• Dependable, versatile, and attractive, stainless steel cookware is very popular in the kitchen — but not all pieces are constructed equally. 
• Stainless steel cookware that's fully clad heats ingredients more uniformly and retains heat more effectively while resisting warping.
• Constructed of five alternating layers of stainless steel and aluminum, the All-Clad D5 Stainless Steel 10-Piece Set is our top pick. It lives up to its famous name with even heating, stability, durability, and a lovely silvery sheen. 

Stainless steel is great for cookware construction: It's nonreactive, durable, and easy to clean. A downside is that stainless steel conducts heat poorly. Metals like aluminum and copper deliver much better thermal conductivity. Unfortunately, these metals are softer and reactive with acidic ingredients, thus possibly leaching into foods and causing health issues. On top of that, they are high-maintenance. 

Cladding offers the best of all worlds by fusing together layers of different metals to harness their strengths while compensating for their weaknesses. With clad stainless steel cookware, copper and aluminum serve as heat conductors when bonded between layers of stainless steel. And the external stainless steel layers make the cookware stronger and sturdier overall.

Fully clad stainless steel cookware is built with these layers of metals throughout each piece's body — along the bottom and up the sidewalls to the rim. In contrast, bottom-clad ones are layered only at the base. Cooking with bottom-clad stainless steel pots and pans is perfectly fine, but their stainless-steel-only walls don't spread and retain heat well. 

Kate Williams — formerly of America's Test Kitchen and current editor-in-chief of Southern Kitchen — explained, "When you're cooking anything that is going to need some even heat from your pot or pan's sides, such as a thick braise or a custard, you'll want to pull out fully-clad cookware. [Recipes to be cooked] over low heat will also turn out best cooked in such a vessel; the increased insulation from the multiple layers of metal will help […] maintain an even temperature." 

Alas, fully clad stainless steel cookware can be expensive. When researching these cookware sets, you should consider factors that affect performance and price, like the following:

• Ply or number of layers in cladding: Tri-ply cladding has three layers (such as aluminum sandwiched between two layers of stainless steel) while five-ply has five fused layers (for example, stainless steel, aluminum, copper, aluminum, stainless steel). Five-ply cladding, which conducts and retains heat better, is sturdier and more resistant to warping, but more expensive, slower to heat up, and according to the cooking pros we consulted for this guide, not necessarily crucial for better cooking. Seven-ply cladding is available in very high-end models as well.
• Metals used in cladding: Copper has slightly better heat conductivity than aluminum, but be aware that copper is more expensive. 
• Thickness of sidewalls and overall weight: The thicker the walls, the better the thermal conductivity and insulation. A good test is to pick up a pot or pan and see how it feels — you want it to have a bit of heft. A heavier piece is more likely to have substantial cladding; a lightweight piece has thin cladding. Also, tap the bottom of the pot or pan: A low-quality piece emits a "clang" and a higher-quality piece produces a "thud." 
• Number and types of pieces in the set: Since fully clad stainless steel cookware isn't cheap, you may want to stick with just the basics in order to keep costs down. But if you have the desire to invest in more pieces, you'll have more flexibility to prepare a greater variety of recipes, either one at a time or simultaneously.

We interviewed a former prep cook and consulted culinary equipment sites that specifically focus on and test cooking equipment to explore fully clad stainless steel cookware sets. 

Here are our top picks for the best fully clad stainless steel cookware sets:

• Best overall fully clad stainless steel set: All-Clad D5 Stainless Steel 10-Piece Cookware Set
• Best budget fully clad stainless steel set: Cuisinart Multiclad Pro Triple Ply Stainless Steel 12-Piece Cookware Set
• Best midrange aluminum core fully clad stainless steel set: Calphalon Signature Stainless Steel 10-Piece Cookware Set
• Best copper core fully clad stainless steel set: All-Clad Copper Core 5-Ply 10-Piece Cookware Set
• Best small fully clad stainless steel set: Made-In Cookware Starter Kit

The best overall fully clad stainless steel set

Combining beauty and function, the All-Clad D5 Stainless Steel 10-Piece Set offers fabulous thermal conductivity, even heating, and versatility in a stunning, sturdy collection.

The All-Clad brand is considered the exemplar of stainless steel cookware. It lives up to its name with the high-performing, versatile All-Clad D5 Stainless Steel 10-Piece Set. Marrying form with function, this gorgeous collection includes two frying pans (8-inch and 10-inch), two saucepans (1.5-quart and 3-quart) with lids, a 3-quart sauté pan with lid, and an 8-quart stockpot with lid. 

The pieces' warp-resistant bodies are made of five-ply cladding, alternating layers of stainless steel and aluminum. In addition to durability, the five-ply construction provides efficient and even heating, a boon for any cook who wants save time and energy. According to The Spruce Eats, "All-Clad's pans heated quickly; faster than we expected and faster than our usual nonstick cookware. They also heated evenly with zero hot spots and retained heat a long time after cooking. In fact, they heat so well, low to medium heat on our gas range was sufficient to cook most things, resulting in enhanced energy efficiency."

This cookware is compatible with all stove tops, including induction, and oven safe up to 500 degrees. Each piece has a rolled, flared lip that is great for pouring directly from the pan. 

The All-Clad D5 Brushed Stainless Steel 10-Piece Set features large handles solidly riveted to the pieces. For many users, these stable handles stay conveniently cool during cooking. Conversely, some Amazon reviewers noted that the handles did get hot on the stovetop. 

The brushed finish on non-lid pieces is fingerprint-resistant and water-spot resistant. Some Amazon users complained that this cookware isn't stick-resistant, but many others disagreed and stated that food doesn't stick when this cookware is preheated and used properly. Although this set is advertised as dishwasher safe, hand washing is recommended.  Maintenance drew mixed reviews, and the set was dubbed either "hard" or "easy" to clean.

The All-Clad brand is favored by Consumer Reports. Good Housekeeping and The Spruce Eats named the All-Clad D5 Brushed Stainless Steel 10-Piece Set the best high-end set.

Pros: Sturdy five-ply construction, excellent heating performance, lovely appearance, limited lifetime warranty, made in the US

Cons: Heavy, a bit pricey, handles can get hot

The best budget fully clad stainless steel set

For newcomers to fully clad stainless steel pots and pans, the Cuisinart Multiclad Pro Triple Ply Stainless Steel 12-Piece Cookware Setis a quality collection that's affordable and highly rated.

When most people hear the name "Cuisinart," they think of great kitchen appliances, not necessarily cookware. But our research found that this brand does indeed make high-quality cookware — even Consumer Reports gave a shoutout to Cuisinart cookware. For newbies who want to try fully clad stainless steel cookware without spending a lot of money, the Cuisinart Multiclad Pro Stainless Steel 12-Piece Cookware Set may be just right for their needs and wallet.

The Cuisinart Multiclad Pro Stainless Steel 12-Piece Cookware Set includes a 1.5-quart covered saucepan, a 3-quart covered saucepan, a 3.5-quart covered sauté pan with helper handle, an 8-quart covered stockpot, an 8-inch skillet, a 10-inch skillet, and a steamer insert with cover, which fits the 3-quart saucepan. This large set offers versatility in use and excellent thermal conductivity at an affordable price. 

Each cooking piece is constructed of a layer of aluminum sandwiched between two stainless steel layers. This triple-ply cladding provides stability, even distribution of heat in the base and along the sides from bottom to rim, and overall commendable performance. According to The Spruce Eats, "these pans heat quickly and retain heat well, so you can put a lid on a pot and its contents will stay warm while you set the table or finish cooking side dishes. We love how well these pans brown food and didn't notice any hot spots, even when the pan wasn't perfectly centered on the burner." The cookware is compatible with all cooktops, including induction, and oven safe up to 550 degrees.

The solid stainless steel handles are riveted on and durable, although one Amazon user reported saucepan handle rivets popping off after nine years. Some people found that the handles stay cool while others noted that they do get hot. The flat lids form a good seal while covering pans and pots to keep in moisture during cooking. 

Many Amazon users moving away from nonstick cookware liked the Cuisinart Multiclad Pro Triple Ply Stainless Steel 12-Piece Cookware Set. When preheated and used properly, food does not stick. Cleaning up burned-on food takes some soaking and elbow grease, but most people found this set easy to clean. Another bonus is that it's dishwasher safe; many, but not all, owners said the cookware came out of the dishwasher shiny and/or without any "ill effects."

The Cuisinart Multiclad Pro Triple Ply Stainless Steel 12-Piece Cookware Set won many superlatives in the stainless steel cookware category, including "Best Overall" by The Spruce Eats and "Best All-Around" by AllCookware Find. Cook Eat Taste included it among their top five picks. 

Pros: Very affordable (especially for such a large set), great heating performance, steamer included, lifetime warranty

Cons: Heavy, handles can get hot

The best midrange aluminum core fully clad stainless steel set

If you want the performance of five-ply cladding without paying top dollar for a high-end set, try the Calphalon Signature Stainless Steel 10-Piece Cookware Set.

The sleek Calphalon Signature Stainless Steel 10-Piece Cookware Set is great for people who want five-ply cladding stainless steel cookware but are reluctant — or just unable — to splurge on a high-end brand. Primarily known for its nonstick cookware, Calphalon was recognized by Consumer Reports for its stainless steel cookware. And users switching from nonstick cookware tried and liked the Calphalon Signature Stainless Steel 10-Piece Cookware Set.

This set contains two omelette pans (8-inch and 10-inch), two saucepans with lids (2-quart and 3-quart), a 3-quart sauté pan with lid, and an 8-quart stockpot with lid. Its various pieces accommodate diverse dishes, from eggs, steaks, and pasta to stews, soups, and more — all benefiting from five-ply cladding composed of three inner layers of aluminum fused between two outer layers of stainless steel for stability and durability.

All but a few users noted that they could cook the above-listed recipes and more without any sticking. With thick sidewalls, these pieces heat up quickly and evenly. Many users were delighted that this set has glass covers that allow them to monitor their cooking without having to open the lid. 

Although made out of glass, these covers are tempered and oven safe, as are the rest of the pieces. The long handles stay cool on the stove, but of course get hot in the oven. The Calphalon Signature Stainless Steel 10-Piece Cookware Set is compatible with all stove tops, including induction, and broiler safe. 

Although this set is dishwasher safe, hand washing is recommended. And thanks to the pieces' relatively stick-free cooking performance, users commented that this set is easy to clean.

The Calphalon Signature Stainless Steel 10-Piece Cookware Set was rated "Outstanding" and given 4.5 of 5 stars by the editor of The Kitchen Advisor.

Pros: Five-ply cladding at a decent price, solid quality and performance, glass lids for checking on cooking, full lifetime warranty

Cons: Heavy

The best copper core fully clad stainless steel set

Reap benefits of three metals with the stunning All-Clad Copper Core 10-Piece Set. This set offers the superb thermal conductivity of copper and aluminum combined with the strength and stability of stainless steel.

The All-Clad Copper Core 10-Piece Set is eye-catching with its thin tell-tale band of copper contrasting the otherwise shiny stainless steel exterior. This copper accent hints at what lies beneath the surface of each piece of this lovely set containing two fry pans (8-inch and 10-inch), two covered sauce pans (2-quart and 3-quart), a 3-quart covered sauté pan, and an 8-quart covered stockpot.

This cookware is constructed of five-ply cladding: a copper core sandwiched between two layers of aluminum that are encased within two layers of stainless steel, which serve as the internal cooking surface and the external surface exposed to the heating element and air. The copper core and aluminum layers warm up and distribute heat quickly and evenly through the bottom and sidewalls; the stainless steel layers shield the copper and aluminum in order to prevent reactions with foods and subsequent leaching as well as warping. 

Chef's Resource described the All-Clad Copper Core 10-Piece Set as "extremely high performance; it doesn't get much better." This set is compatible with all cooktops, including induction, and oven and broiler safe. Some users feel that the riveted handles offer stability to the heavy pieces and stay cool while others reported that they get hot, aren't comfortable to grip, and are too long for easy storage. The rolled rims or flared edges make pouring easy.

The main conflict among users seems to be about this set's ease of cleaning. Many found cleaning the All-Clad Copper Core 10-Piece Set easy, but some found keeping the copper band shiny a tedious nuisance. As Kitchen Sanity noted, the exposed copper bands tarnish with time and require extra attention. This set is dishwasher safe, but the copper line still needs polishing afterwards. 

So maintenance — not performance — appears to be the tipping point on whether or not people think this set is worth its high price. Chef's Resource conceded that it's a "long-term investment" and rated it 4.1 of 5 stars. Cookware Lab believes it is a great value despite its expense because of performance and long-lasting durability.

