A joint session of Congress to oversee the counting of electoral votes in the 2020 general election descended into chaos when throngs of violent Trump-supporting insurrectionists breached the US Capitol building.

The Capitol building was finally secured nearly four hours later, around 5:30 p.m. after violent clashes between rioters and Capitol Police. 

The US Senate went back in session to resume debate on a challenge to Arizona's electors shortly after 8 p.m., over seven hours after the joint session to count Electoral College votes began, and the House went back into session to resume debate approximately an hour later, shortly after 9:00 p.m.  

The Senate wrapped up debate and voted 93-6 to reject the challenge to Arizona's electors shortly followed by the House, which voted 303-121 to reject the objection late Wednesday night. 

The next objection was to the election certificate from Georgia. However, senators removed their challenge to the electors given the previous riots, and therefore Georgia's election certification was accepted. Similar scenes played out with an initial challenge to Michigan and Nevada's electors, which were ultimately accepted.

Shortly after midnight, Sen. Josh Hawley and Rep. Scott Perry both objected to the acceptance of Pennsylvania's electors. In the Senate, debate on the challenge to the electors, which could have gone on for two hours, was cut short.

The rioters, who had attended a "March for Trump" rally to protest the certification of Joe Biden's victory in the presidential race, stormed the building, forcing the House and Senate to abruptly go into recess and for Pence, lawmakers, Hill staffers, and reporters to shelter in their offices before being evacuated.

Pence, lawmakers, and members of the press were evacuated into an undisclosed location after the rioters entered the House and Senate chambers. It triggering a dramatic armed standoff at the doors of the House chamber. 

In response to the violence, Washington DC mayor Muriel Bowser ordered a 6 p.m. curfew in the District of Columbia. The D.C. National Guard and Virginia National Guard were also deployed to the scene. 

The event in most years is simply a procedural formality. Biden won 306 Electoral College votes compared to 232 for Trump. But outgoing President Donald Trump and his allies spent the prior two months attempting to overturn the 2020 election results. 

Today, that effort erupted into violence never before seen in modern US history. 

Dozens of House lawmakers and 13 Republican Senators, as of Wednesday, had planned on raising objections to at least one and possibly multiple slates of electors under the Electoral Count Act of 1887, which permits lawmakers to raise objections to specific states' electors.

Outside, meanwhile, several thousand Trump supporters gathered and then stormed the building.

Scroll down for live coverage.

SEE ALSO: Photos show Trump supporters inside Senate chamber

Both the Senate and House voted against sustaining the objection to Arizona's slate of 11 electors for Biden.

The vote in the Senate failed 93-6. 

The six Senators voting in favor to reject Arizona's electors were Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri, Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith of Mississippi, Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana, Sen. Roger Marshall of Kansas, and Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama. 

The vote in the House failed with 303-121, with only Republican members of the House voting in favor of sustaining the objection to Arizona's electors. Eighty-three Republicans joined Democrats in voting against rejecting Arizona's electors. 

Sen. Mitt Romney stared down his colleague Sen. Josh Hawley as Hawley outlined his objections to states' electoral votes.

Sen. Kelly Loeffler of Georgia reversed course and decided not to object to Arizona's electors after stating that she supported objections.

Loeffler, who was appointed in early 2020 to fill a vacant US Senate seat, just lost a runoff election against Democrat Raphael Warnock to serve out the rest of former Sen. Johnny Isakson's term until 2023. 

"The clockwork of our democracy will carry on," McConnell said when the Senate reconvened to continue debate on the objection to Arizona's electoral votes raised over seven hours earlier.

"The United States Senate will not be intimidated. We will not be kept out of this chamber by thugs, mobs, or threats. we will not bow to lawless or intimidation...we are going to discharge our duty under the constitution, and we are going to do it tonight," McConnell said. 

"Congress has faced much greater threats than this unhinged crowd we faced today. They failed," he added, calling the violence "a failed insurrection."

Pence returned to address the Senate shortly after 8:00 p.m., receiving a round of applause.

Tweet Embed:
//twitter.com/mims/statuses/1346987293534511104?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Pence speaking now in the Senate: "Today was a dark day...""We condemn the violence that took place here in the strongest possible terms.""To those who wreaked havoc in our Capitol today, you did not win. Violence never wins. Freedom wins. And this is still the people's house."

Mahogany boxes with electoral vote certificates were brought back to the Senate after Pence, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said they intended to bring Congress back into session.

Members will resume debate on the objection to Arizona's electoral votes, which both chambers were conducting when they forced to go into recess, before moving on to other states, according to a notice from House minority whip Steve Scalise's office. 

In a letter to colleagues sent at around 6:30 p.m., Pelosi said that members will return to finish the vote tonight.

Pelosi's letter read:

"Today, a shameful assault was made on our democracy.  It was anointed at the highest level of government.  It cannot, however, deter us from our responsibility to validate the election of Joe Biden.

To that end, in consultation with Leader Hoyer and Whip Clyburn and after calls to the Pentagon, the Justice Department and the Vice President, we have decided we should proceed tonight at the Capitol once it is cleared for use.  Leader Hoyer will be sending out more guidance later today. 

We always knew this responsibility would take us into the night. The night may still be long but we are hopeful for a shorter agenda, but our purpose will be accomplished."

Shortly after, Politico reported that the Senate hopes to return to session at 8:00 p.m. and continue the counting of electoral votes without any objections. 

And Pence's press secretary Devin O'Malley tweeted: "Vice President @Mike_Pence has returned to the Senate. He never left the Capitol.@VP was in regular contact w/ House & Senate leadership, Cap Police, DOJ, & DoD to facilitate efforts to secure the Capitol & reconvene Congress. And now we will finish the People's business."

As the sun began to set in D.C. and the crowd began to disperse, lawmakers vowed to continue to the work of finalizing the Electoral College vote count.

McConnell has told senators that "they should go back into the chamber tonight to project strength after today's catastrophe," the Washington Post reported, after the Sergeant at Arms cleared the Capitol. 

At 6 p.m., D.C.'s curfew kicked in. More riot police, National Guard, and FBI agents were on the scene to disperse the crowd and secure the scene. 

Rep. Ruben Gallego of Arizona had some choice words for Arizona Republican Party chairwoman Kelli Ward. 

Here's a video recap of how the violence and chaos at the Capitol unfolded throughout Wednesday:

Shortly before 6 p.m., MSNBC reported that a woman was in critical condition after being shot in the Capitol had died.

Multiple news outlets reported that a woman was shot in an altercation with law enforcement. Later, MSNBC's Pete Williams reported that the woman had died. 

Read more: Woman shot in Capitol after Trump supporters storm the building as lawmakers gathered to certify Biden's win

A little after 5:30 p.m. the Sergeant at Arms announced the Capitol building had been secured.

The Capitol Police, Metropolitan Police in Washington, DC, and National Guard troops from D.C. and Virginia helped secure the Capitol. 

The rioters left got into House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's desk and left a note on her desk.

Read more: Trump supporters who broke into Nancy Pelosi's office during their siege of the US Capitol left her a note warning they 'will not back down'

Trump gave a statement calling for the rioting mobs to go home while continuing to falsely claim that the presidential election was "stolen."

Later, Trump tweeted:"These are the things and events that happen when a sacred landslide election victory is so unceremoniously & viciously stripped away from great patriots who have been badly & unfairly treated for so long. Go home with love & in peace. Remember this day forever!"

Read more: 'We love you. You're very special': Trump tells his violent supporters who stormed the Capitol to 'go home' after repeating his false claims about the election being 'fraudulent'

Read more: 'That is not true and we are not airing it': CNBC anchor Shep Smith cut away from broadcasting Trump's taped message amid chaos at the Capitol

President-elect Joe Biden condemned the rioters as "insurrectionists" in a speech from Delaware.

"I call on President Trump to go on national television now to fulfill his oath and defend the Constitution and demand an end to this siege," Biden said. 

Read more: Biden calls 'violent siege' of US Capital an 'insurrection' and demands Trump tell his supporters to back down

Both the D.C. and Virginia National guards were deployed to the scene to quell the violent insurrection.

Tweet Embed:
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My team and I are working closely with @MayorBowser, @SpeakerPelosi, and @SenSchumer to respond to the situation in Washington, D.C.

Per the Mayor's request, I am sending members of the Virginia National Guard along with 200 Virginia State Troopers.Tweet Embed:
//twitter.com/mims/statuses/1346918811870617607?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Same defense official confirms Mayor Bowser made request for National Guard at Capitol as it was breached. Defense officials initially offered to replace police in other capacities in the city, allowing more police at Capitol specifically, source says.https://t.co/DSFLjqww9Y

Read more:More National Guard troops are being deployed in Washington, DC as Trump supporters storm the Capitol

Multiple police officers who were injured in the violence were evacuated from the Capitol area.

Read more: Multiple police officers were seen being evacuated with injuries after clashes with Trump rioters on Capitol Hill

A video from another angle captured the scene inside the chamber.

This video shows protesters descending on the outside of the Capitol.

The Huffington Post's Igor Bobic captured the moment that the rioters breached the Senate.

Tweet Embed:
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Here's the scary moment when protesters initially got into the building from the first floor and made their way outside Senate chamber. pic.twitter.com/CfVIBsgywK

Read more: Video shows tense standoff between Capitol police and pro-Trump rioters trying to enter the Senate chamber

Pence, lawmakers, and members of the press have been evacuated to undisclosed locations as rioters continue to clash with police.

Pence tweeted:"The violence and destruction taking place at the US Capitol Must Stop and it Must Stop Now. Anyone involved must respect Law Enforcement officers and immediately leave the building."

Read more: Lawmakers and Mike Pence evacuated from the House of Representatives as pro-Trump rioters storm the Capitol

A dramatic armed standoff occurred at the House chamber.

Dramatic photos captured by Getty Images showed Capitol Police pointing guns at the doors to the House chamber. 

Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser issued a curfew.

The curfew is in place from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. 

Both chambers of the Capitol were forced to go into recess when protestors breached the Capitol as the House and Senate separately debated an objection to Arizona's 11 Electoral Votes.

Pence and lawmakers were evacuated out of the Capitol Building after originally being told to shelter in place, and then evacuated along with members of the press corps to an undisclosed location. 

Read more: The House and Senate abruptly go into recess after throngs of Trump supporters storm the Capitol building

President Trump and Donald Trump Jr. both issued tweets urging calm and for protestors to respect law enforcement.

"This is wrong and not who we are. Be peaceful and use your 1st Amendment rights, but don't start acting like the other side. We have a country to save and this doesn't help anyone.,"Donald Trump Jr. tweeted.

Capitol police reportedly deployed flash bang grenades and tear gas to disperse pro-Trump protesters outside the Capitol building, according to a Fox News camera crew on the scene.

As the chambers began debating the Arizona objection, pro-Trump protesters clashed with Capitol Police on the steps of Capitol Hill.

Staffers were ordered to evacuate from two House office buildings, the Cannon and Madison buildings.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell spoke out against Trump's efforts to overturn the election results as the Senate began to debate, before the rioting began.

"I've served 36 years in the Senate," McConnell said. "This will be the most important vote I'll ever cast."

He continued: "We cannot simply declare ourselves the national board of elections on steroids."

McConnell concluded his speech with a call for both parties to return to a shared set of facts.

"We cannot keep drifting apart into two separate tribes with a separate set of facts and separate realities, with nothing in common except for our hostility toward each other and mistrust for the few national institutions that we all still share," he said.

Earlier in the day, Minority Leader Chuck Schumer issued a stern warning to his colleagues.

"As we speak, the eyes of the world are on this chamber, questioning whether America is still the shining example of democracy, the shining city on the hill, " Schumer said. 

He continued: "What message we send today — what message will we send today to our people, to the world that has so looked up to us for centuries. What message will we send to fledgling democracies, who study our constitution, who mirror our laws and traditions so that they too can build a country ruled by the consent of the governed?"

Right after the House and Senate split off to their respective chambers to debate the Arizona objection, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi admonished Republican colleagues for failing to adhere to social distancing guidelines.

Rep. Paul Gosar rose to bring an objection to the electors of the third state in the alphabetical order, Arizona, with 60 of his colleagues.

Lawmakers reacted with a mix of groans and applause.

They then left the chamber to go debate separately from the House on the objection. 

The first two certificates of the process from Alabama and Alaska were accepted without controversy or objection.

At 1 p.m. local time, members of Congress filed into the House chamber for the proceedings. Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Vice President Mike Pence called the proceedings to order.

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While some direct-to-consumer upstarts faced headwinds in 2020 due to the pandemic, others continue to crop up in categories including personal grooming and health and wellness.

Business Insider asked 20 investors which DTC startups they think will take off this year and why.

Most of them picked companies they've invested in. Investors from Forerunner, Greycroft, Lerer Hippeau, and others said they are backing companies that address issues that have been brought to the fore by the coronavirus pandemic, like sleep and personal grooming. 

They include wearable tech device Cove that claims to help people sleep better; and dpHUE, which says it keeps hair color fresh between salon visits.

Health and wellness remains hot as it was in 2020, with investors betting on companies including Found and Sugarbreak. Pet-focused companies like Smalls and Fable are also gaining interest after Bark's SPAC-backed IPO as are kids-focused companies like A Kids Book About and Piccolina.

Here are their picks, listed alphabetically.

A Kids Book About

Company: A Kids Book About

Recommended by: Chris Cantino, co-owner, Color Capital

Relationship to the company: Investor

What it is: Publishes kids' books on "grown-up" topics like racism, death, and empathy.

Why it's hot: The company talks about subjects like money, racism, climate change, and COVID-19 with kids in a way that's different than anything else in the category, and with its DTC model, it can release books quickly to respond to issues of cultural relevance, said Cantino. "The company has potential to become a top name in children's media."

Clare

Company: Clare

Recommended by: Hayley Barna, partner, Firstround Ventures

Relationship to the company: Investor

What it is: A brand trying to improve paint-buying online with features like designer-picked colors, mess-free paint swatches.

Why it's hot: "As we continue to spend time at home, COVID-19 has dramatically accelerated the growth of Clare's business as it can help simplify the process of upgrading the feel of your space," said Barna. "With dynamic tools like the 'Color Genius' and the 'Paint Calculator,' you can avoid a trip to the hardware store entirely."

Cove

Company: Cove by Feelmore

Recommended by: Courtney Reum, co-founder, M13

Relationship to the company: Investor

What it is: A wearable tech device that says it uses neuroscience to reduce anxiety and improve sleep.

Why it's hot: "Reducing anxiety and improving sleep are two essentials to help us thrive in 2021," said Reum. "2021 is the year of mental wellness  when we are still haunted by the ripple effects of 2020, but we are also intentionally managing our health."

dpHUE

Company: dpHUE

Recommended by: Alicia Sontag, partner, Prelude Growth Partners

Relationship to the company: Investor

What it is: A hair-care brand founded by co-founded by celebrity colorist Justin Anderson and Donna Pohlad that says it keeps color fresh between salon visits.

Why it's hot: dpHUE's products are relevant as salons remain closed or people avoid them, said Sontag. "Their products to care for color-treated hair like the Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse or products to color-treat hair like Root Touch Up kits are meant to be used between salon visits and go hand-in-hand with stylists, not replace them."

Eight Sleep

Company: Eight Sleep

Recommended by: Peter Pham, cofounder and partner, Science 

Relationship to the company: Investor

What it is: A smart-mattress maker

Why it's hot: "Sleep has been the topic of 2020," said Pham. "They've changed the game with being able to not just track data, but change the temperature on each side of the bed through the night."

Fable Pets

Company: Fable Pets

Recommended by: Sophie Bakalar, partner at Collaborative Fund

Relationship to the company: Investor and co-CEO

What it is: A Scandinavian-design inspired pet gear company.

Why it's hot:"There have been incredible tailwinds in the pet space over the past 9 months that we expect to continue well into 2021," said Bakalar. "This increase in pet adoptions has introduced a lot of pain points, particularly for new pet owners and those in cities. Fable makes gear specifically designed to solve those problems. For example, the product 'The Game' was specifically designed to help treat anxiety and boredom."

Found

Company: Found

Recommended by: Lynne Chou O'Keefe, founder and managing partner, Define Ventures

Relationship to the company: Investor

What it is: A weight-loss program that combines prescription medicine with coaching and community support.

Why it's hot: There's a big market for products dealing with chronic conditions, and while other weight loss programs focus on diet and exercise, Found also addresses biological factors such as genetics, hormones, metabolism, gut health emotional health, sleep and environment, O'Keefe said.

Madhappy

Company: Madhappy

Recommended by: Charlotte Ross, principal, Inspired Capital

Relationship to the company: None

What it is: Streetwear that tries to foster dialogue about mental health online and in stores.

Why it's hot: Madhappy's focus on transparency and mental health awareness speaks to Gen Z consumers who want to buy things that align with their values, Ross said. "Madhappy is the Supreme for Gen Z — but unlike Supreme, it stands for something powerful that resonates with the generation," said Ross.

Maude

Company: Maude

Recommended by: Nik Sharma, independent investor 

Relationship to the company: Investor

What it is: A maker of vibrators, condoms, lubricants and other sexual wellness products

Why it's hot: "We're all spending a lot more time at home, and Maude makes sexual wellness more fun. Sexual wellness as a category hasn't been disrupted in years," said Sharma. "It represents the evolution of DTC brands from those that look trendy, cool and pretty on Instagram to those that actually meet a functional need for people. It's catching on, growing 50% quarter-over-quarter."

Miyoko's Creamery

Company: Miyoko's Creamery

Recommended by: Ryan Morris, principal, Plus Capital 

Relationship to the company: Investor

What it is: A maker of dairy-free butter and cheese primarily using cashews. 

Why it's hot: Miyoko's encapsulates major trends of sustainability and the plant-based movement, and is well-positioned with its retail presence, strong founder and operator Miyoko Schinner, and backing from Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi, Morris said.

Mosaic Foods

Company: Mosaic Foods

Recommended by: Ellie Wheeler, partner, Greycroft

Relationship to the company: Investor

What it is: Maker of chef-created, frozen plant-based meals.

