• The transportation data firm INRIX Research released on Tuesday its annual rankings of the most congested cities in the US.
• Cities were ranked based on delays caused by congestion, adjusted for each city's population.
• Boston was named the most congested city in the US for the second year in a row.

The transportation data firm INRIX Research released on Tuesday its annual rankings of the most congested cities in the US.

The company measured the amount of time lost per capita in 2018 due to the difference between traffic at the busiest and least busy commuting times each day. Cities were ranked based on delays caused by congestion, adjusted for each city's population. INRIX also measured the per capita and overall cost of congestion for each city.

Boston was named the most congested city in the US for the second year in a row. INRIX attributed the city's congestion to its age, population density, and geographic characteristics. 

These are the most congested cities in the US.

SEE ALSO: These are the 20 most congested cities in the world

15. Baltimore, MD

Hours lost in congestion per capita: 94

Cost of congestion per driver: $1,315

Total cost of congestion for city: $1.3 billion

14. Austin, TX

Hours lost in congestion per capita: 104

Cost of congestion per driver: $1,452

Total cost of congestion for city: $1.2 billion

13. Houston, TX

Hours lost in congestion per capita: 98

Cost of congestion per driver: $1,365

Total cost of congestion for city: $3.8 billion

• Over the course of 91 years of Oscars, plenty of worthy films have been overlooked in the best-picture race.
• We listed the 15 best ones, based on their composite critic scores from reviews aggregator Metacritic.

When it comes to the Oscars, we all remember the shocking and infamous best-picture upsets— like "Crash" over "Brokeback Mountain," or "Shakespeare in Love" over "Saving Private Ryan."

But there are also some iconic films that never even got nominated.

Many lauded films have lost out on a best-picture nomination. We turned to the top movies of all time on reviews aggregator Metacritic to get a list of the best movies without best-picture Oscar nominations. These Academy-snubbed movies span from foreign masterpieces to animated classics.

And there's a lot of Hitchcock.

Here are the 15 best films not nominated for best picture, based on Metacritic scores:

SEE ALSO: 'Black Panther' was built around one essential line of dialogue that director Ryan Coogler feared Marvel would cut

15. "Psycho" (1960)

Score: 97 

Number of reviews: 17

The first of Alfred Hitchock's classic films to appear on this list, the original "Psycho" nabbed four nominations — including directing for Hitchcock — but failed to enter into the best-picture ring.

14. "Some Like It Hot" (1959)

Score: 97

Number of reviews: 19

This Marilyn Monroe starrer picked up a costume design trophy but wasn't nominated for best picture, despite five other nominations — including best director Billy Wilder and best actor Jack Lemmon.

13. "4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days" (2007)

Score: 97

Number of reviews: 37

This Romanian film, about a woman who seeks an illegal abortion in the 1980s, managed to pick up a best foreign film nomination at the 2008 Golden Globes, but the Academy failed to even recognize it in this category at that year's Oscars.

• Nearly 200 political scientists ranked the presidents by order of greatness in a survey, and President Donald Trump came in last.
• President Abraham Lincoln was first.
• Members of the American Political Science Association’s Presidents & Executive Politics section completed the survey online between December 2017 and January 2018.

Presidential rankings tend to be subjective and divisive, but they also provide valuable insight into how historical views of presidents evolve over time.

In a recent survey, nearly 200 political science scholars ranked US presidents on a scale of 0-100, from failure (zero) to average (50) to great (100). The totals were then averaged for each president and ranked from highest to lowest.

A majority of the 170 respondents — roughly 57% — identified as Democrats. Just 13% were Republicans, while 27% said they were independents, and 3% selected other.

The skewed sampling plus the fact that President Donald Trump was just starting his second year in office make it difficult to accurately compare him to previous presidents.

But even among Republicans, Trump was ranked quite unfavorably. Respondents who identified as Republicans or conservatives ranked Trump 40th out of 44 presidents. Self-described Democrats and liberals both ranked him last.

Here are the greatest US presidents, ranked according to current and recent members of the American Political Science Association:

SEE ALSO: The top 20 presidents in US history, according to historians

DON'T MISS: Inside the marriage of Donald and Melania Trump, who broke up once before, reportedly sleep in different bedrooms, and are weathering rumors of his affairs

44: Donald Trump

43: James Buchanan

42: William Harrison

The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

US presidents have had a substantial impact on the world that we live in. They've been placed at the helm of some of the most significant decisions humans have made in their history.

And yet, their personalities, philosophies, flaws, and the inner workings of their administrations remain generally unknown to the public during their service. These disproportionately powerful figures — later hailed as icons or denounced as villains — primarily exist as enigmas until their term ends.

Fortunately for history buffs or anyone after a behind-the-scenes look at some of the nation’s most consequential events, plenty of US presidents have left the White House and written personal accounts of their years in office. Though certainly not free from personal defenses or valid external critiques, they do provide a rare, close look into how the nation's greatest triumphs and mistakes came to be — and into the minds of those in charge when they did.

Below are the 18 autobiographies written by former US presidents covering their presidency: 

Captions provided by Amazon and edited for length.

George W. Bush, 43rd President of the United States

“Decision Points” by George W. Bush (2010) available on Amazon

George W. Bush served as president of the United States during eight of the most consequential years in American history. The decisions that reached his desk impacted people around the world and defined the times in which we live.