Pros: Excellent heat conductivity and responsiveness, superlative copper-aluminum-stainless steel combination, limited lifetime warranty, made in the US

Cons: Heavy, expensive, exposed copper makes cleaning difficult

The best small fully clad stainless steel set

Introduce yourself or a friend to high-quality five-ply cladded stainless steel cookware without paying a middle man — try the Made-In Cookware Starter Kit.

Launched in 2017, Made-in Cookware is a bit of a new kid on the block among established stainless steel cookware manufacturers. Garnering strongly positive reviews for bringing professional-quality cooking tools to home kitchens, this up-and-coming direct-to-consumer brand has been turning heads. 

Less intimidating and more affordable than multi-piece fully clad stainless steel cookware collections, the Made-In Cookware Starter Kit includes just the essentials: a 10-inch frying pan, a 2-quart saucepan with lid, and a 5-quart stockpot with lid. Although this set may not be practical for a large household, it suits singles, couples, small families, and people with minimal storage space. This starter kit is also perfect for those who want to try fully clad stainless steel pots and pans without being overwhelmed by many pieces to clean and store.

The thick, five-layer cladding of each pan and stockpot yields excellent performance in quick and even heating. Kitchen Witches tested one of the frying pans and was impressed: "I even fried an egg — something I can't do with my old stainless frying pan! The pans heat up quickly and cook beautifully. The handles stayed cool to the touch." After three months with this set, Primal Gourmet noted, "They showed no signs of scorching, which signals a good thickness at the base." The only downside was slight scratching on the interior from metal tongs.

All pieces are compatible with different stove-tops, including induction, and safe for use under the broiler and in the oven up to 800 degrees. The handles are attached with steel rivets. Cleanup is quite easy, even with burned-on hash brown potatoes, which did take a little elbow grease. The Made-In Cookware Starter Kit is dishwasher safe but handwashing is recommended. 

Good Housekeeping named this kit the "Best Small Set." The Made-In Cookware brand was declared "Editor's Pick" by AllCookware Find.

Pros: Great for newbies, singles, couples, and small families; excellent performance; affordable price; limited lifetime warranty; made in the US

Cons: No lid for frying pan, only three pans (set too small for some households)

Tips for Using, Caring for, and Cleaning Stainless Steel Cookware

Tips for Using Stainless Steel Cookware:

• Unless you're boiling water, don't use high heat. Stick with a medium-high flame on a gas stove, or level 6 or lower on an electric burner. Otherwise you'll get heat tint, that unattractive, blotchy, rainbow stain.
• Don't add salt to water before it boils in order to avoid leaving white marks or pitting at the bottom. The chloride in undissolved salt attacks the stainless steel's "layer of chromium oxide, leaving pockmarks where it removes the oxide." And you can't get rid of the pitting unless you grind out the pits.
• The most common complaint people have about cooking with stainless steel is sticking food. In order to prevent sticking, follow these steps described by a former cook (using chicken breast as an example):

1. Over medium fire, heat the pan dry without oil.
2. In the meantime, bring the chicken close to room temperature. Don't take it right out of the freezer or refrigerator and toss it into the pan.
3. Hold your hand over the pan, and when you feel the air is hot, sprinkle the surface with a couple drops of water. If the pan is hot enough and ready for cooking, you should see the droplets bead up and skate across the bottom. 
4. It's go time! Pour cooking oil into the pan and swirl it around. The oil might smoke a little, but don't worry.
5. Place the chicken breast in the pan and then leave it alone, giving it time to brown. As one former cook noted, the chicken breast must release on its own, not because you are forcing it up. There will always be a little sticking, but this method prevents major sticking.

Tips for Care and Cleaning:

• Bar Keepers Friend Cleanser & Polish in powder or liquid form is highly recommended as the go-to cleaner for pretty much anything: food stains, burned-on food, heat tint, water spots, tarnish, and more. 
• For a homemade, eco-friendly way to clean and shine your stainless steel cookware, make a paste of baking soda and water and gently scrub the cookware with a towel or toothbrush. Or simply wet the cookware's surface and sprinkle on some baking soda and wipe with towel. After using the paste or sprinkled baking soda, rinse the cookware and dry it.
• To remove calcium deposits left by hard tap water, add ⅓ cup water and ⅓ cup white vinegar to the pan, heat the mixture for a few minutes, then remove from heat, pour out the liquid, wash the pot, and wipe it dry. 
• For burned-on food, here are two methods:

1. The Cookware Advisor recommends adding enough water to cover the bottom of the pot and then adding a generous amount of baking soda. After about a half-hour or longer for stubborn foods, use a plastic scrubber to gently remove the burned-on food. 
2. The Spruce suggests covering the area with warm, soapy water and letting it soak for an hour. Afterward, place pan on burner and boil for 10 to minutes. Once cooled, a nylon scouring pad can be used to scrub the pan. If after rinsing, there is still burned-on food, repeat the process.

• Don't use metal scouring pads or abrasive cleaners in order to avoid scratching the stainless steel's surface (unless you aren't too concerned about aesthetics).
• Don't use chlorine bleach or ammonia-based cleaners.  

• A study published today by Doximity shows which cities will be most affected by a shortage of OB-GYNs in the US. 
• The study looks at the percentage of OB-GYNs nearing retirement age, the number of younger practicing OB-GYNs, and workloads for OB-GYNs, and created a comprehensive list of the top 10 cities likely to suffer the most from the shortages. 
• The top cities include Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, Miami, Riverside, Calif., and Los Angeles. 
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Physician shortages in the US are on the rise, and one area where we're likely to have too few doctors is in the field of obstetrics and gynecology. 

Doximity, a professional medical network, released new research on the problem on Wednesday. The report examined data from the Doximity network, which has over 70% of US physicians as members, including 43,000 full-time, board-certified OB-GYNs. 

"There has been a lot of work done on the shortage of primary care physicians but not that much has been on OB-GYNs, even though it's an important type of specialty," Christopher Whaley, lead author of the report told Business Insider. "Patients often see their OB-GYN as their primary care provider." 

OB-GYNs deliver babies and provide a lot of other types of healthcare for women. They provide expectant mothers with care throughout their pregnancy and provide check-ups post-birth. In addition, OB-GYNs provide pap smears, sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing, pelvic exams, reproductive health consultations, and blood work. 

The study looks at the percentage of OB-GYNs nearing retirement age, the number of younger practicing OB-GYNs, and workloads for OB-GYNs. By combining these factors, the researchers created a list of the top 10 cities most likely to suffer OB-GYN shortages in the coming years. 

The cities are:

10. Dallas 

9. Pittsburgh

8. Detroit 

7. Jacksonville, Fla. 

6. Buffalo, N.Y. 

5. Los Angeles

4. Riverside, Calif. 

3. Miami 

2. Salt Lake City 

1. Las Vegas 

More than these top 10 cities will be affected, because there's an OB-GYN shortage throughout the US. The study references a projection from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), which says there will be a shortage of up to 8,800 OB-GYNS by 2020, and a shortfall of up to 22,000 by 2050. 

ACOG has also estimated that half of US counties lack any OB-GYN. 

But the specificity of the report on different localities across the US, is what Dr. Amit Phull, the medical director at Doximity ,thinks can hopefully lead communities to enact change from the local level. 

"The locality in the study adds this actionable component," Phull told Business Insider. "It's harder to attack the problem on a national level, but maybe this can light a fire under various organizations that can actually fix the issue." 

The OB-GYN workforce is getting older 

The report showed that 35% of OB-GYNs are at least 55 years old and nearing retirement age. The researchers looked at 50 metropolitan areas and found that in 33 of them, at least one third of the OB-GYN workforce was 55 and older. 

Pittsburgh had the highest percentage at 41.5%, Las Vegas followed with 41 %, and Salt Lake City with 40%. 

The report notes that an aging OB-GYN population would not be as serious a concern if there were more young OB-GYNs entering the profession, but none of the largest cities studied in this report have even 30% of their OB-GYN workforce under the age of 40.

In fact, only 19% of the OB-GYN workforce in the US is younger than 40. 

With the shortage, the workload of an OB-GYN will likely increase

With an aging workforce, retiring OB-GYNs could cause workforce shortages, meaning an increase in everyday duties for the existing workforce. 

The study highlighted that on average an OB-GYN delivers 94 babies every year. But the range can vary depending on the city. An OB-GYN in Riverside, California delivers almost 200 babies every year, while an OB-GYN in Hartford, Connecticut delivers 54.

For Whaley, doing this study showed him the vast difference cities have when it comes to healthcare delivery, "there is an extreme variation in the distribution of OB-GYNs," he said. 'This study shows you that Las Vegas or Miami has a different OB-GYN market, than say, New York City." 

Even with birth rates declining, the OB-GYN shortage is a problem 

The researchers also touch on the decline of birth rates in the US. The study references data published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which reported that the number of births in 2018 fell 2% from 2017 to the lowest number in 37 years.

Houston, Portland, and Salt Lake City experienced a 5% decline, while Los Angeles, San Jose, new Orleans, Denver and Riverside, California had a 4% decline. 

But while there has been a decline in birthrates in the US, Phull said there's still a need for OB-GYNs.

"OB-GYNs provide care outside of the scope of deliveries for pregnant women. They offer different types of screenings and preventative care," he said. "A woman's overall health could be compromised because of lack of access to these services which are in short supply." 

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• You can't normally wear wool in the rain, which is too bad because we would love to wear our comfortable wool Allbirds sneakers all year long. 
• The company has a new solution: Its Wool Runner Mizzle ($115) and the Wool Runner-Up Mizzle ($135) are covered in a water-resistant treatment that makes raindrops slide right off. 
• They also feature a reinforced sole that gives your feet better grip on slippery surfaces. 
• These smart additions make an already great sneaker even more versatile. We tested them and thought they were just as comfortable and supportive as the original Runners.  

"Will they or won't they?" I ask to myself as I crane my neck toward the gray clouds above me. As the seasons transition and weather forecasts shift with reckless abandon, it's becoming more difficult to tell whether it's going to rain later during the day.

That's not good news for your shoes, because if you end up wearing the wrong ones, your feet are trapped in the unholy embrace of wet socks. Even worse, you could also permanently ruin the material of your favorite pair of shoes. 

Online shoe brand Allbirds knew that its fans were starting to store away their shoes come fall and winter time in order to protect the wool construction. Now, it has two new shoes that let you enjoy soft comfort and support no matter the weather conditions. 

The new Mizzle collection features the Wool Runner Mizzle and the Wool Runner-Up Mizzle, which are both made with water-resistant merino wool and a reinforced sole for more traction on slippery surfaces.

The Runner Mizzle looks like the original Wool Runner, while the Runner-Up Mizzle is Allbirds' first high-top sneaker in wool (the Tree Toppers were the brand's first-ever high-top and are made from eucalyptus). 

They're both currently available in four colors. The Runner costs $115, and the Runner-Up $135. They're the most expensive of Allbirds' styles, likely due to the water-resistant treatment and sole design. 

Allbirds differentiates these new sneakers from other water-resistant shoes on the market by emphasizing that it uses chemical-free, naturally derived materials to create its water-repellent treatment and water-resistant layer. The company as a whole is geared toward environmentally friendly practices, using materials like sustainably harvested eucalyptus pulp, recycled polyester made from plastic bottles, and carbon-negative EVA foam.

We tried the new Allbirds Mizzles to test their comfort and claims of water resistance. Our testers include first-time Allbirds wearers and longtime fans. 

Wool Runner Mizzle review: 

I own three different pairs of Allbirds (well, four now!), the original Wool Runners, the Tree Skippers, and the Tree Breezers. The Wool Runners are still my favorite and the pair I wear the most after two years, but I do have to admit it takes a certain bravery to put them on during cold weather season and risk getting them wet. The softness and coziness of wool is exactly why you'd want to wear them when it rains, which is why I love that Allbirds now has a water-resistant version. 

Since it didn't rain in the time I had to test the Wool Runner Mizzle, I couldn't test the claims of weather resistance directly. However, I did run them under the water of my faucet, with all the expected trepidation of anyone testing a waterproof or water-resistant product for the first time. 

To my relief and happiness, the water slid right off (this effect was also very satisfying to watch). Some droplets stayed on the surface, but as I watched, they merely lingered there rather than absorb into the wool material. I tried ramping up the flow of the water, and the same thing happened, so I feel fairly confident about the material's performance in a real rain shower. —Connie Chen, reporter

I've somehow never worn Allbirds before trying out the Mizzle. So while I can't compare the new weather-resistant shoes to the original, I can confirm they are as cozy as I hoped wool shoes would be. I tried the Wool Runner Mizzle and immediately felt as if I had swaddled my feet in a soft, warm blanket.

