• Jet fuel costs and supplies across the globe are under pressure from the US and Israeli war on Iran.
• Some major airlines are canceling flights in response.
• One airline exec described fuel prices as his business's most serious challenge.

First, the war made flights more expensive. Now, it's making them disappear.

The US and Israel's war on Iran has disrupted supply chains, trapping oil in storage facilities across the Middle East.

That saw the price of Brent crude oil rocket past $100 a barrel in early March, before dipping back below that benchmark once ceasefire talks began this month. On Friday, the price was at $92.42 when markets closed.

Jet fuel prices have risen even faster, doubling in price to almost $200 a barrel. And as the war drags on, jet fuel is getting harder to come by for countries that don't produce it or have limited supplies.

"In Europe, we have maybe six weeks or so (of) jet fuel left," the International Energy Agency's executive director, Fatih Birol, told the Associated Press on Thursday.

He added that, if the Strait of Hormuz isn't opened, there would then be flight cancellations due to fuel shortages.

Several airlines have already canceled flights or grounded airplanes due to rising costs.

June Goh, a senior oil market analyst at Sparta Commodities, said in a post on X that jet fuel requires specialized storage, which means less is stored than for other products, like gasoline.

"Travel has gotten a lot more expensive in Asia, with many airlines adding fuel surcharges or downright canceling flights," she wrote. "Europe is facing imminent jet fuel supply shortages. Brace yourselves."

Here's a look at some of the airlines that have already started canceling flights due to rising prices and falling supplies.

European airlines

Ryanair, Europe's largest airline, said it is considering reducing routes.

CEO Michael O'Leary said its jet fuel supply could be at risk if the war continues during an interview with Sky News.

"We don't expect any disruption until early May, but if the war continues, we do run the risk of supply disruptions in Europe in May and June," he said.

KLM said on April 17 that it was canceling 80 return flights from Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport, its main base.

It added that these routes were "no longer financially viable to operate" due to rising kerosene costs. The airline also clarified that there was no kerosene shortage.

The same day, Germany's Lufthansa announced that it was retiring dozens of aircraft ahead of schedule due to rising jet fuel prices and the impact of labor disputes.

Most of the airplanes are Canadair CRJ aircraft, as it shuts down its loss-making regional subsidiary Lufthansa CityLine.

Switzerland's Edelweiss Air also said it was canceling flights to the US, due to declining demand and rising fuel prices. It will no longer fly to Denver or Seattle, and will reduce the frequency of flights to Las Vegas.

A spokesperson for Scandinavian Airlines said that it would cut about 1,000 flights in April due to the surge in jet fuel costs.

They added that most of the canceled flights were on short-haul routes in the Nordic region, at airports with multiple daily flights.

Asian airlines

Several airlines in Asia said they would cut flights to mitigate fuel shortages and mounting costs.

Vietnam Airlines suspended seven domestic flight routes beginning April 1, a local state-run newspaper reported, according to Reuters. The outlet reported that Vietnam Airlines planned to slash flight volume by 10% to 20% a month over the next financial quarter if jet fuel prices rise to $160 to $200 per barrel.

Other local airlines, including Vietjet Air and Bamboo Airways, will also cut flights.

AirAsia said it has cut 10% of its flights and raised fares to curb the impact of rising fuel costs. The Malaysian low-cost carrier, which flies to 25 countries, added that it would cut capacity on routes where it couldn't cover fuel costs.

At a media briefing on April 6, CEO Bo Lingam said the fuel surcharge has risen up to 20%, and overall ticket prices have risen 30% to 40%.

Lingam said its jet fuel had risen from $90 per barrel before the war to $200 per barrel, describing this as the airline's most serious challenge.

United Airlines

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said in a March memo to staff that the company would cut flights over the next two quarters.

"In the short term, that means tactically pruning flying that's temporarily unprofitable in the face of high oil prices," Kirby said.

The airline planned to cancel some off-peak flights and red-eyes.

"If prices stayed at this level, it would mean an extra $11 billion in annual expense just for jet fuel," Kirby said in a message to employees posted on the company's website. "For perspective, in United's best year ever, we made less than $5B."

Delta Air Lines

Delta hasn't officially announced any flight cuts due to fuel prices; the oil refinery it owns in Pennsylvania has given it a buffer during the crisis.

"It's not going to cover the crack entirely, but gives us a fairly significant hedge," Delta CEO Ed Bastian said at a March JP Morgan conference.

Delta is cutting its seasonal Los Angeles to Anchorage route this summer, telling Business Insider that it "adjusts its schedule to align with customer demand." Alaska Airlines will be the sole operator on that route.

Air New Zealand

Air New Zealand said it would cut about 5% its flights, or about 1,100, at the start of May.

"We're focused on consolidating flights that are off-peak flying hours, for example, or where there is an alternative that we can re-accommodate customers," CEO Nikhil Ravishankar told 1News, a local outlet, in March.

Air Canada

Air Canada said it will suspend certain routes starting in late May due to rising jet fuel costs.

"Jet fuel prices have doubled since the start of the Iran conflict, affecting some lower profitability routes and flights which now are no longer economically feasible," the company's statement said. "Schedule adjustments including some frequency reductions are being made in response."

The route suspensions will impact certain domestic Canadian, transborder, and international flights.

• President Trump criticized Mayor Zohran Mamdani over a proposed tax on rich second-homeowners.
• Mamdani said he's not shocked by Trump's remarks, given their "deep policy differences."
• The pair's working relationship has fluctuated between chummy and combative since NYC's mayoral race.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's charm over President Donald Trump may be waning.

Trump lashed out at Mamdani on Thursday over a proposed tax targeting New York City's ultra-wealthy. Governor Kathy Hochul has also backed the tax.

"Sadly, Mayor Mamdani is DESTROYING New York! It has no chance! The United States of America should not contribute to its failure," Trump wrote in a Truth Social post. "It will only get WORSE. The TAX, TAX, TAX Policies are SO WRONG. People are fleeing. They must change their ways, AND FAST. History has proven, THIS "STUFF" JUST DOESN'T WORK."

The proposed pied-à-terre tax — introduced on Wednesday — would affect wealthy residents who own secondary properties in New York City valued over $5 million but live elsewhere. In a press release, the New York City Mayor's Office said the tax is expected to generate $500 million in annual revenue, helping close the city's budget gap.

The tax would directly affect billionaires such as Citadel CEO Ken Griffin, Amazon's Jeff Bezos, and Trump.

"The measure targets ultrawealthy out-of-city residents and global elites who use New York City real estate as a vehicle for wealth storage rather than as homes," a press release said.

Mamdani acknowledged Trump's remarks about him and the tax during a press conference on Friday, saying he wasn't surprised.

"It's not a surprise given the fact that the president and I have many deep policy differences, and I am not shy about airing them both publicly and privately," Mamdani said.

Mamdani told reporters their differences in opinion "will continue."

"The thing we have in common is that we're both New Yorkers," he said. "When I speak to the president, I always bring it back to the city and what I think will help the city."

Since emerging as a serious contender in the New York City mayoral race, Trump and Mandani's working relationship has fluctuated. Trump initially criticized Mamdani and his policies, but warmed to the mayor during an in-person Oval Office meeting last November.

During that meeting, Trump heaped praise on Mamdani, calling him "rational" and telling conservative critics they may be surprised by his leadership. He even told reporters he'd feel comfortable living in Mamdani's New York City.

Still, though, Trump isn't fully pleased with Mamdani's policies.

"I mean, he's a nice guy. Calls me all the time, says hi, but his policies are no good," Trump said during an event earlier this week. "He's chasing people out and causing a lot of harm to everybody. I mean, everybody's taxes are going through the roof."

You're just a few clicks away from enjoying two action-packed nights of WWE wrestling live from the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas this weekend. We'll quickly run through your options on how to watch a WrestleMania live stream from anywhere in the world.

Netflix has extensive international rights to these major WWE events outside the USA. The good news, though, is that if you already have a US Netflix subscription, you can get around geo-restrictions and use that existing account to watch by setting a VPN to a country like Canada or the UK to spoof your viewing location.

Or you can stick with the local US option via the ESPN Unlimited app, which will cost $29.99 a month. You might be tempted to spend an extra $5 to bolt on access to Hulu and Disney+ as well.

• See also: Where to watch UFC | Where to watch NBA playoffs

How to watch WWE WrestleMania from anywhere

WWE fans outside the location of their desired streaming service can still tune in with a VPN (virtual private network). VPNs are cybersecurity tools that enable people to alter their virtual locations. So if you're away from the UK or Canada at the moment, you can still watch via Netflix with a VPN. They're popular apps among those hoping to access their usual websites and apps while traveling abroad or boost their online privacy and security.

As far as VPNs go, our top recommendation of the best VPN services is consistently NordVPN. We've found that it unlocks international streaming better than anyone else and includes top-notch security features that can help boost your day-to-day privacy on the internet. Plus, it's a beginner-friendly option with a 30-day money-back guarantee. You can read more about it in our NordVPN review, and see below to learn how to use a VPN.

How to watch WWE WrestleMania in the UK, Canada, and more

Netflix is the streaming home of WWE WrestleMania in many countries outside the USA. Prices vary by region and depend on your subscription tier.

WrestleMania 2026 is available on Netflix in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, Finland, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Indonesia, Israel, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, and the UK.

If you're not currently in one of those countries, you can still watch WrestleMania on any Netflix account by changing your VPN settings to one of those countries before signing into Netflix and enjoying the action as detailed above.

How to watch WWE WrestleMania in the US

If you're in the US and don't want the VPN/Netflix route mentioned above, you can find WrestleMania on ESPN Unlimited. The first hour of WrestleMania will be shown on broadcast TV as well via ESPN2 on Saturday and ESPN on Sunday. So you'll need the Unlimited streaming service to access coverage of the biggest bouts of each night for sure. ESPN Unlimited subscriptions cost $29.99 a month.

Most of us have an area of our home that could benefit from a little extra light. Maybe it's a dark living room with north-facing windows, a bedroom with insufficient overhead lighting, or a nook without an electrical outlet for a lamp to add some brightness. That's why cordless lamps are a brilliant solution. Also known as portable lamps, these rechargeable lamps provide hours of illumination exactly where you need it.

"Portable lamps were once seen as novelty items valued mainly for their utility," says lighting designer and consultant Staci Ruiz. "Today, they have become some of the most sought-after design pieces in the home and hospitality industries." That's because cordless lamps allow lighting to be responsive instead of fixed. "It's illuminated freedom," says industrial designer Alecia Wesner, brand steward for George Kovacs Lighting. "The limitations of electrical outlet locations, dealing with cords and how to hide them, or being limited by the infrastructure of an existing space and its electrical plan are completely eliminated."

Cordless lamps come in a variety of sizes and styles, making them a fantastic renter-friendly option for illuminating a work desk, nightstand, entryway, patio, or tucked-away corner. We tested 14 models to find the best cordless lamps for every need, style, and budget, evaluating them on battery life, brightness, ease of use, and durability.

Our picks of the best cordless lamps

Best overall: Zafferano Pina Pro - See at Amazon

Best budget: Brightech Celia Portable Lamp - See at Amazon

Best table lamp: O'Bright Dune Battery Powered Table Lamp - See at Amazon

Best desk lamp: O'Bright Bankers LED Lamp - See at Amazon

Best for bedroom: Addison Ross Rechargeable Bobbin Lamp - See at Addison Ross

Most stylish: Pooky Katherine Cordless Lamp - See at Pooky Lighting

Best floor lamp: Pooky Lillee Cordless Standing Lamp - See at Pooky Lighting

Best outdoor: Weilailux Outdoor Lamp - See at Amazon

Best overall

You'll use it for everything. You may recognize the Zafferino Pina Pro cordless lamp from your favorite restaurant, but we think it makes an excellent addition to the home. It has three color temperatures (candlelight, warm white, and cool white), and its brightest setting is powerful, making it ideal for reading, desk work, dark entryways, patios, and areas with limited lighting. The lamp can also be dimmed to function as a bookshelf light or ambient lighting. We actually traveled with the petite Pina Pro, using it as a nightlight in a guest bedroom that only had overhead lighting.

Operation is a no-brainer. The Pina Pro includes a proprietary charging base and utilizes a single button for operation. Tap to turn the light on or off, and long-press to slowly dim it. Adjusting the color temperature is just as simple. While the lamp is off, press and hold the button until it turns blue. Then tap to cycle through the three warmth options. The button turns red to indicate when it's time to recharge. Incidentally, we found that the Pina Pro has a run time of 11 hours versus the advertised 12, but it still lasts a full day.

Also consider: The Zafferano Poldina Pro, a slim, portable indoor/outdoor lamp that functions similarly to the Pina Pro, and you can also accessorize it with shades. It has three color temperatures and can be adjusted to three different heights. We tested the large floor lamp version. The downside? It's heavy and expensive at $360.

Best budget

A lot of bang for your buck. Brightech's Celia Portable Lamp resembles some of the fancier models we tested but is a fraction of the price. We loved its trendy mushroom design and that it takes just a tap to operate and adjust the three brightness settings. It gives off a good amount of light for its size. Plus the lampshade pivots so you can direct the light where you need it most.

It doesn't look cheap. Though it's made from recycled plastic, the Celia is durable and sturdy, and it doesn't skimp on quality, with a lengthy 5-year warranty. Its lacquered exterior tends to show fingerprints and dust over time, but those can be wiped clean with a microfiber cloth. If we had to call out one main con about the Celia lamp, it's that it only has a 6-hour run time on the brightest setting. Still, considering the price, we can't complain.

Also consider: If you really want to save money, try our best ultra-budget pick, the Nusogon Cordless Table Lamp. Priced at $22, it's good for casual use with various light settings but has a limited light spread, looks low-budget, and has visible wiring.

Best table lamp

This is a true table lamp. Many of the models we tested touted themselves as table lamps, but this was the only one that really lived up to the hype, with a scale that follows traditional table lamp designs. The O'Bright Dune Battery Powered Table Lamp offers four brightness settings (100%, 60%, 30%, 15%) and superior light diffusion, making it a solid choice for adding extra ambient light to a living room, desk, dining area, entryway, or bedroom.

Assembly is easy. The O'Bright Dune takes a few steps to assemble — including unrolling the linen lampshade, hooking it around two rings, then closing it shut with Velcro — but the instructions are clear, so setup takes minutes. The finished product is a stunner, with an elegant ceramic base and brass accents, including a power/brightness button and a charging port along the base's rim. We liked that charging takes roughly 6.5 hours and that the lamp has a runtime of approximately 20 hours at its brightest setting.

Best desk

Task lighting with style. Another favorite from O'Bright, the Bankers Lamp has an old-school, "antique brass" design, with a 180° swivel head that can be positioned to provide direct task lighting for reading or crafting, or to angle upward for ambient lighting. Its three brightness levels (100%, 50%, 20%) can be adjusted by tapping a button on the base, helping keep glare to a minimum.

Perfectly portable. The versatile O'Bright Bankers Lamp is the kind of lighting you'll likely move around your home as needed, so not having to worry about electrical outlets or ungainly power cords is a huge plus. The lamp takes 6 hours to charge and has a ridiculously long runtime — we found it lasted 28.5 hours at its brightest setting and 150 hours at its lowest, even though the bulb grew quite dim in the last remaining hours.

Best for bedroom

It's soft enough for winding down. Bedroom lighting should never be harsh, which is why the Addison Ross Bobbin Lamp belongs on your nightstand. It has three levels of soft, warm lighting that can be used for reading, winding down, or as a nightlight. The lamp takes about 8 hours to charge, but we found that it had an excellent run time of 12.5 hours. We also appreciated that the brightness can be adjusted manually with a few taps on the lamp's top or via remote control. The remote also lets you program the lamp to run for 2, 4, or 6 hours.

A dreamy addition to your bedroom. The lacquered wood Bobbin lamp has a sleek, modern design that adds beauty to the bedroom without being distracting or overwhelming. It's available in a rainbow of colors, making it an accent piece that can pop. It's also slim and doesn't take up much room on a nightstand, so you have plenty of space for a picture frame, book, or glass of water. One thing to note about the Bobbin is that it does tend to show dust and fingerprints over time, but a microfiber cloth can wipe them away.

Also consider: Following a similar mushroom design, the $80 Adesso Connie is a comparable option with a brass shade and a wood base.

Most stylish

Style comes first. Let's be clear: The Pooky Katherine Cordless Lamp is more decorative than functional. It doesn't emit a lot of light and the difference between its brightest and dimmest settings is hardly noticeable. But this is an incredibly beautiful lamp, with a heavy glass base and lampshades that come in an assortment of colors and styles (more than 100!), so you can really customize the lamp to match your decor. The base is technically sold separately so you can outfit with the shade of your choice, and easily swap with the seasons, if you're inclined. The Katherine also comes with a remote control dimmer that fits inside a shiny gold case for added elegance.

Room for improvement. Assembling the lamp was challenging, mainly because a removable plastic ring inside the lampshade that wouldn't come out easily. Charging the lamp requires a few steps because the port is under the removable bulb/light socket. We had to remove the magnetic lampshade and socket to access it for charging. The power button is also on the underside of the socket and not clearly visible, so it's easiest to remove the lampshade and socket or use the remote to turn it on and off. Despite these quirks, it's a decent little decorative lamp that will give any space a stylish upgrade.

Best floor lamp

More useful than you think. A cordless floor lamp might seem odd — how often are you going to move around a floor lamp? — but it actually makes sense. It can float in the middle of a room or be placed in darkened spaces where there is no electrical outlet. The Pooky Lillee Cordless Standing Lamp is a stylish portable option with a lacquered wood pole and a choice of more than 100 lamp shades. Like the Pooky Katherine, however, the Lillee doesn't provide much illumination and works best as ambient lighting.

Good to know. The Lillee lamp requires assembly, but we found it to be quick and painless. Just screw two separate poles together, then attach them to the base. As with the Katherine, the lampshade and the bulb/socket must be removed in order to access the port and charge the battery. Though the battery takes a lengthy 8.5 hours to charge, our tests found that the lamp had a decent run time of 11 to 12 hours on its brightest setting.

Best outdoor lamp

Great for patios and camping. The Weilailux Outdoor Lamp was designed to withstand the elements. It's crafted with a plastic lampshade, a matte powder-coated aluminum alloy body, a tap button, and a rubber charging port cover. It has an IP44 rating, meaning the lamp is protected against water splashes but not heavy rain. The Weilailux gives a soft glow that can be adjusted by holding the singular button down.

The battery life is Impressive… most of the time. The Weilailux takes between 4 to 6 hours to charge, and our tests found that it lasted an impressive 20 hours on its highest setting — that's 4 hours longer than the manufacturer's claim. But that wasn't always the case. The lamp also functions as a power bank, and when we used it as a charger, the run time plummeted to about 6 hours. This wasn't a dealbreaker for including the Weilalilux on our best list, but it's worth keeping in mind.

What else we tested

What to look for in a cordless lamp

Use: The best cordless lamps are designed to let users easily respond to their space's needs throughout the day or night, says Wesner. They can serve as decorative, ambient, or task lighting, and come in a range of styles, including table lamps, desk lamps, floor lamps, outdoor lamps, lanterns, sconces, and picture lights.

Lumens: According to the Department of Energy, lumens measure how much light a bulb emits. A bulb that has 1,000 lumens is similar to a 100-watt incandescent bulb, while a 40-watt bulb is roughly 450 lumens. Higher lumens are recommended for task lighting, while lower lumens are best for ambient, softer lighting, says Wesner. Some portable lamps also let you adjust the color temperature of the light. Warm lighting is cozy and ideal for living rooms, bedrooms, dining spaces, and patios, while cool lighting is brighter and best for kitchens, bathrooms, and work-from-home areas.

Battery life: Cordless lamps have an internal battery that can be charged, so the lamp can be placed where needed. The battery runtime varies by model, but most manufacturers claim a range of 6 to 20 hours at the brightest setting. "Many cordless lamps use LED illumination, which uses less energy and extends battery life," says Wesner. However, she adds, battery lifespan may degrade over time.

Charging method and time: Most cordless lamps use a USB-C cable or a proprietary charging base and can take at least 5 hours to fully charge. The majority of the lamps we tested did not include a wall adapter with their USB-C cords. While pass-through charging via a power bank is an option, it may take longer to charge the battery or result in a shorter run time. The manufacturers also advise to not continuously leave plugged in while operating.

Portability: The best cordless lamps should be lightweight and have a streamlined design that makes them easy to relocate where needed. Some portable lamps are suitable for indoor and outdoor use, but not all are weather-resistant. More on that below.

Outdoor compatibilty: For a cordless lamp that can stand up to rain and splashes, look for the Ingress Protection (IP) rating, which grades how well electronic devices protect against dust and water. It typically consists of two numbers: the first, ranging from 1 to 6, indicates protection from solid objects or materials; the second, ranging from 1 to 8, indicates protection from liquids. According to the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, an IP66 rating means the device can withstand dust and strong jets of water with minimal ingress. For more guidance on IP ratings, see this chart.

Design & materials: Cordless lamps are moved and handled more frequently than regular lamps, and the materials they're made from can vary. Plastic can make a lamp lighter but perhaps less stable, notes Wesner, while metal can be more durable but also heavier. Aesthetics certainly can play a role in selection, but durability is key when choosing cordless lighting.

How we tested cordless lamps

We test every cordless lamp in our own homes, using them in a variety of ways to see what they are best suited for. Is that adorable little lamp bright enough to read by, or is it really just for show? And what about that banker's lamp — does it need to live on a desk or is it suitable for other areas of the home? We aim to find out. We also want to know just how portable the lamps really are and how well they actually work. Here are just a few of the criteria we consider when testing the best cordless lamps.

Battery drainage

Although each manufacturer lists the lamp's runtime, we conducted several tests to verify their claims. We ran each lamp at its brightest setting until the battery ran out, recharged it, and ran it again at its lowest setting until the battery ran out. We repeated the process at least two more times to see if there was any variation in the results. Some lamps actually held a charge much longer than the manufacturer suggested, but the light quality tended to grow too dim to be practical over time.

Brightness levels in dark and light rooms

Every cordless lamp had different brightness levels, so we moved them around different areas of our homes to see how effective each was in both bright and dark spaces. Based on those results, we determined the best use for the lamp. We found we preferred using these lamps at their brightest settings, as the lower settings were too dim.

Ease of charging and usability

The best cordless lamps have ports that are clearly visible and easy to access. We considered whether any parts had to be removed to plug in the USB-C cord or charging dock, whether we had to fumble to fit the cord into the port, and whether the cord length was sufficient for charging. We also preferred lamps with charging indicators. We also looked at how the lamp operates. Does it take a few taps to power it on and off, and adjust brightness, or can brightness only be controlled via the remote? The simpler, the better.

Build quality and durability

We tested cordless lamps in different materials, including steel, plastic, ceramic, brass, glass, and lacquered wood. We considered how well-made each lamp was, whether it seemed durable or cheap, and if it was a good value for the price.

Portability

Since we're testing cordless lamps, we obviously wanted to see how portable each lamp was. We looked for lamps that were lightweight and could be effortlessly transferred to different spots in our homes or outdoor spaces.

Meet the expert behind the guide

Mark Marino is a writer and editor experienced in creating celebrity, lifestyle, travel, and shopping content for national media outlets, including People, Bon Appétit, Yahoo!, Apartment Therapy, and the UK's iPaper. He lives in New York City.

FAQs

How long do cordless lamps last on a single charge?

Run time varies by model, but the cordless lamps we tested ranged from 6 to 20 hours on their brightest settings. However, some lamps grew dimmer as battery life drained. The runtime of each lamp was much longer on its lowest setting, with some holding a charge for more than 120 hours.

Are cordless lamps bright enough for reading?

It depends on the number of lumens and the lamp's style, says Wesner. A portable lamp with 450 lumens and a shade or head that can be angled to direct light toward your reading material is sufficient.

Can cordless lamps be left plugged in?

Think of a cordless lamp like your cellphone. You don't want to leave it plugged in and charging continuously, as this will shorten the overall battery lifespan.

Are cordless lamps safe?

Yes, but look for certifications from the Underwriters Laboratory (UL) or Electrical Testing Laboratories (ETL) to ensure the lamp meets electrical safety standards.

Do cordless lamps use LED bulbs?

Most modern lamps currently utilize LEDs, says Wesner. This enables energy efficiency and battery performance.

Are cordless lamps worth it?

The biggest benefit of a cordless lamp is the ability to move light. Cordless lighting doesn't replace wired lighting, but it complements both the existing lighting and the space. "Advances in technology — including longer battery life, color selection, remote dimming, and convenient charging stations — have pushed rechargeable lamps to the forefront of design investment," says Ruiz. "They are now a must-have for anyone who entertains and wants to create an inviting atmosphere without the distraction of cords and dangling plugs."

• Growing up, I took lovely vacations to the Jersey Shore each summer.
• My kids love a beach trip, but I'm determined to take them on more adventurous getaways.
• We recently sailed to Antarctica, and it was one of the best trips we've ever taken.

Growing up, I loved family vacations. Every summer, we went to the Jersey Shore, where I spent hours building sandcastles and swimming in the ocean.

Now, my family enjoys the beach, but we also venture far beyond the golden sands of my childhood, taking trips I couldn't have dreamed of as a child. Recently, my family literally traveled to the end of the earth, to a surprisingly lively world covered in ice, when we sailed to Antarctica.

There are so many reasons not to take children to Antarctica. The rough seas of Drake Passage, the cost, and the cold all gave me pause. However, taking an expedition cruise to Antarctica was an epic journey, our best family vacation to date.

I am glad I didn't let anything keep us from experiencing the remote continent together. The stunning views of the Lemaire Channel, walking through the caldera off the black sand beach of Deception Island, and watching my kids jump into the freezing waters surrounding our ship for the ultimate polar plunge are memories that will never leave me.

Every day was a new adventure

Antarctica is notoriously unpredictable. Clear skies and calm seas can turn stormy in an instant. Once, I watched from my cabin as the current swiftly carried in huge pieces of flat ice, almost completely covering the calm waters where we were hoping to kayak that afternoon. Another day, the clouds parted, and we had a rare, glorious Antarctic day, watching penguins waddle in the sunshine as seals soaked up the rays on nearby icebergs, perhaps just as pleased with the weather as I was.

Because of the unpredictable weather and wildlife in Antarctica, the crew of our ship decided where to stop during the trip rather than beforehand. With no set itinerary, every day was a new adventure, with a surprise in store. Each evening, I anxiously awaited hearing the plan for the following morning, knowing that wherever the crew decided to take us would be a safe but awe-inspiring choice — and that the plan could change at any moment. My kids shared in my excitement.

My family got to experience Antarctica fully, but comfortably

Not long ago, Antarctica was nearly inaccessible to all but the most intrepid explorers. Now, travelers can choose to head there on large cruise ships with casinos that simply sail by or spend a few nights in a polar base camp for a fully immersive experience.

Our trip was somewhere in between, which was the perfect choice for my family. Every day of our week-long journey, we got off the ship twice. Once a day, we hiked on the continent in rubber boots or snowshoes, and once a day, we took to the water in a zodiac or kayak. Seeing multiple species of penguins waddle past us on "penguin highways" as they made their way to the sea is a sight that still makes me smile, even months after my trip. Walking into a basic wooden hut used by early Antarctic scientists gave my children a new appreciation for the sacrifices others made to help us understand our world and its climate.

While off the boat, we were fully immersed in Antarctica, but on the ship, we ate and slept well. Although I often drifted off to sleep thinking of early Antarctic explorers and scientists who wintered over on the ice in basic wood cabins, I was glad to spend the night eating at a gourmet restaurant and sleeping in a comfortable bed.

My kids weren't always fans of the restaurant's meals, so they sometimes headed to the buffet. Additionally, the onboard chef was always happy to make them buttered noodles, although they could have stayed full on the french fries, burgers, and milkshakes that were available throughout the afternoon. That was the right balance for my family.

We got a look at Antarctica in unique, family-friendly ways

When sailing long distances and spending every day exploring ice, life can start to feel repetitive, and I worried my children would become bored. After all, setting foot on Antarctica was my dream, not theirs. However, the company we went with, HX, offers several activities, on board and off, to keep things interesting for all ages.

In addition to hikes and zodiac rides, we also spent a morning reaching higher elevations in snowshoes and sea kayaking in the sea. While nearly flat with the water, we got almost uncomfortably close to humpback whales, paddled alongside penguins, and saw seals from a new vantage point.

My husband and son had the rare opportunity to camp on the ice under the midnight sun, very close to a penguin colony. Although my family tried to keep a respectful distance from the adorable, flightless birds, the penguins visited their camp at night — much to their delight. My children also decorated their water bottles with penguin stencils and painted postcards with watercolors to help pass the time.

My family learned a lot more than I expected and had fun doing it

I knew that my family and I would learn a lot about Antarctica during our visit, but I didn't realize how much. Although my kids sometimes grumbled, we were active participants in the ship's robust science program. We listened to lectures about the ice, the waters, and the wildlife in the air and sea. The on-board historian told riveting tales of the hardship, survival, and triumph of the first adventurers to set foot on Antarctica, which ultimately made our trip possible. He managed to keep my children's attention as he spun tales to their conclusion, which is no easy task.

In the ship's onboard science center, we examined whale bones up close. We saw marine life, abundant in the waters we sailed through, in astonishing detail through the ship's powerful microscopes. My kids got to ride in a "science boat" and help Antarctic scientists collect marine life and water samples, and use sonar equipment to listen to sounds emitted from beneath the ocean. They even attended a kids-only meet-and-greet with onboard specialists.

It's going to be hard to top the trip to Antarctica, but that won't stop me from trying now that I know just about any trip can be kid-friendly.

• I became close friends with a woman 40 years older than me.
• She taught me about aging, resilience, and finding humor in life.
• Our unlikely friendship became one of the most meaningful in my life.

I met Marlee in a writing group. At the time, I was in my 30s with two young kids living in a starter house. She had responded to an ad that another writer friend and I had posted. We were looking to expand our critique group. Marlee's response was something along the lines of, "If you don't mind an old lady showing up, I'd love to join you."

I wasn't sure what to expect. When Marlee walked in, she sat down and, in her blunt way, which I would come to grow to love over the next decade plus, said, "I told you I was old."

She completed our small group, which also consisted of two men and my original writer friend. We met a few times a month at local coffee shops and restaurants. We sent pages from whatever we were working on. I wrote absurd, sometimes scary, short stories. Marlee wanted to write a memoir about her life.

