• You can unlock your Apple Watch using a four-digit passcode, using your iPhone, or by forgoing a passcode entirely.
• You can change your passcode at any time using your Apple Watch or Watch app for iPhone.
• A Wrist Detection feature automatically locks your Apple Watch when you're not wearing it, but you can choose to lock your Watch manually.

There are several ways to lock and unlock your Apple Watch, and depending on the settings you select, you can always keep your Watch unlocked, unlock and lock it manually, or have it automatically lock when you're not wearing it.

How to change your passcode

You'll be prompted to set a passcode when you first set up your Apple Watch, but you can change it at any time.

1. Open the Settings app on Apple Watch. It's a gray icon with a gear on it.

2. Scroll down to Passcode using your finger or by turning the Digital Crown.

3. Tap Passcode, then Change Passcode.

4. Enter your current passcode.

5. Enter a new passcode. Re-enter it to confirm the change.

6. Alternatively, you can change your passcode on the Watch app for iPhone by going to the My Watch tab and tapping Passcode, then Change Passcode.

7. To use a passcode that's longer than four digits, turn off "Simple Passcode" in the Passcode menu on the Watch app.

How to turn off passcode

You can choose to not have a passcode to unlock your Apple Watch, but note that without a passcode you will not be able to use Apple Pay on your Apple Watch.

1. Open the Settings app on Apple Watch.

2. Tap Passcode, then Turn Passcode Off.

3. Alternatively, on the Watch App for iPhone, tap My Watch, Passcode, then Turn Passcode Off.

How to unlock your Apple Watch with an iPhone

This feature unlocks Apple Watch whenever you unlock your iPhone and you're wearing your Watch. Your iPhone and Apple Watch must be within standard Bluetooth range (about 33 feet, according to the Apple Watch User Guide) for this feature to work.

1. Open the Settings app on Apple Watch.

2. Tap Passcode, then switch on Unlock with iPhone.

3. Alternatively, on the Watch App for iPhone, tap My Watch, Passcode, then switch on Unlock with iPhone.

How to lock your Apple Watch automatically

The Wrist Detection feature locks your Apple Watch when you're not wearing it to keep your information secure.

1. Open the Watch app for iPhone.

2. Tap My Watch, Passcode, then switch on Wrist Detection.

3.Apple also notes that if Wrist Detection is turned off, 1st generation Apple Watch users can't use Apple Pay on their Watch, and Series 4 Watches won't make an automatic emergency call after a hard fall.

How to lock your Apple Watch manually

To lock your Watch manually, you must have Wrist Detection turned off (see above).

1. Swipe up on the Watch face to reveal the Control Center.

2. Tap the lock icon.

3. To lock your Watch screen during a workout to avoid accidental taps, swipe right, then tap Lock. To unlock, press the Digital Crown and side button at the same time.

What to do if you forget your passcode

This may be hard to hear, but if you forget your passcode, you need to erase your Apple Watch.

1. Unpair your Apple Watch by opening the Watch app, tapping on your Watch listed at the top, then tap the "i" icon to the right of it. Tap Unpair Apple Watch. This action will erase all Apple Watch settings and its passcode. Once unpaired, pair your Apple Watch with your iPhone.

2. Reset your Apple Watch by opening the Watch app, tapping General, then Reset. Once reset, pair your Apple Watch with your iPhone.

3. For more tips, check out this Apple support page.

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

• How to update your Apple Watch and get the device's latest features

• How to turn your Apple Watch on and off, and force-restart it for troubleshooting

• How to add and remove apps on your Apple Watch

• How to silence your Apple Watch in four different ways

SEE ALSO: The best smartwatches you can buy

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Watch Apple debut its own no-fee credit card

Insider Picks writes about products and services to help you navigate when shopping online. Insider, Inc. receives a commission from our affiliate partners when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

• The team at men's grooming brand Harry's has launched a new women's brand, Flamingo.
• Like Harry's, Flamingo sells simple, affordable, and effective shaving products, including a $9 razor and $16 shave set. It also sells waxing products, acknowledging another hair removal method that many women use instead of or in addition to shaving. 
• We tried and loved its shaving tools, which were optimized for the body's natural curves and contours. They gave us a smooth, soft shave. 

In 2013, direct-to-consumer startup Harry's entered the men's shaving aisle with a set of simple products: sharp, durable razors and soothing skin care, all sold at a fair price. Seems like an obvious combination of qualities since many men shave every day of every week of every year, but Harry's was the first new brand to fully deliver  on strong, long-lasting, and financially sustainable shaving tools. 

Many women seek the same things out of their shaving tools, and they liked the way Harry's approached this personal care chore so much that since the company's launch, more than a million women have used and enjoyed Harry's products. 

Still, those within the company knew it could create products better catered towards women's needs — and no, the answer was not to make the razor handle pink. New out of Harry's, Inc. is a women's body care brand called Flamingo, which is guided by the same vision (and even uses the same factory) that has made Harry's a hit among men.  

Read more: I shaved my 4-day beard with a Harry's razor to see if it's worth buying — now I get why they're so hyped up

Why you should trust Flamingo:

Flamingo is led by two Harry's veterans who have been with the company since its start: Allie Melnick (brand strategy and VP of new growth), and Brittania Boey (SVP of research, development, and design). This expertise has allowed Flamingo to hit the ground running with a focused, thoughtful product line and distinctive brand look. 

For shaving, it currently sells a razor ($9), blade cartridges (four for $9), foaming shave gel ($5), and body lotion ($9) a la carte. The shave set ($16) throws the razor, smaller versions of the shave gel and body lotion, an extra blade cartridge, and a shower hook into a reusable, travel-friendly pouch. 

All of its razor blades are manufactured in the same Harry's factory in Germany, so you can expect ultra-sharp, high quality blades. However, design features like a hydrating aloe vera strip, rounded edges, and a flexible hinge that allows you to smoothly bring the razor along contours and curves make it different from the men's razors. Since most women shave in the shower, the razor handle has an ergonomic, textured rubber grip that won't slip out of your hands. If you're already subscribed to Harry's, you can actually use its blade cartridges on your Flamingo razor handle. 

Read more: I tried the buzzy new Billie razor for women — and now I actually look forward to shaving my legs

What it's like to shave with Flamingo:

The razor handles come in different colors, Taro and Rose Gold, Mint and Gold, and Pomelo and Silver, which give them some personality, but this is certainly not Flamingo's main selling point. I don't care what my razor looks like as long it gets the job done and does it well every single time, and my experience with Flamingo involved just that. 

I have a pretty matter-of-fact attitude towards shaving. It's annoying and time-consuming, but I've been doing it long enough to quietly nod and accept my fate every time I need to break my razor out. Admittedly, it was exciting to try a new razor, and unlike with my past razors, the excitement didn't die down with each subsequent use, because my Flamingo razor continued to do a pain-free, efficient job through multiple shaving sessions.

I loved using it with the rich and thick foaming shave gel that stayed on my skin instead of sliding right off and left it feeling very smooth. Insider Picks reporters Mara Leighton and Remi Rosmarin agreed, calling the cream "luxe." It contains aloe vera and conditioning emollients, plus it's dermatologist-tested and free from parabens, sulfates, and mineral oil. A nice detail I appreciated about the container construction itself is that it won't leave rust rings in your shower or tub. 

I don't shave that consistently, which means that when I do, there's usually a lot of hair to get through. My Flamingo razor felt gentle enough on my skin that at times I wondered if it was actually doing anything, before I pulled it away and confirmed it was doing a lot. While I still can't say the process of shaving is enjoyable, using Flamingo's tools made it more enjoyable than usual. I finished shaving in half the time and with cleaner, smoother results than with other razors. 

Other reasons to let Flamingo handle your hair care: 

To address another common hair removal method among women, Flamingo also sells $10 face wax and body wax kits, which contain wax strips and post-wax cloths. The face wax kit includes an additional calming serum. At the time of this writing, we weren't able to test the wax products since our hair wasn't long enough, but we plan on writing about the experience when we can. This decision to offer hair removal products other than razors was smart on the brand's part and opens up its customer base to women who exclusively wax or switch between shaving and waxing. 

Shaving isn't fun, and it never will be, but Flamingo's easy-to-use and affordable tools get us one step closer to a seamless shave. Supported by the Harry's name, it shares commonalities in blade technology and overall mission, while gearing itself towards women's specific shaving needs. Unlike Harry's (and its close competitor Billie), it doesn't sell subscription plans, so you have the freedom to restock shaving and waxing products whenever you need them. 

Shop the Shave Set for $16 at Flamingo here

Shop all shaving products at Flamingo here

Join the conversation about this story »

• Skytrax announced the winner of its annual World Airport Awards on Wednesday at the Passenger Terminal Expo in London, England.
• Singapore'sChangi Airport was named the World's Best Airport for the seventh consecutive year. 
• It's one of the busiest hubs in Asia and is home to Singapore Airlines. 
• Airports from Asia and Europe dominated the top 15 spots. 

Skytrax announced the winner of its annual World Airport Awards on Wednesday at the Passenger Terminal Expo in London, England.

The UK-based international air transport rating agency named gave Singapore's Changi Airport the top prize for the seventh consecutive year. This marks another clean sweep for the Southeast Asian city-state, as Changi Airport-based Singapore Airlines is the current Skytrax airline of the year.

"Changi Airport is honored to again be named World’s Best Airport," Lee Seow Hiang, Changi Airport Group CEO, said in a statement. "We thank our passengers for their continued support. Their vote of confidence motivates us in our pursuit of service excellence and pushes us to continue redefining what an airport can be."

In the same statement, Skytrax CEO Edward Plaisted said, "to be voted the World’s Best Airport for the seventh consecutive year is a truly fabulous achievement for Changi Airport, and this award continues to underline the airport’s popularity with international air travelers."

Changi is one of Southeast Asia's largest transit hubs and is a major cog in Singapore's bustling economy.

The facility is world-famous for its beautiful architecture, efficient operation, luxurious amenities, and plentiful dining and shopping options. 

Read more: RANKED: The 20 best airlines in the world.

Once again, Asia dominated the top of end of the rankings, taking the top six spots. European airports also performed well taking, seven of the top 15 spots. No airports from North America, South America, Australia, or Africa made it into the top 15.