The fit was near-perfect (there was not even a hint of a blister, straight out of the box), but with one caveat: My big toes hit just a little too close to the front of the shoe. It's something to keep in mind if you're between sizes, or love super thick socks, and might need extra room. But it's not a total dealbreaker. I'm hoping the shoe stretches with use, as I plan to wear these more, rain or shine. —Emily Hochberg, travel editor 

Shop the Wool Runner Mizzle for $115 at Allbirds

Wool Runner-Up Mizzle review: 

In my 10 months on the Insider Picks team there isn't a company that has received more praise from my colleagues than Allbirds. Anytime there's a new style or color released I know there's an email thread of excitement on its way. I wasn't sure if the shoes would live up to the hype, but after trying the Wool Runner-Up Mizzle I'm officially a convert. 

Beyond the fuzzy exterior that's also somehow water-resistant, the shoes are extremely comfortable right out of the box. The merino wool that lines the interior of the shoe provides a snug, blanket-like feel around my feet, and the bottom of the shoe is soft and squishy, but also supportive. The Runner-Up Mizzles are now my go-to shoe whenever I see a rainy day on my weather app. — Danny Bakst, content producer 

I have three pairs of Allbirds Runners (both Wool and Tree), and they're always my go-to shoes when the first thing I'm looking for is comfort. So I was a little bummed out when I tried my pair of Runner-Up Mizzles. I know I may get drawn and quartered by the Allbirds loyalists of the world for saying this (hey, I'm generally a big fan, too! I'm just doing my job here), but I found this pair to be uncomfortable. The top of the shoe rubs right up against my ankles, which I think is due to the fact that the opening of the shoe is pretty bulky. This is just my personal experience, and while I know the shoes will hold up to crappy weather (we ran water over them and it beaded right up), I don't think they're the pair I'll go for when I'm commuting to work. — Sally Kaplan, editor 

I knew Allbirds was onto something when, during a meeting, one of the participants stopped me in mid-speech to tell me how awesome my Wool Runner-Up Mizzle looked. Indeed, it blends the cool high-top silhouette with the fuzzy wool exterior that Allbirds is known for.

While I haven't had the opportunity to wear them long-term, there are some things that I noticed right away. Right out of the box, the Wool Runner-Up Mizzle slipped onto my feet easily and cushioned them with a soft feeling that's reminiscent of how my bedroom slippers feel.

But like my colleague Emily, I find some areas to be a bit tight, like the big toe and the top of the feet. My feet also feel like they were incubating, so I'd recommend wearing thinner socks to allow for some breathability (although wool absorbs moisture well) or save these for colder weather. However, I really enjoy the soft cushioning of the footbed and sole; I pounded the pavement for several hours and didn't find them uncomfortable, despite having not broken them in. — Les Shu, buying guides editor 

Shop the Wool Runner-Up Mizzle for $135 at Allbirds

The bottom line: Prepare for the rainy season with these new Allbirds sneakers. 

The Mizzle is one collection of shoes you can wear out of the house with confidence, no matter how unpredictable the day's weather is. The Runners and Runner-Ups give you the lightweight, supportive comfort of a regular pair of sneakers, but the water-resistant benefits of a pair of bulky boots.

If you have concerns about the fit and feel of a high-top sneaker around your ankles, we would recommend buying the The Runners instead of the Runner-Ups. Or, visit an Allbirds store near you to try on the sneakers in person. 

Shop the Wool Runner Mizzle for $115 at Allbirds

Shop the Wool Runner-Up Mizzle for $135 at Allbirds

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• Italic is a new online brand that prides itself on selling luxury goods (bags, accessories, apparel, home goods) without the labels.
• It's able to do this by partnering directly with manufacturers who have decades of experience producing for luxury designers such as Prada, Givenchy, Burberry, Celine, and Miumiu. 
• The leather crossbody ($135), backpack ($200), and tote ($250) we reviewed from the company were beautifully constructed and also functional for everyday wear. 

Direct-to-consumer brands have seen huge success in the last decade. Whether it's because Millennials have become disillusioned by the excesses of designer luxury or they're just itching for a way to shop that's different from how they've always done it, this generation is particularly drawn to online-first, direct-to-consumer companies like moths to a flame. 

"We cut out the middleman," the snappy phrase that once vividly captured the value of a D2C brand, however, is quickly becoming stale. Shoppers now see that, shrug, then say, "...and?" It's not enough to eliminate traditional suppliers and retail distribution methods. They want to know that there's something inherently revolutionary to the way the product is produced, whether it's a beauty product created entirely from customer demand or a comforter that's fully compostable.

Italic is an online brand that wants to flip the idea of luxury on its head by producing goods with partners that manufacture for designers like Prada, Givenchy, and Burberry. In doing this, it's able to create original designs, ensure designer-caliber quality, and offer very competitive prices all at once.

Read more: This Kickstarter sensation is making luxury women's watches for less than $250 — here's what we thought

Italic first launched in late 2018 and created buzz as a $10-a-month, members-only marketplace. If you joined, you got access to label-less, high-quality bags and accessories at more affordable prices. Founder Jeremy Cai says that eventually the volume of sales Italic was doing, along with learnings from managing the customer experience, warranted opening up the marketplace to everyone. 

At Italic, you can now freely shop men's and women's bags, accessories, and apparel, as well as home goods like bedding. The selection isn't large, but it seems careful and curated, confidently assured that shoppers don't actually need pages and pages of options. There are $425 leather moto jackets, $80 sheet sets, and a variety of handbags, the most expensive of which costs $250 and was produced by the same manufacturers making bags for Prada. 

Cai says, "Italic is the culmination of decades of growing up with a manufacturing family and working in technology. I had always thought it backwards that manufacturers take home the smallest margin in the supply chain despite making the actual products being sold for many times the cost. Italic bridges the gap between consumers and luxury goods by partnering directly with the manufacturers instead of purchasing inventory like a brand." 

Many of these manufacturers have operated for decades making bags and accessories for labels that some can only dream of buying one day. It's a risk for them to join forces with a young unknown like Italic, but Cai says that other factors are also threatening these legacy names, and in the end, it's really a win-win relationship.

He points out, "While it wasn't easy by any means to convince manufacturers to incur inventory risk for the first time in their histories, most of these companies are facing rising labor costs, uncertain global trade, and a near total reliance on wholesale. Many were already looking for a way to sell directly to consumers but without the enormous overhead of building a brand." 

Read more: These celebrity-loved shoes used to cost hundreds more when they were sold in luxury stores — but a new strategy has made them much more affordable

If you like nicely made things but could care less about the status that comes with flexing a designer label, then you're the perfect Italic customer. Because making anything akin to a designer dupe would tread into tricky legal waters, especially considering the products are made in the exact same factories, all of Italic's designs are original and unique to the brand. Still, with options like zip card wallets and oversized acetate sunglasses, they remain classic and familiar. 

We tried a few of Italic's bags to see whether they really lived up to the high expectations. When we first received them, we immediately ooh-ed and aah-ed that they looked and felt good. Over the past month, as we actually carried and used them in our day-to-day lives, it became clear that the bags would become favorites — functional, beautifully made, and well-priced. 

Keep reading for our reviews of Italic's handbags and backpacks. 

Shop all luxury goods at Italic here

Luna Quilted Leather Crossbody Bag

Luna Quilted Leather Crossbody Bag, $135, available at Italic

How much it should cost: $350-$395

Made by the same manufacturer as: Celine and Prada 

Our review: This ultra-soft and smooth lambskin leather bag looks and feels gorgeous. With its textured, quilted exterior and a simple and roomy interior compartment, it's both a fashionable and practical bag choice when I go out to a nice dinner or want to look put-together as I travel. Gold hardware runs throughout, from the chain strap to the side buckles to the feet on the bottom of the bag that prevent the ivory color from getting dirty.

Based on its substantial feel and fashion-forward half-moon shape, I would've expected the bag to cost at least $200, but am eternally grateful that it doesn't. Since I usually only carry them on especially active days, all my crossbody bags tend to get a little worn down, but this is one crossbody I'll be sure to care for properly. —Connie Chen, Insider Picks reporter 

Claire Leather Double-Gusset Tote

Claire Leather Double-Gusset Tote, $250, available at Italic

How much it should cost: $785-$1,250 

Made by the same manufacturer as: Prada and Miumiu 

Our review: I was pleasantly surprised by how much I've used and loved this bag since it appeared on my desk a couple months ago. It's deceptively spacious inside, which makes it great for carrying to work, and I love that it has multiple handle options so I can swing it over my shoulder if I need a free hand.

The interior has two large, open pockets on each side with a zippered divider pocket in the middle. I can easily fit my 13-inch laptop, charger, and daily essentials in one side, along with a pair of flats, my lunch, and a small umbrella in the other. Honestly, I kind of feel like Mary Poppins when I carry it!

I got it in the dusty blue color (the picture above shows it to be a little darker than it really is), which looks relatively neutral even when paired with colorful outfits, but it also comes in black for a more basic option. —Sally Kaplan, Insider Picks editor 

Fleur Leather Mini Backpack

Fleur Leather Mini Backpack, $200, available at Italic

How much it should cost: $580-$695 

Made by the same manufacturer as: Celine and Miumiu

Our review: Since my main interaction with Italic was limited to targeted Instagram ads before testing this, I came into the experience pretty skeptical. Lots of new brands claim to bring you luxury at a fraction of the cost, but really only a few of them do.

However, after a few weeks of using the Italic mini backpack, I can say that the hype is worth it in this case. I was impressed. I've tested a lot of bags in two years at Insider Picks, and Italic's Fleur Leather Mini Backpack is one of the best in its quality and usability.

The leather feels supple, soft, and substantial to the touch, but frankly, it also just looks nice. It's the kind of nondescript black backpack that people bother to ask you about at happy hour. Simple, but can't-put-your-finger-on-it good: a phenomenon more commonly known as luxury. The price is still steep, but if it's a comfortable splurge — or you're thinking of dropping more on something similar from Celine or Miumiu — it's worth checking this out first. —Mara Leighton, Insider Picks reporter 

• MONEY just released its 2019 list of the best places to live in America.
• To qualify for inclusion in the ranking, each had to have a population of 50,000 or more.
• Areas with more than double the national crime risk, less than 85% of the state's median household income, or a lack of ethnic diversity were eliminated.
• The ranking measured the remaining places on factors like economic health, cost of living, diversity, public education, income, health and safety, and amenities.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

According to MONEY's 2019 Best Places to Live ranking, the top 25 places to live in America right now are scattered across the map. 

Per their methodology, the ranking measured places on factors like economic health, cost of living, diversity (both ethnic and economic), public education, income, health and safety, and amenities. However, economic factors, housing, health and safety, diversity, and cost of living held the most weight.

Read more: The 50 best suburbs in America, ranked

MONEY only looked at places in the US with populations of 50,000 or more. Those that had more than double the national crime risk, less than 85% of the state's median household income, or a lack of ethnic diversity were eliminated. That narrowed the list down to 1,796 places to be evaluated. Using around 160,000 data points, MONEY was able to then shorten that list to the final ranking, which includes 100 places and can be viewed here.

From Denver's oldest neighborhood to the birthplace of Walmart, here are the top 25 places to live in America, ranked.

SEE ALSO: The most famous home in every US state, from LA's Playboy Mansion to a 'Beer Can House' in Houston

DON'T MISS: The 10 cheapest states to buy a home in right now

25. Shawnee, Kansas

Population: 66,407

Median household income: $87,367

Median home price: $294,883

Projected job growth: 3.6%

Fun fact: Shawnee is around just 20 minutes away from Kansas City by car.

24. O'Fallon, Missouri

Population: 89,136

Median household income: $86,019

Median home price: $222,821

Projected job growth: 9.3%

Fun fact: The country's longest recreational trail, the Katy Trail, spans 240 miles and runs straight through O'Fallon.

23. LoDo in Denver, Colorado

Population: 8,537

Median household income: $108,086

Median home price: $504,445

Projected job growth: 6%

Fun fact: LoDo (or "Lower Downtown") is Denver's oldest neighborhood.

22. Goodyear, Arizona

Population: 87,495

Median household income: $79,480

Median home price: $285,070

Projected job growth: 7.7%

Fun fact: Goodyear is home to Goodyear Ballpark which is where the Cleveland Indians and the Cincinnati Reds train in the spring.

21. Spring Valley, Nevada

Population: 211,929

Median household income: $57,018

Median home price: $264,284

Projected job growth: 9.1%

Fun fact: Spring Valley has no shortage of sunshine. According to MONEY's ranking, the neighborhood enjoys 292 clear days a year.

20. Columbia, Maryland

Population: 104,547

Median household income: $107,913

Median home price: $335,884

Projected job growth: 8.4%

Fun fact: Lake Kittamaqundi, a 27-acre reservoir, is located in Columbia.

19. Iowa City, Iowa

Population: 74,951

Median household income: $55,379

Median home price: $202,794

Projected job growth: 2.3%

Fun fact: Iowa City served as the state's capital until 1850.