We could not have been more different, at least in terms of our lives. Her kids were grown and had kids of their own. I was raising a young family. She was a retiree living in an in-law apartment within her son's family home. She had been married for decades. I had two kids and a husband and was still trying to figure out who (and what) I wanted to be when I grew up.

We had a 40-year age difference

Despite a 40-year age difference, our friendship thrived. We met for our group and for fun. Marlee invited another writing group member and me to her home for wine and appetizers. The two male members of our writing group dropped out. The three of us, Marlee, E.J., and I, remained. We met the orange cat with the big personality, whom Marlee often spoke of in the group. Peaches welcomed us, purring and head bumping us as we talked.

I invited Marlee to visit when we purchased our forever home. We ate cheese and crackers while we laughed about raising kids and marriage. She sent a present to the baby shower I had for my third child. It was a funny children's book that matched her own sense of humor. When Marlee's husband died, I attended the funeral. We became part of each other's lives, even beyond our writing group. We were friends, no matter our age difference.

She taught me important life lessons

Marlee taught me some important lessons, including the importance of finding humor even in the most difficult times, as she had. She wrote about it often in the pages she shared with our writing group. I also learned another invaluable lesson from Marlee, that life goes on no matter what. She was a shining example of that. After the death of her husband, Marlee not only adjusted to life without him but thrived in so many ways. I think she even surprised herself and her kids.

Marlee also taught me that age is literally just a number. Her wit and playful outlook were those of someone young, full of life and promise. She also shared the dark parts of aging, the invisibility she felt.

We also became each other's biggest cheerleaders when it came to our writing. She would jot notes on the pages I sent to her for each group. I still have them even now. I look at them for inspiration and encouragement. She enjoyed my wit and imagination, and I marveled at her gift for writing with honesty and humor, and for making her life story truly come alive.

I miss the bond we had

I think what really created a unique bond between us was the life details we shared in both our writing and our many conversations. I had seen snippets of her past from her childhood to her life as a mother and grandmother. She traveled, married a military man, and landed where I hoped I would one day end up — retired and having the privilege of watching her children parent their own children. I envied the life she'd made and the journey it took her to get there.

Over the past several years, we have maintained contact. It's been hard. We are still friends on Facebook and have occasionally connected. I miss her and the bond we had. No matter where we end up, though, I will always be grateful for the things she's taught me and for our unique friendship.

• A court has put a temporary block on the merger of Nexstar and Tegna.
• The local TV rivals are barred from combining operations until an antitrust lawsuit is settled.
• California AG Rob Bonta is among politicians opposing the merger, which he called "illegal."

A federal judge in California has blocked the merger of local TV giant Nexstar and its rival, Tegna, until an antitrust lawsuit is settled.

US District Court Chief Judge Troy L. Nunley on Friday issued a preliminary injunction that forbids Nexstar and Tegna from combining operations during the legal dispute with California Attorney General Rob Bonta and seven other state attorneys general.

The companies had previously received approval for the merger, reportedly worth $6.2 billion, from the Federal Communications Commission and the US Department of Justice last month. Nexstar and Tegna closed the deal on March 19, immediately after the DOJ announced early termination of its antitrust review.

Friday's preliminary injunction follows a temporary restraining order granted last month in a challenge brought by satellite TV company DirecTV.

Describing the injunction as "a critical win in our case," Bonta said: "This merger is illegal, plain and simple. The federal government may have thrown in the towel, but we'll keep fighting for consumers, for workers, for affordability, and for our local news."

Nexstar, the largest owner of local broadcast television stations in the country, said it would appeal the decision.

"This pro-competitive transaction will make local stations stronger and support continued investment in local journalism and fact-based news. We will appeal today's decision and look forward to presenting our case on its merits before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals," it said in a statement.

• Iran's military says it has resumed control of the Strait of Hormuz.
• It says the action is in response to the US blockade of Iran's ports.
• Opening the strait was a central demand for a two-week ceasefire that took effect on April 8.

Iran's military on Saturday accused the United States of acts of "piracy" and "sea robbery" in its blockade of its ports — and that in response it is resuming control of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

"Control over the Strait of Hormuz has been returned to its previous state, and this strategic waterway is under strict management and control by the Armed Forces," a spokesman said.

In a statement to Iran's Tasnim News Agency, the spokesman insisted that until the US ended restrictions on the free movement of vessels to and from Iran, the situation in the Strait of Hormuz "will remain tightly controlled and unchanged from its previous status."

Iran announced on Friday morning that the strait was open for maritime traffic, and mid-afternoon data showed that commercial vessels were passing through the strategic waterway, though only a small number.

President Donald Trump greeted the news in a Truth Social post, writing that "Iran has just announced that the Strait of Iran is fully open and ready for passage."

The market reaction to the announcement saw stocks climb higher and oil fall.

Hours later, a large group of vessels sailed toward the strait but inexplicably turned away, ship-tracking data shows, raising questions about the status of this critical chokepoint.

On Saturday, US Central Command shared an image on its X account of USS Canberra patrolling the Arabian Sea during the blockade.

It said: "Since commencement of the blockade, 23 ships have complied with direction from U.S. forces to turn around. American forces are enforcing a maritime blockade against ships entering or exiting Iranian ports and coastal areas."

Opening the strait has been a central demand since the start of a fragile ceasefire earlier this month and amid the ongoing negotiations between Washington and Tehran.

The strategic Strait of Hormuz is a narrow chokepoint linking the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and a major artery for global shipments of oil and natural gas.

• I started having sleepovers with my kids after one of theirs was canceled.
• We plan fun activities and relaxed rules to make the nights special.
• These sleepovers have strengthened our bond and become a favorite tradition.

Growing up, I loved having sleepovers with friends.

As my children grew, I was excited for them to start having sleepovers of their own. I love helping them plan activities that fill the entire night, from what type of pizza to order to arts-and-crafts projects to whether they should sleep in beds or in a fort on the living room floor. On these nights, I love hearing my children laugh with their friends long past their bedtime as I drift off to sleep.

However, I am also a little bit jealous of my children's sleepovers. Why should the kids get to have all the fun while I do all the work?

A canceled sleepover sparked an idea

When a sleepover my daughter had planned with a friend fell through at the last minute, she was upset. At first, I tried to console her by telling her we could reschedule for the following week. She seemed unconvinced this plan would materialize. I then realized I could step in and have a sleepover with her instead, finally joining in the fun myself rather than watching from afar. Fortunately, she was receptive to the idea.

We both had a great time, and the canceled sleepover launched a new tradition. Now, I have a few sleepovers with my kids each year. These late nights have become some of my most treasured memories.

We cram in as much fun as possible

Between school, packed sports schedules, scouts, my kids' busy social lives, and other events, it can be difficult to find time for family sleepovers. When we do make family sleepovers work, I try to make them as fun as possible. Often, my kids and I start talking about what we will do during a sleepover days before the sleepover. That helps build excitement and extends the fun we have together.

During family sleepovers, we always play a board game or two. Family favorites include Uno, Clue, Pandemic, and Settlers of Catan. We also usually watch a movie. I am partial to classics from the 1980s and 90s, but my kids usually convince me to watch a newer movie they find on Netflix or Disney+.

We might also light the backyard fire pit or play a few rounds of laser tag in the basement with a basic set my children got for the holidays a few years ago. Sometimes, we bake cake or cookies.

I suspend many rules for sleepover nights only

I usually insist on some basic but important rules for my family. We limit the amount of candy we eat and the amount of screen time they have each day. I insist upon at least one fruit or vegetable with dinner and getting to bed at a reasonable time.

However, on sleepover nights, things are different. I share in my children's giddy excitement as we choose movie theater-sized boxes of candy to eat throughout the night and pop popcorn loaded with butter. We order pizza loaded with cheese and toppings. Sometimes, I also surprise them with a two-liter bottle of soda. If my children want to watch an episode or two of a TV show before putting on an hourslong movie, I indulge them. Bedtime becomes flexible.

I often want these nights to go on forever. Our sleepovers often end with my children asking if they can sleep or nodding off on the sofa, rather than my imploring them to head to their rooms.

Having sleepovers with kids has strengthened our relationship

I know that I am not a substitute for my children's friends.

As much as I enjoy having sleepovers with my kids, I am not naive. I know they would prefer to have a sleepover with someone their own age.

Still, our sleepover tradition has become a cherished time for all of us. It is one of the few opportunities we have to simply have fun and enjoy each other's company as a family, without the pressure of sticking to a rigid schedule or following and enforcing rules.

The freedom to have fun without the usual constraints of time and structure has strengthened our relationship. I am still my children's parent, but these sleepovers allow me to get to know them in a different way and give me a small glimpse of what they are like with their friends when I am not around.

• While some markets are seeing cooling prices, rent in some areas continues to rise.
• WalletHub ranked 182 cities across the US by how affordable rents are relative to median income.
• Bismarck, North Dakota, ranked first, with 15% of the median income going toward rent.

Not every city is built the same, and that's also true of rental markets.

While some cities are seeing cooling rents and more affordable housing efforts, rent prices in others continue to rise.

A recent WalletHub study ranked 182 US cities, including the 150 most populous cities in the country and at least two of the most populous in each state, by how much renters spend on rent, on average.

To calculate the share of income spent on rent, WalletHub used US Census Bureau data on median annual gross rent and median household income for each surveyed city.

"A general rule of thumb is that rent should not exceed 30% of the median income," Maggie Rong Hu, an assistant professor of real estate at Baruch College in New York, said in the study. "This ensures that renters can comfortably afford their housing without sacrificing other essential living expenses."

On average, people living in the 31 cities listed below spend about 18.5% of their income on rent, lower than the 23.46% across all measured cities.

In the most expensive cities in the study, including Miami, Detroit, and Newark, renters can spend up to 33.8% of their income on rent.

See the most affordable cities for renters across the US in 2026.

30. (Tie) Lexington-Fayette, Kentucky

Income spent on rent: 20.10%

30. (Tie) South Burlington, Vermont

Income spent on rent: 20.10%

29. Chesapeake, Virginia

Income spent on rent: 19.96%

28. Amarillo, Texas

Income spent on rent: 19.88%

27. Des Moines, Iowa

Income spent on rent: 19.84%

26. Oklahoma City

Income spent on rent: 19.75%

25. Plano, Texas

Income spent on rent: 19.68%

24. Seattle

Income spent on rent: 19.67%

23. West Valley City, Utah

Income spent on rent: 19.57%

22. Fort Wayne, Indiana

Income spent on rent: 19.52%

21. Omaha, Nebraska

Income spent on rent: 19.46%

20. Fremont, California

Income spent on rent: 19.39%

19. Fort Smith, Arkansas

Income spent on rent: 19.35%

18. Laredo, Texas

Income spent on rent: 19.34%

17. Huntsville, Alabama

Income spent on rent: 18.81%

16. Rapid City, South Dakota

Income spent on rent: 18.78%

15. Columbia, Maryland

Income spent on rent: 18.64%

14. Billings, Montana

Income spent on rent: 18.53%

13. Warwick, Rhode Island

Income spent on rent: 18.44%

12. Lincoln, Nebraska

Income spent on rent: 18.13%

11. Wichita, Kansas

Income spent on rent: 18.11%

10. Overland Park, Kansas

Income spent on rent: 17.34%

9. Anchorage, Alaska

Income spent on rent: 17.30%

8. Casper, Wyoming

Income spent on rent: 17.24%

7. Juneau, Alaska

Income spent on rent: 17.04%

6. Cheyenne, Wyoming

Income spent on rent: 17.02%

5. Fargo, North Dakota

Income spent on rent: 16.94%

4. Charleston, West Virginia

Income spent on rent: 16.56%

3. Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Income spent on rent: 16.48%

2. Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Income spent on rent: 16.35%

1. Bismarck, North Dakota

Income spent on rent: 15.29%

• These are the best non-franchise movies we got a taste of at CinemaCon.
• We're excited for Alejandro G. Iñárritu's "Digger" and Steven Spielberg's "Disclosure Day."
• There was also impressive footage from "I Play Rocky," "Other Mommy," and "Verity."

Every year, Hollywood makes a pilgrimage to Las Vegas for CinemaCon, a theater convention where studios and major distributors show up with flashy star-filled presentations to get exhibition owners excited about upcoming movies.

This year, as always, franchises were a major highlight of the convention; footage was shown from Warner Bros.' Dune: Part Three," Sony's "Spider-Man: Brand New Day," and Disney's "Avengers: Doomsday."

But a major highlight at CinemaCon for me is always checking out the non-franchise movies. And this year, there were plenty to choose from. From the latest work from auteurs like Christopher Nolan ("The Odyssey"), Alejandro G. Iñárritu ("Digger"), and Steven Spielberg ("Disclosure Day"), to trailers for original movies I didn't even know existed, this collection of films showed you don't need a cinematic universe to tell a compelling story.

Here are 12 non-franchise titles coming out this year to get excited about.

"Disclosure Day" (June 12)

The trailer for Steven Spielberg's latest sci-fi tale from Universal already debuted, but the director showed up to CinemaCon for the first time ever to show an extended version, and it certainly kept me on the edge of my seat.

From the film's mysterious plotline that's seemingly about aliens, to the great performances from stars Emily Blunt and Josh O'Connor, to the John Williams score, it's hard not to be excited for this one.

"The Odyssey" (July 17)

Going all the way back to his "Batman" trilogy, Christopher Nolan has made it a tradition to kick-start his movie campaigns at CinemaCon.

Like Spielberg, Nolan's trailer had already been released, but he showed up with additional footage.

Nolan admitted at the Universal presentation that his new adaptation of Homer's Greek epic was an "absolute nightmare to film, but in all the right ways."

The challenges — including the creation of a brand new IMAX camera — look to have all been worth it, as everything from the stunning locations to performances led by Matt Damon tease another film where Nolan is at the top of his game.

"The Brink of War" (August 14)

Angel, the studio that brought you "Sound of Freedom," will release this political drama at the end of the summer, focusing on the 1986 Reykjavik Summit that pitted President Ronald Reagan against Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.

Jeff Daniels plays Reagan and Jared Harris plays Gorbachev.

"Verity" (October 2)

If you're looking for the next steamy thriller in the vein of "The Housemaid," this release from Amazon MGM Studios might be it.

Based on the novel from "It Ends with Us" author Colleen Hoover, Dakota Johnson plays a writer who's hired by the husband of bestselling author Verity Crawford (Anne Hathaway) to ghostwrite the rest of Verity's book series following a mysterious accident that has left her in a vegetative state. Josh Hartnett plays the husband.

As Johnson's character works to finish the series, she uncovers some strange clues that make her question what really happened to Verity.

"Digger" (October 2)

Let the Tom Cruise Oscar hype begin!

Cruise teamed with Oscar-winning director Alejandro G. Iñárritu ("The Revenant") for this outlandish satirical comedy from Warner Bros.

Cruise plays Digger Rockwell, a wealthy elderly oil tycoon who the president (John Goodman) turns to when it's revealed that the world is on the brink of destruction. Cruise is almost unrecognizable in the role.

"Other Mommy" (October 9)

I'll never forget a few years back when CinemaCon blessed us with the first-ever footage of "M3GAN" and the crowd went wild. I got the same this-is-something-special feeling when I saw previews of "Other Mommy."

Produced by Jason Blum and James Wan for Universal, the movie follows a young girl who encounters an entity who seems to have entered the body of her mother, played by Jessica Chastain.

"The Social Reckoning" (October 9)

Yes, this is a sequel to the hit 2010 movie "The Social Network," but it's not what you think. David Fincher did not return to direct, and none of the cast from the first movie has returned, including Jesse Eisenberg, who played Mark Zuckerberg.

"The Social Network" writer Aaron Sorkin returned to write and direct this spiritual sequel from Sony, which chronicles a more recent time when young people are becoming seriously damaged from using social media.

Jeremy Strong plays an adult Zuckerberg, while Oscar winner Mikey Madison plays the whistleblower who told everything to a Wall Street Journal reporter, played by Jeremy Allen White.

"Klara and the Sun" (October 23)

For Sony, Oscar-winning screenwriter Taika Waititi adapts this beloved Kazuo Ishiguro novel for his next directing effort.

Jenna Ortega plays Klara, a robot whose purpose is to ease the loneliness of the human who purchases her. Klara soon discovers there are some challenges in doing this when she's brought home to a troubled family.

"The Great Beyond" (November 13)

This movie from Warner Bros. marks J.J. Abrams' first time directing an original story since 2011's "Super 8."

Also written by Abrams, "The Great Beyond" plot has been kept under wraps, but the footage shown definitely suggested the genre is science fiction, and I can tell you for sure that Glen Powell, Jenna Ortega, and Samuel L. Jackson star in it.

I know I'm excited.

"I Play Rocky" (November 13)

I'll admit I was skeptical when I first heard about this Amazon MGM Studios biopic about a then-unknown Sylvester Stallone launching his career by not just writing the first "Rocky" movie, but demanding that he also play the lead.

What has convinced me this could be a special movie is Anthony Ippolito's performance. He doesn't just look like Stallone; he has the mannerisms down and talks exactly like him. Exactly!

That, mixed with "Rocky" nostalgia, could lead to a hit.

"Werwulf" (December 25)

Following the Christmas Day-release success Focus Features and Robert Eggers enjoyed with "Nosferatu" last year, Focus and Eggers are running it back again this holiday season with another horrific tale.

In "Werwulf," Aaron Taylor-Johnson plays a man in 13th-century England who can't resist the wolf-like craving inside him when the full moon is out.

Eggers regulars Lily-Rose Depp and Willem Dafoe also star.

"Heart of the Beast" (Fall 2026)

Brad Pitt re-teams with his "Fury" director David Ayer for this survival movie from Paramount. Pitt plays a retired Army Special Forces soldier who survives a plane crash with his combat dog. The two must endure some harrowing circumstances in the Alaskan wilderness to survive.

• A version of this story originally appeared in the BI Tech Memo newsletter.
• Sign up for the weekly BI Tech Memo newsletter here.

A new side project, Lunches.fyi, takes the AI tooling craze in a lighter direction, ranking tech companies not by market cap, but by cafeteria quality.

It was built by coding prankster Riley Walz in about an hour using voice-dictated commands into OpenAI's Codex (a task he says might previously have taken 20+ hours).

The site scrapes publicly available tech company menus and uses AI to categorize and score meals. Early results crowned Nvidia a surprise leader, serving everything from "truffle mushroom pizza" to leafy greens worthy of its stock performance.

But the experiment also highlights a familiar truth: AI is only as good as the data it's built on. Replit CEO Amjad Masad publicly questioned his company's low protein ranking, prompting Walz to uncover a bug: missing nutrition data that had defaulted to zero.

Fixing the error quickly changed the results. It's a small, fun project, but a sharp reminder: AI breaks without quality data.

You can check out how tech companies rank, over that the website: Lunches.fyi.

Sign up for BI's Tech Memo newsletter here. Reach out to me via email at abarr@businessinsider.com.

Updated on April 18, 2026, to include additional information about team standings and last year's NBA Finals.

The NBA postseason is underway, and the final teams are duking it out in the play-in tournament. We've rounded up everything you need to know about where to watch the NBA Playoffs, including live streaming info for those without cable.

If you don't want to read any further, the NBA Playoffs will live stream through ESPN Unlimited, Peacock, and Prime Video in the US. In the UK, Sky Sports and Prime Video will carry postseason coverage. Playoffs coverage will be split between Sportsnet and TSN in Canada. Below, we've broken down everything you need to know about tuning around the world.

The Detroit Pistons and Oklahoma City Thunder lead the charge as the No. 1 seeds in this year's NBA Playoffs. The Pistons lead the Eastern Conference, with the Boston Celtics trailing in second and the New York Knicks close behind in third. The Thunder lead the Western Conference, with the San Antonio Spurs in second place and the Denver Nuggets in third. The Thunder are looking to go back-to-back after winning the NBA Finals last year in a dramatic Game 7 against the Indiana Pacers.

Where to watch NBA Playoffs in the US

TNT is out of the NBA broadcast game in the US. Instead, the 2026 postseason will air across ESPN, ABC, NBC/Peacock, and Prime Video. The Prime Video inclusion means that even those with the most comprehensive cable package will still need to sign up for a streaming service if they're planning to watch every game of the NBA Playoffs. The Playoffs won't be available to live stream on NBA League Pass in the US because all games will be nationally broadcast.

ESPN and ABC will broadcast several games in the first and second rounds, as well as the Eastern Conference Finals. ABC will also carry the NBA Finals. All ESPN and ABC games (along with tons of other coverage from the ESPN family of channels) are available through ESPN's direct streaming counterpart, ESPN Unlimited. ESPN Unlimited costs $30 a month and serves as a one-stop shop for all things ESPN. There's also a cheaper ESPN Select plan, but this won't help you out for the NBA Playoffs.

NBC and Peacock will also carry loads of games this year, including several games in the first and second rounds, and the Western Conference Finals. You can live stream it all on Peacock, where sports-friendly plans start at $11 a month for Peacock Premium. Peacock Select, the budget plan, doesn't carry sports. You can upgrade to ad-free on-demand content and a 24/7 live stream of NBC with the $17 a month Peacock Premium Plus plan.

Prime Video is also getting in on the NBA Playoffs action. The streaming service carries the play-in tournament, along with several first and second round games. Prime Video subscriptions start at just $9 a month, but Prime Video is also included with all standard Amazon Prime subscriptions. An Amazon Prime subscription costs $15 a month and comes with a 30-day free trial for new customers.

If you'd prefer to watch through a live TV streaming service, which functions like cable (without all of the long-term contracts and equipment), then our guide to the best live TV streaming services might be able to help you out.

DirecTV is our top recommendation for a month-to-month cable alternative. You can find all NBC, ABC, and ESPN games in DirecTV's MySports genre pack. MySports carries around 20 popular sports networks and unlocks access to ESPN Unlimited. Subscriptions start at $65 a month, but new customers can get their first two months for $45 a month after a five-day free trial. To watch every game of the postseason, you'll still need to sign up for Prime Video separately.

Where to watch NBA Playoffs in the UK

Sky Sports and Prime Video will split NBA Playoffs coverage in the UK. Sky prices vary by plan and contract, and you can learn more in our guide to the best Sky TV deals and plans. Amazon Prime costs £9 a month or £8 a month for Prime Video only. New customers can get a 30-day free trial of Amazon Prime. The Playoffs should also be available through NBA League Pass in the UK.

How to watch NBA Playoffs from anywhere

If you're traveling abroad and hoping to keep up with your usual watch options, you can do so with the help of a VPN. Short for virtual private networks, VPNs are cybersecurity tools that let people change their device's virtual location. This way, their go-to websites and apps work from anywhere, just like they would back home. The services we've highlighted above require country-specific payment methods, so this option will work best for those who are just traveling away from home at the moment.

NordVPN is our top recommendation. It's fast, user-friendly (even for beginners), and has a 30-day money-back guarantee if you find that it's not helping you out. You can learn more in our heavily tested guide to the best VPN services.

Upcoming games

Note: The use of VPNs is illegal in certain countries, and using VPNs to access region-locked streaming content might constitute a breach of the terms of use for certain services. Business Insider does not endorse or condone the illegal use of VPNs.

• I moved from the US to Spain with my children when they were 10 and 6 years old.
• I worried they would struggle to find friends and feel isolated due to their lack of Spanish skills.
• Although there have been challenging moments, my sons have adapted to life in Spain incredibly well.

Everyone said the same thing when my husband and I shared our plans to move from Connecticut to a suburb outside of Madrid: "But what about the kids?"

If I'm honest, I was asking myself the same question.

I worried that my two sons, now 10 and 7, would struggle to make friends, feel left out due to the language barrier, and shut down in a new environment.

It's now been about seven months since our move to Spain, and none of the worst-case scenarios I imagined have come to fruition. The boys did more than adjust; they grew.

Although I find that kids tend to be resilient, I believe much of their success came down to what my husband and I did before boarding our one-way flight.

Our family talked openly about the move for months before we did it

Long before we actually arrived in Spain, my husband and I wanted our children to feel like participants in the move rather than passengers.

We involved them in ways that felt appropriate for their ages, asking them what they hoped life would feel like in Spain and letting them choose what to pack and sell (they kept their earnings as pocket money).

Although they didn't speak Spanish and had never visited Spain, I wanted to make the unknown feel as familiar as possible. So, we watched Spanish videos, learned basic vocabulary, and read books about Spain.

The move went from being an abstract concept to something they could visualize.

A few weeks before we left the US, they each had a Zoom call with the principal of their new school. She listened as my eldest said he felt excited, nervous, and sad to leave his friends behind.

She gave him space to feel it all, never glossing over his emotions. After the calls, their relief was visible as their new school went from an unknown place to one that felt safe.

Perhaps most importantly, we fostered an environment where our kids could share their fears. My husband and I reminded them that they're part of a team that would figure things out together, one step at a time. I wanted to make sure they knew they weren't in it alone.

Of course, there would still be hard moments no matter what we did or said ahead of time. The most we could do was soften the landing.

Once they started school in Spain, they hit the ground running

When we arrived in Spain, my kids were understandably homesick.

My youngest, who was 6 at the time, really missed our old home. It symbolized safety to him, so losing it so suddenly felt disorienting. Our oldest, just shy of 10 when we landed, dreamed about his friends and grandparents at night.

These moments were hard to witness, but they also didn't last as long as I feared they would.

Starting school made all the difference. Their small international school has traditions that feel familiar to the boys, like trick-or-treating on Halloween and St. Patrick's Day festivities.

Half of the students are international, so they have plenty of classmates who know what it's like to start over. The other half are local Spanish children. The combination has been such a gift.

My boys have found peers who have empathized with them and others who have welcomed them, shared their culture, and made them feel like they belong. They love school so much that it's often hard to convince them to leave at the end of the day.

Outside of school, I rely on a combination of old and new routines to give their days structure. We have Taco Tuesday, a family movie night, a dinner-table game we call "sad, mad, glad," and special treats on Friday.

These small rituals give them comfort, familiarity, and stability amid so much change.

Seven months into the move, I'm constantly amazed by their bravery

My boys' boldness has surprised me over and over.

Shortly after we arrived in Spain, my youngest would lean out our apartment window and greet passersby below in Spanish. Seven months in, he joins pickup soccer games at the park with kids of all ages. Because he has the courage to show up, it doesn't matter that he isn't yet fluent in Spanish.

As for my eldest, he's already talking about moving to France one day to learn French, telling me that the best way to learn a language is through immersion.

This winter, he chose to go on a five-day ski trip with his school despite never having skied before. More recently, he stood up in front of a room full of peers, parents, and judges and delivered a 10-minute presentation on inequality as part of an end-of-year project.

He was nervous leading up to it, especially since he hadn't prepared for it the year before like many of his classmates. But when he stood up, he was composed and articulate. In a new country, he carried himself like he belonged.

My sons have adapted better than I ever hoped

Before we left the US, I worried my sons would struggle to find a community.

Now, my eldest has close friends in various grades, and my youngest views everyone in his class as a companion. Although they arrived in Spain without speaking Spanish fluently, the language barrier hasn't isolated them.

There have been plenty of bumps along the way — and there are surely more hard moments to come — but my kids are more open to change and adaptable than I ever imagined possible.

I spent so much time worrying about what moving from the US to Spain might do to them that I didn't let myself consider what it would do for them.

• Venture capitalist Ron Conway has revealed he has a "rare" form of cancer.
• He broke the "difficult news" on Friday to his followers on X.
• He said he is stepping back from work and is "optimistic" about his prognosis.

Legendary venture capitalist Ron Conway has revealed he has a "rare" form of cancer.

The tech investor known as "The Godfather of Silicon Valley" said he is stepping back from the company he co-founded, SV Angel, to begin treatment but will remain involved.

In a post on X, he told followers: "I want to share some difficult news. I was recently diagnosed with a rare form of cancer and I want you to hear it directly from me.

"Treatment is starting immediately and will include multiple strategies over the course of about a year. While I will be stepping back from some of my usual activities, I will continue to support SV Angel founders, who I love with a passion."

Conway said he's chosen not to share the specific type of cancer "since I don't want speculation about my prognosis. I appreciate your understanding and respect for this. I am optimistic about my prognosis."

The 75-year-old has been an angel investor since the '90s and was an early investor in Google, Facebook, and other big companies. OpenAI's Sam Altman has said Conway was instrumental in keeping the company together after he was briefly ousted in 2023.

Whether packing for a picnic, tailgate, or weeks-long camping trip, the best coolers keep food and drink cool while prioritizing interior space and ease of use. Marine-style coolers like Yeti have seen a surge in popularity over the last decade — but do you really need to spend hundreds of dollars to get a great cooler? Based on our testing, yes…and no. If you're trekking out into situations where your life or livelihood depends on keeping your perishables cold, we absolutely think a powerful, durable cooler is worth it. But if you're just looking to keep a few cases of beverages cold for a barbecue or day at the beach, you probably don't need a bear-proof, 30-pound, $450 cooler.

Having been a commercial and recreational fisherman on and off throughout my life, I've purchased, wrecked, and replaced more coolers and cooler parts than I can recount. For this guide, I put coolers through a series of cold retention, durability, and portability tests to find the best for every need — whether you're sailing the seas like me or kicking back ashore.

Learn more about how Business Insider Reviews tests and researches home products.

Our top picks for coolers

Best overall: Yeti Tundra 75 - See at Amazon

Best budget: Coleman Chiller 48-Quart Cooler - See at Amazon

Best backpack: Yeti Hopper M20 - See at Amazon

Best soft: Yeti Hopper M30 - See at Amazon

Best budget soft: AO Coolers Carbon Soft Cooler - See at Amazon

Best overall

Let's be clear: This is an expensive cooler. To deal with the elephant in the room first, yes, this cooler costs almost $500. That's a lot of money to spend on a cooler, no two ways about it. But for that price, you will get one of the absolute best coolers on the market.

It's bear-resistant. The Yeti Tundra 75 Cooler's rugged rotomolded design makes it tough enough to be certified as bear-resistant. That's right, in a fight between a bear and this cooler, the cooler will probably win. Its three-inch-thick PermaFrost insulation and ColdLock gasket allow the cooler to keep ice frozen for days on end.

It's huge. It has a 50-can capacity and also comes with a dry goods basket that holds a selection of foodstuffs above the ice. Its non-slip feet and tie-down points help you to secure the cooler in the bed of a truck or aboard a boat. 

But it's not for everyone. Do most people need this level of cooler? Probably not. But if you're a serious fisherman, if you're on a road trip and you want to stay self-sufficient, or if you're stocking a cabin or campsite for an extended stay, you'll be glad you have the Yeti Tundra 75 at your disposal, no buyer's remorse involved. Just note that the cooler weighs 30 pounds even when empty, so if you have trouble lifting heavier loads, you might need to look elsewhere.