The highest ranking US airports are Denver International in 32nd position followed by Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International at 36. 

The Skytrax annual rankings are based on the impressions of millions of flyers from over 100 countries. More than 550 airports were included in the survey, which covers 39 service and performance parameters, including facility comfort, the location of bathrooms, and the language skills of the airport staff.

Here's a closer look at the other airports that made it to the top of the prestigious Skytrax list:

SEE ALSO: Boeing quietly unveiled the $442 million airliner that will replace the 747 jumbo jet

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15. Copenhagen Airport (CPH)

Yearly passengers: 30.3 million

Previous rank: 19

Why it's awesome: Copenhagen is one of the busiest hubs in Northern Europe and is a major base of operations for Scandinavian Airlines and Norwegian Air Shuttle.

Skytrax reviewers lauded the airport for its clearly placed signs and the efficient, though sometimes crowded, facilities. 

Source: Skytrax World Airport Awards. Yearly passenger figure is for 2018, provided by Copenhagen Airport.

14. Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS)

Yearly passengers: 71.1 million

Previous rank: 12

Why it's awesome: Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport is one of the busiest airports in Europe and serves as a hub for KLM and Transavia.

Opened in 1916, Schiphol is noted for its wide variety of leisure activities, and it has a library in which fliers can cozy up with a good book while waiting for their flights.

Source: Skytrax World Airport Awards. Yearly passenger figure is for 2018, provided by Airports Council International.

13. Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE)

Yearly passengers: 42.3 million

Previous rank: 15

Why it's awesome: Located just outside of the Taiwanese capital of Taipei, Taoyuan International is the largest airport in Taiwan. The airport is the home base for both China Airlines and EVA Air.

Skytrax reviewers praised the airport for its polite service, clean environment, and speedy immigration lines. Taoyuan was also once home to Taiwan's aviation museum, but the museum was shut down earlier this year to make way for further airport expansion.

Source: Skytrax World Airport Awards. Yearly passenger figure is for 2016, provided by Taoyuan International Airport.

• A winning ticket for the $768.4 million Powerball jackpot has been bought in Wisconsin.
• Powerball said the ticket matched all six numbers and the Powerball. The white balls were 16, 20, 37, 44, 62, and the Powerball was 12.
• It's the third-largest win in US history — after the $1.6 billion won in January 2016 and the $1.5 billion Mega Millions jackpot won last October.
• Upon cashing in, the winner will be able to choose a one-off $477 million lump sum or $768.4 million in 30 installments over 29 years.

A winning Powerball ticket worth $768.4 million has been bought in Wisconsin, making the lucky ticket holder the winner of the third-biggest jackpot ever won in the US.

Powerball said the ticket matched all six numbers from Wednesday night's draw. The white balls were 16, 20, 37, 44, 62, and the Powerball was 12.

Upon coming forward, the winner can choose a $768.4 million prize paid out in 30 annual installments over 29 years or get a one-off lump-sum payment of $477 million.

The win is the third-biggest in US lottery history after the $1.586 billion shared by winners in California, Florida, and Tennessee in January 2016 and a $1.537 billion Mega Millions jackpot won in South Carolina last October.

Read more:How to win the lottery, according to a Romanian-born mathematician who hacked the system, won 14 times, and retired on a remote tropical island

"It's going to be a very green spring for our first Powerball jackpot winner(s) of 2019," said David Barden, the Powerball Product Group chairman.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: I tried to cook like a Benihana chef and it was harder than I expected

• Budget airline Wow Air halted operations on Thursday, stranding thousands of passengers.
• The 7-year-old Icelandic carrier, known for its bright purple planes and cheap prices, had been struggling with debt.
• In August 2017, we took an in-depth look at what it was like to fly on the now-failed airline.

Budget airline Wow Air halted operations on Thursday, stranding thousands of passengers.

The Icelandic carrier, which had been operating for seven years, became known for its bright purple planes and too-good-to-be-true ticket prices, including one-way tickets from the US to Europe for as little as $69.99 (£57).

However, it had been struggling with debt.

Read more:Wow Air just went bust in yet another blow to the struggling budget airline industry

After that particular $69.99 sale was announced in 2017, we took a look at what it was really like to fly on the airline.

Some of the amenities typically included with a plane fare — including bottled water, food, and even entertainment — weren't part of the deal. The airline, however, was up-front about its no-frills flights.

"This way you won't have problems with expectations," Wow Air founder and CEO Skuli Mogensen said. "That's why we tell them to bring their own food, water, and download a movie on your iPad or laptop ahead of the flight."

In August 2017, we asked two travel experts who had flown Wow Air, James Dozer of Travel Codex, who bagged a $99 one-way flight from Los Angeles to Reykjavik, Iceland, and frequent flier and travel expert Gilbert Ott, who runs the air-miles site God Save the Points, to share their experiences.

From quirky purple sick bags to iPads for rent, see what it was really like to fly with the now-failed budget airline Wow Air.

An earlier version of this article was published on August 31, 2017. Dozer originally reviewed the flight here.

Icelandic low-cost carrier Wow Air regularly offered $99 tickets to Europe from the US and around European countries. We asked two people who have grabbed a ticket to share their experiences.

According to James Dozer, who booked a $99 one-way flight from Los Angeles to Reykjavik, buying tickets with Wow Air was "actually pretty easy."

"Their website was simple and functional and allowed me to search several days at a time to find the cheapest fares," he wrote on Travel Codex. "Once I found my flights and travel dates, I paid for my flight tickets and had the option of purchasing additional services such as checked bags and seat selections. Their website even allows you to book tours and airport transfers."

The check-in counters were open early, assisting passengers three hours before the flight. However, this didn't prevent issues with seat selection.

"If you already pre-paid and selected your seats, now would be a good time to double-check your seats as Wow Air's IT systems are notoriously horrible," Dozer said. "Even though I confirmed our seats that morning for our flight, when we arrived at LAX, our seats were screwed up. We were no longer assigned to our seats and someone else had already checked into one of our seats. Unfortunately for us, the only two seats together were located in the back of the plane."

He added that two other passengers seemed to be facing the same issue, and that there have been many reports of the same problem online. However, the Wow Air Station Manager was "awesome" and helped to resolve the issue.

"Seeing that we were disappointed with our re-assigned seats, she proactively paged the passenger that was assigned to my selected seat and politely asked her to switch seats with us. Luckily, the girl didn’t care and we were back to our original purchased seats. Fortunately, this worked out in this case but I don’t know what would have happened if the girl said 'no'."

Insider Picks writes about products and services to help you navigate when shopping online. Insider Inc. receives a commission from our affiliate partners when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

• Blue light is just one wavelength that makes up white light. Blue light is emitted naturally by the sun and artificially by electronic devices we use every day like computers and smartphones.
• Our eyes aren't naturally built for prolonged direct exposure to blue light. This is thought to be a factor contributing to eye strain, headaches, and fatigue. 
• Thankfully, there are products like specialized light bulbs and screen protectors designed to reduce blue light exposure and help alleviate the symptoms associated with this type of light.

Blue light is a tricky thing to understand. As of recent, we've been led to believe that blue light is evil. I think it's more ... misunderstood. The sun admits natural blue light — it's always been this way, so why all of a sudden are people experiencing eye strain, headaches, and fatigue from it? 

This is how blue light works: The sun admits light known as white light. White light compromises various wavelengths that make up the visible spectrum (think: Roy G. Biv). An object exposed to white light absorbs all of the wavelengths (or colors of the rainbow) but the one you see. So, the sky is blue because red, orange, yellow, green, violet, and indigo are absorbed by the molecules in the atmosphere, while the color blue (or blue light) is reflected back to our eyes.

Blue light is actually important to our natural sleep cycle. It gives us energy and boosts our mood during the day, and helps our bodies know when it's time to go to sleep at night. So, what's the problem? It's not natural blue light, it's artificial blue light.

Artificial blue light is light that's admitted from electronic devices like computers, tablets, and phones. A large portion of people these days spend all day and night either staring at a computer screen or glued to their phones. The short-wave, blue light emanating from electronic screens flickers quickly and has the ability illuminate for long periods of time. Our eyes aren't naturally built for prolonged direct exposure to blue light. This is thought to be a factor contributing to eye strain, headaches, and fatigue. 

Not to mention the other beast. When we use blue light electronics at night, it throws off our natural melatonin-production leaving us restless and wide awake.

What's a girl to do when she works for an online media company and constantly works with blue-light devices? Thankfully there are products like specialized light bulbs and screen protectors designed to reflect and reduce blue light exposure to help alleviate eye strain.

Here are seven ways to help protect your eyes from daily blue light exposure:

A light bulb that emits less blue light

Lighting Science Goodnight Sleep Bulb, available on Amazon for $15.99

Many light bulbs emit a crisp, cool form of light due to the blue light wavelength. Lighting Science uses a soft, warm light that emits more of a soothing glow instead. It's still strong enough to light the entire room, but it illuminates with 95% less blue light than your average light bulb.

The Lighting Science Goodnight Sleep Bulb only needs to be used in the room that you spend the last 90 minutes before bed in. The lack of blue light allows your body to naturally produce melatonin so can you fall asleep faster and easier. These light bulbs have an average lifespan of 22.8 years.

An Amazon user who gave this product a 4 out of 5 stars says, "I was skeptical that this would work but now I am a believer. The soft light allows me to read and then fall asleep quickly, sometimes forgetting to turn light off!"

A protective screen with a blue light filter for your smartphone or tablet

Invisible Shield Glass+ VisionGuard+, available on Zagg for $44.99 (for smartphones) and $54.99+ (for tablets)

Zagg has created a multi-purpose screen protector that not only protects your device, but protects your eyes from harmful blue light. Made with industry-leading impact technology, the screen now protects your device from drops and scratches.

Most importantly, the Zagg invisible shield filters out the blue light before it even leaves the screen to travel toward your eyes. As a plus, this technology doesn't effect the clarity or true color of images on your screen.

