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.

We rounded up the nine best sales and deals happening today to save you time, with savings on Tumi luggage at Nordstrom Rack, designer apparel at Barneys New York, and activewear at Target. For even more deals and savings across the web, check out Business Insider Coupons.

1. Save up to 40% on Tumi luggage at Nordstrom Rack

Whether you need a quality briefcase to take to work or a new set of luggage for an upcoming trip, Tumi is a brand that you can trust to provide long-lasting quality. Now through May 2, you can save up to 40% on the brand's luxury bags, briefcases, and luggage during Nordstrom Rack's flash sale. For other deals and savings at Nordstrom Rack, visit Business Insider Coupons here. 

Shop the Tumi flash sale at Nordstrom Rack now.

2. Save an extra 15% on sale styles at Barneys New York

Barneys New York is a department store known for its huge selection of luxury designer items — and right now you can get plenty of your favorite brands for less. For a limited time, you can save an extra 15% on already-discounted styles for men and women. With the discount, the potential savings are up to 70% off original retail prices. 

Shop the Barneys New York sale now. 

3. Save up to 40% on Instant Pots on Amazon

An Instant Pot can be used as a standard slow cooker, pressure cooker, rice cooker, steamer, yogurt maker, warmer, sautée pan, cake maker, egg cooker, and a sterilizer. It's a mouthful, we know, but it goes to show just how versatile the appliance is. As an Amazon Deal of the Day, you can get the Instant Pot Duo Mini 3-Quart cooker for $47.99, the 6-Quart cooker for $69.99, and the 8-Quart cooker for $99.99. Whether you have limited counter space and only cook for a few people or you have a big family to feed, you can save on the Instant Pot that's right for you. 

Shop the Instant Pot sale on Amazon now.

4. Save an extra 25% on sale styles at Brooks Brothers

Brooks Brothers is having a massive clearance sale on formal and semi-formal attire — but it's almost over. Now through May 1 (tomorrow), you can save an extra 25% on already reduced sale styles. With the discount, the potentials savings are up to 70% off. The sale includes dress pants, sweaters, and dress shirts, and smaller accessories like ties. For more deals and savings at Brooks Brothers, visit Business Insider Coupons here. 

Shop the Brooks Brothers sale now. 

5. Save big on graduation party supplies on Amazon

Graduation season will be here before you know it. If you're planning a party for the soon-to-be graduate in your family, you'll want to save yourself from scrambling to find party supplies the day before. This Amazon sale has banners, photo booth props, table centerpieces, and more, so you can get ahead of the decor and focus on things like food and drinks later. 

Shop all graduation party supplies on Amazon now. 

6. Save 20% on men's and women's activewear at Target

If you're not willing to pay just as much for activewear as you do for your normal clothes, Target is a great place to shop for low-cost apparel. Right now, you can save 20% on workout clothes for men and women from C9 Champion, Umbro, and Nicklaus. With leggings, tank tops, sports bras, T-shirts, golf shirts, joggers, and more, you'll find plenty of pieces for whatever your sport or workout consists of. For more deals and sales at Target, visit Business Insider Coupons.

Shop the Target activewear sale now. 

7. Save 15% on your entire order at Leesa

We named Leesa's hybrid mattress the best overall mattress you can buy for its superb comfort. Even at full price, Leesa mattresses are a great value, but right now you can save 15% through an offer exclusive to Business Insider readers. Simply use the promo code "BUSINESSINSIDER" at checkout to receive the discount. In addition to the all-foam Leesa and spring and foam Leesa Hybrid Mattresses, you can also save on accessories like pillows, sheets, and blankets.

Shop the Leesa mattress sale now.

8. Buy one pair of glasses, get one free at GlassesUSA.com

GlassesUSA.com has one of the largest inventories of designer and brand-name glasses available — and the current friends and family sale is making them a lot more affordable. Right now you can buy one pair of glasses and get a second pair for free. 

Shop the GlassesUSA.com sale now.

9. Save 30% on shoes at Cole Haan

Cole Haan is holding its big semi-annual sale with 30% off casual sneakers, summer loafers, dress shoes, flats, and more. Discounts are taken off at checkout, so you'll have to add items to your cart to see the final price. The sale ends tomorrow, May 1. To potentially save even more at Cole Haan, visit Business Insider Coupons here.

Shop the Cole Haan semi-annual sale now.

Join the conversation about this story »

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• This is the last chance to earn one of the most rewarding hotel credit card bonuses we've ever seen.
• Until May 1, you can earn up to 120,000 IHG Rewards points when you open a new card. The bonus is broken into two tiers: You get 80,000 points when you spend $2,000 in the first three months, and 40,000 more points when you spend a total of $5,000 in the first six months.
• You can use those points for anything from two nights at a luxury resort to 12 nights (or more) at a budget hotel.
• Make sure to check out our list of the best credit card offers right now.

There are only a few days left to get one of the best hotel credit card promotions we've ever seen.

Until May 1, you can earn up to 120,000 IHG Rewards Club points when you open the hotel mega-chain's IHG Rewards Club Credit Card, issued by Chase. The bonus is broken into two pieces: First, you'll get 80,000 points if you spend $2,000 in the first three months. Then, you'll earn the remaining 40,000 points when you spend an additional $3,000 within the first six months for a total of $5,000.

While IHG is often overlooked compared to bigger brands like Marriott or Hilton, the chain — which owns brands like Holiday Inn and InterContinental— has a footprint of more than 5,400 properties in over 100 countries, putting it on par with the more easily recognizable names.

Aside from that, its rewards program is surprisingly robust. IHG Rewards Club has a solid points-earning rate for paid hotel stays, and offers a wide range of ways to redeem points, whether you're looking for a free night or two at a luxurious InterContinental resort, or you want two score a few weeks' worth of free nights in a budget hotel during a longer vacation.

But the best bargain: having enough points to do that without earning a single point from actually staying in a hotel.

The 120,000 points from the IHG card's sign-up bonus can be redeemed for everything from 12 nights in a Holiday Inn in Sao Paulo, Brazil (and that's without factoring in the fourth night free — see below), to two nights at the luxurious InterContinental hotels in Sydney, Australia or Los Angeles.

Looking toward Europe, where IHG has centrally located hotels in most major cities, the bonus could cover five nights in the central Holiday Inn Alexanderplatz, Berlin, or three nights in the luxurious InterContinental Budapest.

The card comes with plenty of other benefits, including an annual anniversary free night certificate, automatic elite status, a free fourth award night, and more. You can read more about the IHG card's benefits here.

This limited time sign-up bonus is only around until May 1 — after that, it will presumably go back to its previous offer of 80,000 points total after spending $2,000 in the first three months. The card has an $89 annual fee, but the sign-up bonus more than covers that cost — not to mention the card's other benefits.

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

Join the conversation about this story »

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.

• Mosquitos and ticks aren't just annoying bloodsuckers, they're also dangerous because of the diseases they carry. To avoid getting bitten, you need a great bug spray or bug repellent.
• OFF! Deep Woods Bug Spray is the most effective at repelling insects, according to decades of research. For those who dislike DEET, Sawyer Premium Insect Repellent with 20% Picaridin is our favorite bug spray without it.

Like just about everything, there are more than enough bug sprays on the market from which to choose. DEET (diethyltoluamide) remains the most popular bug spray ingredient because it is the most effective at protecting you from ticks, mosquitos, other bugs, and all the diseases they carry. Decades of research have proven DEET to be the best for protecting humans from bugs, though it is toxic to aquatic creatures like fish.

That's where picaridin and permethrin come into play. These ingredients are less toxic, but likely just as effective at repelling bugs as DEET. The scientific community is still testing these alternatives, though, so DEET remains king.

While chemical bug sprays may or may not harm you or the flora and fauna you encounter, they are highly toxic to many aquatic animals, they can certainly trash your clothes, and they smell terrible. Some people are allergic to them, too.

For those of you who are sensitive to DEET and other chemical bug sprays, we have more eco-friendly picks that won't hurt you or the environment as much as other sprays. Just know that DEET and picaridin are still the most effective at repelling dangerous ticks and mosquitos. 

In our guide, we've included a variety of bug sprays and repellents that use different ingredients like DEET, picaridin, and natural essential oils.

A note to parents: The nonprofit Environmental Working Group (EWG) does not recommend using any bug spray on children under six months of age, but suggest treating clothes with permethrin. After a child reaches six months, picaridin is the safest choice.

To learn more about which compounds are best for you and your needs, visit the EWG's page on insect repellents.

Here are our top picks for the best bug sprays in 2019:

• Best bug spray with DEET: OFF! Deep Woods Spray Pump
• Best bug repellent with picaridin: Sawyer Premium Insect Repellent with 20% Picaridin
• Best for clothing: Sawyer Premium Permethrin
• Best natural bug spray: Repel with Lemon Eucalyptus Oil
• Best DIY bug repellent ingredients: Oil of lemon eucalyptus, geranium, cedar wood, lavender, rosemary, grapefruit, citronella, garlic, thyme, eucalyptus, peppermint, lemongrass 

Keep scrolling to read more details about our top picks.

The best bug spray with DEET

OFF! Deep Woods Bug Spray has an optimal 25% concentration of DEET that keeps the greatest number of blood-sucking bugs at bay.

Most Americans have probably used OFF! bug spray at some point in their lives, and while the debate over the relative toxicity of DEET still looms at large, research commissioned and/or conducted by the EPA and CDC continues to suggest that for humans, there isn't much to worry about.

OFF! bug spray will keep bloodsucking insects like mosquitos and ticks well away from you and help you avoid the dangerous illness these bugs pass to humans.

DEET is still the best, most effective bug repellent in the US. The seven-plus decades of research data we have on DEET suggest that its potentially harmful side effects to humans are not that significant. However, that's not so for aquatic animals, so consider keeping away from the water when wearing it whenever possible.