Why it's hot: "It's easy, healthy, no-fuss food for people getting tired of cooking three meals a day like young professionals, new moms, or empty nesters — and is eco-friendly to boot, reducing food waste," said Wheeler. "It makes hitting 2021 resolutions easy, and is at the forefront of bunch of quickly growing macro trends, from wellness and plant-based diets to convenience and becoming more eco-friendly."

Olive & June

Company: Olive & June

Recommended by: Brian Sugar, Sugar Capital

Relationship to the company: Investor

What it is: A maker of manicure and pedicure kits and tools

Why it's hot: "With so many people opting to stay home lately, at-home beauty treatments and tools are more popular than ever. Olive & June makes salon-quality manicures and pedicures accessible to anyone by offering kits that include everything you need to get the perfect nails — without having to leave your living room," said Sugar. "A manicure kit is sold every 2.5 minutes and a bottle of polish is sold every 10 seconds."

Parade

Company: Parade 

Recommended by: Caitlin Strandberg, principal, Lerer Hippeau Ventures

Relationship to the company: Investor

What it is: A Gen Z-targeted underwear brand that uses recycled yarns and compostable packaging.

Why it's hot: "The acceleration of e-commerce due to the pandemic has meant that even traditionally offline purchases like underwear have now moved online," said Strandberg. "Parade is primed to take advantage of this. It has sold over 700,000 pairs of underwear and generated $10 million in revenue since its launch roughly a year ago." 

Piccolina

Company: Piccolina 

Recommended by: Angela Lee, founder and CEO, 37Angels

Relationship to the company: Investor

What it is: A mission-driven kids' lifestyle brand dedicated to girls' empowerment.

Why it's hot: "Piccolina's products promote an empowered self-perception in early childhood and lay the foundation for lasting interests in a wide range of important topics, from astrophysics to civil rights," said Lee. "The company's commitment to social justice, equality and inclusion is reflected in its production with female-owned manufacturers and through its giveback programs with non-profits."

Prose

Company: Prose

Recommended by: Nicole Johnson, partner, Forerunner Ventures

Relationship to the company: Investor

What it is: A hair care company that makes products customized based on people's hair type, goals, and lifestyles.

Why it's hot: "The team has built a next-generation CPG supply chain company, re-engineering the personal care model to create hair care that's truly personalized, combining lab R&D, premium and natural ingredients, and proven results," Johnson said.

Rae Wellness

Company: Rae Wellness

Recommended by: Mike Duda, managing partner, Bullish

Relationship to the company: Investor

What it is: A nutrition and supplements brand geared toward women.

Why it's hot: "Go into any store, and walk the vitamins and supplements aisles for women — the legacy brands are tone-deaf to the end consumer," said Duda. "Rae has leveraged its founders' collective 20 year-long merchandising careers at Target to launch a value proposition built around women, not just focusing on vitamins but at the intersection of supplements, nutrition and beauty."

Smalls

Company: Smalls

Recommended by: Soraya Darabi, general partner, TMV

Relationship to the company: Investor

What it is: A maker of nutritious meals for cats

Why it's hot: "Pandemic spending data reads like a secret diary account of what Americans truly care about," said Darabi. "Many pet care companies are benefiting from millennial pet-parents delaying marriage and children while doubling down on their commitment to their pets. Smalls has a promising future."  

Company: Sugarbreak

Recommended by: Nisha Dua, general partner, BBG Ventures

Relationship to the company: Investor

What it is: Non-prescription products for blood sugar management that use natural ingredients

Why it's hot: Over 100 million Americans have diabetes or pre-diabetes, and COVID has highlighted their vulnerability. Sugarbreak is a proactive, preventative and affordable way for people to take control of their health on their own terms, Dua said.

The House of LR&C

Company: The House of LR&C

Recommended by: Tim Armstrong, founder and CEO, Flowcode/the dtx company

Relationship to the company: Tech partner 

What it is: A gender- and size-inclusive branded fashion house with two sub-brands, streetwear brand, Human Nation and men's lifestyle label Good Man Brand that promote themselves as using sustainable practices. 

Why it's hot: The House of LR&C, founded by Russell Wilson, Ciara, and former Lululemon CEO, Christine Day, is democratizing retail and redefining the fashion industry with a focus on inclusivity and technology, said Armstrong.

Uniform Teeth

Company: Uniform Teeth

Recommended by: Byron Ling, partner, Canaan

Relationship to the company: Investor

What it is: A technology-backed orthodontic care service

Why it's hot: Uniform Teeth is poised to benefit from rising demand in orthodontic care, with affordable clear aligners and checkup visits handled over the app, Ling said. 

Amazon is soaring during the pandemic, and not just from online shopping — as people stream more TV and music, Amazon's media business has also benefitted.

While Amazon's retail business makes up the bulk of its revenue, its revenue from its media operations, which spans Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Studios, Amazon Music, Fire TV, Amazon Advertising, and Twitch, is also growing.

Amazon reported $96 billion in third-quarter 2020 revenue; of that, its media business accounts for $5 billion in advertising and $6.5 billion in subscriptions, including Prime memberships that includes benefits like free shipping and video programming. While it still trails giants like Netflix, Amazon spent $7 billion on video and music content last year, showing it has ambitions to compete against Netflix, Hulu and others.

Amazon also recently bet big on podcasting with the acquisition of startup Wondery, a deal reportedly worth $300 million.

While Amazon's media revenue is significantly smaller than its core retail business, media has high margins that offset retail's slim margins, said Michael Levine, senior analyst at Pivotal Research Group. Amazon also uses its investments like original content and streaming music to prop up its other areas of interest including the consumer-facing hardware business that develops and creates smart devices like Amazon Fire-enabled TVs and digital assistant platform Alexa.

"Anything that they do in video or music isn't going to be large enough to offset the other part of the business," he said. "They have much higher aspirations of what they can do with video."

Amazon's entertainment ambitions for original content have become more clear with movies and TV shows like "Borat 2,""The Boys," and the worldwide rights to the upcoming film "Without Remorse" based on Tom Clancy's hit book.

Business Insider identified the 18 executives leading Amazon's media business. We relied on our reporting to create the list, which includes executives from across entertainment, media and advertising.

Below are the executives in alphabetical order by last name.

Lauren Anderson and Ryan Pirozzi, co-heads of content and programming, IMDB TV

Anderson and Pirozzi oversee the content strategy for Amazon's free, ad-supported streaming-video service, IMDB TV, where they're leading the push to make original content for the service that was formed in 2019 as Freedive, and license popular shows like "Mad Men" and "Schitt's Creek."

After an internal shakeup in February, Anderson and Pirozzi took over IMDB TV's content team, under the umbrella of Amazon Studios. IMDB TV VP Mark Earner runs the rest of the business, including the business, product, and development teams.

Anderson and Pirozzi are trying to craft a programming slate that's distinct from the originals on Amazon's subscription service Prime Video, known for shows like "The Boys" and "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel."

IMDB TV's first original, "Alex Rider," a teen-spy series based on Anthony Horowitz's young-adult novels, landed in November to solid critical and audience reception. And the platform has more originals in development, including a court show with Judge Judy Sheindlin, the series "High School"based on the memoir by musicians Tegan and Sara Quin, and a new take on the old TNT crime drama, "Leverage."

Anderson was the head of strategic content for Amazon Studios before IMDB TV. Prior to Amazon, she developed originals for Snap, as chief content officer of Indigo Development and Entertainment Arts, a joint-venture between NBCUniversal and Snap. She was also a programming executive at NBC Entertainment, and worked at the NBA.

Pirozzi was head of worldwide TV and film licensing for Prime Video before joining the IMDB TV team. He's been with Amazon for nine years. He was also an executive at Best Buy. He previously served five years in the US Air Force.

Chris Bodkin, head of US OTT and audio advertising, Amazon Advertising

Bodkin oversees Amazon's over-the-top, audio and emerging product ad business, and one of his biggest mandates is making sure people don't feel bombarded by ads when they're engaging with media on Amazon. 

Amazon makes most of its advertising revenue from search ads sold on its websites and apps but has pushed hard into connected TV advertising to rival Roku, Pluto TV, and Hulu. The e-commerce giant has also started selling some audio ads on Amazon Music that are part of Bodkin's purview.

Most recently, Bodkin has pushed marketers to shift traditional TV ad dollars to its streaming platform. As cord-cutting grows, Amazon claims that its audience is soaring and skews younger. In 2020, Amazon reported that 50 million people watch Fire TV every month.

A former NBCUniversal ad exec, he joined Amazon in 2014.

Steve Boom, VP, Amazon Music

Boom joined Amazon in 2012 and spearheads Amazon Music, Amazon's bet on streaming that competes with Spotify, Pandora, and Apple Music. He reports to Amazon's advertising boss Paul Kotas.

Amazon Music hit more than 55 million users in July 2020, inching in on Apple Music. Amazon Music has six price tiers, including one that's free to Prime members and an ad-supported version, and it's critical to expanding Amazon's hardware business because it's tightly integrated into Alexa, the digital assistant platform that powers Amazon devices.

Overseeing strategy, licensing, product development, marketing, industry relations and business development for Amazon Music, Boom has focused on expanding Amazon Music internationally to countries like Brazil over the past year. Amazon reports that Amazon Music's more than doubled its users in France, Italy, and Spain year-over-year in 2019. 

He is also chairman of the board of directors of charity MusicCares.

Boom reports to Paul Kotas, SVP of worldwide advertising at Amazon.

Albert Cheng and Vernon Sanders, co-heads of TV, Amazon Studios

Amazon Studios reached a new TV prominence recently with hits like "The Boys" and "Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan" and critically acclaimed shows like "Fleabag" and "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" under Cheng and Sanders, the top execs overseeing all of the studio's scripted and unscripted series.

The duo, who both report to Salke, are also developing a slew of projects, including "Citadel," a high-profile thriller set to star Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Richard Madden; a new "Jack Reacher" series; and the highly anticipated "The Lord of the Rings" show.

They're trying to distance Amazon's programming strategy from other streaming competitors by emphasizing quality over quantity, a move that mirrors premium networks like HBO. They've been looking for shows that help expand Prime Video's audience. 

Cheng, who's been with Amazon since 2015, also serves as the studio's chief operating officer, overseeing programming and scheduling, music for the studios' series and films, consumer research, and technology. He ran the studio for a stint, before Salke was brought on to replace ousted executive Roy Price.

Sanders was a longtime exec at NBC, where he worked alongside Salke before joining Amazon Studios in 2018. He was the network's executive vice president of current programming for seven years, among other roles within NBCUniversal, working on shows including "This Is Us,""The Good Place,""30 Rock," and "The Office." 

Sara Clemens, COO, Twitch

Twitch has benefitted from the surge in livestreaming during the pandemic, with hours watched jumping 50% between March and April 2020 and 101% in April year-over-year.

Clemens is behind Twitch's work to expand into new areas like sports and music while focusing on its core gamers. Her music team builds relationships with musicians as names like Diplo and Charlie Puth stream from their channels while the pandemic puts touring on hold.

Sports is another big growth area. Twitch relaunched its Twitch sports channel this year and is signing deals with sports organizations like Spanish soccer league La Liga to broadcast games. Through Amazon's partnership with the National Football League, Twitch will stream 11 "Thursday Night Football" games this year.

Most recently, Clemens has dealt with concerns about hate speech on Twitch.

Before joining Twitch in early 2018, Clemens was Pandora's chief operating officer and held top corporate jobs at Microsoft and LinkedIn. She is on the boards of Karat, Hootsuite, and Duolingo.

Marie Donoghue, VP, global sports video

Amazon has ambitions to gobble up live sports content, but with an eye toward Prime members.

Donoghue, who leads Amazon's efforts to acquire live and on-demand sports rights and distribution deals, is looking for sports content that complements Amazon Prime's programming. While Amazon has made a push to bid on some competitive sports like the rights to the digital broadcasts of the NFL's "Thursday Night Football" games, it has passed on bidding for other digital rights like the PGA Tour.

"We are not a one-size-fits-all when it comes to sports," Donoghue told Sports Business Journal in February 2020. "Amazon Prime is a membership service. Prime Video is one benefit you get for being a member. My job is to figure out how to use live sports to enhance that membership."

In the case of the NFL, Amazon splits the rights of "Thursday Night Football" games with Fox and the NFL Network, giving Amazon a way to reach an audience that isn't watching traditional TV.

Donaghue is a former ESPN exec who spent nearly two decades at the sports publisher. At ESPN, she oversaw then-digital verticals Grantland and FiveThirtyEight. She also played a key role in ESPN films, including the "30 For 30" and "O.J.: Made in America" documentaries.

Latasha Gillespie, executive head of diversity, equity, and inclusion, Amazon Studios

Gillespie launched and leads the team within Amazon Studios that's charged with improving diversity and inclusion across its footprint, including its content and creative community.

Gillespie has been in her role since 2018. She championed, among other efforts, a program with Howard University that aims to train African-American students and other underrepresented groups to enter the entertainment industry.

Gillespie isn't a traditional media exec. Before Amazon Studios, she led the global diversity and inclusion group at Amazon corporate. There, she spearheaded a conference that brought together academics, activists, and researchers for conversations on race and ethnicity.

Before Amazon, she spent 20 years in finance and human resources roles at Caterpillar. She was also the company's diversity chief for a time before heading up HR for its Africa, Middle East, CIS, Russia, and Asia-Pacific regions.

Mike Hopkins, SVP of Prime Video and Amazon Studios

Hopkins joined Amazon in February after running Sony Pictures Television and Hulu, where he helped the subscription-streaming service find its content lane, landing its first hit series with "The Handmaid's Tale." He also oversaw TV distribution at Fox prior to Hulu.

At Amazon, where he reports to CEO Jeff Bezos, Hopkins is focusing on growing the video business internationally. In September, he said he's seeking to have more than a dozen originals each in 15 markets including India in the next year or so. 

He also wants to make Prime Video easier to navigate. A Prime Video subscription includes original and licensed content like Netflix and other rivals, but users in some markets can also add on subscriptions to other services like Showtime or Starz, or rent and buy movies and TV shows for additional costs.

"We have probably the most complicated business model of the SVOD players, so that makes the customer experience more important for us," he said at an event, reported IndiaTelevision.com.

Walker Jacobs, CRO, Twitch

Jacobs is at the center of Twitch's plans to make money from video streaming.

A former media sales executive at companies like Thompson Reuters, WarnerMedia, and Fandom, he joined Twitch in 2018 and has poached agency and media talent including Sarah Iooss, head of North American sales, and Sarah Baehr, head of agency development and former Horizon Media executive to help sell marketers on Twitch.

Marketers have been cautious about running ads alongside gaming content for brand-safety concerns and fear of annoying users, and Walker is tasked with helping brands like Wendy's and Hershey's spend more on the platform.

"Twitch is complicated, and there's a lot of nuance to Twitch, so we have a tremendous responsibility to education and investing in it, spending time with agencies and helping them understand the capabilities and possibilities of what they can do, and really helping creatives unlock their ideas on Twitch,"Walker told Fast Company last year.

Twitch is increasingly getting roped into Amazon's advertising ambitions after years of running independently. Amazon Advertising recently started pitching Twitch's ad inventory to advertisers. A pitch deck sent to ad buyers shows Twitch had 159 million monthly and 26.6 million daily unique visitors in the second quarter of 2020.

Matt Newman and Julie Rapaport, co-heads of movies, Amazon Studios

Newman and Rapaport oversee Amazon Studio's original film output, from genre films to tentpoles like "Borat Subsequent Moviefilm," which made a splash last fall, getting what Amazon said were "tens of millions of viewers" on opening weekend.

Rapaport, who has been in the role since 2018, is charged with developing and acquiring movies with broader commercial appeal, as well as finding projects from distinct filmmakers.

She brought in recent films like Regina King's feature-film directorial debut, "One Night in Miami," the Lili Reinhart-starring teen romance "Chemical Hearts," and "Beautiful Boy" with Steve Carell and Timothée Chalamet.

Newman, meanwhile, has driven Amazon to bring more films directly to streaming on Prime Video, or to the service after short runs in theaters. The "Borat" sequel, for instance, went straight to streaming as many theaters were closed in the US.

Newman oversaw international distribution at Amazon Studios in an earlier role. He's been with the company since 2012, previously as head of UK film for Prime Video and before that in Amazon's marketplace business. Newman worked at Disney's venture-capital arm, Steamboat Ventures, before Amazon.

Rapaport joined Amazon in 2015 from The Weinstein Company. She started her career at the William Morris Agency.

Newman and Rapaport both report to Salke.

Ukonwa Ojo, CMO, Prime Video and Amazon Studios

Marketing vet Ojo joined Amazon as CMO for Amazon's entertainment division in September 2020, where her goal is to build awareness around Prime Video. She reports to SVP of Prime Video and Amazon Studios Mike Hopkins. 

Ojo was Hopkins' first big hire since he joined Amazon in March 2020.

Ojo previously had global CMO stints at MAC Cosmetics and Coty and marketing roles at Unilever and General Mills. At MAC Cosmetics, she worked on features like an augmented reality tool that lets people virtually try on makeup and a video chat tool.

Ryan Redington, VP of music industry, Amazon Music

Redington is a long-time Amazon employee who has worked in movie and music roles at the e-commerce giant since 2009 and helped lauch Amazon Music's first two streaming tiers: Prime Music and Amazon Music Unlimited.

He is responsible for Amazon Music's label relations, programming, artist marketing and editorial — playing a key role in building relationships to help Amazon win over the music industry. Redington led a deal with Garth Brooks to bring the country music star's music catalog exclusively to Amazon's streaming platform and also helped broker Ariana Grande's performance at Amazon's Prime Day live concert in 2018.

Amazon Music plans to increase its staff and marketing to increase awareness about its streaming platform.

"We're still very much in the early days of streaming and we're really bullish around the opportunities that are in front of us," Redington told Music Week earlier last year. "We have a lot of plans to continue to invest, not only in Amazon Music but the country genre, you'll see us adding more dollars from a marketing perspective, more headcount to the team, thinking about storytelling, editorial and how we add more value to our listeners."

