The CNN Underscored team works hard each month testing new products to find the best worth purchasing. In every one of our hands-on, objective reviews, we pick the top products across various categories, from home and kitchen and electronics to health and fitness and outdoors.
Whenever we start our rigorous testing process, we first conduct extensive research on the top contenders in each product category. We then develop a testing pool of products and get our hands on each one, testing and judging them by our pre-established criteria. We review them multiple times in real-world settings over several weeks or months.
September was no different as we tested tons of reliable and useful products. Some of our top picks include umbrellas that can help you keep dry during the rainy season, pillows designed for side sleepers and cat litter boxes that will become a welcoming yet tidy place for your furry baby to answer nature’s call. Across each of these categories, and more, we found the best products you can buy to make life that much better.
Here are all the best products we tested in September.
Alcohol
Best celebrity tequila
From Mark Wahlberg comes Flecha Azul Blanco, a smooth and balanced tequila our editors loved during testing. This tequila is additive-free and tastes great. Its rich and silky consistency was a favorite on its own and in cocktails.
Coffee
Best single-serve coffee makers
The Nespresso VertuoPlus by Breville is a convenient single-serve coffee maker that makes regular coffee and espresso. During testing, we appreciated its detached 60-ounce water reservoir since that meant no refilling was required every time we brewed a cup. This machine was easy to use and brewed perfectly delicious cups of both espresso and coffee for us.
The Sboly Single-Serve Coffee Maker has solid value for those on a budget. During testing, we liked that we could brew using K-cups or with grounds plus we could brew up to four different size cups. This coffee maker is easy to use and compact so it won’t take up a lot of counter space.
Emergency preparedness
Best flashlights
The ThruNite Archer 2A V3 Flashlight is a powerful flashlight that's easy to carry thanks to its compact size. It’s also durable with a solid grip design. During testing, we liked the dual-button interface that let us turn it on and off and adjust its four brightness settings.
The Fenix PD36R Rechargeable Flashlight impressed us with its long battery life. This rechargeable flashlight is small but offers a powerful beam, and we liked that its two buttons are easy to control.
The Maglite Solitaire Flashlight is tiny but don’t let its size fool you. It’s bright enough for most needs and its size means it’s portable; it can even be attached on a keychain. During testing, we activated it with one hand with a simple twist, which we thought was a convenient detail.
Home
Best bidets
The Tushy Classic 3.0 is perfect for the beginner bidet user who wants these products a try without spending a fortune. This attachment mounted easily on our toilet seat, and we were able to adjust it to enjoy a comfortable stream.
The Toto Washlet C2 is a standout when it comes to comfort. This bidet seat is full of features, including a warm water spray, an option to heat the seat, and even a dryer. During testing it provided a top-notch wash-and-dry experience every time.
The Alpha Bidet Alpha JX2 Bidet Seat offers some of the best technology we’ve tested and offers it at a reasonable price. During testing we liked that we could fully adjust its water stream plus, to our delight, its warm water was endless. It also comes with a handy remote with which we can turn its heated seat and dryer on and off.
The Toto Washlet K300 Electronic Bidet offers a top-notch, luxurious spray and a quick and effective dryer. The high-end bidet uses a coil heating system for an instantaneous, infinite warm water supply. We liked its automatic pre-mist and deodorizer, as well as its handy remote that's compatible with different user presets. However, this bidet only comes in an elongated shape so, unfortunately, round toilet owners can’t use it.
Outdoor gear
Best camping chairs
The Kelty Deluxe Lounge Chair is a camping chair that can recline when you want to take a quick nap. During testing, we were delighted with how comfortable this chair was. We also liked its handy built-in cup holders.
The Coleman Cooler Quad Chair is a great pick for campers with simple needs and a budget in mind. We didn't think it was the most comfortable, or even the most portable, but it got the job done by providing an inexpensive and sturdy place to sit.
Best rain boots
The Merry People Bobbi Ankle Rain Boots are a pair of boots that are not only durable but also beautiful. We found them comfortable to walk in all day and appreciated that their bottoms had a strong anti-slip grip. Their waterproofing kept our feet dry inside and they were easy to clean after splashing around in mud.