If you're going to be wading around in a stream or swimming in the sea, consider going with a combination of Sawyer Picaridin and permethrin if you're fully-clothed or lemon eucalyptus oil, thyme oil, and geranium oil if you're just in your bathing suit.

To that point, fishermen and hunters should take note that DEET is a terrible choice for their respective pursuits, and is best left at home not just because it kills fish, but because it will actively repel them, along with any other animal one might hope to encounter.

Pros: Still possibly the most effective bug repellent out there (though picaridin is hot on its heels)

Cons: Toxic to aquatic creatures, destroys clothing, smells terrible, and will make you horribly sick if you accidentally ingest it

Buy a 9-oz. bottle of OFF! Deep Woods from Walmart for $8.97

The best bug spray without DEET

Sawyer Premium Insect Repellent with 20% Picaridin is safe to use on adults and young kids, plus, it's almost as effective as DEET at repelling ticks, mosquitos, and other bugs.

Sawyer Premium Insect Repellent with 20% Picaridin is excellent at warding off insects of the gnat, sandfly, and mozzie varieties. Picaridin, the active ingredient found in this spray, has recently been deemed nearly or as effective as DEET in warding off ticks, though we'd like to see more research before we can confidently recommend it as our top pick.

Ticks are a big problem in North America because the continent has the largest contiguous deciduous forest on earth, and it's just the kind of environment in which the little buggers proliferate. Plus, cases of Lyme disease are on the rise worldwide.

But, for those who choose to avoid DEET for one reason another, we like picaridin as an alternative. While it's still toxic to the ecosystem, it is considerably less damaging than DEET. Picaridin isn't half as offensive to the nostrils as products containing DEET, either.

The EWG recommends picaridin for children over six months of age, though the group suggests refraining from applying it to kids' hands because it's still an irritant for eyes. The netting found in DreamBaby's strollers and car seats and SSQQ's bed netting for cribs and beds is an excellent alternative to sprays for newborns and infants. You can also treat their clothing with permethrin.

Lucie's List also recommends Sawyer's picaridin, and it enjoys an exceptional reputation among Amazon's 3,000+ reviewers. You can read more about the latest research on picaridin at the National Pesticide Information Center's website, and on the EPA's fact list for bug spray.

Pros: Less toxic than DEET, potentially as effective, won't ruin plastics or plastic-based clothing

Cons: Not yet enough longterm research suggesting its efficacy over DEET, still toxic to wildlife though not as toxic as DEET

Buy a 4-oz. bottle of Sawyer Premium Insect Repellent with 20% Picaridin on Amazon for $8.25

The best bug spray for clothing

Sawyer Premium Permethrin doesn't just repel bugs, it mercilessly kills anything that lands on it. 

I don't like killing anything more than you do, but "live and let live" just doesn't fly when some pestilent little blood-sucking insect or arachnid threatens to sentence me to a slow, agonizing disease or, you know, death. Sorry little critters, but Lyme Disease and Malaria are no joke.

Permethrin, which is what doctors prescribe to patients with lice and scabies, is an odorless solution that works wonders against most any creepy crawly thing this planet might toss at you. The only shortcoming is that it does not stay on our skin for much longer than 15 minutes, so it's hardly effective at all unless you're wearing clothes.

For hunters and anglers, giving off any scent, let alone one so unnatural and odorously offensive as that of DEET is death to their pursuit. In fact, if a serious enough hunter or angler catches you applying the stuff on the way into the woods or out onto the sea, they are likely to make you shower it off, or worse, leave you in the parking lot.

I have a friend who bans both sunscreen and bug spray on their boat because, according to them, the scent it produces on the line makes fish that much more wary of taking a bait. A quick test proved them right.

Sawyer Premium Permethrin is the stuff the hunters I know swear by, and if anyone can attest to its efficacy, I'm sure it's them. Whenever I go into the woods, I do my best to reach for permethrin because, even though I'm not much of a hunter, DEET can send plenty of animals running. Further, I do happen to be an angler, and I prefer to capture my quarry alive, and free of chemical spoilage.

Sawyer Premium Permethrin is also a good choice for babies and youngsters, so long as they're well-covered, of course. Campers would also best serve themselves by spraying down tents, hammocks, sleeping bags, and any other fabrics they take camping with a permethrin-based product like Sawyer's spray repellant.

Pros: Excellent efficacy on clothes and other fabrics

Cons: Evaporates from skin within 15 minutes, kills most insects that set foot on it

Buy a 24-oz. spray bottle of Sawyer Premium Permethrin on Amazon for $14.99 (other sizes available)

• Facebook is adding a "secret crush" feature to its Facebook Dating tool.
• It will allow users to discover if they and their friends have mutual crushes on each other.
• Facebook Dating is also expanding to more than a dozen new countries — but there's still no word on when it's coming to the US.

Facebook wants to help you hook up with your friends.

A year after the California social networking giant announced Facebook Dating, a tool for finding potential dates, it has now announced "Secret Crush" — a new feature for figuring out which of your friends might be open to romantic overtures.

Facebook Dating is also rolling out to a more than a dozen new countries, the company announced at its annual F8 conference on Tuesday, bringing the total up to 19 — including Vietnam, Brazil, Ecuador, Canada, and Mexico, but notably not the United States.

The announcement comes as Facebook attempts to move past two years of scandals and crises, from Cambridge Analytica's misappropriation of tens of millions of users' data to the social network's role in spreading hate speech that fueled genocide in Myanmar.

READ MORE: New York's Attorney General is investigating Facebook for harvesting 1.5 million users' email data without their consent

Facebook Dating is the company's answer to Tinder or Bumble, and when it was announced in May 2018, Facebook — reeling from privacy scandals — emphasised that users' dating profiles would be kept completely separate from their existing Facebook profiles. 

That wall is now coming down — just slightly.

"Secret Crush" lets users of Facebook Dating select nine of their Facebook friends who they "want to express interest in." If the admired friend also uses Facebook Dating, and has also selected that person back, then they'll be notified that they're each others' crushes; if not, nothing happens, and they're none the wiser.

The rationale seems to be to try and spark romantic connections between existing friends where there's a potential connection, while avoiding any awkwardness or discomfort that could be caused by disclosing unrequited feelings.

In an emailed announcement, a Facebook spokesperson said "we don't have news to share (yet) about the launch in the U.S." — suggesting that it seems on the cards in the future.

Business Insider is reporting live from Facebook's F8 conference in San Jose, California. Click here for all our latest stories.

Do you work at Facebook? Got a tip? Contact this reporter via encrypted messaging app Signal at +1 (650) 636-6268 using a non-work phone, email at rprice@businessinsider.com, Telegram or WeChat at robaeprice, or Twitter DM at @robaeprice. (PR pitches by email only, please.) You can also contact Business Insider securely via SecureDrop.

Read more:

• Car-bomb fears and stolen prototypes: Inside Facebook's efforts to protect its 80,000 workers around the globe
• Facebook quietly killed its Building 8 skunkworks unit as it reshuffles its cutting-edge experiments and hardware
• Leaked Andreessen Horowitz data reveals how much Silicon Valley startup execs really get paid, from CEOs to Sales VPs

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: 5G networks will be 10 times faster than 4G LTE, but we shouldn't get too excited yet

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.

• Spring weather can be unpredictable, but a good pair of weather-resistant sneakers can help you maintain your fashion sense and active lifestyle in any weather.
• We rounded up eight of the best sneakers that'll keep you dry and comfortable during spring showers.
• To potentially save more on sneakers visit Business Insider Coupons for deals at Nike, Adidas, New Balance, Zappos, and Foot Locker. 

They say "April showers bring May flowers," but they left out the part where it also brings muddy puddles, soggy socks, and ruined sneakers. 

Most sneakers today are made out of knit or mesh for lightweight performance, or basic leather for a classic aesthetic — but neither is ideal for the rain. Most people think that clunky boots for the rain are the only viable solution to staying dry, but there are certain sneakers made specifically for rugged and wet outdoor conditions.

So, to help you stay warm, dry, and comfortable this spring, we rounded up eight pairs of sneakers to wear during unpredictable weather. Whether big rubber rain boots simply aren't your style or you like to stay active regardless of how gloomy it is outside, these are the best choices on the market — including all-terrain mids from Adidas, water-repellent runners from Nike, Goretex-lined streetwear sneakers from New Balance, and more.

Check them out, below: 

Nike ACG Air Revaderchi

Nike ACG Air Revaderchi, available in six colors, starting at $111.97

Named after the Italian word arrivederci, which translates to "goodbye" or "see you later," the Nike Air Revaderchi will have you leaving everyone behind for on-foot adventures, regardless of the weather. It comes from Nike's All Conditions Gear sub-brand and features a mid-top upper for protection from the elements, and bulky outsoles for traction.

Adidas Ultra Boost All-Terrain Mid

Adidas Ultra Boost All-Terrain Mid, available in several colorways and styles, starting at $132

The Adidas Ultra Boost has released in plenty of styles and variations since its initial launch in 2015, but the All-Terrain model is the most utilitarian of the bunch. It features a high-collar, sock-like upper made from water-repellent Primeknit material, and a rugged Continental outsole for maintaining good grip in the rain.

Vans SK8-Hi MTE

Vans SK8-Hi MTE, $53.65 (Originally $90) [You save $36.35]

Although you might not want to skate in these, the Vans SK8-Hi MTE is the best way to maintain that classic skate style without getting soaked in the rain. It features a Scotchgard-treated leather upper for water resistance, a fleece-lined interior for warmth, and rugged gum rubber outsoles. 

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.

