The Best Tested Products of 2024

WHAT IT IS: A handheld toy for ages 8 and up that makes a glow-in-the-dark string defy gravity and billow out to form rigid shapes that you can manipulate.

WHY WE LOVE IT: The rechargeable device had kids and adults lining up to try it at our in-person toy-testing event, earning it a coveted honor in our 2024 Toy Awards. There's also the ZipString Original, which has a standard, non-glowing string.

LAB RESULTS: It was easy to learn new tricks, according to our young tester. Parents liked that it was small and convenient to take on the go.

READ THE FULL REVIEW: The Mesmerizing 'Shark Tank' Toy I'm Calling a Holiday Must-Have

WHAT IT IS: A hands-free breast pump with a larger capacity than most.

WHY WE LOVE IT: This innovative pump earned a 2024 Parenting Award, and one new parent on staff has been using it every day for the past six months. She also tested breast pumps for us after her first child, and said that it felt "hospital grade," in a good way.

LAB RESULTS: The pump has a large capacity of 6 ounces, which is bigger than other wearable pumps, and it has convenient controls on the front so you can see the timer and setting. "If I use it once a day in the morning, I can go almost all week without having to charge it," our staffer shared.

WHAT IT IS: A popular baby carrier with a functional design that grows with your baby to toddler age.

WHY WE LOVE IT: The BabyBjörn baby carrier earned the best overall spot for best baby carriers by our parenting pros, thanks to its adjustable design and padded waist belt and shoulder straps. It's now designed with a new woven melange fabric that is soft, textured and durable.

LAB RESULTS: The carrier can be used in four different positions, meaning it can take your baby from newborn to toddler.

WHAT IT IS: A 27-inch, wall-mounted digital calendar that can help organize appointments, to-do lists and chore assignments. Each household member can have a personalized profile with color-coded events.

WHY WE LOVE IT: Home Design Director Monique Valeris and Executive Director at the GH Institute, Lexie Sachs tested the Hearth Display firsthand. They liked how it saved time, encouraged healthy habits and looked visually appealing.

LAB RESULTS: The privacy mode swaps the display to a family photo rather than the calendar view. It's easy to edit, and we found that kids liked checking things off their lists, which helps with getting things done around the house.

READ THE FULL REVIEW: Is the Hearth Calendar Worth It? My Family Tested It for Months to Find Out

WHAT IT IS: An easy-to-transport infant car seat that comes with a stroller attachment and extendable canopy.

WHY WE LOVE IT: It only weighs 6 pounds, plus it comes in four colors and fits the brand's stroller and other products. The headrest is adjustable, and the straps of the single buckle clip together and are adjustable as well.

LAB RESULTS: The car seat really is lightweight, and the extendable canopy is a standout. Plus, a tester shared: "My son is in the 95+ percentile, so lugging him around in a heavy car seat was just not practical," a tester shared. "The Uppababy Aria has been a game-changer for us."

WHAT IT IS: A fabric steamer that has an extended cord, is ready to use in just 39 seconds and is easy to hold.

WHY WE LOVE IT: Our Lab pros named this model the best overall garment steamer, since it scored the highest wrinkle removal score out of all the models we tested. It performed particularly well with wool and cotton/poly blends, earning perfect scores on both fabrics.

LAB RESULTS: It steamed continuously for nearly 17 minutes before the water reservoir was empty. Plus, the 8-foot cord allowed us to maneuver freely around garments of all shapes and sizes. You can also create bursts on demand or use the trigger lock to enable a continual stream.

WHAT IT IS: A slim yet powerful electric scrubber that removes dirt effectively and comes with various attachments like a small flat brush, large flat brush, pointed brush, sponge pad, scour pad, cloth pad — to suit a variety of tasks.

WHY WE LOVE IT: We found the sleek design easy to maneuver and comfortable to hold. Our cleaning experts also appreciate the versatility: It can be used as a small handheld scrubber or extended up to 51 inches with its telescoping extension pole — all reasons why we named it the best overall electric spin scrubber.

LAB RESULTS: The power scrubber came out on top for removing soil. It also had one of the longest battery run times: nearly 2 hours and 20 minutes.

WHAT IT IS: A Dyson robot vacuum with powerful suction and features other robots don't offer, like a full-width bristle and fluffy brush roller that can remove dirt from carpets without scratching delicate hardwoods.

WHY WE LOVE IT: The impressive suction led us to name this model the most powerful robot vacuum. We found it did a great job picking up pet (and human!) hair without creating tangles in the brush. It has a built-in HEPA filter that captures up to 99.97% of dust particles.

LAB RESULTS: One tester appreciated that you can operate the robot manually via an onboard display, through the app (if the robot is docked) or with voice control using Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. The app makes it easy to label rooms and define areas the vacuum should not go.

READ THE FULL REVIEW: Dyson 360 Vis Nav Robot Vacuum Review: Does the Next-Level Suction Justify the Price?