"Decision Points" brings readers inside the Texas governor's mansion on the night of the 2000 election, aboard Air Force One during the harrowing hours after the attacks of September 11, 2001, into the Situation Room moments before the start of the war in Iraq, and behind the scenes at the White House for many other historic presidential decisions.

Bill Clinton, 42nd President of the United States

“My Life” by Bill Clinton (2004) available at Amazon

President Bill Clinton's "My Life" is the strikingly candid portrait of a global leader who decided early in life to devote his intellectual and political gifts, and his extraordinary capacity for hard work, to serving the public. 

It shows us the progress of a remarkable American, who, through his own enormous energies and efforts, made the unlikely journey from Hope, Arkansas, to the White House one fueled by an impassioned interest in the political process which manifested itself at every stage of his life: in college, working as an intern for Senator William Fulbright; at Oxford, becoming part of the Vietnam War protest movement; at Yale Law School, campaigning on the grassroots level for Democratic candidates; and back in Arkansas, running for Congress, attorney general, and governor.

George H. W. Bush, 41st President of the United States

“A World Transformed” by George H. W. Bush (1998) and Brent Scowcroft available at Amazon

In "A World Transformed," Mr. Bush and his national security advisor, Brent Scowcroft, provide a fascinating account of a president and an administration faced with unprecedented obstacles and unrivaled opportunities as they forged a foreign policy at the end of the Cold War. Solidarity comes to power in Poland. East and West Germans dance on the wall that separated them for half a century. And on Christmas Day, 1991, the hammer-and-sickle flag descends from the Kremlin for the last time. 

It is also a candid analysis of a new chapter in foreign affairs when the United States led an international alliance to confront the threat presented by Saddam Hussein and put forth a dynamic response to the Tiananmen crisis. Balanced and intelligent, "A World Transformed" offers a landmark treatise on American foreign policy and international diplomacy from two of its principal architects.

• Delta Air Lines is the first carrier in the Americas to operate the new Airbus A220 airliner.
• The Airbus A220, which began life as the Bombardier C-Series, is a state-of-the-art, 100-to-150-seat, single-aisle airliner.
• Business Insider had the chance to experience the Delta A220's economy and first-class cabins. We were thoroughly impressed by its style, comfort, roominess, and in-flight amenities. 

This month, Delta Air Lines became the first airline in the Americas to operate the new Airbus A220 airliner.

The A220, which began life as the Bombardier C-Series, is a state-of-the-art, 100-to-150-seat, single-aisle airliner. The Canadian jet is a clean-sheet design that incorporates the latest in commercial aviation technology, like a carbon-composite fuselage and fuel-sipping geared turbofan engines from Pratt & Whitney.

The plane, which entered service with Swiss in 2016, has earned praise from its operators for its exceptional fuel efficiency.

The A220 is currently assembled in Mirabel in Quebec, Canada. However, Airbus broke ground on a new A220 final assembly line in Mobile, Alabama, last month. That plant is expected to be completed in 2020. 

Read more: Boeing started a trade dispute with Canada, but Airbus and Alabama ended up being the winners.

For Delta, the A220 will serve primarily on short- and medium-haul domestic routes. The airline launched service with flights from New York's LaGuardia Airport to Boston and Dallas. Depending on the route, the Airbus will replace everything from small regional jets to 160-seat McDonnell Douglas MD-88s. 

Business Insider had the chance to experience the Delta A220's economy and first-class cabins. We were thoroughly impressed by its style, comfort, roominess, and in-flight amenities. 

Read more: We flew on the new Delta Airbus jet, which Boeing tried to keep out of the US, to see if it lives up to the hype. Here's the verdict.

A handful of the Delta Airbus A220's amenities stood out. In a commercial airliner, some features are attributable to the aircraft, such as the size of the overhead bins and the size of its windows, while others, such as the seats and the entertainment systems, are down to the airline.

Here's a closer look at the Delta Air Lines Airbus A220's coolest features: 

SEE ALSO: The $446 million Airbus A380 superjumbo is the largest and most expensive airliner in the world. Take a look inside.

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1. Wide economy seat: Delta's A220s boast some of the roomiest economy-class seats in the business at 18.6 inches wide. That's roughly two inches wider than the seats on some of Delta's MD-88s.

Delta's A220 economy cabin also boasts 32 inches of seat pitch, which is the space between two rows.

2. One middle seat: The middle seat is the least desirable place to be on a plane. Fortunately, the A220's economy cabin features only five seats per row in a 3-2 configuration.

• Costco is selling succulent gardens for $20 as the houseplant craze takes over in the United States. 
• Millennials are thought to account for one-third of houseplant sales in the US.
• Experts say this is because many are waiting longer to buy homes and are living in smaller, urban spaces for longer, which drives an interest in raising plants.

Costco is selling cheap succulents, and millennials are likely to come running. 

This week, a Reddit thread was picked up by House Beautiful after a Costco shopper shared an image showing a $20 succulent garden they had bought at the warehouse store.

While this isn't the first time Costco has sold succulents, commenters on the thread were quick to jump in and show their excitement.

A spokesperson did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment.

Instagram is full of people bragging about their Costco plant purchases. 

Millennials have brought about a new trend for buying houseplants, and this generation is now thought to account for one-third of those sales in the US, according to Ian Baldwin, a business adviser for the gardening industry who spoke with The New York Times.