• Dirty build-up like scum, grime, and mold is an unfortunate but inevitable situation to deal with in your bathroom. 
• Cleaning it can be difficult and labor-intensive, but not if you have the proper products. 
• These 11 bathroom cleaners, ranging from sprays to scrubbers, are top-rated for a reason. They're efficient, affordable, and easy to use. 
• Read more: 11 natural cleaning brands that are as effective as traditional brands, but don’t use harsh, harmful chemicals

Lurking in the tubs and showers of many people's bathrooms is soap scum, grime, and mold. It's a cruel and counterintuitive twist that the room that makes you clean is also almost always dirty. Thanks to the types of hair-care and skin-care products we use, plus plain laziness or distaste for cleaning, our bathrooms are prone to all types of nasty build-up. 

If your porcelain tub or shower hasn't looked as white and shiny as the day you moved in, you need to roll up your sleeves for a deep-cleaning session. 

Using sprays, scrubbers, and cleaning pads, you can make your bathroom squeaky clean again. According to the internet, these 11 products have been confirmed to tackle bathroom scum, grime, and mold with ease. In general, we'd recommend not letting months or even years go by before bending down to clean your tub — but in case that does happen, you won't have to worry with these cleaning supplies on hand. 

Clean dirty bathroom build-up with these 11 top-rated cleaning products.

SEE ALSO: 15 shoe organization ideas that make the most of your space

An eco-friendly hard water stain remover

Bio Clean Eco Friendly Hard Water Stain Remover, $19.85, available at Amazon

Even if you have years of stain and mineral build-up that you're just about ready to give up on, this industrial-strength cleaner will take them out. It's safe on most surfaces, including glass, porcelain, granite, chrome, and brass, and it's biodegradable. 

An extendable scrubber

OXO Good Grips Extendable Tub and Tile Scrubber, $12.99, available at Amazon and Bed Bath & Beyond

Save your back and knees with this extendable scrubber, which extends from 26 inches to 42 inches with one twist. The head's pentagon shape and pivoting capability lets you get into tricky corners, recesses, and grout lines, while its anti-microbial, abrasive finish deep cleans beautifully. 

A scrubber with a built-in foaming cleanser

Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Bath, Cleaning Pads (8-Count), $9.88, available at Amazon

This Bath Magic Eraser is larger and more durable than the original Magic Eraser, and has water-activated micro-scrubbers that lift up dirt, grime, and soap scum. Wet and squeeze it to activate it, then rub away at the problem areas in your shower and tub. 

• Your iPhone's name is the way it's identified on networks, on iCloud, on Find My iPhone, and on the iPhone itself.
• You can change your iPhone's name at any time and as often as you like.
• To change the name of your iPhone, open Settings and then go to "General" and "About."   
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Does your iPhone have a distinctive name? If you're lucky, it might already be something semi-personalized, like "Dave's iPhone."

Or, if you're unlucky, it might be as generic as they come – just something like "iPhone." That might be fine most of the time, but suppose you try to locate your iPhone on Find My iPhone, and your phone is one of several in your family all named "iPhone." Good luck trying to figure out which is which.

There are a few other reasons to tweak the name. Perhaps you want your name to include your name, like "Dave's iPhone," or perhaps you want to enhance your privacy by not including your name. Or maybe you just want the phone to have a cute nickname that's meaningful only to you.

Whatever the reason, you can change the name of any iOS device – iPhone or iPad– with just a few taps. And don't worry about the consequences of changing the name of your phone – there really aren't any.

When you change the device's name, the update happens pretty much instantly. You can immediately see the new name on iCloud, for example, and you'll never run into a problem in which an app or device gets confused looking for the old name. And you can change the name as often as you like.

Here's how to do it.

How to change the name of your iPhone

1. Open the Settings app.

2. Tap "General," and then tap "About."

3. Tap "Name."

4. On the Name page, rename the device to whatever you want and tap "Done."

That's it – the name has now been changed and you'll see the change reflected anywhere your phone's name is used.

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

• How to change your Apple ID on an iPhone

• How to diagnose and remove any virus from your iPhone

• 'Why won't my iPhone charge?': How to diagnose and fix common iPhone charging problems

• How to change your name on Facebook

SEE ALSO: The best iPhone for every type of person and budget

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: The Mars 2020 rover started as a pile of aluminum panels that took over 5,000 hours to assemble. Here's how it was made.

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• Graduation gives friends and family the opportunity to both celebrate and ease the transition of their graduate from student to adult.
• Below are 39 gifts — most practical, and some strictly fun — that he'll appreciate.
• Need more gift ideas? We have gift guides for college graduation gifts for him, for her, and graduation gifts under $100. You can also check out our Class of 2019 gift ideas hub here. 

Graduation season is fast approaching, and with it comes the season of giving.

Recent college graduates are heading into a new and exciting period of life — as well as one that will introduce more responsibilities and needs than they may have the budget for at the moment. As a recent graduate myself, I know that the most thoughtful and practical gifts I received made a much appreciated and tangible difference in my post-grad life, and I still haven't forgotten the people who made that possible. 

The best graduation gifts range from a thoughtful commemoration of his hard work and fond memories to practical luxuries he can't quite afford yet for himself. With that in mind, I've rounded up 39 thoughtful and practical graduation gifts for him.

If you're looking for more graduation gift ideas, we have you covered:

• College graduation gifts for her
• High school graduation gifts for her
• High school graduation gifts for him
• Graduation gifts under $100
• Amazon Prime-eligible graduation gifts under $100
• Travel-themed gifts for recent grads
• Last-minute gifts that are still thoughtful and unique

DON'T MISS: 20 travel gifts for the student who's planning a big trip after graduation

A nice watch

Gift a MVMT Watch, from $95

Traditional watches can be expensive, but startups are changing that. MVMT is probably the best-known watch industry disruptor. If you'd like to read more about the company, we've covered them in depth here. 

You can get the sort of classic, work-appropriate accessory that makes outfits look a bit more competent and established for as little as $105, and he'll be happy he didn't have to shell out for this small but meaningful luxury himself. 

A Brooklinen gift card for really nice new sheets for an adult apartment

Gift a Brooklinen Gift Card

Graduates will be moving from dorms to a new place that they'll likely take a bit more pride and ownership in, and that calls for an upgrade in bedding. They'll probably want to pick it out for themselves, but a gift card is a perfect way to give them a luxury they'll be extremely happy to have but maybe couldn't justify just yet for themselves.

Brooklinen has quickly become a standard-bearer for startups offering premium bedding at affordable prices. Their sheets look great,  feel even better, and can genuinely offer you a better night's sleep. They're also our pick for the best luxury sheets you can buy.

You can get a Queen sheet set (flat sheet, fitted sheet and 2 standard pillowcases) for as little as $129 altogether.

A tracker for his keys and phone

Gift the Tile Mate with Replaceable Battery, 4-Pack, $52.90

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.

• UPenn's Wharton School is the oldest and one of the most famous business schools in the world. 
• With its rich history, network of notable and inspirational alumni, and entrepreneurship-geared resources, it's prime breeding ground for new business ideas. 
• 9 notable online retail startups — including the first to set the direct-to-consumer revolution in motion, Warby Parker— were founded by Wharton grads. 

Founded in 1881, The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania is the world's oldest collegiate business school. Its 98,000 alumni around the world include the C-suite execs and founders of companies you recognize and know well — from tech giants like Google to consumer product leaders like Johnson & Johnson. 

Its recent grads are also starting to make waves in the world, particularly the world of online retail. Given the school's emphasis on and nurturing of entrepreneurship, it's not too surprising to find that many of the most successful direct-to-consumer startups today are the brainchilds of Wharton alumni. Some even began as class projects, proving that classrooms do have practical use. 

If you're pursuing your bachelor's or MBA degree from Wharton, you never know if the person sitting next to you could be your next cofounder of the next big startup. 

These 9 direct-to-consumer retail startups have roots in the number one business school in the country.

Warby Parker

Shop glasses at Warby Parker here

The four cofounders of Warby Parker, the glasses startup that now serves as one of the foremost examples of early direct-to-consumer innovation, met as first-year MBA students. With the question, "Why do glasses cost so much?" they went from finalists in the Wharton Business Plan Competition to leaders of an e-commerce company most recently valued at $1.75 billion. 

You can pick out five frames of its eyeglasses or sunglasses to try on at home, and frames start at just $95. From its inception, part of Warby Parker's mission is to provide vision care and glasses to those in need. It has distributed more than 5 million pairs of glasses through its Buy a Pair, Give a Pair program. 

Harry's

Shop men's shaving and grooming products at Harry's here

One of the Warby Parker founders, Jeff Raider, eventually left the company to create another startup success, Harry's.

Since 2013, Harry's has been making affordable razors featuring very sharp and durable German-engineered blades. It eventually acquired its German blade manufacturer and has expanded into skin care and shower products, and accessories like travel kits. Through its convenient Shave Plan, you'll get ongoing refills of blades and shave gel at a frequency that works for you.

In 2018, Harry's spun off a new women's brand called Flamingo (its general manager also went to Wharton), which is making better shaving and waxing solutions for women. Both Harry's and Flamingo products are available at Target, where both brands are top-rated best sellers. 

Snowe

Shop home goods at Snowe here

Husband-and-wife cofounder duo Andres Modak and Rachel Cohen met as MBA students at Wharton, but it wasn't until they moved to New York together after graduation that their business-school education really kicked into gear. As they shopped for their apartment, they noticed their home design taste was underrepresented at traditional retailers, so they launched their own brand, Snowe.

Snowe is where you can find luxurious and durable home essentials such as sheets, towels, and dinnerware at accessible prices. To make your home makeover transition as easy as possible, it offers pre-curated bundled sets, or you can create your own to assemble your perfect bed, bathroom, and table. Make sure to shrug on its fluffy, top-selling bathrobe as you settle in.

