more. If you have access to a body of water, then you have an arena to dip your blade.
To help set you up for success during your first few paddle strokes, I talked with two lifelong paddlers to get their nuggets of paddling wisdom. Dave Boehne is one of the sport’s most recognizable figures: In addition to being an accomplished paddler and surfer, he’s the CEO and lead shaper at Infinity, which is responsible for some of the most innovative and high-performance board shapes in the sport. Aaron Black-Schmidt is a paddler, outdoorsman, and professional photographer and videographer. He has documented the rise of standup paddling from behind the lens, and he’s experienced in standup paddle surfing, whitewater, and multi-day expeditions.
With their input, I put together a list of five essential skills and five pieces of gear every beginner paddler needs to get on the water. Here’s how to get started.
While eager newbies will want to hop on the board right away, you’ll need to take care of some SUP basics while still on terra firma. The main thing is to make sure your equipment is in order and you know how to use it properly.
First, Black-Schmidt suggests pre-measuring your paddle to ensure it’s the right size. The proper height for a paddle is eight inches taller than you, which equates to roughly a shaka length above your head. If you’re using an adjustable paddle (see the gear list below for a rec), set it to that height, or find a paddle that’s the correct length.
With your paddle set at the right height, Boehne suggests making sure you’re holding it correctly.
“It sounds silly, but it’s one of the most common mistakes for newbies,” he says. “You want the blade to angle away from you for the most control and leverage. You don’t want the blade facing you and ‘scooping’ the water.”
Once you’ve figured out how to hold a paddle, you should also ensure you’re wearing a leash (a strap that goes around your ankle and connects to the board via a urethane cord) and a life jacket or PFD belt for safety. Finally, make sure to check the weather and water conditions to make sure the water is calm. As the saying goes, “When in doubt, don’t paddle out.”
Step 2: Taking Your First Paddle Strokes—Basic SUP Skills for Beginner Paddlers
Start by wading out from shore until the water is one to two feet deep (deep enough for your board’s fin not to hit the bottom). Hold both rails (the sides of the board) for balance and climb on the board into a kneeling position. Spend a few minutes paddling around in the kneeling position to get a feel for the stability of the board.
To stand up, take a few hard strokes to get some momentum; it’s a lot easier to maintain balance when the board is moving forward. Make sure you’re in the middle of the board (a good reference point is the carry handle). Once the board has some speed, place your hands on the rails and quickly move your feet underneath you while keeping your knees bent and your feet shoulder-width apart. Stand upright and start paddling to maintain forward momentum.
It’s normal to feel unstable and fall off a couple times when you’re starting out, but don’t let the tumbles deter you. For your first few sessions, you’ll simply want to practice using your paddle to maneuver the board around while keeping your balance.
Beginner paddlers should work on getting comfortable with three essential SUP skills: the forward stroke, stopping, and turning.
Forward Stroke
This is how you propel the board forward. Plant the paddle in the water by bending at the waist and reaching forward (about two feet or more). Push the blade all the way under the surface, then bring it back to your feet and lift it out of the water. To keep your board moving in a straight line, you’ll want to alternate sides after every three or four strokes.
Turning
Next you’ll want to learn how to turn your board. To turn, you paddle on the opposite side you want to turn the board (e.g. paddle on the left side to go right). If you want to turn faster, step towards the back of your board while using the same paddle technique (this is also called a pivot turn).
Stopping
To stop moving, simply plant your blade in the water and gently move it in the opposite direction you would for a forward stroke (i.e. push the paddle toward the front of the board). Do this once on each side and you should come to a stop.
Steven Ritzer / EyeEm / Getty Images
Step 3: Overcoming Common Challenges—Keeping Your Balance in Choppy Conditions
In an ideal world, your early SUP experiences take place on calm and glassy water. However, at some point you’ll be paddling in breezy, choppy conditions, and staying balanced will be more difficult. While these conditions may cause you to fall a few more times, they will also make you a much better paddler. As Boehne explains, the key to overcoming choppy conditions is to use your paddle.
“When feeling unstable, the last thing you want to do is take your paddle out of the water,” he says. “Instead, try to paddle faster, because it allows you to have the blade in the water more, allowing you to gain momentum which translates into stability. Remember, the paddle is an extension of your arms, and you can use it to brace and lean on so you don’t fall in.”
Learn the Brace Stroke
Yes, your paddle can help you stay upright—you just need to master the brace stroke. While there are a few different variations, the basic idea is to place the paddle out to the side of the board about two to three feet and slap the water with the face of the blade. This will provide a quick stabilization if you’re starting to lose your balance. It’s a fast movement and it takes time to learn, but it will save you from countless falls once you get it down.
Change Your Feet Positioning
In addition to using your paddle as a third arm or leg, your foot position can also go a long way toward keeping you dry in choppy conditions.
“Often, if you move your feet back a step, it will raise the front nose out of the water and free up the interaction with the chop and your board,” Boehne says. “Also try widening your stance, bending your knees a bit more, and keep looking forward towards your target.”