Best budget

This classic cooler is legit. This is the cooler your dad brought on family camping trips. It's the cooler of your childhood, and it's still an awesome buy. It costs less than thirty dollars, but it will last you 30 years or more — provided you take the time to wipe it clean now and then.

It's roomy and lightweight. The Coleman Chiller can hold 76 standard 12-ounce cans and is tall enough for two-liter soda bottles to stand upright with the lid closed. It's more than sturdy enough to double as a seat, yet still light enough for one rather fit person to heft alone or for two people to easily carry down the dock, into the park, or onto the beach. Empty, the cooler weighs about eight pounds, so you can easily lift it up onto the top shelf of the garage for storage, too.

It retains ice. This cooler has a drain built into the bottom so you can let out any spilled beverages or ice melt without dumping the entire contents, but for the record, there won't be much meltwater provided you keep the lid secure most of the time. This cooler offers three-day ice retention even when the mercury tops 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Oh, and this cooler is made in America, too.

Best backpack

Yeti is one of our favorite cooler brands. It should be no surprise that Yeti appears multiple times in this guide. The company has made its name manufacturing some of the best coolers on the market. With its Hopper M20, the brand delivers the same durable construction and quality design its fans have come to expect in a backpack cooler. 

It's roomy but not bulky. With space enough to carry roughly 20 cans of beer or soda (with ice included), or 25 pounds of ice, the Hopper M20 is at no lack of available cooler space. And don't worry about the loaded pack feeling especially heavy, either. Yeti designed it so weight distributes evenly, and its ergonomic shoulder straps make it comfortable to tote around, whether it's down a long trail to the beach, a short jaunt to a campsite, or a few steps to a backyard. It's the best cooler for camping, since it straps right on your back for easy transport.

Ice lasts multiple days. Yeti also includes its Magshield zippers, which help keep any contents from spilling out (e.g., water from melted ice), and its ColdCell Insulation, which can keep ice for several days (something we've tested and confirmed often). 

It's pricey. Similar to many of Yeti's products, the Hopper M20 isn't cheap, sporting a price tag of $325. However, Yeti consistently exceeds standards of quality, and this backpack cooler is no different — it'll be one of your favorite pieces of go-to gear for several, several years.

Best soft

Soft coolers are flexible and durable. It should be apparent at this point that Yeti's coolers are worth every bit of the recognition of nabbing three spots in this guide, as its coolers are just that good. And when it comes to picking the best soft cooler, the Hopper M30 is a clear choice. With the brand's patented bomb-proof construction, some impressive ice retention, and surprisingly large capacity, this is the one you want for day trips to the beach or local park.

It excels at retaining ice. Though the Hopper M30 gets a lot right, its best feature is how well it keeps ice throughout the day. During my tests, it reliably kept ice anywhere from roughly 15 hours up to 20 hours, depending on how hot it was outside, how often I opened it for a drink, and whether I'd remember to fully zip it up or not. But even on its lower 15-hour days, that's more than enough time to get your fill of hanging at the park or lounging on the beach (it was even a nice supplemental cooler on two-day car camping trips). 

You'll be surprised at how much this cooler is able to house. Despite often stocking it with more cans of beer than I'd know what to do with, there was still plenty of room for a couple of sandwiches, some cheese sticks, and whatever other snacks seemed fit for the outing. It also comes with a padded shoulder strap that makes lugging the thing either from the car to the beach or park a comfortable experience — I've even slung it over my shoulder while riding my bike, and it was completely fine. 

It's incredibly durable, too. The Hopper M30 can take an utter beating, whether it's getting tossed into the back of a car, dragged down a trail, or even falling completely off my bike (this only happened once and the cooler managed to avoid taking any damage at all). Its zipper closure system also seals the cooler airtight, and not even water drips out if it's tilted upside down or lying on its side.  You'd be hard-pressed to find a more high-quality soft cooler, which is why the Hopper M30 is our go-to whenever I want to leave my bulky, cumbersome cooler at home.

Best budget soft

I've been using this affordable cooler for years. You don't need to spend a fortune to buy an effective soft cooler for general use. In fact, this is one of the coolers I tend to use most. From lighter fishing excursions to an afternoon picnic, I haven't found a handier cooler, hands down. I've also been using the AO Carbon Soft Cooler for well over two years — that's two years of sea time, being left outside through every season, and countless fruitful trips home from the fishing grounds.

The lining is loose, but that helps keep it cool. While the brand touts its use of high-density insulation, it seems to be that the large air pockets between the insulation and the inner and outer linings are what give it its best retention qualities. High-density foam (or insulation) is actually a better conductor of heat than low-density foam (or insulation), while air is one of the worst conductors. So, while the insulation may seem curiously loose against the linings, all that space is actually helping to improve ice and temperature retention.

It has an exterior pocket and a padded shoulder strap. Regarding features, there are more than you'd find in your average soft cooler. First, there are briefcase-style handles that velcro together and a padded shoulder sling, buckles on either end for strapping it down and making it more compact, and there's also an outside zipper pouch in which I keep utensils, a cutting board, a folded rag, a wine key, and still have room for a couple of other odds and ends.

I wish it was easier to clean. The only room for improvement with this cooler is an airtight zipper but that would probably drive the cost up too much. It's also a bit tougher to clean than some other options in this guide, but it's nothing a sponge and some dish soap can't handle (I like to fill it with warm soapy water, zip it, and give it a shake first).

Our top picks compared

How we test coolers

Our testing methodology

Each cooler featured in this guide went through several field tests, be it fishing, camping, lounging in the backyard at home, or at the park, to see how well they fared across these four categories: ice retention, durability, portability, and value. Specifically, here's how each category factored into which coolers ultimately made this guide:

Ice retention: Perhaps a cooler's most impactful feature is how well it's able to keep ice. Though variables such as how often you open and close the cooler, how much ice you use, and what is in the cooler impact ice retention, the differences shouldn't be so dramatic that you're able to confuse a poorly designed cooler for a quality one. We judged ice retention in a number of ways, though mostly used each cooler as we normally would while keeping track of how much ice or ice water was left after one, two, and three days.

Durability: A cooler's durability comes down to more than just its exterior quality but also how well its hinges or zippers hold up to constant use. If the cooler you buy gets a lot of run each summer and by fall you're already thinking you'll need to upgrade next year, then durability is a major concern. This is where spending more money on a premium cooler can save you quite a lot in the long run.

Portability: Coolers are inherently portable (for the most part) but some are designed far better than others. Even the most cumbersome of coolers should still offer some method for it to be easily carried (via one or two people), and if it's a small cooler like a soft cooler or a backpack cooler, then these should have portability near the top of what list of what they do exceedingly well. 

Value: As mentioned above, coolers aren't always an inexpensive investment — especially the premium options like what Yeti offers. But if you're able to piece together how exactly you need to use the cooler and for what activities you'd use it most, then you're able to make a better decision on a cooler's true value. Consider the three categories above, as well, and keep in mind that it's better to invest a little more in a premium product that's designed to last than to spend less money, more often on something that's second-rate.

Meet the expert behind the guide

Owen Burke, former senior reporter: I'm a former commercial fisherman, so believe me — I know what makes a good cooler. I tested the coolers in this guide while fishing, camping, or enjoying a good road trip.

Best cooler FAQs

How do I know what cooler would work best for me? 

The most important thing to consider is where you'll most often use it. If a cooler is too big to bring along on a camping or fishing trip, it's useless for those outings.

The same goes for if it can't retain ice well enough to keep things fresh during a weeklong stay in a cabin or camper. If its only purpose is for convenient beverage chilling in your own backyard during cookouts, that's going to have a huge impact on how much you need to spend (which should be well south of $100 in that scenario).

Does it matter what I store in a cooler?

Yes, what you store, and how much of it, can impact how well a cooler works. To really keep contents cold, you'll need to keep a ratio of somewhere around 2/3 ice to reach optimal efficacy. Even a rotomolded cooler simply won't do its job without you meeting it halfway.

Do I have to spend a lot of money on a cooler?

For simple day trips and backyard barbecues, you'll be perfectly fine with a budget-friendly cooler.

When you start going on dayslong expeditions with no fridge or access to power, you'll need something with thick insulation to store your perishables safely. You'll also want to consider its durability, as you'll probably knock the cooler around a bit.

• Steph Mahon used an inheritance to start her real estate firm after getting laid off.
• The money allowed her to hire and scale more quickly.
• Like her uncle, she's child-free and plans to leave her estate to her nieces and nephews.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Steph Mahon, founder of Dwell New Jersey, a Compass Real Estate group. It has been edited for length and clarity.

When I made it through the initial months of the pandemic working in luxury retail, I thought I was safe. I even spent some money on renovating my deck and outdoor space at home. I was stunned when, in September 2020, my position was eliminated.

My career goal had always been to climb the corporate ladder. I'd been doing that over the previous 20 years, and I was proud of the role I held. Having that taken away stung.

That weekend, my parents mentioned that they'd always thought I'd be good at real estate. I'd never been interested in starting my own business. I didn't want to be a real estate agent because I thought the market was saturated. Yet, I suspected my parents were right: I would be good at it.

My uncle died the same month I was laid off

The same month that I was laid off, my uncle Eddie died. We knew he was going to, but it still makes me cry nearly six years later. My uncle, my dad's little brother, was a man of few words.

His only indulgence was his Jaguar, which his lady friends loved. For the most part, he lived simply and saved. He didn't have kids of his own, but he cared deeply about leaving something for the next generations — my two siblings and me.

When he was in the hospital, we had an unspoken understanding that when he died, I would sell his home and use the money toward my business. A few months later, his house became my first sale. Between the proceeds and other inheritance, he left me about $80,000.

I used the inheritance to make my first hire

After about a year of selling real estate, I knew I wanted to create my own business. I'd learned enough about the industry to see how I could differentiate myself in a busy market by providing high-touch services that help clients buy back their time. In February 2022, I registered my business.

Using Eddie's inheritance, I was able to hire a director of client logistics right away. Having her allowed the brand to start on the right foot. Without Eddie's inheritance, I couldn't have grown so quickly.

My emotions about the inheritance didn't change how I utilized the money: I was still very factual about finances. But spiritually and emotionally, I thanked Eddie every day — and I still do.

My uncle would be proud of the company I've started

Today, Dwell New Jersey is approaching the seven-figure mark in profit. I have six employees and have structured the company so that they all have ownership in it. My first hire is still with me. I've created a culture that's both compassionate and connected, both within Dwell New Jersey and in our broader community.

My uncle Eddie was a veteran and very service-minded. He would be so proud that his funds helped establish a company that's having a positive impact.

I'll leave my estate to my nieces and nephews

Like Eddie, I'm child-free. Eventually — hopefully 50 years from now — I plan to leave my estate to my nieces and nephews, just like Eddie did. I'm excited to be able to give them something. Even the idea of my two nieces remembering me as they go through my extensive scarf collection makes me smile.

Because my employees own the company, their families will also see the impact of Eddie's inheritance. Some people impact the world by having children. I hope to make an impact through my work, and I'm grateful that my uncle's inheritance is allowing me to do that.

• The USS Torsk was the last US submarine to sink a ship in combat until Operation Epic Fury in March.
• Torsk, now a museum in Baltimore, offers a glimpse into historic and modern submarine warfare.
• Visitors can walk through the submarine's torpedo rooms, control room, and crew bunks.

For 81 years, the USS Torsk held its claim to fame as the last US Navy submarine to sink an enemy ship in combat.

Then, a US Navy submarine torpedoed an Iranian warship on March 4 as part of Operation Epic Fury, sinking an enemy ship for the first time since Torsk's World War II battle in 1945.

Brian Auer, the operations director of Historic Ships in Baltimore, had to update his tour of the submarine, which became a floating museum after it was decommissioned.

"Now we say we sank the last two ships during World War II," he told Business Insider.

While modern submarine capabilities have advanced far beyond what historic ships like Torsk could sustain thanks to innovations like nuclear power, the vessels themselves don't look all that different than they did during World War II. Visiting Torsk's torpedo rooms, control room, and crew berthing areas still provides an unparalleled look into modern submarine warfare.

I visited Torsk in April, where Auer showed me around the submarine and even let me climb up into a restricted area that's usually closed to the public. Take a look inside.

Commissioned in 1944, the USS Torsk is best known for firing the last torpedoes of World War II, sinking two Japanese frigates in 1945.

On August 14, 1945, Torsk sank the last two enemy ships of World War II in the Sea of Japan.

After the war, Torsk was updated and converted to a fleet-snorkel submarine and remained in service for several decades, participating in Operation Springboard training exercises in the 1950s and the blockade of Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962.

Torsk was decommissioned in 1968, Auer said. It served in training reserves until 1971, and became a museum in 1972.

Torsk was the last US Navy submarine to sink an enemy ship until this year, when a US submarine torpedoed an Iranian warship.

Nearly 81 years after Torsk sank two Japanese frigates, video footage released by the Department of Defense on March 4 showed a US Navy fast-attack submarine firing a Mark 48 heavyweight torpedo at an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean, sinking the vessel.

Torsk is now a museum ship docked in Baltimore's Inner Harbor.

General admission tickets, which cost $21.95 per adult, grant visitors access to Torsk as well as the USS Constellation and US Coast Guard Cutter WHEC-37. All of the vessels are managed by Historic Ships in Baltimore.

Our tour began on Torsk's wooden deck.

When Torsk was in service, the wood was painted black to help camouflage the submarine at sea.

"One of the biggest dangers in World War II, and today, for submarines is aerial reconnaissance aircraft," Auer said.

An emergency buoy displayed on deck would have been used to help locate the submarine if it sank.

The buoy, attached to the submarine with a steel cable, would have floated to the surface and led rescue divers to Torsk's escape hatch. While Torsk never needed to use it, 33 crew members on the USS Squalus were rescued with the help of the emergency buoy when the submarine sank in 1939.

The first stop inside the submarine was its after torpedo room, where crew members fired the torpedo that sank the last ship of World War II.

Torsk features a total of 10 torpedo tubes, four in the after torpedo room and six in the forward torpedo room.

Each torpedo room also included 12 to 18 bunks.

Tube No. 7 fired that final Mark 27 acoustic homing torpedo in 1945.

Acoustic torpedoes home in on the sound of enemy ships' engines and propellers to locate their targets.

Having torpedo rooms in both the front and back of the submarine was key to making a quick escape during combat.

Torsk's top speed was about 9 knots, or about 10 miles per hour. The ability to fire torpedoes from both directions saved precious time by allowing the submarine to target enemy ships while already facing the direction it needed to flee before its location could be traced.

"These torpedoes — with one shot, I can knock out an entire ship, but we have no armor at all," Auer said. "We're completely vulnerable to enemy fire, and our speed is terrible. All we have is firepower. So we make up for that with the ability to hide."

The submarine's electricity was distributed across the ship through the maneuvering room.

Torsk's diesel engines generated the ship's electricity, which crew members directed to various parts of the submarine via levers known as bus switches or "sticks." Electricity was crucial to Torsk's operation, powering its motors and charging its batteries.

Auer pointed out a unique addition to the maneuvering room: an aircraft altimeter added as part of Torsk's snorkel upgrade in the 1950s.

The altimeter monitored the barometric pressure inside the submarine as its engines sucked air out of the compartment while snorkeling.

Torsk featured two engine rooms, each with two Fairbanks-Morse diesel engines.

Temperatures in the engine rooms could reach up to 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

The forward engine room was largely identical to the after engine room aside from the Kleinschmidt evaporator, which distilled seawater into freshwater.

The Kleinschmidt evaporator produced 1,000 gallons of freshwater per day, most of which went to maintaining the submarine's batteries. Crew members could shower once a week if there was any water left over.

In the crew's washroom, all of the enlisted crew members shared two toilets, two showers, and two sinks.

Officers had their own separate washroom.

There were 36 bunks in crew berthing, where sailors slept in tight spaces between shifts.

The room was lit with red light to make it easier for sailors' eyes to adjust to the darkness.

Coffin bunks featured storage beneath the mattress, while those who slept in pipe bunks kept their personal items in storage lockers.

If a sailor's personal item didn't fit in the coffin bunk or in the locker, it couldn't come on board the submarine.

The crew berthing also included an ashtray, a relic of a different time.

"Smoking was allowed pretty much whenever," Auer said. "If you were not a smoker on board Torsk, you were a smoker."

The Navy instituted a ban on smoking below deck on submarines in 2010.

In the crew's mess, the largest open space on Torsk, sailors ate meals, relaxed, and studied for qualifying exams if they were newer to the service.

Unlike other Navy ships with cafeteria-style chow lines, food was passed around on platters handed over from the galley and served family-style. Auer said that the back left table was nicknamed "starvation corner" since it was the last one to receive the platters.

For entertainment, crew members watched movies on a projector hanging from the ceiling and listened to records.

Torsk could only carry two movies at a time since each came on multiple 10-inch film reels. Navy ships occasionally swapped films with each other while out at sea.

Cooks prepared meals in the submarine's galley. Food was essential to lifting morale during long patrols in cramped, unpleasant conditions.

The menu included steak, lobster, and traditional holiday spreads on Thanksgiving and Christmas.

"The food onboard a submarine is the best in the Navy," Auer said. "Still true today, and that's not opinion. That's documentable fact."

Coffee was available 24/7 from the percolator.

On other Navy ships, coffee was only available at mealtimes. Submariners enjoyed the perk of endless coffee at all hours of the day.

Torsk also featured a soft-serve ice cream machine.

Submarines were equipped with ice cream machines in the 1940s and 1950s, while other Navy ships received them later.

The garbage disposal unit functioned similarly to a torpedo tube, jettisoning waste into the ocean.

Garbage bags were weighted down so that they wouldn't float to the surface and expose the submarine's position.

In Torsk's radio room, crew members received and transmitted all communications.

The radio room also featured cryptographic equipment for top-secret messages.

We proceeded into the control room, where crew members could steer the submarine and adjust its depth and angle.

The control room also featured navigational equipment and a hydraulic manifold nicknamed the "Christmas tree" for its green and red lights indicating open or closed hatches.

A depth gauge provided a clue as to how deep Torsk could go, but its exact capabilities remain classified.

Typically, Auer said, Torsk's normal operational depth was around 160 to 165 feet deep.

The conning tower, where the commanding officer commanded the submarine during combat, isn't normally open to the public.

A screen displayed live shots of the conning tower rather than granting visitors access to the small space above the control room.

However, Auer made an exception for Business Insider's visit. Up to the conning tower we go!

The conning tower is accessed by climbing a ladder and through a narrow hatch, which is usually kept locked.

In the conning tower, I got to look through one of Torsk's periscopes.

I saw tourists walking on the sidewalk alongside the submarine and paddling boats in the Baltimore Inner Harbor where we were docked.

The conning tower housed torpedo fire control, from which the torpedo tubes were fired.

Torpedomen in the forward and after torpedo rooms loaded the torpedoes into the tubes and activated the standby light signaling that they were ready to fire. The buttons to actually launch the torpedoes were located in the conning tower.

The main helm, or steering wheel, was also located in the conning tower.

The control room below featured an auxiliary helm, or backup steering wheel, in case the conning tower was damaged or flooded.

After climbing back down the ladder, we encountered the yeoman's shack.

The yeoman was in charge of all of the ship's paperwork, including personnel files and supply orders.

Next came the officers' areas of the submarine, known as officers' country.

The chief petty officers, who slept in this five-bunk room, acted as liaisons between the officers and the enlisted men.

Junior officers had their own stateroom with four bunks.

The room featured a folding desk and sink, and each officer received two drawers for their personal items.

Two senior officers and the executive officer shared this room.

The executive officer, known as the "XO," was the submarine's second-in-command.

The more senior an officer was, the fewer roommates he had on board.

The commanding officer had the submarine's only private stateroom.

In his room, the commanding officer had a phone, call buttons, a gyrocompass repeater, and a depth gauge so he could continue to monitor the ship from there.

In the wardroom, officers ate their meals on Navy china.

The wardroom also served as a lounge and workspace for officers.

Officers' meals were plated and reheated in the officers' pantry next to the wardroom.

Officers ate the same meals as the rest of the crew, but they were plated and presented in a more elevated way.

The last stop on the tour was the forward torpedo room, which featured an oxygen breathing apparatus on display.

The oxygen breathing apparatus was designed for use in the event of a fire on board the submarine.

Even though Torsk is over 80 years old, it remains a prime example of the crucial role submarines play in America's dominance at sea.

Torsk may seem like an outdated museum relic, and for the US Navy, it is. For other countries with less advanced naval forces, however, it would still be a powerful asset.

Take, for instance, Torsk's sister ship, the USS Cutlass, which was commissioned in 1945. While Torsk became a museum in 1972, Cutlass was sold to Taiwan in 1973 and is still operational in the Republic of China Navy.

"This is still a relatively state-of-the-art piece of equipment relative to the world — not compared to our Navy, but compared to, say, the Iranian navy, this is very state-of-the-art," Auer said, standing in Torsk's after torpedo room. "The Iranians don't have anything like this."

• Rent the Runway Unlimited Swaps lets subscribers order an endless rotation of designer apparel like clothes, bags, jewelry, and more for $159 per month.
• Five women on the Insider Reviews team use Rent the Runway Unlimited Swaps in our daily lives. To show you how the service works and what value we personally get out of it, four of us show the outfits we rented over the course of a week.
• Right now, new subscribers can get $100 off their 60-day trial with the code "RTRINSIDER" at checkout. Each month, you'd get $50 off and pay $109, plus tax.
• If you're working from home, here's how we're hacking the service for comfy loungewear.
•  You can view RTR's three membership plans here, and see our list of FAQs at the bottom of this post. 

Rent the Runway (RTR) has been dubbed one of the most disruptive companies in the world thanks in large part to its innovative subscription-based model.

Rent the Runway was once the underground life hack for renting a $500 cocktail dress for $75 for a wedding. But as of 2018, its subscription plans — RTR 1 Swap (four items per month, $89), RTR 2 Swaps (eight items per month, $135) and RTR Unlimited Swaps (unlimited rentals of four items at a time, $159) — already account for 75% of its business, according to the company.

Instead of a one-off rental, RTR customers today seek a better, more sustainable alternative to shopping. 

On the Insider Reviews team alone, five women typically pay the $159 monthly fee for a Rent the Runway Unlimited Swaps Subscription (below, you can find our personal reviews and pictures of outfits we've rented). 

And now that the company offers an in-between option with its Swap 2 membership, we'll be testing and comparing that service in the near future.

Right now, new subscribers can get $100 off their 60-day trial with the code "RTRINSIDER" at checkout. Each month, you would get $50 off and pay $109, plus tax.

How Rent the Runway Unlimited Swaps works

Rent the Runway Unlimited Swaps lets members rent an unlimited amount of designer clothes on a rotating basis every month — ranging from handbags to work clothes to bridesmaids dresses to statement earrings. It's $159 per month typically, but your first two months right now are each $50 off with the code "RTRINSIDER" at checkout.

Members can pick up to four items per rental and then return pieces whenever they want to swap out for a new style, or just keep them all for the entire month. There's no set return deadline with the membership, as long as you continue to pay by the month, and you don't have to wait until you've worn all four items to return one of them. All orders have free shipping, the membership includes insurance for minor mishaps and general wear and tear, and RTR takes care of the dry cleaning.

To return an order, members will pop the clothes back into the garment bag they came in, swap in the prepaid return label, and drop the bag to any UPS store or their designated drop-boxes. Once Rent the Runway has received the returns, members are notified that they can make new selections — and they're directed to a page full of options available for same-day or next-day delivery.

The selection is big — for instance, 31 pages of daytime dresses alone available for delivery to me tomorrow in Manhattan. Members can narrow the options down by size, body type, occasion, color, etc., and they'll also be able to see which options they've previously "hearted" that are now available for delivery. RTR will also curate personalized suggestions they think you'll like based on your previous rentals. 

If you'd like to cancel, you'll need to email cancel@renttherunway.com. You can hit "pause account" online in the section regarding your membership, but it'll only pause for one month. Both pausing and canceling it will begin at the end of your payment cycle, when you would have paid for renewal.

Here's what Rent the Runway Unlimited Swaps is like to use, according to 4 women on our team:

Sally

The overall retail cost of clothes: $1,740

Left: Mara Hoffman Eliza Sweater, $395 retail

Middle: Sandy Liang Camo Rory Jacket, $595 retail

Right: Monse Inside Out Jeans, $750 retail

I've been paying for an RTR subscription since November-ish of 2018 (sometime in early winter, at least), so I've used it in all kinds of weather. I love it year-round, honestly — in the winter, I rent cute coats and sweaters, and during the rest of the year, I love using it for flouncy, fun dresses I'd never otherwise buy. 

You wouldn't know it from the clothes I rented, but my closet is almost exclusively made up of neutral black, white, navy, and cream-colored clothing. RTR lets me be a little bolder and more experimental with my choices.

One thing I love is that RTR users can upload photos of themselves in the clothes they rented and leave reviews about the fit, and you can sort by people who have similar body types to you. I rarely order an item unless I see pictures first because it helps me make a better call about fit. However, I have to say that I hate how the clothing comes wrapped in plastic dry cleaning bags — it's wasteful and annoying to deal with, but the company says they recycle it for you if you return it to them in your garment shipping bag.

Most importantly, RTR has helped me quit fast fashion and generally shop less. I know I can always find something chic and fun on RTR that feels current and trendy, so I'm much less tempted to pop into Zara. Instead, I spend my money on basics and classics that I'll wear for a long time. 

Mara

The overall retail cost of clothes: $937

Left: Unreal Fur Natural Faux Fur Delish Jacket, $339 retail

Middle: Polo Ralph Lauren Afton Blazer, $398 retail

Right: Great Jones Black Drape Top, $200 retail

If you had told me pre-RTR that I'd spend $16o on a monthly clothing subscription, I would have laughed. My others are few and unanimously priced under $10: a joint Hulu x Spotify, my favorite publications, and Scribd. 

But RTR Unlimited actually winds up saving me money. Instead of spending around $160 on clothes that end up in a donation bin later, I've almost entirely stopped shopping. I've finally donated drab reserve blouses. Instead of buying to fill gaps in my closet, I rent for them and use the flexibility of the subscription to only buy special pieces that I'll still want to own in five years. In the end, I have nicer clothes to wear every day, and my non-RTR closet is nicer than I'd be able to afford otherwise. I also get to "shop" habitually (which is a hard habit to break) without contributing to the waste of the fashion industry. 

I use Unlimited for everything: memorable sundresses and wedding guest dresses in the summer, expensive trends like a Susan Alexandra purse and adventurous pieces like this Unreal Fur jacket (above), workwear I don't need to dry clean, statement winter coats, cocktail dresses for date nights, and even relatively affordable names like Reformation and AGOLDE to test drive before I buy. 

Remi

The overall retail cost of clothes: $1,271

Left: Bacon Pink Neon Puffer Jacket, $695 retail

Middle: Sosken Jaden Houndstooth Jacket, $498 retail

Right: Reformation Green Isla Square Neck Top, $78 retail

After hearing so many rave reviews from coworkers and friends, I decided to give Rent the Runway Unlimited a try. The trial was too good of a deal to pass up. After just one month I was sold on paying full price ($160 a month) for the service.

I love shopping and trying new styles, but it can be an expensive habit. And as I learn more about the impact of fast fashion, I've been trying to shop less. Not to mention, I don't have space in my little New York apartment for more clothes. I'm at capacity and I'm not about to pull a Carrie Bradshaw and turn my oven into a shoe rack.

Rent the Runway is the better way to keep your wardrobe constantly fresh. The service has solved my "closet full of clothes but nothing to wear" conundrum by providing me with cute new pieces whenever I want. This winter, I've been taking advantage of its selection of fun jackets. I love outerwear, but it tends to be pricy and bulky. Rent the Runway lets me wear coats that I probably wouldn't buy, whether they're too bold, trendy, expensive, or what have you. Getting to wear fun statement pieces without the closet commitment is exciting, and makes me want to try things that may be out of my comfort zone, like the hot pink puffer pictured above. 

I definitely have had some misses — just like any online shopping experience, sometimes things don't fit or you end up not liking them in person. But, RTR makes it easy to return and swap out those "meh" pieces for ones you really love. Ultimately I find I save money, get to experiment with my style, and wear pieces that are way out of my budget. Plus, online shopping is a lot more fun when everything costs $0 (sort of).

Jada

The overall retail cost of clothes: $1,888

Left: ba&sh Navy Lou Coat, $785 retail

Middle: Slate & Willow Ivory Cable Knit Sweater, $138 retail and L.K. Bennett Eleanor Peacoat, $580 retail

Right: Jason Wu Grey Merino Crewneck Sweater, $385 retail

I started using Rent the Runway Unlimited last May after seeing so many teammates use the service, and it's been one of the best purchases I've ever made. 

Since then, I've rented cute dresses and skirts in the spring and summer, fancy white dresses for events in the lead-up to my wedding, casual beach dresses for my honeymoon, bags that retail for $600+, and fun coats during fall and winter. I like that the service lets me expand my wardrobe and play around with my personal style without spending a ton of money. I wear the things I rent at least twice before returning it for something else, though I did carry a Mansur Gavriel bucket bag for a whole month before returning it only to rent another one in a different color. 

The monthly $160 fee is pricey upfront, but for the value of items I'm able to rent, it's definitely worth it for me. If I were to calculate the retail values of just the items I rented before my wedding, it would definitely be more than $160. In fact, if you aren't sure how much value you'd get from the service, I'd suggest trying it out during a month or two where you have a series of events coming up like during wedding season or the holidays. 

For the first month or so, I had a lot more misses than hits because I couldn't figure out the right sizes for the pieces I was renting. The clothing descriptions aren't detailed at all and provide super-basic information like the fabric or length of a dress or skirt (and sometimes, not even that), so scrolling through past RTR renters' photos and reviews were immensely helpful, and I eventually figured out the right sizes.

There are a lot of clothes and accessories, so definitely use the filters to avoid getting overwhelmed. At the very least, I'll normally filter by my size, the earliest date available for delivery, color, and length if it's a dress or skirt and sleeve length if it's a top or sweater.

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FAQs for RTR Unlimited Swaps:

What is RTR Unlimited Swaps?

RTR Unlimited Swaps is the company's premium membership option. Members pay $159 per month for unlimited rentals of RTR clothes, keeping as many as four items at home at a time.

How much does RTR Unlimited Swaps cost?

RTR Unlimited Swaps is $159 per month.

Right now, new subscribers can get $100 off their 60-day trial with the code "RTRINSIDER" at checkout. Each month, you'll get $50 off and pay $109, plus tax.