• We got a look inside Tia, the women's health clinic that opened in March in New York City.
• Tia charges a $150 annual fee, in addition to billing your health insurance. The fee covers services like online booking, messaging, and free access to events hosted by Tia.
• It's the first physical space for Tia, which has been running a women's health tracking and communication platform since 2016. 
• As part of an experiment to get all of my healthcare taken care of virtually or through new models that offer more access, I picked Tia for my women's health needs. Here's what it was like to use. 
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

For women's health startup Tia, an app alone wasn't going to cut it. 

Tia was founded in 2016 by former Googler Carolyn Witte and her Cornell classmate and friend Felicity Yost. The company started as an app, which included a chatbot and symptom-tracking technology. Witte and Yost would often personally answer health-related questions that women had. 

Along the way, they were joined by Tia's chief medical officer, Dr. Stephanie McClellan, an OB/GYN who began by giving Yost and Witte advice as to what they could and couldn't tell people through the app. She went on to advise them on what Tia should do to redefine healthcare. That would mean going beyond an app and pulling together a physical space where women could get care.  

"We couldn't just build technology in a vacuum," Witte said. "We needed to put it in the hands of patients and providers in a physical space." 

So in March, the team opened its first clinic in New York City. 

As part of my experiment to get all of my healthcare taken care of virtually or through new models that offer more access, I picked Tia for my women's health needs.

Since moving to New York, I've always had a difficult time with my appointments with gynecologists. Of all my routine healthcare visits it's the appointment that takes the most time to go through, from waiting in the lobby to waiting in the exam room or waiting to get blood work or imaging done. Physically, it's the most uncomfortable, though that can't really be helped.

Because I'd felt well, I'd skipped going in 2018. I was curious to see if my visit to Tia's clinic would be all that different. 

Here's what I found. 

Tia's initial clinic is located at 30 East 23rd Street, near Madison Square Park.

The clinic's located on the seventh floor, accessible when stepping out of the elevator. The building was still under construction when we went.

As soon as you walk off the elevator, you're greeted by a reception desk.

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.

• A new food company called Rind Snacks is discouraging food and nutrient waste by making dried fruit snacks out of rind. 
• Its non GMO-certified variety blends ($34.99/six pack) include dried kiwi, pineapple, apple, orange, peach, and persimmon rinds that contain no added sugar or sulfites. 
• They're a little tougher to chew but that doesn't change the fact that they're delicious. They're also very nutritious, with more fiber and vitamins than the fruit itself.

I like dried fruit. Whenever my brain calls for the sweet release of sugar and I want a healthier alternative (when in small quantities) to candy, I usually go for dried mango and apricot. I'll dabble in apples and raisins from time to time, maybe sour cherries for a tart kick. Never before, however, have I considered eating the dried rinds of a fruit. 

Inspired by the founder's great grandmother's penchant for juicing fruits and veggies whole and never letting anything go to waste, a company called Rind Snacks is opening snackers' eyes to the untapped possibilities of fruit by packaging up the dried rinds of kiwi, pineapple, and more — and I've become a complete convert. 

Rind Snacks takes advantage of the part of the fruit you'd normally throw out, which is incidentally also where a lot of the nutritional benefits lie. According to founder Matt Weiss, "Fruit rinds are a nutritional powerhouse, packed with more fiber and vitamins to fill you up and give you that extra boost."

Citrus peels, for example, contain twice the amount of vitamins A and C as citrus flesh alone, and apple skins are high in pectin, which can help to lower cholesterol levels and maintain blood sugar. 

The company sources its fruit from small family farms in California's Central Valley. After being triple-washed and sliced, they're either sun-dried or dehydrated using a proprietary method that gives the final product the perfect amount of chewiness and flavor. There is no added sugar or sulfites, and organic fruit is used whenever possible. 

They come in two variety blends, Orchard (peaches, apples, persimmons) and Tropical (kiwi, pineapple, orange). The Kiwi, my personal favorite, is also available as its own flavor pack. 

Probably the biggest obstacle to enjoying these snacks is the awareness that you're eating a rind. Once you've removed yourself from your preconceptions about the taste and texture of a fruit rind, you'll realize the snacks are really delicious and fun to eat. They're not overly sweet (the kiwi is quite tart, which is why I love it) and they're a little tougher to chew through, but overall they're just as good as traditional dried fruit. 

They're not too bad for you either, with each 1.5 oz serving containing 120 to 140 calories. Depending on which pack you get, each serving contains 18% to 25% of your daily value of fiber and each serving of the Tropical pack delivers an impressive 35% of your daily vitamin C. The only ingredient is the actual fruit, and while that means there is still a good amount of sugar, it is at least natural sugar. Because they tasted so great, I had to portion out the snacks so I wouldn't eat the entire bag in one sitting and ruin all its health benefits. 

Right now Rind Snacks are available on Amazon, where it was the best-selling new fruit snack release in 2018, for $34.99/six-pack. Insider Picks readers can get 15% off their order with code "BIZINSIDER15," which reminds me, I'm off to re-order some for myself right now. 

Use code "BIZINSIDER15" to receive 15% off your order of Rind Snacks at Amazon

Join the conversation about this story »

• James Holzhauer, current reigning "Jeopardy!" champion, is on an 18-day winning streak with $1.3 million in winnings.
• Holzhauer has broken nearly every "Jeopardy!" record, including the most money a player has ever won in a single game on the show.
• Here's what we know about Holzhauer, from his professional gambling background to his lifelong preparation for his run on "Jeopardy!". 
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Current reigning "Jeopardy!" champion James Holzhauer knows how to play the odds — the 34-year-old professional sports gambler is on an 18-day winning streak, raking in $1.3 million so far. In the process, he's broken nearly every "Jeopardy!" record.

Holzhauer currently sits in second place for all-time regular-season earnings to Ken Jennings, who won 74 games in a row to take home $2.5 million in 2004, reported Business Insider's Aylin Woodward. Holzhauer won $850,000 of his "Jeopardy!" earnings in just over a dozen episodes — at that rate, he'll earn $2.5 million in less than half the time Jennings did, according to The Atlantic's Joe Pinsker.

Slate even dubbed Holzhauer the Serena Williams of "Jeopardy!". On Tuesday, he'll take to the buzzer for the 19th time.

Here's what we know about Holzhauer and his plan of attack.

SEE ALSO: A 'Jeopardy!' contestant has taken home more than $1.3 million in an 18-day winning streak. Here are the tricks he's using to stay on top.

DON'T MISS: 'Jeopardy!' contestant James Holzhauer broke his own single-game record with a perfect game

James Holzhauer, age 34, is a professional sports gambler.

"As a gambler, I know you can do everything right and still have to wait a long time to see positive results if luck is not on your side," Holzhauer told The Ringer.

He told The New York Times that his sports betting used to be focused primarily on baseball, but that he has started to focus more on basketball and football.

Holzhauer hails from Naperville, Illinois, a Chicago suburb.

Holzhauer lives in Las Vegas with his daughter and wife Melissa, a tutor and linguistics expert.

According to Heavy, she was also a game show contestant, winning $28,800 on "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?".

Holzhauer has used family birthdays and anniversaries as "Jeopardy!" wagers several times. According to The Washington Post, his winnings of exactly $110,914 on one night during his winning streak was far from an accident — it correlates to his daughter's November 9, 2014 birthday.

Prior to Holzhauer's winning stint on "Jeopardy!", the most money a player had ever won in a single game was, according to Insider, $77,000.

The $77,000 record was set by Robert Craig in 2010, according to Insider.

Throughout Holzhauer's 18-day winning streak, he broke this record several times. On April 9, he earned the highest one-day total ever: $131,127.

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.

• Being an Amazon Prime member will cost you $119 a year (less if you're a student or you have an EBT or Medicaid card). 
• These 31 Amazon Prime benefits prove it's an online membership worth having, whether you need to have products delivered quickly, enjoy streaming entertainment, or like saving with exclusive discounts. 
• You can experience all the benefits with a free 30-day trial of Prime to see if it's worth it for you. 
• Getting ready for Amazon's fifth annual Prime Day this July? You can find all of our Amazon Prime Day 2019 coverage here.

Ask anyone around you and they'll most likely say they have an Amazon Prime membership. At less than $10 a month, it offers many convenient benefits, making it a great investment for its price. 

A regular Amazon Prime membership is $119 a year. Students not only get 50% off Prime memberships ($6.49/month), but also enjoy exclusive discounts. They can get a free six-month Prime trial here. Meanwhile, Prime is also discounted ($5.99/month) for qualifying customers with an EBT or Medicaid card. 

100 million subscribers worldwide evidently think it's worth it, but if you're still on the fence about buying a membership, we've rounded up its many benefits below.

You might even already have Prime but aren't using it to its full advantage, in which case this list will be a nice refresher for all the benefits you should know about. 

You can experience all the benefits with a free 30-day trial of Prime to see if it's worth it for you. 

Remember, if you want to shop on Amazon Prime Day this July, you need to be a Prime member. 

Here are the 31 Amazon Prime benefits you should know about.

Free two-day shipping on over 100 million items

The best-known perk, Amazon Prime's fast delivery service is convenient and applies to just about anything you'll need from the site. Just look for the Prime logo as you shop.

Free same-day and one-day shipping on over 3 million items in over 8,000 cities

Check your zip code here to see if same-day and one-day options are available near you

Same-day shipping: Order over $35 of eligible items before noon and get them by 9 p.m. same day. Orders placed in the afternoon arrive the next day. 

One-day shipping: Order over $35 of eligible items by the afternoon and get your items by 9 p.m. the next day. 

Amazon Day scheduled deliveries

Learn more about how Amazon Day works here

Amazon Day, available as a delivery option when you check out your shopping cart, allows you to choose any day of the week (except Sunday) to receive all of your orders at one time. Most items that are eligible for Prime's free two-day shipping and are shipped by Amazon can be ordered with Amazon Day.

