The WIRED Gear Team’s Personal Prime Day Picks

We look at gear all day, every day. Here are the cat caves and chopsticks that we'd spend our own money on.

Note: Amazon Prime Day is over. Our Post-Prime Day deals guide and Deals from Amazon Rivals will live on until July 18-20. As always, we hope we helped you sift through the sales madness and find great products. Check the WIRED Gear section for the latest news and reviews.

Here at the Gadget Lab, our offices, desks, and even homes are stuffed full of tester models for the latest, greatest devices available. But just like Tom Hanks in Big, we never get tired of looking at toys (er, I mean, very, very serious things that will disrupt the industry and make your life better). Here are 11 things that are currently making WIRED staffers reach for their own wallets.

If an item is no longer available at its deal price or is sold out, we cross it out. Sometimes items come back in stock or regain their sale price.

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WIRED's Prime Day Coverage
Schwinn

As it turns out, you can't parade an endless stream of scooters and bicycles in front of your preschooler without her eventually wanting a ride of her own. I'd been keeping an eye out for used pink bikes, but this price was too good to pass up. It's got everything a preschooler needs—training wheels, a rear brake and front caliper brake, a handle on the seat for mom to lunge at frantically, and puffy padding so she doesn't ding her forehead on the handlebar. And it comes in pink, of course.

—Adrienne So, senior writer

Quick: Where in your house is your fire extinguisher? You don’t have one, do you? I thought so. It’s fine—I know you’ve been meaning to buy one forever, because it’s a very important thing to keep in your home. And I know you’re really careful, but you still feel like you’ve been lucky in avoiding fires so far. Just get this. You’re an adult, and $20 is pretty damn cheap. You’ll thank me the next time your roommate mistakes the broiler drawer under the gas range for oven mitt storage.

—Michael Calore, senior editor

I’m always on the lookout for better sound in smaller, sleeker wireless earbuds, and these fit the bill. They sound great, with a surprisingly expansive soundstage for their size. On top of all that, they just look nice and unique and don’t fall out of my ears like Apple Airpods do.

—Jess Grey, product reviewer

I used to think Prime Day was for capitalist swine. Who wants to support a "holiday" invented to profit the richest man on earth? Then I saw this truly incredible deal on the Vitamix 5200. I'd been in the market for a blender for some time but felt paralyzed by Vitamix-induced sticker shock ($500 for a blender!). Could I swallow my socialist pride for 38 percent off this smoothie operator? Reader, I bought it.

—Arielle Pardes, senior associate editor

It's not a huge savings, but it never hurts to cut some plastic from your life. These replace the plastic produce bags that grocery stores dispense willy-nilly. They're washable and sturdy enough that mine have lasted two years and counting. As a bonus: Vegetables in the fridge last longer in these than they did in plastic.

—Scott Gilbertson, product reviewer

Motorola

Affordable Android phones, even older Moto G phones, used to come with a lot of compromises. That is changing fast. The Moto G7 (9/10, WIRED Recommends) was the best cheap phone you could buy for $300, and at $200 it's a must-buy if you need a phone and can't pay the $500 to $1,000 it usually costs for a "good" one. The G7 doesn't feel slow, has a decent camera, and works with all four wireless carriers in the US.

—Jeffrey Van Camp, reviews editor

Despite hailing from 2015, the 50-megapixel Canon 5DS is still a beast of a camera and routinely sells for $3,000. At this price, it's a fantastic way to dive into the Canon ecosystem. If you want a good starter lens to go with it, try the Canon 24–105mm F4 L (Note: Canon makes several 24–105 lenses, so make sure you get the L model with the red ring).

—Scott Gilbertson

Think of all the plastic forks you’ve thrown away this year, thanks to your lunchtime routine of shoveling takeout salad into your face while hovering over your keyboard. These stainless steel chopsticks make perfect sense for you. Stash them in your desk at work. Not only will you reduce the amount of garbage you’re dumping into landfills, but chopsticks also force most people to eat a little more slowly. And you should really slow down; it’s better for your health. Also, you get to be one of “those people” who whip out their own pair of personal chopsticks at mealtime. Haven’t you always wanted to be special? This is your chance. This set also comes with a metal straw, which is also great but please, please make sure you wash it often.

—Michael Calore

The 15-inch Razer Blade is one of my absolute favorite gaming laptops. Not only is it powerful enough to run most games really well at high settings, it’s sleek and stylish and a little understated compared to other gaming laptops. The biggest drawback has always been its premium price tag, so at this price it’s tough to resist.

—Jess Grey

Hands down, Garmin's Forerunner line is my favorite series of running watches. They're comfortable and fit on my small wrist. The app, Garmin Connect, is easy to use and understand. Their GPS tracking is the most accurate available, and the training analysis is the best. Since the latest Forerunner line just landed, last year's models are on sale for unbelievable prices. Which is crazy! They're still great running watches, but now for under $100!

—Adrienne So

Your cat loves you. (Probably?) But your cat would love you so much more if you just got her this. Felines need a semi-enclosed space where they can feel safe and hidden yet still be able to keep an eye on us, and that’s what a cave like this provides. It’s made of felted merino wool; it’s all natural, smells nice, and is durable enough to withstand years of claws-out kneading. Please note that I cannot promise your cat will like it more than the box it comes in.

—Michael Calore

Check our Amazon Prime Day Page for more up-to-the-minute coverage and deals.


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