How does RTR Unlimited Swaps work?

Rent the Runway Unlimited Swaps ($159/month) lets members rent an unlimited amount of designer clothes on a rotating basis every month — ranging from handbags to work clothes to bridesmaids dresses to statement earrings. 

Members can pick up to four items per rental and then return pieces whenever they want to swap out for a new style, or just keep them all for the entire month. There's no set return deadline with the membership, as long as you continue to pay by the month, and you don't have to wait until you've worn all four items to return one of them.

All orders have free shipping, the membership includes insurance for minor mishaps and general wear and tear, and RTR takes care of the dry cleaning.

Can I buy an RTR dress I rented through Unlimited Swaps?

Yes. To purchase a piece you have at home, sign in to your account on the app or on your computer. You'll see the pieces you have at home at the top of your homepage. Click "Buy Now" below the piece you'd like to make yours.

Once you opt to buy something, your card will be charged, and RTR will open up the reservation spot in your queue so you can order something new.

Can you pause RTR Unlimited Swaps?

You can hit "pause account" online in your account online and it will confirm that you're account has been paused. To cancel, you'll need to email cancel@renttherunway.com. Both will take into effect at the end of your payment cycle.

Is RTR taking any extra precautions during concerns over COVID-19?

Find the company's official statement below:

All our garments, accessories, hangers, and all packaging are thoroughly cleaned each time they are returned to us. 

According to Harvard Health, there is currently no evidence that COVID-19 can be transmitted from soft surfaces like fabric or carpet to humans. In addition, our cleaning agents and practices are designed to kill viruses such as the common cold and flu. While scientific information is still developing, we have no reason to believe that our processes are ineffective against COVID-19.

The teams in our fulfillment centers use a variety of techniques to ensure that each garment is thoroughly cleaned, steamed and pressed, inspected for quality, and carefully packaged so that it arrives ready to wear. All garments go through a wet or dry cleaning process. They also go through an additional steaming process which heats items to between 248°F and 302°F with the exception of faux fur, select outerwear, leather, and faux leather garments, which still go through our standard cleaning processes. According to the CDC, flu viruses are killed by heat above 167°F. Every garment is then enclosed in plastic for protection and cleanliness, which we ask customers to return for recycling.

Find out more in the company's own FAQs to address any questions you may have about their cleaning processes.

Can you cancel your membership if you're not using it during COIVD-19?

As of now, this process hasn't changed. You can pause it for one month in your account settings or email cancel@renttherunway.com to cancel it for longer than one month or indefinitely. The company will not prorate your membership, so we recommend cancelling at the end of the month, just before your next month gets charged.

• The use of non-traditional materials to make clothing, food, and home goods is on the rise. 
• In an effort to help reduce the amount of waste on this planet, many companies are repurposing plastic water bottles that would have otherwise ended up in a landfill. 
• Others create products, such as chickpea pasta or coffee-infused recycled polyester, that boast the benefits of unexpectedly versatile ingredients and materials. 

Used plastic bottles are thrown out, chickpeas are blended into hummus, and wool is woven into coats — these are the accepted beliefs about some of the common materials and ingredients we encounter in our day-to-day lives.

A growing number of companies, however, are choosing not to settle for the way things are and instead have chosen to push for the way things should be.

Whether they're looking to balance out the harms of human activity on this planet or help people lead healthier lives through diet and sleep, these companies have discovered innovative ways to turn unexpected materials into clothing, accessories, and food, all without sacrificing functionality or quality. 

You would never guess what the products from these 9 companies are made from. 

Rothy's

Shop flats and loafers at Rothy's here

Read our review of Rothy's flats here

Rothy's has repurposed nearly 13 million plastic water bottles (as of this writing) to make the light, comfortable, and stylish flats you see gracing the streets of San Francisco and Manhattan. The knit uppers are made from 100% post-consumer plastic, while the foam components in the insoles are made from other recycled shoes. Thanks to a production method involving a combination of 3D knitting machines and hand assembly, the shoes are soft, but still form-fitting, durable, and even machine-washable. 

Ministry of Supply

Shop workwear at Ministry of Supply here

Read our reviews of the Ministry of Supply Momentum Chinos, men's Kinetic Collection, and the Kinetic dress here

Considering that a runner was able to set a Guinness World Record for "Fastest Half Marathon in a Suit" while wearing Ministry of Supply, you probably have more than enough proof to know that it will hold up as you travel to and from downtown and uptown client meetings or when you step out into a humid summer day.

Ministry of Supply employs a variety of innovative techniques to make you not dread putting on workwear: the Responsive Tee has coffee-infused recycled polyester to absorb and neutralize odor, the Apollo dress shirts use a NASA-developed "Phase Change" material that's 19 times more breathable than cotton, and the Kinetic collection's Japanese Primeflex polyester is water-repellant and somehow never wrinkles. 

 

Sunski

Shop sunglasses at Sunski here

Read our review of Sunski sunglasses here

For years, Sunski demonstrated its environmental ethos by participating in 1% for the Planet, which meant it donated 1% of sales to environmental non-profits. In 2017, the company took its commitment a step further by making sunglasses from plastic scraps that would otherwise end up in a landfill in Illinois. Nearly all of these polarized, scratch-resistant glasses cost under $70 and look like any other pair you'd want to bring with you to the beach, mountains, or road trip — the only difference is that you're not leaving the planet worse off when you buy them. 

ADAY

Shop the Experiments in Conscious Design collection at ADAY here

In case you couldn't already tell from its minimalist offerings, ADAY has always valued conscious design. Not one to be complacent, it spent nine months figuring out how to continue to optimize environmental impact at the design, sourcing, and production levels. The designers came up with three solutions and its second "experiment" resulted in the Waste Not Jacket, which is made from 41 plastic water bottles. The fabric is weighty yet cool and breathable, and the jacket can be worn two different ways. 

Banza

Shop Banza pasta here: Walmart, Target, Thrive Market, and Amazon

Read our review of Banza pasta here

If you can't imagine a life without pasta but also have trouble reconciling this love with traditional dried pasta's nutrition-deficient qualities, then you should try Banza. It's made from chickpeas so you're eating double the protein, four times the fiber, and nearly half the net carbs of wheat noodles. Now, hummus isn't the only way you can enjoy chickpeas. They're low on the glycemic index, and the ones Banza uses are certified non-GMO. In the end, the swap doesn't feel like a dramatic sacrifice because it still cooks, feels, and tastes similar to regular pasta. 

Adidas x Parley

Shop Parley shoes and apparel at Adidas here

Read our reviews of the Ultraboost Parley shoes and the outdoor collection here

Parley for the Oceans is an organization that raises awareness about the threats towards our planet's oceans. Adidas is a shoe and athletic apparel company. These seemingly disparate entities came together to take plastic waste from beaches before it reaches the ocean and turn it into a running shoe that's just as high-performing and comfortable as you would expect from Adidas. The Parley line is just the beginning: Adidas' goal is to make all of its shoes from recycled plastic by 2020. 

Allbirds

Shop sneakers and loungers at Allbirds here

Read our reviews of Allbirds wool runners, wool loungers, and the tree collection here

Other than recycled plastic, it turns out shoes can also be made from merino wool and eucalyptus tree fibers. With its soft, breathable sneakers and loungers, Allbirds flips the commonly held belief that wool is uncomfortable and irritating on its head. Meanwhile, its cool tree fibers are sourced from sustainable farms that minimize fertilizer use and reliance on irrigation. Recycled plastic isn't completely out of the picture either because each pair of Allbirds laces is made from one plastic water bottle. 

Girlfriend Collective

Shop activewear at Girlfriend Collective here

Read our reviews of Girlfriend Collective leggings and the Cupro shirt here

One Insider Picks reporter's favorite pair of leggings comes not from a well-known athleisure giant, but a start-up called Girlfriend Collective. It takes 25 recycled water bottles to make these flattering, compressive, and no-pill leggings. Another innovative, eco-friendly option is the moisture-wicking LITE legging, made from recycled fishing nets — the biggest pollutant in our oceans today. The brand's Cupro collection of silky shirts takes advantage of cotton linter, a soft fiber that sticks to cotton seeds and usually gets thrown out. 

Patagonia

Shop Arbor Packs at REI here

Read our review of the Patagonia Arbor Classic Pack here

Our review of Patagonia's recycled plastic backpack addresses the question all shoppers have on their minds — does using recycled materials compromise quality? The Arbor Pack collection of light, rugged, and comfortable backpacks dismisses these doubts immediately. As an outdoors brand, Patagonia has always advocated caring for the environment and it's putting its money where its mouth by turning used soda bottles, unusable manufacturing waste, and worn-out garments into polyester fibers. 

• eBay Authenticate helps users shop for authentic luxury items like watches, handbags, jewelry, and collectibles like comic books, sports trading cards, and gold coins.
• Every item listed with eBay Authenticate is meticulously inspected and verified to be authentic by experts and is already in eBay's possession when you purchase it. That way, you can shop without worrying about getting scammed or being sent a fake.
• Below, I break down how it works for both buyers and sellers.
• Sign up for Insider Reviews' weekly newsletter for more buying advice and great deals.

I know it's widely accepted that eBay has a bit of a reputation for being fishy, filled with scammers and counterfeit goods. But I want to clear something up here: With all the strides the company has made to protect buyers, that reputation is undeserved.

While there have, in fact, been instances of fraud and fakes on eBay (unfortunately, you can expect that on any platform where independent buyers and sellers have the autonomy to do business without a ton of oversight), the company has made amazing strides to improve the user experience for buyers and sellers and ultimately drive smoother transactions. From having plenty of brands sell products directly through the site to offering extensive buyer protection, eBay is a surprisingly safe place to shop.

Now, the brand is continuing its safe-shopping efforts with a new program called eBay Authenticate.

As a sub-section of the site, eBay Authenticate was designed to help users shop for luxury items like handbags, watches, and jewelry and collectibles like gold coins, sports trading cards, and comics with 100% confidence. Each item listed for sale has been verified to be authentic by an expert and is fairly priced based on factors like condition, rarity, and current market value.

To fully understand eBay Authenticate, it's best to learn how it works as a seller first, because that's where the inventory you will shop as a buyer comes from.

Here's how it works as a seller:

Let's say you have a designer handbag that you want to sell. The first step is to check if your item is eligible to be sold on eBay Authenticate by entering the brand, item type, and condition. If your item is eligible, you can then send it into eBay for authentication using a prepaid shipping label. From there, independent experts authenticate, price, and list your items for sale on eBay Authenticate. When your item is purchased, you get paid and eBay handles shipping the item to the buyer.

It's worth noting that eBay takes a 20% transaction fee when authenticated items are sold. Although that's quite a bit more than eBay's standard 10% transaction fee, it's worth it. You will find that the verified authenticity almost always makes it easier to sell your item, rather than listing it yourself — or using another avenue of sale. Buyers want to shop with confidence, and this is an easy way for them to do it.

Here's how it works as a buyer:

If you're accustomed to shopping on eBay, using eBay Authenticate isn't much different — you shop, pay, and receive your items in the mail. However, there are several key benefits that alleviate the concerns associated with buying big-ticket, rare, or collectible items online. 

Since all of the items are professionally authenticated and in the possession of eBay at the time of your purchase, you can guarantee that the item you receive is the same item in the listing. There's no chance of spending hundreds or thousands of dollars only to never hear from the seller again or to receive a counterfeit item in return (granted, there are protections for that, but it doesn't make getting scammed any less frustrating). 

In the rare instance that you do have doubts about the authenticity of an item you've received, you can contact the seller, return the item in the same condition you received it in with the eBay Authenticate tag still attached, and the experts will re-authenticate your item. If they can't confirm the authenticity of your item, you'll receive a full refund. This is a major benefit as some sellers on eBay don't offer returns. If you purchase something on eBay outside of eBay Authenticate and it turns out to be counterfeit, you run the risk of being stuck with that item and not getting your money back, unless you ask eBay to step in and they're able to remedy the situation.

The best part is that shopping on eBay Authenticate costs you zero extra dollars. With all of the added benefits, there's really no reason not to shop — or at least browse — on eBay Authenticate for those high-end luxury items and collectibles you've been nervous about buying online.

How eBay Authenticate can save you money:

Generally, the safest way to get authentic items is to buy it directly from the manufacturer's retail store or website, but that's usually not the best option — or an option at all. For example, if you want a Rolex watch or a Chanel handbag, you will absolutely spend more at retail locations compared to shopping on eBay, since the items listed on eBay are generally going to be lightly used. 

The bottom line

I've never purchased a high-end watch or designer handbag on eBay, but I have made many successful purchases on the site in the past. My personal purchases mostly include collectible sneakers and rare BMW car parts, and much of my confidence in buying those things came from my own expertise.

Before I learned about this program, I would have steered clear of buying a watch, bag, or anything else that's highly collectible simply because I'm not an expert in those areas, but with eBay Authenticate, I wouldn't hesitate to do it. 

If you've come to terms with never owning your dream watch or designer handbag because of an egregious retail price, eBay Authenticate can make it a feasible reality. You'll also find many giftable items for the upcoming holiday season. 

Start shopping on eBay Authenticate now.

• Sneakers are integral to casual style, but whether you realize it or not, how you lace your sneakers can hurt or enhance the overall look of your outfit.
• By paying close attention to how they're laced, you can add a unique flair to your personal style or simply make your sneakers look sleeker. For a shoe like the super popular Comme Des Garçons PLAY x Converse Chuck 70s, unique lacing helps them stand out from the rest.
• Below, I've outlined how to lace your sneakers in different patterns including classic over or under, loop-back, and straight. 

I own an insane amount of sneakers (I've seriously lost count) with pairs ranging from vintage Air Jordans from the '90s to the latest releases from startups and big brand names. Even though I have such a wide spectrum of styles, one thing that I can say about each and every pair that I've worn — and I try to wear all of my sneakers — is that I always re-lace them before putting them on for the first time.

Maybe it's just my extremely close attention to detail, but I find that redoing the laces is a quick and easy way to improve the aesthetic of the sneakers or to add a unique flair to one's style.

While most sneakers come out of the box laced up and ready to wear, you'll regularly find laces that are uneven, twisted, in the wrong pattern, or simply pulled way too tight. You have to consider that the factory worker who laced up your sneakers is tasked with lacing hundreds of shoes in a row, so some degree of sloppiness is bound to happen.

There are an endless amount of ways to lace your shoes, but I'll walk you through a few of my favorite patterns that anyone should be able to do with ease.

Here's everything you'll need:

•  A cool pair of sneakers, of course. Check out our buying guides for the best stylish sneakers and best white sneakers to find a pair. Each pair of shoes I used below can be found between these two guides.
• Extra laces are optional but a great way to add personality to your sneakers. Shop all shoelaces on Amazon or buy this 10-count variety pack for $19.99 for Etsy.

Keep scrolling to learn a few different ways to lace your sneakers.

First, make sure both ends of the lace are even

The first step to lacing your sneakers neatly is to make sure the lace tips are even. Put each lace tip in the first set of eyelets from the top and pull the lace tight, while making sure it stays even.

This is super important regardless of what lace style you choose because unevenness will become more noticeable when you reach to final eyelets. If they're too uneven, you won't be able to tie your shoes.

Note: The shoe pictured above is the Nike Air Force 1 Low with removable Swooshes (currently sold out). The removable Swooshes come in dark wash denim, medium wash denim, and tan leather, so you'll be able to come up with a variety of looks.

The classic under pattern: Re-lace your shoes for a much cleaner look than out of the box

Most shoes come with a standard diagonal-and-under lace pattern, and for a classic shoe like the Air Force 1, I think it's fitting. However, they come out of the box laced super tight, usually very messy, and uneven. To make it look much neater, simply redo it.

Once you've made sure the laces are even, you can start the diagonal pattern going to the second set of eyelets. Start lacing them criss-cross style, with the first lace going over and down into each eyelet, rather than coming up through the eyelets. Be sure to follow the same pattern exactly, so that the lace going to the right side is always under and the lace going to the left is always over (or vice versa). 

When you move on to the second shoe, you should follow the same pattern so that both shoes have the laces going in the same direction. If you lace your shoes up and something just doesn't look right, but you can't quite pinpoint it, you probably messed up the pattern somewhere. Consistency is the key to making your sneakers look neat and clean.

The classic under pattern: final results

The shoe toward the back is still factory-laced, while the shoe in the front is redone. Although it's the same pattern, the shoe in the front is slightly looser and much neater.

The diagonal-and-over pattern: another easy style

I ultimately went with the diagonal-and-over pattern for my new Air Force 1s, and it's just as easy to do as the diagonal-and-under pattern. Instead of going through the eyelets from the bottom, simply go through the top and remember to follow the same consistent pattern on both shoes. This is a super clean look — far better than any stock brand photo, if I do say so myself.

And if you're wondering about my jeans, they're Mott & Bow's Skinny Warren in Medium Blue.

The loop-back pattern: How to create the loop

If the standard diagonal-and-under or diagonal-and-over patterns are too basic for you, the loop-back is a cool style you probably won't see others sporting. Instead of going across the tongue of the shoe, the pattern consists of intertwined loops going up both sides of the shoe. 

I decided to do this pattern on a pair of Comme Des Garçons PLAY x Converse Chuck 70s (currently sold out) I got for my girlfriend. Aside from the solid color Chuck 70s, the CDG collaboration is probably the most popular Chuck 70, so I wanted to do something unique.

In the picture above, you'll see the loop-back pattern completed on the first two sets of eyelets and the next loop ready to continue the pattern.

The loop-back pattern: Put the other end of the lace through the loop

Once you create a loop on one side of the shoe, simply put the other lace through the loop and bring it back to the next eyelet on the same side. After you loop them together, pull them evenly so the point at which they cross is in the middle of the tongue — not too far to the left or right of the shoe.

The loop-back pattern: The end result is a unique weave-like pattern

Compared to the normal diagonal-and-over pattern (seen on the sneaker in the background), the loop-back pattern is cool and unique — definitely not something you'll see every day. 

In my opinion, Converse are some of the best sneakers for showing off your personality, so any lace style is fair game. The loop-back is one of my favorites though.

The straight pattern: This can be tricky, so pay attention

The straight pattern can be a little bit tricky since much of the lacework is hidden underneath the eyelet panels. First, follow the blue arrows in the picture above, which indicate the hidden lacing. Then follow the yellow arrows, which indicate lacing across the tongue. 

Note: The shoes pictured above are the Nothing New low tops. They are sustainably made from 100% recycled plastic. Read my full review to learn more about the brand. 

The straight pattern: Continue the pattern — you're almost there

Simply continue the pattern until you reach the top of the eyelets. Since a good portion of the lacework is hidden along the sides of the eyelet panels instead of going across the shoes, you won't be able to tighten the shoes very well by pulling on the laces.

With that said, the straight pattern is good for shoes that you'll only wear casually. If you plan on tightening your shoes for secure lockdown while playing sports or working out, you'll want to lace your sneakers normally.

The straight pattern completed: It's great for casual looks

The lacing might be intricate, but the final look is simple and very fitting for a casual shoe.

Where to buy extra laces

Swapping in different color laces is another great way to add an original look to your sneakers. Shoes sometimes come with extra laces, but more often, they don't. All three sneakers I used in this review didn't come with extra laces.

Whether you're looking for a different color that didn't come included or you're replacing a beat-up pair, Amazon is a solid place to shop. 

You'll find a variety of lace styles, colors, and lengths, but one of the best deals is this 10-count variety pack for $19.99 from Etsy.

Typically, 40-inch and 45-inch laces are good for low-tops, while 54-inch laces are good for high-tops and boots. If you're unsure of which length you need, measuring the laces you currently have in your shoes is a fail-safe way to get the right length.

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• Nordstrom's rewards program, The Nordy Club, offers more perks the more you spend.
• Perks include first access to top brands, style and beauty workshops, and free basic alterations.
• If you're already a member or cardholder, you're automatically enrolled in the program.
• Sign up here for free and start earning points and perks. You can also find coupons and promo codes for Nordstrom Rack here. 
• See more: Here's how to gain early access to Nordstrom's Anniversary Sale now — plus a $60 Bonus Note, Nordstrom's Anniversary Sale starts now for Nordstrom cardholders — here's what you need to know and what deals are worth checking out, and the best daily deals happening now.

Nordstrom's rewards program — The Nordy Club — rewards members with more and better perks the more they spend. With the program, you earn points just for shopping at Nordstrom, Nordstrom Rack, HauteLook and subscription service Trunk Club (which you can find a review here).

 Current rewards members and cardholders will automatically be enrolled. If you're not one of them, you can enroll for free here and put your seasonal shopping to work toward better perks.

What perks come with the Nordy Club rewards program?

The rewards program gets better the more you spend, unlocking a new status and new accompanying benefits, like access to beauty and style workshops, curbside pickup, and being the first to shop select brands.

In workshops, stylists help you curate your look using your budget and the diverse range of brands Nordstrom has access to. Curbside pickup means you can buy online and stop by a participating store, where a Nordstrom employee will walk the order out to your car.

You can also get free basic alterations at Nordstrom on regular priced items you bought from either Nordstrom or Trunk Club. Learn more about the perks here.

You earn one point per dollar, and you can unlock Nordstrom Notes with those points (Nordstrom Notes are essentially Nordstrom gift cards you earn). 

The membership levels are based on annual spending, and follow this model — each with unique perks:

• Member ($0-$500)
• Insider ($500+)
• Influencer ($2,000+)
• Ambassador ($5,000+)

If you're a member with Ambassador+ status, you get access to one yearly visit from a Nordstrom Stylist to your home. The stylist will edit your closet with you, and offer expert styling advice and tailoring services. If you have a favorite stylist, just call them when you're ready for a spring cleaning. 

Ambassador+ Status members also get priority access to style events and invite-only events and First to Shop Clear the Rack events (plus 25% off red-tag clearance items), alongside cardholders. 

Why the Nordy Club is better for Nordstrom cardholders:

Cardholders automatically get a $40 "Bonus Note" from the company when they make a purchase at Nordstrom or Nordstrom Rack with the new card on the day they're approved. They also automatically get access to Insider Benefits and earn three points per dollar spent (triple what a non-cardholder earns). In addition to all the great member benefits, they also get early access to the Anniversary Sale and Clear the Rack events, plus $100 in alterations benefits, and all alterations made at Nordstrom stores will be reimbursed in the form of Nordstrom Notes equal to the exact dollar value of the charge on your Nordstrom card (up to the benefit amount listed).

Either way you participate, Nordstrom's rewards program is a great value if you take advantage of it — a cohesive addition to the brand that gets a good portion of its fanfare for its customer service, free shipping, and ambiguous but uniquely lenient return policy. The program is better for cardholders, but the average member can achieve benefits and perks just by shopping.

Sign up for the free Nordy Club rewards program here and start earning.

Sign up for the Nordstrom Card here.

• I impulse-bought a sweater set through an Instagram ad from Cider, a trendy online clothing store.
• My order arrived on time and I was actually impressed with the quality of the clothes.
• Half of the set is sold out now, but there are lots of other cute sets available.

I swore I'd never give into fast-fashion ads on Instagram, but I was recently served an exceptionally cute one from Cider and, whoops, I totally caved. 

Cider isn't too far off from Forever 21 or Zara with its many trendy styles at affordable price points, but it has a bit of a Euphoria High School vibe. You'll find a ton of lacey crop tops, retro-inspired mini dresses, and the ability to shop by mood (cute, dreamy, grunge, etc.). Some styles have plus-size options, but I wouldn't call Cider truly size-inclusive.

I was skeptical of ordering from Cider since I don't usually buy fast fashion, but I actually had a really great experience buying from the brand. 

The thing that got me on Instagram was this adorable bright pink sweater/shorts set — a color that is totally out of my usual neutrals-only wheelhouse. I ended up buying it straight from the ad, which is also unlike me, and very good marketing on their part. Unfortunately, the shorts from the set are already sold out, but the sweater is still availabe (as are a ton of other cute sets, dresses, and more).

My order shipped within about a week and arrived days later in perfect condition with no weird smells or wrinkles. I opted for an XL in the shorts (I'm usually a size 10-12 often wear a large in bottoms, but most of these brands seem to run small so I sized up) and a L in the cardigan (my usual size), both of which were the tiniest bit oversized on me. When it comes to sizing, I recommend going true to your usual.

The material is very thick, made from a dense knit, and it's not itchy in the slightest, which is something I'm super sensitive to. I've worn it completely on its own and with white T-shirts underneath, and the sweater is versatile enough for pairing with jeans and ballet flats or sneakers so it's basically like getting several outfits in one. It washes well and hasn't started pilling yet, either. 

The one complaint I have about this set is that I don't like the pleats on the front of the shorts, but not all of the shorts are designed this way. 

Overall, I had a good experience ordering from Cider and I'd buy from the brand again if something really fun caught my eye. I can't speak to the quality of everything they make, but if you're wondering whether it's legit, I can at least say you're not going to end up with doll-sized clothing or something made of tissue paper. 

If you're curious what else Cider makes, here are some more cute styles I've loved from the site, including a few affordable sets:

Cider FAQs:

Does Cider run small?

Not in my experience. I actually found that the set I ordered ran a little large. If you're ordering something oversized and you're usually between sizes, I'd opt for the smaller one — otherwise I suggest ordering true to your usual size.

Is Cider a legit clothing brand?

From my personal experience, yes! I got exactly what I ordered, no scams.

How long does Cider shipping take?

I received my set took about a week and a half to arrive in New York after placing the order. I can't speak for every order or shipping location, but from all the reviews I read, this seemed to be standard.

• In my senior year at Stanford, I began my job search but couldn't secure a full-time offer.
• I was frustrated because I felt overqualified, yet I wasn't even getting interviews.
• I started my own PR business, which has since made six figures.

I started applying for jobs in the first week of my senior year at Stanford University, assuming I would have something lined up by graduation, if not sooner. I was surrounded by friends entering finance and consulting, where recruiting begins early and offers are secured months, sometimes years, in advance.

While I wasn't part of a traditional corporate pipeline, I had spent my college years building inroads in Silicon Valley, managing marketing for hot startups.

For nine months, I tracked every application in a spreadsheet. Over time, I simplified it, deleting the "Second Round Interview" column. I wasn't even making it to the first round. Most of the time, there was no update at all.

By graduation in 2025, I still didn't have a full-time job offer.

I had experience, but it didn't seem to count

When I did hear back, it wasn't for full-time roles; it was for internships. One came through an alumni referral. Another was in a field unrelated to my experience.

What made the situation more frustrating was how well-qualified —perhaps even overqualified — I felt.

I started doing marketing work at 15, helping local small businesses. In college, that work expanded into roles at tech companies, often taking up 30 to 40 hours a week alongside my classes. By graduation, I had seven years of experience.

As a sophomore, I switched from engineering to English and linguistics. Mastery of language and narrative made me a better marketer. But as a senior, I began to worry I might end up as the stereotypical unemployed English major.

I was a financial aid student who didn't want to burden my parents after graduation. I found myself considering roles that would only prolong the search I was trying to finish.

The job market felt different from what I expected

At highly competitive universities like Stanford, most students spend every summer interning, expecting it to lead to full-time offers. I followed that path.

But when I started applying, the road seemed to lead to a cliff rather than the golden gates of adulthood.

In 2025, I wasn't just competing with other graduates. I was up against candidates who had recently been laid off. Many of my target industries were slowing hiring or cutting roles entirely.

I started taking on whatever work I could find

With graduation approaching, I started saving whatever I could.

A professor of mine asked me to help run her book campaign. I told her I had never worked in publishing or in public relations, but I said yes anyway.

Around the same time, I began assisting a journalist through my school's alumni network, editing her writing, pitching stories, and managing her newsletter.

Even in the midst of my own misery, I could see the difference my work made. It was exciting, even if it paid less than I was used to.

I turned that work into my own business

Three weeks before graduation, after being rejected from a minimum-wage internship I had gone through three rounds of interviews for, I created my own role: publicist and founder of Punctuation PR.

While finishing my thesis, I filed paperwork to start an LLC. I built a website. I told my parents that instead of staying unemployed in an uncertain economy, I was starting a marketing and publicity agency for writers. The return on my effort would be more within my control.

They were unexpectedly supportive. My mom told me she was proud — not just because I was creating a job for myself, but because I was building something that could one day create jobs for others.

The day after graduation, I drove from the Bay Area to Los Angeles and started working full-time from a barely unpacked apartment.

I turned my side projects into clients and cold emailed academics and authors. I wrote contracts, set up billing, and raised my rates.

Referrals came in. One project led to another.

It became my full-time income

For the first few months, I lived paycheck to paycheck. When I couldn't pay off my credit card, I sold my clothes and furniture. I often worked more than 12 hours a day.

Within six months, I was earning more than the entry-level roles I had been applying for.

In early 2026, Punctuation PR became a six-figure business. I had worked with over a dozen clients, built relationships with publishers and media outlets, and helped my books reach hundreds of thousands of new readers.

What began as a stopgap became my full-time income.

It changed how I think about work

I used to believe that graduating — and similar milestones — followed a sort of ideal inertia: once success was in motion, it would naturally continue, uninterrupted.

In reality, life is a series of unbalanced forces. You change speed and direction. In 2026, the institutions that once felt stable now feel far less certain for many.

Starting a business is still one of the riskiest things a person can do. I hope to scale my company from six to seven figures in the coming years. There's no guarantee that I will, but there's also no guarantee that I won't.

It's up to me to decide.

• Seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady uses Under Armour Recover after big games and training.
• UA Recover uses far-infrared technology, similar to a sauna, to help regenerate cells and heal muscles.
• Learn more about how it works plus our own experience using UA Recover below.

Tom Brady just did the unimaginable. After spending the last 19 years of his career as a New England Patriot, he joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and won his seventh Super Bowl championship — in his home stadium, at that.

There's no question that while Brady's natural ability and lots of training have contributed to the high success rate in his 10 Super Bowl appearances, recovery treatments have also helped him perform to the best of his ability.

Naturally, soreness and pain come along with being an athlete, but they are no excuse for poor performance. From ice baths to massages to cupping therapies, athletes try everything when it comes to recovery techniques. But Brady's most clever method is as simple as getting dressed in Under Armour Recover clothing. The brand's Recover collection includes sleepwear, sportswear, and even outerwear that's designed to help you bounce back faster.

How Under Armour Recover works 

UA Recover incorporates bioceramic technology into a patterned lining of the garments. The pattern includes special bioceramic particles that absorb infrared wavelengths emitted by the body and reflect back far infrared energy, helping the body recover faster while promoting better sleep. Far-infrared energy is a completely safe type of radiation that promotes cell regrowth within the body.