You're not locked into Amazon Day for all your future orders. Whenever you check out, you can still choose whichever delivery option works best for your situation, whether that's tomorrow or in a few days on your designated Amazon Day.

• Google executives Eric Schmidt, Jonathan Rosenberg, and Alan Eagle have written a new book called "Trillion Dollar Coach: The Leadership Playbook of Silicon Valley's Bill Campbell." 
• In this excerpt, they share some of the best management lessons they learned from legendary business coach Bill Campbell, who mentored many of the most successful modern tech leaders before he passed away in 2016.
• Campbell had a talent for really listening to people, watching body language, sensing mood shifts, and using empathy when delivering short, effective messages to employees.
• In many ways, Campbell was like a sports coach, and he seemed to operate by tha mantra that if you get the team right, you'll get the issue right.
• Eric Schmidt served as Google CEO and chairman from 2001 until 2011, Google executive chairman from 2011 to 2015, and Alphabet executive chairman from 2015 to 2018. Jonathan Rosenberg is a former senior vice president at Google and an advisor to the Alphabet management team, and Alan Eagle is a communications director at Google.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
  
  

Eric Schmidt was involved in a Google meeting, with some people attending in person in Mountain View, and some (including Eric) joining via video conference. They were discussing a few different issues, but they ran out of time and one of the issues didn't get resolved. One person made a comment toward the end of the meeting, which Eric interpreted negatively. He felt sure, based on that one remark, that things weren't going to go his way on the issue in question. The comment sat with him and festered for a full week, and by the time the group got back together Eric was gunning for battle. That is when he realized, though, that he had completely misunderstood the comment and, as a result, the entire situation. The crisis was inadvertent. A lack of communication and an apparent slight had dug a fissure that was completely false.

This is not an unusual story. It happens every day: The offhand comment, the quickly drafted email or text, and people careen off in emotional directions way out of whack with reality. This is when a coach can really come in handy. As Bill described it, his job as our coach was to "see little flaws in the organization that with a little massage we can make better. I listen, observe, and fill the communication and understanding gaps between people." The coach can spot those fissures before they become deep and permanent, and act to fix them by filling in the information gaps and correcting any miscommunication.

Bill wasn't involved in that meeting with Eric, but if he had been, Eric would have gone to him to test out his assumptions about the perceived slight. Bill would have corrected him — everyone was, in fact, aligned — and Eric would have been spared a lot of angst.

So, what would Bill do? First, he would listen and observe. This is the power of coaching in general: The ability to offer a different perspective, one unaffected by being "in the game." (Patrick Pichette: "Bill saw all the chess pieces all the time, because he had the luxury of not being on the board.") Bill sat in Eric's weekly staff meetings, listening intently, watching the body language of attendees, sensing mood shifts.

Marissa Meyer on Bill's power of observation

Marissa Mayer tells a story about Bill's power of observation. She had started a new program at Google for people right out of college, computer science majors who were brought into the company as "associate product managers."

One day Eric told her, "Marissa, you've hired all the smartest 23-year-olds on the planet. But they are driving everyone crazy. Either this becomes a home run or the whole thing blows up. Get them under control."

Read more: Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt and former Google Cloud CEO Diane Greene are both leaving Alphabet's board of directors

Marissa turned to Bill. Could he help? He agreed to attend one of their meetings, an evening session where the first class of APMs gave updates on their projects and what problems they were having. Marissa thought the meeting was a failure — it was so boring! Just a bunch of people giving status updates and griping.

Bill observed something different. After the meeting he took Marissa aside. They're all getting stuck, he said, and you're the wrong person to help them. You've been here since almost the beginning and know how to get things done, so you can't relate to the problems they are having. Get someone who will help them figure out what the next step is. Create a forum where they can help each other. That will fix the problem.

And of course, he was right.

This is one example of the power of observation at work; listening, looking for patterns, assessing strengths and weaknesses.

As Lee C. Bollinger says, "Bill had the highest capacity to understand the people he was working with. He had an intuitive sense of people and what motivated them and how to move them forward." He accomplished a lot of this by looking for tension, the smoke to a problem's fire. In Eric's staff meetings, for example, he'd sit in the room, usually not saying much, sensing when tension levels were rising and from where. Our staff meetings were generally open, transparent affairs where everyone was encouraged to share opinions and ideas, even on issues not directly related to their functions. Still, that goes only so far. People would simmer, and Bill would spot it.

Listening to more than words

This requires keen observation. Not just listening to the words, but noticing the body language and the side conversations. So many of the people we talked to commented on Bill's ability to sense when people were frustrated. This is a natural skill, but one that can be developed. You have to listen and watch.

Jim Rudgers, who was on Bill's coaching staff at Columbia, recalls Bill's remarkable ability to see the entire field of 22 players as a play unfolded. Hold up a finger and look at it, Jim says. That's how most of us watch football; the finger is the player with the ball. But Bill could see, recall, and assess the things that happen on the periphery as well.

He brought that skill to team meetings. He wouldn't just see the speaker, he could see the entire field and gauge reactions and intents even with the people who remained silent, the ones without the ball.

Then he would talk to people. As Bill explained it one time at a Google management seminar, "I have a little more time than Larry does to do some of that stuff. I have a little more time than Sundar does to do some of that stuff, so, you know, I'll say to Sundar, Do you want me to meet with so-and-so?  Sure. And here's what I'm going to tell 'em. You okay with that? Yeah. Great. Perfect, and, you know, that helps a little bit in moving the thing along. Let's get it moving."

Rachel Whetstone recalls a time a decision didn't go her way when she was running communications and policy for Google. She was in one of Eric's staff meetings, where they were discussing an important issue that had been causing PR headaches. She had been pushing for a change for a while, and when she didn't get the decision she wanted she was upset.

She felt they were making a mistake. Bill sought her out after the meeting. Listen, he told her, we decided not to make that change to that particular thing this time. I'm sorry and I know it's tough, but you're going to have to suck it up. Deal with the problem, okay?

Not much of a pep talk, right? His advice was "deal with it"! But sometimes that's all it takes. An acknowledgment that things didn't go your way, some empathy that it sucks, a reminder to buck up and soldier on for the team. These were the sort of messages that Bill delivered all the time. Short, timely, and highly effective.

And while the skill of observing tension is a challenging one to develop, this idea of going around and talking to people is not. It simply takes time, and the ability to communicate well with colleagues. Bill could have noted Rachel's frustration and simply forgotten about it; it wasn't his job to fix her problem. But instead he made the effort to have a conversation with her. To make that short, important connection.

It's so easy to forget to have these little conversations in a busy day; Bill made it a priority. While none of this was underhanded or secretive, it all had a "behind the scenes" quality. Bill rarely talked about these little 1:1 conversations; he would simply take you aside and have a few quiet words. This was all by design, another difference between a sports coach — who's out in front, leading the team, highly visible — and a business coach.

The essence of Bill was the essence of just about any sports coach: team first. All players, from stars to scrubs, must be ready to place the needs of the team above the needs of the individual. Given that commitment, teams can accomplish great things.

That's why, when faced with an issue, his first question wasn't about the issue itself, it was about the team tasked with tackling the issue. Get the team right and you'll get the issue right.

Excerpted from the book TRILLION DOLLAR COACH: The Leadership Playbook of Silicon Valley's Bill Campbell by Eric Schmidt, Jonathan Rosenberg, and Alan Eagle. Copyright © 2019 by Eric Schmidt, Jonathan Rosenberg, and Alan Eagle. To be published on April 16, 2019 by HarperBusiness, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers. Reprinted by permission.

SEE ALSO: The rise and fall of Marissa Mayer, from the once-beloved CEO of Yahoo to a $4.48 billion sale to Verizon

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: This video shows the moment Sarah Sanders lied to a room full of reporters about FBI agents telling her they were happy Trump fired Comey

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.

• Monitoring your heart rate is a great way to determine the intensity of your training and the completeness of your recovery.
• It'll work whether you're exercising in the gym, on your bike, or on a jog.
• We tested Bluetooth heart rate monitors for their comfort, accuracy, and reliability.
• The Garmin HRM-Dual is the best Bluetooth heart rate monitor you can buy. It's comfortable to wear, stays firmly in place, and never drops the connection.

Heart rate measurement is a reliable way to monitor how hard you're exercising. But what is not so great is the feeling of a cold plastic strap across your chest on a winter's morning or the chafe that comes when an inflexible strap is combined with energetic running.

Thankfully, modern heart rate straps have come a long way from the heavy, clumsy, and ice-cold chest straps of a decade ago. Using wireless Bluetooth technology, today's straps connect to bike computers, gym machines, phones, and smart-watches to allow you to track your training even if you exercise in a variety of different ways. The devices we tested are much smaller than previous-generation monitors, using either a soft chest band or a wristband that feel less intrusive.

We tried a lot of heart rate monitors to find one that reliably connected, didn't feel uncomfortable, and could stand up to sweaty workouts. We found that many of the devices we tried would stop working under heavy perspiration, or would slip off our chests unless we wore them uncomfortably tight. Our top picks were comfortable, accurate, and reliable.  

Here are our top picks for the best Bluetooth heart rate monitors in 2019:

• Best Bluetooth heart rate monitor overall: Garmin HRM Dual
• Best budget Bluetooth heart rate monitor: Lezyne Heart Rate Flow Sensor
• Best wrist-based Bluetooth heart rate monitor: Wahoo Tickr Fit
• Best Bluetooth heart rate monitor for cycling: Sigma R1
• Best Bluetooth heart rate monitor with internal memory: Polar OH1

Keep scrolling to read more details about our top picks.