Read more:Millennials are obsessed with raising plants, and one New York-based startup is poised to capitalize

The biggest driver of the trend seems to be space or, perhaps, the lack thereof, as many millennials are waiting longer to buy homes and are living in smaller, urban spaces for longer. For many, that creates a need for some green to bring the outside in.

Some have said that the act of looking after plants may also be filling a void for millennials who are not only buying houses later, but also delaying getting married and having children.

"Plants make us feel like grown-ups. When the traditional signs of adulthood — marriage, homeownership, children — are delayed or otherwise out of reach, it's comforting to come home to something that depends on you," Jazmine Hughes wrote in The New York Times in June 2017.

SEE ALSO: 7 comically large items you can buy at Costco

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: 9 sneaky ways Walmart makes you spend more money

• Upon leaving office, President Barack Obama seemed to be the latest victim of the expedited presidential aging process that has been known to plague presidents, causing them to appear to age faster because of the stress of the office.
• Over the last 50 years, signs of aging have grown more noticeable as presidents are constantly photographed.
• Side-by-side photographs capture presidents' changing faces from inauguration to their last day in the White House.

As President Barack Obama reflected on his time in office, he had a way of acknowledging his waning time in the position: a joke about his graying hair.

"Right now, we are waging war under authorities provided by Congress over 15 years ago — 15 years ago," he said in December 2016.

"I had no gray hair 15 years ago."

Indeed, despite his close-cut hairstyle, it was impossible not to notice the trademark presidential graying, as the president's short black hair became more of a salt-and-pepper color.

And though some dermatologists maintain that Obama is the latest victim of the expedited presidential aging process, appearing to age faster because of the stress of the office, others say that it's more attributable to natural aging than stress.

Other studies, including a comprehensive analysis of elections dating back to the 1700s, have found that heading a nation can take years off a leader's life. That analysis, from the Harvard Medical School, found that elected heads of government, on average, have lives almost three years shorter than those of the candidates they defeat.

Here's how past US presidents have looked near the beginnings and ends of their respective terms:

SEE ALSO: POWER RANKINGS: Here's who has the best chance at being the next US president

President Donald Trump was 70 when he took office, the oldest in history.

Source: AP

Now 72, he doesn't look much different.

Obama looked youthful when he took the oath of office on Inauguration Day, January 20, 2009.

• Half of the US presidents were born in four states:
• Virginia and Ohio lead the way with a third of elected presidents hailing from Old Dominion and The Buckeye State.
• Twenty-nine states have no presidents to call their own.

When President Donald Trump was took office, he became the fifth US president to hail from New York.

The Empire State now has the third-most presidents to call its own. It's one of four states that have produced half of the 44 US presidents, along with Virginia, Ohio, and Massachusetts.

Many presidents, including Barack Obama and George W. Bush, later moved to and identified with other states.

For example, former President Barack Obama was born in Hawaii, but he later moved to and was a senator from Illinois. Bush is primarily affiliated with Texas despite being born in Connecticut.

Here are the 21 states that produced all the US presidents.

SEE ALSO: The height differences between all the US presidents and first ladies

DON'T MISS: Historic photos show every time American presidents met British Kings and Queens

Twenty-nine states haven't produced any presidents yet. Most of them are in the west, and didn't exist when the country was founded. Here's the breakdown:

Virginia had eight presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, William Henry Harrison, John Tyler, Zachary Taylor, and Woodrow Wilson.

Ohio had seven presidents: Ulysses S. Grant, Rutherford B. Hayes, James A. Garfield, Benjamin Harrison, William McKinley, William Howard Taft, and Warren G. Harding.

• The penthouse apartment is not necessarily the most luxurious apartment in a building.
• Several other types of properties offer similar features and value.
• If you're looking for elements such as unique layouts, high ceilings, and outdoor space, keep an eye out for terms such as "maisonette," "garden apartment," and "sky loft," among others.

The term "penthouse" is synonymous with prestige and luxury, but it's actually not always the best apartment in a building. And some say the penthouse has lost some of its allure, as Business Insider previously reported.

Reba Miller, a broker at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, said penthouses aren't necessarily the "trophy property" anymore.

Read more: Luxury apartment buildings in NYC are locked in an 'amenities war,' and it's highlighting a major problem in the housing market

"You can go to many buildings, buy on a lower floor, and feel like you bought the penthouse," she told The Real Deal.

Alex Lavrenov, an agent at Warburg Realty, told Business Insider that "there are a number of properties that can show the same value as a penthouse would, or attract the same kind of clientele."

Here are five other terms you should be looking out for if you're not set on a penthouse.

SEE ALSO: A luxury real-estate broker and 'Million Dollar Listing' star says a penthouse isn't what you think it is anymore

DON'T MISS: Billionaire Ken Griffin just bought a $238 million penthouse — and it's the most expensive home ever sold in the US

1. Condo townhouse

"Generally these are condominiums that are just as much like a single family home," Lavrenov said. "They mix an apartment and townhouse together."

A four-bedroom home on Manhattan's Upper East Side listed by Corcoran for $4.95 million includes a private entrance like a townhouse would, in addition to condo-like amenities such as a doorman and fitness facility that comes with a Peloton bike. 

Condo townhouses are also called "maisonettes," and in Lavrenov's view, the two terms are interchangeable. 

2. Maisonette

"Maisonette" is the marketing term more often used these days for a condo townhouse, according to Lavrenov, typically referring to a unit on two stories of a larger building that has its own private entrance.