Redington's reports include Kirdis Postelle, global head of artist marketing, and Raymond Leon Roker, global head of editorial. 

Jennifer Salke, head of Amazon Studios

Amazon hired the former NBC Entertainment president in 2018 to help turn the studio into a serious player in Hollywood. Despite early success with shows like "Transparent," Amazon Studios had fallen behind rivals like Netflix, and was reeling at the time from the ousting of former boss Roy Price.

Salke has since helped position Amazon Studios as a home for top creatives and diverse voices, signing production deals with A-listers including Nicole Kidman, Jordan Peele, and Barry Jenkins. 

Peele told Elle magazine that Salke was a "big part" of his decision to sign with Amazon: "With Jen, it seems like she's secure and confident. That's very reassuring, because ego and fear lead to bad decisions."

Salke has also nurtured shows that were brought in before her tenure, like the Emmy-winning "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" and the hit comic-book adaptation, "The Boys." 

Amazon Studios scored a big win recently with the release of "Borat Subsequent Moviefilm," the studio's first tentpole original film, which it said was streamed by"tens of million of customers," during its debut weekend in October.

Salke was president of NBC Entertainment for seven years before Amazon. She was also an executive at Twentieth Century Fox and started her entertainment career at Aaron Spelling Productions in the 1990s.

Soumya Sriraman, head of Prime Video Channels US

Sriraman heads up the Prime Video Channels division in the US, where she's responsible for the side of the video-entertainment business that offers subscription channels to other video services, like HBO, Showtime, and CBS All Access in the US, turning Prime Video into a hub for some popular offerings.

Sriraman is one of Amazon's newer leaders, having joined the company after exiting BritBox in late October.

Sriraman helped launch the joint venture by British TV giants BBC Studios and ITV, as its president and CEO for the US and Canada, and helped grow it to 1.5 million subscribers in three years.

Before BritBox, Sriraman was an executive at BBC Studios, where she was executive vice president of franchises and digital enterprises, helping to grow brands like "Doctor Who" and BBC Earth. She also ran independent film company Palisades Tartan earlier in her career.

Marc Whitten, VP, entertainment devices and services

Whitten oversees Amazon's Fire TV business and is leading its foray into cloud gaming with the streaming service Luna. 

Fire TV, Amazon's streaming-media platform, claims 50 million monthly active users and has become a key distributor for media companies as they shift focus to streaming and connected TVs.

EMarketer estimated in May that Fire TV was the US's second-largest connected-TV platform in 2020, based on users. Whitten has also been growing Fire TV's international footprint; his team introduced the version of the streaming stick that's available in countries around the world.

The former Microsoft Xbox exec is also responsible for launching Amazon's game streaming service, Luna, which is offering early access to some users; and its dedicated game controller that's supposed to cut down on streaming latency.

Whitten told Protocol that he wants to differentiate Luna from other cloud-gaming services like Google's Stadia by getting game publishers like Ubisoft to add their own subscriptions to the platform. It's similar to the way Prime Video offers subscriptions to other video services like Showtime and Starz for additional monthly fees.

Whitten joined Amazon in 2016 from Microsoft, where he was most recently product chief for the Xbox team. At Amazon, Whitten also oversees the team behind the Amazon Appstore.

• As the pandemic continues, many people are still turning to online experiences for socializing.
• Wineries, winemakers, and wine connoisseurs are bringing the vineyards and tasting rooms straight to homes with virtual wine tastings.
• Many of the virtual tastings are free to join, and some ship wine right to your door as part of the package.
• Read more: 21 signature cocktail recipes from hotel bars around the world — plus the tools and spirits you'll need to make them
• Sign up for Insider Reviews' weekly newsletter for more buying advice and great deals.

With an uptick in COVID-19 cases happening in several states right now, and a potentially more transmissible strain being detected in the US, many people still aren't comfortable or allowed to travel to vineyards or sit inside tasting rooms. But that doesn't mean you can't virtually gather with family, friends, or coworkers and enjoy uncorking a favorite bottle of wine.

While in-person tasting rooms may not be an option for everyone right now, many places are bringing tastings, classes, and events directly to living rooms instead. 

Virtual wine tastings are a fun way to connect, learn something new, and discover new wines. It's also an ideal way to take your tastebuds on a mini-vacation without putting on real pants. Sip a fruity Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand or relish a Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley — you might even get some inspiration for your next post-COVID trip.

Many of the tastings are free to join, and some will send wine directly to your door as part of the package. For those that require buying your own bottles, it's easier than ever to order wines directly from vineyards or from a local alcohol delivery service. Some are even getting celebrities like Sarah Jessica Parker to join in on the fun and host the virtual events.    

I tried a virtual wine tasting myself on Coursehorse myself. I'm no stranger to in-person tastings thanks to my background as a travel editor, and I remember the days of drinking Chianti in Tuscany, throwing back cava in Catalonia, and sipping Chardonnay in Sonoma. I was hesitant at first about doing a virtual class since wine tastings are such sensorial experiences. A huge part of the fun for me has always been looking out at a stunning vineyard view, chatting with whoever is pouring the wine, and sometimes even getting a chance to tour the cellars and learn about the winemaking process. 

Enjoy more great virtual experiences:

• Hotels and Airbnbs around the world are currently offering virtual classes in lieu of their usual on-site activities and events — almost all of them are free
• Airbnb is now offering online experiences via Zoom video calls. I tried 2 of them and would readily sign up for more — here's why
• The best travel movies to stream right now, from classics like 'Roman Holiday' to animations like 'Moana'

However, when a couple of friends from college I haven't been able to see in person for months suggested taking a Wine Tasting 101 class, it sounded like a fun way to reconnect with them. Plus, I was also eager to take a break from my usual quarantine activities of bread baking and puzzles to try something new.

We ordered our wines on Drizly and joined the class via Zoom. While the particular class we did was geared towards beginners, I still picked up quite a bit of new wine knowledge. My fiancé, who's typically more of a craft brew guy than a gentleman of fine wines, also enjoyed the introductory level and the interactive aspect to the class since he was able to ask questions as we went. 

We opted for a group class so we didn't know who was joining in. If you really want the experience of having it just be your group, I suggest booking a private tasting, which many of the below options offer. We chose to connect more privately after instead, hopping on our own Zoom call over the last glass of our favorite wine from the class to discuss the tidbits we'd picked up.

Despite my initial misgivings, it ended up making for a fun evening and I discovered a new favorite Sauvignon Blanc I'll definitely be drinking again in the future. In fact, I had so much fun I ended up signing up for a second virtual tasting via Bouchaine wineries with my family.     

Here are 23 virtual wine tastings to try at home:

Wine Tasting: Sensory Techniques for Wine Analysis on Coursera

For those who want to seriously up their wine tasting skills while quarantining, Coursera offers a free class from UC Davis to turn beginner sippers into pro sommeliers. The class takes roughly 14 hours to complete. Throughout the class, students build sensory vocabulary to describe wine, learn to identify various faults in different varietals, discover classic wine types of the world, delve into food pairings, and more. The course culminates in a peer review project using all the knowledge developed throughout the course to assess a specific wine.

Starting price: Free

Wine included? No. Students will need to purchase the necessary wines on their own. Coursera anticipates that the total cost of the wines through the class is $150 to $250. 

How to join: Sign up on Coursera here.

Charles Krug

The oldest Napa Valley winery, Charles Krug has been making wine for almost 160 years. Currently, they offer multiple options for sipping from the comfort of your own home. Beginners can try three customized bottles while learning about the family's history, while foodies can pair current release Charles Krug wines with curated charcuterie. For those who already have Charles Krug wines at home, you can also have an expert lead you through a tasting of what's in your cellar.

The winery has also partnered with The Laugh Cellar for a virtual comedy series. Tickets are $99 and include two bottles of wine and access to the wine tasting and comedy virtual event.

Starting price: Tastings can be customized and range from $85 to $250 depending on the wines. 

Wine included? Yes.

How to join: Book a virtual tasting by contacting the winery at 888-SIP-KRUG or membership@cmondavi.com.

Enriquez Estate Wines

Owned by award-winning Latina winemaker Cecilia Enriquez, Enriquez Estate Wines is a family-operated winery in Sonoma, California. With the holidays quickly approaching, the winery realizes that spending time with family may be virtual for many this year and they're aiming to help make that time special still.

Enriquez Estate Wines' Virtual Holiday Party Pack is an excellent way to virtually celebrate and safely reconnect with family, friends, or colleagues this season. Cecilia will lead a private guided virtual tasting experience as tasters enjoy a two-pack of premium Brisa and Tempranillo wines and a Cheese & Charcuterie Nosh Box. 

Starting price: $125 plus shipping

Wine included? Yes. 

How to join: To book the virtual tasting, contact meredith@enriquezwines.com.

Wine.com

The popular wine website is tapping winemakers, wine critics, and other pros for a series of free virtual wine and spirit tastings. Join Invivo X creators Sarah Jessica Parker, Rob Cameron, and Tim Lightbourne for a tasting of their inaugural New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc and Provencal Rosé, or get to know the trailblazers of the Oregon wine scene as they share stories about winemaking, artistry, and entrepreneurship.  

Starting price: Free

Wine included? No. Each event includes specific wines or spirits that go along with the tastings that can be purchased directly from Wine.com when signing up.

How to join: Register for virtual tastings here. A Zoom link is sent out ahead of time.

Virtual Wine Tasting 101 on Coursehorse

Virtual Wine Tasting 101 is ideal for beginner tasters interested in learning basic wine terms, how to properly taste wine, and trying different varieties to decide what wines most appeal to your palette. The two-hour, interactive class begins with a brief introduction to how wine is made and teaches wine newbies to speak confidently about acidity, legs, body, and more fundamentals through five different wines. It can be booked as part of a regular group lesson or as a private event.

Starting price: $25 per person

Wine included? No. Participants will need to buy the specific wines themselves ahead of time, but all of the wines are easily accessible at most wine shops and through alcohol delivery services.

How to join: Sign up on Coursehorse here. A Zoom link and PowerPoint will be emailed out just before the tasting begins.

Virtual with Us

Alex Schrecengost recently launched Virtual with Us when she saw a need during the pandemic for colleagues to connect safely and remotely in a way that still cultivated a fun, business-casual social environment. While it was originally created with businesses in mind, groups of eight or more friends and family can sign up for virtual tastings, too. 

The company works with sommeliers and wine professionals to curate top wines and has helped put together special events for groups ranging from a murder mystery party to a gala fundraiser.  

Starting price: $200 per person

Wine included? Yes. While this tasting is pricier than some other options on our list, it includes premium wines, sommelier fees, event planning fees, and all shipping/taxes.     

How to join: Sign up here.

Bottles Nation

Started by sommelier Michael Bottigliero, Bottles Nation has transitioned their usual in-person tasting events to online offerings due to COVID-19. Bottles Nation is not associated with any specific wineries so the sommeliers don't push specific brands and instead focus on sharing their true favorite bottles.

The company runs tastings for individuals, as well as accommodating events and parties and multiple people can join in from up to six different locations for the same starting flat fee. 

For those in the mood for something other than wine, Bottles Nation also has beer and mixology tasting options. 

Starting price: $150 for one hour 

Wine included? No. You can purchase wines yourself or order directly from Bottles Nation when you sign up.

How to join: Sign up on Bottles Nation here. After signing up, they will contact you directly to set up a time for a Zoom call.

Chandon

For wine drinkers interested in joining a wine club and participating in ongoing tastings of bubbly, Club Chandon was the first Napa Valley wine club and has been sharing bottles for decades.

Chandon's wine club allows members to explore Chandon's wine collection, get discounted, prices, and gain access to virtual tastings led by head winemaker Pauline Lhote. While the winery is known for its sparkling wines, there are options to join the Sparkling Wine Club or the Sparkling & Still Wine Club. Both options are shipped six times a year and are fully customizable. 

For those who just want to explore, previous tastings are available online here and the Virtual Tasting I wines that go with it can be purchased here. 

Starting price: ~$130 per shipment

Wine included? Yes. 

How to join: Virtual tastings have been confirmed for August, October, and December. Sign up for the Chandon newsletters to be notified for the next virtual tasting here.

Corkbuzz

Corkbuzz is offering a series of virtual one-hour wine classes taught by varying experts and broken down by region. Taste your way through Napa Valley or learn the basics of Burgundy. Classes discuss everything from the geography and soil to the winemaking techniques and popular varietals of each specific region. The classes are fairly informal and participants are encouraged to sip along with any theme-relevant bottle.

Starting price: $10 per person 

Wine included? No. You can buy any wine from that region to enjoy while following along.

How to join: Sign up on Corkbuzz here. Zoom links are sent the morning of the class and follow-up notes are sent the next day.

Bouchaine Vineyards

A personal favorite winery in Napa, Bouchaine is offering customized 50-minute virtual tastings to bring California wine country right to your couch. Select from three different options depending on your knowledge and experience: Winemaker 101, 201, or 301.

Predictably, 101 is best for casual wine sippers who want to learn basics like how wine gets its color and how the same grapes can be made into completely different wines. Meanwhile, Winemaker 301 focuses on clones (different grape vines that are grafted together) and delves into topics like differences in aroma and flavor in Pinot Noir clones. Every class is with a live host overlooking the stunning estate vineyards. Once you purchase your wines, you'll be able to set up a private time that works with your schedule for the wine tasting.   

Starting price: $59

Wine included? Yes. Classes include two, three, or four wines from the vineyard depending on the level and are shipped directly to your door. 

How to join: Select your experience here. Once you've purchased, you can schedule a private tasting session via phone or email.

Matthiason

You definitely want a taste of Matthiason, a six-time James Beard Award nominee and Winemaker of the Year according to "Food & Wine Magazine." Luckily for wine enthusiasts everywhere, the winemaker is offering complimentary private tastings online to everyone who purchases a Tasting Pack or a Wine Club Membership.

Get an inside look at the stories behind the wines and all your wine questions answered. If you do decide to join the wine club, you'll also enjoy priority access to member-only and limited production wines, as well as 15% savings on all wine purchases.  

Starting price: Free with purchase of a Tasting Pack or Wine Club Membership. Tasting Packs start at $249 for 6 bottles. Wine Club Membership starts at $315 for 6 bottles. 

Wine included? Wine must be purchased to participate in a tasting.

How to join: After purchasing, reserve your spot in a private tasting via Zoom here.

Stony Hill Vineyard

Stony Hill Vineyard features three different virtual experiences. Sign up for a virtual Zoom tasting, join a Stony Hill Social Hour on Instagram Live, or take it to the next level and enjoy  Club Member-Exclusive virtual meetups after becoming a member.

To enjoy a 45-minute Zoom tasting, purchase a Virtual Tasting Pack to be delivered to your door, then sign up for a time slot that works for you online. An employee will guide you through each of the wines and give an update of what's happening at the ranch. If you want the tasting to be a private event for just you and friends, call ahead of time to arrange it.    

Starting price: Virtual Tasting Packs start at $124. Tune in to Social Hour on Instagram for free.

Wine included? Yes. You must buy the wines first to sign up for a virtual tasting.

How to join: Purchase a tasting pack and sign up for a time slot online here. Follow Stony Hill on Instagram to watch the Lives.

Wine Dine Caroline

These fun and free tastings are hosted by Caroline, a British-American sommelier living in France. She typically hosts small group wine workshops in her gorgeous loft apartment in Lyon's Croix-Rousse, but has moved her tasting experiences online. Join others from around the world for a free virtual happy hour via Zoom. If you'd like something a little more structured, you can also sign up for a private wine tasting either for yourself or a group. 

Starting price: Free to join the virtual happy hour. Private tastings start at €150, or around $164.

Wine included? No. Buy whatever wine suits you ahead of time and email the host what you'll be drinking so she can answer any questions you might have about it.

How to join: Sign up for a free virtual happy hour or private tasting experience here.

The United Sommeliers Foundation

The United Sommeliers Foundation has teamed up with Benchmark Wine Group for weekly virtual wine tastings. Every Thursday, wine lovers are invited to take part in exclusive virtual tastings guided by celebrity sommeliers. Participants can buy bottles from Benchmark for the event, or just crack open a bottle of whatever is handy. If you want to support the foundation, you can donate to participate on-screen and ask questions throughout. Alternatively, you can register and watch without participating for free.   

Starting price: Free to register and watch. A $50 minimum donation to The United Sommeliers Foundation is required to participate on-screen.

Wine included? No. It's BYOB.

How to join: Register for free or donate to participate here.

Acker Wines

Join America's oldest wine shop for your next virtual cheers. Every Wednesday Acker Wines offers virtual vintage tastings and every Friday is lunch in the vineyards, both via Zoom. Both events have a different expert host each week, from distributors to acclaimed columnists. Participants can see which wines will be featured before signing up and order them online.  

Starting price: Free to register.

Wine included? No. Attendees can see which wines will be featured to order them ahead of time.

How to join: Register for virtual tastings and lunch in the vineyards online here.

The Supper Share

The Supper Share was created in March 2020 specifically to help sommeliers, chefs, and restaurant professionals find new opportunities to share their expertise and talent while many people continue to shelter in place due to the novel coronavirus. Fill out a simple form, choose a wine theme, and they take care of the rest. Within 48 hours, they'll connect you with a sommelier, provide a retail link to order your wines, send a custom invite for everyone in the group to use to connect virtually. You can also set up customized virtual dinner parties, cocktail classes, and more.

Starting price: Packages start at $75 per person. 

Wine included? Yes. Participants will receive a link to order wines after signing up. The package price includes the cost of two to three wines.

How to join: Fill out a simple form with your date, party size, price range, and other details here.

Willamette Valley Wine

Willamette Valley Wine regularly adds and curates new virtual wine tastings, happy hours, and events with vineyards and winemakers across the region. Every tasting is a little different, but past events have ranged from blind tastings of Pinot noirs to a chardonnay tasting that included a mini cooking lesson.     