The best Bluetooth heart rate monitor overall

The Garmin HRM-Dual uses a braided chest strap that doesn't pull at your clothes or skin, yet remains in place for even the most dynamic of workouts. During weeks of testing, it never dropped the connection and we often forgot we were wearing it.

Fifteen years ago I started wearing heart rate chest straps for bike races. I can vividly remember the wince-inducing cold that came from applying a moistened chest strap to my protruding rib cage, in a cold changing room before I headed out to train.

Many of the chest straps I tested for this article reminded me of those plastic straps of old Although most straps are now more flexible, they are often with a stiff, uncomfortable material. Not so with the HRM-Dual, which uses a woven fabric strap to deliver accurate heart rate readings without feeling like a block of ice against your skin.

Another sense memory that I wish I could forget is the revolting stench of my sweat-encrusted heart rate monitor. The HRM-Dual is washable, something that anyone who lives with a teenage athlete will be grateful for. The strap has a simple adjustable buckle on the back that accommodates XS-XXL shirt sizes. The battery in the strap is rated for 3.5 years of use — I can't verify that yet but saw no issues in several weeks of testing.  

The HRM-Dual is able to connect to multiple devices at a time, which is useful if you are running a bike computer and using online training software, like Zwift. As expert tester DC Rainmaker notes, the ANT+ protocol (a wireless technology proprietary to Garmin), which the strap uses alongside Bluetooth, can connect to many devices and is an industry standard for bike and triathlon devices. His testing also confirmed that the HRM-Dual gives highly accurate readings, something I confirmed when running it alongside several other measuring devices.

About the only thing the Garmin strap doesn't do is save your data, but given that most of us exercise with at least a phone,  this was never an issue for me since that data is saved on the phone. If you prefer to exercise without carrying any devices, straps like the Polar H10 might be a better bet. 

Although this is our favorite overall, the choice between the Garmin and the Wahoo Tickr Fit (our favorite wrist-based monitor) is more about where you want to measure your heart rate. Both are great and do an excellent job, but the fact that the Garmin monitor has a longer battery life and can be washed is what gave it the edge.

What I really liked about the HRM-Dual was forgetting about it. It connected to my ANT+ and Bluetooth devices every time, it didn't pull on my skin when I moved my upper body, and it wasn't prone to slipping down my body either. It can be slightly more expensive than some of the competition, but if you value a no-nonsense, do-it-all heart rate monitor, it's a great choice.

Pros: Washable, comfortable, accurate

Cons: No data saved on the device

Buy the Garmin HRM Dual on Amazon for $68.69

The best budget Bluetooth heart rate monitor

Lezyne's Heart Rate Flow sensor does what it says on the box without any unnecessary bells or whistles, for an excellent price.

By the time you pay entry fees, buy sports nutrition products, and keep your bike, running shoes, and swimming gear in good shape, endurance sport isn't cheap. If your gym membership is making your credit card wince, it makes sense to save money where you can and this heart rate strap is a great area to do just that.

Lezyne's HR Flow sensor measures your heart rate and connects via Bluetooth to your phone, watch, or bike computer. The included coin-sized (CR2032) battery should last you years. It won't save your data, but the phone that it's paired to will. It might need you to moisten the strap a little to get a good reading, but that takes seconds. Lezyne advises washing the strap under running water and hanging it to dry rather than using a washing machine, but that really shouldn't take more than a minute every week or so.

Customers liked the use of a standard battery (it can be found at most stores) and the long battery life of the unit. The sizing seemed to work for everyone we tried it on, and in several weeks of use, we haven't seen a dropped connection. We did have to turn off Bluetooth on a ph0ne once, as it seemed to prevent the monitor from connecting to a bike computer, but that was a simple fix.

Considering the Lezyne strap is less than $50, it is a great budget option.

Pros: Great value, reliable data, affordable

Cons: Not ANT+ compatible

Buy the Lezyne HR Flow Sensor on Amazon for $44.99

The best wrist-based Bluetooth heart rate monitor

Wahoo's Tickr Fit is a great choice if you don't enjoy the feeling of a tight heart rate strap on your chest. It reliably and accurately recorded heart rate using a forearm strap and we have no complaints about comfort or performance.

The first generation of heart rate chest straps relied on a huge plastic connector that covered the entire rib cage and was uncomfortable to wear and virtually incompatible with a sports bra.

Modern chest straps are much improved, but some people will still find them an annoyance — not least when you get all dressed up to go training and realize you have forgotten the damn thing, forcing you to pick between spending 10 minutes undressing or forgoing valuable training data. Wahoo offers a great alternative with its Tickr Fit, which offers a reliable heart rate tracking on your forearm.

The Tickr Fit uses a breathable strap to hold an optical heart rate monitor on your forearm, similar to the optical sensors used in smart-watches. I have relatively small arms and found the smaller of the two supplied straps worked well in holding the monitor two-thirds of the way from my wrist to my elbow. Users with even smaller arms may want to try before they buy, or run the unit on their bicep as the strap isn't made of a stretchable material.

I found the connection to be incredibly reliable when used with a Wahoo bike computer and my phone. The Tickr uses Bluetooth and ANT+ so it should connect to just about anything you'd want to use to measure heart rate and, as with all Wahoo devices I've tested, it has proven extremely reliable and easy to set up.

The Tickr Fit charges with a proprietary magnetic charging station, which isn't convenient for travel but handy for quickly charging the device. The listed battery life is about 30 hours and I was able to get about that much during testing. For most people, this will be more than enough for even the longest ultramarathon.

Amazon buyers who found that their sweat was particularly damaging to chest straps loved the Tickr, while others praised its durability and accuracy compared to other wrist-mounted optical monitors. The only objection I have is that it gave me a spectacular tan line after weeks of cycling in the sun, but that is probably more of a reflection on my fair skin than the product itself.

I found it flawless in its Bluetooth and ANT+ connections and noticed that it rarely deviated more than three beats from a chest strap when used at the same time. The only reason this is not the top pick is that it is a little more expensive than chest straps that do the same thing, but if I were buying a strap this is likely the one I would pick.

Pros: More comfortable than chest straps, reliable and easy to connect it with other devices

Cons: Has to be recharged, a bit costly, leaves a weird tan line

Buy the Wahoo Tickr Fit at Amazon for $80

• If you're looking for the perfect gift for your aunt, start with the 37 curated options below. You'll find everything from cooking classes with renown chefs to fresh coffee from across the globe.
• You can also find sentimental gift ideas here, and experiential gifts that won't break the bank here.
• Shopping for Mother's Day? Insider Picks also has ideas for Amazon Prime-eligible Mother's Day gifts under $25 and Mother's Day gifts under $50. Check out our Mother's Day gift hub for even more gift ideas.

Whether she's your best friend, your parent's best friend, your mom figure, or the soon-to-be confidante of your own child, aunts are one of the strongest members of the "village" it takes to raise a kid. 

And, whenever the situation arises, she probably deserves a pretty great gift — be it year-round herbs she doesn't have to water, a cooking class from a renown chef, or access to a monthly book club. 

Below, you'll find 37 gifts she'll love to receive, and which you can feel good about giving.

If you're looking for Mother's Day gift ideas, we have you covered:

• Mother's Day gifts for every budget
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A subtly personalized necklace

Zodiac Necklace, $79, available at Mejuri

Mejuri makes some of the most affordable, dainty gold jewelry on the internet — and the company's zodiac collection is particularly perfect for subtle, personalized gifting. The collection includes a ring or necklace in either gold or silver, with all 12 zodiac signs represented in AAA-quality white sapphires. 

Monthly deliveries of fresh coffee from all over the world

Subscription, from three months at $60, available at Atlas Coffee Club

Atlas Coffee Club lets its members try freshly roasted, single origin coffee from all corners of the globe — from Peru to Papua New Guinea — for about $9 per bag. We're big fans of the service, and it's a great way to show your aunt that she can enjoy a sophisticated cup of coffee any time she wants for less than what she'd pay at the grocery store.

A self-watering indoor garden

Click and Grow, $99.95, available at Amazon

The Click and Grow is a smart indoor garden that grows fresh herbs for your aunt year-round, with minimal intervention from her. This way, she'll always have access to fresh ingredients — be they basil, thyme, sage, parsley, cilantro, cherry tomatoes, rosemary, peppers, flowers, or even strawberries.

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.

• Before hitting the trails, you and your dog should be armed with the best dog-friendly hiking gear to ensure a fun and safe hike.
• Whether you're heading out for a couple hours or a couple days, these 25 products can help keep your dog cool, energized, hydrated, and more — all for under $50 each.
• Every item on this list is Amazon Prime-eligible, too.

Is there anything better than exploring the great outdoors with your best friend? With the weather getting warmer, it'll be fairly hard to resist the itch to get your boots, and their paws, on the ground. 

Before you head out for a hike, whether it be a couple hours or a couple days, you'll need to be stocked with some essential hiking gear for dogs to ensure a fun and safe adventure. From cooling vests and hands-free leashes to collapsible drinking cups and basic waste bags, we've rounded up 25 products designed for your dog in the great outdoors. Plus, they're all Amazon Prime-eligible, so you won't need to wait to hit the trails.

Here are 25 dog-friendly hiking essentials that you and your pup need for a safe and fun adventure:

A collapsible drinking cup

Sea To Summit X-Cup (5 colors), available on Amazon for $10.95

This collapsible drinking cup holds up to 8 ounces of water when expanded and fits into your back pocket when collapsed. Made from food-grade flexible silicone, it's easy to wash on the go when you're hiking with your pooch.

A vest to keep them cool on hot days

SGODA Cooling Vest (2 colors, 6 sizes), available on Amazon for $35.95

On the hottest of days, dogs need help regulating their body temperature. This three-layered cooling vest works by soaking it in cold water, wringing it out, and then securing it to your dog. When water evaporates, temperatures drop. As a result, your dog stays cool and safe during any recreational activity. 