WHAT IT IS: A highly-concentrated, water-based cleaning solution that's considered a safer choice on public health and the environment.

WHY WE LOVE IT: Our top pick for degreasers, the Krud Kutter worked quickly in Lab tests. The concentrated formula — read the instructions for proper dilution — is strong and effective and U.S. EPA Safer Choice certified, meaning it is a safe choice for human health and the environment.

LAB RESULTS: Krud Kutter removed even tough residues: It defeated our grease slurry in only a few wipes and also works on delicate surfaces like porcelain, aluminum and glass.

WHAT IT IS: A stainless steel, energy-efficient built-in dishwasher with a front control panel.

WHY WE LOVE IT: LG's dishwasher received nearly perfect scores in our tough dishwashing tests, earning a recent Kitchen Gear Award. The features make the machine comparable to high-end models and a great value for the price, which explains why also rated it the best dishwasher under $500. We also appreciate the fingerprint-resistant front and that the filter was easy to remove and clean.

LAB RESULTS: The Flex Zone option lets you customize the wash intensity for better cleaning, and the Night Dry setting ventilates the dishwasher for better drying of items washed overnight.

WHAT IT IS: A popular travel tumbler that fits in most cupholders and is often compared to the Stanley Adventure Quencher.

WHY WE LOVE IT: Over the course of 24 hours, the temperature of cold water changed by only 4˚F. We also liked the tight-fitting, see-through lid so you can see when you need to refill and the rubberized base that can help keep the cup steady. When comparing it to other top-performing tumblers, Kitchen Lab Analyst Eva Bleyer, says: "It's actually one of the only 40-ounce tumblers I tested that's leak-proof."

LAB RESULTS: When we test water bottles and tumblers, we drop them from a height of three feet. During that test, this top-performing pick from HydroJug didn't leak, thanks in part to a straw that you can fold down when not in use.

WHAT IT IS: A 10-piece cookware set that includes items you'll reach for often: 8.5-inch and 11-inch skillets, 1.5- and 3-quart covered saucepans, a 3.5-quart covered sauté pan, an 8-quart covered stockpot and matching lids.

WHY WE LOVE IT: Named our top pick for cookware sets, this cookware stands out for its high-quality materials. A layer of aluminum (which provides fast, even heating) is sandwiched by two layers of stainless steel bonded with titanium particles (which helps prevent sticking and is easy to clean). And the set has an impressive heat-safe range: It goes up to 1,050˚F!

LAB RESULTS: The 11-inch skillet heated evenly and performed well when browning a steak. It has a wide surface area and slightly flared edges plus a long, comfortable handle.

WHAT IT IS: A best-selling luxury blender with an easy-to-operate touch interface, timer and advanced features.

WHY WE LOVE IT: Vitamix has come out on top in our test among all blenders, and this one was even the best when we tested a bunch of Vitamix models side-by-side. The touch interface is easy to understand and operate, and we love the recent gold label color. It offers five program settings, a programmable timer, variable speeds and pulse operation — all with a 10-year warranty.

LAB RESULTS: It smoothly pureed our kale-and-strawberry smoothie, made creamy milkshakes, churned out silky homemade peanut butter and delivered consistently fluffy frozen margaritas.

WHAT IT IS: A smart range with a large capacity, plus special features like air fry and air sous vide.

WHY WE LOVE IT: Our Lab pros were so impressed with its fast boiling time and air fry and sous vide settings that they deemed this model the best overall induction range. It offers great value for its speedy performance and user-friendly design. The intuitive control panel and familiar knobs made it easy to navigate.

LAB RESULTS: The stovetop boiled water quickly, and it held a steady temperature during our simmer test. The convection oven offers not only an air-fry setting but also "air sous vide," which uses a low oven temperature and airflow around vacuum-sealed foods to cook sous vide without the water bath. The cakes we baked in Lab tests were golden, and steaks broiled beautifully in just six minutes.

WHAT IT IS: A self-tanning foam that stands out for producing long-lasting, natural-looking color.

WHY WE LOVE IT: Coco & Eve earned the top spot in our recent self-tanner study as the best mousse. All of our testers (100%!) agreed that it produced a natural-looking color and that they were satisfied with the amount of control over the depth of their tan.

LAB RESULTS: Testers also reported that they liked how skin looked after using this product. And most testers — 80% — found that they achieved their desired depth of color after just one application. Users praised the "rich foam" texture and some reported that the color "lasted over a week."

WHAT IT IS: A hair dryer that can also heat-style hair thanks to five attachments: a diffuser, concentrator, smoothing brush, touch-up brush and shine brush (plus a storage bag).

WHY WE LOVE IT: The device earned top marks for fast drying and high air temperature, plus it's an exceptional styling tool, so we named it the most versatile hair dryer in a recent roundup. We love that it's great for home use and compact enough to work as a travel hair dryer.

LAB RESULTS: The hair dryer delivered bouncy curls and sleek blowouts. All of our testers said it left their hair shiny and free from frizz.