Step 4: Staying Safe on a SUP
Standup paddleboarding is a fun and rewarding sport that can have a significant positive impact on your overall health and well-being. However, bad decisions and being unprepared for dangerous conditions can lead to tragedies. According to U.S. Coast Guard data, there were 18 fatalities on SUPs in 2021. The good news is that you can significantly reduce most risk factors by following basic safety precautions.
Wear a Leash & PFD
First and foremost, always wear a leash and life jacket or PFD belt while standup paddling. The leash will keep you tethered to your board when you fall, and a PFD belt will provide flotation if you’re struggling to swim—though all paddlers should know how to swim before entering the water.
Paddle in a Group and in Safe Areas
In addition to wearing the right gear, Boehne and Black-Schmidt both suggest paddling with friends—that way help is nearby if you run into trouble. Avoid crowded surf lineups and places with lots of boat traffic. If you do find yourself paddling in an area with boat traffic, Boehne urges paddlers to “stay off to the sides, out of boat lanes, and away from speeding watercraft.”
Check the Weather
Finally, it’s important to check the weather forecast and be mindful of wind speed and direction before you paddle out.
“I like to check the wind and see how strong it is before I go so I know what I’m getting myself into,” Boehne says. “It’s never fun to paddle one way downwind and realize that it’s just too challenging to paddle back.”
Mystockimages / Getty Images
Step 5: Taking Your Standup Paddling to the Next Level
Once you have a few SUP sessions under your belt, you’ll start to feel more confident and ready for a fresh challenge. That’s when the true potential of standup paddling will begin to reveal itself. While there’s nothing wrong with cruising around a placid lake or harbor, the sport has so much more to offer.
“Think about a paddling goal beyond flatwater cruising—whether it’s fitness, racing, surf, fishing, rivers, or camping,” says Black-Schmidt. “And if you get a chance to use a faster hard board or a carbon paddle, you’ll be amazed at how different it feels from the entry-level inflatable SUP and aluminum paddle. SUP can open a lot of possibilities.”
Not only are there lots of different ways to paddle, but more importantly, you’ll meet lots of different people while paddling. SUP has a supportive community, and once you’re hooked on the sport, you’ll wonder why you hadn’t started paddling years before.
Now that you have an idea of what skills to learn, here are five pieces of SUP gear that will set you up for success on the water.
Essential SUP Gear for Beginners
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An inflatable standup paddleboard (iSUP) is the perfect craft for a new paddler. Not only are they typically stable and easy to learn on, but the ability to inflate and deflate the board makes them easy to store and transport. However, countless paddlers have made the critical error of getting a cheap iSUP that offers zero performance and leads to an unfulfilling time on the water.
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While new paddlers focus a lot of their attention on which board to get, choosing a quality paddle is arguably more important. In fact, I’d say that few things have stunted the growth of SUP quite like heavy aluminum paddles with plastic blades—the awful paddles that typically come in those cheap beginner iSUP packages. Cheap paddles significantly reduce the performance and fun factor of your SUP experience, and they lead many people to give up on the sport before they really get into it.
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Safety comes first, and a PFD belt is a must-have for everyone, no matter if you’re an experienced paddler or taking a stroke for the first time. This low-profile belt from BOTE is a great option as it won’t get in the way while you’re paddling. However, if you fall in and are struggling to swim, pulling the orange tab activates a CO2 cartridge to provide 16.5 pounds of buoyancy, while a secondary panel (inflated by blowing into a tube) can add another 29.5 pounds of buoyancy to keep you afloat—and alive.
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Watching your board float away faster than you can swim is one of the most frightening moments a paddler can experience. This underscores the importance of always wearing a leash. A leash keeps your board within a few feet of you when you fall, allowing you to easily retrieve it and hop back on.
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Standup paddling in the baking sun is a great way to get a nasty burn. While you should definitely wear a reef-safe sunscreen on your face, the best way to protect your upper body is with a quality rash guard that’s comfortable and won’t restrict your paddling.
Bill Hader’s role as a “vocal consultant” for the beloved droid BB-8 makes him an official part of the Star Wars universe, but don’t think about asking for his autograph. In a recent appearance on the podcast Happy, Sad, Confused, the actor revealed that he has a blanket policy to not sign Star Wars merch.
“We’ll be on location and there will be these guys with these BB-8 dolls. I do not sign them. Autograph people don’t like me. I won’t sign things,” he said, recalling a late-night encounter with a fan that left him jaded.
“I used to sign stuff, and then one time I saw somebody and they had their kid come up to me to sign a BB-8 thing, and it was three in the morning,” Hader said. “I was leaving the Inside Out premiere and then we went to an after-party thing and it was super late and this guy kept his kid up all night. He’s like, ‘Go over there so he’ll sign it so I can sell it online.'”
According to Hader, the experience left him wary of signing anything Star Wars-related. “I was like, ‘That’s fucked up.’ So now, I’m just kind of blanket, like I’m not signing any of this shit.”
Although Hader had originally tried to do voice work for BB-8, he and J.J. Abrams agreed that it sounded too human-like. Later on, Abrams brought Hader back as a “vocal consultant,” where he strapped on a talk box and helped contribute the electronic noises that ended up in the final cut. On the podcast, the actor mused that “anybody can do that” when explaining why he didn’t work on subsequent Star Wars films.