That means your muscles and joints regenerate faster, resulting in less soreness after intense physical activity.

The therapeutic effects of far-infrared energy have long been used in saunas to treat pain and discomfort. Under Armour's Recover technology provides those same benefits and lets you skip the trip to the sauna by using far-infrared-emitting bioceramic particles and your own body heat.

First impressions and review

When I first learned about the way bioceramic technology reflects far infrared energy back to the body, I was skeptical and thought it was just fancy wording for warmth. But, after giving one of the sleepwear sets a shot, I can say that's definitely not the case. I was instructed that it would take a couple of weeks to see the full benefits and that turned out to be true. I didn't see a difference after just one wear, but after several wears, I noticed significantly fewer aches and overall better nights of sleep.

I also found the sleepwear to be effective for lounging around the house. Put them on while you're lounging or working from home, and you'll be able to feel the technology at work, compared to sleeping through it.

In my experience, the far-infrared gives off a very soothing sensation that your joints and muscles will appreciate. Granted, the Athlete Recovery Sleepwear won't ease pain immediately the way using a heating pad or even taking a Tylenol would, but it's constantly at work. Heating pads can't be worn around the clock and medicine wears off, so the consistency that UA Recover offers is a major bonus. As long as you're wearing it, you'll be on your way to recovery.

The bottom line

Instead of having to wrap yourself in bioceramic bandages or sit in saunas as Brady would, you can get the same healing properties while wearing your everyday clothes. The bioceramic material is also safe to wash and dry, so the effectiveness of the clothes won't diminish over time. 

Whether you're a professional athlete like Tom Brady who's looking to shorten your recovery time between workouts and competitions or just someone searching for a way to alleviate aches, UA Recover is a must-try.

Shop the full UA Recover Collection at Under Armour here.

Shop select UA Recover Sleepwear items at TB12 here.

Here are our favorite UA Recover pieces:

Men's Under Armour Sleepwear Long Sleeve

Men's Under Armour Sleepwear Long Sleeve, $90

Men's UA Recover Sleepwear Joggers

Men's UA Recover Sleepwear Joggers, $90

Women's Under Armour Sleepwear Long Sleeve

Women's Under Armour Sleepwear Long Sleeve, $80 

Women's UA Recover Sleepwear Joggers

Women's UA Recover Sleepwear Joggers, $90

Men's UA Recover Fleece Quarter Zip

Men's UA Recover Fleece Quarter Zip, $100

Men's UA Recover Pants

Men's UA Recover Pants, $104.97

Men's UA Recover Long Sleeve

UA Recover Long Sleeve, $65

Women's UA Recover Woven Shine Jacket

Women's UA Recover Woven Shine Jacket, $110

Women's UA Recover Tricot Pants

Women's UA Recover Tricot Pants, $80

• People love luxury handbags, but for many, the price is a huge obstacle. 
• Rebag gives you the opportunity to buy authentic second-hand designer bags that look like new, for less.
• By acting as the middleman between those who want to sell their old luxury bags and those who want to buy new ones, Rebag can get great prices for both parties.

Over the past few years, there has been serious growth in the luxury-goods market. In 2017 alone, Millennials contributed to an 85% surge in the sector. When one thousand dollars can pay your rent and then some, it can seem excessive to drop that money on a single purse. Yet, for many, the appeal of luxury handbags is undeniable. The leather is softer, the structure sturdier, and many of the designs iconic.

A beautiful, designer handbag can take an outfit from average to avant-garde. On an average budget, though, luxury bags might be out of the question. That's when you turn to Rebag, a site that lets you buy and sell authentic designer handbags.

Rebag sells authentic second-hand bags from the most sought-after brands. The company only accepts bags from an exclusive list of fewer than 50 designers — Gucci, Prada, and Chanel among others.

How to buy and sell second-hand designer handbags on Rebag

Rebag won't just accept any bag from a luxury brand, either. There are strict guidelines on what condition bags must be in in order to be accepted.

You'll need to send in some photos and details on the condition of the piece, and if Rebag deems it worthy of resale, you'll be given a quote. Best of all, you get to keep 100% of the quoted price once you send the bag in to be resold.

As a buyer, Rebag makes the process easier for you, too. If you're questioning the authenticity of the bags on the site, Rebag outlines the methods its team uses to spot a fake.

You can shop the site by collection, price, brand, color, and more. When you stumble upon a bag you love, you'll a great deal of information on everything from the model to the condition it's in, so you won't be surprised by any unexpected scratches or wear and tear. You'll also see the estimated retail price, which sometimes can be $1,000+ more than the Rebag price — so you can decide for yourself if you think it's a good deal. 

Rebag also has an app, which you can download on your smartphone to speed up the buying or selling process — or to just browse the beautifully curated selection whenever. 

At the end of the day, the bags you'll find on Rebag are by no means cheap — they're still very expensive. If you really want a luxury bag though, you can save a lot of money by choosing to purchase one second-hand on the site.

Additionally, you can find some cool, vintage pieces that you wouldn't be able to find in a retail store today.

Because it's well-organized, well-presented, and well-curated — Rebag is sure to make any hangbag aficionado swoon.

Buy and sell luxury handbags on Rebag.

• Summer wouldn't be the same without that magical sound of flip-flops at the beach and pool.
• These simple sandals come in a variety of styles, including day-to-night options.
• Some brands offer styles with arch support or massaging footbeds.

The sound of flip-flops flipping and flopping at the beach or pool is one of the quintessential sounds of summer. These simple sandals have a history dating back to the ancient Egyptians. The modern version first became popular in the 1950s when they received their onomatopoeic name for the distinctive sound they make, although they also go by a variety of other names including thongs (Australia), slippers (Hawaii), and clam diggers (Texas). 

At their simplest, this sandal style features a post that goes in between the first and second toes and often has Y-shaped straps that go around the sides of the feet. With that being said, there are many variations on the basic theme, as you'll see below. 

We've included men's, women's, and unisex choices, and although anyone can wear any of these, the women's and men's selections have limited sizing compared to the unisex options. 

OluKai 'Ohana

These are easy wearing sandals good for all-day wear that look great whether running errands, hanging out at the beach, or having a casual dinner out.

When You slide into a pair of OluKai 'Ohana flip-flops, the footbed feels smooth and pillowy yet with a firmness below the surface. These are easy-wearing sandals that look great whether running errands, hanging out at the beach, or having a casual dinner out. The upper is made from a soft, but sturdy synthetic material that's lined with a quick-drying jersey, and doesn't chafe the space between your toes where they touch the nylon post. Over time they conform to the shape of your feet.

OluKai is also a certified B Corporation that meets high ethical and environmental standards and has been giving back to Hawaii, where the company was born in 2006, through its Ama OluKai Foundation, which helps preserve the state's heritage, culture, and the environment through grants to various non-profits.

Vionic Tide II Post Sandal

The Vionic Tide II Post Sandals are good for your feet and look good on them too.

If you're used to thin, flat flip-flops, you'll be pleasantly surprised by the Vionic Tide II Post Sandal. They're made with a footbed that supports your feet and cradles the arch in a design that's been proven to alleviate heel pain. It even has a Seal of Acceptance by the American Podiatric Medical Association. My wife, who owns these sandals, tells me she doesn't experience any chaffing between her toes even after wearing them all day. The footbed is firm but cushiony and there's a medium-density EVA midsole that's good at minimizing shock when you walk, which helps reduce stress on your knees and ankles.

Vionic recommends slowly breaking these sandals if you're not used to flip-flops with arch support. The outsoles are durable and provide good traction. The Tide IIs come in six colorways and are cute enough to dress up for a casual night out. These are the brand's most popular styles and with good reason. 

Crocs Crocband Flip-Flop

The Crocband has all the advantages of Crocs' clogs—shock absorbing, comfortable, water and odor resistant—in a sleek flip-flop with a massaging footbed.

Crocs are known for its clogs, but the Colorado-based company also makes a lot of other footwear — including the Crocband Flip-Flops. They combine the brand's signature comfort (chefs and school kids love them for a reason) and the breathability, lightness, and sleek look of a sandal.

The Crocband has a massaging footbed, a sporty look with a signature midsole racing stripe. It is made of a proprietary resin called Croslite (the same thing they use for the clogs) that has maximum cushioning, is odor and water-resistant, buoyant, quick-drying, and easy to clean. With a whopping 34 colorways, you should be able to find one that suits you. These only come in full sizes, and we recommend sizing up if you usually wear a half-size. 

Reef Voyage Lux Sandals

Reef's Voyage Lux flip-flops are beautifully crafted leather flip-flops that are tough enough for whatever outdoor activity you throw at them. 

Reef, the California sandal and surf lifestyle company, always does a fantastic job of combining comfortable footwear that doesn't require breaking them in with quality craftsmanship. The Voyage Lux men's sandal is a good example. Unlike some flip-flops I've owned, these didn't give me a blister between my toes and were comfortable from day one. After four years of hard seasonal use, mine are still going strong.

The leather footbed has gotten even softer and developed a nice patina (like an old baseball glove) while the foam midsole is still responsive and cushiony. These flip-flops have a leather upper with a soft molded footbed, an EVA midsole, and a rubber outsole with a thickly ridged sawtooth tread that keeps you steady in slippery conditions. Plus, Reef offers free shipping and returns. 

Everlane ReNew Strappy Sandal

Everlane's ReNew sandal combines the best of a flip-flop with a strappy sandal for an elevated look and a bit of extra support while walking. 

Everlane is a go-to favorite for many reasons, including timeless style over fast fashion trends, relatively transparent sourcing, and a drive to be as sustainable as possible. Their ReNew Strappy Sandal gives you the best of a flip-flop and a strappy sandal. Unlike typical flip-flops, the thong strap extends fully around the ankle with a stretchy back strap that provides a bit of extra support when walking. The footbed is made of recycled polyester and has a cushioned insole, and the recycled rubber outsole will keep you from slipping poolside. These sandals are made in Vietnam. They don't come in half-sizes so size up if you fall in between sizes. 

Havaianas Unisex Top Flip-Flops

Havaianas has been making exceptional flip-flops since 1962 and still makes them out of natural rubber in Brazil.

Havaianas flip-flops have been a part of summer since 1962 when the Brazilian brand first launched the first mass-produced rubber flip-flop. The Top Flip-Flop is an iconic style still produced in Brazil. Because they're made of natural rubber, they may feel a bit stiffer than foam versions when you first wear them but they'll quickly become more pliable. The rubber should also keep from compressing over time, unlike foam. These sandals feature wide straps and a cushioned footbed with the brand's signature textured rice pattern that harks back to these flip-flops origins as they were based on traditional Japanese zori sandals. They come in nine colors, including a bright orange that's perfect for a summer holiday. 

Hari Mari HM x Peter Millar Flip-Flops

The Hari Mari HM x Peter Millar Flip-Flops are made from water-resistant full-grain leather and feature firm arch support, memory foam in all the right places, and rubber bottoms with good gripping power on wet areas.

The Hari Mari HM x Peter Millar Flip-Flops are a limited-edition collaboration with North Carolina-based premium sportswear brand Peter Millar, which is known for its craftsmanship and casual elegance. These flip-flops are made from water-resistant, full-grain leather and feature firm arch support, memory foam in all the right places, and rubber bottoms with good gripping power on wet areas. You could consider these "dressy" flip-flops, as in they'd look great with a pair of chinos and a linen button-up shirt or a more casual camp shirt and Bermuda shorts.

They come in three colorways, but the chambray and cognac pair is especially good-looking with its woven linen chambray straps. Hari Mari flip-flops don't come in half sizes, so size up if you're between, per the company's recommendation. You can also feel good about buying from this brand. Hari Mari donates one percent of its profits from every flip-flop sale to its "Flops Fighting Cancer" initiative that assists pediatric cancer patients.

Birkenstock Gizeh Patent

Think of the Birkenstock Gizeh Patent as minimalist upscale flip-flops that are good for your feet. 

The German brand Birkenstock that's been around since the 1700s has a well-deserved reputation for being super comfortable, thanks to the sandals' contoured cork footbeds that conform to the wearer's feet. While best known for its iconic two-strap sandal, the brand also makes a thong style. The footbeds are lined in soft suede with a springy EVA midsole sandwiched between the suede and the brand's signature cork layer that offers arch support, a deep heel cup, and a wide toe box. The outsole is also made of EVA and is light but provides good cushioning.

Besides being able to slip into them on like traditional flip-flops, these sandals have buckle closures so you can adjust them for an individualized fit. The backside of the Birko-Flor is lined with soft, breathable fleece that's gentle on the skin. Zappos offers three color choices, including a shiny bright red. Think of these as minimalist upscale flip-flops that are good for your feet. 

Archies Arch-Support Flip-Flops

Archie's one-piece design prevents the dreaded flip-flop blowout while the design promotes proper foot posture. All this and a decent price tag, too.

Australian footwear brand Archies, which was started by a physiotherapist, has a hugely loyal following thanks to its super comfy flip-flops that come at a reasonable price point of $35. These podiatrist-recommended sandals are made from special closed-cell foam that's springy, soft, and molds to the feet. The high arch may take a little getting used to, but you'll soon appreciate it. Unlike many flip-flops, Archies has a one-piece construction that prevents the dreaded blowout when the post pops out of the sole. They don't come in half-sizes so the company recommends that if you have narrow feet to size down and wide feet to size up. 

Freewater Treeline Sport

The Freewater Treeline Sport is a multifunctional sandal that can be worn like a flip-flop or a walking sandal. 

The Treeline Sport takes the flip-flop in an outdoor direction with a multifunctional design that allows you to wear them as flip-flops or as hiking sandals, thanks to a removable ankle strap. There's also a strap that goes across the top of the foot for added support. These sandals feature a ridged Therm-a-Rest material as the footbed. In the Treeline Sport, these ridges massage your feet and promote airflow and water drainage. The Vibram Eco Tread outsoles are made of 30% recycled content and are good at gripping the ground in wet conditions. Another benefit of buying these sandals is that one percent of Freewater's net sales go to grassroots projects that provide clean drinking water in developing nations. Size up if you wear a half-size, according to Freewater. 

J. Crew Easy Summer Flip-Flops

WIth a rainbow of colorways and a nice price, the J. Crew Easy Summer Flip-Flops will quickly become your sunny day staple.

Cute, simple but elegant, and priced right, J. Crew's Easy Summer Flip-Flops pair with whatever you're wearing, and can easily go from the beach to a casual night out. With eight colors, from metallic gold to brilliant cobalt (a bright blue) you may have trouble deciding which to get. The sole has good traction and the footbed is lightly padded and looks great with shorts, jeans, or a maxi dress. If you wear a half-size, get the next whole size up.

Oofos Ooriginal Sandal

Oofos Ooriginal Sandals are like walking on marshmallows and are made to aid your recovery after a brutal workout or a hard day at work. 

The experience of wearing the Oofos Ooriginal Sandal has often been described as "like walking on marshmallows." They're soft and ultra-cushiony, thanks to a proprietary foam technology that absorbs 37% more impact than regular foam footwear material. These are billed as recovery sandals, meaning their main function is to relieve tired feet after strenuous activity like running or hiking. This is achieved through the patented footbed design that takes the pressure off the feet, knees, and lower back. They're also machine washable, have a six-month warranty, and don't require any break-in period. Oofos don't come in half sizes so the company recommends sizing up for women and down for men. 

Astral Filipe

The Astral Filipe takes you from poolside to mountainside with a removal ankle strap and super-grippy outsoles.

Astral, the North Carolina-based outdoor equipment company, offers a flip-flop that's built for the outdoors, whether at the beach, on a hike, or cruising around the city. The uppers are made from cushioned synthetic leather and feature a soft, water-wicking knit liner and a cushy nylon webbing toe post. Below, there's a springy EVA midsole and outstanding outsoles made from G Rubber, the company's proprietary material, which is super grippy, non-marking, and abrasion-resistant The Filipe comes with removable ankle straps to take you from poolside to mountainside in a jiffy. If you wear a half-size, size up. 

Hoka One One Ora Recovery Flip

Hoka One One is best known for its "maximalist" super-cushioned running shoes so it makes sense its Ora Recovery Flip also features tons of plush cushioning and design that encourages a smoother gait.

Hoka One One, the French athletic shoe company, is best known for its super-cushioned "maximal" running shoes that have excellent cushioning-to-weight ratios and promote stability. It should come as no surprise that the company's Ora Recovery Flips also feature an extra thick cushioned midsole, a plush, textured EVA footbed, and a design that encourages a smoother gait. These also have a textile upper that helps wick moisture and an outsole that has great traction. The Ora Flips are extremely light at 4.5 oz per sandal. Like the Oofos, these are designed for post-workout or a hard day at work and help relieve tired feet while promoting recovery. Besides that, they offer them in basic black or two brighter hues: Luminary Green/Blue Tint or Cantaloupe/Fiesta, a pretty pinkish-orange.

Revs Lights Massage Flip Flops

Give yourself a massage while you walk with the Revs Lights Massage Flip Flops. 

With its hundreds of massaging rubber nodules on the footbeds, the Revs Light flip-flops aren't just for chilling poolside, these are meant to stimulate your pressure points for better circulation and to reduce fatigue, among other alleged health benefits. Designed by a Scottish reflexologist, these sandals are also designed to improve your posture and stance. 

The footbed and straps are made of rubber and the outsole of shock-absorbing EVA. Many customers suggest easing into wearing them over time as they can feel unusual when you first put them on. They come in a bunch of fun colorways from metallic to two-tone blue and bright yellow. Since there are no half sizes, it's recommended you size up.

Sole Catalina Sport Flip

The Sole Catalina Sport Flipis good for your feet and the environment that mold to the shape of your feet and includes a new type of sustainable foam made from algae rather than petroleum.

Sole made its name with its orthotic insoles but the Canadian company also makes a popular line of footwear, including the Catalina Sport Flip, a sandal with the same eco-friendly technology that goes into its insoles. The Catalina sandals mold to your feet after about a week of use for a customized wearing experience. They feature a sustainable Bloom Algae Foam footbed made from algae instead of petroleum, an EVA midsole, and arch support. The upper is made from a nicely padded, soft synthetic nubuck-like material. Plus, they're water-friendly and have a grippy outsole. Size up if you typically wear a half size.

Flojos Olivia Vintage Sandal

Flojos Olivia Vintage Sandal is a versatile wedge flip-flop with a 70s feel but modern materials for a comfortable fit. 

Flojos, which started life in Mexico in 1972, is a California sandal brand with a throwback beach vibe and decently priced footwear ranging from $20 to $60. The Olivia Vintage Sandal is a wedge flip-flop with a 70s feel that's the brand's most popular style. The 2 ½ inch heel is not too tall, not too short, but definitely gives you a bit of a lift while still being comfortable thanks to the cupped footbed design that cradles the feet and a springy EVA midsole, and a light sponge rubber outsole.

The burnished faux leather straps also give these wedges a vintage feel but they haven't forgotten the comfort here either as the straps are lined with a soft fabric and the toe post is also softly reinforced. Dress them up with wide-leg pants and a poet's blouse or down with denim shorts and a T. Per the brand, if you typically wear a half size and have narrow feet, go down to the next whole size. If you wear a half-size and have wide feet, size up.

Indosole Flip-Flops

Indosole Flip-Flops are eco-conscious with soles made from recycled tires. Beyond that, they come in a range of beautiful colorways, are well made, and very comfortable. 

While not billed as unisex, Indosole's flip-flops are gender-neutral except for the sizing. Let's start with one of the major differences between this brand and others on the market. The company uses recycled tires in its products. Tire waste is a huge international environmental problem as they don't easily decompose and are often burned in developing countries polluting the air, ground, and water.

Indosole, a certified B corporation, came up with a way to break the tires down and reconstitute them for use as sturdy outsoles. The rubber the company uses for the footbed is ethically sourced and the strap is from a custom-made material called ENVRO Fiber that comes from sustainably grown plants and recycled sources. Besides the environmental aspects of these flip-flops, these are well-made, waterproof, non-slip, come in a ton of beautiful colorways, and are very comfortable. 

• Ray-Ban has been making high-quality frames that are both functional and stylish for over 80 years.
• From classic and mirrored lenses to polarized lenses, Ray-Ban has sunglasses for everyone.
• For more Ray-Ban, read our guides on the best women's, men's, and polarized sunglasses.

If a company has been thriving for years, it's safe to say they probably make pretty good stuff. Ray-Ban has been making functional and cool eyewear since 1937. Today, the brand still offers some of the best sunglasses on the market. Here, we lay out why we love these sunglasses and answer frequently asked questions about the brand.

What kind of UV protection do Ray-Ban sunglasses provide?

While sunglasses have become a fashion accessory all on their own, at the core of it, they're made to protect your eyes. Every pair of Ray-Bans delivers on this front. All Ray-Ban lenses have UV protection, but the exact level varies among the types of lenses. Here's what Ray-Ban offers:

• Classic lenses absorb 85% of visible light and block most blue light while providing a "natural vision" because they don't alter the colors you see around you. 
• Mirrored lenses reduce glare for visual comfort near snow and water. Colors look clearer and brighter. 
• Polarized lenses block more than 99% of reflected light around you, eliminate glares, and enhance contrast. Everything looks clearer and brighter.

Does Ray-Ban offer prescription lenses?

Another great feature from Ray-Ban is the ability to get prescription lenses. Choose from a wide range of classic Ray-Ban frames and make them yours with custom prescription lenses. You can even make them polarized. 

Of course, nice lenses need to be complemented by equally nice frames, and luckily, Ray-Ban has those, too. You can find high-quality metal and acetate options in small, standard, or large sizes to get the perfect fit. A majority of Ray-Ban customers go for the standard size, but if you're on the fence, you can check out the brand's size guide. 

The high-quality frames, protective lenses, and just-right fit make Ray-Bans equal parts performance and fashion. That means they're just as fit for a leisurely day on the town as an active day on the water, in the snow, or wherever you like to go.

What kind of sunglasses does Ray-Ban make? 

From the iconic to the contemporary, Ray-Ban has a strong selection of stylish pairs fit for every face. You'll probably recognize Ray-Ban's three most classic pairs: The Aviator, The Wayfarer, and The Clubmaster. While eyewear trends come and go, these three pairs are classics. Insider Reviews social media associate Victoria Gracie swears by her Ray-Ban Clubmasters. "In the past," she said, "I've had trouble finding sunglasses that fit my face well, but Ray-Ban's Clubmasters seem to do the trick. The quality is also top-notch — I'm not as careful as I should be with my Ray-Bans, but they're still in pristine condition, and the mirrored lenses don't even show any scratches."

In fact, the Aviators and Clubmasters have even earned spots in our guides to the best women's sunglasses, best men's sunglasses, and best polarized sunglasses — they're that good. In the rare event that you don't see a pair you like, you can even design your own pair from scratch.

Our personal favorite Ray-Bans

Personal Finance Insider reporter Liz Kneuven has both prescription and regular Ray-Bans. She credits her love for the Erika sunglasses ($153) to the unique shape that's slightly round but still angular. "Before those glasses got really popular, it was hard to find anything that shape. They're just so flattering," she says. "For me, it's all about the shape. I've owned and shopped for several pairs of nice sunglasses, but I've never been able to find any other round-ish ones that complimented my face shape like the Ray-Ban Erikas do."

The Round Metal sunglasses ($161) are by far my favorite Ray-Bans, and truthfully, my favorite sunglasses ever. I'm already on my second pair. Inspired by musicians in the 1960s, the style is just retro enough. They're understated but universally flattering, and they edge up pretty much any outfit I wear. Whether it's a sundress and sandals or ripped jeans and a plain white T-shirt, the gold frame and dark green lenses on these match everything. While they are a little pricey, I feel like I've gotten more than my money's worth of wear. Plus, I'd rather pay a little extra for comfort, quality, and the peace of mind that my eyes are actually protected from the sun.

Style and beauty editor Ashley Phillips is also a fan of the Round Metal sunglasses. "I like how these have a cool retro feel, but at the same time they go with basically everything. And even though the wire frame looks delicate, I've owned this pair for years and it's still in great shape."

How much do Ray-Bans cost?

The range of prices you'll come across when shopping for sunglasses is huge. You could pick up a pair for five bucks at the local bodega or drop over $500 on a pair from your favorite designer label. Ray-Ban falls pretty central on the spectrum, with pairs starting around $150 and going up to about $500 for ones made with an ultra-light titanium frame.

With Ray-Ban, you know you're getting quality lenses and durable frames that can keep up with you through whatever activities your day brings. Cheap sunglasses are a great way to try out new trends without spending too much money, but many pairs are more fun than functional and don't offer enough UV protection. On the other hand, just because a pair of sunglasses is very expensive that doesn't necessarily mean you're getting a higher quality UV protection. You may be paying more for the designer label. I've spent more than $150 on sunglasses from other brands and was ultimately disappointed at how they (barely) blocked the sun from my eyes. From these experiences, I've decided that $150 on a pair of Ray-Bans is actually pretty fair — just do your best not to lose them. 

If you're looking for a pair of Ray-Bans with prescription lenses, you may also be able to receive reimbursement from your insurance company. Both Ray-Ban and retailers like GlassesUSA accept several types of insurance plans. 

The bottom line

Ray-Ban is a heritage brand, and for good reason. They've stayed true to the classics, but have also managed to keep up with the trends without losing sight of their brand. The end result is a brand with universal appeal that everyone from your younger brother to your best friend to your grandma will be proud to rock. Whether you're a Ray-Bans loyalist, or new to the brand, it's definitely a great place to pick up your next pair of sunglasses. 

Shop all sunglasses at Ray-Ban.

Shop Ray-Ban sunglasses at GlassesUSA.

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

It doesn't take skilled debate tactics to convince someone that small changes made on a global scale can have a huge impact in the 21st century. 

Take, for instance, the fact that Americans alone use an average of 500 million plastic straws every day, which inspired the Be Straw Free campaign by the National Parks Service.

It's a seemingly insignificant habit that has huge consequences: That plastic waste winds up in our oceans, polluting the water and killing animals, only to eventually make its way back to us through the food we eat (and the micro plastic in them).

In order to address the problem and build a more sustainable (and mutually beneficial) business plan, Adidas paired up with Parley for the Oceans to repurpose the millions of pounds of plastic currently polluting the world's oceans. Instead of remaining waste, Adidas has found a smart way to use recycling to their (and the planet's) benefit. 

If deciding not to use straws anymore has a huge impact on the environment, consider the impact a global brand like Adidas could have. We've all heard of the horrifying "Great Pacific garbage patch" which is essentially an enormous swath of ocean coated in pelagic plastics, chemical sludge, and and other debris caught there by the North Pacific Gyre's currents. And most people will find it surprising that a 2015 study estimated that around eight million metric tons of our plastic waste enters the oceans from land every year.

Adidas finding a use for that waste that not only takes it out of our oceans (meaning less ending up in sea turtles stomachs and our own), but also provides its usual Adidas-sized revenue boost that helps provide us with a healthy market, too. 

So we've established that the Adidas x Parley shoes are a great idea from an ecological standpoint — but are they still great shoes? 

I recently got a pair of the Ultra Boost X shoes that came out of the Parley collaboration and I love them. They're made with Adidas' Boost technology, which you can read more about here, but the main gist is that they provide super high energy return for runners and makes your shoes ultra-comfortable. Even though new sneaker technology can seem gimmicky at best, this really isn't a gimmick — and it continues to spread through Adidas' line. 

Another concern with new technology is that the shoe will look more functional than stylish — something that certainly isn't a problem with the Ultra Boost X Parley. It comes in two colors: white with pale, purplish blue and light blue tones (pictured above) and an intense navy/light blue mix, with both colors mimicking different moods of the ocean. The sock-like Primeknit upper feels comfortable and breathable, and the style itself is one of my favorite parts about the shoe — which is considerable since they're among the most comfortable running shoes I've ever owned. 

The Boost technology makes running feel more impactful and the knit upper helps facilitate helpful airflow and keep my feet from overheating. If I were to break a personal record on a run, I'd probably do it in these shoes. Plus, the knit and ultra lightweight rubber sole make them among the lightest shoes I own, as well as the most useful for my runs. They're $200, but it would be an easy decision to buy another pair to replace them if I ever lost them.

The only thing I would mention is that the Ultra Boost X Parley can feel narrow (mine are snug but not uncomfortable), so if you have wider feet you may want to order one of your usual size and one size up to compare comfort. 

By 2020, Adidas wants all of their shoes to be made using recycled plastic, which is good for the health of the planet, but it's good to know that their first foray into sustainability has been a success.

If you're looking for a lightweight, comfortable pair of running shoes with innovative technology, a nice look, and a positive environmental impact — you may want to check out the Adidas Ultra Boost X Parley. And if for some reason they don't work for you, you have 30 days to return them.   

Grab your pair of Adidas Ultra Boost X Parley here. 

• ThredUP is the most convenient mass upcycling program I've found for city dwellers without a car. 
• ThredUP's Clean-Out Closet service lets you order a bag online, fill it up at home, and schedule a pickup or drop it off at a mailing center. They will also potentially pay you for high-end items you send in, and recycle the rest or send it back to you. It's not the most lucrative upcycling option, but a bit of money is a perk. 
• There are also a few other programs that reward you for cleaning out your closet, and a few that make the process as easy as ordering a bag online, filling it up at home, and scheduling a pickup.
• Get free shipping on orders $79+ using the promo code on our Insider coupons page.
• Sign up for Insider Reviews' weekly newsletter for more buying advice and great deals.

Despite having a type-A personality, I wouldn't call my closet particularly well-organized.

It's not for lack of trying. For the last year, I've spent more time trimming the fat — going through my small New York City closet, packing bags, and schlepping clothes in Ubers and city buses all across the city to sell or donate — than probably any other activity. It's the right thing to do from a humane and ecological perspective, but it's not always easy when you live in an urban center with no personal transportation. 

Like most chores that require sweating, rolling suitcases over uneven city concrete, and occasionally pleading with God to speed up time, I started to dread the trek. And that dread led me down the rabbit hole of fantastic services that will essentially do all the legwork for you. For example, Give Back Box will email you a free shipping label to slap on any box you have in the house to send your donations to charities for free. If it looks like you have to pay for a label, just search "Give Back Box print free shipping label" on Google or simply click here. The Salvation Army will also come pick up donation boxes if you sign up for a slot online, but be prepared to wait weeks because this option is popular. A handful of companies will actually reward you for getting rid of stuff you no longer use.

But my favorite may be thredUP's donation program for its ease and benefits. You can order a clean-out kit online to be delivered to your home, fill it up with goods you want to recycle (or sell), and leave your bag for your mail carrier, schedule a USPS pickup, or drop it off at any FedEx Office or USPS location.