A protective wax for their paws

Musher's Secret Pet Paw Protection Wax, available on Amazon for $20.75

Like our hands and feet, dogs' paws need a little extra protection when they're roughing it on the trails. Help protect their paws from coarse sand, hot pavement, ice, salt, and other elements with this vitamin E formula. Apply to their pads and in between their toes for an instant, semi-permeable shield to prevent and heal abrasions. 

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.

• Making your own kombucha is actually feasible with The Kombucha Shop's Deluxe Kombucha Brewing Kit (currently $74.99 on Amazon).
• It includes a step-by-step guide that makes DIY brewing effortless and fun, plus the kit has everything you need — including swing-top bottles for storing your concoctions.
• Though there is a reasonable upfront cost, you can continue to brew your own kombucha indefinitely, so the kit essentially pays for itself within a few batches versus buying store-bought drinks.

Kombucha has become quite popular in recent years. This fermented tea is brewed with a mixed culture of yeast and bacteria, and claims to have a long list of benefits, like improving metabolism, digestion, immune system function, liver function, and more. 

The verdict is still out on some of those benefits, but one thing is certain — at $3 to $5 for a 16-ounce bottle, kombucha isn't cheap. Fortunately, there are a number of kits available that make it easy for anyone to make kombucha at home, like The Kombucha Shop's Deluxe Kombucha Brewing Kit (currently $74.99), which is one of the highest-rated kits on Amazon with a 4.7-star average rating from more than 200 reviews.

The Madison, Wisconsin-based company got its start in 2013 after founder Kate Field decided to take her side hobby of brewing kombucha to the next level. Her day job was a culinary and nutrition educator for low-income families in Washington, DC, so she parlayed both experiences into creating kits anyone and everyone could access. Today, the company is one of the largest home brewing kombucha enterprises and it sources all of its supplies from US-based businesses.

Below are my experiences with The Kombucha Shop's Deluxe Brewing Kit.

Read more: Everything you need to know about kombucha — the trendy 'health' drink that could be good for your gut

Specs

The Deluxe Kombucha Brewing Kit comes with everything you need for DIY kombucha. This kit includes:

• Easy to follow instructions
• One-gallon brew jar with lid
• Organic kombucha culture and starter tea (called a SCOBY, which is an acronym for "syntrophic mixed culture of bacteria and yeast")
• Organic sugar
• Organic tea blend by Rishi Tea
• Reusable cotton tea bag
• Temperature strip
• Cotton cover and rubber band
• pH test strips
• Pipet straw
• Six 16-ounce swing top bottles
• Stainless-steel funnel and strainer set
• Bottle brush

The Kombucha Shop also offers the Original Kit (currently $44.99 on Amazon), which has everything listed above except for the last three items — the bottles, funnel and strainer set, and cleaning brush.

Set-up process

Going into this, I had zero brewing experience, but I do have a beer brewing kit that's in its third year of gathering dust.

I was intimidated so I asked my wife for help; she also happened to have grown up in a kombucha brewing household. She silently supervised me throughout the process, ready to chime in if I was screwing up.

Thankfully, the instructions were so clear that I didn't end up needing her help. Setting up the kombucha takes less than 30 minutes and is simple due to the easy-to-follow instructions.

First, you make your tea. A tea blend is provided for your first batch, but after that, you can use whatever tea you'd like. Then, add a cup of sugar and transfer the contents to the brew jar along with two quarts of cold water. The directions say to use filtered water, but I used tap water and didn't have an issue.

Next, stick the temperature gauge to the outside of the jar for easy monitoring; you're supposed to keep it between 68  and 86 degrees Fahrenheit. After you add the SCOBY to the mix and stir, you test the pH to ensure it's at 4.5 or below. Finally, cover the jar with the included cotton cloth and a rubber band to secure at the mouth. Now you wait.

After seven to nine days, you're supposed to test the kombucha to see if the flavor is where you want it. If it isn't, check again in a few days. Once the flavor is to your liking, you carefully remove and set aside the SCOBY for your next batch before bottling the current one.

At this point, you can add your favorite fruits, vegetables, juices, or herbs to the bottles and let them sit for two to four days in a warm, dark place. After this second fermentation, chill the bottles in the refrigerator and enjoy.

Read more: 3 reasons you should try kombucha — and 6 reasons why you shouldn't

What makes this kit stand out

What I like about The Kombucha Shop's kit is that I can make all the kombucha I want without having to buy additional supplies. Sure, I need to supply my own tea, sugar, and water, but those are items I'd have around the house anyway.

Also, it costs much less making my own kombucha than constantly shelling out $3 or more for a single bottle. I did a little math and found that when you brew your own instead of buying it, the kit pays for itself after the fifth batch — which comes by quick. That's a conservative estimate assuming you pay $0.70 per pound of sugar, $20 per pound of loose-leaf tea, and that a 16-ounce bottle of kombucha costs $3 at your local market. 

I also like that as soon as one batch is bottled, I can immediately turn around and start brewing a new one. After my initial brew was done, I started a mint tea concoction going and currently, I'm trying out a raspberry zinger.

You essentially "sprout" a new SCOBY with each batch, so you have the option of making two batches together (provided you have another brewing jar), putting multiple SCOBYs into the same brew, or giving your friends a SCOBY so they can start brewing kombucha too. 

Perhaps most importantly, I appreciated that I could specifically tailor the tea to match my tastes and each of my creations so far has been excellent. I like to drink a 12-ounce glass each evening while I prepare dinner, it reduces my cravings for alcoholic beverages and I've also found that it makes me less likely to overeat, which has a constant struggle for me.

These were my personal experiences after drinking my brew, so I can't say everyone will have similar experiences. 

Cons to consider

The directions warn that you should always keep the kombucha brew between 68 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit. When brewing in the winter and early spring in Michigan, it's hard to find a spot in our home that maintains that temperature. Fortunately, sub-68 degree temps just mean you will need to brew the tea longer. Or, if you don't mind spending an extra $30, The Kombucha Shop offers a heating wrap.

The Cleveland Clinic warns that pregnant women, children, people with compromised immune systems, alcoholics, and those with certain chronic diseases, such as HIV, kidney disease, or liver disease, should avoid kombucha. This is likely due to the alcohol content (up to 3%) and potential for contamination. Do not imbibe kombucha if the smell or color is off, like if it smells like nail polish. I personally haven't experienced this with my home brews.

As with all wellness-related foods and beverages, check with your doctor first before incorporating something new into your routine. 

The bottom line

Overall, the Deluxe Kombucha Brewing Kit is a game-changer. Not only does it provide a more frugal alternative to the pricey options at the local market, but the process is so simple that it makes me want to try brewing and fermenting other beverages.

I also like how easy it is to customize the drink to my tastes, I can make concoctions you'd never find at the store. I strongly recommend The Kombucha Shop's kit to everyone who enjoys drinking kombucha.

Pros: Easy to use, can make batch after batch of kombucha for as long as you want, pays for itself in the long-term

Cons: Kombucha isn't for some people, especially pregnant women, children, people with compromised immune systems so definitely check with your doctor first 

Buy The Kombucha Shop's Deluxe Kombucha Brewing Kit on Amazon for $74.99

Join the conversation about this story »

• A year ago I left New York to travel around the world as Business Insider's international correspondent. Over that time I visited over 20 countries.
• I spent the past three months of the trip in Africa, visiting Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria, Kenya, and Tanzania.
• While each country had a distinct culture and customs, I experienced many culture clashes while visiting Africa.
• Two of the biggest were getting accustomed to not using my left hand to eat in Nigeria and underestimating the extent to which traffic affects the pace of life in Lagos and Cairo.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Culture clashes are impossible to avoid, particularly when you are an American.

For better or worse (but most likely worse), we tend to think of our way of doing things as the "right" way. When you start traveling, you realize that the American, or Western, way of doing things is just as strange to people from other cultures as theirs may seem to us.

While you are likely to have some cultural mix-ups as an American visiting European countries, it's nothing compared to Africa, where things seem to work completely differently from the US.

Of course, Africa is not a monolith. The continent is larger than North America and comprises over 3,000 ethnic groups, speaking over 1,500 languages, residing in 54 countries. Regions and countries are sometimes as different from one another as America is from them.

For example, many North African countries constantly use the Arabic word "inshallah," whereas the word is unheard of in many sub-Saharan countries. A common ingredient in food in southern Nigeria is locust beans, which aren't used in the north of the country or in most other countries' cuisines.

I spent the past three months of my travels in Africa, specifically in Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria, Kenya, and Tanzania. During that time, I experienced countless culture clashes, culture shocks, miscommunications, and misunderstandings.

Here are just a few.

1. Dress in Morocco, Egypt, Tanzania, and many other countries is more conservative than in the US.

In just about every country with a large Muslim population, the rule of thumb is to dress much more conservatively than in the United States. While many Westerners tend not to associate Africa with Islam, it is the most common religion on the continent.

Countries with significant Muslim populations and customs informed by Islam include every country I visited: Egypt, Morocco, Tanzania, Nigeria, and Kenya. Generally, people are expected to keep their shoulders and knees covered, and swimsuits are worn only on the beach.

The level of conservatism can vary greatly depending on what part of the country you are in. It would not be uncommon to find people dressed very liberally in resort towns like El Gouna or Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt, or to find young people dressed in clothes you'd also find in New York City or London in upscale urban neighborhoods like Westlands in Nairobi, Kenya. But you have to pay attention to where you are.

2. In Nigeria, as well in as many North African countries, it is considered bad form to eat or greet people with your left hand.

While it varies greatly from country to country, it is fair to say that in most African and Middle Eastern countries, you should avoid leading with your left hand.

In Nigeria, it is frowned upon to greet, eat with, or take items with your left hand. It is similar in Morocco, Egypt, and other Middle Eastern countries.