A pair of non-prescription computer glasses

Eyekepper Slim Vintage Computer Readers with Anti-Eyestrain Lens, available on Amazon for $10

Previously reviewed by Insider Picks reporter Mara Leighton, these Eyekepper glasses are perfect for someone who doesn't require prescription glasses. Totaling a whopping $10, Eyekepper uses a slightly tinted lens to reflect about half of the blue light that's entering your eye. Additionally, these lenses offer 100% UV protection.

The frames are built to fit most medium-to-wide heads and come in 10 color patterns for both men and woman. If you feel like you might need a slight strength prescription, you can opt to add that feature at no additional cost to you.

Insider Picks writes about products and services to help you navigate when shopping online. Insider Inc. receives a commission from our affiliate partners when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

• When you live with cats and dogs, cleaning your home requires a vacuum cleaner that’s up to the challenge of sucking up pet hair.
• Our top pick, the Dyson Ball Animal 2 Upright Vacuum, offers an ideal combination of cleaning power, maneuverability, and features designed specifically for dealing with pet hair.

I have cats. Two very long-haired cats. And they produce more hair than you could possibly imagine. It seems that no matter how thoroughly I sweep or vacuum, the instant I think I’m finished, I turn around to find pet hair tumbleweeds rolling along behind me. Needless to say, I’ve become well-acquainted with my vacuum cleaner, but I’ve also discovered how unequipped many vacuums are when it comes to cleaning up pet hair.

Pet hair requires a powerful vacuum, but power alone isn’t effective when you’re trying to clean hair out of a carpet or a sofa. A well-designed cleaning brush and roller are must-haves. Have carpeted stairs? You need a vacuum with versatility, and something lightweight is also ideal. Maneuverability is also important, especially when it comes to cleaning underneath furniture.

The vacuum cleaners in this list have all proven they’re up to the challenge of cleaning up pet hair, and plenty of it. They’re powerful, easy to handle, and many are equipped with special pet hair functions, such as non-tangling brush heads and systems that trap allergens without releasing them into the air. You’ll find a variety of price points, from a highly affordable handheld unit to a top-of-the-line splurge. If you have pets in the home, a quality vacuum cleaner designed specifically for the challenge of cleaning pet hair is a must and will make it much easier to keep your home clean.

Here are the best vacuums for pet hair for 2019:

• Best vacuum for pet hair overall: Dyson Ball Animal 2 Upright Vacuum
• Best pet hair vacuum for convenience: Dyson Cyclone V10 Animal Cordless Stick Vacuum
• Best pet hair vacuum for maneuverability: Shark APEX Upright Vacuum
• Best handheld vacuum for pet hair: Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Handheld Vacuum
• Best high-end vacuum for pet hair: Miele Complete C3 Cat & Dog Canister Vacuum

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

The best vacuum for pet hair overall

Why you’ll love it: With excellent maneuverability and a tangle-free turbine tool, the Dyson Ball Animal 2 Upright Vacuum does a great job of cleaning up pet hair.

When it comes to maneuverability, overall power, and hassle-free pet hair cleanup, the Dyson Ball Animal 2 Upright Vacuum is our top pick.

According to Dyson, it has the strongest suction of any vacuum available. It’s full of features that make cleanup easy and fast, such as its self-adjusting cleaner head that automatically creates suction whether you’re on carpet, wood, vinyl, or tile floors. Thanks to this feature, there’s no need to worry about changing settings or vacuum heads as you travel throughout your home.

The tangle-free turbine tool goes where traditional roller heads cannot, and solves the issue of the tangled (and later, broken) roller. This innovative tool features two heads that spin in opposite directions, pulling hair into the vacuum without allowing it to wrap around the vacuum head. You can see this technology in motion in Dyson’s testing video.  

This vacuum is also certified asthma- and allergy-friendly. The HEPA filtration keeps allergens — like dander — inside the vacuum, rather than expel them back into the home. A single button empties the bin, so there’s no need to touch the dirt or deal with vacuum cleaner bags. The vacuum is backed by a five-year parts and labor warranty.

The Dyson Ball Animal 2 Upright has a 4.1 out of 5-star Amazon rating, based on 1,089 customer reviews. Top 500 reviewer Paul Cassel wrote, “I am frankly astounded by the cleaning power of this vacuum cleaner. I’ve never seen anything come even close to it. It makes my previous cleaner look like it has asthma and a leaky hose to boot.”

David A. stated this vacuum is a must have for all pet owners: "The suction power on this thing is insane! I have wood floor in my hallway and in my kitchen, transitioning over between carpet to hardwood required zero effort at all and the vacuum self-adjusted to the height of the wood floor. The same was true when transitioning from hardwood to carpet, zero effort required. I used the 'Tangle Free Turbine Tool' to clean the chair the cats sleep on. This chair is always coated in cat hair and was a pain to clean with the DC44. One swipe across with the turbine tool and all the hair was gone!”

Pros: Powerful suction, ball head allows for easy maneuverability, asthma and allergy friendly, tangle-free turbine tool catches pet hair without binding up

Cons: Power cord must be wrapped and does not retract into the vacuum, difficult to maneuver on stairs

Buy the Dyson Ball Animal 2 Upright on Amazon for $398

The best pet hair vacuum for convenience

Why you’ll love it: With its lightweight and streamlined design, the Dyson Cyclone V10 Animal Cordless Stick Vacuum is easy to use and offers powerful cleaning action.

Looking for a vacuum that will go where other vacuums can’t? The Dyson Cyclone V10 Animal Cordless Stick Vacuum offers cord-free convenience without sacrificing power. It has the most powerful suction of any cordless vacuum on the market, Dyson claims.

This vacuum runs for up to 60 minutes (when not using a motorized tool) and can be recharged in 3.5 hours. An instant-release trigger means the vacuum only uses battery power while it’s running, and prevents battery usage as soon as the button is released. The vacuum is compact and easy to handle, with no need to lug a canister around behind you.

This vacuum is specifically designed to deep-clean homes where pet hair is an issue. The Torque Drive cleaner head has stiff nylon bristles that reach down deep into carpets to pick up pet hair and dirt. The fully-sealed filtration system captures 99.97% of hair and dirt particles, which means that the air it expels is cleaner and you’re not just releasing pet hair back into your home.

Perhaps the best advantage of this vacuum, though, is how versatile it is. Because it’s lightweight and streamlined, you can use it to clean under furniture, on stairs, and deep into the corners of rooms — all places where pet hair tends to hide. The cord-free design allows you to move through your home unrestricted, so this vacuum is ideal for quick cleanups or thorough whole-house deep cleans.

The Dyson Cyclone V10 Animal Cordless Stick Vacuum has a 4.4 out of 5-star Amazon Rating, based on 1,120 reviews. Janell K wrote, “It’s great for a quick run around the high-traffic areas or a deeper clean of the area rugs and hard floors. We have medium- and low-pile area rugs over hardwood and tile floors (roughly 1,000sq ft per floor), and it works fine on both.”

Pros: Lightweight and compact, cord-free design, cleaner head gets in deep

Cons: Requires recharging, must hold down a button to activate vacuum

Buy the Dyson Cyclone V10 Animal Cordless Stick Vacuum on Amazon for $429

The best pet hair vacuum for maneuverability

Why you’ll love it: A self-cleaning brush-roll and lift-away canister make the Shark APEX Upright Vacuum versatile and easy to use.

The Shark APEX Upright Vacuum is full of features that make for easy and convenient cleaning, especially when pet hair is involved. One of the best is the Zero-M self-cleaning brush-roll. This design actively removes hair and prevents it from wrapping around the brush-roll, so you can clean without interruption.

The Powered Lift-Away mode gives you three different ways to clean, offering the versatility you need to navigate stairs and underneath furniture, and to deep clean floors and carpets. Simply detach the canister from the motorized cleaner head to reach underneath chairs, couches, etc. The detachable canister also makes it easy to vacuum stairs and other small spaces. The standard upright mode also offers powerful cleaning for floors and carpets. Detaching the canister takes a single push of a button.

You can see a brief demonstration of this vacuum’s features in this video.

The Shark APEX Upright has a 4.2 out of 5-star Amazon rating based on 151 reviews. Apostol Apostolov wrote, “This is the best vacuum I’ve ever owned. I have two Malamutes that have long hair and shed enough to stuff a king-size pillow almost daily when they shed their winter/summer coats. I have mostly hardwood floors that are black wood on which dirt tends to show, this vacuum really does a great job on the hardwood and the low area rugs I have. It handles the fur without issue and picks up sand size particles from hard floor without throwing it back at your feet.”

Ashley Gambino also had a positive experience with this vacuum: “It does great on all my floor types. Low profile carpet, thick carpet, shag carpet, tile and vinyl hard floors. I have three dogs so I need something that sucks good, and can hold a lot in the canister. And I love that this one clears the brush roll free of hair. I like that I can 'lift away' the canister to vacuum all the way under the couches and beds.”

Pros: Detachable canister for easy cleaning, self-cleaning brush-roll won’t clog with hair

Cons: 16-pound vacuum weight can be heavy for some users

Buy the Shark APEX Upright Vacuum on Amazon for $329.99

• Where you'll live as you get older is an important consideration many of us will have to make at some point.
• While most seniors say they'd prefer to live at home, retirement communities can also offer the care and amenities that some seniors want and need.
• About 5% of elderly Americans live in some sort of senior living home, and a senior might make the move for a number of reasons, like a bad fall, a need for socialization, or to have easier access to medical staff as they age.
• Sifting through and settling on the wide range of retirement community options can prove to be challenging though.
• The choices can be overwhelming, and few of them come cheaply — independent and assisted living facilities can cost anywhere between $18,000 to $72,000 a year on average.
• Moving from the home they've known for decades and into a foreign place can also be traumatic for a senior.
• And it's not necessarily easier for their families, who sometimes have no other choice but to transplant their loved ones into a retirement community.
• We visited an assisted livingretirement community in San Francisco, California, to see for ourselves what it's like to live there and how residents stay busy and maintain a sense of purpose and independence in their later years.

SEE ALSO: A photographer captured the last 10 years his parents spent together, and the heartbreaking photos provide an intimate look at enduring love and loss

Evelyn and Barry Adler have lived in San Francisco, California, for over 50 years.

They told Business Insider that they were living in a fairly large apartment a couple of years ago when the mundane activities of daily life began to wear on them.