18. Irvine, California

Population: 263,560

Median household income: $106,911

Median home price: $853,034

Projected job growth: 3.1%

Fun fact: Irvine is home to the University of California at Irvine, which employs 16,000 people.

17. Charleston, South Carolina

Population: 139,367

Median household income: $71,514

Median home price: $384,827

Projected job growth: 4.3%

Fun fact: The first golf club in the US was built in 1787 in Charleston.

16. Johns Creek, Georgia

Population: 87,529

Median household income: $119,123

Median home price: $383,439

Projected job growth: 5%

Fun fact: Johns Creek is around just 40 minutes away from Atlanta by car.

15. Rochester, Minnesota

Population: 116,926

Median household income: $75,112

Median home price: $227,784

Projected job growth: 5.8%

Fun fact: Rochester is the birthplace of the health-care company Mayo Clinic.

14. Dranesville, Virginia

Population: 127,346

Median household income: $152,578

Median home price: $681,657

Projected job growth: 2.1%

Fun fact: Dranesville hugs the Potomac River, which offers residents stunning views.

13. Pearl District in Portland, Oregon

Population: 8,265

Median household income: $81,066

Median home price: $409,460

Projected job growth: 5.9%

Fun fact: The Pearl District is one of Portland's most popular neighborhoods. It is home to boutiques, galleries, and Powell's City of Books.

12. Redmond, Washington

Population: 65,048

Median household income: $120,325

Median home price: $763,628

Projected job growth: 6%

Fun fact: Redmond is home to the Microsoft headquarters.

11. Ditmas Park in Brooklyn, New York

Population: 5,038

Median household income: $65,029

Median home price: $847,700

Projected job growth: 2.5%

Fun fact: Ditmas Park is only a five-minute subway ride from Brooklyn's Prospect Park.

10. Winter Garden, Florida

Population: 54,371

Median household income: $76,269

Median home price: $310,402

Projected job growth: 10.1%

Fun fact: Winter Garden is less than 25 minutes away from Disney World by car.

9. Meridian, Idaho

Population: 101,487

Median household income: $67,986

Median home price: $287,662

Projected job growth: 8.4%

Fun fact: People are flocking to Meridian — the US Census Bureau named it the nation's fifth fastest-growing city between July 1, 2017 and July 1, 2018.

8. Madison, Wisconsin

Population: 254,473

Median household income: $64,562

Median home price: $265,891

Projected job growth: 5%

Fun fact: Madison is home to the University of Wisconsin, which employs over 22,000 people.

7. Bentonville, Arkansas

Population: 50,248

Median household income: $85,160

Median home price: $222,313

Projected job growth: 7.3%

Fun fact: Bentonville is the birthplace of Walmart.

6. Draper, Utah

Population: 51,186

Median household income: $111,671

Median home price: $433,272

Projected job growth: 5.9%

Fun Fact: Draper is called home by a few big-name tech companies, including eBay and Pluralsight.

5. Country Club Heights in Charlotte, North Carolina

Population: 5,856

Median household income: $72,458

Median home price: $257,500

Projected job growth: 6.7%

Fun fact: Not only is Country Club Heights an affordable place to live, but according to MONEY's ranking, it also enjoys 214 clear days per year.

4. Fulton River District in Chicago, Illinois

Population: 7,692

Median household income: $133,322

Median home price: $355,579

Projected job growth: 2.8%

Fun fact: The Fulton River District is less than five minutes away by train from The Loop, which features some of Chicago's best eateries, shops, and entertainment venues.

3. Fishers, Indiana

Population: 92,716

Median household income: $104,349

Median home price: $263,577

Projected job growth: 9.2%

Fun fact: In 2015, Fishers officially became a city and swore in its first mayor, Scott Fadness. Previously, it was considered a town.

2. Round Rock, Texas

Population: 116,954

Median household income: $82,229

Median home price: $274,579

Projected job growth: 14.6%

Fun fact: Round Rock is home to the Dell headquarters.

1. Clarksville, Tennessee

Population: 158,579

Median household income: $53,063

Median home price: $155,898

Projected job growth: 9.1%

Fun fact: Clarksville is attracting a young crowd of movers. In fact, the average age of a Clarksville resident is just 29 years old. 

• 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, $19.97, 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), $9.98, 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. 

A set of brush heads you can attach to a drill

Drillbrush Power Scrubber Cleaning Kit, $14.95, available at Amazon

The drill is not included in this product — it gives you the brush attachments to add to a drill you already own. Even people who hate cleaning enjoy using these affordable brushes since they're so effective. 

A plant-based shower spray

Method Daily Shower Spray Cleaner, $3.29, available at Amazon (through Prime Pantry) and Target

Natural cleaning brand Method's products are made from biodegradable, naturally derived ingredients, giving you peace of mind about what you're putting in your home and the environment. The eucalyptus mint cleaner dissolves and prevents soap scum and leaves your shower smelling fresh. 

A gel cleaner

Skylarlife Home Mold & Mildew Remover, $12.99, available at Amazon

This cleaner is a concentrated gel powder that you apply to those grimey nooks and crannies in your bathroom. After five to six hours, just wash it off with running water. 

A brush designed specifically to tackle grout

The Crown Choice Grout Cleaner Brush, $10.99, available at Amazon

To get deep into the seams and lines of your tile, use a narrow brush with angled bristles, like this one. It'll help you focus on the details of your bathroom, and its sturdy handle is surprisingly comfortable to hold as you scrub away. 

A powerful spin scrubber

Homitt Power Spin Scrubber, $42.99, available at Amazon

This high-powered electric scrubber comes with three different brush heads: a large flat head for large flat surfaces, a round brush head for concave surfaces like tubs and sinks, and one scrubber head for cleaning corners. The bristles, while flexible, are also durable and ready to attack stubborn mildew and grime. 

A spray that works in 15 seconds

RMR-86 Instant Mold Stain & Mildew Stain Remover (2-pack), $19.99, available at Amazon

If you hate expending energy scrubbing the day away, this simple spray gets the job done with minimal effort. Its only potential drawback is its strong odor. 

An all-purpose brush

OXO Good Grips All Purpose Scrub Brush, $6.95, available at Amazon

This all-purpose brush is so highly rated because it's scratch-resistant, versatile, and just plain effective. If you're looking for something with super stiff bristles, you might want to look elsewhere — many reviewers say the bristles are softer than expected. 

A bleach-free cleaner

Clorox Disinfecting Bleach Free Bathroom Cleaner, $2.59, available at Amazon (through Prime Pantry) and Target for $3.29

This Clorox cleaner is the #1 best-selling household bathroom surface cleaner on Amazon. It'll let you wipe away dirt and scum with a cloth or sponge and kill 99.9% of bacteria and viruses. It's bleach-free, so you won't have to deal with harsh odors. 

• According to Mansion Global, former New York Yankee Alex Rodriguez finally sold his Hollywood Hills home for $4.4 million after lowering the asking price from $6.5 million to $5.25 million in March.
• The house was originally built in 1954 as part of Architectural Products magazine's Research House program; it was then remodeled in the 1980s.
• Rodriguez purchased the home from Meryl Streep in 2014 for $4.8 million, according to the Los Angeles Times.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Alex Rodriguez and Jennifer Lopez's engagement is unsurprisingly changing the couple's real estate portfolio.

According to Mansion Global's sources, A-Rod sold his Hollywood Hills home to an unknown buyer for $4.4 million in a sale finalized earlier this month. He first listed the home last November for $6.5 million and eventually lowered the asking price to $5.25 million in March. The retired baseball pro was repped by Carl Gambino from Westside Estate Agency in the sale.

Rodriguez purchased the property from Meryl Streep in 2014 for $4.8 million, meaning that he offloaded the property at a slight loss.

Keep reading for a look inside the midcentury modern home.

SEE ALSO: A restaurateur is trying again to offload his duplex in the same NYC luxury building where Marilyn Monroe once lived — take a look inside the $1.85 million apartment

DON'T MISS: Alicia Keys is the previously unnamed buyer who dropped $20.8 million on a California mansion that's been compared to Tony Stark's home in 'Iron Man.' Take a look inside the clifftop house.

1514 Rising Glen Road is located in an exclusive Los Angeles neighborhood near the famous Sunset Boulevard.

Source: Google Maps

It was originally built in 1954 as part of an architectural research program conducted by the architectural firm Honnold & Rex and commissioned by Architectural Products magazine. Also called the Honnold & Rex Research Houses, the "experimental" homes were built using new materials and design methods.

Source: Los Angeles Times

The home was later remodeled in the 1980s by award-winning architect and designer Xorin Balbes.

Source: Los Angeles Times

Indoor-outdoor living is at the heart of the midcentury modern home. There is an expansive patio, a heated pool, a spa, an outdoor fireplace ...

Source: Mansion Global

... and another indoor one.

Source: Mansion Global

There are also floor-to-ceiling windows keeping the space open and airy.

Source: Mansion Global

The open layout is perfect for entertaining.

Source: Mansion Global

The kitchen features state-of-the-art appliances, including a climate-controlled wine cellar.

Source: Mansion Global

The master bedroom also gets plenty of natural light ...

Source: Mansion Global

... and opens up to a master bath with a sizable shower.

Source: Mansion Global

All guest bedrooms, along with the master bedroom, are located on the second floor.

Source: CNBC

Even the home office gets a view of the backyard.

Source: Mansion Global

According to Mansion Global, Rodriguez and Lopez are reportedly interested in purchasing a larger home together for their family.

Source: Mansion Global

• While many of my colleagues and friends love their PopSockets grips, I think they're overrated. 
• In my experience, the Speck GrabTab ($9.95) is a better phone grip and stand.
• It might not come in as many colors or patterns, but it's more secure, more comfortable to hold, and less obtrusive. 

There are over 40 million PopSockets grips attached to phones around the world. Some of those grips belong to our very own editors, who regularly rave about the affordable phone accessory as one of the most useful things they own. 

Their usefulness is clear, plus they come in hundreds of different designs (including swappable ones) to suit your personality, but... I still don't love them. 

The accessory I prefer over PopSockets grips is Speck's GrabTab ($9.95). 

Read more:20 innovative and cool accessories for the new iPhone you got for the holidays

The GrabTab also sticks to the back of your phone and works as a grip and a stand. Instead of a button that pops out, it's a sliding loop that can be adjusted to your finger size or locked tightly in place. 

Ever since I started using the GrabTab a few months ago, I can't imagine holding my phone without it. Because the loop is attached to the card-sized, 3 mm-thick backing, there's no way my phone will fall from my hands, unless my finger comes out of the loop. With PopSockets grips, I sometimes felt like I could drop my phone because there's nothing to catch the fall if my finger slips. With GrabTab grips, whether the train jolts unexpectedly or I fall asleep with my phone in hand, my phone is safe since I'm almost "wearing" it. 

The sliding design is also conducive to a range of finger sizes and holding positions. You can loop any of your fingers through, or loop more than one finger as well. Personally, I've found the most comfortable position (shown in the top image) is putting my middle finger through the loop while my other fingers rest lightly on the back and my phone sits in my palm. 

Read more: I used to think PopSockets Grips were unnecessary — now they're my favorite iPhone accessory under $10

Despite the fluid flexibility of the grip "mode," the GrabTab is sturdy and secure as a stand. When you slide the loop all the way to the end, it clicks into place and lets you prop up your phone. I've never realized how convenient a stand is when watching videos, but I've discovered (likely light years behind the general populace) just how nice it is to keep my hands free as I follow along cooking and workout videos or watch a TV show while eating lunch. 

The GrabTab's slim construction is supposed to allow for wireless charging, but according to other reviewers, this capability can unfortunately be hit or miss. If you're looking for a wireless charging-compatible accessory, the GrabTab may not be reliable. However, as a general grip and stand, I've found it to be very reliable. It sticks firmly to my phone case and stays there, no matter how hard I try to pry it off, and always feels comfortable and secure in my hand. 

The one area I will say that PopSockets is miles ahead in is the range of color and design options. Though there are a handful of solid colored, striped, and patterned GrabTab styles, they can't compare to the full rainbow of PopSockets available.

With these flaws in mind, the GrabTab still prevails for me and is where I would spend my $10. 

Shop the GrabTab for $9.95 at Amazon here

Shop the GrabTab for $9.99 at Best Buy here

Join the conversation about this story »

• Uber founder and board member Travis Kalanick has purchased a $36.5 million penthouse in New York City, according to property records seen by the New York Times.
• The condo, which features a private pool and rooftop terrace, is in a Renzo Piano-designed building in SoHo, in Manhattan.
• Take a look at the 6,700-square-foot, four-bed, four-and-a-half-bath residence, which was the most expensive sale in New York City in August. 
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Some of Travis Kalanick's darkest moments are being laid out in public view for the first time this month, but the new book isn't keeping Uber's ousted founder down.