The Wall Street Journal previously noted maisonettes were being rebranded into "coveted real estate" and described them as "townhouse-like spaces with building services."

In Manhattan, for instance, a six-bedroom, two-level co-op near Central Park for sale for $7.7 million is being marketed as a "maisonette" and includes amenities such as a private entrance, a 24-hour doorman, a live-in resident manager, gym, bike room, laundry, and storage, according to the listing.

Real estate database StreetEasy says the private entrances maisonettes typically offer are ideal for "celebrities or recluses" because of the "easy and anonymous in-and-out access," Laura Vecsey wrote.

3. Garden apartment

Instead of looking at the very top of a building for luxury, you might want to look at the very bottom.

"A lot of time ground floor apartments can be really unique," Lavrenov said. " ... Sometimes you'll see certain listings and certain condos will be marketing their first floors as 'Garden A' or 'Garden B.' That usually means that there's some sort of outdoor space attached to the property, there's a patio of some sort."

Often these properties go underground, making them duplexes.

"So sometimes there you get a really unique layout," Lavrenov said.

• In his first year as president, President Donald Trump received a doctor's recommendation to reduce his cholesterol, improve his nutrition, and start a workout routine.
• Trump has said in the past he's not a fan of exercise, and playing golf seems to be his primary, if only, workout.
• Other presidents were generally more active than Trump. Whether they were into boxing or riding a mechanical horse, they had their own favorite ways of keeping fit.

When President Donald Trump had his first physical as a presidential candidate in December 2015, Dr. Harold Bornstein did not shy away from exaggeration.

"If elected, Mr. Trump, I can state unequivocally, will be the healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency," he said.

Two years later results from Trump's second official medical exam, released this February, said the president was in "very good health overall," but is clinically obese, the latest warning after he was told in January 2018 to lose 10 to 15 pounds.

Though Trump does practice healthy habits like refraining from smoking and drinking, he is not a fan of exercise.

"All my friends who work out all the time, they're going for knee replacements, hip replacements — they're a disaster," Trump told The New York Times in 2015.

Trump isn't the only president who didn't like working out, though most were more active than he is.

Here's how he stacks up against past occupants of the Oval Office.

SEE ALSO: Trump likes his steaks well-done with ketchup — here's how the other presidents ate theirs

DON'T MISS: Trump's being slammed for this photo of his desk — here are past presidents' desks for comparison

Other than golfing, Trump is not too hot on exercise, despite his insistence that he does work out. "I get exercise," he once told Reuters. "I mean, I walk, I this, I that."

Sources: CNN, Reuters

When Trump plays golf, he drives a golf cart. During the campaign, Trump also said he viewed rallies as a form of exercise.

Sources: Axios, The New York Times

President Barack Obama enjoyed playing golf, too, which Trump frequently criticized him for.

Source: Business Insider

• The results of President Donald Trump's second physical examination were released on Thursday.
• According to his full health report, Trump is 6 feet 3 inches tall, making him one of the taller presidents.
• The tallest American president was Abraham Lincoln, at 6 feet 4 inches.
• James Madison, the country's fourth president, was the shortest at 5 feet 4 inches.
• In honor of Presidents Day, this animation shows all of the presidents in order of height, from tallest to shortest.

SEE ALSO: Quotes from every president

DON'T MISS: The 34 colleges that produced the most US presidents

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Watch President Trump announce deal to end the government shutdown for 3 weeks

• Some colleges have a pretty decent track record when it comes to producing presidential alumni.
• Harvard University, Princeton University, Yale University, the College of William & Mary, West Point, and the University of Pennsylvania have all taught more than one student that went on to become president of the United States.
• But plenty of other schools have helped to mold the 44 people who went on to take the White House.

It's a question that any American history buff — or future White House hopeful — is bound to ask. Which college has the distinction of producing the most US presidents?

That'd be Harvard University. It's an unsurprising win, considering Harvard is the oldest school in the country.

But a number of other schools also happened to help shape the minds of the 44 men who served as president of the US. Ivy League institutions, small Christian colleges, and state research universities all made the list.

Keep in mind, these presidents didn't necessarily graduate from all of the schools on this list. A number, like the ever-nomadic William McKinley, John F. Kennedy, and Jimmy Carter, bounced around between a number of institutions due to financial reasons, health difficulties, or changing preferences. But the people who went on to become US presidents did study at an undergraduate level at all of these institutions.

But don't take any of this as an unabashed endorsement of collegiate-level study. Plenty of other presidents, including George Washington, never even attended college.

Here's a look at which undergraduate schools have produced the most US presidents:

SEE ALSO: Half the US presidents were born in 4 states. These are the 21 states that have produced the most presidents.

DON'T MISS: Here's what every president's signature looks like

SEE ALSO: The 17 weirdest jobs of US presidents

Fordham University: One president

Donald Trump attended this Bronx-based Jesuit school before transferring to the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School.

According to "The Trumps: Three Generations of Builders and a Presidential Candidate," the president's sister Maryanne said that Trump chose to attend the college because "That's where he got in."

Occidental College: One president

Before attending Columbia University, Barack Obama studied for two years at Occidental College in Los Angeles.

Columbia University: One president

Obama transferred to Columbia University as a junior. There, he studied political science with a specialty in international relations, as well as English literature.