Both in their late 80s, they felt they had to stop driving — there was too much traffic, street work, and hassle involved, they said.

Insider Picks writes about products and services to help you navigate when shopping online. Insider Inc. receives a commission from our affiliate partners when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

• Overstock is having a spring markdown event with discounts up to 70% off on bedroom furniture, rugs, lighting fixtures, patio sets, and more on their site.
• Browse the site to find some of the best sale items like this tufted leather headboard ($193.94) and this striking lamp duo ($134.09), but act quick for extra discounts on certain items for a limited time.
• Check out more Overstock discounts and promotions on Business Insider's Coupons page.

One of the more fun spring cleaning actitivies that we look forward to is buying new furniture and decor to spruce up our space. Thankfully, Overstock is making it a whole lot easier (and way more affordable) with its spring markdown event.

The company known for all-things-home has some great deals on items that will help deck out your space like furniture, lighting fixtures, kitchen accessories, and more. The spring sale also has discounts on already-reduced products but only for a limited time. 

Overstock has hundreds of deals for every room, check out the list below for some of our favorite discounted finds. 

Shop all sale items at Overstock now.

This sophisticated lounge chair

Baxton Studio Mid-Century Lounge Chair, $250.19 (Originally $291.99) [You save $41.80]

A rustic globe chandelier

Benita 5-Light Globe Chandelier, $103.04 (Originally $142.98) [You save $39.94]

A kitchen island to increase space

Carbon Loft Owen Rolling Kitchen Island, $167.84 (Originally $227.92) [ You save $60.08]

Personal Finance Insider writes about products, strategies, and tips to help you make smart decisions with your money. Business Insider may receive a commission from The Points Guy Affiliate Network, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

• Flight-delay insurance is one of the often-forgotten benefits of the popular Chase Sapphire Reserve card.
• If you book a flight, train, ferry, bus, or other common carrier using the card, and you're delayed either overnight, or for more than six hours during the day, you'll be covered for up to $500 in expenses for each covered person.
• Read on to learn more about what's covered, and how to start a claim.

Flight delays and cancellations are a major inconvenience at best. A lot of the time, they can be downright expensive.

If your morning flight gets delayed for long enough, you might find yourself spending a lot on airport food, Wi-Fi, books or magazines, a taxi into town (if you know it's going to be a long delay), or more while you wait. If you end up stranded overnight, it can be even worse.

If the delay is caused by something outside of the airline's control, like bad weather, airport or air traffic control problems, IT issues, or certain labor actions, among other things, then it isn't responsible for your expenses and doesn't have to provide you with a hotel, food, or anything else.

Fortunately, if you paid for your tickets with aChase Sapphire Reserve card, you're in luck: The card offers trip delay insurance for delays of six hours or longer, or overnight.

Any trip is covered, as long as you paid for it with the card, and it's on a common carrier, or public form of transportation like a commercial flight, train, bus, cruise ship, ferry, etc.

The Sapphire Reserve offers up to $500 reimbursement for each covered person (including the cardholder's spouse and dependent children) on the trip. Just about any "reasonable" expense is covered, including a hotel room, meals, toiletries, a change of clothes, and other expenses. Make sure to save all itemized receipts, and to ask the travel provider for proof of the delay.

The easiest way to initiate a claim is to call the number on the back of your card (1-800-436-7970). From there, the agent will transfer you to a benefits representative who can walk you through the steps. Claim processing time can vary, but claims are generally processed within six to eight weeks.

The Sapphire Reserve's coverage becomes active at a six-hour delay, but will reimburse you for any costs before you hit the six-hour mark (make sure to save your receipts!). You'll get similar protections with the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, but that coverage kicks in later: You'll only be covered if you're delayed for 12 hours or longer, or overnight.

Click here to learn more about the Chase Sapphire Reserve from Insider Picks' partner: The Points Guy.

Click here to learn more about the Chase Sapphire Preferred from Insider Picks' partner: The Points Guy.

SEE ALSO: The best credit card rewards, bonuses, and benefits of 2019

Join the conversation about this story »

• Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes is engaged, Vanity Fair reported.
• Holmes' fiancé, William "Billy" Evans, is a 27-year-old heir to the Evans Hotel Group, according to the Daily Mail.
• The couple is reportedly living in a luxury apartment in San Francisco while Holmes awaits trial. 
• Holmes, 35, was once the youngest female self-made billionaire as the CEO of a $9 billion company before it all came crashing down, and she was charged with "massive fraud."

Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes is engaged, Vanity Fair's Nick Bilton reported.

Her fiancé is William "Billy" Evans, a 27-year-old hotel heir, according to the Daily Mail. Evans has also worked for driverless-car startup Luminar Technologies.

"She wears his M.I.T. signet ring on a necklace and the couple regularly post stories on Instagram professing their love for each other," Bilton wrote in a February Vanity Fair article. "She reliably looks 'chirpy' and 'chipper.'"

Holmes and Evans have reportedly been living in a luxury apartment building in San Francisco while Holmes awaits trial. Holmes, 35, was once a Silicon Valley superstar and the youngest female self-made billionaire after founding the blood-testing startup Theranos. But when the flaws and inaccuracies of the company's technology were revealed, Theranos and Holmes were charged with "massive fraud."

Read more: The rise and fall of Elizabeth Holmes, who started Theranos when she was 19 and became the world's youngest female billionaire before it all came crashing down

Holmes and Evans reportedly share a Siberian husky named Balto, according to Brides magazine. 

The pair has not publicly confirmed their relationship, but they were seen partying at Burning Man in 2018, according to the Daily Mail.

In 2014, Holmes told The New Yorker that she "doesn't date."

But in 2019, it came out that the Theranos founder was previously in a relationship with the former president of Theranos, Sunny Balwani, Business Insider's Lydia Ramsey previously reported. The two kept their relationship a secret at the time, but both later confirmed it in deposition tapes reported by ABC News in January 2019. Holmes said in the tapes that the two were together "for a long period of time" but that they didn't disclose their relationship to investors.

Their relationship was of interest to John Carreyrou, an investigative reporter for The Wall Street Journal and the author of "Bad Blood." 

Read more: The mysterious story of former Theranos president Sunny Balwani, who was in a relationship with Elizabeth Holmes and now faces criminal charges

"It instantly became clear to me that she was lying to her board about this romantic relationship that she was having with the number two of the company, who by the way, was also about 20 years older," Carreyrou previously told Business Insider.

Business Insider reached out to Evans for confirmation but did not immediately hear back.

SEE ALSO: The rise and fall of Elizabeth Holmes, who started Theranos when she was 19 and became the world's youngest female billionaire before it all came crashing down

DON'T MISS: 

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NOW WATCH: Watch Google's Stadia video-game-platform event in 5 minutes

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• High-quality commuter bikes are comfortable to ride, react quickly to obstacles in your path, and handle a broad array of weather and road conditions.
• The Brooklyn Bicycle Co. Franklin 3 is our top pick because it has an attractive upright design good for visibility and comfort, features high-quality parts, and is available in several styles.

Working from home, I miss having the opportunity to commute to a job. Depending on the weather, I would either roller skate or bike the 13-mile commute each day. Sure, it might take a little longer than driving, but I started the day on a positive, energetic note and was in the best shape of my life.

More cities are now encouraging their residents to commute by bike, creating bike-only lanes in urban areas. Therefore, now is the best time to use a bike to get to and from work, school, or just about anywhere.

The most important consideration when buying a commuter bike is comfort. If riding a bicycle isn’t enjoyable, then you're never going to keep at it. Fortunately, when you purchase a bike online, the retailer will often work with your local bike shop to assemble the bike and provide the necessary final tweaks to ensure the fit is right for your body.

When purchasing online, you may have the option of assembling the bike on your own. In my experience, it’s worth the extra money to have a professional do it. The experts have the right tools, plenty of experience, and will likely finish the job in a fraction of the time it would take you.

We chose to focus on affordable entry-level bicycles so all of the options in this guide are non-electric and cost under $700. If you are looking to spend more, we recommend considering an electric bicycle, or e-bike. With e-bikes, you can get as much or as little help as you want on your commute. This is especially helpful when you have killer hills on your route and you just want to get home after an exhausting day. Don't be confused: An e-bike provides powered assistance, but you still need to peddle.

While researching the best commuter bikes, we examined dozens of reviews and ratings of countless brands from experts and buyers. Our guide features bikes that have a track record of durability, comfort, and minimal maintenance demands.

Here are the best commuter bikes you can buy:

• Best commuter bike overall: Brooklyn Bicycle Co. Franklin 3
• Best high-end commuter bike: Co-op Cycles CTY 2.1 Bike
• Best bike for longer commutes: Mongoose Men's Elroy Adventure Bike 700C Wheel Bicycle
• Best commuter bike under $200: Schwinn Wayfarer Hybrid Bike
• Best full-featured commuter bike: State Bicycle Deluxe 3 Speed City Bike

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

The best commuter bike overall

Why you’ll love it: If you are looking for a comfortable, attractive commuter bike that comes fully assembled, the Brooklyn Bicycle Co. Franklin 3 is a smart solution that will last you for years to come.

Brooklyn Bicycle Co. focuses on building bikes that are designed for durability, comfort, and style. This focus is apparent in the Franklin 3. The step-through frame makes mounting your bike effortless regardless of what you’re wearing, and it’s made of lightweight steel so you can easily carry the approximately 33-pound bike up and down stairs. The rear hub and shifter are made by Shimano, one of the top names in the industry. And, the bike comes with puncture-resistant tires. Both the saddle and grips are made of vegan leather for maximum comfort.

The Franklin 3 is a three-speed bike, but there are also single-speed and seven-speed options. The bike comes in small/medium or large. And, it's available in five colors: ivory, matte coral, gloss black, sea glass, and cardinal red. If you’d prefer a top tube that is closer to parallel with the ground rather than the step-through frame, check out the Bedford 3.

New York Magazine recommends the Franklin 3 because it hides the gears within the hub so you still get the single-speed look. The reviewer also noted that it’s easy to maintain and operate since the chain doesn’t move when switching gears.