As a left-handed person, I found this difficult to get used to. While I'm used to greeting and shaking hands with my right, it was very strange to try eating with my right hand. That said, locals in any country tend to give plenty of leeway to foreigners for mucking up cultural norms.

3. The electricity is always going out in Nigeria.

Electricity is notoriously hard to come by in Nigeria. Much of the country lacks a power grid, and even in Lagos, the business hub, power can go off for hours at a time without notice.

Most businesses and major complexes like hotels, company campuses, or schools have their own diesel generators that kick on when the power goes out, but sometimes generators break.

While I was visiting Business Insider's Lagos office in January, there was a power outage followed by the office building's generator breaking. With a couple of hours left in the workday, some employees started heading home.

Hours of productivity and economic output are lost every day to Nigeria's power grid, marking a stark departure from the consistent presence of electricity (WiFi) in my New York life.

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.

• Your dog's skin is very delicate and susceptible to dryness and damage from any number of causes including insect pests, bacteria, yeast, and fungus.
• A medicated shampoo may be the ideal solution for your dog's skin problems, but you need to identify the underlying condition first so you can choose the right shampoo.
• Made with powerful active ingredients like salicylic acid and micronized sulfur with the addition of natural moisturizers, this Veterinary Formula Clinical Care Antiparasitic and Antiseborrheic Medicated Shampoo quickly relieves itching and irritation associated with a wide variety of skin problems.

Your dog's skin is extremely delicate, though you may not think about it because it's covered in a layer of fur. In reality, a dog's skin is much thinner than a human's, which makes it more sensitive to things like pest insects, bacteria, and fungus. Your dog can also develop allergies to certain substances that may manifest in the form of skin-related symptoms.

Whether your dog has developed an allergy, a bacterial skin infection, or a case of seborrhea, medicated dog shampoo may be the solution to the problem. There are a wide variety on the market designed to treat everything from dry, itchy skin caused by allergies or seborrheic skin conditions, to fungal, bacterial, and yeast infections. The key is determining the underlying cause for your dog's skin problems and choosing the right medicated shampoo for the job.

There are countless dog shampoos on the market, but we've done the research to determine the best medicated dog shampoo. Remember, you'll need to consult your veterinarian to identify the cause of your dog's skin problems, but then you can choose a medicated dog shampoo formulated for that particular problem. Here's a quick look at our top-five picks for the best medicated shampoo for dogs.

Here are our top picks for the best medicated shampoo for dogs in 2019:

• Best overall: Veterinary Formula Clinical Care Antiparasitic and Antiseborrheic Medicated Shampoo
• Best for skin allergies: Vet's Best Allergy Itch Relief Dog Shampoo
• Best bacterial infection: Douxo Chlorhexidine Shampoo
• Best yeast infection: Veterinary Formula Clinical Care Antiseptic and Antifungal Shampoo
• Best mange: Davis Benzoyl Peroxide Medicated Shampoo

The best shampoo overall

Made with powerful active ingredients like salicylic acid and micronized sulfur with the addition of natural moisturizers, the Veterinary Formula Clinical Care Antiparasitic and Antiseborrheic Medicated Shampoo for Dogs quickly relieves itching and irritation associated with a wide variety of skin problems.

Different skin problems require different treatments, so you should always consult your veterinarian before using a medicated shampoo. If you're just looking for a shampoo to help your dog's skin heal following an infection or allergy, a multi-symptom medicated shampoo may be a good choice.

Many medicated shampoos offer antiseptic, antibacterial, and antifungal benefits — all in one product — with the addition of moisturizers, and cooling agents to help soothe and heal the skin. Our top pick for the best medicated dog shampoo overall is Veterinary Formula Clinical Care Antiparasitic and Antiseborrheic Medicated Shampoo for Dogs.

This Veterinary Formula Medicated Shampoo is one of the most popular on the market and for good reason. It features a fast-acting formula that relieves inflammation and itching associated with numerous skin problems including dermatitis, mange, seborrhea, pyoderma, and parasite infections. This formula utilizes active ingredients like salicylic acid and micronized sulfur with natural moisturizers like colloidal oatmeal and allantoin to hydrate the skin and promote healing. Plus, it is free from dyes, soaps, and parabens and is pH-balanced for your dog's sensitive skin.

Breeding Business also named this Veterinary Formula Clinical Care shampoo its top pick for the best medicated dog shampoo, stating that it is among the best over-the-counter medicated shampoos for moderate-to-severe skin conditions. Ultimate Home Life reviewed this product favorably, noting that the combination of active and natural ingredients delivers fast relief from a variety of conditions with regular use.

Not only does this Veterinary Formula Clinical Care Antiparasitic and Antiseborrheic Medicated Shampoo for Dogs have over 2,200 reviews on Amazon, but it carries an Amazon's Choice award and a 4.4-star rating. Customers love how quickly it works to resolve even stubborn skin conditions, though there are some comments that it may not resolve fungal or yeast infections; for this, you may want to consider the Veterinary Formula Clinical Care Antiseptic and Antifungal Shampoo for Dogs and Cats (more details below in the section about "the best medicated dog shampoo for yeast infection").

Pros: Works for a variety of skin conditions, relieves itching and inflammation, contains natural moisturizers, free from dyes and parabens, pH-balanced for sensitive skin

Cons: May not resolve fungal or yeast infections, scent may be too strong for some

Buy Veterinary Formula Clinical Care Antiparasitic and Antiseborrheic Medicated Shampoo for Dogs (16 ounces) on Amazon or Chewy for $8.49

The best for skin allergies

Formulated with gentle, natural ingredients, the hypoallergenic Vet's Best Allergy Itch Relief Dog Shampoo offers fast relief from dryness, itching, and irritation.

Because most dogs' skin is protected by a layer of fur, you may not think it would be susceptible to allergies, but it is. Dogs can develop environmental allergies to everything from grass and pollen to mold, mites, and medication. In many cases, food allergies also manifest with skin-related symptoms such as dry, itchy skin as well as patches of hair loss and hot spots. Our top pick for the best medicated dog shampoo for skin allergies is Vet's Best Allergy Itch Relief Dog Shampoo.

This Vet's Best shampoo features a blend of natural ingredients including oatmeal, aloe, and tea tree oil to deliver fast-acting relief for intense itching. This shampoo relieves dry, itchy skin with the help of natural moisturizers like oatmeal and aloe, with essential oils to soothe and calm the skin. It contains no parabens, chemical dyes, or artificial colors that might irritate your dog's skin and is safe enough for daily use. Plus, it won't interfere with your dog's topical flea and tick treatments. Simply work it into a lather and let it soak into the skin for three to five minutes before thoroughly rinsing — repeat as necessary.

Therapy Pet included Vet's Best Allergy Itch Relief Shampoo in their list of top picks for the best dog shampoo for allergies, noting the fact that it is a hypoallergenic formula safe enough for daily use. Pawster also included this shampoo in their top picks, naming it the best choice for anti-itching due to the inclusion of tea tree oil to relieve irritation and oatmeal to moisturize.

With more than 430 reviews on Amazon, this Vet's Best Allergy Itch Relief Shampoo carries both a 4-star rating and an Amazon's Choice Award. Customers love the natural ingredients and the fact that it is safe to use daily, though there are some comments that it doesn't work for all dogs. In these cases, it may be necessary to see a vet to determine whether another underlying skin problem may be at play.

Pros: Natural ingredients, soothes and relieves itching, safe for daily use, will not affect topical flea and tick treatments, cleans and deodorizes

Cons: May not work for some dogs, scent may be too strong for some

Buy Vet's Best Allergy Itch Relief Shampoo on Amazon or Chewy for $8.39

The best for bacterial infection

Made with three active ingredients, the Douxo Chlorhexidine Shampoo treats a wide range of superficial and acute bacterial skin infections. It also contains a long-lasting lipoprotein to protect against further irritation and loss of moisture.

When your dog is already suffering from skin problems related to allergies or parasites, he is more susceptible to secondary bacterial skin infections. These can occur when your dog scratches excessively, breaking the skin and allowing bacteria to infect the wound. Your veterinarian will need to perform diagnostic tests to identify the specific strain of bacteria and may also recommend a course of antibiotics. To support this therapy, you may also want to use an antibacterial medicated shampoo help relieve symptoms and speed healing.

Our top pick for the best medicated dog shampoo for bacterial infection is Douxo Chlorhexidine Shampoo. This shampoo features three powerful active ingredients — chlorhexidine gluconate (3%), climbazole (0.5%), and phytosphingosine salicyloyl (0.05%) — to treat both superficial and acute bacterial skin infections. This shampoo contains ceramides to provide antiseborrheic benefits as well as lipoprotein to deposit a long-lasting film protecting against further irritation and loss of moisture.

Reviews Worthy named Douxo Chlorhexidine Shampoo its top pick for the best medicated dog shampoo, giving it a near-perfect score. They commented that it works quickly on a variety of skin problems and even reverses hair loss. My Pet Needs That also gave this product the top slot, noting that it doesn't just kill microorganisms on the skin but also nourishes and rehydrates the skin to promote healing.

This Douxo Chlorhexidine Shampoo has more than 1,350 reviews on Amazon and carries a solid 4.7-star rating. Customers said it provides fast relief from even severe bacterial infections. There are very few negative comments, primarily related to the price and strong smell.  

Pros: Three powerful active ingredients, treats both superficial and acute infections, lipoprotein deposits a protective film, fast-acting relief from symptoms

Cons: Fairly expensive compared to similar products, scent may be too strong for some

Buy Douxo Chlorhexidine Shampoo (6.8-ounces) on Amazon for $14.97

Buy Douxo Chlorhexidine Shampoo (16.9-ounces) on Chewy for $25.89