Starting price: Free

Wine included? No. Buy wines from the specific winery or sip along with whatever you have on your bar cart. 

How to join: Depends on the event. Many are held on the vineyards' individual Facebook pages or via Instagram live. You can see all the upcoming events and how to join here.

Ponzi Vineyards

Book a Guided Virtual Group Tasting at Ponzi Vineyards and virtually connect with friends, family, or work colleagues over a bottle. After placing an order, a Ponzi team member will gather each participant's delivery address and send a package to each person. Packages can be entirely and you can even get custom Ponzi wine glasses included.

Each experience is led by an experienced Ponzi Wine Ambassador who will walk your group through the wines.

Starting price: $200 for four people

Wine included? Yes. Bottles are sent directly to every participant. 

How to join: Sign up here.

Chateau Montelena

Chateau Montelena is hosting virtual holiday celebrations for gatherings of family, friends, or even corporate groups who want to connect this holiday season. The winery will offer a variety of completely customizable, fun, and educational experiences that can be customized to any group's preferences.

Options range from a standard wine tasting package that can be tailored to group size and budget to enhanced virtual experiences with culinary pairings and cooking tutorials.

Starting price: Free for the tasting, wines starting from $35.

Wine included? Yes. Choose from a range of different bottles and package options that can be delivered for tailored tastings. Single bottles start at $35 and curated collections start from $135.

How to join: Explore curated collections here and see a menu of special holiday options with food partners here. When you're ready to book a virtual tasting experience call 1-800-222-7288.

Kosherwine.com

Kosherwine.com has teamed up with the Israeli Wine Producers Association for a weekly virtual wine series. Novices and oenophiles alike can enjoy the free live-streamed events now through July 5. Each event focuses on a different Israeli wine producer whose notable products are widely distributed across the US and beyond.

Participants are encouraged to submit questions for the expert prior to these sessions, and one lucky winner will receive a free bottle of wine and a VIP winery tour for each live event.

Starting price: Free to live stream

Wine included? No. Viewers can purchase Sampler Sets from each winery at a discounted price to taste along with the experts or enjoy afterward. 

How to join: Visit Kosherwine.com/experiences for a full schedule, to register, and to catch up on past episodes.

Kendall-Jackson

Kendall-Jackson recently launched a new series called At Home with Kendall-Jackson, a virtual cooking series featuring weekly hands-on demonstrations hosted by the winery's culinary team on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. ET. Viewers can learn firsthand how to cook wine country fare and how to wine pair from the comfort of their homes.

Starting price: Free to join on Zoom

Wine included? No. BYOB your favorite Kendall-Jackson wine or whatever you have handy.

How to join: Wine lovers can join this link for the Zoom Webinar with password KJCULINARY.

A la Francaise Champagne

Champagne lovers can enjoy learning about the iconic bubbles from the source. Discover the Champagne region in France via a virtual experience with A la Francaise Champagne.

Guests can join a one-hour virtual Zoom tour with a local expert and pop their open bottle of Champagne to enjoy during the experience. The tour is available to join every day of the week at four different times to best accommodate a range of time zones. 

For a more intimate and immersive experience, you can also arrange for a private tour with Champagne sent to your doorstep ahead of time. 

Starting price: ~$17.50 (€15) for the standard tour; ~$116 (€100) for a private tour 

Wine included? No, but it can be arranged for private tours. 

How to join: Sign up for a virtual Zoom tour here.

Far Niente Family of Wineries and Vineyards

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Few active managers have the chops to match Aram Green when it comes to growth investing. 

At ClearBridge Investments, Green manages the Select Strategy fund and comanages its small-cap growth, midcap growth, and aggressive growth strategies.

Over the past five years, his Select Strategy fund has outperformed 96% of its competitors.

Business Insider recently spoke with Green about which positions he was adding to in the fund. He shared with us six stocks that he believed had strong secular growth prospects over the next decade, some of which have cyclical tailwinds behind them as the economy recovers.

"I think these companies are five- to 10-year winners dominating their space. Profitability is going to grow through the roof for these businesses," he said in a December 23 interview.

"They did not take their foot off the accelerator — maybe pumped the brakes in March when the world was coming to an end, when no one really knew what was going on — in investing in R&D in Q2 and hiring sales and marketing people," he added. "And that original sort of 'we don't know what the world looks like' quickly turned into opportunity for us."

The six stocks are listed below, with Green's commentary on each.

SEE ALSO: Wall Street experts are calling Georgia's runoff results 'the first surprise of 2021.' Here's how 4 of them recommend positioning your portfolio for what could happen next.

1. DocuSign

Ticker: DOCU

Green's commentary: "We haven't sold a single share of DocuSign. Actually we bought more this fall. And the earnings and the sales revisions have gotten ratcheted higher, and the stock has gone up, but the multiple really hasn't changed. So we haven't seen much multiple inflation, even though the numbers have gone higher. The stock has just kept up with the growth. And I think that's what you see next year.

"The stock has seen big revisions in terms of the underlying revenue and billings trajectory — that was a company that was growing 30% heading into COVID, and now revenue billings growth is in the 50 to 60% year over year. 

"And one of the promises of DocuSign is they have an expansion opportunity within their addressable market, almost double the size, by expanding just beyond their core e-signature offering to offer a contract life-cycle-management solution, which has integrated artificial intelligence and machine learning, to have business insights and manage the entire life cycle of a contract as it sits within an enterprise or government agency."

2. WillScot Mobile Mini

Ticker: WSC

Green's commentary:"They're the No. 1 share player with 30% share.

"In the past you'd have a very competitive landscape where there were a number of private price aggressors in the market, and WillScot has consolidated that market. And so we're coming into a very rational market at a time that we're going to see volumes improving. So it's a really attractive asset. 

"They buy these modular facilities and containers in portable storage. They have a useful life of 20 years, the [internal rates of return] are 20 to 30% per year. They're selling more value-add offerings inside, which sounds pretty simple, but they're putting refrigerators in there, shelving, and lighting — all stuff that a customer would need to put in there. So that adds an extra 5 points of IRR on their investment.

"You have a cyclical tailwind to the business as there's an economic reopening, more construction. Any infrastructure bill we see, etc., is going to give a boost to the underlying growth trends in the industry. So I think you have a lot of idiosyncratic things going on within this industry and this company, and then you add on the cyclical element too. We think there's considerable upside.

"We think it could be a double over the next couple of years."

3. Lowe's

Ticker: LOW

Green's commentary: "The stock has done well, but it's not been due to multiple expansion, it's been the earnings coming through.

"We see a business that EPS can compound in midteens plus the next couple years. Margins were 9% last year; we see them going to 12% plus as they comp at higher rates. They're bringing the COVID costs down. They're reaping the benefits of the supply chain costs. They've invested in their digital effort. They've invested behind pro. And you have a business trading at 17 times earnings, which is below the market, and Home Depot that trades at low 20s — 21 times, 22 times. So I think you could have a multiple catch-up that's coming through the fundamentals as management gains more credibility.

"There were all these headwinds that turned into tailwinds. ... We've seen the numbers on home sales, and I think that has legs going into 2021 as we see all of these people that just bought new homes and continue to buy homes as we speak, they're going to be putting more money into their homes."

4. Vroom

Ticker: VRM

Green's commentary:"It's a really hot used-car market right now, but that is a market that — call it a $650 billion market where the largest player nationally is CarMax with less than 2% market share. And in the digital space, we are less than 1% penetrated, and so we just think we're in really early days of customers buying their car digitally.

"And that is going to continue for many, many years in an industry that is very fragmented, where the current user experience of going onto a used-car lot and buying a car is very low — very low hurdle to jump over.

"Carvana owns all their reconditioning centers. They own all their carriers that distribute cars to their customers' homes, and Vroom has taken a more hybrid approach of like, 'We're going to own some of it, but we're also going to leverage players in the industry like a manhunt to do the reconditioning for us.'

"The CEO of Vroom is the former CEO of Priceline … I think he really understands the customer-acquisition element of it and managing a marketplace."

5. Wix

Ticker: WIX

Green's commentary:"They have been very innovative. It's been pretty much an entirely organic growth story starting in do-it-yourself website-development tools.

"They've really invested in payments, e-commerce, vertical solutions for restaurants, hotels, etc.

"You have all these avenues of additional growth that weren't around three years ago.

"The importance of having a very powerful digital experience to connect with the customers or users, as well as conduct commerce online, is just critical. How can you have a business without that these days? And I don't think that's just a COVID thing. It was in place ahead of COVID, but we just saw this acceleration.

"And they've been leaning into development, and they've been leaning into customer acquisition. ... And I just think that pays dividends in the years ahead."

6. Yext

Ticker: YEXT

Green's commentary: "What Yext does is it's a massive database that empowers businesses to manage that information and then disseminate it out to Yelp, Facebook, Apple, Google, Siri, Alexa, etc. So it's kind of this content engine that allows these businesses to manage this information about who they are, what's conducted at these businesses. 

"The stock's really not gone anywhere in many, many years; it trades at a low multiple. They started to get going pre-COVID. The stock got clobbered again in COVID. They've got a lot of innovation, so I'm very optimistic that it's only a matter of time before this clicks, or someone like a Salesforce, Adobe — someone will want to own this asset, and it's trading at half to a quarter of valuation of acquisitions we've seen take place in the software space. So I just don't see a lot of downside. It's minimal downside, with the opportunity to have a double over the next three years."

• The best dewormer for your cat depends on the type of intestinal parasite they have, whether it's roundworms, tapeworms, or hookworms — something that must be confirmed by a veterinarian.
• A monthly intestinal parasite preventive is recommended for all cats and is available in both topical and pill form.
• Bayer Drontal Broad Spectrum Dewormer is the best broad-spectrum cat dewormer on the market and is recommended by veterinarians for being both safe and effective.
• The best topical parasite preventive is Revolution Plus Topical Solution for Cats, which kills many parasites, including hookworms, roundworms, heartworms, fleas, and mites.
• This article was medically reviewed by Dr. Karie Johnson, veterinarian and co-founder of VIP Vet Visit, a mobile vet service in the south suburbs of Chicago.

Intestinal parasites, commonly referred to as worms, hide inside your cat, silently causing harm. Common intestinal parasites in cats include roundworms, tapeworms, and hookworms. Some, like roundworms and hookworms, can also infect humans.

If your cat has worms, you want to get rid of them fast and prevent them from ever coming back. Deworming medications kill the parasites your cat already has. Parasite preventives stop future infections from taking root so you never have to deal with worms again. But with so many products available, it can be difficult to choose a treatment for your cat.

My knowledge about intestinal parasites and their treatment and prevention is informed by my 20-year career writing and editing for pet and veterinary publications. I also worked as an assistant in veterinary hospitals for eight years, where one of my jobs was conducting fecal tests to look for the presence of worms. Different drugs kill different worms, so you must always visit your veterinarian for a fecal test before giving your cat a dewormer.

For this guide, I selected products based on safety, efficacy, the number of parasites targeted, and products' ease of use. I also used the quick product reference guide published by the independent, nonprofit Companion Animal Parasite Council in my research. Read more about my selection criteria at the end of this guide.

For additional expertise, I interviewed two veterinarians about treating and preventing intestinal parasites in cats: Dr. Herman Jeffer, a veterinarian with Cornwallis Road Veterinary Hospital in Durham, North Carolina, and Dr. Colleen Sawyer, a veterinarian with Rolesville Veterinary Hospital in Rolesville, North Carolina.

Once your veterinarian has determined what kind of worms your cat has, you can use one of the following treatments to get rid of them once and for all. Note that some of these products require a prescription.

These are the best cat dewormers and intestinal parasite preventives you can buy

• Best broad-spectrum dewormer: Bayer Drontal Broad Spectrum Dewormer
• Best tapeworm dewormer: Droncit Tablets
• Best oral parasite preventive: Interceptor Flavor Tabs
• Best topical parasite preventive: Revolution Plus Topical Solution for Cats

Prices and links are current as of 1/07/20. Added links to related buying guides.

The best broad-spectrum dewormer

Bayer Drontal Broad Spectrum Dewormereffectively eliminates several types of intestinal parasites including tapeworms, hookworms, and roundworms. 

Pros: Veterinarian recommended, kills several types of worms, safe and reliable, kills all parasites within seven days, low risk for side effects

Cons: Not for kittens younger than 8 weeks old or less than 2 pounds, can be hidden in food but may be difficult to administer if cat doesn't easily take pills

A broad-spectrum dewormer can knock out multiple types of parasites at the same time. We recommend Bayer Drontal Broad Spectrum Dewormer because it is safe, effective, and eliminates all parasites within seven days. No other cat dewormer kills as many different types of worms as Drontal. This dewormer features two powerful active ingredients, pyrantel pamoate and praziquantel, which together cover tapeworms, hookworms, and roundworms.

To administer, place the tablet far back in the mouth until the cat swallows it or crumble and mix into a small amount of wet food. Drontal has a very low risk for side effects and is safe for kittens and cats more than 8 weeks old and ranging from 2 to 16 pounds.

Bayer Drontal Broad Spectrum Dewormer requires a prescription from your veterinarian. Don't skip this step because cats may have other parasites that even broad-spectrum dewormers can't eliminate.

When using a broad-spectrum dewormer like Drontal, cats may require one or more follow-up treatments to make sure all the worms are eliminated. If the cat has fleas, it should also be treated with a flea control product to prevent future tapeworm infections.

The best tapeworm dewormer

One Droncit tablet quickly and safely kills tapeworms in cats and can be given mixed with food.

Pros: Kills tapeworms within 24 hours, easy-to-administer tablet, powerful active ingredient, long-trusted brand name, affordable, single pills available for purchase

Cons: Some cats may experience salivation or diarrhea after taking, not for kittens under than 6 weeks old

Droncit Tablets tackle tapeworm infestations quickly and safely in cats and kittens 6 weeks of age and older. They are conveniently sold per pill, unlike the other tapeworm dewormer we considered, Bayer Tapeworm Dewormer Tablets, which are sold in a three-pack and at a slightly higher cost per pill.

Each tablet contains 23 milligrams of the active ingredient praziquantel, which works to paralyze and eliminate tapeworms within 24 hours. This ingredient is effective against the most common species of tapeworms (Dipylidium caninum and Taenia taeniaeformis), eliminating them in a single dose. The tablet can be fed whole or crumbled and mixed with food.

Because cats can become reinfected by ingesting another flea, effectively eliminating tapeworms requires treating your cat for fleas as well.

The best oral parasite preventive

Given monthly, Interceptor Flavor Tabs prevent heartworms and treat and control roundworms, adult hookworms, and adult whipworms.

Pros: Prevents heartworms; treats and controls roundworms, adult hookworms, and adult whipworms; easy-to-administer flavored tablet, protects for 30 days, safe for kittens as young as 6 weeks of age

Cons: Can be difficult to give some cats oral medications; some cats don't like the taste; doesn't protect against fleas, which transmit tapeworms

Interceptor is a great choice for pet owners who wish to give an oral preventive rather than a topical product because of the many parasites it protects against. In addition to preventing deadly heartworm disease, Interceptor Flavor Tabs treat and control roundworms, adult hookworms, and adult whipworms with the active ingredient milbemycin oxime. Each pill protects for 30 days, and it's safe for kittens as young as 6 weeks of age.

Interceptor is one of only two chewable parasite preventives available for cats — Heartgard being the other option. Unlike Interceptor, Heartgard only treats and controls one other parasite (hookworms) in addition to heartworm.

Give an Interceptor Flavor Tab as a treat or hide it in a small amount of wet food. You must obtain a prescription from your veterinarian to purchase Interceptor. As with all heartworm medications, your cat needs a heartworm test prior starting this preventive and once a year thereafter.

The best topical parasite preventive

Safe for use in kittens as young as 8 weeks, Revolution Plus Topical Solution treats, controls, and prevents more parasites than any other topical product, including roundworms, hookworms, heartworms, fleas, ticks, and mites.

Pros: Safe for use in kittens 8 weeks and older and weighing at least 2.8 pounds

Cons: Does not kill tapeworms, caution required in cats with a history of neurologic disorders

Our pick for best topical parasite preventive is Revolution Plus Topical Solution because it protects cats against six different parasites — more than any other topical preventive. Revolution Plus beat out the other topical preventive we considered, Bravecto Plus Topical Solution, because it is safe for kittens 8 weeks and older. Bravecto cannot be used for kittens younger than 6 months old. Revolution Plus also kills ear mites, while Bravecto does not.

Revolution Plus treats and controls two intestinal worms: roundworms and hookworms. It also prevents heartworms, treats and prevents flea infestations (killing adult fleas before they can lay eggs), and treats and controls ear mites and three different tick species (black-legged or deer tick, Gulf Coast tick, and American dog tick). It does not kill tapeworms.

Given every 30 days, this monthly spot-on treatment is simple to apply in one spot to the cat's skin between the shoulder blades. The medication, a small amount of liquid, is absorbed through the skin and dries quickly, leaving nothing behind. Unlike some other topical products like Advantage Multi and Bravecto, you do not need to wear gloves to apply Revolution Plus and you can touch your cat after application, even if the product has not completely dried. If you get the medication on your hands, simply wash them with soap and water.

Before choosing a broad-spectrum parasite preventive for your cat, have a conversation with your veterinarian who can advise you on what might be best depending on your cat's lifestyle and what parasites are most common in your area.

You must obtain a prescription from your veterinarian to purchase Revolution Plus. As with all heartworm medications, your cat needs a heartworm test prior starting this medication and once every year after. Revolution Plus should be used with caution in cats with a history of neurologic disorders such as seizures.

What else we considered

Bayer Tapeworm Dewormer Tablets for Cats: This product contains the same active ingredient (praziquantel) as our top choice for tapeworms, Droncit Tablets for Cats, but it's sold in a slightly more expensive three-pack ($5 per pill as opposed to Droncit's $3 per pill).