• Each US president's signature appears on thousands of documents from their terms in office, including letters, executive orders, and laws.
• Public signing ceremonies are a tradition in American politics where the president signs an act of Congress into law.
• These ceremonies have many storied traditions, including how many pens are used during the signing.
• Former President Lyndon B. Johnson famously used more than 75 pens to sign the Civil Rights Act in 1964. He gifted them to supporters of the bill, including Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr.
• From George Washington's cursive to Donald Trump's infamous script, take a look at every American president's signature:

SEE ALSO: The 34 colleges that produced the most US presidents

DON'T MISS: All of the US presidents, ranked from tallest to shortest in one animation

SEE ALSO: How past presidents' exercise routines compare to Trump's

George Washington

John Adams

Thomas Jefferson

• While every American president and first lady has reached the same heights of political office and public service, not all reached the White House at the same physical height.
• The average height of US presidents was 5-foot-10-inches, and the typical height difference between presidents and first ladies was 6.5 inches.
• Scientific studies suggest that men have it better when it comes to success in the workplace, and that women are more likely to choose taller men than shorter men.
• John Adams and Abigail Adams were only separated in height by an inch, while Thomas Jefferson was over a foot taller than his wife Martha Jefferson.
• We found the heights through online research and speaking with presidential historical sites and libraries, but a few first ladies' heights have been lost to history.
• Here is the height difference of every US president and first lady we could find:

SEE ALSO: Here's what every president's signature looks like

DON'T MISS: All of the US presidents, ranked from tallest to shortest in one animation

SEE ALSO: The 34 colleges that produced the most US presidents

George and Martha Washington: 1-foot-2-inches (36 cm)

John and Abigail Adams: 1 inch (2 cm)

Thomas and Martha Jefferson: 1-foot-2.5-inches (37 cm)

Jefferson was a widower when his presidency began, and his daughter, Martha, acted as first lady, along with wives of the Cabinet secretaries.

The "Miniatur Wunderland" exhibition, located in Hamburg, Germany, is the world's largest model railway.

If you've never seen it before, it's one of the cutest, most detailed miniature models you'll ever see in your life.

To bring new perspective to the massive model railway, Google in 2016 built a miniature version of its Street View car to capture footage within the Miniatur Wunderland with an array of tiny mounted cameras. You can actually see all the various worlds within the Miniatur Wunderland on Google Street View.

The results are stunning. Take a look:

SEE ALSO: This is the best-looking smartphone we've ever seen, even better than the iPhone — take a look

Google worked with mapping software company Ubilabs to capture the sprawling model world.

The tiny Street View car couldn't actually film anything, which is why Google and Ubilabs built a fleet of mini camera-mounted devices to cruise the streets ...

... and railways of Miniatur Wunderland. Keep in mind, this model railway features over 8 miles of track.

The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

• Nothing can completely prevent scuffs, scratches, and damage on leather goods, but a good leather protector can help.
• Our top pick is the highly-rated Guardsman Protect & Preserve For Leather, which works on everything from ankle boots to car seats.

For Christmas I received a pair of Everlane Day Boots in a limited-edition metallic color. I love these shoes, but I'm kind of afraid to wear them too often. They're super comfortable, but the leather is delicate — and did I mention limited edition???

If you, too, have some precious leather goods you'd like to shield from the elements, it's might be a good idea to invest in a leather protector. Most protectors come in spray or balm form and guard delicate leathers from rain, snow, liquid, and wine you spilled on your desk chair while working late into the night.

They won't protect your items from all signs of wear-and-tear — abrasions, creases, and scuff marks are somewhat unavoidable — but it's an extra step you can take to ensure your leather items age gracefully.

While leather protectors are especially useful for pieces you plan to take outside like jackets, shoes, and bags, it can't hurt to apply them to furnishings you want to keep in tip-top shape, either. And the kind of leather protector you should buy depends on the type of leather you're planning to use it on.

Here are the best leather protectors you can buy:

• Best leather protector overall: Guardsman Protect & Preserve For Leather
• Best suede protector: Scotchgard Suede & Nubuck Protector
• Best leather protector for boots: Kiwi Boot Protector
• Best leather protector cream: Aquaseal Leather Waterproof Cream
• Best leather protector kit: Apple Brand Leather Care Kit

Read on in the slides below to check out our top picks.

The best leather protector overall

Why you'll love it: The gentle Guardsman Protect & Preserve for Leather liquid keeps your leather goods looking brand-new and won't change the color or finish.

Most leather protectors are basically waterproofing sprays, but Guardsman Protect & Preserve for Leather goes above and beyond the call of duty. Massage the product onto your leather goods to protect them from the elements or to minimize signs of wear-and-tear on items you've had for a while.

Per the brand's claim, the product creates an "invisible barrier that protects against premature aging and irreversible damage from penetrating stains." You can use it on anything from clothing, shoes, cars, and furniture. The formula is ph-balanced and doesn't have a strong scent like many similar products.

Perhaps the best part is that it won't impact the color or finish of your leather items, which is a major drawback with some protectants.

One downside of this product is that it can't be used on suede or buffed leather. But Guardsman Protect & Preserve does what it claims to do, and it does it remarkably well. The reviews prove that. It's an Amazon's Choice pick with a 4.3-star rating at the retailer.

"This stuff is awesome. I used it on my leather travel bag and it protects it in rugged environments and the airport," writes one shopper.