There are two types of thredUP clean-out kits, both of which are free. 

• The Standard Clean-Out Kit means you earn cash or credit for accepted women's and kids' items in the bag. Any unaccepted items (the things thredUP wouldn't be able to sell on-site) are shipped back to you (for $10.99) or responsibly recycled, according to the company.
• The Donation Clean-Out Kit is what it sounds like. You can send in women's, men's, and kids' items. Instead of earning any money, thredUP says it will give $5 per bag on your behalf to a charity of your choice and responsibly recycle the items you send. You'll also get a tax receipt. Charities include Help a Mother Out, Big Brothers Big Sisters Foundation, and Girls Inc.

ThredUP told Business Insider that the company found charities often do not have the resources or time to sort through and distribute the clothing they receive, so the company decided to turn clothes into cash for organizations that don't normally take clothing donations. Given the amount of textile waste, it sounds good in the sense that a) people can recycle textiles responsibly and easily and b) there's an opportunity to make more useful donations to charities. And if every bag is a $5 donation rather than by pound, you could theoretically send in a few bags if your items could fit in two as easily as in one. 

If you choose to do the Standard Clean-Out, it's good to know the company says that it only accepts 40% of the items in the average kit. To be accepted, they have to show no signs of wear (pilling, fading, shrinkage), damage, or alterations. 

How getting paid by thredUP works

If thredUP opts to sell your item, you get a cut of the sale. According to the company, item payouts range from 5% to 80% of the listing price, and higher-end brands get you a higher percentage of the payout. Learn more here about payouts, and learn more here about selling luxury items.

It's sort of like Poshmark or eBay except you can send all of it off at once, and they take care of the actual selling: inspecting them, professionally photographing them, listing them, and shipping them.

You can also earn shopping credit at a favorite store for cleaning out your closet. If you choose partner credit as your payout option, you could earn an extra bonus for a limited time — like a 20% bonus to Amour Vert or a 15% bonus to Reformation.

How to use the Clean-Out service

To use the service, I ordered a Clean-Out kit from the site, picked it up from my mailbox, filled it with clothes, and scheduled a USPS pickup at USPS.com online. Then, since I sent in some relatively high-end items using the Standard option, I waited to see if ThredUp would list or responsibly recycle them (I chose not to have them sent back if they weren't sold). 

Your kit will be processed typically within one week of being received. If you want a guarantee that it will be within one week, you can opt for it by agreeing to $16 being deducted from your earnings.

The pros and cons

ThredUP's service is convenient in the way that it offers perks and options and does the heavy lifting for you. Especially for those looking to recycle clothing en masse in an urban area (particularly if you do so regularly or without access to a car), it's a great option. You won't need to find a bag or box, and aside from the actual act of going through your closet, all the work is done by a couple of clicks online. ThredUP's program is also unique in its flexible options. You can send items to sell, opt to have them recycled or rerouted back to you if they're not accepted, or have the company donate $5 per bag to a charity if you use just their Donation Kit.

You also don't have to deal with the legwork that platforms such as Poshmark and eBay require. ThredUp takes care of the photos, the selling, and the shipping. 

If you're looking to get the most money possible for high-end items, it's probably not the most lucrative option. Depending on what your local upcycling options are, you may earn more by bringing relatively high-end items to a Buffalo Exchange. Though for luxury items which fetch as much as 80% commission of the sale, thredUP may still be a contender. For me, since my focus is largely on low-maintenance recycling, earning a few bucks here or there is just a bonus. 

Order a thredUP Clean-Out bag online to donate clothes now.

• Over 300 million pairs of sneakers are thrown out annually.
• It can take 30 to 40 years for a pair to decompose in a landfill.
• Learn about 10 sneaker brands using eco-friendly materials and more sustainable production methods.

The sneaker industry is bigger than ever, and its growth shows no signs of slowing. 

More than 23 billion pairs of sneakers are produced every year, but behind the great demand for footwear is an industry so wasteful it's almost beyond measure. Most of these new pairs use virgin plastic, rubber, and petroleum, producing alarming amounts of carbon dioxide. According to sneaker startup Nothing New, about 300 million pairs of shoes are thrown out every year and, on average, it takes 30-40 years for a pair to fully decompose in a landfill.

In the past, most shoppers would have put little thought into exactly how the items they bought were made, but that is no longer the case all around. In addition to demanding trendsetting styles and groundbreaking innovations, the educated consumers of today expect products to be made responsibly.

Sportswear retail expert Matt Powell explained to Insider that younger people are very concerned with how their purchases are affecting the environment. "Sustainability is an important theme in retail, so much so that younger consumers are willing to pay more for sustainable products," said Powell. "Brands have long been concerned about making products sustainably, but they're being more forward and open about it."

If you're looking to make better, more sustainable choices, we hear you. We are too, which is why we rounded up this list of brands that are using innovative, eco-friendly materials and more sustainable production methods to make sneakers.

From performance sneakers made by popular brands like Nike and Adidas to fashion-forward trainers from startups like Everlane and Allbirds, you'll find plenty of brands new and old working to set new standards.

Check out 10 brands making more sustainable sneakers:

Cariuma

Founded in Rio de Janiero, Brazil, Cariuma is a sneaker brand that focuses on sustainability. The brand handmakes its sneakers using high-quality natural materials including organic fair-trade cotton, natural rubber from hevea brasiliensis trees, and leather from gold-rated tanneries using hides sourced from areas that weren't deforested for cattle farming.

The brand ships its shoes directly in the shoebox, which eliminates the need for wasteful packaging. It also makes up for the carbon emissions associated with shipping products by purchasing carbon offsets, which brings its carbon footprint down to zero.

Cariuma's sneakers have an old-school look, but with modern comfort. The insoles have a generous amount of memory foam, which make them easy to wear all day long.

Read our full review on Cariuma sneakers here.

Shop all shoes at Cariuma here, $79-$159

Adidas x Parley

When it comes to mainstream sportswear brands, Adidas is easily the most vocal about its sustainability efforts — and environmental organization Parley for the Oceans has been its biggest collaborator. The two brands teamed up for the first time in 2015 with a sneaker using yarn made from recycled ocean plastic and illegal deep-sea gill nets. They officially launched products to the public in 2016.

In 2020, Adidas made more than 20 million pairs of sneakers with Parley ocean plastic — a major increase from 11 million pairs in 2019 and 5 million pairs in 2018.

Today, you'll find Parley's recycled materials on everything from running sneakers like the Ultra 4D 5.0 and Ultra Boost to outdoor shoes like the Terrex Two.

Shop all Adidas products made with recycled materials here.

Tread by Everlane

While recycled knits account for a big part of the sustainable sneakers market, Tread by Everlane is for those who still appreciate quality leather. With 94.2% non-virgin plastic soles, leather sourced from the world's cleanest tannery, and laces and linings made from recycled plastic bottles, The Trainer is touted (by its maker, mind you) as the world's lowest-impact sneakers.

Even if you aren't a particularly conscious consumer (although you should be), Tread by Everlane has great appeal. Its style lends itself well to minimalists and lovers of that cut-and-sewn look found on retro running sneakers.

Read our full review on Everlane Trainer sneakers here.

Shop all Everlane sneakers here.

Reebok Cotton + Corn

Reebok first launched the Cotton + Corn sneakers with the NPC UK sneaker. It originally featured leather accents on the heel tab, but after receiving kickback from Peta, the brand took the initiative to make the shoe completely vegan. The updated sneaker features a 100% cotton upper, a sole derived from corn, and insoles made from castor bean oil. Even the packaging is 100% recycled.

Now, Reebok is continuing vegan shoes with the Corn + Cotton Slip-On, a casual sneaker.

Shop all Reebok Cotton + Corn sneakers here.

Nothing New

Founded in 2019, Nothing New is a sneaker startup that aims to positively impact the planet and educate the people that live on it. Unlike most brands on this list that are simply making strides to improve their eco-friendliness, sustainability is at the very core of the brand.

As the name suggests, Nothing New sneakers are made with only recycled materials. The upper is 100% post-consumer recycled plastic, while its other components are made from recycled cotton, fishing nets, rubber, and cork.

Beyond the production process, Nothing New offers $20 discounts on new pairs to those who send back their used sneakers. Depending on the condition of the sneakers, Nothing New will clean and donate them or break them down and put the materials back into its recycled supply chain.

Read our full review on Nothing New sneakers here.

Shop all Nothing New sneakers here.

Nike

Over the last five decades, Nike has continually pushed boundaries in sportswear innovation. While performance has been at the forefront of its designs, sustainability has also been a major factor in recent years. Even though sustainability isn't heavily incorporated into the brand's marketing (compared to Adidas Parley or Allbirds), the brand's work has not gone unnoticed.

In 2018, Nike was recognized by Textile Exchange as using the most recycled polyester in the industry for the sixth year in a row, and from 2010-2018, the brand transformed 6.4 billion plastic water bottles into recycled footwear or apparel.

Nike's signature Flyknit material, which can be found on footwear throughout the brand's catalog, is made in-part with recycled plastic, but the Swoosh is doing more than sustainable knits.

In 2019, Nike also launched sneakers made from Flyleather, a new material made from at least 50% recycled leather fiber. Although there haven't been many other sneakers to release with Flyleather yet, you can expect the material to be included more often in future designs.

In 2020, Nike furthered its impact on sustainability by using recycled rubbers on midsoles and outsoles — a feature that could be seen on everything from Nike SBs to Converse. Some of the most notable use of materials made from recycled trash is the Nike Space Hippie collection and the new Cosmic Unity basketball shoe. In total, the brand has roughly 900 items available that are made from at least 20% recycled materials.

Shop all Nike products made from recycled materials here.

Converse Renew

The Chuck Taylor All-Stars are cemented in footwear as one of, if not the most timeless sneakers on the planet, but Converse has proven that it's able to stay in touch with modern demands. Using 100% recycled plastic bottles to make up its canvas upper, the Renew Collection is the latest example of its commitment to produce more carefully.

The process starts with plastic bottles sourced by the US-based recycling company First Mile. The plastic is then ground up into flakes, melted, rolled into bales, spun into yarn, and weaved into canvas.

The best part about the Converse Renew collection is that shoes are fully customizable and are available in sizes from toddlers to adults. 

Shop the Converse Renew collection here.

Allbirds

As the brainchild of New Zealand native Tim Brown and San Francisco-based renewables expert Joey Zwillinger, Allbirds is the wildly popular sneaker startup you've seen all throughout Silicon Valley and New York City. In the first four years, the brand reached a $77.5 million valuation — all thanks to its sustainable footwear.

Love them or hate them, all of Allbirds' designs are undeniably unique and unmatched in comfort. The brand's shoes are made with merino wool or eucalyptus trees for the uppers and sugar cane for the SweetFoam soles. They even made the patent on their SweetFoam material public so that other brands could utilize it as a sustainable alternative. Recycled plastic and castor bean oil also make their way into the inner-workings of the shoes. Allbirds even uses 90% post-consumer recycled cardboard for packaging that serves as a shoe box, shopping bag, and mailer all in one.

We've reviewed everything from the signature Wool Runners to the newer Tree Toppers and found them to be incredibly comfortable. Read all of our Allbirds reviews here.

Shop Allbirds sneakers for men and women here, $95-$115

Greats

Founded in 2014 by Ryan Babenzien and footwear designer Jon Buscemi, Greats began as an affordable alternative to the luxury sneaker market. The brand's signature style, The Greats Royale, features premium leather, is manufactured in Italy, and only costs $179 — which far less than comparable high-end sneakers.

In efforts to be more eco-friendly, Greats redesigned the silhouette with a recycled plastic knit upper. Seven plastic bottles go into making each pair of Royale Knit sneakers, and in the initial production run alone, Greats removed 75,000 bottles from the ocean.

In addition to the recycled plastic uppers, Greats uses recycled materials to produce the shoe boxes and packaging.

Shop all Greats sneakers here.

Rothy's

Founded in 2016, Rothy's took over social media and the streets of New York and San Francisco with its recycled plastic flats for women. With such a heavy emphasis on sustainability, it was only right for the brand to start making other styles, including sneakers. 

Aptly named "The Sneaker," Rothy's recycled plastic sneaker features a Vans-inspired slip-on look with a recycled plastic upper. Other eco-friendly elements of the shoe include recycled foam insoles, vegan, outsoles made from recyclable, carbon-free rubber and TPU, and vegan and non-toxic adhesives.

To date, Rothy's has repurposed more than 35 million plastic water bottles in its footwear. For now, the brand only makes footwear for women and kids, so if you're looking for shoes in men's sizing, you'll have to check out one of the other brands on this list.

Read our Rothy's review here.

Shop all recycled plastic shoes at Rothy's here, $125-$165

 

• Amazon has launched over 50 in-house fashion labels, contributing to its outpacing of Macy's as an apparel retailer.
• Its feminine fashion labels are surprisingly stylish, and range from casual athleisure to fashion-forward wardrobe staples.
• Almost all of the styles are under $100 and priced affordably, plus everything is available on Amazon Prime, making the delivery and return process incredibly fast and easy. 
• Sign up for Insider Review's weekly newsletter for more buying advice and great deals.

Amazon has already made a name for itself as one of the world's largest retail marketplaces, and has even started carving its own path as a powerful player in the tech industry. But the company is now looking to expand its self-branded offerings beyond the Echo and Kindle by making its foray into the fashion world.

In a tumultuous market that has seen powerhouse brick-and-mortar retailers like Macy's shutter their doors across the country, Amazon is looking to use its online marketplace to bring fashion to the masses. The site already provides a platform for plenty of major fashion companies like Nike and Kate Spade to sell their goods — but in 2017, Amazon also decided develop its own in-house brands in hopes of capturing a larger share of sales, and bringing better value to its customers.

And the honest truth? Amazon is making some really stylish clothing.

To date, Amazon has developed more than 50 different fashion labels for people of all ages and genders, running the gamut from workwear to lingerie, baby clothes to shoes, and even athleisure styles and basics. There are a few standout labels in the women's/feminine clothing category that are worth noting, so we've broken down everything you need to know about Amazon's best fashion lines, which are all available on Prime.

Amazon's in-house fashion brands for women:

Lark & Ro

Shop all Lark & Ro styles

Lark & Ro's overall feel is polished and professional, but each piece has some sort of modern flair or silhouette that keeps it looking trendy. You'll find all the workwear basics, including solid sheath and patterned wrap dresses, blouses with interesting detailing, and a selection of foundational pieces like cashmere sweaters and trench coats. The color palette skews more toward neutrals like black, grey, and white, plus variations of mostly darker shades of blues, pinks, and purples.

In terms of price points, Lark & Ro will run you roughly the same as stores like LOFT, Gap, and Banana Republic, with prices averaging between $30 and $80.

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Daily/Ritual

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Daily/Ritual specializes in cozy loungewear and casual basics like slouchy sweaters and hoodies, sweatshirt dresses, leggings, and even reasonably priced two-packs of tanks and tees. The colors are mostly neutrals like black, white, and gray, making it easy to mix and match, and the majority of their styles also come in plus sizes.

The whole line is relatively inexpensive, with most dresses costing around $30 and two-packs priced at an average of $20 total. The leggings are all under $20, which is a serious steal. 

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Cable Stitch

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As you might have guessed by its name, Cable Stitch is Amazon's line of knit sweaters and dresses. Honestly, it might be our favorite of all the brand's fashion offerings. You'll find more than just basic cable-knit sweaters here — the designers have done a fantastic job of creating interesting shapes and details for each piece.

You'll find everything from tasteful cutout shoulders to ruffled sleeves, oversized cardigans to fitted color-block options, and even a few midi-length sweater dresses. Prices across the line vary, but not by much. Most items are between $40 and $70.

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Amazon Essentials

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When you need to stock up on the basics, Amazon Essentials is where you can find a solid collection of everyday apparel for the entire family, and all at affordable prices. The designs are super simple and versatile and span everything from socks to pajamas to puffer jackets. Most of the sizing runs from XS-XXL, and there are maternity styles available, too.

Along with the staple items, you can find a few gems that are slightly more trend-driven, like colorful loungewear sets for around $20 per piece and fleece jackets with a Patagonia-like flair for $36, both of which look like they'd cost quite a bit more if they were hanging on the racks of a department store. We consider Amazon Essentials to be similar to American Apparel or Old Navy, but with the benefits of 2-day shipping.

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Mae

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Amazon's in-house lingerie brand, Mae, is home to a line of practical T-shirt bras and packs of no-show underwear in neutral colors. In addition to the basics, Mae has plenty of pretty lace bralettes in various styles, with options that include high necklines, light padding, and cutouts. While the selection of sleepwear isn't as large as the intimates, you'll still find plenty of pajama sets in slinky, cozy fabrics and a few chemises too. 

There aren't endless options to browse through as you might see at a lingerie retailer, but the main draw of Mae is that it covers all the basics and then some — and all at a serious value. A three-pack of underwear can go for as little as $9 (coming out to just $3 each) and the majority of the bralettes are around $16. The size range runs from XS-XL for underwear and bralettes and up to 3X for pajamas.

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Core 10

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Surprisingly, Amazon can be a great place to find activewear. The e-commerce giant's own line, called Core 10, has a full range of workout gear that includes sports bras, hoodies, joggers, and tank tops. Perhaps most popular are the leggings which have developed their own sort of cult following.

You can even customize your own pair with Amazon's "Build Your Own" tool that lets you choose the waistband style and length for just $44. Most of the Core 10 leggings have a limited color selection, but they're an overall great value and can stand up to higher-priced options on the market. They're also available in sizes XS-2X.

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Goodthreads

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While Goodthreads started out with just menswear, the Amazon-owned brand has since expanded to include women's and feminine styles too. Similar to Daily Ritual and Amazon Essentials, you'll discover lots of everyday basics like sweaters and T-shirts in a multitude of color options.

But, unlike the other two, Goodthreads has a much larger selection of tailored button-downs (like crisp oxfords and festive plaids) and denim. Whether you're looking to expand your rotation of work-to-weekend shirts or you're in need of a new pair of jeans for less than $45, Goodthreads can help you update your closet for less. Most sizes range from XS-XXL and from 24-32 for pants.

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• Sustainability is becoming a big trend in the packaged goods and fashion industry as environmental concerns are increasingly top of mind for consumers.  
• The U.S. sustainability market is projected to reach $150 billion in sales by 2021, according to Nielsen. 
• We used clothing brand Reformation as a case study of sorts and spoke with experts in consumer behavior and the fashion industry to better understand the sustainability movement, why consumers love it, and how more brands can do their part. 

A good product is no longer enough to win a consumer's favor. Shoppers want more than just quality, often looking for products and brands that align with their personal values. 

It seems obvious. Why support a brand financially if we don't agree with their social and environmental values? In the face of climate change, those of us who care enough are ready to consider the consequences of our shopping habits.

The fashion industry is one of the biggest culprits when it comes to pollution. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, 26 billion pounds of textiles end up in landfills each year. Realistically, most of us won't quit shopping cold-turkey. We may not even give up all fast-fashion. But, many people are willing to change their habits for the better. 

Dr. Matt Johnson, professor at Hult International Business School and founder of neuromarketing blog Pop Neuro, says, "There is accumulating evidence that consumers are impacted by the perceived sustainability of [a] brand, and further, that consumers are willing to pay a premium for products from a sustainable brand over a non-sustainable competitor brand." 

Value and ease of purchase are still the main drivers of purchase decisions, but sustainability is becoming a bigger factor. A 2019 survey led by Hotwire found that 47% of internet users worldwide had ditched products and services from a brand that violated their personal values. Protecting the environment topped that list. 

Traditionally, you'd find labels like "organic" and "sustainably-grown" in the grocery aisle, but the same verbiage is becoming popular in the fashion industry, too.

Sustainable fashion doesn't seem like a natural pairing — fashion's trend-driven ways press us to buy new pieces every season, while sustainability asks us to pare down — but more and more brands are bettering their business with eco-friendly practices. Reformation is one of the brands leading the charge.

Yael Aflalo, Reformation's founder and CEO, was in the fashion industry for years and "really started to dislike a lot of the harmful industry practices — overprinting lookbooks and tossing 80% of them, yards of leftover fabric getting thrown out," she says. "On a trip to China, I saw first-hand the devastating amount of pollution there from manufacturing, and I knew that I had to make a change and stop contributing to the fashion industry's waste."

The brand's flowy dresses, dressy tops, cozy sweaters, jeans, and more, are beloved by the "it-girl" set. But, they're also made sustainably — everything from the fabrics used to the manufacturing processes to the hangers used in-store are chosen with keeping a minimal carbon footprint in mind.

Reformation is proof that you can be sustainable without sacrificing style. "Without sacrifice" is the key. Aflalo wants shoppers to see how easy it is to live a more sustainable lifestyle. "The success of our sustainability initiatives is determined by how effortless they are to adopt," she says. "We start with small digestible solutions that people can incorporate into their daily lives to make an impact and highlight how those changes can affect the big picture." Buying clothing that you were going to buy anyway, but choosing the item that was made ethically and with less waste is sustainability made easy. There's no significant behavior change, but a simple choice that can ultimately make a big difference. 

Even if being sustainable isn't a personal priority, the idea of using a purchase to do good is attractive to many shoppers.

Purchasing expensive products that are environmentally-friendly in some way can help us compensate for the guilt we feel about our self-indulgent spending, Dr. Johnson explains. "A part of us feels guilty about the money we're spending on a new Prius, for example, but the fact that it's a product which has an environmentally friendly angle helps us feel better about the purchase."

For many shoppers, though, choosing a sustainable product is a personal priority, and they want people to know it. It's called Social Signaling, a theory that we buy certain things because of what they say about us to the people around us. People buy designer bags not only because they like the style, but because of the message they tell the world when they're holding one and the social status the product imbues.

The same goes for the environment. Dr. Johnson shares the example of a new Prius. "We may buy a Prius (at least in part) because it is a purchase reliably associated with environmental consciousness, and we want to signal that we're environmentally conscious," he says. And, it turns out that these social motivations are more important than practical features like gas mileage. In a 2007 survey, Prius owners proudly reported that the primary reasons for purchasing the car are because it "makes a statement about me" and that "it shows the world that its owner cares."

While we may be willing to pay more for something that is environmentally friendly, the ultimate goal should be for sustainability to be accessible.

Aflalo wants to break down the notion that sustainability is inherently more expensive. By definition, she says, it isn't — instead, it is "related to less waste and material use, which can actually lead to savings ... But there are some aspects of responsible manufacturing and better materials that may lead to marginally higher costs. So as we scale our business, we are committed to making our stuff even more accessible and passing on efficiencies and savings to our customers wherever possible."

A $28 Reformation tee may seem pricey when compared to a fast-fashion option, but the sustainable fashion movement asks us to consider environmental cost, not just the cost to our own wallet. 

There are plenty of brands capitalizing on the movement. Everlane has become a popular choice with its self-proclaimed "radical transparency" in everything from pricing to using innovative materials, like recycled water bottles. Naadam is redefining luxury with its affordable, sustainable cashmere that's better for the environment and its workers. 

It's not just startups that are getting in on the positive trend. Big-box retailers are adding more sustainable products to their aisles and committing to cleaning up their practices. The "Clean at Sephora" section of the beauty giant brings eco-friendly, clean beauty products to the masses. Target has a goal to use 100% sustainable, organic cotton in all products from Target-owned brands by 2022. Nordstrom recently launched a Sustainable Style category to help shoppers easily find responsibly-made products.

These efforts surely attract a more sustainably-minded demographic, and it's something worth showing off. Dr. Johnson thinks sustainable brands can certainly use marketing and branding to their advantage. Even though they are typically for-profit companies, he says, with a genuine sustainability foundation, non-profits are more likely to partner with these brands. In turn, this likely adds credibility to sustainability claims. 

For Reformation, sustainability plays a significant role in branding.

"Being naked is the #1 most sustainable option. We're #2."

The brand's kitschy slogan is an homage to their sustainable practices, but that's just the start of it. "In recent years," Aflalo says, "we've taken a more formalized approach to transparency through initiatives like RefScale, factory tours, and sustainability reports, educating consumers about the environmental impact of fashion." On the brand's website, you can find plenty of information about its sustainable practices, including a quarterly Sustainability Report that delves deep into the brand's overall environmental footprint. 

As someone who has started a fashion brand of their own, Aflalo understands it's not always easy to completely switch up production in favor of more sustainable approaches, which is why she suggests starting small. "To start," she says, "[brands] can focus on sustainable materials — so they can source an organic or better material, and just plug that into their same business model ... This one is a bit harder, but look into operations and business impact to offer better transparency around manufacturing processes (which is often the dirtiest part of the industry) and hold your business accountable to start making changes. The big and small changes will add up," she says. "If we want to have transformational change, we all need to participate."

The same goes for us, the shoppers. We may not all be ready to be minimalists and pare our wardrobes down. We may not be able to give up eating meat, driving to work, or wearing cashmere, but we can tweak these habits to make them better for the planet. Carpooling, meatless Mondays, or shopping with an eye for sustainable materials are small changes we can make for the better.

Shop sustainable fashion at Reformation.

Check out Dr. Johnson's blog about consumer psychology.

Read more about some of our favorite sustainable brands:

• I grew up in El Salvador, where I was given freedom at a young age.
• Now that I'm raising my kids in the US, I want them to have independence, too.
• I let my 8-year-old walk to school alone, and I taught her to cook at 7.

Growing up in El Salvador, my parents taught me to be independent from an early age. When I was about 6 years old, I would go pick up small items at la tiendita (the corner store) or grab some tortillas down the road from my house by myself.

A couple of years later, I started walking to my elementary school by myself, about 1 kilometer (a little over half a mile) away. Then, my parents started a tiendita business in front of the house, and I began helping them with sales when I was 10 years old and knew basic math.

Naturally, I want my kids to be independent too, but what that looks like is a little different than what I experienced growing up. I moved to the US as a young adult, got married, and am raising my two children, ages 8 and 1, here.

While many kids here don't have the same freedom I did in El Salvador, my wife and I are trying to do things differently. Here are some ways we're letting our oldest explore her world on her own.

We let her walk to school by herself when she turned 8

My daughter's school is within walking distance. We have been walking her to school for the past few years. When she was about to turn 8, she said, "I want to walk to school by myself."

That day, my heart sank; I wasn't ready for it, but she was.

We began practicing having her be the leader, walking to school, stopping and looking both ways at the stop sign, and telling us it was safe to cross. For her 8th birthday, we let her walk to school alone for the first time. It was a proud moment for me, and it gave me peace of mind that we could see her cross the only street she had to cross by herself.

A minute later, the crossing guard texted my wife, letting her know that our daughter had made it to the school grounds OK, and that, moving forward, she would send a thumbs-up emoji every time our kid crossed the street with her. That gave me extra peace of mind.

We had her start taking the dog out by herself when she was 7

When our oldest daughter was 3 years old, she began asking for a dog.

Eventually, she got her wish, and while she's the family dog, we're having her increasingly take on more responsibility for her care.

When my daughter turned 7, she started taking our dog out in our front yard by herself. She is still getting used to picking up the dog's poop, but for the most part, she does a good job of taking her dog out independently.

She's also in charge of feeding her and playing with her. We still have to give her daily reminders, but she does the work herself.

She started running a lemonade stand when she was 4 and a half

In El Salvador, I learned about money and hard work early in life, so I want my daughter to learn that as well.

When my daughter was 4 and a half years old, my wife and I helped her set up her first lemonade stand. We went to the grocery store to buy the lemons, and then at home, I taught her how to make homemade lemonade. She helped wash the lemons, squeeze them, add the sugar, and stir the lemonade.

When we set up the lemonade stand, I sat with my daughter and taught her how to serve her customers. The first lemonade stand was a success; even though she was selling the lemonade for only $1 a cup, she made over $60, mostly from tips. People are very generous and really encourage entrepreneurship in our town. Now it's become an annual tradition. This summer, I think she'll be ready to be out there by herself.

I started teaching her how to cook by herself when she was 7

I want my daughter to know how to make full meals when she's older and become a good cook like me.

Last summer, when she was 7, I started teaching her how to make pupusas (a Salvadoran dish), omelets, pasta, and pancakes.

As a matter of fact, on the morning I wrote this essay, she made pancakes for our whole family from scratch under my supervision. She collected the ingredients, mixed them together, and cooked them in a frying pan. She did incredibly well, but still needs a little more practice flipping them.

Looking ahead

As my daughter grows older, I will continue to help her become more independent and have our youngest follow in her footsteps.

I also hope to follow my parents' example by teaching them both to drive in their early teenage years, to be hardworking people, and to know how to live and take care of themselves by the time they're both adults.

• Star quants Yiming Zhang and Darko Kirovski are leaving systematic trading powerhouse Jump Trading.
• The influential researchers worked in the HFT's vaunted Jump Core Strategies group.
• Jump Trading had a record quarter in the first quarter of 2026, amid market turbulence.

Two top researchers at Jump Trading Group are leaving the quantitative trading firm.

Yiming Zhang and Darko Kirovski, who joined the proprietary trading firm in 2009 and 2011, respectively, resigned this week, the company confirmed.

Both were influential researchers in one of the largest and most profitable units at the firm, Jump Core Strategies, known for its prowess in high-frequency trading.

"Yiming and Darko were instrumental in Jump's growth over the last 17 years, and we'll be forever grateful for that," Jump cofounder Paul Gurinas said in a statement to Business Insider. "They will be friends of the firm forever."

It could not immediately be confirmed where Zhang and Kirovski are headed next. Zhang declined to comment, while Kirovski did not respond to a request to comment.

In a bio tied to a 2023 public speaking appearance at his alma mater, UCLA, Kirovski said that "he has had as much fun as any human in research has ever had at Jump Trading's jcs group, one of the biggest market makers on the planet."

"Interestingly, for more than a decade the group has been running probably the largest machine learning operation in the world unbeknownst to most," the bio continues.

Chicago-based Jump is among a cadre of privately held, highly secretive high-speed trading firms that dominate many of the world's largest financial markets. Similar to peers including Jane Street, Citadel Securities, and Hudson River Trading, Jump has grown substantially since the pandemic in 2020, when many of the market makers capitalized on the unprecedented volatility to print record profits.

The market volatility that pushed big banks to record trading revenues in the first quarter of 2026 has similarly benefited systematic market makers. Jump had its best quarter on record, one person familiar with the matter told Business Insider.

Founded in 1999, Jump now has more than 2,000 employees — up from 1,100 in 2022 — spread across eight countries and 13 offices, according to its website, and trades across most asset classes. Like its peers, it has also diversified beyond high-speed market making — high-volume trading at fractions of a second that add up to billions in annual profits — into strategies that involve holding securities for longer periods.