Industry Outsider recommends the Franklin 3 and the Bedford 3. The reviewer notes that the two bikes share a lot of similarities, including the frame material and drivetrain. He liked that the Franklin 3 came with fenders, a durable chain made by KMC, a chainguard, and a sealed bottom bracket. The fender keeps water and mud from flying up onto you, and the other features will help with long-term durability.

A Business Insider colleague tested and recommends the Bedford 3. He appreciated how painless it was buying the bike online and picking it up fully assembled.

About 97% of the customer reviews on the Brooklyn Bicycle Co. site give the Franklin 5 stars. Monique submitted one of the most helpful reviews. She was thrilled with the Franklin because the step-through crossbar made mounting the bike easy with her bad leg. She also found the bike so comfortable and enjoyable that she felt like a kid again riding it. Other buyers were impressed with how quick and hassle-free the ordering and pick-up processes were. And, there are several comments about the bike’s attractive appearance.

Pros: Assembly is included in the price, beautiful design, durable construction, comfortable to ride

Cons: Only three speeds

Buy the Franklin 3 from Brooklyn Bicycle Co. for $499.99

Buy the Bedford 3 from Brooklyn Bicycle Co. for $499.99

The best high-end commuter bike

Why you’ll love it: The Co-op Cycles CTY 2.1 offers a smooth ride, excellent maneuverability, and is light enough to store in your walk-up apartment.

After a hiatus from the bicycle space, REI launched Co-op Cycles in 2017 with the goal of providing fun and freedom on two wheels. As the name suggests, the CTY 2.1 is specifically designed to be used in the city. Several of the parts come from top names in the industry. The crankset, shifters, derailleurs, rear cogs, hydraulic disc brakes, and brake levers are Shimano. The hubs are Joytech. And, the chain is KMC Z8.

The suspension fork features a locking mechanism so you aren’t bouncing around while riding on smooth surfaces. And, there’s 360-degree reflectivity to keep you visible both day and night, though you’ll still want lights.

This is the main bike I use for fitness and when tooling around town. From the moment I picked it up to test, I was blown away by REI’s customer service. I had to drive about an hour away to get to the closest store, and they were insistent on making sure it fit me correctly. The CTY 2.1 is incredibly responsive. On one ride, the brakes reacted quickly, saving me from crashing into a car that pulled out of a drive without looking. And, I have no problem handling the windy trails in my city. The biggest negative for me is that the pedal reflectors fell off after 400 miles.

Bicycle Guider recommends the CTY 2.1 as the “best bike for commuting in urban areas.” The reviewer found the seat to be quite comfortable and noted that he could accelerate quickly from a standstill — a must when you have several traffic lights along your commute. One negative he mentions is that he had a hard time finding fenders and kickstands that matched the bike.

There are 11 reviews of the CTY 2.1 on REI.com, and all of them are 4 or 5 stars. The most helpful reviewer tested a variety of bikes from competitors before choosing the CTY because of its shifting, startup speed, comfort, and overall ride. He also noted that the staff at REI were incredibly helpful in his bike search. Others also mentioned how comfortable it rides. Common positives include that the brakes provide strong stopping power and it’s a great entry-level bike for adults. One buyer even recommended it for people who want to “rip some fat dank wheelies.”

As our high-end pick, it is the most expensive option on our list.

Pros: Comfortable seat, easy for novices to operate, locking front suspension fork, excellent customer service

Cons: Expensive

Buy the Co-op Cycles CTY 2.1 Bike from REI for $699

The best bike for longer commutes

Why you’ll love it: If you are looking for a bike that can take you to and from work during the week while also helping you enjoy the great outdoors on the weekend, the Mongoose Men's Elroy Adventure Bike 700C Wheel Bicycle is a versatile solution.

What sets the Mongoose Men's Elroy Adventure Bike 700C Wheel Bicycleapart from the other bikes in our guide is its versatility. As an adventure bike, it works well off-road. Yet, it’s also designed for speed and comfort for longer commutes. The front rack fits multiple panniers so you can easily transport your lunch, laptop, and a change of clothes.

The Elroy features Shimano derailleurs, a 14-speed micro shift and brake combo, a durable steel fork, and sleek alloy frame. In some areas, Amazon will arrange to have an expert assemble the bike for an additional $85. Or, you can take it to your local bike shop if you don’t want to do it yourself.

Biking Tribe recommends the Mongoose Elroy as one of the best touring bikes. The reviewer found the bike was high-performing, sturdy, attractive, and sporty. Specifically, he appreciated that the dynamic driving system enabled a fun and exhilarating ride in every situation. Thrill Appeal recommends this model because of how it handles on gravel.

Approximately 82% of the Amazon reviews of the Mongoose Elroy are positive. Buyers mentioned that the bike does an excellent job on long tours. One reviewer pointed out that the bag is large enough for a day ride, but if you’re doing more than that, you might want to switch it out. Others liked that the frame could support several mounting cages. Several buyers noted that it took some work properly adjusting the disk brakes. I ran into similar issues when assembling the Mongoose Juneau and ended up turning to a professional to finish the job.

Pros: Great for riding on roads and off, integrated frame bag, large front rack, 14 speeds

Cons: Assembly is an additional charge

Buy the Mongoose Men's Elroy Adventure Bike 700C Wheel Bicycle on Amazon for $385.34 (originally $429.99)

• Sara Lehman is the private sommelier and lifestyle director of 160 Madison, which is a luxury, residential high-rise building in Manhattan. She also owns the wine and travel blog Somm in the City.
• We gave Sara 11 different low-cost wines to try from big-box stores like Costco, Target, BJ's, and Trader Joe's. 
• Watch the video above to see how she ranked bottles of cabernet sauvignon, pinot grigio, and rosé, all under $10.

Following is a transcript of the video.

Sara Lehman: I'm Sara Lehman. I am the owner of Somm in the City. It is a wine and travel blog that focuses on food, wine, and luxury.

Cabernet Sauvignon

Kirkland, Costco — $7.99

Give it a nice swirl first. It's quite fruity, but it's a little mild. Ooh. I actually like this. It has a little bit more complexity than I was expecting it to have.

Charles Shaw, Trader Joe's — $3.99

Hmm. Wow. This is definitely not as powerful as a cabernet that I would expect. It's just really approachable and very friendly, and I think this is a good cabernet.

The Collection, Target — $9.99

Very smooth. Wow. Not gonna lie, didn't expect that from Target, but I would drink this.

Wellsley Farms, BJ's — $7.99

This one's definitely spicy. It's a nice wine. There's nothing too complex about it. There's a lot of fruit, and you get a lot of this sour cherry, bright strawberry, and raspberry, and then it just kind of finishes flat.

Untamed Vine, Lidl — $8.99

Oh, excellent. Wow. Alright, so right off the bat, you're getting a lot of this cranberry and currants. Then you're getting this really nice, like meatiness and like some nice coco. I really like the sweet baking spice I'm also getting in this. I feel like this wine has a lot of layers.

Rankings:

My first choice is definitely the Untamed Vine. I think that this definitely showed everything that I love about California and California wines. I would say my second favorite would actually be the Kirkland. I was pleasantly surprised by that. It had some personality to it, and I really would not knock this wine. For my third, I would have to go with The Collection. Then I would say my fourth one would be the Charles Shaw. I just thought that this wasn't as strong as the other few. Lastly would be the Wellsley Farms, and that's just because I felt that it just tastes very commercial.

Pinot Grigio

Kirkland, Costco — $7.89

Pleasant nose. I think it's definitely very typical of Pinot Grigio. This is what I would expect from it. Not as much acidity as I thought it would have, which is pleasant because sometimes Pinot Grigio can be a little too racy and aggressive. But what I really like about this wine is the fact that it's medium bodied and it has a really smooth finish.

Charles Shaw, Trader Joe's — $3.99

Ooh. I'm kind of getting like an apple juice nose, which is interesting. So this one definitely has a lot more acidity than the Costco. It's almost like a creamy wine. The acidity is right there in the beginning of the wine, and then it just kind of smooths out and it becomes creamy. It's really interesting, but it's really reminding me of apple juice.

The Collection, Target — $9.99

Oh, right off the nose you get a lot of citrus. I'm getting some white flower. Okay, so this one has a lot more of like the citrus skins. We're getting a lot of this lime peel and I'm getting a little bit of a candied lemon. But it's nothing too sweet. This wine is still very dry.

Wellsley Farms, BJ's — $6.99

I'm getting some barnyard right in the nose. And I know that sounds like a weird quality to have, but barnyard is definitely an aroma in wine that can be attractive depending on the wine. Hmm. Yeah. Yellow apple, hay. It's got acidity. You got some lime in there. I really like it.

Rankings:

Out of my top favorites, I would say The Collection won my heart this time. It was just really fun, and I would just, I would drink this all the time. The Kirkland, again, surprised me. I am wondering if I should start going to Costco and buying some wine. And then I would say the Wellsley Farms definitely would be my third choice. And the fourth would be the Trader Joe's Shaw. It was my least favorite. It didn't have as much personality as the other three.

Rosé

Charles Shaw, Trader Joe's — $3.99

Ooh, okay pleasant. So, I'm getting again a lot of this fresh red fruit. It's really kind of a juicy wine. You have just enough acidity to get this drying sensation in your mouth, but what I really enjoy about this is that to me it tastes like a typical California rosé. This is an easy to drink wine. The finish does fall very short, though.

The Collection, Target — $9.99

This wine has a lot more acidity. It has everything I look for in a California rosé, so it's bright, it's fruit-forward, it's fresh. The finish is there. Like I'm still tasting it. This wine could be taken places I would say, compared to the Shaw where the Shaw is really just... it was decent but it fell flat compared to The Collection. It really did.

And the winner is . . .

So the winner of the wine tasting would definitely be Target. I think The Collection by Target is my top wine choice from the selection that I've tried today. I was pleasantly surprised by all three of these wines. They met a lot of my qualifications, which includes, taste, aromas, complexity, as well as finish. So if I were to say bring something that was less expensive to my friends but from California, I would go with The Collection. I think out of all the three wines that I tried from them they really all struck me in very different ways but in very positive ways, and I would buy them.