The 43-year-old purchased a posh duplex penthouse atop a new luxury building in New York City last month for a cool $36.5 million, the New York Times first reported. It was the most expensive real estate purchase in the month of August in the city, the paper said.

Located on Broome Street in Manhattan's fashionable SoHo neighborhood, the building was designed by Pritzker Prize-winning Italian "starchitect" Renzo Piano, and the glass facade bears resemblance to his last New York project, the Whitney Museum of American Art.

According to sale documents, the condo was purchased through an LLC called "377 Holdings," of which the Times reports a former Uber employee Tara Dhingra is also a director. 

Kalanick's neighbors at the still half-empty building will include Novak Djokovic who in 2017 purchased two units in the building for an undisclosed amount, the Wall Street Journal reported at the time.

Here's a look inside the billionaire's latest home:

SEE ALSO: A former Uber executive hired to clean up ousted founder Travis Kalanick's mess has joined WeWork's board of directors as it gears up for a massive IPO

On the ground floor, what appears to be future retail space was very much still under construction on a recent September afternoon.

On the Broome Street side, however, where residents will enter and exit their condos, the building is open for business. A few people streamed in and out during the few minutes Business Insider gawked from across the street.

Next to the entrance will eventually be the driveway for a 42-spot robotic parking garage. According to the building's management, the glass garage has an elevator that's open to the street so that "passerbys can watch as cars are moved by automated lift from the driveway on ground level up through the glass to a higher, private climate and humidity controlled garage where the cars are stored."

Retrieving your car via the app takes 210 seconds, the company said.

Kalanick's pad is the smaller of the building's two penthouses, with four bedrooms and four-and-a-half bathrooms as well as three outdoor terraces totaling another 2,500 square-feet.

From the street-level, you can see some trees or shrubbery peeking slightly over the terrace's railing.

The unit features an eat-in kitchen, with modern fixtures, in addition to the main dining room that seats at least 10 people.

The upper floors are partially open, allowing for a double-height ceiling above the main living room where the private elevator opens into the residence.

Here's the main living room, with the stairs that lead up to the second level.

Above the unit, on a third floor, is the massive private outdoor patio complete with swimming pool, dining area, and sun deck.

From the pool, Kalanick and his guests will have sweeping views of Manhattan and the Hudson River from their perch just above the entrance to the Holland Tunnel.

And the views don't end there. Even the master bathroom has massive windows next to a large bathtub and a shower that could rival the size of many Manhattan bedrooms.

Kalanick's not the only Uber director shelling out big bucks for an expensive home now that the company has gone public.

CEO Dara Khosrowshahi's family is said to be renting the pricey Venice, California pad,  Variety reported this week. 

Read more: 

• 'I'm a terrible person': Inside ousted Uber CEO Travis Kalanick's tantrum in a fellow executive's townhouse when he realized it was all over
• Uber's ousted founder Travis Kalanick would like you to call him 'T-bone'

• Physicians have the highest salaries of 2019, according to a new list compiled by job-posting site Glassdoor.
• Other healthcare professionals like dentists and nurse practitioners also earn six-figure salaries.
• Engineers and attorneys scored high on Glassdoor's list as well.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

You'll need to go to school for over a decade, but getting a job in healthcare pays off — literally.

Physicians, pharmacy managers, and dentists earn the highest salary in the US out of all other jobs, according to a new report released by job-listing site Glassdoor. In fact, the median base pay for a doctor is nearly two grand a year.

Nurse practitioners, pharmacists, and physician assistants also earn six-figure salaries. 

Read more:Women now hold one out of every five seats on corporate boards in America's top companies

Engineers, specifically in software, scored high on the list as well. Software engineer managers can make $114,163 a year, for instance, and cloud engineers make nearly six figures. 

Here's Glassdoor's full list of the 25 top paying professions in 2019:

SEE ALSO: 21 high-paying careers for people who want to save the planet — and also have job security

25. Financial planning and analysis managers earn a median base salary of $94,874.

24. Analytics managers earn a median base salary of $95,238.

23. Information security engineers earn a median base salary of $95,786.

22. Data scientists earn a median base salary of $97,027.

21. Attorneys earn a median base salary of $97,711.

20. Cloud engineers earn a median base salary of $98,626.

19. Site reliability engineers earn a median base salary of $100,855.

18. UX managers earn a median base salary of $102,489.

17. Systems architects earn a median base salary of $103,813.

16. IT program managers earn a median base salary of $104,454.

15. Plant managers earn a median base salary of $104,817.

14. Data architects earn a median base salary of $104,840.

13. Solutions architects earn a median base salary of $106,436.

12. Applications development managers earn a median base salary of $107,735.

11. Nurse practitioners earn a median base salary of $109,481.

10. Software development managers earn a median base salary of $109,809.

9. Corporate controllers earn a median base salary of $113,368

8. Physician assistants earn a median base salary of $113,855.

7. Software engineer managers earn a median base salary of $114,163.

6. Corporate counsels earn a median base salary of $117,588.

5. Enterprise architects earn a median base salary of $122,585.

4. Pharmacists earn a median base salary of $126,438.

3. Dentists earn a median base salary of $142,478.

2. Pharmacy managers earn a median base salary of $144,768 a year.

1. Physicians earn a median base salary of $193,415.

• To change the language on your iPad, you'll need to go into your "Language and Region" settings menu.
• If you've received an iPad from another country, you may need to change the iPad's language to fit your native language.
• If your iPad is currently in a language that you can't read, navigating menus can be difficult — this article will tell you where menu items are located, as well as what they're called.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Language is one of the most important settings on your iPad. 

If you live in a country where the primary language is different from yours, you will obviously want to change your iPad to the language you speak and read. 

You can also change your iPad's language if you're practicing using another language. Or if your iPad's language setting somehow inadvertently changed, you'll need to know how to change it back without being able to read the words.

Here's what you need to know.

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

iPad (From $329.99 at Best Buy)

How to change the language on an iPad

1. Open the Settings app — its icon is gray, and looks like a multi-layered gear.

2. In the left-hand menu, tap on the General tab, which should be the first tab in the third group.

3. Scroll down to tap on "Language and Region." It should be the third item in the fifth grouping.

4. The top item should be "iPad Language." Tap on that.

5. Scroll down to tap on whichever language you want to change your iPad to. In this example I've selected US Spanish, or Español (EE. UU.).

6. Tap on "Done" (it will be the word in the upper-right corner of the screen).

7. It will ask you again if you want to change to the new language. Tap "Continue" (bottom-right of the new box).

8. The screen will go black except for the term about changing to the new language.

9. When your screen comes back up, everything will be in the new language. 

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

• How to fully silence your iPad so it makes no sound when you receive alerts, play games, or type

• How to download Netflix movies and shows onto an iPad to watch when you're without internet

• 'Why is my iPad so slow?': How to get your iPad running smoothly again

• How to clear the cache on your iPad to make it run faster

SEE ALSO: The best iPad cases you can buy

Join the conversation about this story »

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• Michael Jackson was known as the King of Pop, and he had the crown jewels to show for it. 
• While the "Thriller" singer is said to have been a millionaire who lived like a billionaire, he actually died millions of dollars in debt. 
• But Forbes reported that the performer's estate has made millions more since his death — from both auctions of his collections and memorabilia and music that's still being played and marketed today.
• Jackson bought and renovated the Neverland Ranch he lived on — outfitting the property with a zoo, theme park, train station, and arcade. He also bought jewelry as gifts for friends like Elizabeth Taylor, and he even purchased a pet monkey named Bubbles, among other things.
• While the prices Jackson paid for certain items aren't confirmed, take a look at some of the more extravagant — and sometimes unusual — things he spent his money on and collected over the years.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

SEE ALSO: Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch is on the market for nearly 70% off the original price — here's a look inside the 2,700-acre property with its sprawling mansion and Disney-themed train station

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Michael Jackson topped Forbes' list of the highest-paid dead celebrities of 2018 after raking in around $400 million that year alone.

Source: Forbes

But before he died, the singer was millions of dollars in debt. According to William R. Ackerman, a forensic accountant, Jackson was spending thousands of dollars more than he was making.

Source: Los Angeles Times, Money

Ackerman, who testified in a 2013 case involving the singer, said Jackson was making $30 million-a-year payments toward his debt at the time of his death, according to Newsweek. But Ackerman said he was simultaneously spending lavishly on things like jewelry.

Source: Newsweek

It wasn't a secret that the king of pop had a bizarre fleet of collectibles, but it wasn't until he died, and things were put up for auction, that the public got to see the full roster.

Source: The Richest, Reuters

He owned the gloves Johnny Depp's character wore in "Edward Scissorhands" ...

Source: TIME, Billboard, CNN, Forbes

... several replicas of his own face in different expressions ...

Source: The Richest

... a robotic replica of his head, as seen in the "Moonwalker" film starring Jackson ...

Source: Go Social, The Richest

... and life-size figures of fictional crime fighters like Batman ...

Source: The Richest

... Superman ...

Source: The Richest

... and Spider-Man.

Source: The Richest

He also had figures of sci-fi characters like E.T. ...

Source: Getty Images

... Yoda ...

... and villains like Darth Vader.

His Neverland Ranch featured a fully functioning arcade with loads of games available for playing.

Source: Associated Press

The arcade was in the pool house on the property, according to The Associated Press.

Source: Associated Press

According to NBC, Jackson paid $1.5 million for the Academy Award statue that was awarded to 1939's best-picture winner, "Gone With the Wind."

Source: NBC, Reuters

He displayed the statue on a rotating stand next to the fireplace in the home's main living room, according to NBC.

Source: NBC

Forbes reported that Jackson purchased the oil on canvas painting seen below for $46,000. The painting, called "Cleopatra's Last Moments," was signed by the artist, D. Pauvert, and dated 1892.

Source: Forbes

The Neverland Ranch was an enormous expense for Jackson. Entertainment Weekly reported that the singer paid $19.5 million for it in 1988.

Source: Entertainment Weekly, Business Insider

Jackson also made additions to the property and house, like the Disney Parks-themed train station ...

Source: Business Insider

... a working train that passed through the station ...

Source: Business Insider

... and bronze statues of children that littered the property and could be seen from the train as it went around the grounds.

Source: Business Insider

Some of the statues were available for purchase at the 2009 auction.

Source: Getty Images

Entertainment Weekly reported that, at one point, it cost Jackson $10 million to keep up the ranch and all of its amenities, including the train, theme park, zoo, and theater.

Source: Entertainment Weekly

Neverland Ranch was filled with hints of glitz on the inside, too, like the gold-colored gooselike spout on the star's bathtub.

Source: Associated Press

While the amount he spent on building and furnishing Neverland Ranch hasn't been confirmed ...

... certain items like the front gate, pictured here, had an estimated price tag of up to $30,000, according to Forbes.

Source: Forbes

Jackson wasn't living at the ranch at the time of his death, though. He was paying $100,000 a month to rent this mansion in Los Angeles' Bel Air neighborhood, according to Forbes.

Source: Forbes

He also collected cars, like this personalized Rolls-Royce limousine.

Source: The Travel

The limousine was customized by Jackson and featured leather seats and an embellished ceiling.

Source: The Richest, Hot Cars

Jackson's spending didn't stop at cars. In the early '80s, he famously purchased a pet chimpanzee named Bubbles.

Source: The Richest

According to Newsweek, Jackson's "extreme debt" dates back to 1994, when he owed $30 million.

Source: Newsweek

Billboard reported that it was the 1993 legal battle — when Jackson was accused of molesting a 13-year-old boy — that benchmarked the turning point in Jackson's career, as well as his mental, physical, and financial health.

Source: Billboard

Jackson paid the family $25 million in 1994, according to NBC News.

Source: NBC News

While he was spending on going to trial in the '90s, Jackson was still making money. He was collecting about $75 million a year during that time from owning the rights to his music library, as well as that of the Beatles — which he bought for $47.5 million in 1985 — according to the Daily News. Still, he spent more than he made.

Source: The Daily News, Business Insider

The 2009 auction was actually planned before the singer died in June 2009. It was set to feature items belonging to Jackson himself and collectors around the world.

Source: Forbes

At the 2009 auction, the iconic white-spandex Swarovski-encrusted glove that became synonymous with the King of Pop sold for $350,000.

Source: Reuters

Julien's auction house estimated the worn-in, sweat-stained glove would sell for up to $200,000.

Source: Forbes

Forbes reported that just before the auction was set to take place, Jackson had made between $200 million and $300 million from his planned London concert tour.

Source: Forbes

The day before the first public exhibit of belongings on offer, Jackson filed a lawsuit against Julien's to prevent the auction from happening. The suit ultimately resulted in Jackson paying a reported $2 million worth of expenses — plus an undisclosed additional amount — Julien's had already taken on in planning the auction.

Source: Forbes

Since his death, Jackson's belongings, like this "Smooth Criminal" hat and family notebook ...