Pros: Works on everything from furniture to shoes, protects and conditions, no strong smell, doesn't change finish or color of leather

Cons: Not for use on suede, nubuck, or brushed leather

Buy the Guardsman Protect & Preserve for Leather on Amazon for $7.99

The best suede protector

Why you'll love it: Scotchguard Suede & Nubuck Protector preserves your delicate suede clothing and accessories with a quick spritz.

Suede is even more sensitive than other kinds of leather and is definitely worth protecting if you ever plan on taking it outside or wearing it around spillable liquids. Scotchguard Suede & Nubuck Protector is a great option for suede.

As many reviewers note, this is an excellent pick for treating soft winter boots so they don't get those dreaded salt rings around the toes from walking on snow-treated sidewalks. It will also protect from liquids like water and oil without damaging the surface of the leather or suede. The spray nozzle makes for simple application — no rags or cloths required!

Scotchguard Suede & Nubuck Protector has been featured by Insider Picks in the past, as well as WhoWhatWear, Bustle, and The Strategist. The product has a 3.6-rating on Amazon, based on 1,200+ reviews.

"After two months, I noticed that my daughters' boots have no salt stains on them, while my girlfriend's boots that weren't treated did have stains (see photo). Any marks also very easily come off just by dabbing with damp paper towels. I am very satisfied with the protection that this spray offers," writes one customer.

The most helpful review notes that, though the product works as advertises, the nozzle can be tricky to get right: "Tough review because it works great, so long as you remove the plastic tip and run hot water to clean in out before using."

Pros: works on suede and nubuck, spray-on

Cons: Nozzle can be tough to use

Buy the Scotchguard Suede & Nubuck Protector on Amazon for $9.99

The best leather protector for boots

Why you'll love it: The Kiwi Boot Protector is heavy-duty enough for use on hiking and work boots that get pushed to their absolute limits.

Some leather boots are already designed for serious wear-and-tear. To add an extra layer of protection to these, consider the Kiwi Boot Protector. It's specially formulated for boots, especially outdoors and work boots that will be pushed to their absolute limits.

Per the product description, it contains silicone and "bonds to leather and fabrics to create an extremely tough barrier" without drying out the materials. You can use them for other leather shoes besides hiking boots and the like, as long as you don't mind the possibility that the color or finish might change slightly.

"I've now used this on two pairs of shoes and am happy to report that they are still looking great and wicking away water! I feel like the boot protector does more than just waterproof them and actually makes them far easier to clean as well," writes one Amazon shopper.

Overall, the spray has a 4.3 rating based on 450+ reviews and has been recommended by WhoWhatWear and The Strategist.

Pros: Tough silicone-based formula, works for outdoor boots & on suede

Cons: Might change color or finish of leather slightly

Buy a 2-pack of Kiwi Boot Protector on Amazon for $19.18

The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

• We're not shy about advocating for products we love (see: 21 game-changing products we swear by in our everyday lives or The 36 best products we discovered in 2018, to name a couple). 
• But just because we love them now doesn't mean we initially expected to. 
• We had our initial doubts about these 21 products — and you may, too — but in the end, taking the leap of faith proved to be rewarding. 

For better or for worse, preconceptions are built into human nature. As product reviewers, we also fall victim to our own preconceived notions about the items we test. 

Our previous experiences with the brand or with similar products can affect how we approach the latest thing we're testing. Combine that with high standards for quality and general skepticism about a market filled with shoddy products, and we sometimes end up with experiences that surprise us in the best way possible. 

If you're feeling hesitant about trying any of these 21 products, we were once right there with you. Testing them revealed that they were actually quite useful, comfortable, or stylish. They overcame our initial expectations to become some of our favorite products.  

We weren't sure we were going to love these 21 products, but now we know we do: 

A waffle maker that lets you skip a trip to the diner

Krups Belgian Waffle Maker, $52.99, available at Amazon

Read our review of the Krups Belgian Waffle Maker here

I assumed that waffles were one of the few foods I would always have to order at a restaurant, but Krups proved me wrong. Its waffle maker is easy to use, simple to clean, and delivers diner-like results in about 15 minutes. I’m generally skeptical of single-use kitchen gadgets, but this one has earned its place in my small, New York City apartment. —Brandt Ranj, Insider Picks associate editor

A popular facial cleansing brush

Foreo Luna 2 Cleansing Brush, $199, available at Amazon and Sephora

Read our review of the Foreo Luna 2 here

Having tried a few different facial cleansing brushes that never made a difference on my skin, I was expecting the Foreo Luna 2 to be another to toss in the pile. But this best-selling brush really does clean and gently exfoliate your skin effectively. I use it a few times a week to keep my skin soft and glowing, and I also love that it has a long battery life. —Connie Chen, Insider Picks reporter

A flask with attached tumblers

High Camp Firelight Flask 750, $99.98, available at Huckberry 

Trying to make a better flask in the 21st century sort of seemed like trying to reinvent the wheel to me. The tried and true hip flask is discrete and holds just enough to get you, and maybe a friend, through a tough social function. But the HighCamp Firelight Flask looked like it would also make a great tea thermos. It comes with two double-walled mugs and holds about 750 ml of liquid; I could take it on a hike, on a kayak paddle, or to the park for a lazy afternoon.

The two tumblers fit elegantly over both ends of the “flask” and stay snug thanks to a little magnetic pull. I used it for tea couple of times, and while some heat passed through the double-walled tumblers, it worked just fine.