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• Apple has launched a credit card that customers can use with its virtual payment service, Apple Pay.
• The Apple Card is made of titanium, and has no annual, late, or international fees.
• Here's when the Apple Card will be available, and how you can sign up to get yours.

Apple revealed this week that it had a created its first-ever physical credit card, and its no-fee model is already drawing in eager customers.

The Apple Card will have no annual, late, or international fees, and an interest rate that Apple says will be "among the lowest" industry-wide. The card works as an alternate to Apple Pay for stores and retailers that don't take contactless payments.

Between the no fees and slick metal design, the Apple Card has created hype among customers looking to get their hands on their very own. The card, however, is not yet available for use.

Here's when the Apple Card will be available and how you can sign up:

SEE ALSO: Caroline Spiegel, the sister of Snap CEO Evan Spiegel, is launching a new porn startup geared toward women

The Apple Card will live on your iPhone inside the Apple Wallet app. The card will show up in the app alongside your other Wallet items.

Once the Apple Card is made available, customers will be able to sign up using their iPhone. Within minutes, they should be able to use Apple Card in apps, online, and at stores that accept Apple Pay.

If customers have issues with the card, they'll be able to contact Apple Card support through the Messages app. Apple says support will be available 24/7 via text.

Source: Apple

• Marianne Williamson, a wildly successful author and self-help guru, is running for the Democratic nomination for president.
• She is known for several New York Times bestselling books on spirituality and her work leading a nonprofit food bank that has served 11.5 million meals.
• She's a confidante of Oprah Winfrey's and has made regular guest appearances on her show to discuss matters of spirituality and morality.
• Williamson's campaign and her broader message to the American public is unorthodox and filled with spiritual themes — but according to her, that is precisely what the US needs.

Working in government for more than thirty years certainly seems like enough time to prepare for the presidency. Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont started his political career as a mayor in 1981, while Republican Sen. John McCain entered the political scene in 1982 as a congressman from Arizona.

For the 2020 US presidential candidate Marianne Williamson, those years were spent transforming "lives from the inside out," she said to INSIDER.

Williamson is known for several New York Times bestselling books on spirituality — with titles including "Healing the Soul of America: Reclaiming Our Voices as Spiritual Citizens" and "Tears to Triumph." She also founded a nonprofit food bank, Project Angel Food, which has served approximately 11.5 million meals.

Williamson's message of spiritual awakening and community service has resonated with millions of people not only through her books but also in numerous televised appearances. She is even considered to be Oprah Winfrey's confidante after making regular guest appearances on her show to discuss matters of spirituality and morality.

But her message transformed into political aspirations when she announced she was running for president during a Los Angeles rally in late January. Drawing a reported crowd of thousands, Williamson made her plea to what she described as "a moral and spiritual awakening" for the country.

Williamson's platform mirrors her message of human values and the healing of the spirit — a process she believes can be translated into politics and, based on her background, makes her a qualified president.

"All that a nation is, is a group of individuals. So the same psychological and emotional and spiritual principles that prevail within the life of an individual prevails within the life of a nation," Williamson said to INSIDER. "So America now has to heal from the inside out."

"You have to look to your values," she said. "You have to be aligned in your thinking with the conscience, ethics, relationships with the world around you in order to live a life that ultimately works."

"Our government now acts more like a hand-maiden to a large matrix of multinational corporate forces than a servant to the people," Williamson added. "That is a moral malfunction. And a moral function has led to political corruption, and that political corruption has led to all manners of human devastation."

Williamson cites several of President Donald Trump's policies as an example of political malfeasance, including gutting the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and spreading "the so-called crisis at the border." But she reiterated that broadly rolling back Trump's policies or campaigning with an anti-Trump narrative "is so naïve."

"The problem is so much bigger than President Trump — there are so many lined up behind him," Williamson said. "All that will happen is that they'll be back in 2022 and be they'll be back in 2024."

"Defeating Donald Trump is treating the symptom, it's not treating the cause," Williamson added. "We have to inspire a new era of civic engagement, a new era of citizen activism. And because I've had a career ... inspiring action inside people, that's why I feel I offer some unique qualifications for the work that needs to be done."

Williamson is aware of the public's focus on her metaphysical metaphors in books and speeches, but she shrugged off what some people suggest are idealistic, airy statements. In fact, she welcomed being characterized as a "healer" and spiritual guru.

"If somebody wants to call me 'healer-in-chief' that's fine," Williamson said. "That is in fact what America needs. The fact that so many people in America have lived for decades with chronic economic despair, and tension, and anxiety, it has already caused great instability in the system. And it will continue to cause even greater instability within the system until we address this."

Williamson's résumé may not include years of government service, but her campaign will not be the first time she enters the political foray. She unsuccessfully ran for California's 33rd Congressional District, which is held by Democratic Rep. Ted Lieu, as an independent candidate in 2014.

Despite spending $2 million for her congressional campaign and receiving endorsements from Hollywood celebrities such as Kim Kardashian and Katy Perry, Williamson won 13% of the vote compared with Lieu's $1.05 million and 18.8%.

Hollywood celebrities have been noticeably quieter this time around. While other 2020 candidates have received endorsements and are appearing at fundraisers, Williamson's campaign appears to lack the backing from notable figures in the industry — including Winfrey. (Williamson said she discussed her candidacy with the media magnate but did not provide further comment.)

With the Democratic field of candidates growing by the week, Williamson faces a difficult challenge generating media coverage and remaining competitive in the polls.

In addition to other nontraditional candidates, such as the entrepreneur Andrew Yang, Williamson is competing with veteran lawmakers, including Sanders, Sen. Kamala Harris of California, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey, and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii for the Democratic nomination.

Cable news networks and other national news outlets have largely ignored her campaign, sometimes not even including her on the list of candidates. This has not gone unnoticed by Williamson.

But Williamson said she bears no ill will against her Democratic opponents, and her doctrine of inclusion avoids the uncomfortable tension of the 2016 Democratic primary election between Sanders and Hillary Clinton. Williamson said she admired her fellow candidates, including Sanders, who she endorsed in the 2016 presidential election. (She did, however, publish a scathing letter in 2014 advising Clinton not to run for president.)

Her cordial feelings toward the other candidates is on display as she campaigns in the battleground states, including South Carolina and Iowa:

"I'm not running against anyone. I'm running with everyone," Williamson said. "I think it's very healthy for our democracy and very healthy for the Democratic Party. This is an all-hands-on-deck type of moment in America. And I think anyone who has good ideas should be putting them out there."

Williamson said she extends that same sentiment to the freshman class of lawmakers, most notably Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York.

"I think they're great," Williamson said, adding that she disagreed with the notion that their political views are radical. Williamson said she supports many of the progressive policies advocated by the new lawmakers — including the controversial Green New Deal, a nonbinding, radically progressive resolution of environmental and social legislation championed by Ocasio-Cortez.

"We're living in a time where the country has taken such a sharp turn to the right that what used to be considered the middle is deemed the radical left," Williamson said. "I think they're standing for democracy, they're standing for justice, and they're standing for universal human values."

"To say that you want to disrupt the status quo today should not be considered radical. It should be considered the course correction to a radical deviation from our highest principles," she added.

To that effect, Williamson's proposed policies mirror many other Democrats and independents. She supports "Medicare for All," completely transitioning the US to clean energy by 2045, and a ban on assault-style weapons. Her bolder initiatives include $100 billion in reparations for slavery (with an annual distribution of $10 billion toward economic and educational sectors) and a one-year national service requirement for US citizens between the ages of 18 and 26.

Some Democratic strategists believe Williamson's non-traditional experience in politics and progressive agenda may resonate with voters in the battleground states.

"[Williamson] has a different perspective than any of the other candidates," Jeff Link, an Iowa-based Democratic strategist, told INSIDER. "She believes that her approach is better than the typical politician."

"She is an author and has written books that have been very popular — and so she's been able to connect with people in different ways than through elected politics," Link added. "What her argument is, is that we shouldn't run another politician against Trump — we should try something different."

Williamson faces an uphill battle as more candidates enter the race. Fundraiser donations, arguably one of the most important metrics of a campaign's viability, must continue to fill the campaign's coffers as she nears the Democratic primaries.

"She needs to continue to raise her profile," Link said. "She's well-known amongst her readers of her book ... she's got a pretty solid base of book buyers and if they become contributors to her campaign, that should sustain her for a while."

Other strategists threw cold water on Williamson's campaign and described it as "purely a vanity campaign."

"One of the terrible side effects of the Trump presidency is that now almost anybody thinks they can be president," Nathan Ballard, who was a spokesman for former Sen. John Kerry during his 2004 presidential campaign, said to INSIDER. "Williamson is one of these delusional characters."

"She couldn't even win a congressional seat in Malibu, where her politics are not that far out of the mainstream," Ballard added, referring to Williamson's failed bid for California's 33rd Congressional District. "She certainly doesn't have a prayer in Iowa or New Hampshire."

With about 2.6 million Twitter followers and nearly 740,000 Facebook followers, Williamson has already drawn a large social-media presence. But while Williamson's audience on social media appears to be larger than her fellow candidates', the total engagement falls short in comparison. Sen. Harris' campaign-affiliated Twitter account may be slightly behind Williamson's with 2.5 million followers, but her tweets regularly attract thousands of "likes" and retweets.

Still, Williamson is determined not to be another footnote in the long list of Democratic candidates and believes that her message will appeal to voters beyond the primaries.

"I believe that there are many, many people in America who join with me in that place, and believe that when we enter that level of conversation, a great nobility and intelligence emerges that bypasses the mean-spiritedness, selfishness, our vulnerability to propaganda, and will enable us to repair this country," she said.

SEE ALSO: Marianne Williamson, a best-selling author and Oprah confidante, announces she's running for president in 2020

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• The Hyundai Tucson has been updated for 2019 with refreshed styling, an updated interior, new tech, and a revised lineup of engines. 

• Business Insider had the chance to check out a new 2019 Hyundai Tucson Ultimate AWD in the roads in and around Atlanta, Georgia.