Source: Reuters, Billboard, Associated Press

... and memorabilia, have been auctioned off around the world for thousands of dollars.

Source: Reuters, Billboard

But, that doesn't necessarily mean the singer paid high prices for those things when he first acquired them.

Source: Reuters

Even so, the things he did spend on — like the acres and acres of trimmed grounds at the Neverland Ranch — set him back quite a lot.

• Keeneland's annual September yearling sale in Lexington, Kentucky is the biggest horse sale in the world, with more than $377 million worth of horses sold in 2018.
• I flew down to Lexington and attended the sale's kickoff party at the Apiary, an 8,100-square-foot upscale events venue.
• About 300 of the horse racing world's elite attended the party, including buyers, sellers, and famed horse trainer Bob Baffert, according to event planner Freya Kelly.
• The party included a rare bourbon tasting, a Dom Perignon Champagne toast, at least six different types of dessert, and electric violin and cello performances.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Each September, wealthy horse-racing fans, buyers, and sellers descend on Kentucky's second-largest city, Lexington, known as "the horse capital of the world."

Lexington is surrounded by hundreds of horse farms and is home to the world's largest thoroughbred horse auction house, Keeneland, which also hosts races.

In September is Keeneland's yearling sale, where people drop millions on year-old horses who've never even been ridden. In 2018, more than $377 million worth of horses were sold at Keeneland's September sale.

I flew down to Lexington for the sale, but first, I managed to score an invite to the sale's exclusive kickoff party at an upscale events venue called the Apiary.

Here's what it was like.

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Keeneland's annual September yearling sale in Lexington, Kentucky, is the biggest horse sale in the world, with more than $377 million worth of horses sold in 2018.

Keeneland is a horse racing company as well as the world's largest thoroughbred auction house, based in Lexington, Kentucky. Its September sale is for yearlings only, meaning year-old horses who have never even been ridden.

Last week, I flew down to Lexington for the first couple days of the sale.

The evening before the sale started, Keeneland hosted a kickoff party at the Apiary, an 8,100-square-foot upscale events venue in downtown Lexington.

I got an invite to the exclusive party, which started at 7 p.m. on Sunday. I arrived right on time.

After handing off my car keys to the valet, I walked through a pair of ornate wooden double doors into a courtyard, where a couple of staffers were checking people in from the guest list.

After I checked in, I headed for the entrance to the venue, but before I got there, a server offered me a frozen margarita. I liked how this party was starting. 

Inside, I was met by an elegant bar.

The venue had a warm and cozy feel, with wooden floors and exposed brick walls.

I made my way to the venue's main hall, which featured soaring ceilings and large windows.

The space was set up with tables of various sizes decorated with flickering candles and platters of tiny desserts.

Not many guests had arrived yet, so I meandered around taking photos and wondering when it was too soon to start eating the food.

I spotted at least six different types of dessert, including tiny puddings, brownies, shortbread cookies, and meringue pies.

On one end of the hall, an electric violin player and an electric cello player were performing.

I later learned they were New York-based musicians named Rebecca Cherry and Eleanor Norton.

Outside, a cocktail and buffet area was covered by a large tent and surrounded by a garden.

The surrounding gardens featured fountains, tall tropical-looking greenery, and even tomato plants.

The food menu was served buffet-style by the venue's chef-proprietor, Cooper Vaughan, and his team.

I filled a plate with chicken arepas, a fresh fruit skewer, pulled pork, coleslaw, shrimp, and corn.

According to the event planner, the guests at the party were the elite of the horse racing world.

Event planner Freya Kelly told me that the invitees to the Apiary party were horse buyers, sellers, and consigners (a type of agent that arranges for a horse to be sold auction) of the Keeneland sale's Book 1, which comprises the most sought-after and expensive yearlings that are sold during the first few days of the sale. 

I heard several British accents in the crowd and spotted famed horse trainer Bob Baffert, who has trained five Kentucky Derby winners, including 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah and 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify. 

The guests at the party were all dressed in stylish cocktail attire.

The dress code had said "business casual," but I felt like most people were a step up from that. Every single woman seemed to be wearing heels, which made me feel a tad underdressed in my black flats.

Down in the cellar of the venue was a rare bourbon tasting, which included bourbons from Buffalo Trace, Weller, and Taylor.

I tried some Weller with ginger ale and decided maybe I don't hate bourbon after all.

A couple hours into the party, Keeneland President and CEO Bill Thomason called for a Champagne toast in honor of the horse, because "the horse is the reason for our existence and why we do what we do," he said.

As Thomason spoke, bottles of Dom Perignon Champagne were popped and servers passed through the crowd passing out glasses of bubbly.

I somehow missed getting a glass, but I had my bourbon and ginger.

After the toast was over, we could finally move onto more important things, namely dessert. I tried a tiny brownie, a tiny meringue puff, and some sort of shortbread cookie. All were delicious, but the brownie was especially delectable.

As the night wore on, and some of the horse racing industry's most important people drank bourbon and Champagne and talked about the upcoming sale, I was amazed by the breadth of this whole world to which I'd previously barely given a thought.

I spent much of the night with a New York-based publicist working for Keeneland, and we both marveled at the amount of wealth in the room, and how all of these people had lives that revolved around horses. 

According to the American Horse Council, horses are a $122 billion industry in the US. 

During Keeneland's September sale, which began the following day, the people in the room would spend hundreds of thousands or even millions on year-old horses in hopes they'd be the next great race horses. The first day of the sale, more than $46 million worth of horses would be sold in a single day.

The party ended relatively early; I headed out at 10 p.m., by which point most people had filtered out.

After all, everyone had a big day ahead of them. And for me, the ritzy Apiary party was just a taste of what was to come.

• Jogging strollers are great for parents who like to run and stay fit while taking care of their kids.
• The Thule Urban Glide 2 provides the smoothest ride with the easiest one-handed steering around, making it the best jogging stroller you can buy.

A good jogging stroller is the secret weapon of any fitness-minded parent. Whether you're a working mom, a stay-at-home dad, or something in-between, parenthood demands a certain level of creativity if you want to take great care of yourself at the same time as your bundle(s) of joy. A standard or umbrella stroller is fine for cruising around busy city streets or shopping malls, but for running or hiking, a sturdy and zippy jogging stroller is the only tool for the job.

Testing the very best jogging strollers has been a passion project for me. I tested each stroller over several runs on a variety of terrains, including sidewalks, city streets, gravel, and dirt paths. Some of the runs were short and quick, and others were long, slow plods over several miles.

I evaluated how easily each stroller folded up for storage and transport in the trunk of my hatchback. I paid attention to the smoothness of the ride, one-handed steering, and how much sun and rain protection each stroller's canopy offered. Plus, while not crucial to the quality of your run, the size and accessibility of the bottom storage basket make a huge difference to lots of parents. That's where you stash diapers, extra snacks, and the works. If you can believe it, my chihuahua even loves to ride under there during leisurely jogs.  

So what did I learn during my months of testing? There's a huge difference in quality between the best and worst jogging strollers. But once you near the top, there are several amazing options. Which one you should get depends on preference and priorities. So here are the best of the best in a variety of categories.

Here are the best jogging strollers you can buy:

• Best jogging stroller overall: Thule Urban Glide 2
• Best jogging stroller runner-up: Bob Revolution Pro
• Best jogging stroller on a budget: Chicco Tre
•  
• Best jogging stroller for zipping around town: Bumbleride Speed
• Best jogging stroller for super serious runners: Thule Glide 2
• Best multi-sport jogging stroller: Burley D'Lite Trailer

Updated on 9/18/19 by Caitlin Petreycik: Updated copy, formatting, links, and prices.

The best jogging stroller overall

Excellent maneuverability, a smooth ride, and aerodynamic design make the Thule Urban Glide 2 the best jogging stroller.

At just under 24 pounds, this light and aerodynamic jogging stroller seems to skate across the pavement of my neighborhood's sidewalks. I'm impressed by the way this Thule stroller handles, especially after trying many other jogging strollers. The genius design has even landed this jogging stroller a place in the National Museum of Sweden.

Of course, sidewalks are ideal conditions and things got a bit rockier when I went off-road with it. I was able to push my toddler over miles of dirt and gravel terrain without a peep of complaint. 

Serious runners will love the smooth ride and one-handed maneuverability. You can lock the front wheel during runs and let it swivel during walks around town. I adore the ergonomically curved handle and the twisting hand break for easier maneuvering up or down hills. The big overhead canopy also kept my toddler's little legs dry during downpours.

The under-carriage storage basket isn't the biggest or the smallest, but it's a good size, reasonably easy to access, and comes with a weatherproof zipping top, which is an uncommon feature. The Thule Urban Glide 2 is also available as a double stroller.

Now for the few things I thought were less than ideal about this top pick. First, it's definitely not cheap. So this stroller is not a budget buy. Even though my average-sized 3-year-old is way under the listed weight capacity, the seat area wasn't quite deep enough for her, and her shoes were already peeking over the foot area. Of course, this won't matter to people with younger children and babies.

The footprint of the two back wheels was wider than many of the other models I tested. This means I had a bit of squeezing to do to get the Thule Urban Glide through my front gate, which is, admittedly, not super wide. I also found it too difficult to maneuver through tight city spaces like my local cafe's dining room. Still, this stroller does fold down into a smaller shape than some of its main competitors, especially if you pop the wheels off. All in all, the Thule Urban Glide 2 comes out on top as a stroller that works beautifully in most circumstances.

Pros: The smoothness of the ride and the precise handling are unbeatable

Cons: On the expensive side, doesn't work as well for ages three and up, and has a wide wheel print

The best budget jogging stroller

The Chicco Tre jogging stroller has lots of nifty extras at a reasonable price.

The Chicco Tre jogging stroller comes with every accessory you can think of. From the parent organizer with a drink holder to the kids' snack tray, it's got all the extras, which isn't true for many of the more expensive models on our list. So if you want this for casual jogging on sidewalks, or walking around the mall, then this model is great if you're on a budget.

I love the nice, big, accessible storage basket, and the accessories. It's great for smooth paved roads, and the price tag causes less sticker shock than some of the other models.

However, you really can feel the difference in how this stroller handles when compared side-by-side with higher-end models. Even though it does have a nice wheel-suspension system, it's just not as smooth or fancy-feeling in its handling. And it was more difficult to run one-handed with the Chicco model.

Pros: Good price, comes with extra features and accessories

Cons: Not as smooth as its more expensive competitors

The best runner-up jogging stroller

The Bob Revolution Pro boasts a super smooth ride, tight steering, and a sturdy build.

I don't normally feel the need to include a "runner-up" pick when testing products. But in this case, I think the Bob Revolution Pro is terrifically close to the Urban Glide 2 in performance. The differences between these two really come down to preference. Plus, "the Bob" as it's called in the kid-having community, is an institution for a reason.

This stroller has a nice, smooth ride, and excellent handling. It's sturdy enough that I took it hiking along a rocky path with little trouble. When the front wheel is in unlocked mode, it handles tight turns better than any other model I tried. It also has a nice big kid seat that accommodated my pre-schooler with room to spare, and a large canopy to protect your precious cargo from the elements.

There are a few things about the Bob that I wasn't over-the-moon about, though. It's heavier than some of its competitors at just over 28 pounds. This matters very little on flat, smooth pavement. But I could feel the weight difference when pushing it uphill. The weight also adds to momentum when going downhill, but the bicycle-style hand brake works well to maintain control.

It's pretty easy to fold, but still takes up lots of space. It was a challenge to fit the Bob in my trunk. The wheels are easy to pop off, which helps. But it's not ideal for people with small-space concerns. The under-carriage storage basket is also on the smaller side and pretty hard to reach.

Even though some features of the Bob aren't 100% perfect, this stroller is still a star performer, and would definitely give its Thule competitor a run for its money.

Pros: Great handling, large bucket seat, and an extra smooth ride

Cons: On the bulkier, heavier, more expensive side, with a small storage basket

The best for zipping around town

The Bumbleride Speed comes with a nice big storage basket and three helpful front wheel positions.

The Bumbleride Speed stroller was a huge hit with both me and my daughter. I loved the large, easily accessible storage basket and the harmful-chemical-free recycled materials. She loved the comfy seat design and the included bicycle-style warning bell. The Speed stroller model also came complete with a tire hand-pump and a bumper bar that goes across the kiddo's lap.

One of my favorite things about the Bumbleride Speed is the three separate front wheel positions, which is a unique feature in all the strollers I tested. It can be set to a fixed position, a swiveling position, and a third in-between position. This means that the wheel stays steady and in-place for jogging, but has just enough wiggle room to help you take tight corners. I loved it!

My 35-ish pound toddler fit nicely in the deep seat, with head and foot room to spare. The Bumbleride folds easily, actually fits in my hatchback, and has a nice smooth ride, although not quite as smooth as the Thule or Bob.