Heartgard: The only other chewable parasite preventive available for cats, Heartgard (ivermectin) has been on the market a long time and is a safe and trusted heartworm preventive. However, unlike Interceptor, which treats and controls three other intestinal parasites in addition to heartworm, Heartgard only treats and controls one other parasite, hookworms. Heartgard requires a prescription from your veterinarian, as well as a current negative heartworm test.

Bravecto Plus Topical Solution: Bravecto Plus, which contains fluralaner and moxidectin, is an excellent topical product that prevents heartworm, kills fleas and ticks, and treats roundworms and hookworms. One application of Bravecto Plus lasts two months, unlike most topical preventives, which must be applied monthly. One downside to Bravetco is it cannot be used for kittens younger than 6 months old. Category winner Revolution Plus is safe for kittens 8 weeks and older, and treats and controls ear mites, which Bravecto Plus does not. Additionally, Bravecto Plus's label states that children should not touch the application site for two hours after application; Revolution Plus has no such warning. Bravecto Plus requires a prescription from your veterinarian as well as a current negative heartworm test. It should be used with caution in cats with a history of neurologic disorders such as seizures.

Advantage Multi Topical Solution for Cats: Advantage Multi, which contains imidacloprid and moxidectin, prevents heartworms, kills fleas, and treats and controls roundworms, hookworms, and ear mites. Unlike our top pick, Revolution Plus, Advantage Multi does not kill ticks. Its label states that children should not touch the application site for 30 minutes after application, and other pets that might lick the cat must be kept separated; Revolution Plus has no such warning. Advantage Multi requires a prescription from your veterinarian as well as a current negative heartworm test. It is safe for use in kittens 8 weeks and older and weighing at least 2 pounds.

How we selected products

For this guide, I consulted two veterinarians who work at two different Certified Cat Friendly animal hospitals for advice regarding the treatment and prevention of intestinal parasites like tapeworms, roundworms, and hookworms, as well as heartworms and ectoparasites like fleas, ticks, and mites. Although this information guided us in our product selection, our veterinary experts did not specifically endorse any of the products included in this guide.

I also used the quick product reference guide published by the independent, nonprofit Companion Animal Parasite Council while researching for this guide. The CAPC lists all FDA and EPA-approved parasite control products for small animals, including each product's active ingredients and uses.

Here are the main attributes we looked for:

Safety and efficacy: We only considered FDA or EPA-approved dewormers and preventives for this guide. We then consulted the Merck Veterinary Manual to ensure all ingredients in these products are known to be safe and effective for use in cats and kittens.

Number of parasites treated: In general, the more parasites a preventive product covers, the higher it was rated. This consideration did not apply to the tapeworm dewormer, which is only intended to treat one parasite.

Ease of use: Products were rated lower if they were more complicated to use than a similar product. For instance, products ranked lower if the pet owner must wear gloves to apply the product or if children and pets need to be kept away from the treated animal for a specified amount of time.

Types of worms and their signs and symptoms

Cornell University veterinarians estimate that as many as 45% of cats have intestinal parasites at any given time. In adult cats, parasite infestations may cause mild to moderate digestive symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, and gas. However, heavy infestations, especially in kittens, can lead to more severe digestive symptoms, weight loss, anemia, malnutrition, and restricted growth.

"We'll see cats coming in, for example if they've been in a feral situation. They are anemic, bloated, they have chronic diarrhea and vomiting, their coats are brittle and unkempt, and they can be very depressed," Jeffer said. "Kittens can actually die from parasite infestations."

Some of the most common worms seen in cats are roundworms, tapeworms, and hookworms.

Roundworms: Common in cats, especially in kittens, roundworms are large (3 to 6 inches), smooth, and round-bodied. You might not notice symptoms, particularly if your cat has only a few roundworms. In kittens, large numbers of worms may cause a pot-bellied appearance, vomiting, diarrhea, low appetite, dull coat, and restricted growth. You might also see roundworms in your cat's stool or vomit.

Tapeworms: If you see something in your cat's feces that resembles grains of white rice, or you notice them licking or biting the area under their tail, they could have a tapeworm infestation. Cats contract tapeworms when they ingest an infected adult flea. As the tapeworm grows, segments break off and pass in your cat's stool.

"Probably the most common kind of worm that pet owners are going to notice is a tapeworm," Jeffers said. "The cat might have other ailments that need to be addressed, so there are a lot of reasons to bring your cat to the vet to sort out which worm it is and to make sure there aren't secondary issues that are resulting from that infection."

Hookworms: Tiny worms nearly invisible without the assistance of a microscope, hookworms are blood-sucking parasites that attach to the wall of the intestines. Signs of hookworm infection in cats include anemia, weight loss, and dull coat. Hookworm-infested cats also sometimes have dark, tarry-looking stool.

Why parasite prevention is important

Cats should be on parasite prevention year-round.

Veterinarians recommend broad-spectrum parasite prevention for all cats. Indoor-outdoor cats are at high risk for contracting intestinal parasites like roundworms, hookworms, and whipworms, and all cats, including those that live indoors, need prevention from deadly heartworms.

"Parasites can enter the house many ways," Sawyer said. "They can be brought in by other pets like the family dog or by small rodents. They can be brought in by us, for example, a flea on our clothes or on our shoes. Mosquitoes can also enter through an open door or window and transmit heartworm disease."

Some owners think their cats only need preventives in the spring and summer, but veterinarians recommend keeping cats on a broad-spectrum parasite preventive all 12 months of the year. Different parasites are active during different months, and parasite activity can vary depending on where you live. Additionally, parasites can become active earlier than expected, including in the winter.

"It's a little bit of a gamble, especially with climate change and the unpredictability of the weather in most areas of the country," Jeffer said. "Where I live in North Carolina, the weather changes from week to week. One week we might have a snowstorm and the next week it might be 70 degrees. When there are puddles on the ground and the temperature's warm enough, that's mosquitoes' favorite time of year."

Indoor cats need parasite prevention, too.

Outdoor cats are most at risk of picking up intestinal parasites like roundworms and hookworms, as well as heartworms, fleas, and ticks. However, even indoor cats need parasite prevention. Fleas can be brought into the house by other pets or even on your clothing, and cats that live inside can still be exposed to other parasites.

"For cats that are indoors, there's much less of a risk that they might contract one of the intestinal parasites, although my indoor-only cat somehow found a squirrel in our attic and did kill it, so I guess there is always that risk," Jeffer said. "[However], the main risk is heartworms. Even one heartworm can potentially be fatal to a cat. Even if a couple of mosquitoes get into the house that happen to be carriers for heartworm disease, there's a chance that an indoor-only cat can get heartworms and can actually die from it."

The best products prevent many different parasites.

In general, Sawyer prioritizes products that provide both flea and heartworm prevention. "Heartworm disease, although rare, is not treatable in cats and has a high fatality rate," she said. "Coverage for ticks, immature life stages of fleas, and intestinal parasites are also important, and fortunately now there are products available that protect against all the above."

What to consider before buying a cat dewormer or parasite preventive

It's important to take your cat to the vet before giving them a dewormer.

If you suspect your cat has worms, always take them to the veterinarian for a physical exam and fecal test, which is an examination of the stool that reveals what type of worms your cat has.

"Generally speaking, if they have one parasite, they'll have multiple parasites," Jeffer said. "If they have roundworms, it's not uncommon to see tapeworms or other worms as well, or 'non-worms' like coccidia."

Certain single-celled microscopic parasites (protozoa), including coccidia and Giardia, cause symptoms similar to those caused by intestinal parasites, but they are not true worms. They require different prescription medications to treat them — dewormers won't help.

Even though some dewormers do not require a prescription, do not skip the vet visit since different drugs treat different worms. Your vet can also determine if your cat may have other health issues that need to be addressed.

"It's important to see your veterinarian so they can identify what parasites are present and then prescribe the appropriate deworming medication," Sawyer said. "Your vet can also explain any risks for human disease, which is also parasite dependent."

Depending on the type of worms found, your cat might also need follow-up deworming and a follow-up fecal exam to make sure no parasites remain. Your veterinarian can also identify any other health issues that might be going on aside from intestinal parasites.

Natural dewormers aren't necessarily a better option.

Talk to your veterinarian before using natural dewormers for your cat. "When pet owners are looking for a product for their pet, I think they want research behind it," Jeffer said. "Most of the time you really can't guarantee that from a product that's labeled 'all natural.'"

Jeffer, who said he has serious doubts as to whether natural deworming products are at all effective, points out that conventional, veterinarian-recommended dewormers are not only very effective, but extremely safe to use. "They've all been used over decades and there are very few to no side effects associated with them," he said.

• Being comfortable while working out starts with what you wear, be it a properly fitting pair of running shorts, a moisture-wicking top, or an added layer for cold-weather workouts.
• It's important to make sure the gear is fit for your preferred style of fitness, too — running shorts for runners, versatile apparel for cross-training, stretch fabrics for weight lifters, etc. 
• Below, we've rounded up a selection of our favorite workout clothes, with gear from brands like Vuori, Rhone, Janji, and Ten Thousand. 

Working out in the right attire makes a world of difference. Though a pair of athletic shorts and a sweat-wicking shirt may not seem like a world-beating combination, they're far better than some ratty pair of gym shorts and a cotton tee from your dresser. Put plainly, you get more from your workouts when you're comfortable — no matter if you're working out at home or breaking a sweat outside.

Your preferred workout matters, too. While the current wave of workout gear wants to help you perform better by keeping you cool and comfortable, there's also a variety of specialized gear designed for certain activities. For instance, a runner may opt for a lightweight pair of shorts while someone lifting weights would likely prefer a shirt made of stretch fabric.

No matter your go-to, there's a wide range of fitness apparel available for all of it — and we're constantly sweat-testing what we can to find what's worth a spot in your closet. Be it the line of functional running clothes from a brand like Janji or the versatile training gear from Ten Thousand, there's plenty on the market designed to keep up with however you stay fit. 

At the end of this guide, we've also included some tips on how to shop for workout clothes, as well insight into our testing methodology. 

A note on fit

This guide focuses specifically on workout clothing designed for cisgender men. Brands differentiate men's and women's workout clothing both in terms of specific design choices, as well as colorways and style. Men's workout shirts tend to be cut to fit broader shoulders while men's shorts often offer more leg coverage (though this isn't always the case) and added space in the crotch. 

Women's workout shirts are often narrower and form-fitting, have shorter sleeves, and are sometimes designed to fit tighter around the arms. Shorts designed for women tend to feature a cut that accommodates rounder hips, are void of any added space in the crotch, and may also have a wider waistband.

Despite these differences, finding the "right" workout clothing comes down to what fits you best and what feels comfortable while breaking a sweat. If you're looking for apparel that more closely associates with the design and fit tendencies found in women's workout clothing, check out our guide to the best currently available.

Here are the best men's workout clothes:

• Best workout gear overall: Vuori
• Best workout gear for runners: Janji
• Best budget workout gear: MPG
• Best workout gear for dispelling odors: Rhone
• Best workout gear for cross-training: Ten Thousand
• Best workout gear for comfort: Olivers

Updated on 1/7/2021 by Rick Stella: Updated the sections on how to shop for workout clothes and added a rundown of our testing methodology, checked the availability of each recommended product, and updated the prices and links where necessary.

Best workout gear overall

Vuori's clothing is both lightweight and comfortable, which makes it a breeze to work out inside or outside during summer.

Pros: Supreme comfort, quick-drying material, great for a wide variety of workouts

Cons: Some customers found that the shorts could be a bit restrictive due to narrow leg holes

It's obvious the Encinitas, California-based Vuori takes its inspiration from the beach. The workout gear from this company may just make you think you're on the West Coast, with its comfortable, lightweight fit. 

In particular, we loved the Trail Short, the lightest weight all-purpose pair of shorts from Vuori. The shorts have an elastic waist, supportive Coolmax anti-odor liner, and an athletic fit. The shorts also come with front pockets and a back zip pocket, as well as an iPhone holder in the liner.

Also beloved in the Vuori line is the Tradewind Performance shirt and the company's perennially popular joggers. The Tradewind Tee is the company's most technical in the lineup, featuring micro-perforation for ventilation, flatlock seams, and a front chest pocket. The shirt promises to wick moisture and dry quickly, making it perfect for a run, a hot yoga session, or anything in between.

Best workout gear for runners

Janji's running gear is functional, comfortable, and built to hold up no matter if you're doing a casual 5K or training for a marathon.

Pros: High-quality apparel for runners, most pieces feature quick-drying, moisture-wicking fabric, and are extremely comfortable

Cons: Can be spendy depending on the piece

Attaching superlative terms to workout gear often comes down to personal preference (and moderate exaggeration) but in the case of Janji, and the brand's extremely high quality running clothes, calling it the best isn't an overstatement — it legitimately makes some of the finest gear on the market. From running shorts and caps to tees, tanks, and weather-resistant tops, Janji covers the running basics in its own signature style. 

Some highlights are its 2-in-1 Traverse Short which comes with a built-in liner for extra coverage, four strategically located stash pockets for keys or cash, and a fast-drying, moisture-wicking fabric. They're functional enough for trail runs, neighborhood jobs, or even race day. 

Its AFO Singlet is also a great choice for summer runners as it's lightweight enough to keep you cool yet still protective. The singlet is also made using fast-drying, moisture-wicking fabric and features a four-way stretch to always move how you move. 

We've been running in Janji gear for some time now and keep coming back to it no matter the season. Its shorts are extremely comfortable, no matter how many miles you intend to run, and its tops and caps keep you protected and cool. The brand's selection of fun prints is a nice added touch, too. 

Best budget workout gear

MPG Sport understands that working out shouldn't cost you an arm and a leg, and is creating gear that helps you live a financially responsible lifestyle.

Pros: Affordable prices, wide selection of products, fabric that is soft yet ready for a hard workout

Cons: The sheer amount of product might be overwhelming for someone shopping online

Your gym membership is expensive enough, so your gym clothes don't have to be. Luckily, MPG Sport agrees. Short for Mondetta Performance Gear, MPG offers a wide range of clothing and workout gear that won't break the bank. 

Take, for instance, the Defender Performance Cashmere Shirt. This shirt feels like luxury without the luxury price tag. But it's not just the softness of the shirt that's important — It's the benefits it gives you during your workout.

The mix of Tencel, a recyclable and environmentally-friendly material derived from wood pulp, and cashmere helps you adapt to different temperatures. That means that you'll be warm in the winter but remain cool and dry in the summer. Plus, with colors like Port and Navy Sky, this shirt can transition well from the gym to just about anywhere else.

Also noteworthy is the Premier 1/4 Zip Stink-Free Seamless Pullover, which is made from NILIT fibers to protect against bacteria build-up and sweat stench. Well-fitted and nicely tailored, this was another piece that looks great. And the best part? It's on sale for $24.

If you're looking for shorts or pants, MPG has you covered as well. The Hype 3.0 Essential 7-inch Short promises plenty of flexibility as well as moisture-wicking properties. Alternatively, if you need something a bit longer, you might consider the Industry Essential Fleece Joggers, which are surprisingly warm given how light they are.

Best workout gear for dispelling odors

It's all about the GoldFusion technology with Rhone, which makes good on its promise to keep you stink-free.

Pros: Stink-free technology, comfortable fabric, and great fit  

Cons: Some reviewers note that the shirts can be a bit longer than anticipated

Back in 2016, Rhone managed to raise nearly $113,000 to bring its GoldFusion technology to its line of activewear. And now, that proprietary formula can be found in a wide range of activewear.

Rhone has long been one of our favorite makers of men's workout gear. Much of it is indeed due to the company's GoldFusion technology, a proprietary, eco-friendly fabric treatment that leverages real gold particles to help fabrics dry up to three times faster. In addition, it's UV protective and promises to permanently control odor.

Two new additions to the Rhone GoldFusion line include the 7-inch Swift Lined short and the Swift Tank. The shorts, meant for running, feature a perforated venting system for cooling, as well as two side zipper pockets to hold essentials during a jog. Plus, a soft performance liner promises exceptional fit. As for the Swift Tank, this workout shirt features a quick-drying, odor-repelling perforated fabric that keeps you cool as you break a sweat. 

Of course, Rhone also has pieces that don't necessarily have precious metals embedded into them but are no less effective at getting the job done. Take, for instance, the new Mako Unlined short. Available in both 7- and 9-inch lengths, this short is made of lightweight, four-way stretch fabric with plenty of pockets so you can wear them at the gym or anywhere else, too.

Best workout gear for cross-training

So many fitness brands say their apparel is "tested by athletes" but Ten Thousand backs it up with a large roster of athletes located all over the country that put its gear through everything from yoga and HIIT to Crossfit and powerlifting.

Pros: Lightweight, comfortable workout gear that's built for a wide range of workouts and use cases

Cons: Pockets can be too small to hold much else besides keys or credit cards, sizing in the shirt can run small

To say Ten Thousand puts its workout clothes through its paces is an understatement — the brand quite literally pushes its gear to the limit by throwing it on wear-testers that do just about any form of exercise imaginable. There's HIIT and powerlifting, strength training and functional fitness, and, of course, running. They even throw a little yoga in the mix to show off its comfort and versatility. 

But just because there's a large variety in the types of workouts the gear can handle doesn't mean there's page after page of a specific short or top fit for an exact routine. Quite the opposite, actually, and simplicity in what it offers is what makes Ten Thousand even more appealing.

There are five different shorts, two tees, one tank top, a quarter-zip long sleeve shirt, a base layer and compression short, one pair of pants, and a no-show and crew cut sock — as well as a Ten Thousand mesh hat and insulated water bottle to round out the collection. After spending many a workout decked out in the gear, the performance of each piece is as impressive as its field testing. 

No matter what I chose to do, the apparel felt comfortable and functional, and was always fit to hold up to whatever I threw at it. Maybe I'd be out for a 20-mile bike ride after doing a resistance band workout in my apartment. Perhaps it was a 45-minute yoga session followed by a quick jog around my neighborhood. Regardless of what it was, the gear held up and never felt out of place.