• In the marketplace, Tucson's rivals include the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Nissan Rogue, Mazda CX-5, Subaru Forester, and Volkswagen Tiguan.
• The base 2019 Tucson SE front-wheel-drive starts at $23,200 while the top-of-the-line Ultimate trim with front-wheel drive starts at $31,550. With options and fees, our Tucson Ultimate AWD came to an as-tested price of $34,120.

The compact SUV is without a doubt the most highly sought vehicle type in today's market. Compact crossovers and SUV accounted for 18.2% of all auto sales in the US during 2018 and grew at an impressive 11.9% according to data compiled by Kelley Blue Book.

One compact SUV growing in prominence is the Hyundai Tucson. The Korean compact SUV saw US sales jump 24% last year to more than 142,000 units.

The current third-generation Tucson debuted in 2015 for the 2016 model year. This year, Hyundai gave the crossover a mid-life update that included a revised engine lineup, a brand new interior, new technology, and refreshed styling.

In the marketplace, Tucson's rivals include the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Nissan Rogue, Mazda CX- 5, Subaru Forester, and Volkswagen Tiguan.

Recently, Business Insider had the chance to check out a new 2019 Hyundai Tucson Ultimate AWD in the roads in and around Atlanta, Georgia.

Read more: We drove a $34,000 Hyundai Tucson to see if it's a legitimate rival for Honda, Toyota, and Subaru. Here's the verdict.

In our review, we praised the Tucson for its eye-pleasing looks, solid driving dynamics, strong tech package, and expertly designed cabin. However, we were less than impressed by its engine performance.

"The 2019 Hyundai Tucson looks fantastic, handles well, delivers a comfortable ride, boasts a really well-designed cabin, and is packed with tech," we said. "However, its lackluster fuel economy and underwhelming powertrain hold it back from becoming one of the segment's elite offerings."

"Overall, it's a very good compact crossover SUV," we added. "Unfortunately, it competes in a segment packed with a slew of other very good crossovers and even one or two that are near perfect."

The base 2019 Tucson SE front-wheel-drive starts at $23,200 while the top-of-the-line Ultimate trim with front-wheel drive starts at $31,550. All-wheel-drive is a $1,400 option. With options and fees, our Tucson came to an as-tested price of $34,120.

Here's a closer look at its coolest features.

SEE ALSO: 25 hot cars at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show

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1. Snazzy styling: The Tucson received updated styling for the 2019 model year. And frankly speaking, we like it. It's stylish and modern while maintaining an understated elegance you want it a compact crossover.

2. Quality interior: Overall, we were impressed by the Tucson's interior. Material quality is, for the most part, solid. Although a few of the plastic trim pieces felt a bit too cheap for a $34,000 car.

3. Cabin ergonomics: Hyundai nailed it in terms of cabin ergonomics. All the buttons are clearly labeled while all of the important features are intuitively place and within arm's reach for the driver.

Insider Picks writes about products and services to help you navigate when shopping online. Insider Inc. receives a commission from our affiliate partners when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

• If you want to do more cooking at home, meal kit services like Blue Apron can lend a helping hand.
• Blue Apron is one of the most popular meal kit services on the market, and with delicious menus and easy ordering, it's not hard to see why.
• Read on to find out how to order Blue Apron meal kits straight to your door and get cooking.

What's the only way to improve on a home cooked meal? Make it easier to come by. And that is precisely what Blue Apron does with its meal kits.

Packed with tasty recipes and pre-portioned ingredients, Blue Apron boxes come straight to your doorstep once a week with the requisite materials for making delicious dinners throughout the week. If nothing else, it'll save you a few trips to the grocery store, and take some of the thinking out of preparing your meals. Here's how to use Blue Apron.

1: Head over to Blue Apron

Blue Apron's website contains all the information that you'll need to start picking your meals. You can check out weekly menus up to five weeks in advance, and start thinking about what plan might be best for your needs

2: Pick a plan

Blue Apron offers four plans. We break them down below.

• The Signature Plan for 2: Choose two or three recipes every week with portions meant for two people. You can either choose your recipes yourself or have Blue Apron choose on your behalf based on your dietary preferences and restrictions.
• The Signature Plan for 4: Choose anywhere from two to four recipes from a collection of five weekly recipes that will feed four folks.
• WW Freestyle: For the health conscious, the WW Freestyle plan offers a weekly selection of six options, all of which are nutritious and delicious. Choose either two or three recipes per week for two people to enjoy.
• Vegetarian Plan for 2: Blue Apron offers three non-meat recipes every week for two folks to enjoy. If you select this plan, Blue Apron will automatically send you three meals for every week you're signed up.

No matter which plan you choose, Blue Apron's meal kits come with all the ingredients and cooking instructions necessary for preparing your meal, so whether you're a novice or an experienced chef, you're set up for success.

3: Sign up

Once you've decided which of the above options best suits your needs, you're ready to sign up. You'll need to first input your email address, create a password, and then input your zip code to ensure that Blue Apron delivers to your area.

4: Pay for your plan

Plans range in price from $47.95 for two meals for two people to $119.84 for four meals for four people. You'll be billed on a weekly basis, and you can stop shipments and payments at any point.

5: Set your delivery date

On Blue Apron's checkout page, you'll have the opportunity to select which day of the week you'd like to receive your meal kits, and leave any special instructions that may be necessary for delivery. 

6: Select your meals

Once you've paid for your new Blue Apron subscription, you're ready to start selecting your week's menu. Remember that you can order up to five weeks in advance, so you can always have a sense of what dinners you have to come.

7: Get cooking

The fun part is all that's left!

Sign up for Blue Apron for $47.95 to $119.84

If you want to try more meal kits, check out our full guide to the best ones.

Read our full review to learn more about Blue Apron's Mediterranean diet meal kits.

Join the conversation about this story »

• Early retirees need to plan how they'll build human connections during early retirement, says a former early retiree who went back to work partly because he missed social interaction.
• Volunteering, working out, and joining a club are a few ways early retirees can socialize.
• If you spend your early retirement fulfilling its true purpose — helping others, according to an author who popularized early retirement — you can build human connection.

Life can change in unexpected ways after retiring early— and some of those changes aren't without their downfalls. 

Just ask early retiree Tony, who prefers not to reveal his last name. He retired at age 37 with a mid-six-figure nest egg, but decided to return to work part-time a year-and-a-half in because he felt early retirement lacked three things.

Aspiring early retirees should brace themselves for one of those things in particular: lack of human connection, he said in a recent podcast with early retiree Brandon of The Mad Fientist.

"If I had to pick one thing that I would have people ask themselves or prepare for, it would be building human connection into their life after they retire," Tony said when Brandon asked for his key piece of advice. 

Read more: An author who studied more than 10,000 millionaires says those planning to retire early often overlook a crucial step

A typical nine to five forces you to socially interact with your coworkers five days a week. Take work away, and the automatic human connection goes with it; socializing becomes much more of an effort during early retirement.

"That might mean volunteering helping kids or elderly people, just being around people that you can talk to, really," Tony said. "And it almost doesn't matter what venue that's in. It might be going on MeetUp.com and meeting some hiking buddies, it might be volunteering."

Early retiree John of ESI Money also suggests volunteering, as well as joining a club, going to a gym, visiting a church, and being more neighborly. "Retiring often severs relationships (especially those around work) which is quite hard for many people," he wrote. "And much of the research above will back this up — loss of social interaction is a bad thing."

A desire for more social interaction and camaraderie is partly what caused Sam of Financial Samurai to go back to work after seven years of early retirement.

"I miss the friendly banter that develops with work colleagues," he wrote in a post published on Business Insider. "It feels great to work as a team and accomplish a mission. It's fun to talk to other adults about random things such as parenthood, new restaurants, home remodeling, cars, investment opportunities, movies, sports, and the latest news."

But if you spend early retirement fulfilling its true purpose, it should be easy to find human connection. Early retirees shouldn't focus on themselves, but should use their position and independence to focus on helping others, Vicki Robin previously said in The Wall Street Journal's podcast "Secrets of Wealthy Women."

Read more: A best-selling author who popularized the idea of financial independence 20 years ago says the purpose of retiring early is not to focus on yourself

Robin co-authored the best-seller "Your Money or Your Life," which has inspired young Americans to retire early since it was first published 20 years ago. Her take on early retirement aligns with Tony and John's emphasis on volunteering.

"Whatever human connection means to you, make that automatic," Tony said. "And it's going to be different for everybody. Some people are really gregarious by nature. But I think for people like you [Brandon] and me, that's a requirement for a fulfilling life ... to have meaningful human connection."

He added: "Figure out what that's going to look like for you."

SEE ALSO: A software developer who retired in his 30s says he went back to work less than 2 years later because the free time didn't make him any happier

DON'T MISS: People retire early for 2 reasons, and neither of them is money

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• Tanzania, in East Africa, is home to some of the greatest conservation areas and parks in the world.
• On a recent five-day safari, I visited three areas: the Serengeti, Ngorongoro, and Tarangire.
• The most breathtaking sight of the whole trip was the Great Wildebeest Migration, when 1.5 million wildebeest and hundreds of thousands of zebra and other animals travel across Kenya and Tanzania to give birth or find new grass or fresh water.
• Nothing else I saw on safari compared to watching a natural event of such magnitude.

If you had asked me before going on safari what I was most excited to see, my answer would have been lions.

But after having gone on a five-day safari in Tanzania last month, I'm convinced I had it all wrong. The most fascinating animals to watch are the wildebeest.

All year round, just about the entire population of wildebeests in northern Tanzania embarks on a migration of epic proportions. In it, 1.5 million wildebeest migrate on a nearly 1,200-mile cycle in search of new grass, fresh water, and a place to birth their calves. Nearly 500,000 zebras, antelopes, and other animals travel with them. 

It's called the Great Wildebeest Migration.

Depending on the time of year, the animals are in a different part of their migration. Visit the Serengeti from April to June and you'll find wildebeest spread across the Serengeti to take advantage of the new grass produced by the rainy season. Visit from July to October and you can catch the herds moving north to cross the Mara River into Kenya as crocodiles and other predators try to pick them off one by one. 

Visit in February, as I did, and you can see perhaps an even greater sight: calving season. During calving season, the animals migrate from Kenya, south into Tanzania towards Ndutu in order to find a suitable place to give birth.