Now for some of the cons. There's no hand brake, which doesn't bother me, but many parents love that extra safety measure for going down steep hills. The handlebar is also lacking in cushioning. Since the wrist strap is attached right at the middle of the bar where I usually like to hold it, it wasn't the most comfortable option.

I also didn't love the sun and shade canopy, which didn't stay in place as easily as I wanted it to. Still, overall, this is a high-quality option that rose to the top during my testing.

Pros: Great for tight turns, folds up well, and has a nice, large basket underneath

Cons: No hand break, imperfect canopy, on the expensive side, lacking in handlebar cushioning

The best for serious runners

The Thule Glide 2.0 is smooth, sturdy, and aerodynamic, with high-performing wheels and suspension.

If you're a serious, competitive runner, then this is likely the stroller for you. Let me be clear, it's not the best option for zipping around town, or walking around in the mall. So if you're only going to buy one stroller, this shouldn't be it. However, if you have another stroller for casual walking around, and are looking for a serious, running-only model, then this is the one. The Thule Glide 2.0 is built for performance.

Its extra large wheels, including a fixed front wheel, may mean it'll be too much stroller for hanging out downtown. However, the wheels do pop off easily when you're storing it, or putting it in the back of your SUV. But it does have a large footprint.

This model is almost exactly the same as the Thule Urban Glide 2, so you can expect the same amazing smoothness and one-handed control. The larger, sturdier wheels are the main difference.

If you're looking for a stroller to use while training for a sub-17 minute 5K, or qualifying for the Boston Marathon, then boy, would they be worth it. But they're overkill for sidewalk jogging and are less convenient and maneuverable than the swivel-wheel options.

Pros: Amazing suspension and performance, with Thule's Swedish design features

Cons: Heavier than the Urban Glide 2, and the fixed wheel doesn't handle tight corners well

The best for multi-sport families

You won't have to choose between your dual loves of running and cycling with the Burley D'Lite.

Is it a jogging stroller? Is it a bike tow? You don't have to choose. If you are super outdoorsy but don't have a ton of extra room in your garage, or space in your mini-van when packing for a trip, you'll love the Burley D'Lite's versatility. With the accompanying jogger kit, which includes a handle and a front wheel, this amazing multi-sport tool works for both jogging and cycling with tots in tow.

This brand new D'Lite model upgrade is fresh for 2019, and I was super impressed with several of its features. First of all, the twin seat interior for your heir-and-a-spare may as well be inside a luxury car. Multiple recline positions and multiple suspension settings mean kids can snooze comfortably while you train for your Ironman. Plus, the built-in water protection and retractable sun shield are major must-haves.

If you're not planning on biking with your kids, and just want a great product for running, this isn't it. It's not as light and maneuverable as a single jogging-only stroller. But if you're envisioning one product you can use in all your outdoor expeditions, look no further.

The Burley D'Lite is certainly not the only combination bike tow and jogging stroller you can buy, but it's the best one I've tried, and it has all the bells and whistles. The conversion between sport modes is super fast and easy, and in addition to running and biking, you can even convert this thing for cross-country skiing.

At nearly 30 pounds, it's not the lightest product on this list. Nor does it fold up as super small as some of the other models I've mentioned. Let's face it, it's the most expensive by a good chunk of cash. But with that extra size and cost, you get space for two kids plus a bit of cargo, and the ability to keep your kids safe and comfy through multiple kinds of outdoor adventure. Worth it? This running, biking mom says yes.

Pros: It's insanely versatile (for running, cycling, and skiing) with plenty of luxe features

Cons: It's expensive, on the heavier side, and doesn't fold up as small

Check out our other stroller buying guides

The best strollers you can buy

With the right stroller, you and your young one are ready for anything, from a quick trip to the stores to a week-long overseas vacation. Here are our top picks for the best stroller you can buy:

• Best stroller overall: Nuna DEMI Grow Stroller
• Best stroller for multi-kid families: UPPAbaby Vista
• Best affordable stroller: Summer Infant 3Dlite Convenience Stroller
• Best rugged umbrella stroller: Ergobaby Metro
• Best jogging stroller: Chicco Tre

The best travel strollers you can buy

If you're traveling with a baby or a toddler, you're more than a little crazy if you travel without a stroller. But leave behind the clunky old behemoth you use in everyday life and make the trip as smooth as can be with a great travel stroller. Here are the best travel strollers you can buy:

• Best travel stroller overall: Colugo Compact Stroller
• Best multi-age travel stroller: Joolz Hub Stroller
• Best lightweight travel stroller: Maxi-Cosi Lara Stroller
• Best travel stroller and car seat combo: Doona + Infant Car Seat/Stroller
• Best rolling luggage-style travel stroller: Baby Trend Jetaway Plus Compact Stroller

The best double strollers you can buy

Handling one baby is hard enough, but twins double the challenge. A great double stroller is essential to ensure you can stay on the move.

Many double strollers can accommodate up to 35 or even 40 pounds per seat, so you may be able to use a single stroller for the entire time your kids use one. Here are the best double strollers you can buy:

• Best double stroller overall: Bugaboo Donkey2 Complete Stroller
• Best double jogging stroller: Baby Trend Expedition Double Jogger
• Best double umbrella stroller: Chicco Echo Twin Stroller
• Best budget double stroller: Delta Children LX Side by Side Double Stroller
• Best double car seat stroller: Joovy Twin Roo+ Car Seat Stroller

• You can usually get your iPhone out of headphone mode by simply unplugging or disconnecting your headphones.
• But your iPhone can occasionally get stuck in headphone mode, making your device believe headphones are plugged in even when they're not, and muting the speakers. 
• There are several methods you can try to get your iPhone out of headphone mode, including restarting your phone, and cleaning your headphone jack. 
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

If you own an iPhone, you've probably used it to listen to music through headphones on your commute home from work, or while using the treadmill at the gym. And generally, as soon as you unplug the headphones, your iPhone will start routing music back through the speakers.

But sometimes, your iPhone can get confused and continue to operate as if headphones are plugged in even when they're not. 

This error is particularly frustrating since, while your iPhone is stuck in headphone mode, you'll be unable to play sounds through the phone's loudspeaker. 

There are several reasons this might be happening, however, and just as many possible fixes for the issue. Below are a few methods you should try to get your iPhone out of headphone mode. 

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

iPhone Xs (From $999.99 at Best Buy)

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

Plug in a pair of headphones and unplug them again

This seems fairly obvious, but doing so could prompt your iPhone to recognize that the headphones have been unplugged this time, thereby taking it out of headphone mode. This is one of the most common fixes for the issue and tends to do the trick many times, so it's worth a try.

Restart your phone

As with most technology, a restart of your iPhone can help fix many issues your device might have. It's always worth taking a few moments to restart your iPhone by powering it off and then on again to see if that happens to fix the issue.

Read more: How to restart and force-restart any iPhone model

Clean your headphone jack

One of the reasons your phone might get stuck in headphone mode is that there's debris of some kind in the headphone jack. Even a small amount of dust can cause an issue, so it's worth cleaning with compressed air even if you can't physically see anything in there.

Turn off Bluetooth

If you've been listening with Bluetooth headphones, your iPhone may believe that it's still connected to the headphones even after they turn off. Try turning off Bluetooth on your iPhone through the Control Panel or Settings app.

Check for water damage

You may think that since you haven't dropped your iPhone in the toilet or sink, you couldn't possibly have water damage, but that may not be the case. To check if moisture is the issue, look for your iPhone's LCI (liquid contact indicator), which will turn red when it has come in contact with water. To find out where this indicator is on your iPhone model, click here. 

Contact Apple for further support

If you've tried seemingly every possible fix to get your iPhone out of headphone mode but are having no luck, it may be time to reach out to Apple for further investigation. They'll be able to tell if you're having a hardware issue, and fix or replace any relevant parts that are broken or malfunctioning. You can contact Apple by phone, online, or — better yet if you're looking for a quick diagnosis — go to an Apple Store.

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

• How to tell if your iPhone is waterproof or water-resistant, and to what extent

• 7 ways to fix your iPhone when it has no service

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

• How to turn off two-step and two-factor authentication on an iPhone, through your Apple ID account

• I never thought that I'd be excited by everyday household supplies like dish soap and hand soap, but the soaps from online natural home brand Grove Collaborative changed that for me. 
• Its soaps are made with safe, plant-based ingredients and come in refill packs, to be used with sleek and sturdy glass dispensers. The ones I tried from the Autumn Fig Collection ($37.95) also smell amazing. 
• If a company can make me look forward to washing my dishes and hands, then I'm very interested in seeing what else it can do to improve the little tasks in my life. 

When I'm in the kitchen, things like an efficient, versatile pan and elegant, simple dinnerware excite me. So does a nice bottle of olive oil and protein-packed grains.

I could spend hours considering the features of cookware and food products, but I've probably only spent about 1/100th of the same time thinking about and picking out the soap in my kitchen. 

That attitude is changing, though. The growing popularity of natural beauty products has me looking more closely at the ingredients in all the other products I use in my daily life. There are few products I use more every day than soap. 

Grove Collaborative, an online marketplace for the best natural home and personal care products, recently sent me its Autumn Fig Collection ($37.95), which includes gel dish soap and gel hand soap. 

I took on to these simple and common household supplies with surprising gusto. The scent played a big role — the sweet and rich fig scent managed to still be bright and fresh rather than cloying, and it was a refreshing change from the generically "fresh" scents of most soaps. What's great is that this fragrance is also natural, made with a blend of essential oils and other plant-based ingredients. 

These soaps cleaned as well as any other I've tried before, so it's not really the cleaning ability itself that impressed me. Instead, it was that they were made of safe, plant-based ingredients and promoted eco-friendly practices. The soaps come in refill packs rather than single-use plastic bottles and can be used with Grove Collaborative's Glass Dish Soap Dispenser (16-ounce, $12.95) and Glass Hand Soap Dispenser (13.5-ounce, $10.95). 

The dispensers are made from sturdy, partly recycled glass, so they're reusable and refillable. Add a silicone sleeve and they won't slip around on your sink top. Overall, they looked cleaner and more sleek than plastic bottles.

The Autumn Fig set also came with a natural soy candle, organic cotton tea towel, and European dish cloth, but it was the soaps that I loved the most because they elevated and made everyday cleaning rituals safer for my body.

Overall, they were a great introduction to Grove Collaborative's standards of sustainability, quality ingredients, and beautiful products, and I plan on exploring more of the company's offerings. 

Shop the Autumn Fig Collection for $37.95 at Grove Collaborative

Shop all natural home and personal care products at Grove Collaborative

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• It's easy to change the owner of a Google Doc by sharing the document with them and adjusting the settings to transfer ownership. 
• You can only change the owner of a Google Doc on a computer — the option isn't available on the mobile app version of Google Docs.
• Here's what you'll need to do to change the owner of a Google Doc.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Google Docs allows you to easily collaborate with people on projects. 

But sometimes circumstances change, and a document that you were the lead on needs to be transferred to someone else, or it makes more sense for another person to take ownership of it. 

That's when it's time to change the owner. Here's how:

How to change the owner of a Google Doc

This should be a quick process if you know the document you want to transfer ownership for, and have already shared the document with the intended new owner. 

Just keep in mind that this process can only be completed on a computer, not via the Android or iPhone apps.

Here's how to get it done:

1. Open the document you want to change the ownership of by going into docs.google.com or drive.google.com. 

2. Click the blue share button in the top-right corner of the screen. 

3. If you haven't already shared the document with the person you want to be the new owner of the document, enter their name or email address in the share window and click "Done" and reopen the share pop-up, if necessary. 

4. Click "Advanced," located in the bottom-right corner of the share pop-up. 

5. Next to the name of the person you want to set as the new document owner, click the down carrot. 

6. Click "Is Owner" then click "Done."

7. Confirm your choice by clicking "Yes" on the "Are you sure?" screen. 

After that, you won't be able to change the ownership of the document and it will be in the control of whoever is the new owner. You should still be able to edit it, however, unless they revoke your access to the document.

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

• How to add footnotes in Google Docs in 4 easy steps, to cite your research and provide links

• How to change the line spacing on any text in Google Docs, from your desktop or mobile device

• How to edit Google Docs files offline, for when you're without internet or trying to eliminate online distractions

• How to make a brochure on Google Docs for your company or cause

SEE ALSO: The best laptops you can buy

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: The Navy has its own Area 51 and it's right in the middle of the Bahamas

• How much to tip is often more complicated than it needs to be.
• While tipping varies by service, a solid tip amount is generally 18% of your bill.
• DealNews broke down the most common tipping situations and how much to tip for each one.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Nothing kills the fun of wining and dining faster than having to mull over just what percentage of your bill should go to the waitstaff.