Then I filled it with bourbon, took it camping and realized the true beauty of the thing: It’s a decanter on the go. Apart from an O-ring in the lid, it is nothing but brushed, heavy-duty stainless steel. No more shattered bottles or spilled spirits on my adventures.

Yes, at $100 it is an investment, but if you’ve dropped and smashed half as many handles in your travels as I have, you’ll also quickly find it to be the shatterproof bottle of your dreams. —Owen Burke, Insider Picks guides reporter

• The winners of the inaugural World Restaurant Awards have been revealed.
• A winner was chosen by a gender-balanced, 100-strong panel of culinary experts from around the globe across 18 categories, as well as an overall "Restaurant of the Year" champion.
• See all the winners below. 

The winners of the inaugural World Restaurant Awards have been announced.

On Monday, top chefs from across the globe — including Alex Atala, Alain Ducasse, Dan Barber, Hélène Darroze, Ana Roš, and Clare Smyth — descended on Paris' Palais Brongniart for the glamorous awards ceremony.

Winners across 18 categories were announced over the course of the night, from "Best Off-Map Destination" to "Best Atmosphere."

The awards were divided into "Big Plates" for the more formal categories, and the more tongue-in-cheek "Small Plates," recognising more lighthearted categories such as "Tattoo-Free Chef of the Year" and "Instagram Account of the Year." 

The decisions were made by a gender-balanced panel of 100 judges including Yannick Alléno, Elena Arzak, Alex Atala, Massimo Bottura, David Chang, Dominique Crenn, Hélène Darroze, Daniel Humm, René Redzepi, Ana Roš, and Clare Smyth, as well as the world's top restaurant critics.

The overall winner, Restaurant of the Year, Wolfgat in Paternoster, South Africa, was also the winner of the "Off-Map Destination" category.

Read more: The 28 best, most remote, under-the-radar restaurants around the world

Scroll down to see the winners, alongside the category they came out on top in.

Wolfgat, Paternoster, South Africa — Big Plates: Restaurant of the Year (Overall Winner) and Off-Map Destination

A coastal spot, Wolfgat is a 20-seat fine-dining restaurant tucked away in a 130-year-old ocean-side cottage on the historic Wolfgat cave, which has huge archaeological and geological significance. The menu specialises in local seafood and indigenous plants foraged from the Western Cape such as dune spinach and soutslaai.

Le Clarence, Paris, France — Big Plates: Original Thinking

The classic French restaurant won the award for having the best Original Thinking. 

Mocotó, São Paolo, Brazil — Big Plates: No Reservations Required

Mocotó is a family-run restaurant serving sertaneja cuisine, from traditional dishes such as baião de dois (a mix of rice and beans) to more innovative creations like dadinhos de tapioca (consecrated tapioca cheese cubes).

• The Ahwahnee Hotel was constructed in 1927, and has retained much of its original decor.
• The hotel, now called the Majestic Yosemite, is nearly 100 years old and is a National Historic landmark.
• The hotel has had notable guests ranging from famous actors like Judy Garland to an array of US presidents. Steve Jobs and Laurene Powell also got married at the hotel in 1991.

One of the great historic hotels in the United States, this four-diamond luxury hotel is located deep within Yosemite National Park. Originally known as the Ahwahnee Hotel, the name waschanged in 2016 following a trademark battle.

Despite its appearance, the hotel is not actually constructed of much wood. Architect Gilbert Stanley Underwood instead relied on steel, granite, and concrete to reduce its flammability. That sets it apart from other old, luxury hotels such as the Hotel del Coronado and the Grand Hotel, which were built primarily with wood.

The hotel has earned a Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence and appears on multiple lists of top national park hotels, including roundup from Condé Nast Traveler and Vogue. Curbed also featured the hotel on its map of grand old-school resort hotels. Accommodation can cost up to $1,300 per night.

Read more: 17 hotels with stunning views of iconic sites

Many famous guests have stayed in the hotel, from U.S. presidents to British royalty. The hotel's lobby and lounge also served as inspiration for the fictional Overlook Hotel in Stanley Kubrick's 1980 horror film "The Shining." The Majestic Yosemite is just one of several historic American lodges involved in that film: The Timberline Lodge in Mount Hood was used for exterior shots, while the Stanley Hotel is credited as the inspiration for the original story by Stephen King.

Keep reading for a closer look at the iconic hotel and some of its notable guests.

SEE ALSO: A photographer took this stunning photo of a random couple and is now trying to track them down

NOW READ: The 13 most lavish, over-the-top celebrity weddings of 2018

The Majestic Yosemite is a grand hotel designed by architect Gilbert Stanley Underwood.

Source: Visit California

The hotel was completed in 1927, and has seen many guests over the years.

Source: National Park Service

The Majestic Yosemite is located in the heart of California, deep within Yosemite National Park.

Source: Google Maps

The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

• The Google Pixel 3 XL ($880) is a sleek, powerful smartphone that offers many ways to streamline your life with Google.
• Most impressive is its 12.2 megapixel camera, which will help you capture clear and beautiful photos. 
• The 6.3-inch display's crystal-clear resolution, durable construction, and longer battery life (compared to the Pixel 3) of the Pixel 3 XL are qualities any new user will appreciate. 
• Despite a couple drawbacks like a singular USB-C port, we highly recommend this user-friendly smartphone. 