Even the prices aren't shocking to stomach. The shorts range from $58 on up to $72 while the tees are in the $50 range (which is what you should expect to pay for premium workout apparel). My favorite pieces are the lightweight Distance Shirt that held up well during particularly sweaty workouts (thanks to humid NYC summers) and the Tactical Short that performed just as well on a run as it did while I was on my bike or lifting weights. — Rick Stella

Best workout gear for comfort

Workout clothes don't have to feel like workout clothes and that's why Olivers created some of its gear with merino wool.

Pros: Superior comfort, great fit, great style without being ostentatious

Cons: Sizing can sometimes be a bit different from the website's suggestions

Merino wool is unlikely to be the first material that comes to mind when you think of workout gear but that's just the sort of innovative thinking that makes Olivers' clothes so comfortable. The highly breathable gear from Olivers is so comfortable, you may never want to take it off.

While Olivers' first well-known article of clothing was the All Over Short, the brand has proven it's capable of creating a wide range of comfortable, functional gear. The Terminal Tech Tee is a particular favorite of the Insider Reviews team, too. This merino tech mesh tee not only keeps you cool and dry but it also fits well. As Insider Reviews' Amir Ismael noted, "the Terminal Tech Tee..fits exactly as a T-shirt should."

While you can certainly work out in the naturally odor-resistant shirt, it's also just as appropriate for a day full of errands or a casual date night.

Oh, and by the way, Olivers promises your clothes will last for at least a year with its Olivers guarantee. The company will replace or repair any product "with a fault outside of normal wear and tear for up to 12 months" after your initial purchase.

How to shop for workout clothes

When determining the kind of workout gear you need to accommodate your lifestyle, consider the type of exercise you do most often. Clothing is just another tool to help or hinder you, so be sure you're buying the right gear for the right activity.

A piece of clothing's ability to withstand cycles in the washing machine is also a key quality. You'll likely be sweating through these clothes a lot and (hopefully) putting them in the laundry quite often. If you're buying flimsily made clothing, you'll have to replace them much more often.

Consider how multi-purpose you need your gear to be, too. Are you only going to wear those joggers to the gym, or are they also for lounging around? Is that long sleeve tee just as good for your run as it is for running errands on the weekend? The workout clothing you wear doesn't have to cover a range of use cases but some are designed for more than just running or lifting weights (and can make your investment stretch a little further).   

How we test workout clothes

Each of the pieces of workout clothing highlighted in this guide went through a series of tests to see how well it performed across these four categories: Fit, function, durability, and value. Here's how each category specifically factored into which athletic wear ultimately made this guide:

Fit: Fit. Comfort. This category could've been called either but we went with fit specifically because a well-fitting piece of workout clothing will almost always, in turn, be comfortable. Fit is also more than just making sure you select the right size, but also how it feels while working out. The rise of stretch fabrics has helped this category significantly, especially for those who do HIIT or strength workouts. 

Function: The basic function of proper workout clothing should be to keep you comfortable, move along with however you workout, and maybe even wick some sweat while it's at it. Thankfully, today's selection of workout gear does all of this in spades (some much better than others). When testing, we looked at how well a brand's sweat-wicking tech actually worked, whether it did, in fact, repel odors, and if four-way stretch fabric was able to really stretch in all directions. Other functions we assessed were the comfort of built-in short liners and the effectiveness of other materials (like merino).

Durability: Premium workout clothing (i.e. the gear that's actually worth your money) should last longer than a few months of heavy use and heavy cleaning. This means it should keep its fit and still offer whatever suite of extra features long after you purchase it and wear it for the first time. This category is best-served as a long-term assessment, and we've included updated insight on some pieces where we're able.

Value: As mentioned above, the best workout gear won't always been entirely cheap. Though we've included a budget brand in this guide (and one we stand behind), it's often times worth it to spend a little more on workout clothing that's designed to last (as opposed to spending less on something you'll have to replace over and over again). 

• A KitchenAid stand mixer is a valuable kitchen tool for thoroughly and efficiently whipping, creaming, and mixing; tasks that take a lot of time and effort to do well by hand.
• The KitchenAid Artisan Series 5-Quart Tilt Head Stand Mixer is our top pick because it has the perfect balance of power, capacity, and size. Plus, it comes in 47 different colors.
• Read more: The best KitchenAid attachments

A stand mixer is the crowning jewel of a kitchen, and KitchenAid's stand mixers have been the standard for over a century. They make efficient work of tasks that typically take a lot of time or effort to do by hand, like whipping egg whites to soft or stiff peaks, turning cream into whipped cream, churning out big batches of cookies, and kneading tough, heavy bread doughs. 

I've used a KitchenAid stand mixer daily — sometimes all day — while working in professional kitchens for more than a decade. I have years of experience with each stand mixer in this guide: I've broken them, repaired them, purchased them for my own personal use, and am intimately aware of each model's advantages and limitations. 

But I didn't just rely on my previous experiences. I researched eight models and put four top-selling KitchenAid stand mixers through a standard set of tests for this guide. I used a King Arthur recipe for bagels, a stiff dough with a 10-minute mixing time; I prepared Compost Cookies (kitchen-sink cookies with five cups of mix-ins including chocolate chips, potato chips, and pretzels) from New York City's Milk Bar; and put each mixer through additional tests to evaluate its capacity, mixing capability, and ease of use. You can read more about how I tested KitchenAid stand mixers in our methodology here, along with how to shop for a KitchenAid and what to make with it.

Here are the best KitchenAid stand mixers

• Best KitchenAid stand mixer overall: KitchenAid Artisan Series 5-Quart Tilt Head Stand Mixer
• Best affordable KitchenAid stand mixer: KitchenAid Classic Plus 4.5 Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer
• Best KitchenAid stand mixer for bread: KitchenAid Pro Line Series 7-Quart Bowl Lift Stand Mixer
• Best KitchenAid stand mixer for small spaces: KitchenAid Artisan Mini 3.5 Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer

Prices and details are accurate as of 1/7/20. We added long-term testing notes to our best overall pick and best pick for small spaces. We're continuing to test the stand mixers in this guide for durability while considering new models.

SEE ALSO: The best waffle makers you can buy

The best KitchenAid stand mixer overall

This popular model balances power, capacity, and size for a mixer that is perfectly designed for most home bakers; plus it comes in more than 45 fun colors.

Pros: Easily accomplishes common cooking tasks, a moderate 23 pounds, comes in 47 different colors and finishes, can further customize with interchangeable mixing bowls, works with all KitchenAid attachments, work bowl has a handle

Cons: Too underpowered if you regularly make a lot of stiff or wet doughs

The Artisan Series 5 Quart model strikes a great balance of power, size, and design. Its 325-watt motor is ideal for most home bakers: powerful enough to handle the occasional stiff bread dough or sticky pizza dough, but adequate for common tasks like mixing batters or creaming butter and sugar. 

During testing, it quickly became my favorite mixer to use. At 23 pounds, it was easy enough to store and move around. Tilt-head stand mixers have a smaller base than bowl-lift stand mixers so the bowls tend to be narrower and can feel cramped. You often have to stop the mixer and tilt the head back whenever you want to scrape down the mixing bowl. This wasn't the case with the Artisan mixer. With a functional capacity of 3.75 quarts (read more about the difference between stated and functional capacity here), the large bowl of the Artisan 5 Quart felt open enough that I could scrape the sides without adjusting the head. The bowl also has a sturdy handle for easy lifting, and provided plenty of room for pouring in ingredients — particularly helpful when adding more than five cups of mix-ins for Compost Cookies. 

While it shook a bit when I made bagel dough, it was never overly noisy and I didn't feel like I had to babysit it for fear of it walking off the counter. That said, I don't think I would make multiple batches of bagels in a row to avoid overheating the mixer's lower-powered motor. 

For many people, the real fun in buying a stand mixer is picking out a color and the Artisan Series 5 Quart comes in 47 different color offerings, the most of any of the brand's stand mixers. Every color of the rainbow is represented, from a cheery "Orange Sorbet" to "Boysenberry"— the deep purple color I tested and loved seeing on my counter every day. In addition to the plethora of colors to choose from, the Artisan Series 5 Quart also offers customization, allowing you to engrave your stand mixer or switch out the standard bowl for a patterned ceramic or glass mixing bowl. It also works with all KitchenAid attachments, which can extend the versatility of your stand mixer.

Since initial testing, we've continued to use this model at least once a week. It's worked its way through pierogi dough and filling, multiple babkas, and many batches of holiday cookies, and still functions as well (and looks as good) as it did when I first received it. We'll continue to use this model regularly and report on its long-term durability.

The best affordable KitchenAid stand mixer

The least expensive model made by KitchenAid, the Classic Plus has all the quality components of more expensive mixers but it's compact, efficient, and powerful enough to accomplish most tasks for casual bakers. 

Pros: Relatively inexpensive, spacious but still maneuverable, can handle most common tasks and occasional tough doughs 

Cons: Work bowl doesn't have a handle, relatively low-powered motor, not ideal for heavy use

The KitchenAid Classic Plus 4.5 Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer became my first mixer when I rescued an earlier version of this model from my dad's basement. Though it had seen regular use for most of the 15 years prior, I used it heavily for about five years before it gave out on me while kneading dough for hand-pulled noodles (a notoriously tricky dough, and one known to tax stand mixers). This issue first highlighted to me how most stand mixers break and the importance of choosing a model built to accommodate your typical usage. 

You can read more about the specifics of stand mixer wattage in our "How to choose a stand mixer" section here. But the gist is that lower wattage models have less powerful motors than higher wattage models. The stand mixers in this guide range from 250 to 970 watts and the Classic Plus is on the lower end of that spectrum with a 275-watt motor. This is perfectly adequate for common tasks like making cookies, brownies, whipped cream, cake, and the occasional bread loaf, but not double batches, really stiff doughs, or doughs that need to be kneaded a very long time like for hand-pulled noodles. 

I tested a new version of this mixer for this guide, and while it happily worked through cookies, egg whites, and even hefty bagel dough without issue, it's possible that with too much heavy use, like making many batches of bagel or pizza dough back-to-back, the mixer can overheat or — in the case of my old mixer — wear down its gears. While the issue is repairable, it requires seeing a KitchenAid repair specialist, which can be expensive, so you're better off purchasing a stand mixer with a wattage that meets your needs from the get-go. 

Don't let the lower price fool you into thinking it's not going to perform. If you're an occasional baker or just starting to dip your toes into cooking, this is a great model to get started with. It's made with the same metal parts as more expensive KitchenAid stand mixers, has a strong motor, and a relatively roomy work bowl. While its functional capacity is 3 quarts (smaller than its stated 4.5-quart capacity), it still easily accommodates single batches of common recipes, and it's moderately-sized at 22 pounds and 14 inches long. The machine also works with all KitchenAid attachments. My only wish is that the work bowl had a handle for better maneuverability.  

The best KitchenAid stand mixer for bread

The KitchenAid Pro Line Series 7-Quart Bowl Lift Stand Mixer is the largest, most powerful KitchenAid mixer you can buy without venturing into commercial models, which makes it perfect for avid bakers. 

Pros: Largest capacity of any residential model, bowl-lift design provides stability when mixing, wide mixing bowl for adding ingredients, powerful motor that can handle all kinds of doughs, work bowl has a handle

Cons: Heavy, takes up a lot of space, only comes in a few colors

Stiff or heavy doughs like bagel dough, pizza dough, and some noodle doughs require a large amount of power to knead properly, which can be taxing on many stand mixers. The 7-Quart Pro-Line model has a 970 watt motor for powerful and thorough kneading without overheating the mixer, as I've seen happen with smaller models. The wider bowl-lift design also provides more stability during mixing, so the mixer doesn't "walk" or shake as much during use. 

This is the model I primarily used during a decade of work in professional kitchens. The machine is reliable, nimble, easy to use, and remarkably quiet for such a large mixer. It can handle everything from whipping two egg whites to mixing triple batches of cake batter. KitchenAid claims the 7-quart size can make up to 14 dozen cookies in a single batch, and while I haven't ventured to test the limits of that claim (I love cookies, but I don't need 14 dozen), it made a double batch of compost cookies and bagels with plenty of room to spare. 

The mixer particularly excels at making bread dough. The wide bowl, which has a functional capacity of 5.75 quarts, is easy to remove from the mixer, has a large comfortable handle, and provides lots of space for adding ingredients during mixing. The powerful motor glides the included mixing attachments — paddle, whisk, and dough hook — effortlessly through stiff and heavy doughs. Avid bakers and especially those who make bread will appreciate its reliability — these mixers saw heavy daily use when I worked with them in professional kitchens and I rarely had one that needed repairs. If you take care of this mixer, it's likely to last you decades. 

That said, it's a hefty machine, weighing 27 pounds and measuring 16 inches in both height and depth. It's not the sort of mixer you want to lug around, so it's best for those with ample counter space to devote to its large footprint. It's also only available in six colors: red and five different neutrals. However, it is compatible with every attachment made by KitchenAid, including the ice cream maker bowl. 

Read our full review

The best KitchenAid stand mixer for small spaces

The smallest of KitchenAid stand mixers, this model is the perfect size and strength for occasional bakers, new cooks, and those with petite kitchens.

Pros: Perfectly sized for small kitchens, easy to maneuver, makes single batches of most recipes well, ideal for occasional bakers, a good size for kids, works with most KitchenAid attachments, comes in a variety of different colors, work bowl has a handle

Cons: Too small for double batches, shakes a lot when running at high speed, doesn't work with KitchenAid ice cream maker attachment

When my hand-me-down KitchenAid finally bit the dust after about 20 years of regular use, I decided to downsize to KitchenAid's latest model: the KitchenAid Artisan Mini 3.5 Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer. At the time, I was living in a 600 square foot apartment and every inch felt precious. Since counter space was limited, I needed a mixer light enough that I wouldn't mind hauling it out from a cabinet every time I wanted to bake. The KitchenAid Mini hit all these marks for me. 

Measuring just over 11 inches wide and weighing 17 pounds, the Mini is about 25% smaller than our best overall pick. While this may not seem like a drastic difference in size, the Mini is much more maneuverable than any other stand mixer I've used, and I love that it fits easily under my cabinets or on a shelf. Less surface area also means less to clean, and the Mini's work bowl doesn't hog space in my sink or dishwasher.

Despite being more petite, the Mini is still perfectly capable of whipping up a single batch of cookies or biscuits just as nimbly as any other stand mixer. I've made muffins, pasta dough, bread dough, pizza dough, cake, frosting, and more cookies than I can count in the Mini with no issues or changes to the mixing times called for in the recipes. That said, its functional capacity is just 2 quarts, so it's too tight a squeeze for most double batches.

When I put my Mini through strenuous tests for this guide, it showed some of its limitations. The work bowl was just able to fit all the mix-ins for compost cookies, but it started to overflow a bit when I turned on the mixer. The cookies came out perfect, but cleaning up was a bit of a hassle since I had to wipe bits of dough from the counter and the top of the mixer. Bagel dough also came together fine, but the mixer shook and "walked" around the counter during the long kneading time, enough so that I felt like I had to keep an eye on it for the whole 10 minutes it was mixing. After my initial testing, I made a double batch of bread dough in this mixer and while the loaves ultimately came together fine, it took longer than the stated recipe times to mix the dough and I had to constantly push the dough down during mixing to prevent it from spilling over the sides of the bowl. 

That said, if space is your primary concern or you're an occasional baker, the Mini is a great option for an unobtrusive machine that can do just about anything a full-size mixer can do. It has the same 10 speeds as other mixers, comes with the standard attachments (whisk, paddle, dough hook), and works with all KitchenAid attachments except the ice cream maker. It comes in a variety of fun colors from a pink "Guava Glaze" to a bright "Hot Sauce" red, and also makes a great (albeit generous) gift for kids who are interested in baking; one that they can continue to use well past childhood.

What else we considered

We also researched other KitchenAid models for this guide that we ultimately didn't end up testing. Here are the products that didn't make the cut and why: 

• KitchenAid Classic Series 4.5 Quart Tilt Head Stand Mixer ($259.99): Previously our best budget pick, the Classic is identical in both function and design to our new affordable pick, the Classic Plus. We confirmed this with KitchenAid, who said the only difference is that the Classic Plus is available in a silver color. There used to be a slight difference between the Classic and the Classic Plus with the former having 250 watts, a slightly less powerful motor than the Classic Plus' 275 watts. However, both models are now being made with 275 watts and are priced the same. Both are great options, and since KitchenAids have been in short supply, buy whichever you can get your hands on. We've seen some retailers still selling the 250-watt version of the Classic, so be sure to check the specs before you buy. 
• KitchenAid NSF Certified Commercial Series 8-Qt Bowl Lift Stand Mixer ($699.99): Unless you're running a bakery, you don't need a mixer this large or this powerful. That said, if you are operating a bakery or food business, this is the only KitchenAid mixer that is certified by NSF International for commercial use. It has a two-year warranty (double the time of their other mixers) and a strong, durable motor for heavy use. However, home bakers are unlikely to need these extra features, which are designed to withstand hours of heavy use each day. 

Our testing methodology

While I drew from my own experience as a food editor working in professional kitchens and using these mixers over many years, I also put each model through a standard set of tests to see how they'd compare to each other. Here's how I evaluated KitchenAid stand mixers:

Size, capacity, and ease of use: I weighed and measured all the stand mixers, including comparing the stated versus functional capacity (the capacity when measured from the bottom of the work bowl to the top of the mixing attachment) of each work bowl. I carried the mixers around and noted how comfortable they were to move and handle.

Power: We consulted the company to learn the power of each motor in watts. Residential stand mixers range from 250 to 970 watts, and mixers with higher wattage motors can mix heavy, wet doughs more readily. 

Whipping: I whipped two egg whites to stiff peaks in each mixer, which tests the mixers' control during gradual ramping up of speed. It also tested the larger mixers' ability to function well even with a very small volume of ingredients. 

Creaming: I used each stand mixer to make Milk Bar compost cookies, which have more than 5 cups of mix-ins. Not only did this test the functional capacity of the mixers, but also their ability to operate on different speeds — high speed for creaming butter and sugar, and low speed for incorporating delicate mix-ins like chips and pretzels without breaking them. 