So-called mid-frequency trading, which has traditionally been the domain of quant hedge funds such as D.E. Shaw and Two Sigma, can play out over minutes, hours, or even days and relies on predictive signals derived from statistical research.

Many of the best quant trading firms have relied on machine learning techniques to develop trading strategies for years, long before the agentic AI craze ushered in by OpenAI, Anthropic, and other artificial intelligence labs.

• Around 100,000 university students travel to the US each summer under the J-1 Visa program.
• Small and seasonal businesses rely on these workers to supplement their workforce.
• However, shifting international dynamics and scrutiny of the US immigration process could affect applicants.

Small and seasonal US businesses rely on about 100,000 international students to boost their staff each summer.

This year, though, demand threatens to outweigh supply.

"We're seeing the same number of businesses participate. However, the requested number of supplemental participants might be slightly less," Kasey Simon, president of United Work & Travel, told Business Insider. "Five to 10% less overall."

The company is a designated sponsor of BridgeUSA's Summer Work Travel program. In the spirit of cultural exchange, the program invites full-time university students from across the globe to work temporarily in the US. To do so, they must obtain a J-1 visa.

These student workers are a key part of America's workforce, appearing at popular tourist destinations like Ocean City, Cape Cod, the Texas coast, and the Florida Panhandle around peak season.

"Smaller seasonal businesses typically rely on the international workforce to supplement their domestic workforce and give them added support during the shoulder seasons," Simon said. "The first few weeks of the season, American workers are still in school, and by the end of the season, they've left the resort town."

The student workers cover a wide range of hospitality and tourism roles, including lifeguards, bartenders, theme park attendants, retail staffers, and restaurant servers.

However, Simon said uncertainty surrounding the visa process and shifting geopolitical relationships could rattle would-be participants, leaving some businesses in a lurch.

Now hiring?

President Donald Trump has maintained a hard line on immigration during his time in office, enacting full or limited visa suspensions for numerous countries. The administration has also enhanced the vetting and screening process for visas, including online presence reviews.

Although J-1 is a non-immigrant visa, Simon said delays in the vetting process could disrupt the pipeline. Hold-ups at a US embassy could mean student workers arrive later than scheduled, forcing businesses to operate at limited capacity. Business owners often oversee students' lodging as well, so rent on an empty room accumulates.

Noise surrounding the US's immigration policies could also dissuade some participants.

"There are also certain countries, depending on their relationship with the United States, that may not open appointments or be willing or able to issue as many visas as they once had," Simon said. "For example, Russia used to be very popular on this program. It's not as popular as it used to be. Pre- COVID, China was extremely popular, and now it's just gaining back its popularity."

Other events, like hurricanes or natural weather events, play a role, too.

"Whatever happens in the world can impact who's participating," he added.

Additionally, Simon said many of the student workers depend on the money they earn during the summer.

"If our economy is not as strong or powerful as it once was, it may impact an individual's willingness to participate," Simon said.

For small businesses, the fallout can be costly.

"If it's a hotel, they may not be able to service all of their rooms on a daily basis or may not be able to open their restaurant, which would be reduced revenue," Simon said. "The impact is direct."

Cultural exchange

Despite all the variables, Simon said US business owners have come to expect uncertainty.

"They're prepared for things like that, and the employers who are properly educated in the program embrace it," Simon said. "They make it work."

For many businesses, the cultural exchange is just as significant as securing employees.

"We're at a point now where we have children of past participants coming on our program. It is so valuable. Not just for the seasonal businesses, but for the United States as a whole," Simon said.

Simon said he's optimistic that the program will continue to flourish, even with everything happening in the world.

"There are a significant amount of challenges, but year after year, the program has proven its value," Simon said.

• Greg Abel has replaced the legendary Warren Buffett as Berkshire Hathaway's CEO.
• Tim Cook, who took Apple's reins from Steve Jobs, has shown how to successfully follow an icon.
• Cook forged his own path, playing to his strengths while protecting what Jobs built.

Greg Abel has taken on the Herculean task of succeeding Warren Buffett as Berkshire Hathaway's CEO.

If he's looking for guidance, there's one person in particular who's followed in the footsteps of a business icon and taken their company to even greater heights.

"I don't think anyone can appreciate what Greg Abel is going through right now better than Tim Cook," Kevin Carpenter, the author of "The Berkshire Beat" newsletter, told Business Insider.

Two legends, two companies

Grasping the full weight of expectation on Abel and Cook requires understanding the legacies they inherited.

Buffett spent six decades transforming Berkshire from a failing textile mill into a $1 trillion conglomerate that owns scores of businesses including Geico, Dairy Queen, and BNSF Railway, and holds huge stakes in public companies such as Apple, Coca-Cola, and American Express.

The late Steve Jobs, who cofounded Apple 50 years ago, pioneered a personal-computing revolution, built an iconic brand, and changed the fabric of society with inventions such as the iPhone.

Both men became synonymous with their companies, and transcended the business world to become pop-culture icons with hordes of passionate followers.

Perceived as singular geniuses in their fields — Buffett in investing and Jobs in consumer technology and marketing — they achieved such extraordinary success that they seemed irreplaceable.

Yet nothing lasts forever. Buffett, 95, handed Berkshire's reins to Abel at the start of this year, while Cook took over from Jobs shortly before his death in October 2011.

With Cook at the helm, Apple has roughly quadrupled its net sales and net income to $416 billion and $112 billion respectively last financial year, catapulting its market capitalization from around $350 billion to $4 trillion.

Cook and Abel didn't respond to requests for comment.

Guard the culture

Cook has fiercely protected the fundamental values that Jobs built Apple around.

He recently told "CBS Sunday Morning" that those principles include collaboration, focus, "insanely great" execution, obsession with the user experience, and creating "magic" for customers by owning the intersection of hardware, software, and services.

In similar fashion, Abel pledged to steward Berkshire's "foundational values" in his first letter to shareholders in February: its decentralized model, integrity, financial strength, capital discipline, risk management, and operational excellence.

Cook may be in charge but he still sees Apple as Jobs' baby. "His DNA is deep in this company," the executive said. "We revere him."

He added that Jobs' "greatest invention wasn't a product — it was Apple itself."

Abel paid similar homage in his letter, writing that Buffett and his late business partner, Charlie Munger, "combined world-class capital allocation" with "vision and leadership" to create Berkshire, and he was "committed to strengthening the great legacy" the pair built.

Forge your own path

Cook hasn't been afraid to diverge from Jobs.

He revealed to "CBS Sunday Morning" what Jobs told him after informing him that would be Apple's next CEO: "His advice to me was: 'Never ask what I would do. Just do the right thing.'"

Jobs explained to Cook that he didn't want Apple to suffer the same "paralysis" as Disney did after its founder died with management "sitting around and talking about what Walt would do."

"I'll never forget that," Cook said. "It was such a gift for me because he took off of my shoulder this question of 'What would Steve do?'"

"I just put my head down and thought, 'I'm going to be the best version of myself,'" he added.

Cook's greatest challenge was reshaping Apple to operate without Jobs, Tripp Mickle, the author of "After Steve," a book about the decade at Apple after Jobs' death, told Business Insider.

"Steve Jobs had made every major decision, especially on product development and marketing," Mickle said. Cook changed that so "decisions were made collectively" by Apple's executive team, and products such as the Apple Watch were developed by "a group of leaders," Mickle said.

Cook has also focused more on operations and financials than Jobs did. He's expanded into China, harnessing the nation's manufacturing nous to massively ramp up iPhone production, and supercharging sales and profits by selling to a mushrooming middle class.

John Longo, the author of "Buffett's Tips," told Business Insider that Abel is likely to emulate Cook in charting his own course.

"Abel will want Buffett's spirit to always be with Berkshire, but he will not run the firm by asking, 'What would Warren do?" Longo said.

"Rather, he will stay in his own circle of competence and make decisions he believes are best for the firm over the long term," the finance professor and fund manager said.

Longo added that Abel's background as an operator could see Berkshire buy fewer individual stocks and make more acquisitions instead.

He also predicted Abel will break from Buffett by introducing a modest dividend, funded by Berkshire's vast cash reserves — a record $373 billion on December 31 — and robust cash generation. He noted that Cook reinstated Apple's dividend within a year of becoming CEO.

Harness your strengths

Cook has brought a different set of skills to Apple.

He's "leaned on his sales and production expertise to make the iPhone ubiquitous," and wrangled its chipmaking team to build a better processor that "breathed new life into its Mac business," Mickle said.

"Cook's process has been method over magic," he continued. "Where Jobs became regarded as a great innovator, who introduced products that upended industries, Cook became known for steering Apple's business success, as it became the world's largest company for a decade."

The flip side is that Cook's Apple has "shed some of its reputation for innovation," Mickle said, pointing to its scrapped plans to build a self-driving car, its lackluster HomePod, and its Vision Pro headset flop.

"Successors to iconic leaders often succeed not by imitation but by bringing different strengths," Larry Cunningham, the author of several books about Berkshire and the director of the University of Delaware's Weinberg Center, told Business Insider.

"Cook knew he was not Jobs and didn't care to be," he added.

Carpenter said that Cook's incredible success at Apple is "in large part because he embraced his own strengths rather than trying to be a poor imitation of Steve Jobs."

Buffett, who made a fortune for Berkshire by investing in Apple, has repeatedly praised Cook for building Apple into a global behemoth by scaling manufacturing and distribution and establishing a global supply chain.

The Berkshire chairman recently told CNBC that Cook "couldn't have done what Steve Jobs did," but Jobs "would not have done as well" with the version of Apple that he handed to Cook.

"I imagine Buffett would say the same" about Abel, Carpenter said.

"Abel's operations acumen is just what Berkshire needs in the future as wholly-owned subsidiaries continue to become a bigger and bigger part of the business," he added.

Chris Ballard, the managing director of Check Capital Management, told Business Insider that Berkshire shareholders can expect Abel to add value in different ways to Buffett.

Abel "isn't going to be the 'Oracle of Omaha' who gives long philosophical lectures at the annual meeting; he should be the guy who knows exactly why BNSF's profit margins are lagging and how to fix them," Ballard said.

Paul Lountzis, a longtime Berkshire shareholder and the president of Lountzis Asset Management, told Business Insider that Abel can prove himself a worthy successor to Buffett by doing what he does best — just like Cook has in the post-Jobs era.

"Greg needs to be Greg and not try to be Warren," Lountzis said, as that will empower him to "utilize his own unique strengths to continue to build Berkshire."

• This post originally appeared in the BI Today newsletter.
• You can sign up for Business Insider's daily newsletter here.

Better looks, better odds

If you're not intentional about your appearance, you might be overlooking real currency in the workplace.

Whether you care or not, your appearance is shaping real outcomes in the workplace. That includes how you're perceived, how ambitious you seem, access to promotional opportunities, and even higher compensation.

It's why Business Insider created Hot at Work, a new series that explores how appearance and beauty standards shape opportunity, pay, and confidence at work.

We've explored modern beauty standards and how some professionals feel pressured, often self-imposed, to spend $12,000 to present a youthful appearance to fit in with their industry. Or how executives are getting plastic surgery to look less irritable and more approachable on the job.

Our reporters have also explored the downsides of maximizing your appearance at work. For example, one writer spoke to professionals who refrain from wearing designer clothes at work because it can send the wrong message about money management.

Experts are also doling out advice if you're still facing the "do I or don't I" wear jeans to the office conundrum.

You could write off thinking about your appearance as superficial, but others are gaining by using it as a strategy.

• Banks are pouring billions into AI, reshaping jobs, culture, and power on Wall Street.
• Leaders, some of whom are tracking AI use, have been pressed on how the spending is paying off.
• Here's everything we know about how banks from JPMorgan to Wells Fargo are using AI.

Wall Street is betting big on, and pouring billions into, AI — and leaders have had to answer for their spending.

During banks' first-quarter earnings last week, analysts pressed some executives on how those giant investments are paying off, whether in productivity gains or head count changes. Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan had to explain why his company is an AI beneficiary, rather than a victim; Citi executives were asked about their "philosophy" on hiring and resourcing during "this new AI regime."

And with Anthropic's Mythos model stoking cybersecurity fears, CEOs faced heightened scrutiny on safety, too. April's earnings calls came just one week after many Wall Street CEOs attended an impromptu meeting at the Treasury to discuss the powerful new AI model.

The pressure to demonstrate returns on AI isn't new. JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon, for example, defended his bank's spending on a January earnings call, saying he is trying to keep the company from falling behind. The bank has an annual technology budget of almost $20 billion.

By comparison, Bank of America spent around $13 billion on tech in 2025. Speaking at a conference in February, Moynihan said that the bank plans to spend 10% more on technology development in 2026.

As banks rapidly weave generative AI into everything from trading floors to back offices, the technology is reshaping not just workflows, but workplace culture. It's changing what it means to be a software engineer, how junior bankers stand out, and even the roles inside the C-suite. The shift, it seems, is only just beginning.

Here's what we know about how Wall Street banks are embracing AI.

JPMorgan Chase

The nation's biggest bank is putting a lot of effort toward making sure it's an early mover in AI.

The firm is keeping close tabs on how its tens of thousands of engineers are using AI, Business Insider reported. One dashboard tracks how much developers use GitHub Copilot and classifies them into "light," "heavy," or "non" users. The bank has also updated objectives for its engineers, who are now expected to "drive excellence" by adopting AI, according to posts on the company intranet.

In February, JPMorgan reorganized its commercial and investment bank to "maximize the impact of AI," according to an internal memo reviewed by Business Insider. Each major business in the division now reports to Guy Halamish, the newly named chief operating officer of the CIB. The move is part of an effort to speed up AI adoption.

JPMorgan Chase's asset management unit made its own big move in 2026, announcing plans to discontinue a long-held practice of using external proxy advisors for shareholder voting in the US. In place of external human advisors, the firm is launching an in-house AI platform, called Proxy IQ, to support shareholder decisions.

JPMorgan has rolled out its proprietary genAI platform to more than 200,000 employees — seeking to reengineer workflows for everyone from coders to portfolio managers. CEO Dimon is himself a "tremendous" user of the bank's generative AI suite.

The firm is investing in a skilled AI workforce, and executives have offered an inside look at how it's training employees to use its tools.

• JPMorgan's analytics boss lifts the lid on how America's biggest bank is schooling 300,000 workers on AI
• Here's what its execs revealed about how AI is reshaping the bank at its 2025 investor day.

Dimon has previously said he's out to win the AI arms race, and he thinks JPMorgan's $2 billion AI investment has already matched its cost in savings.

Wells Fargo

Business Insider spoke to Saul Van Beurden, the bank's Head of AI, about how AI is fueling the bank's post-asset cap growth.

The firm uses a "hub and spoke" model for its AI architecture, with Van Beurden's small team as the central hub and each business line's generative AI lead as a spoke. AI agents, he said, are becoming central to some of the highest-impact use cases.

When Business Insider spoke to Van Beurden in March, the bank wasn't mandating that its employees use AI.

Wells Fargo CEO Charles Scharf has previously said that generative AI tools have already made the bank's engineers up to 35% more productive.

Wells Fargo also tapped Amazon Web Services executive Faraz Shafiq to lead AI products and solutions, the latest in a string of high-profile tech poachings on Wall Street.

Bank of America

Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan has said AI is already embedded across the firm, from consumer banking to institutional clients.

Clients have interacted with Bank of America's virtual assistant, Erica, more than 3.2 billion times since the tool launched in 2018, the bank said in March. As of last year, more than 90% of employees used Erica for Employees.

Moynihan shed light on some of the models that use AI at the bank when speaking at the February conference. There is, he said, a model that puts out a daily markets report, and others that help draft pitch books. In March, the firm rolled out a tool to help financial advisors prepare for client meetings.

Citigroup

Citigroup has taken a bottom-up approach to embedding AI throughout the business, with 4,000 employees trained as something of AI stewards.

The firm's AI tools are now available to 182,000 employees in 84 countries, and CEO Jane Fraser said on a fourth-quarter earnings call in January that adoption of the proprietary tools is above 70%. Fraser said during third-quarter earnings that generative AI tools have saved 100,000 developer hours a week with automated code reviews — "a very meaningful productivity uplift."

The bank launched the pilot of agentic AI for 5,000 colleagues in September.

"It allows complex, multi-step tasks to be completed with a single prompt, and the early results are very promising, and we'll expand access to this in the months ahead," said Fraser. "Finally, we have launched a firm-wide effort to systematically embed AI in our processes end-to-end."

She also highlighted several tools to help its wealth management advisors. Citi hired an AI leader from Morgan Stanley last year to help revamp its wealth technology. The bank is using AI to speed up the client onboarding process and retire outdated software, Tim Ryan, the head of technology, told Reuters.

In June 2025, the bank doubled down on its AI ambitions, appointing new leadership to helm its tech transformation.

Goldman Sachs

Goldman put $6 billion behind its technology spend this year, but David Solomon, the bank's CEO, said he wished it were more.

He said he would like to be at least $8 billion, but "I can't afford it because I've got to deliver returns," he said at a conference in early October.

A definitive statement about how AI will affect Goldman came from a memo to employees in October announcing the third iteration of the cross-bank initiative, OneGS. The memo said the plan would leverage AI to drive efficiency at the firm, slow hiring, and result in a "limited reduction" of roles.

Goldman, like its peers, has been rolling out tools, including an internal AI assistant, to all employees this summer. The bank has been working with Anthropic to develop AI agents that can automate a number of internal functions, Marco Argenti, the chief information officer, told CNBC in February. The project focused on accounting for trades and transactions and on client onboarding, he said.

Yet employees have been using AI long before the effort with Anthropic, as some have told Business Insider.

• 7 Goldman Sachs insiders explain how the bank's new AI sidekick is helping them crush it at work
• Goldman is assembling a growing arsenal of AI tools. Here's everything we know about 5.

Goldman's top partners and Solomon are eager to see AI rev up their businesses. From realizing internal productivity gains to capturing more business as clients look to raise money for anticipated AI development and acquisitions, here's what the top echelon is expecting.

• Goldman's tech boss discusses the future of AI on Wall Street — and how it will reshape careers
• David Solomon says AI means Goldman needs 'more high-value people'

Morgan Stanley

Morgan Stanley's CFO, Sharon Yeshaya, lifted the curtain on some of the firm's progress on AI during an earnings call last year.

She highlighted DevGen.AI, a tool that, from January to June, had saved developers more than 280,000 hours, or 11,666 days, they would have previously dedicated to deciphering outdated code, Business Insider previously reported.

Parable, an interactive tool that analyzes and summarizes data, and LeadIQ, an AI-powered lead distribution platform that matches users of its workplace and self-directed platforms to the bank's financial advisors, were also spotlighted in the call.

A survey of Morgan Stanley's interns also gave a peek into just how popular and useful AI has been for the industry's youngest cohort. ChatGPT is their favorite tool by far, with 72% of Morgan Stanley's interns saying they use it daily or several times a week. The bank was early to have a partnership with ChatGPT-maker OpenAI.

Morgan Stanley also spoke with Business Insider about bringing employees' AI ideas to life. Here's a look at that process.

• Morgan Stanley has 30 AI projects in the pipeline. Here's how the bank sources employees' ideas for inspiration.

• Ukraine's counter-drone tech has surging interest amid Iran attacks, but exports are limited.
• A Ukrainian interceptor drone maker said it wants its tech proven beyond Ukraine.
• It worries that if it doesn't get involved soon, "someone will take our place."

The Iran war could be a big opportunity for Ukraine's battle-proven counter-drone tech, but one company says it worries it will miss its window without export access.

The US and its allies in the Middle East are now facing drone threats that Ukraine has fought for years, driving demand for low-cost interceptor drones. Many are built by Ukrainian firms, but exports of battlefield tech remain tightly controlled.

Stanislav Hryshyn, the co-founder of Ukrainian company General Cherry, which makes drones and interceptor drones used by Ukraine's forces, said deploying his company's interceptors abroad would give it the chance to prove that its interceptors work in conflicts other than Russia's war against Ukraine.

Hryshyn said the company has seen a surge in interest and inquiries since the Iran war began and Tehran started firing Shahed drones and missiles at US allies. Other firms report similar demand, especially in the Middle East and Europe. But Ukraine's export rules prevent many defense tech sales abroad.

He said his desire to help isn't only about the business that could come with selling his gear for use in the war. It's also about gaining "this new level of expertise and experience" that Ukrainian companies have not had before.

"For us to receive this new experience, expertise, new layer of using our product, that's critical," he said. "Money is very secondary to this."

It's one thing to prove effective against Russia. It's another to prove it in a different war — and directly support US allies.

But without fast access to those markets, he warned, Ukraine's industry could lose its edge. "This window of change is closing right now," he said. "Someone will take our place."

A host of companies outside of Ukraine are also making interceptor drones. Hryshyn fears delays will let foreign firms scale faster, pushing partners toward non-Ukrainian suppliers with ready stock.

Interceptors are in demand

The war with Iran is showing that interceptor drones are "now very critical, not just for Ukraine, but also for other countries as well," Hryshyn said. Iran and Russia's actions mean "the Pandora's box is open" to new and widespread drone threats.

Ukraine has already been helping in the Middle East. Zelenskyy said last week Ukrainian personnel had shot down drones in multiple countries in the region, without specifying exactly where or what systems were used. He said more than 200 Ukrainian military experts are advising regional partners.

Zelesnkyy also said that Ukraine could supply partners with more than 1,000 interceptor drones a day if backed by sufficient investment to scale production.

But direct sales are another matter. Without them, companies risk losing their technological lead as rivals copy and scale similar systems.

Hryshyn said he understands the restrictions — "we are at war," he said. But he argued exports could strengthen Ukraine's position.

Much of Ukraine's defense industry says exports would actually boost domestic production. Without them, companies are limited to producing only what Ukraine can afford on a constrained defense budget. Foreign sales would bring in revenue to expand output — including for Ukraine's own military.

One Ukrainian defense industry leader told Business Insider that interceptor exports could ultimately mean more interceptors for Ukraine's military. Ihor Fedirko, CEO of the Ukrainian Council of Defence Industry, said the sector can produce 2.5 times more interceptors than Ukraine can currently buy and far more with added funding. "What we can get from our allies in terms of export is like extra money into our industry," he said.

He added that joint production with allied countries — already growing — could benefit both partners and Ukraine's war effort.

Hryshyn said some agreements may emerge, even if not public. Fedirko said companies are preparing for potential policy changes allowing exports.

Ukraine's counter-drone tech is drawing interest because it's battle-tested and fills a major gap in modern air defense.

Many of Ukraine's partners, including the US, have highly capable air defense systems, but the tremendous expenditure of expensive interceptors is not sustainable against low-cost drones.

An Iranian Shahed drone costs around $50,000, but each PAC-3 interceptor missile for the US-made Patriot air defense system costs around $3.7 million. A Ukrainian interceptor drone, which typically costs $6,000 or less, is a more appealing and effective option.

Ukraine's results have reinforced that case. In March, officials said they were stopping about 90% of incoming Russian drones and missiles using a mix of interceptors, air defenses, and mobile units.

• High gas prices due to the war in Iran are hitting many ride-hailing drivers' bottom lines.
• One driver for Uber and Lyft said he's rethinking which trips he takes because of gas prices.
• Long trips to remote places look less attractive, Bill Lewis said.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Bill Lewis, a ride-hailing driver who lives in Pennsylvania. The interview has been edited for length and clarity.

I live in the Poconos. I used to commute to New York City from here. I was a trader on stock exchanges for 25 years.

I started as a clerk and worked my way up. When the algorithms took over the floor, they laid us off. Now, I'm dealing with algorithms again as a driver.

I drive for Uber and Lyft absolutely full time — seven days a week, about 75 hours a week. People from out of town need rides, especially on weekends during the summer, but for the most part, I'm taking the same people to work each day.

I take between 22 and 28 rides a day. Sometimes, I do long rides to the Allentown airport, but for the most part, I'm within 25 miles of my house every day.

Gas is always a huge expense for me. I drive a Prius, but I still fill up six to seven times a week. Before the war in Iran started, a fill-up cost me about $22. Today, it cost me $31 for the same exact tank.

I've changed my driving habits to try to save money.

Some of my rides take me far out of town to remote places where I might not get a ride back toward home. Now, those trips aren't worth it, because it's going to cost me more in gas to get back into town and claim another ride.

I've also started taking back roads when I can. The highway might be four or five minutes quicker, but in my area, taking smaller roads is often more direct and saves miles. If I can save on gas, that adds up after a while.

I hope the ride-hailing apps add a gas surcharge to help drivers cover higher costs. That's what they did four years ago when gas prices went up after Russia invaded Ukraine — they charged passengers an extra $0.45 to $0.55 cents per ride. There's not a customer I know who wouldn't understand if the companies did that again.

Some weeks, I'd probably make an extra $80 if the apps offered that again. So far, Uber and Lyft have offered cashback on gas through partner apps, or if you use their debit cards, which I don't have.

I'm getting by with my hybrid, though, which gets around 50 miles per gallon. If you're driving a regular car that gets 25 to 30 miles per gallon, I don't see how this kind of work is profitable.

Do you have a story to share about Uber, DoorDash, or another gig app? Contact this reporter at abitter@businessinsider.com or via encrypted messaging app Signal at 808-854-4501. Use a personal email address, a nonwork WiFi network, and a nonwork device; here's our guide to sharing information securely.

"I have always seen myself as a very ordinary person with no real athletic ability," said Linda Kelly.

Still, at 80, she has completed multiple half-marathons and routinely hikes, bikes, and runs around her part-time home in Anchorage, Alaska.

Kelly is as fit as someone decades earlier, with the lab results to prove it. Her son, cardiologist Dr. Jake Kelly, put Kelly to the test on a treadmill and found she had an exceptionally high VO₂ max, the gold standard of cardio fitness.

The metric measures your body's ability to use oxygen during exercise, and research links higher levels to a longer life.

Kelly told Business Insider she's never followed any extreme exercise plan or strict longevity routine. Instead, it's the result of tiny yet consistent movements that accumulated over her lifetime.

Some people think staying fit into old age requires intense training, but research suggests consistency matters more. And Kelly is living proof of how powerful it can be to invest in simple, sustainable habits: walking every day, running when you can, and making time for yourself.

"It's what every ordinary person can do, and who knew it would turn out to have such great benefits," Kelly said.

Exercise over the years

From a young age, Kelly said she loved every opportunity to exercise, from high school gym class and volleyball practice to long runs or bike rides.

As she got older, life got busy as she started a career and a family. Still, Kelly found ways to move every day, logging "probably a million miles" by just walking with her twin baby boys in a stroller, or pedaling on a DIY stationary bike. Her husband helped her build it by mounting a bike frame and some cinder blocks.

She also got plenty of steps in at work as a teacher, preferring to interact with students rather than stay behind a desk.

"I never liked sitting still," she said. "My goal was [to] achieve one interaction of eyeball-to-eyeball with every kid … every day."

Kelly retired in 2013. She had lived in several states — Texas, Colorado, and Louisiana — before moving to Anchorage, where her son, Jake, lives.

Throughout her life, her philosophy has been to embrace the joy of movement for its own sake.

"You don't have to be talented to move. That's the beauty of it. You don't have to have the grace of a ballerina to feel the joy of moving," Kelly said. "That's sustained me all my life."

Why VO₂ max matters

VO₂ max has become an incredibly hot topic (and a point of pride) as growing research suggests it's a key predictor of a longer, healthier life.

While Kelly may not have set out to be a star athlete, her stats would be the envy of gym bros and longevity nerds alike. Her son Jake measured Kelly's health data with a Garmin fitness watch, a portable VO₂ max analyzer, and a treadmill test.

She scored 30.7 ml/kg/min, a strong result for someone in their 50s. For her age group, it's elite.

A higher VO₂ max number indicates better fitness, trainers previously told Business Insider. And a good VO₂ max for a woman in her 50s is 24.6 ml/kg/min, according to the Cleveland Clinic. For a woman in her 40s, around 27.7 is considered good.

Kelly's score was higher than both benchmarks and off the charts for her age group. Research suggests that VO₂ max tends to decline steadily over time, often dipping well below 30 ml/kg/min in women by age 80.

Still, Jake said he sees a high VO₂ max as a reflection of a simpler longevity metric: how durable a person is over time. Kelly is a textbook example of how to set yourself up for longevity because she wasn't chasing a specific fitness metric, but instead focusing on her overall ability to keep moving, her son said.

"Later in life, if you have the capacity to walk faster, to go upstairs, to lift your suitcase, then you have physiologic reserves," he said. "That means your heart, lungs, liver, muscles, mitochondria are all working and you have capacity to do things."

Jake, 45 years old and an endurance athlete himself, wasn't surprised by the results. He always knew his mom was exceptional. "She's the one who taught me," he said.

A daily movement routine

Kelly hasn't slowed down at 80.

These days, she splits her time between Alaska, where she moved to be closer to Jake, and a farming town in rural Texas. There, she takes care of her own housework, yard work, and enjoys running and biking on the country roads.

She and her husband travel extensively, preferring to live like locals when possible by renting apartments in the places they visit rather than staying in resorts.

No matter where she is in the world, Kelly said exercise is still a key part of her day. She starts her mornings with a dynamic yoga-inspired routine, alternating between poses and counter-poses. It takes 20 to 30 minutes, can be done with limited space and equipment, and leaves her feeling spry.

"I don't do well in a yoga class holding a pose for three minutes going 'ommmm' because it's too slow for me," she said, adding that by the time she finishes her specialized routine, "I don't have much pain or stiffness."

She takes daily walks with her 13-year-old giant schnauzer. "He has the heart of a much younger dog. Exercise works for your dog, too," Kelly said.

Along with the exercise, she keeps a busy social life thanks to fitness groups and her community. Spending time with friends is linked to longer life, and can also help people stay more active, research suggests.

In Anchorage, Kelly is part of a hiking group led by an 89-year-old marathon runner, with the youngest member being 55. In the winter, she stays active with water aerobics at the local fitness center three to four times a week.

Kelly isn't a fan of the treadmill and doesn't think working out should feel like a chore. "You don't have to get up at 4 in the morning to run on the treadmill for an hour and a half. Go outside and walk for 10 minutes," she said.

The takeaway

As a cardiologist, Jake said we can all learn from his mom's longevity-boosting routine, incorporating habits accessible to almost anyone, even if you have a busy schedule or can't make it to the gym.

First, start walking. Getting your steps in every day is the foundation of a healthy heart.