Camera quality is one of the top factors people consider when shopping for a new smartphone, and I get it. If I'm not messaging people, checking my social apps, or listening to music, you can bet I'm using my phone to take pictures.

Though my Samsung Galaxy S9 has impressed both me and countless friends with its strong camera, my recent spin with the Google Pixel 3 XL has me even more convinced of the photographic prowess and potential of smartphones today.

The Pixel 3 XL is perfect for photo and Google enthusiasts who like the size, display, and feel of a larger phone. It has its drawbacks and it won't come cheap, but you'll love its sleek design, ease of use, and healthy offering of customizable features. 

The Google Pixel 3 XL at a glance: large, light, and sleek 

The phone has a 6.3-inch display and an impressively light, slim body that feels comfortable in your hand. The 2960 x 1440 resolution and 523 ppi display is clear and crisp (great for video streaming), while the glass back, made with Corning Gorilla Glass 5, not only looks attractive but also resists scratches. The phone is also water- and dust-resistant, with an IP 68 rating. 

The on-screen notch at the top of the phone is the subject of complaints from many other tech reviewers, but it personally didn't bother me too much. On the back is a responsive fingerprint sensor located as just the right position. Despite the nice look of the rest of the matte back, I'd still recommend getting a case because it can quickly collect fingerprint smudges. 

Getting to know the Google Pixel 3 XL (emphasis on Google): 

The phone runs on Android 9.0 Pie, so as a long-time Android user, I was able to get accustomed to the operating system quickly. But even if you're jumping ship from iOS, the user experience is intuitive and easy to grasp. To access the main menu of apps, you swipe up from the bottom. You can toggle between in-session apps by swiping left and right, then up to close it.

Since it is a Google phone after all, integration with your Google account(s) is a key component of the experience. Photos, Pay, and Drive are a few apps you'll probably use often, as they all make life a little easier. Your photos and files are backed up in the cloud, and it's okay if you leave or forget your wallet at home. Google Home is also pre-installed if you own a Google smart speaker and want a place to control all your connected devices. 

Google Assistant will be your personal voice assistant, accessed by saying "Hey Google" or squeezing your phone, and you can create automatic "subscriptions" such as weather and stock market alerts to streamline your daily routine. Google Lens is also a cool feature. Like a visual Shazam, it makes use of the camera to help you look up products, books, places (landmarks, notable buildings), barcodes, and more.  

The indisputable star of the Google Pixel 3 XL is the camera: 

The Pixel 3 XL (like the Pixel 3) has a 12.2 megapixel rear-facing camera and an 8 megapixel front-facing camera. For those front-facing selfies, there's a wide-angle feature that lets you zoom out and squeeze more people into the frame. 

Just on Auto mode, photos turn out crisp and vibrant, but you can also adjust for brightness and lighting conditions, plus make use of Panorama, Portrait, Motion (live photos) and Slow Motion modes. Meanwhile, the special Night Sight mode makes the usually tricky task of shooting in low light a relative walk in the park. 

Other notable features of the Google Pixel 3 XL:

The phone has dual front-firing stereo speakers and three mics, so calls came through clearly and video sound was well-rounded. It comes with Pixel USB-C earbuds, which have good sound quality, but aren't very comfortable. I preferred using wireless Bluetooth earbuds or my wired Samsung ones. 

To help you learn about your phone usage and cut down on unnecessary screen time, the Digital Wellbeing feature breaks down how you're using your phone, even telling you how many times you've unlocked your phone today. I didn't initially love being confronted with the realities of my phone usage, but it ultimately helped me put my phone away when I didn't really need it. 

Another thing I've always appreciated about Android is how you can make the phone your own with all the different customizable settings and preferences, from widget arrangements to "Night Light" scheduling that makes it easier to look at your screen in dim light. At the same time, the Pixel 3 XL's custom options weren't so vast that they become overwhelming. 

Since you use your phone a lot throughout the day, you're probably curious about battery life. The Pixel 3 XL has a 3430 mAh battery (compared to the Pixel 3's 2915 mAh battery) and charges quickly. Depending on your usage, it can last nearly two days. It charges with a USB-C charger.

Drawbacks of the Google Pixel 3 XL:

The phone's singular USB-C port is one of my biggest gripes since it means you must use the included Pixel USB-C earbuds if not for a wireless pair. You could also attempt to find another brand's pair, but there aren't as many high-quality USB-C earbuds currently in the market. Luckily, Google stays practical and understanding of this inconvenience — it includes a USB-C to 3.5 mm headphone adapter in the package. 

My other gripe is that the lock and volume buttons are located directly under each other, instead of on opposite sides. Even after some time using this phone, I couldn't seem to recalibrate and remember this arrangement. The reliable alternative, however, is the fingerprint sensor, and that always resolved my lock-button woes. 

The bottom line: 

If you want a larger phone, plan on taking lots of pictures, and hate charging your phone often, the Google Pixel 3 XL is the smartphone to buy. It's powerful but simple and intuitive to use, and it has all the features to make you a Google power user. While large, it's also light and slim, so you won't feel saddled down by it. 

Shop the Google Pixel 3 XL (Verizon), available in 3 colors, for $550 ($22.91/month for 24 months) at Best Buy here

Shop the Google Pixel 3 XL (Unlocked), available in 3 colors, for $880 at Amazon here

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