That's because figuring out how much to tip, if tipping is required, and whom you should tip is often more complicated than it needs to be. To help simplify the confusion, controversy, and complication that is tipping, DealNews broke down the most common situations in which tipping is expected and how much to tip for each one.

While how much to tip varies by service, a solid tip amount is generally about 18% of your bill — something to bear in mind now that tipping has started going up.

"Many mobile-payment apps now offer the option to just choose a preset percentage amount, which can be very convenient but also might push you into tipping more," Julie Ramhold, consumer analyst at DealNews, told Business Insider. "Rather than opting for the highest tier of 25%, feel free to choose 'another amount,' which many apps offer."

Ramhold said you can incorporate tipping by increasing your budget by 20%. "This allows you to tip adequately for exceptional service, but also allows you to tip less if the situation calls for it."

When in doubt, always tip at least a little something.

Below, find out how much to tip in every situation, from your cleaner and your hairstylist to your nail technician and your dog groomer.

SEE ALSO: How much people tip on average across the US — and there's a big difference between red and blue states

DON'T MISS: The ultimate guide to tipping in almost any situation

AAA tow service

Standard tip: $5 to $10

If the tow bill is high or you can't afford it, you don't have to tip.

Airport-shuttle drivers

Standard tip: 15% (up to 20% for exceptional service)

Tip the shuttle driver the way you would a cab driver.

Apartment/building supers

Standard tip: $5 per job (up to $10 for exceptional service and $75 to $150 if it's around the holidays)

Tip when the job is complete.

Appliance delivery

Standard tip: $10 per person (up to $20 per person for exceptional service)

Babysitters

Standard tip: 10% (up to 15% for exceptional service, and one week's pay for the holidays to be gifted beforehand)

Exceptional service includes things like cooking dinner, picking up kids at an event, doing a big activity with the kids, dealing with a sick child, accepting last-minute booking, and staying later than planned.

Bartenders

Standard tip: $1 per drink or 15% of the total bill

Tip before you get your drink if you want better service.

Bathroom attendants

Standard tip: $0.50 if they hand you a paper towel (up to $2 to $3 per service for exceptional service, such as mending hems or polishing shoes)

Tipping isn't always allowed.

Bellhops/porters

Standard tip: $1 to $2 per bag, $5 minimum

Tip when they deliver bags to the room and when they pick the bags up.

Bus drivers (not mass transit)

Standard tip: $1 to $2

Only tip if they handle your luggage.

Cable/internet/satellite installers

Standard tip: $20

Tip when the job is complete.

Car-wash employees

Standard tip: $2 to $3 for a basic wipe down, $5 to $10 for more complicated washes, 15% for detailing

Tip when the job is complete.

Carryout/takeout restaurants

Standard tip: $0 (up to 10% for exceptional service)

Tip if your order is complicated, large, or delivered curbside.

Caterers

Standard tip: 15% to 20% of total bill, or $50 per server

Tip when paying the final bill or when the event is over.

Chauffeurs

Standard tip: 10% (up to 15% for exceptional service) 

Coat checkers

Standard tip: $1 per coat (an extra $2 to $5 when picking up if you're feeling generous)

Tip when dropping the coat off.

Concierges

Standard tip: $5 (up to $20 for exceptional service)

Tip when you receive the service. Tip little or nothing at all if the concierge only provides directions.

Dog groomers

Standard tip: 15% (up to 20% for exceptional service and $10 to $100 during the holidays, depending on the frequency of your visits throughout the year)

Tip when you pick up your pet.

Dog walkers

Standard tip: 10% (up to 20% for exceptional service and equal to one week's pay during the holidays if you're a regular customer)

Tipping the dog walker is up to you, but always appreciated. If your dog is difficult (has anxiety, is temperamental, etc.), it's a good idea to give a little extra. If you're a regular, you don't necessarily need to tip if it's business as usual, but you should give a little extra if something comes up last minute.

Doormen (apartment building)

Standard tip: A bottle of wine or box of chocolates

Only tip around the holidays.

Here's how much to tip your doorman if you're giving a cash gift. 

Dry cleaning or laundry pickup

Standard tip: $3 to $5, depending on the size of the wash

Consider tipping during both pickup and delivery if the people are different.

Enterprise employees

Standard tip: $1 to $5

Most Enterprise drivers don't expect a tip, so it's a pleasant surprise. They should be tipped just like cab drivers.

Fast-casual restaurants

Standard tip: Extra change (up to $2 for exceptional service)

Tip when paying. The jars are divvied up among staff, so you're tipping the whole team.

Flower delivery

Standard tip: $2 to $5

Tip when paying for delivery. It's not customary to tip, but if you don't want the recipient to feel obligated to tip, tip when paying for delivery. You also might want to tip if the delivery person has to navigate stairs or bad weather.

Food delivery

Standard tip: $10% or $2 minimum

Tip when paying online or when the food is delivered.

Furniture delivery

Standard tip: $5 per person (up to $20 for exceptional service)

Tip when the job is complete, and offer cold drinks if the furniture was heavy or it was a tough delivery.

Garbage collectors

Standard tip: $15 (up to $25)

Tip around the holidays.

Gardeners

Standard tip: One week's pay if they visit regularly; otherwise, $20 to $50

Tip around the holidays or at the end of a growing season. Tip in cash with a sincere thank you note. Gifts are also acceptable in the price range of $20 to $50.

Haircuts/blowouts

Standard tip: 10% to 15% (up to 15% to 20% for exceptional service)

Tip after the service is completed, and tip everyone involved. For example, different people washing and drying your hair should receive $5. The person doing most of the work should receive the biggest tip.

Housekeepers (personal)

Standard tip: One week's pay

Tip around the holidays.

Housekeeping (hotels)

Standard tip: $2 per night (up to $5 per night)

Tip daily since different people could be cleaning the room every day.

Janitors

Standard tip: $15 (up to $25 for exceptional service)

Tip around the holidays.

Karaoke DJs

Standard tip: $10 (up to $20 for exceptional service)

Tip at the end of the night.

Laundromats (drop-off service)

Standard tip: $0 (up to $2 to $3 for exceptional service)

Tipping isn't required, but a nice gesture when they've gone above and beyond. Tip for stain removal, small repairs, or if the load is particularly large, and do so when picking up your laundry.

Mail carriers

Standard tip: $15 (up to $20 for exceptional service)

Tip around the holidays. You can also tip with non-cash gifts up to $20.

Maître d's

Standard tip: $5 (up to $25 for exceptional service)

Tip for special efforts.

Makeup artists

Standard tip: 15% (up to 25% for exceptional service)

Tip at the end of the service.

Manicures/pedicures

Standard tip: 15% (up to 20% for exceptional service)

Massages

Standard tip: 10% to 15% (up to 20% for exceptional service)

Movers

Standard tip: $10 per person (up to $25 per person for exceptional service)

Supply cold drinks and lunch if it's a tough move.

Musicians (for events)

Standard tip: $15 per person (up to $20 per person for exceptional service)

Tipping isn't necessary, but it is a nice gesture. Tip after the ceremony, reception, or event.

Nannies

Standard tip: One week's pay

Tip around the holidays.

Newspaper delivery

Standard tip: $15 (up to $25 for exceptional service)

Tip around the holidays.

Package delivery

Standard tip: $5 (up to $10 for exceptional service)

Tipping here should be considered as an extra gift for those hauling heavy packages to your door. If they had to climb several stairs or it's extremely hot, consider tipping more.

Parking attendants (residential buildings)

Standard tip: $15 (up to $25 for exceptional service)

Tip around the holidays.

Parking-lot workers (home-improvement stores)

Standard tip: $10

Tip when they assist with loading a heavy item into your car.

Parking valets

Standard tip: $2 (up to $5 for exceptional service)

Tip when your vehicle is retrieved, although it's also been suggested to tip when dropping your vehicle off.

Personal trainers

Standard tip: $20 (up to $50 for exceptional service)

Tip around the holidays, but do so discreetly.

Plumbers

Standard tip: $10 for smaller jobs (up to 10% of total job for exceptional service)

Porters/skycaps

Standard tip: $1 per bag or $2 per heavy item (up to $2 per bag if they bring your luggage to the counter)

Room service

Standard tip: $5 minimum

If gratuity is added to the check, you don't need to tip.

Shoe shiners

Standard tip: $2 (up to $3 for exceptional service)

Spa services

Standard tip: 15% (up to 20% for exceptional service)

Taxi drivers

Standard tip: 15% to 20% of your fare

Tip after your ride ends.

Tour guides

Standard tip: 10% to 20% of total tour cost; $1 per person when drivers double as guides

It's acceptable to not tip tour guides at national parks and other government sites. For amiable drivers, passengers may be asked to contribute $1 per person. If the tour is long with no built-in gratuity, passengers should each contribute $5 to $10 to the guide and $5 to $10 to the driver.

Uber/Lyft

Standard tip: $1 to $2 per person for shorter rides; 10% (up to 20% for exceptional service)

Tip at the end of the ride, and tip extra for traffic, construction, distance, inconveniences, and if the driver helps with luggage or packages.

Waitstaff

Standard tip: 15% (up to 20% for exceptional service)

• Everlane has a great line of $100 cashmere sweaters for women and men.
• The relatively low cost reflects Everlane's transparent pricing and declining costs in raw materials.
• I wore the $100 Cashmere Crew as an unofficial uniform the last two winters, and it's a great deal.

It's that time of year again. The cold is creeping in through drafty windowsills, Central Park once again smells like decomposing leaves and roasted peanuts, and cashmere and wool coats — the unofficial mascots of the winter season — are being unfolded from their summertime storage. 

For me, that means Everlane's $100 Cashmere Crew, which without much conscious involvement, becomes my cold weather uniform — a reliable choice for everything from weekend apple picking outings to groggy Monday mornings. 

It's warm and soft, but still ultimately lightweight, making it perfect on its own, layered, or tucked into a skirt. The relaxed fit works for the office, weekend plans, or lounging around the house with a cup of coffee and a book. This also makes it a good investment piece, since I can wear it alone on chilly fall nights and layered during colder winter nights. It is a closet staple for six months of the year.

In other words, the Cashmere Crew has been a great use of $100.

It's a foundational closet piece, and it never disappoints. I've had more fun buying statement pieces, but rarely have I ever gotten so much wear per dollar.

The Crew comes in seven sizes (XXS-XXL) and 18 colors for women and six sizes (XS - XXL) and 11 colors for men, but I suggest starting with a staple color that works with the bulk of your closet, like black, charcoal, or dark navy. You can always stock up on more colors, but I guarantee you will thank yourself for beginning with one that weathers repeated wears gracefully. I ordered true to size, but if you're concerned about tightness, you should be happy with the next size up. 

Read more: These new upcycled knit boots from Everlane fit like a glove — here's what 5 women thought about its new sock-like ankle boot

It's not cheap, but it is relatively affordable. Everlane uses Grade-A cashmere — the best there is — but sells it at the same price you might find Grade-C in another store. Unlike lower-quality options, Grade-A is stronger and doesn't pill as easily. 

According to Everlane, the cost of raw cashmere fluctuates wildly, and retailers raise prices to reflect higher cashmere costs when necessary. However, they rarely lower prices when the raw cost declines. Because of their 100% transparency model, Everlane has adjusted prices to reflect the declining cashmere costs in recent years (from $125 originally to $100 for the last few years).

Cashmere sweaters — like many items on the site — have a pricing breakdown for the interested customer. According to the company, it cost $46.21 to make the women's Cashmere Crew, and traditional retail markup would sell it for $210. Everlane has priced it at $100. 

Though you are getting a nicer form of cashmere, $100 still isn't chump change. But, if you're looking for a good deal, then this is a great option.

I don't have a minimalist closet with spare options, but I opt to wear this sweater at least once a week during the cold season. It's soft, comfortable, flattering, and comes in a silhouette that makes it even more versatile than the average crewneck cashmere sweater. If you need to stock up on winter closet workhorses you know you're going to inevitably live in, you may want to take a look. 

Shop the women's Everlane Cashmere Crew for $100, available in 18 colors

Shop the men's Everlane Cashmere Crew for $100, available in 11 colors

Shop all Everlane Cashmere

Join the conversation about this story »

• We visited the only caviar farm in the United States legally allowed to breed beluga sturgeon.
• Sturgeon AquaFarms cofounder Mark Zaslavsky, a Russian immigrant, brought live beluga into the country in 2003, just before the US government banned imports of the species in 2005.
• Beluga sturgeon are native to the Caspian Sea, and are classified as critically endangered by International Union for Conservation of Nature.
• The farm breeds five different types of sturgeon, some of which don't take as long to mature as beluga, which allows the company to harvest their eggs for caviar and take them them to market.
• Zaslavsky has pledged, as part of his agreement with the US government, to donate fertilized beluga eggs in the hopes that they will eventually strengthen the population of beluga in the wild.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

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