The Crocs Classic Boot was extremely comfortable to wear during testing, which aligns with the brand’s reputation for comfort. We liked that these boots protected our feet and socks from the rain and mud but were still lightweight and durable. They're a great value given their performance and low price.
Best umbrellas
The Balios Folding Double-Canopy Umbrella is a reliable umbrella that's compact at 13.8 inches when closed. We liked its comfortable wooden handle and its vented 40-inch canopy that seldom flipped inside out during testing. But if it did flip, we could easily fix it.
Pets
Best cat litter boxes
The ExquisiCat High-Sided cat litter box’s high walls prevent your cat from being able to kick litter out as your furry baby digs around. We found it durable and easy to clean thanks to its open-top design. Its sturdy plastic handles are built into the design, making it easy to lift and move around.
The Frisco Covered Cat Litter Box is covered for cats who prefer more privacy when taking care of nature’s call. During testing, we liked how it didn’t become unpleasantly smelly inside no matter how often our cat used it. It’s also large yet easy to clean. A handy feature is its snap-on holder where its litter scoop can rest for later use.
Best dog leashes
The Mendota Pet Snap Leash is a budget-friendly dog leash that's lightweight and easy to use. We liked its sturdy metal clip which was strong and secure. The leash is available in two sizes so you can walk your small, midsize or large furry baby with just as much ease. It also comes in many different patterns and colors.
Best hands-free dog leashes
The SparklyPets Hands-Free Dog Leash is an affordable dog leash that allows you to walk your dog hands-free thanks to its waist belt design. We appreciated how we could detach the leash from the waist belt and use it as a handheld leash when we wanted to. It's strong and sturdy and is a great option for the price.
Sleep
Best pillows for side sleepers
The Nest Bedding Easy Breather Side Sleeper Pillow features a curvature design that helps relieve pressure on your shoulder as you sleep. We think its crescent shape is extremely comfortable and supportive. It’s also easily adjustable and helps cool you as you sleep.
The Casper Hybrid Pillow is a well-ventilated memory foam pillow that helped prevent us from overheating during testing. It's squishy and soft yet maintains its ability to support our head and neck.
The Beckham Hotel Collection pillow is one of the least expensive pillows we tested and also happens to be one of our favorites. It strikes the right balance between soft and firm, featuring a dense fill that supports our head and neck well overnight.
The Buffy Wiggle Pillow is a body pillow that is cozy and comfortable, perfect for side sleepers who want a pillow to cuddle onto while sleeping. Its long body offered us a nice amount of support and felt soft yet firm.
Travel
Best travel backpacks under $50
The Coowoz Large Travel Backpack is a great choice for weekend excursions or business travel due to its large 27-liter packing space for clothes and a compartment meant exclusively for a laptop. We liked the two quick-access pockets and think this bag is basic yet chic. It'll no doubt function perfectly for your quick getaway needs.
The Shrradoo Anti-Theft Laptop Travel Backpack has anti-theft features like locking zippers and a small anti-theft pocket for your passport and other must-haves. You will have plenty of space to store items thanks to this full-size carry-on bag’s three roomy compartments; your laptop will fit nicely in one of them.
The Amazon Basics Carry-On Travel Backpack is budget-friendly while offering plenty of space in its large main compartment for your essentials. It has a separate laptop compartment and a handy quick-access pocket where we stored our passport while traveling. We think this backpack can replace your carry-on luggage for weeklong trips thanks to its 45 liters of packing space.
Best travel coffee mugs
The Zojirushi 16-Ounce Seamless Stainless Mug performed very well in our temperature testing, perfectly keeping our hot and cold drinks at their respective temperatures. This well-insulated mug’s ability to maintain up to 16 ounces of liquid at your desired temperature is top-notch and reliable, no matter where you bring it.
The Fellow 16-Ounce Carter Move Mug is great at keeping your hot drinks hot and your cold drinks cold. During testing, we enjoyed our beverages at their respective temperatures all day. We liked this mug’s removable splash guard, which prevented any spills while we were on the go.
The Zojirushi 16-Ounce Stainless Steel Mug is a stainless steel travel mug that's completely leakproof. We locked the lid and placed it in our purse and backpack confident we wouldn't have any spillage problems. This mug also kept our hot beverages hot for extended periods. It even survived our durability tests the best during testing.