I showed up somewhere in between, with a few wildebeest and zebra dropping their babies, but most holding on for better grasses. My guide, Charles Nnko, explained that wildebeest can hold their calves inside for weeks until they find grass they intuitively know is safe for raising their young. Ideally, they drop them in a place where it has just rained so their babies can eat the new grass.

The real thrill of catching the migration is watching the mass movements of thousands of animals and the reactions of animals along the way. When we passed through this plain on the edge of the Serengeti, we watched as the herds leaped over this crack in the earth.

They then gathered together in a long line, heading south, that zig-zagged back and forth. I could hear them whoosh by as they stampeded through the grasslands at full speed.

Though all the wildebeest eventually meet in the same approximate area, the herds move at different speeds and in different directions. Some even go in circles before continuing to head south.

Zebras and wildebeest alike crossed straight through the water, swimming and then running their way to the other side. Nnko said that zebras and wildebeest migrate together because of their complementary habits. Zebras enjoy long grass, while wildebeest prefer short grass. Zebras have better sight and memory, while wildebeest have better hearing.

Much of being on safari is luck. If we had gone to the lake 10 or 15 minutes earlier, we would've seen this massive herd of wildebeest (pictured below) crossing. Instead, we found them gathering a half a mile farther into the bush.

It's hard to convey just how awesome it is to see thousands of animals moving together at once, and the most thrilling part of it is that anything could happen.

Join the conversation about this story »

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Insider Picks writes about products and services to help you navigate when shopping online. Insider Inc. receives a commission from our affiliate partners when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

• Folding bikes are a versatile and practical way of moving around cities and linking up gaps in mass transit.
• Their small size can hide their massive versatility, especially with the boost provided by the electric motor in the Tern Vektron, which is our top pick.

With cities becoming more crowded, gas prices remaining high and congestion not getting any better, driving to work seems to get less enjoyable and more expensive every year. Public transit works well if you happen to live and work close to hubs, but otherwise, it can lead to a frustratingly circuitous commute.

Cycling to work is becoming an increasingly popular way to get some exercise and save time and money on your commute. For some, riding from door to door is feasible, but many of us live too far away from work to make this possible.

Folding bikes offer a way to bridge these two options and still leave your car at home. Without the bulk of a regular bike, folding bikes can easily share your seat on the bus or train and be tucked away in your home or office when not in use, but they’re still far faster and more fun than walking that first and last mile of your trip.

We tested folding bikes to see if they really are as practical as they promise to be. This meant riding them up and downhill to test out the gearing and brakes. We also made sure to see how they handled on rough roads where some of the smallest-wheeled models become very unstable. We looked at cargo carrying capacity as well, because replacing a car commute might mean picking up some groceries on the way home.

Once we had established how the test bikes performed as bikes, we also checked how quickly and easily we could stow them, because nobody wants to miss their train while they fiddle with a tricky lever or complicated mechanism.

Here are the best folding bikes you can buy in 2019:

• Best folding bike overall: Tern Vektron
• Best folding bike for flat ground: Vilano Urbana
• Best budget electric folding bike: e-JOE EPIK SE Sport
• Best folding bike for travel: Dahon EEZZ D3
• Best folding bike for long rides: Tern Link D8

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

The best folding bike overall

Why you’ll love it: The sturdy geometry, fast fold time, and pedal assist make the Tern Vektron a real car replacement for city dwellers, even if they don’t have much storage space.

I have lots of bikes — too many if you ask my wife. I didn’t really think I needed a folding bike, and yet, I’ve found myself at the shops, at the bar, and even at work happily wheeling a folding bike into a locker or corner more often than I ever thought I would in the last month.

The Tern Vektron is the bike that changed how I look at folding bikes. It’s not just the motor, I have tested other electric folding bikes. Nor is it just the intuitive folding mechanism and adjustable fit. It’s the incredible practicality of the bike that makes it a great choice, even if you don’t intend to fold it very often.

The plethora of well thought out design tweaks make the Vektron a stand out bike. The right pedal detaches, making the bike a lot less wide when it needs to be stowed, but Tern goes the extra mile and includes a place to store the detached pedal behind the saddle. The Vektron folds easily, and when folded it can be rolled along on its back wheel like a shopping cart. This feature alone has saved me from missing more than one train.

Of course, the mid drive motor on the Vektron didn’t hurt in that regard, either. By placing the motor at the crank, where the power from the rider also comes from, Tern makes a bike that feels just like a regular bike but faster. There are none of the unexpected torque-wheelies or lurches in speed we associate with cheaper e-bikes here.

The included rack and Tern’s optional “dry goods bag” make this bike a more than capable grocery-getter. I also dramatically reduced my need to carry cargo when I cycled to the office because using the electric motor on the middle setting, I didn’t get sweaty.

The included battery is easy to charge and also powers the built-in lights. About the only problem we had with the Vektron was a connection issue with the front light, but Tern’s customer service was great and this was quickly remedied. Indeed, this process was so easy that I was still able to get the bike to my in-laws who are still raving about the bike, which fits happily in the footwell of their car or the storage compartment of their boats and lets them whiz around Palm Springs.

REI buyers loved the Vektron as well, with one saying his wife had overcome her fear of riding in traffic thanks to the boost in speed the mid drive motor provided. Reviewers at Bike Radar said the Vektron will “quietly conquer any urban challenge” and thought it would be a great choice for urban cyclist with longer commutes or heavy loads to haul.

The Vektron featured more points of adjustment than any non-Tern bike we tested, meaning that everyone I allowed to borrow the bike, including all my naysaying cycling buddies, could dial in a comfortable position that allowed for great handling even with the electric motor boosting the bike to 20 miles per hour.

Tern makes a range of Vektron models, those who think they will be heavy users or who are perhaps upgrading from a cheaper e-bike might want to go up to the s10, which offers a brand name motor and more robust luggage attachments, but I put the Bafang motor on my review bike through a lot of work without issue.

Pros:Great ride feel, solid construction, motor helps, compact

Cons: Some issues with the light, expensive

Buy the Tern Vektron at REI for $2,199

The best folding bike for flat ground

Why you’ll love it: A simple coaster brake, larger wheels for comfort, and a single gear make the Urbana bike a reliable and simple way of navigating less hilly cities.

Sometimes innovation is great, it makes tasks simpler and products better, but sometimes you just want a simple tool for a simple task. The Urbana is exactly that. With just one gear and a coaster brake, it isn’t as capable uphill or downhill as other bikes on test here. But if you want a bike to get you a few blocks to work or to ride along canal towpaths, it might be just the thing for you.

The 20-inch wheels used by the Urbana offer a more comfortable ride than the smaller wheels on other bikes in this test and are less likely to be knocked off course by uneven road surfaces or potholes. It is also much easier to find 20-inch inner tubes if you get a flat, as this wheel size is used by BMX bikes.

Amazon purchasers seem to love the Urbana, noting that is it easy to assemble and “sturdy and high quality” despite its light weight and affordable price. At just 21.5 pounds, the Urbana is one of the lightest folding bikes in this price range.

Expert testers appreciated the simple design of the bike, which helps prevent damage when folding it and carrying it or checking the folded bike on a plane or train. Experts and Amazon reviewers did note that a little mechanical skill is required to assemble the bike as it seems that many arrive from the factory with bolts that are not properly tightened.

Luckily, the bike is affordable enough to set aside a few dollars to have it checked out at a local bike shop before use.  

Pros: Lightweight, simple design, easy to find inner tubes

Cons: Needs skill to assemble, no gears for hills, some parts seem a bit flimsy

Buy the Urbana at Amazon for $199

The best budget electric folding bike

Why you’ll love it: The e-Joe Epik bike's rear wheel drive motor takes the sting out of hills and makes riding to work without having to shower on arrival an option.

For longer or hillier commutes, the limited gearing and small wheels of a folding bike can make life difficult. Add in a bag of groceries or your laptop, and you’ll be arriving at work feeling like you’ve just finished a workout. That is, of course, unless you get a little help from an electric motor. If you can’t stretch to the Vektron, the Epik is a good budget choice.

The Epik isn’t a motorcycle, so you’ll need to pedal for the motor to kick in, but there is a thumb throttle for when you need a little extra juice to get over hills or through busy intersections. The motor itself is located in the rear hub, making the bike handle more like a regular bike as power is applied through the same wheel. With that said, the motor can’t use the drivetrain like the mid drive motor on the Tern, so the Epik can struggle up hills.

The battery, which is replaceable, provides enough charge for up to 45 miles of riding, although this range would be decreased if you were riding uphill or using the included rack to haul heavy loads. With five levels of pedal assist, I found myself routinely opting for level three and still overtaking commuters on full-sized bikes.

In use, the Epik is highly practical but not as refined as the Vektron. One Amazon reviewer noted that the seatpost could be extended enough to accommodate his 6-foot-4-inch frame and appreciated the comfort offered by the suspension fork which is a relatively rare upgrade on a folding bike.

We tested it with a rider of five-foot-one-inches tall and another of six-foot-three-inches tall and both were able to find a comfortable position, but riders much shorter or taller might struggle. Other owners love the easy and reliable stopping power provided by the disc brakes.

Expert testers appreciated the longer range compared to other folders and the top speed of nearly 30 miles per hour. We also loved the built-in lights, but wish they were a little brighter and that the controller was backlit.

As the bike weighs 50 pounds, it isn’t a great option for those who will need to carry their bike up flights of stairs or much fun to ride without the motor. But with the motor on the bike feels lively and accelerates up to over 20 miles per hour very quickly. We’d love to see the suspension for on this bike scrapped in favor of a more reliable rigid fork, the suspension didn’t offer much in the way of comfort and felt worrying bouncy and flexy when cornering at speed.

This bike can really shift, but it is worth noting that the small wheels, combined with the fork and upright position are not the most stable, meaning that novice riders should exercise caution before launching into full speed urban commutes.

Pros: High top speed and easy climbing thanks to the electric motor, long range compared to other folding e bikes, 20-inch wheels for a more comfortable ride, reliable braking

Cons: Heavier than a non-electric bike, geometry and for make for some unpredictable handling, not much fun to ride without the motor  

Buy the e-JOE EPIK SE at Amazon for $1,499