Kneading: Each mixer was used to make a batch of King Arthur bagels; a stiff dough with a long, 10 minute mixing time. I made a note if any of the mixers shook or walked, struggled, or made excessive noise during this tough task. 

Durability: The true test of a stand mixer is how it performs over time. While I included information from my own experience working with these models over nearly a decade, I'll continue to use the stand mixers in this guide and report back on any durability issues.

What we look forward to testing

Our picks encompass most of KitchenAid's offerings, but there are two models we're interested in testing that we weren't able to include this time around: 

• KitchenAid Professional 5 Plus Series 5 Quart Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer ($399.99): Previously our best KitchenAid for making bread, this model was out of stock at the time of this testing. I'm of the mindset that if you're going to upgrade from our best overall pick (which is also 5 quarts), it should also offer an increase in capacity. However, this model may be a good fit for those who prepare a lot of heavy, wet doughs but either don't make large batches or are prioritizing cost. 
• KitchenAid Pro 600 Series 6 Quart Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer ($499.99): This model offers a slight jump up in capacity from the 5-quart professional model and was also unavailable at the time of testing. It offers 15 colors; the most colors of any of KitchenAid's bowl-lift models. We'd like to see if the slight increase in capacity justifies the big jump in price.

How to choose a KitchenAid stand mixer

KitchenAid makes an overwhelming number of models. Here are some considerations to help you narrow down your selection.

Wattage: The higher the wattage of the motor, the more powerful the mixer will be. Mixers with higher wattage — like the 970 watt motor on the KitchenAid Pro— glide through tough doughs and don't easily overheat. If you bake at least once a week or you regularly make a lot of heavy, wet doughs like pizza or bread dough, then you'll benefit from a larger, more expensive model with a high wattage motor built for power and durability. However, if you're the kind of person who breaks out the stand mixer once a year to make holiday cookies, you don't need the Cadillac of KitchenAids. Occasional bakers will be perfectly well off with 250 or 275-watt models, like the Artisan Mini or the Classic Plus. Lower wattage models can also handle the occasional tough task like kneading bagel dough a few times a year. Be mindful that tough kitchen tasks can be hard on the gears of smaller machines, so give your machine time to cool down between uses if you're making a hard dough in a lower wattage model. 

Capacity: The advertised capacity of a KitchenAid mixer is not its actual capacity. The advertised or stated capacity refers to how much the work bowl can hold when completely full. Not only would you have a big mess on your hands if you tried to use a mixer at full capacity, but it also wouldn't operate effectively since the ingredients would actually cover the mixing attachment. Instead, the functional capacity is measured from the bottom of the bowl to the top of the mixing attachment and it's usually about 1 to 1.5 quarts less than the stated capacity. One quart is about the size of a large deli container, so if you have a recipe that regularly makes enough dough to fill four or five of those, opt for a mixer with a larger stated capacity of 6 or 7 quarts. It's also a good idea to buy a mixer with a larger capacity if you make a lot of bread since the mixer needs a fair amount of clearance to knead the dough effectively.  

Maneuverability and storage: The bigger the capacity and more powerful the mixer, the heavier and larger the mixer will be. The largest KitchenAid mixers in our guide can weigh almost 30 pounds. Unless you're comfortable regularly lifting an appliance of that size, you'll either need to consider a small mixer or have dedicated counter space. Larger mixers will take up about half the width of a standard size counter and may not fit readily under your cabinet overhang. If space is at a premium, consider a smaller, less expensive mixer.

Colors and customization: For some people, the most important factor in choosing a KitchenAid is the color. If a fun color is your priority, opt for a mixer from KitchenAid's Artisan series. Our best mixer for small spaces and best overall pick are both Artisan mixers and are available in up to 47 different colors. Our best overall pick also offers further customization with interchangeable decorative work bowls in various patterns and materials. The Classic and Pro Line series offer a much more limited color choice — just red and a handful of neutrals.

What to make in your KitchenAid stand mixer

We've put together a number of how-tos for making the most out of your KitchenAid stand mixer. KitchenAid makes more than two dozen different attachments that expand the versatility of your machine and let you make everything from zoodles to sausage to ice cream and more. Most of the attachments operate from the "hub" of the mixer — the portion underneath the metal disk on the top front of the machine. Since all KitchenAid mixers have this hub, almost all the attachments are compatible with every KitchenAid model in our guide. If you're interested in KitchenAid attachments, we reviewed them all here. 

Here are some of our favorite things to make with our KitchenAid mixers and attachments:

Fresh pasta: This is one of those tasks that shows the true versatility of a KitchenAid stand mixer. You use the stand mixer and work bowl to make the dough, and then the KitchenAid pasta sheeter or pasta extruder to form the pasta shapes. Read more about how to make pasta in your stand mixer. 

Bagels: Chewy bread like bagels are one of the hardest and most arduous tasks to do by hand, which means they're the perfect recipes to outsource to your stand mixer. While writing this guide, I used this recipe by King Arthur and it churned out perfectly springy bagels that reminded me of home in New Jersey.

Sausage: KitchenAid makes several attachments that allow you to grind your own meat for homemade sausage. Read more about how to grind meat and make sausage with a KitchenAid stand mixer.

Pizza dough: This type of dough is really wet and sticky, but a stand mixer excels at pulling it all together. Here's a recipe I really love for pizza dough made in a stand mixer. 

Ice cream: KitchenAid makes a special bowl that fits on all stand mixers except the Artisan Mini that makes homemade ice cream. Read more about how to make ice cream in your Kitchenaid stand mixer. 

Glossary of KitchenAid terms

Tilt head: A common mixer design where the work bowl twists onto the base of the mixer. The head of the machine tilts forward for operation and lifts back so you can attach a paddle, whisk, or dough hook; add ingredients to the work bowl; or use a spatula to scrape down the sides of the bowl. These machines have a lever that allows you to lock the head in place so it doesn't accidentally lift during mixing or moving. This style is common in smaller capacity mixers and is contrasted to a bowl-lift design.

Bowl lift: A mixer design where the work bowl sits on a Y-shaped arm extending from the body of the mixer. A lever allows you to raise and lower the bowl. A raised position brings the bowl closer to the mixer head for operation, while a lowered position allows you to more easily add ingredients or add/remove the paddle, whisk, or dough hook. This design allows for more stability during mixing but comes at the cost of a larger footprint. 

Hub: A circular port at the front of the mixer head where you place KitchenAid branded attachments such as the meat grinder, pasta cutter, or spiralizer. When not in use, the hub is usually covered by a silver medallion with the KitchenAid logo. 

Paddle: A flat, open mixing attachment included with every KitchenAid stand mixer. The paddle is used for mixing ingredients together when you don't want too much air incorporated, such as when creaming butter and sugar, mixing cookie dough, and combining some batters. Think of it as the stand mixer equivalent of a wooden spoon. 

Whisk: A balloon-shaped wire whisk mixing attachment included with every KitchenAid stand mixer. The whisk attachment is used when you do want to incorporate a lot of air into the ingredients you're mixing, like when whipping cream, making meringue or frosting, or mixing cake batter. It's used in similar ways to a hand whisk.

Dough hook: A corkscrew-shaped mixing attachment included with every KitchenAid stand mixer. The dough hook is used for kneading bread dough. Typically you'll mix the dough with another attachment such as the paddle, and then use the dough hook to form the dough into a ball and knead it. The corkscrew shape pushes the dough against the sides of the work bowl in an action that approximates kneading by hand. 

Attachment: Can refer to the paddle, whisk, and dough hook that come with the mixer, but also used to describe the various accessories you can purchase to extend the versatility of your stand mixer such as the ice cream maker, food processor, or meat grinder.

FAQs

What is the warranty on KitchenAid stand mixers?

Almost all of KitchenAid's stand mixers come with a limited one year warranty, though you can purchase an extended service plan for another three years of coverage. 

What do I do if my KitchenAid stand mixer breaks?

When a KitchenAid stand mixer stops working, it can usually be repaired. The machines are designed so that inexpensive gears fail before the core part of the mixer; oftentimes a repair is as simple as replacing a gear. If your stand mixer is still within warranty, you should contact KitchenAid for a replacement. However, in my experience, don't expect much from KitchenAid customer service if you're out of warranty. While plenty of KitchenAid repair videos exist online, you'll get the best results from a paid repair from the KitchenAid factory or by visiting a reputable appliance repair service. Keep in mind that you can void your remaining warranty if you attempt to repair your stand mixer on your own.

Will my KitchenAid stand mixer last a lifetime?

With proper care, it's possible! Keep in mind that technology changes, so it's never a guarantee that a small appliance like a KitchenAid stand mixer will be forever compatible with modern home wiring or safety specifications. (Your grandma's toaster or microwave may still work, but it might not necessarily be safe.) While your stand mixer might not become a family heirloom, you should get many years of use out of it. 

How do I use my KitchenAid stand mixer?

I'd start with a solid recipe for something you like to eat often, like cookies or bread. Once you know what you want to make, a well-written recipe should guide you through when to add ingredients, what speed to use, and even when to scrape down the bowl. Recipes from cookbooks or food magazines are usually well-tested and thoroughly written. Some good cookbooks to start with include "Pastry Love,""Black Girl Baking", "Bravetart,""Cook's Illustrated Baking Book", "The New Way to Cake," and "The Back in the Day Bakery Cookbook." It's also good to keep best practices in mind: avoid overloading the mixer or adding too many ingredients at once, and turn up the speed slowly to avoid kitchen messes. Only operate your stand mixer on a stable countertop or table, and don't leave it unattended while it's running. 

Can I use an electric hand mixer instead of a stand mixer?

Electric hand mixers are best used for light batters or frostings where you want to incorporate a lot of air, and it doesn't take a lot of mixing to bring the ingredients together. While the electric mixer is spinning the whisks, you're still responsible for moving the mixer around the bowl. This is much less efficient than a stand mixer where the whisk is rotating, but also moving in a circular motion around the work bowl. Electric hand mixers also aren't very good for heavy doughs or recipes with a lot of varying textures since these tend to get caught in the smaller tines of the beaters. While an electric hand mixer is an efficient way to whip up a batch of brownies or frosting, stand mixers are much more versatile.

Why buy a KitchenAid stand mixer

While there are a number of other stand mixer brands out there — including Breville, Sunbeam, Oster, and Bosch — none are as ubiquitous or revered as the KitchenAid stand mixer. Some people consider purchasing a KitchenAid stand mixer to be a life milestone, and according to The Knot, a KitchenAid stand mixer was the most-wished-for product on wedding registries in 2019. Julia Child's KitchenAid mixer even lives in the Smithsonian Museum. But what makes KitchenAid stand mixers so special?

KitchenAid stand mixers have been around for more than a century. According to KitchenAid, the brand got its name in 1919 when an executive's wife called the first home model stand mixer "the best kitchen aid I've ever had." The name stuck and KitchenAid has been synonymous with stand mixers ever since. While there are a number of great stand mixers from other brands out there, KitchenAid still stands out in a number of ways.

Durability: I've tried almost every brand of stand mixer out there in my seven years reviewing kitchen products, and KitchenAid mixers are the only ones that use an almost all-metal construction. Other brands cut costs by using plastic in part of the design: either in the body of the mixer, on knobs and dials, in the mixing attachments, or even in the gears. Mixers made with a lot of plastic are usually lighter and less expensive, but much less durable. KitchenAid mixers can last for decades because of their strong metal parts. While this stronger construction comes at a premium — KitchenAid mixers are among the most expensive out there — their durability makes them a great investment. Even the most affordable KitchenAid mixer shares this same hearty construction and powerful motor and will last for decades with proper care. There is also a robust network of authorized KitchenAid repair technicians who can repair your stand mixer if something does break.

Stability: The all-metal design makes KitchenAid mixers much heavier than most other brands. While they can be a pain to lug around, the added heft produces an important benefit: more stability when mixing. Lighter machines can shake or "walk" off countertops. The heaviness of KitchenAid mixers helps them stay put. 

A mixer for everybody: Many brands that make stand mixers only produce one or two models. KitchenAid makes almost a dozen models with different capacities, power, and price points. This allows you to choose a model that meets your needs and excels at the tasks you perform most.

Attachments: KitchenAid is the only brand that has produced a robust lineup of attachments that extend the versatility of its stand mixers. These attachments can turn your KitchenAid into a food processor, meat grinder, ice cream maker, spiralizer, pasta machine, and more — eliminating the need to buy separate appliances that are often larger and more expensive. 

Colors: It's undeniable that one of the major selling points of a KitchenAid mixer is the sheer number of colors available to choose from. KitchenAid offers its mixers in 47 different colors — no other brand even comes close to that much customization. While choosing an appliance based on color may seem silly to some consumers, the ability to pick out a color that matches your personality or decor is one of the reasons people feel such an affinity to KitchenAid mixers.

Check out our other kitchen appliance guides

The best KitchenAid attachments

The best espresso machines

The best blenders

The best food processors

The best juicers

Burger King announced its first total rebrand in over 20 years on Wednesday, including a return to the classic logo and an emphasis on the whopper. 

Insider saw inside the first restaurant in this new design through a virtual tour in Miami. The new look will eventually roll out to the rest of the chain, although customers might not see it for a while as Burger King corporate plans a prolonged integration over the next few years. 

Read more: Burger King is taking a page out of McDonald's playbook, with Amazon-esque drive-thrus that can predict what you want to order

Burger King told Insider that it made a "huge investment" in its mobile app over the past year, where the design will be visible first. Like McDonald's, Chipotle, and other fast-food chains, Burger King spent 2020 improving the app and drive-thru experience as more orders come digitally because of the pandemic.

Restaurant Brands International, Burger King's parent company, is installing high-tech drive-thrus at 10,000 Burger Kings and Tim Horton's, and eventually Popeyes. The new drive thrus will have digital screens with predictive ordering and double drive-thru lanes where possible.

Here's what the Burger King of the future will look like. 

SEE ALSO: KFC is reigniting the chicken wars with a new sandwich to take on Popeyes and Chick-fil-A

Updating the logo is one of the most obvious and recognizable changes.

For the rebrand, Burger King removed the blue from the logo because "there's no blue food," Global Chief Marketing Officer Fernando Machado told Insider. "Buns don't shine," he said, so that had to go too.

The logo felt "old," he said, and was "from a time when the design characteristics were trendy." He said the brand improved the proportions and font to make the classic design feel modern.

The new logo is a modern version of the classic BK look, putting the restaurant name between two buns.

The new font is a key part of the rebrand, according to Machado, who described it as "yummy" and "gooey."

All Burger King branding was also redesigned in colors inspired by the Whopper.

Some of the newer ads don't actually include the new logo, so they have already started to roll out.

Digital branding is the easiest and fastest to change, and will reflect the new designs almost immediately.

Other parts of the overall brand, like uniforms, will be slower to roll out.

Burger King will "flow through" the new designs, integrating them in as franchisees order new uniforms.

The new uniforms will vary by country and location, but options include t shirts and several types of jackets.

The same principle applies to packaging, and Machado says franchises can use up what they have instead of letting it go to waste.

The new logos and signage also emphasize the flame-grilled whopper, with open kitchens that show off the broiler.

The whopper and broiler are key and nearly every element calls back to them.

Burger King won't force newer restaurants to change the logo or layout immediately, though.

The new logo and design elements complement other changes to the brand, as it introduced new restaurant models in late 2020 with food lockers, conveyor belts, and other "restaurant of tomorrow" ideas.

Source: Business Insider

• Compression socks help speed muscle recovery and potentially improve athletic performance.
• The garments also improve blood flow for anyone with venous or lymphatic issues, like the elderly or pregnant women.
• High-quality compression socks provide firm pressure from the ankle to the upper calf, giving your legs the support they need during exercise, travel, long workdays, and many other situations.
• Our top pick, the CEP Progressive+ Compression Run Socks 2.0, provides firm pressure throughout the sock without sagging, making them comfortable and effective all day long.
• Sign up for Insider Reviews' weekly newsletter for more buying advice and great deals.

Compression socks are one of those garments that seem gimmicky, but they actually have science behind them to help improve your circulation. Compression socks work by squeezing the walls of the veins and leg tissues to help blood work its way against gravity to the heart. They also help the flow of lymph fluid, which helps remove cellular waste and circulate bacteria-fighting white blood cells throughout your body. These improvements lead to less leg fatigue, achiness, and swelling.

Though they're often worn via doctor's orders, compression socks are available to anyone. There are a few categories of people who might benefit from wearing compression socks: athletes looking for better performance and/or recovery, and folks with venous or lymphatic issues in the legs, like elderly people with deep vein thrombosis or pregnant women trying to minimize varicose veins. People also like to wear compression socks to improve circulation on long flights or long work shifts on their feet (like nurses), where the improved circulation may help reduce soreness.

Many studies show wearing compression socks can help improve blood flow to your lower limbs, promoting healthier vein functioning and healing. Venous issues are particularly high for pregnant women as they have a larger volume of blood pumping through their body. Some 40% of pregnant women develop varicose veins, while the risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE) is four- to five-fold higher for moms-to-be compared to non-pregnant women. Wearing compression socks or stockings during pregnancy can potentially help reduce swelling and discomfort, improve circulation, and minimize varicose veins.

When it comes to athletic performance, the jury's still out on just how effective compression garments, including socks, can be. Some research confirms that wearing compression garments helps improve running endurance or cycling sprints, while others say it doesn't change a thing.

However, a recently-published analysis in theOpen Access Journal of Sports Medicine looked at 21 studies and found that a small number do show wearing compression socks during exercise improved performance. Mostly, though, the studies showed wearing the special socks during a grueling workout helped fit folks feel like their leg muscles were firing better, fatiguing less, and after the workout, less sore. Even if it's more placebo than anything, for anyone training hard, particularly for long endurance events like a marathon, wearing compression socks during workouts and recovery may help make your training plan easier.