From there, add a little intensity, aiming for Zone 2 effort, a comfortably hard pace. Try walking on an incline or picking up the pace, so you're sweating but not so out of breath that you can't hold a conversation.

As you build fitness, increase the intensity for short bursts that challenge you. Then, incorporate strength training. Even small amounts of resistance exercise can support healthy muscles and bones, promoting longevity.

Finally, stay consistent, Jake said. Exercise only works if you keep it up for the long term, and small, daily movements add up to big benefits.

"What I learned from my mom is that fitness stacks over time. She had many years where she didn't go to the gym or anything, but she walked her dog," he said. "If you do that for 80 years…you're going to do great."

• No matter what trends come and go, monograms remain an integral part of men's fashion.
• They were initially used to differentiate clothes at the dry cleaners. Now they're status symbols.
• Monograms are most effective when used on custom-tailored clothing.

Charlie Tran always knows what items are his. He labels everything with his initials.

In recent years, the 28-year-old tech consultant from Texas purchased monogrammed button-down shirts, a Yeti cup etched with his name, an intialed stationery set, and more.

"Everyone's trying to find themselves, especially in this day and age, by using social media and copying influencers," Tran said. "But that's not what I want anymore. I want something of my own."

So he's been personalizing his belongings.

Monograms aren't flashy by any means — you might miss them if you're not looking hard enough — but they've become an effective status symbol for men. They show up as small initials embroidered on dress shirts or handkerchiefs, etched onto whisky glasses, or printed on wallets. Though subtle, they signal that you've put thought — and money — into how you present yourself.

"Monograms let you know that the wearer has achieved a certain level of success; they can afford to [customize something] from a time and a financial perspective," Brian Lipstein, the founder of the tailoring and image consulting business Henry A. Davidsen, told Business Insider.

And in the modern era of copy-and-paste fashion, more men are looking for ways to stand out without being loud about it. For many, monograms are the answer to signaling taste and status while keeping things understated.

From coins to clothes

Monograms were intended to be practical — a marker of who owned the garment.

Lipstein, who also serves as president of the Custom Tailors and Designers Association, said they can be traced back to 300 BC, when they first appeared on ancient Greek coins. Artists and royal families later used monograms to mark special pieces, and they also came into use for clothing during the Middle Ages.

"The larger purpose of monograms was for identification," Lipstein said. "It's a personalization, identification, and marking of property that essentially says, 'This is mine.'"

They remained useful for centuries, especially for distinguishing common clothing items at dry cleaners, he added. Shirts, specifically, were typically embroidered with monograms across the waist so that the initials remained hidden but could easily be found by the owner.

Monograms are still useful as identification markers, but their purpose has expanded in recent decades. Most commonly, luxury brands use them to create flashy, coveted prints. The bigger the monogram, the more obvious it is that you're wearing a designer piece.

Think Louis Vuitton, Chanel, and Gucci. You could recognize their monograms anywhere.

As a result, consumers now use personal monograms similarly: as status symbols. They're exclusive, intentional, and cost extra.

"If somebody wears a monogram on their shirt, the assumption is that the person had it custom-made for them," Lipstein said. "Most people buying off the rack aren't thinking to that level of detail. They're not going to make the time or effort to find someone to do the embroidery, take it there, and pay to get it done."

Unlike designer monograms, though, personal initials are typically quieter. Shoppers want their monograms to be more visible, but not flashy.

When designing shirts, Lipstein advises clients to choose the waistband or the left cuff as the placement for their monograms.

"We choose the left cuff over the right because it's customary to shake hands with our right, regardless of whether you're right-handed or left-handed," he said. "So if you're shaking hands with your right and the monogram's there on the cuff, it could be perceived as throwing it in somebody's face. The left is a little more subtle."

It's also become popular for men to request embroidery of their full signatures. Lipstein said it's one of the most personal monograms you can have, and also a conversation starter.

A truly one-of-a-kind luxury

When asked how he feels seeing his initials on his belongings, Tran paused.

"I'm trying to think of a really profound answer, but really, I just like to see my name," he said. "It reminds me of my family, my heritage, and where I come from."

Even if other people don't see his initials, he knows they're there. They transform each item from basic to meaningful.

"It's a form of luxury to have something that's your own," he said.

And it's not only the initials themselves that can make an item or garment feel more personal. It's the entire design process.

Lipstein said Henry A. Davidsen offers about 50 monogram styles and 60 thread colors for custom pieces. Clients can also choose unique placements, such as on a pocket or a tail.

Those without a personal tailor can turn to any number of retailers for personalized goods.

Brands like Mark and Graham have made monograms their entire business, while companies like Tumi, L.L. Bean, Williams Sonoma, and even Apple offer monogram options at small fees.

Regardless of visibility, each monogram can be equally effective.

"When you know there's a monogram, it's in your subconscious that you're wearing something that was made for you," Lipstein said. "It's a reminder to you how special that piece is and how intentionally it was designed."

At formal events and in professional settings, that can be beneficial. Research suggests that what you wear can shape your confidence and overall work performance.

Entering the world of monograms

So where do you start? The answer is anywhere, though accessories are a good place to begin.

Tran said his first monogrammed piece was an embroidered L.L. Bean tote bag. "I've always seen them around, and I thought it would be a cool thing to have and slap my name on it," he said.

Once you're ready to move on to clothes, the process becomes a bit more detailed. You could, of course, bring a shirt you already own to a tailor and have it monogrammed. However, Lipstein said that defeats the purpose.

"It wouldn't be truly yours, in the sense that you didn't get to design it and have it made perfectly for you," he said. "I don't think it would add a lot of that subconscious confidence."

Instead, he recommends meeting with an image consultant to determine which garments you need and which styles work best for you. From there, consultants can typically introduce you to a tailor who can monogram.

"It's not just one element [that makes an outfit]," Lipstein said. "It's gotta be a 360-degree approach."

• Iran said the Strait of Hormuz is "completely open" on Friday.
• Stocks jumped amid hopes of an economic resurgence after weeks of gloomy forecasting.
• Markets pros laid out the areas of the market they're bullish on with maritime trade flowing again.

The stock market was in party mode on Friday after Iran announced the Strait of Hormuz was open again.

The development came as a massive relief to investors who had been fretting that a prolonged obstruction of energy flows could keep oil prices elevated and stoke a new bout of inflation.

Now, things are looking up for the economy again, and Wall Street pros think that a lower risk of inflation clears the way for Federal Reserve rate cuts this year.

"With the Strait of Hormuz now reopening, there's renewed optimism that broader economic momentum can re‑emerge," said Charles Rinehart, chief investment officer at Johnson Investment Counsel.

But besides the broader stock market, where are the best places to put your money to benefit from an economic resurgence if the reopening of the Strait holds? We asked a few Wall Street pros for their highest-conviction calls. Here are the three are

Small-caps

Mike Reynolds, Glenmede's VP of investment strategy, said small-caps are primed to jump for a few reasons.

One is that smaller stocks are cyclical, meaning they tend to move with economic growth trends.

Another is that the Fed is more likely to slash rates now, and smaller firms are more sensitive to borrowing costs.

Third, they should benefit from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act by being able to deduct research and development costs from their tax liability more immediately.

"We think all signs point toward small caps having a really banner year in 2026," he said.

Funds that offer exposure to this trade include the Vanguard Small-Cap ETF (VB), the iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF (IJR), and the Dimensional US Small Cap ETF (DFAS).

Emerging markets

When the Strait of Hormuz closed in March, emerging market stocks were among the hardest hit by the conflict, particularly stocks in Asia. That's because their economies are heavily reliant on oil coming out of the Middle East.

With the Strait reopened, Asian EM stocks should be primed to pop, according to Stephen Parker, JPMorgan Private Bank's co-head of Global Investment Strategy.

He told Business Insider that Asian EM stocks tied to the AI trade still have strong fundamentals, and have been thrown out with the bathwater during the recent sell-off.

"The fundamental story in Asia, specifically tied to the tech sector, the supply chain related to AI hardware story in places like Korea, Taiwan, and China creates a really interesting opportunity, particularly when you think about valuations which still look heavily discounted compared to the US," Parker said.

Some funds that offer exposure to this trade include iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Asia ETF (EEMA) and the Schwab Emerging Markets Equity ETF (SCHE).

The Magnificent Seven

Lance Roberts, the chief strategist at RIA Advisors, which oversees around $2 billion, said that it's a perfect time to buy the Magnificent Seven stocks—Nvidia, Meta, Microsoft, Amazon, Apple, Alphabet, and Tesla.

Valuations for the group of mega-cap tech titans, which investors have tended to pay a premium for, have fallen in recent weeks to levels on par with the rest of the market — the cheapest they've been since 2015.

"I think the Mag Seven are back, because they have the most earnings growth and they had a big reduction in valuation," Roberts said.

Funds that offer exposure to the Magnificent Seven stocks include the Roundhill Magnificent Seven ETF (MAGS) and the Vanguard Mega Cap Growth ETF (MGK).

• Chris Whalen thinks hot inflation will weigh on the US economy for years after the Iran war ends.
• The veteran analyst says supply disruptions in the Middle East will take a long time to normalize.
• He said he expected inflation to rise to the high single-digits, about double its current rate.

Investors see the Iran war as all but over, but a market vet warns the effects will be felt a lot longer than Wall Street might realize.

Chris Whalen, an investment banker, longtime analyst, and the chairman of Whalen Global Advisors, thinks the inflation shock from the Iran war had already been baked into market and economic forecasts.

Yet, even though markets got a boost after Iran announced the Strait of Hormuz was open to ships on Friday, it will likely take a long time for oil markets to normalize, and Americans could be dealing with the inflationary impacts for years to come, he told Business Insider this week.

"This is a very delicate ecosystem that we have messed with," he said of the oil markets. "I would double whatever inflation estimates people had before the war."

The 1-year expected inflation rate was 2.5% in February, according to data from the Cleveland Fed.

Whalen said the inflation rate rising into the high single digits was plausible, implying the rate would nearly double from current levels. Consumer prices accelerated to a 3.3% yearly pace in March.

"Opening the Strait is great. The inflation impact will be with us for months or years," he told BI in an email after Iran announced the Strait was "completely open" on Friday.

Inflation has been the chief worry on Wall Street lately. The idea is that higher oil prices from the war could feed inflation across other parts of the economy, since oil is a key input for goods ranging from fuel to plastic to industrial components.

Markets breathed a sigh of relief when Iran announced the reopening of the Strait, but supply kinks that have been created since the start of the conflict will likely take a long time to smooth out, Whalen said.

He pointed traffic around the Strait of Hormuz, which had been significantly disrupted in the past month. The shipping routes that were upended and the supply chain chaos could take months or even years to normalize, Whalen said.

The same issue applies to energy infrastructure, which takes years and significant money to rebuild. One report from Rystad Energy estimates it could cost as much as $58 billion to restore infrastructure in the Middle East damaged by the war.

The US will likely try to "adjust" for the loss of supply in the Middle East by ramping up its own production, but that will also take years to set up the proper infrastructure, Whalen added.

"All of these little systems moving energy, moving refined products, have been disrupted. You've also disrupted the supply infrastructure in the Gulf," Whalen said. "You're talking about months or years, depending on how much damage."

"Is that the end of the world? No, but it's going to continue to put horrible pressure on consumers," he added of the inflationary impact.

Whalen said he believes that the economy could eventually tip into full-blown stagflation — a situation where prices spiral while the economy slows — by 2028. The scenario, which slammed the US economy in the 1970s, is often regarded as the worst-case for markets, and is thought by policymakers to be even more difficult to resolve than a typical recession, as high inflation prevents the Fed from cutting rates.

• Jet fuel prices have surged since the Iran war started, prompting airlines to raise ticket prices.
• Travel gurus say booking flights with points or miles is best when cash prices are high.
• For those who haven't yet accrued points, signing up for a credit card can help.

If you've built up a stash of airline points or miles, now is the time to use them for your next vacation.

Global jet fuel prices have more than doubled since the Iran war began, rising to almost $200 per barrel.

Fuel is airlines' second-highest cost after labor, and many carriers are trying to offset price hikes by increasing fuel surcharges, bag fees, and ticket fares.

As the cost of vacation rises, travel experts say cashing in on rewards instead of paying out of pocket for a flight could now be a smarter move.

"The Points Guy always recommends booking with any points and miles you have stashed away, especially when cash prices are high," Clint Henderson, managing editor of The Points Guy, told Business Insider.

Henderson has been doing exactly that, using his own points and miles to get ahead of potential fare increases and added fuel charges. He said he has already booked trips through spring next year to destinations such as Paris, Hong Kong, and Tokyo.

Travelers usually accrue miles and points by flying on a specific airline and being part of their membership program, or by having a specific credit card that accrues points for everyday spending. Some are general travel cards, like the Chase Sapphire Reserve; others are co-branded with the airline, like Delta's American Express Gold Card.

"With most points and miles programs, at least in the US, you can cancel and get your points back," he said, "so I don't have to worry in case these trips don't pan out."

That safety net is particularly important as travel becomes unusually volatile. Recent US government funding lapses strained air traffic control and airport security staffing for weeks, triggering widespread airport delays and flight cancellations. Ongoing conflict in the Middle East has also squeezed capacity in key connecting hubs.

For travelers who haven't built up a balance of points, Henderson said it might be worth opening a new credit card that offers a large sign-up bonus to help cover the cost of an upcoming trip. Capital One, Chase, and American Express all currently offer sign-up bonuses ranging from 75,000 points to over 100,000 points when you hit a certain spend threshold.

TJ Dunn, a Canada-based loyalty programs expert and founder of All Points West Travel Consulting, said signing up for a co-branded credit card can also come with another useful perk: a free checked bag. Some of these cards have a $0 annual fee.

In a bid to offset skyrocketing jet fuel costs, the US's biggest airlines — American, Alaska, Southwest, Delta, JetBlue, and United — have already hiked checked bag fees.

"A single trip can often justify the card's annual fee on checked baggage fee savings alone," Dunn said.

For those already on a loyalty program, Dunn said there's little point to holding onto rewards for too long: "The magic of compound interest just doesn't exist in loyalty programs, and your points are only going to lose value over time rather than appreciate."

To get the most out of points, Dunn said, it's best to be flexible with dates and destinations. "Leaving a day earlier or later, or flying into or out of a different city, could be the difference between paying 50,000 points or 100,000 points for your trip," he said.

NerdWallet travel analyst Sara Rathner told Business Insider that the timing of the fuel hikes comes during an already busy travel season, as we emerge from spring break and head into summer.

She said that traditionally, the best way to use points has been for pricey, long-haul international trips, but now that domestic travel costs are rising, this is also a worthwhile use of points.

"Point values can vary," Rathner said. "You're better off saving cash by using your points and miles now instead of saving them for something in the future, because cash is cash; you could always use it for something else."

• Dr. Julie Chen, an integrative medicine physician, has a few longevity habits to reduce her risk of disease.
• She said it's preferable to prevent instead of treat disease.
• Chen strength-trains, prioritizes sleep, and practices intermittent fasting.

Dr. Julie Chen, an integrative medicine physician, is a big fan of preventive habits.

"If someone's at the precipice of disease, it's much easier to recover them than it is for them to fall off the cliff and try to get them back," whether they're at risk of cardiovascular disease or type 2 diabetes, she told Business Insider.

"For people to stay really healthy and optimize their longevity and functionality, it's about staying ahead of that curve," Chen, an advisor for the Buck Institute for Research on Aging and the chief medical officer of the precision medicine company Radence, added.

Over the past decade, her work and research has inspired her to pick up multiple longevity habits, from prioritizing her sleep to adding more strength training to her routine.

She prioritizes sleep — and tested for sleep apnea

Out of all her longevity habits, Chen said sleep is the one of the most important, as lack of sleep is linked to a higher risk of health issues like cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.

She aims to get seven to eight hours of sleep a night, as recommended by doctors.

Chen also got tested for sleep apnea, a condition where breathing stops during sleep and leads to drops in oxygen levels, even though she doesn't really snore and isn't overweight — two common risk factors. While the process involved first an at-home test and then a study at a clinic, she appreciated having peace of mind. Doctors are divided over whether it is beneficial for people to get tests when they don't have any concerning symptoms or risk factors.

"Knowing how important sleep is for brain and cardiovascular health, I did get that done," she said. "I'm also a big fan of not guessing at your health."

Her workouts mix cardio and compound strength exercises

Chen aims to work out six mornings a week for at least 30 minutes, ideally 45, opting for a mix of strength training and cardio.

She starts on a Peloton bike or treadmill for about 20 minutes, then for the rest of the time does ab, leg, and arm work, focusing on compound exercises that target several body parts at once. She loves combining a squat with an overhead press or holding planks to activate her arms and core muscles.

When she was younger, she did more cardio and would regularly go on six to seven-mile runs. As she's gotten older, she's incorporated more strength training to build up her muscle mass, which naturally depletes with age.

She sees exercise is one of her most important habits. "Exercise is a huge factor for cardiovascular health, brain health, metabolic health, almost everything," she said.

She rotates her meals and takes supplements to get enough nutrients

Dietitians typically recommend getting nutrients from whole foods, and Chen makes sure to rotate her meals to get as many different ones as possible.

She usually includes a protein base, like roast chicken, grilled salmon, or shrimp, and vegetables like mixed greens, spaghetti squash, pea sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, cucumbers, and bell peppers. Eating a wide variety of whole foods has a range of health benefits, including boosting gut health by diversifying the gut microbiome.

"Without the foundation of the right kind of diet, it's very hard for the body to build or for it to heal," Chen said.

When it comes to vegetables, Chen prioritizes eating the rainbow given their high fiber content and anti-inflammatory benefits.

"Sometimes, people will just eat spinach and that's the only salad they eat," she said.

Chen also gets regular blood work to check her vitamin levels, and takes supplements, like B vitamins and vitamin D, to fill any gaps. She said that because of modern mass food production practices, foods might be selected for their shelf life and appearance over their nutritional density. Supplements can help when intake or absorption is limited.

"If there are any days where I don't get to control my diet as much, I look at what else I need to do, she said, such as taking protein supplements.

Intermittent fasting and green tea help her energy levels

On most days, Chen practices intermittent fasting, a form of time-restricted eating. While intermittent fasting schedules can vary, Chen doesn't eat between 9 p.m. and 2 p.m.

Research suggests that intermittent fasting has some benefits, like helping to control blood sugar levels. Because it can result in calorie restriction, some people find it helpful for fat loss, but the results can be mixed.

Chen said "everyone is different" and recommended working with a clinician to figure out if intermittent fasting is right for you. It isn't recommended for those who have struggled with disordered eating, for example.

In her case, she has found it "very helpful" in helping her body feel less inflamed. Some research suggests fasting can reduce certain markers of inflammation.

While she fasts, she has as much green tea and water as she wants. Green tea is associated with multiple health benefits, such as good brain and cardiovascular health and possibly helping lower cholesterol.

"Again, not cooking cutter — there are definitely things that people need to watch out for," Chen said. If you have a history of heart rhythm issues, she suggested talking to a doctor before introducing more caffeine into your diet.

In her case, she likes getting a steady stream of caffeine and antioxidants throughout the day.

• New York officials have proposed a pied-à-terre tax on non-primary homes worth over $5 million.
• Mayor Zohran Mamdani namechecked billionaire Ken Griffin when he announced the levy.
• Griffin would be one of many big-name billionaires affected, from Donald Trump to Jeff Bezos.

New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani introduced a new pied-à-terre tax in a video on Wednesday, standing in front of a limestone tower on Central Park South and calling out one of its residents, Citadel CEO Ken Griffin, by name.

Griffin is far from the only billionaire who would shoulder such a tax, which Mamdani and New York State Gov. Kathy Hochul proposed earlier this week.

The levy on non-primary homes worth more than $5 million would apply to those who live abroad, in other states, and elsewhere in New York state, as well as to investment properties, and would be in addition to current property taxes.

The state has not said publicly how it would determine a residence's value, whether a home is a primary residence, or how much homeowners would pay. City Hall did not respond to questions about those details. While market value determines the assessed value for one to three-family homes in New York City, condos and co-ops — the vast majority of New York apartments — are assessed by a more complex formula.

The tax, part of Hochul's state budget proposal, would generate an estimated $500 million a year, according to Hochul's and Mamdani's offices.

In the announcement, Mamdani's office mentioned Griffin, who spent $238 million on a Midtown penthouse in 2019, and Russian auto dealer Alexander Varshavsky, who bought a Columbus Circle apartment for $20.5 million in cash.

"This pied-à-terre tax is specifically designed for the richest of the rich," Mamdani said in the video.

Within 24 hours, big-name billionaires and businesspeople attacked the proposal, with critics arguing it could drive investment out of the city.

"Mamdani likes the tag line 'Tax the rich.' Unfortunately, his policies will harm the constituencies he is supposedly trying to help," Bill Ackman wrote on X.

The new tax would apply to 13,000 properties, Hochul's office estimated, and several of the individuals behind those apartments could be hard to identify, having purchased their homes through trusts or LLCs.

Here are eight prominent figures from finance, entertainment, and real estate who would likely be affected by the proposed policy. Their representatives declined or did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Jeff Bezos

In 2023, Bezos very publicly decamped to Miami, purchasing several properties on the private island of Indian Creek and leaving at least some of his Seattle homes behind.

He's held onto his New York real estate empire. From 2019 to 2021, he purchased five apartments inside 212 Fifth Avenue, a condo building in Manhattan's Nomad, spending more than $100 million. He had previously purchased four apartments at 25 Central Park West with his ex-wife, MacKenzie Scott Bezos, though it's unclear who retained ownership of them in the divorce.

Bezos, the world's third-richest person with a net worth of $269 billion according to Bloomberg, also owns homes in Beverly Hills, Washington, D.C., Seattle, Western Texas, and Hawaii.

Jay-Z and Beyoncé

Jay-Z and Beyoncé, famously from Brooklyn and Houston, respectively, have called California — where they own a Bel-Air mansion and a record-breaking Malibu estate — home for about a decade.

The pair, worth a combined $3.8 billion, according to Forbes, kept their Tribeca loft, where they married in 2008. The apartment has no doubt ballooned in value since Jay-Z purchased it for $6.85 million more than two decades ago.

Steve Cohen

While hedge fund titan Cohen primarily lives on an estate in Greenwich, Connecticut, known as 30 Crown, he also owns another mansion 40 miles south. His 30,000-square-foot home in the West Village, which took years to construct, sits on multiple lots that Cohen purchased for more than $60 million in total in 2012.

Worth $17.4 billion, according to Bloomberg, Cohen has built a portfolio that includes an estate in East Hampton and a home in Delray Beach, Florida.

Michael Dell

Dell, the Texas-based founder of Dell Technologies, broke city records when he purchased a $100 million penthouse in 2014.

His 11,000-square-foot apartment was the first New York City residence to surpass $100 million and is located in the luxury tower One57 on Billionaires' Row, a stretch of Midtown Manhattan known for investment properties. Dell is worth $170 billion, according to Bloomberg.

Ken Griffin

Namechecked in Mamdani's announcement, Griffin owns multiple apartments in New York City. He's better known as a Chicagoan than a New Yorker and made headlines for ditching the Midwestern city for Miami in 2022.

In New York, his $238 million purchase on Central Park South set a nationwide record in 2019. Last year, he dropped another $45 million on a nearby Park Avenue co-op, and he's since doubled down, spending $38 million on the adjoining duplex, The Wall Street Journal reported the same day the pied-a-terre tax was announced.

Griffin, who is worth $48.3 billion according to Bloomberg, also owns homes in London, the Hamptons, Miami, and Palm Beach.

Stephen Ross

An advocate for moving to Florida, real estate mogul Ross made Palm Beach, where he lives in an oceanfront estate known as The Reef, his permanent residence during the pandemic.

While Ross, who is worth $16.5 billion, according to Bloomberg, has since sold many of his New York properties, he still owns at least one apartment in the city: the penthouse in 35 Hudson Yards, which his firm, Related Companies, developed.

Howard Schultz

The former Starbucks chief left Seattle for Miami earlier this year, buying a $44 million penthouse on the water.

Brooklyn-born Schultz, who Forbes estimates is worth $3.5 billion, held onto the $40 million West Village penthouse he purchased in 2017. The apartment, with a wraparound terrace and four bedrooms, is in a top-tier building that boasts a garden, pool, and golf simulator.

Donald Trump

President Donald Trump, who is worth $6.4 billion, according to Forbes, was one of several business titans who criticized the policy, posting on Truth Social that Mamdani is "DESTROYING New York."

Trump, who lives in D.C. and votes in Florida, still owns property in his hometown of New York. Most famously, he has a triplex in the Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue. The apartment, the subject of yearslong investigation by Letitia James, measures about 11,000 square feet.

• Some members of Dubai's expat community who left temporarily during the Iran war are returning.
• Amid the ceasefire, UAE schools are reopening, and in-person work is ramping up.
• `A private education and relocation expert said some residents are putting contingency measures in place.

The cautious return to Dubai is underway.

It's been over a week since a ceasefire was agreed between the US and Iran. The school gates are reopening, workers are gradually returning to face-to-face meetings, and expats who left temporarily are coming back.

Sandy Zanella, a doctor and mindfulness coach, moved to Dubai from the US over five years ago. Two weeks after the war broke out, Zanella and her family went to her husband's native Italy.

After speaking with friends in Dubai and hearing that life is going on as normal, she has decided to return with her two kids on Saturday. Zanella said she feels "privileged to have this kind of opportunity" to temporarily leave, but would return even if there were no ceasefire.

"The uncertainty of things is kind of heavy, but what can we do?" Zanella said, referring to her life being in Dubai right now.

Safe haven status

Over the past few decades, Dubai has marketed itself as a safe haven for expats, offering zero income tax, high salaries, and a luxury lifestyle.

The city has been home to millions of expats from across the world across the past few decades; they make up around 90% of Dubai's population, per UAE government data.

But its safe-haven status flipped overnight when the Iran war broke out at the end of February.

Iran struck the UAE with drones and missiles as part of a wider retaliation against the US and its allies in the region, causing casualties and damage to buildings and infastructure. Residents, who were initially advised to stay indoors and work from home, reported loud booms from missile interceptions and distant explosions.

Tens of thousands of travelers were stranded in the UAE after the airspace around the region was closed as the war kicked off. Hotels began slashing prices and promoting staycations to offset a drop in tourism. Schools switched to distance learning, and spring break was moved forward. Some expat families, like Zanella's, took advantage of this to temporarily leave Dubai.

Many packed up and left altogether. Citing official estimates, the Financial Times reported earlier this month that 30,000 British residents left the UAE since the start of the war, though it is too early to say how many have permanently left.

Not all residents of Dubai were able to leave. For migrant workers, many of whom work in manual labor and as drivers for wealthy expats, the regional conflict has made life more difficult. Jason Nemerovski, a researcher at Equidem, a human rights and labor rights organization, said many have reported salary cuts.

"I think that is the key thing to understand when you are making a comparison between someone from "Western countries" and a Pakistani delivery rider — this was a decision made out of desperation, not desire," Nemerovski told Business Insider, about migrant workers' decision to move to Dubai.

Nemerovski told Business Insider that a delivery rider he spoke to on Thursday said he plans to leave if he can find an opportunity elsewhere, but says people would rather stay despite the risks due to a lack of work opportunities in their home country.

And with the ceasefire holding for now, some expats are deciding to return to their lives in Dubai, albeit with some caution.

A new kind of normal

The Knowledge and Human Development Authority, which oversees private education in Dubai, announced on Wednesday that schools and higher education institutions will resume in-person teaching from Monday. School bus services also resume that day.

The UAE government advised private-sector employees to work remotely for the days following the outbreak of the war. While some residents returned to the office in the early days of the conflict, more appear to be shifting to in-person work.

Charli Wright, owner and CEO of Dubai-based marketing agency JWI, told Business Insider that after a few weeks of working from home, her team has been back in person.

Wright said clients are pushing for in-person meetings, and she has continued hiring and interviewing candidates.

Chantelle Thompson moved to Dubai from the UK at the end of January with her husband and three children. Despite the Iran war, her family chose to stay in Dubai, and she said leaving the city was never a consideration.

While she faced issues in obtaining the birth certificates required for her visa to the UAE due to postal delays, she said, aside from that, things are "running as normal." The family is now completing their relocation and arranging for their dogs to come to Dubai.

"Until we really knew what's going on, I didn't feel comfortable bringing them out here," Thompson said of her pets. "Now we've assessed the situation, we feel more comfortable getting them over."

Antonio Masih, a director at Pawsome Friends, which offers a pet relocation service in Dubai, said that while March was a "very stressful time" with over 70 to 80 inquiries a day for pet relocation out of the UAE, things have calmed down considerably since the ceasefire.

"I think there's a bit of normality now in Dubai. It's definitely calmed down a lot now," Masih told Business Insider.

"I think if you give it probably about another two weeks, I think everything will be back to normal," he added.

Send My Bag, which offers luggage delivery and relocation services, told Business Insider that there was a 543% increase in shipment orders coming out of the UAE since March 1.

Adam Ewart, the CEO, said that while they are processing small shipments out of the UAE — a behavior that suggests a more temporary move — they have started to see some larger orders leaving the UAE.

Shipments to the UAE were down 50% in the first week of the war and flat the second week. Ewart said they are picking up again, but this is partly because of family at home sending presents and care packages to relatives in the UAE.

"It makes sense that at a time like this, family in another country would be increasing this activity to show their thinking of their loved ones living in the region," said Ewart.

The wait-and-see approach

While some expat families are moving back, Hilesh Chavda, a partner at London-based law firm Spencer West, told Business Insider that he has not had any new inquiries about relocating to the Middle East, despite it being a popular destination for UK-based families.

And for those who have remained in Dubai, caution nonetheless remains. Sandy Zanella, who plans to return this weekend, said she's excited to get back to her life in Dubai. However, the uncertainty of the ceasefire means she does not yet feel confident about having her children at school full-time.

"It's the part that I can't control," she said. "I trust the teachers and everything, but it's too many hours where you can get alarms, alerts."

Angus Gibson, founder and director of Treberys Private, a private education and relocation consultancy which advises HNW families, told Business Insider that there has been a shift from reactive decision-making toward contingency planning.

"Families are increasingly looking at how to preserve stability for children, whether that means staying put with the right support around them, or putting a temporary alternative in place until the picture in Dubai becomes clearer," Gibson added.

Thompson, who stayed in Dubai during the Iran war, said her children are currently being tutored at home until they start school in Dubai in August.

"We've just realised that it's become our new normal," she said of life there.

"Obviously there are a lot of people have chosen to leave," she added. But, "there is a massive sense of community here."