While researching the best compression socks, we tested dozen of styles across brands like Swiftwick, CEP, and Sockwell. Our guide features socks that provide great comfort, are relatively durable, and are fit to wear in a variety of situations.

Here are the best compression socks:

• Best compression socks overall: CEP Progressive+ Compression Run Socks 2.0
• Best budget compression socks: SB Sox Lite Compression Socks
• Best compression sock for circulation support: Sockwell Elevation Graduated Compression Socks
• Best compression sock for post-workout: Zensah Tech+ Compression Socks
• Best compression sock for runners: Swiftkick Aspire Twelve
• Best compression sock for standing all day: Sockwell Circulator Graduated Compression Socks
• Best patterned compression socks: Vim & Vigr Graduated Compression Socks

Updated on 1/7/2021 by Rachael Schultz: Added research behind who compression socks are helpful for, updated formatting, checked the availability of all recommended socks, and updated the prices and links where necessary. 

The best compression socks overall

Whether you are a runner or just someone who wants to relieve lower leg ailments, the CEP Progressive+ Compression Run Socks 2.0 provides all-day comfort.

Pros: Incredibly comfortable, thinner, won't sag over the course of the day

Cons: Expensive, sizing can be tricky so be sure to measure before ordering

The CEP Progressive+ Compression Run Socks 2.0 (available in men's and women's sizes) stand out from the other socks on our list due in large part to the fact they offer unparalleled comfort — and should be considered by anyone, despite a steep price tag. 

The brand's parent company, Medi, has been producing medical compression products for over 70 years. The founder of CEP, who is an Ironman, leveraged Medi's technical knowledge and designs for athletes.

Made of polyamide/nylon (60%), elastane (25%), and polypropylene (15%), this CEP socks offer precise 20-30mmHg graduated and consistent compression so they won't sag as the day goes on.

The Progressive+ 2.0 Socks feature a halo top band that lands right below the knee. This keeps your socks in place and the front ribbing allows air to flow through to cool your skin's surface. Per CEP's website, the company offers a six-month guarantee that covers wearing the socks up to 150 times before the compression lessens. 

These socks are recommended for anyone who suffers from shin splints, Achilles issues, or plantar fasciitis. They're also great for runners looking to rehab their leg after a long run or workout. 

The best budget compression socks

The SB Sox Lite Compression Socks are the least expensive pair in our guide, yet they stay up and provide reliable comfort.

Pros: Inexpensive, relatively durable, snug fit

Cons: Only comes in two sizes

Though the SB Sox Lite Compression Socks are about one-fifth the price of our top pick, they rival it in performance. These socks have a graduated compression rating of 15-20mmHg, which is slightly less than the CEP socks but still supplies sufficient compression for blood circulation.

The socks are made of breathable and lightweight spandex and nylon, which helps to wick away sweat and moisture from your feet. SB Sox come in 11 different colors and two sizes: S/M and L/XL.

Though they seem thinner and lighter than other picks on this list, SB Sox socks hold up well through numerous wears and washes. Plus, they provide a snug fit that doesn't feel too constricting. More sizing options would be welcome, though.

The best for circulation support

If you experience circulation problems due to chronic health issues, the Sockwell Elevation Graduated Compression Socks may be your best bet for achieving leg comfort.

Pros: Lightweight, maintain their snugness all day long

Cons: The top of the sock might warp over time, only comes in two sizes

For people with venous or lymphatic issues in their legs, compression therapy can help move blood through the veins and tissue better, which in turn promotes healing and prevents ulcers and other issues. Compression stockings are one of the easier options to put on and less cumbersome than medical bandages, says a 2014 study in CMAJ.

The Sockwell Elevation Graduated Compression Socks (available in men's and women's sizes) are made in the United States using bamboo rayon (31%), merino wool (31%), stretch nylon (30%), and spandex (8%). This combination helps with moisture management, thermoregulation, and odor control.

What's more, these are one of the firmer pairs from Sockwell offering compression of 20-30mmHg. A 2019 study analysis in BMC Geriatrics found elderly folks with chronic blood flow issues (venous insufficiency) and swollen legs who wore class 2 compression stockings (pressure between 20 and 30 mmHg) regularly were less likely to have leg ulcers come back compared to wearing lower compression class 1 stockings (pressure below 20 mmHg).

These Sockwell socks have four zones of graduated compression beginning at the ankles and moving up. Since the compression starts at the ankles, the toes remain comfortable. There are four colors for men to choose from and eight in the women's style.

The best for post-workout

After running countless miles, slipping on a pair of Zensah Tech+ Compression Socks can decrease soreness and help your muscles recover.

Pros: Great for easing muscle soreness, cushioned bottom, durable, 4 sizes, 14 colors

Cons: May not be tight enough for your needs, long drying time

The Zensah Tech+ Compression Socks come in four sizes, which is helpful for ensuring you get the right fit — the appropriate sock size gives you the appropriate level of pressure. Constructed of 82% polyamide and 18% elastane, these socks feature ultra-zone ribbing which targets ankle and arch stabilization, which is ideal for runners with weaknesses in these areas.

The 200 needle count construction is designed to make the socks denser, durable, and reduce stretching over time. They're sweat-wicking, too, but don't tend to dry out very quicky, so are best worn in cooler weather. Zensah offers the socks in 14 colors, including Black, Heather Grey, and Neon Pink. 

The best for runners

Swiftwick's Aspire Twelve help relieve muscle soreness and prevent or relieve shin splints — something any runner can appreciate.

Pros: Offers comfortable compression for runners, promotes blood flow, helps relieve shin splints, and wicks away moisture

Cons: Can be difficult to put on

Swiftwick's compression socks run the gamut of everything from knee-high versions for those looking for full leg relief to no-show options for golfers. For runners, its Aspire Twelve socks are an excellent option to help relieve muscle soreness, prevent or care for shin splints, and provide stability and comfort. 

Comprised of a blend of 43% nylon, 11% spandex, and 46% olefin, the Aspire Twelves don't just offer the benefits of compression but also help wick away moisture to keep your feet dry. They work well to keep on even after your run as you'll continue to reap the benefits of compression as you recover. 

The best for standing all-day

If your job requires you to be on your feet for most of the day, give your lower legs a break with Sockwell's Circulator Graduated Compression Socks.

Pros: Good for reducing foot and ankle swelling, incredibly comfortable, inexpensive

Cons: Concerns about durability, socks may only come up to mid-calf in taller people

The Sockwell Circulator Graduated Compression Socks have a lot of the same features as our pick for best circulation, the Sockwell Elevation socks. They both have four zones of graduated compression from the ankle on up, which keeps the toes feeling comfortable, and each are made of a combination of spandex, bamboo rayon, stretch nylon, and merino wool. But the main differences are that the Circulator socks have moderate compression (15-20mmHg) and cost a bit less ($30 per pair).

The Circulator socks only come in two sizes, though there are nine colors to choose from, including Black Stripe, Charcoal, Black Solid, and Port. Regardless of the size, the socks aren't very long, so they're best used for people with shorter builds. 

The best patterned compression socks

Vim & Vigr combines form and function with its fashion-forward compression socks that you'll just love to be seen in.

Pros: Stylish, comfortable, available for both men and women

Cons: Can get expensive

First and foremost, Vim & Vigr compression socks work. After all, no amount of aesthetic creativity would be able to make up for compression socks that don't do much by way of compressing. Luckily, that's not the case with these.

I'm particularly fond of Vim & Vigr's medical-grade compression level, which are designed with a Gradient Knitting Technology to help promote circulation in your calves. The socks feature a structured leg but a flexible toe and heel so that you're supported where you need it but still able to move. These socks offer moderate to firm compression, with somewhere between 20 and 30 mmHG depending on the style.

Regardless of your selection, however, you'll find that Vim & Vigr helps to prevent swelling in your legs, and alleviates pain and achiness. I found that these socks were just as helpful during runs as they were during HIIT workouts — especially as the weather gets colder and circulation becomes increasingly important.

What sets Vim & Vigr apart are its fun, unique designs. Not only is there a wide range of colors to choose from but the brand also offers several interesting patterns. I'm a fan of the colorblock options, as well as Rugby Stripe pattern for men.

Vim & Vigr offers wide calf versions of all their socks for both men and women, so you don't have to be uncomfortable even when donning a tight pair of socks. If you don't need medical-grade compression, you can always opt for the brand's moisture-wicking nylon material, or the remarkably warm merino wool composition. You could also check out Vim & Vigr sleeves, which compress your calves without encasing your feet.

How to shop for compression socks

Compression sock ratings

The compression in the stockings is measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). Specifically, compression socks are rated based on blood pressure. The majority of compression socks either have a moderate pressure rating of 10 to 20 mmHg or a firm rating of 20 to 30 mmHg.

None of the socks we reviewed have a rating above 30 mm Hg, but there are specialty shops where you can find these if needed. Graduated compression socks, the most common type, are tighter near the ankle than at the calf to avoid cutting off circulation.

Fabrics used

Most compression socks are made from a blend of synthetic fabrics that provide a snug and stretchy fit. In the reviews that follow, we let you know what materials are used in the construction of the socks but unless you have an issue with a specific material, you should let performance be your main guide in choosing the best compression socks.

How best to use compression socks

There is a bit of a paradox associated with wearing compression socks. You may have purchased them to deal with leg swelling. Yet, this same swelling makes it hard for you to put them on. So, what can you do? There are countless resources on the web to help you out, plus we've compiled a few tips here, as well: 

• Apply talcum powder or cornstarch to your feet before putting your socks on.
• Wear dishwashing gloves to get a better grip.
• Roll the socks before you put them on so you can just roll them up your legs.

• Asheville's proximity to the Blue Ridge Parkway and Great Smoky Mountains makes it an ideal city getaway for those who also crave time outdoors. 
• With the ongoing pandemic, many travelers prefer private vacation rentals, which experts note are safer than hotels.
• We selected highly-rated vacation homes in Asheville and the surrounding area ranging from $118 to $399 per night. 
• Read more: Are Airbnbs safe? We spoke to experts, a company representative, and an Airbnb host on everything you should know before booking someone's home

Surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains in the far west of North Carolina, Asheville is an isolated city ideal for a socially distanced vacation. The gateway to the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Great Smoky Mountains, its proximity to the mountains means plenty of opportunities to experience the great outdoors and enjoy hiking, skiing, biking, or simply relaxing by a firepit. 

Asheville is also home to the largest privately-owned home in the country, the Historic Biltmore Estate. One of the city's top attractions, it was the former home of the Vanderbilts and, in addition to its sprawling grounds and grandeur, its annual Christmas decor continues to wow visitors each winter. Currently, capacity has been reduced due to COVID-19, and tickets are required, but visitors can still admire its impressive architecture, curated gardens, artwork, and antiques. 

As the pandemic continues to rage across the country, it's more important than ever to be vigilant about planning a trip that incorporates socially distant activities and COVID-19 safety precautions. We always recommend following guidelines from the CDC, practicing frequent hand-washing, social distancing, and wearing a mask in public spaces. According to experts and the CDC, booking private vacation rentals is safer than hotel stays right now due to no contact with other guests or staff. 

Airbnb and Vrbo offer private accommodations that lower potential risk factors, with a majority providing contactless check-ins and implementing augmented cleaning measures. Renters can look for Airbnb Enhanced Clean properties that have upgraded their cleaning standards, and those searching on Vrbo can use a search filter to view homes that have been "Highly Rated for Cleanliness." 

While Airbnb and Vrbo are some of the best-known vacation rental companies, there are also a few local rental services like Carolina Mornings and Greybeard Rentals that feature options worth a look. Both rental companies offer a selection of condos, cabins, and luxury homes in and around Asheville. They have also implemented strict cleaning standards, with Carolina Mornings offering a 24-hour buffer between guest stays.  

In and around the charming city of Asheville, you will find everything from high-end lofts in the city center to sprawling homes perched in the mountains with floor-to-ceiling windows to take in gorgeous sunsets. 

We selected top homes from each platform based on the following criteria:

1. 1. In line with COVID-19 precautions, these listings are entire homes, cottages, and standalone apartments to prevent interactions with others. 
   2. The properties are priced between $118 and $399 per night to start to suit a range of budgets.
   3. Each property has a number of appealing features, such as outdoor hot tubs, fire pits, and expansive patios with mountain views. 
   4. All listings are located throughout the Asheville area. Many are right in the city for those who prefer being close to the action, while a few cabin options are in the surrounding area just a 10 to 20-minute drive away for those who want a more secluded option. 
   5. All listings are well reviewed and have a rating of 4.8 or higher. 

Here are the best Asheville vacation rentals, sorted by price from low to high.

Downtown Asheville luxury condo, $118

Book this luxury condo starting at $128 per night on Airbnb  

This tastefully decorated fourth-floor apartment close to downtown Asheville boasts beautiful mountain views and is within easy walking distance to numerous restaurants and shops. The apartment offers one bedroom with a King-size bed, as well as a sleeper sofa to accommodate up to four people.

The bathroom features a walk-in shower and double vanity sinks. The kitchen invites you to whip up your meal in-house thanks to stainless steel appliances and granite countertops, but you may be tempted to bring in takeout from a number of nearby, top-rated restaurants. The western-facing balcony features a bistro table and chairs ideal for catching the sunset. 

Explore galleries, independent shops, and excellent eateries serving farm-fresh food right nearby. You can also park your car in the secure on-site parking area offered by the rental.

The apartment has plenty of availability in January and through the rest of the year currently. 

Rating: 4.89 

COVID-19 cleaning procedures: This home participates in Airbnb's Enhanced Clean program, meaning the host is committed to a rigorous cleaning protocol developed with leading health and hospitality experts.

Historic downtown alley spacious loft, $207

Book this spacious loft starting at $207 per night on Airbnb

Urban dwelling doesn't have to be in tight quarters. At this 1,300 square-foot airy loft, in a centrally located historic building on Carolina Lane, guests have two full bedrooms, making it an ideal choice for families or couples traveling together. 

The apartment building is just off West Walnut Street in the shopping district. The location on a one-way alley brings solace away from the bustle of the city. 

Expect modern amenities, designer furnishings, and curated artwork at this recently renovated and professionally designed living arrangement. Exposed ducts and cathedral ceilings give it an industrial edge accentuated by hardwood floors, shades of gray and burnt orange furnishings. Instead of curtains, the windows are covered with reflected privacy mirroring. The first bedroom is just off the dining area and the second bedroom is separated from the living space with custom drapes. 

This loft has scattered availability left in January and February, but opens up in March and beyond. 

Rating: 4.9 

COVID-19 cleaning procedures: This home participates in Airbnb's Enhanced Clean program, meaning the host is committed to a rigorous cleaning protocol developed with leading health and hospitality experts.

Two-bedroom contemporary house in West Asheville, $209

Book this two-bedroom home starting at $209 per night on Airbnb

If you are looking for a stay with your family or pod close to downtown, but away from city activity, this two-bedroom home in a quiet neighborhood in West Asheville is a reliable choice. At 1,600 square feet, the property has everything you need for a comfortable stay, from a gourmet kitchen and washer/dryer to smart TVs and high-speed internet. 

Granite countertops, top-brand appliances, and fully stocked cookware are welcome kitchen touches. The master suite, located on the main level, has a wall-mounted flat-screen TV, and a master bath with dual sinks and rainfall showers. Upstairs is an office and media room with sofa beds and a second bedroom. Modern furnishings. soothing gray and blue decor tones, and colorful contemporary artwork make this an airy and delightful space. 

The house features two outdoor venues: the deck surrounded by trees sits adjacent to the indoor bar area, with inviting couches to relax or dine, and another deck with a comfortable couch and a wooden table and chairs with an umbrella for outdoor family meals. 

This home still has scattered dates available in January, February, and March.

Rating: 5.0 

COVID-19 cleaning procedures: This home participates in Airbnb's Enhanced Clean program, meaning the host is committed to a rigorous cleaning protocol developed with leading health and hospitality experts.

Biltmore Village historic apartment, $250

Book this historic apartment starting at $250 per night on Airbnb 

Griffin's Lair cottage, built in 1895 and designed by the supervising architect of the Biltmore, R.S. Smith, backs up to the 8,000 acres of the sprawling estate. At this warm and cozy one-bedroom apartment, original architecture blends with modern furnishings. Guests can enjoy views of Biltmore Village and The Cathedral of All Souls, located across the street. The village is designed to resemble an English hamlet and is among the country's first company towns, built to house the workers and their families of the estate. 

All sleep areas have blackout shades or curtains and windows with sound-deadening glass panels to keep the space extra quiet. Walls are decorated with local and historic artwork. Guests can enjoy amenities like flat-screen TVs, a full kitchen, laundry, and 24/7 parking.

Downstairs lies the Biltmore Lamp and Shade shop, offering vintage clothing and antique items. For more shopping, additional independent boutiques and major brand stores are just steps away. Biltmore Village also features some of Asheville's best restaurants. If you stay here, be sure to set aside an entire day to experience the Vanderbilt Mansion and its surrounding gardens. 

This apartment has plenty of availability throughout January and beyond. 

Rating: 4.94

COVID-19 cleaning procedures: This home participates in Airbnb's Enhanced Clean program, meaning the host is committed to a rigorous cleaning protocol developed with leading health and hospitality experts. The owner has also implemented contactless check-in and check-out.

Woodfin's hobbit knoll, $293

Book this hobit knoll starting at $293 per night on Airbnb 

Unlike the other houses in the area, the Hobbit Knoll is built into the earth, and gives guests the ultimate Middle-earth living experience. Inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit" this property, located in the Woodfin area North of Asheville, sits mostly underground on an eight-acre parcel in a forested area along with other treehouses from Treehouses of Serenity. Woodfin is situated along the banks of the French Broad River and you are bound to encounter friendly people, great restaurants, and beautiful scenery. 

A breathtaking view awaits just outside the large, round glass front door. The small home features two circular locally handcrafted hobbit doors, a living area, a stone and poplar bark bedroom with a Queen-size bed, kitchenette, gas fireplace, and a farm-style table. Though you may not find The Shire right outside, you can certainly sit by the firepit and take in a quintessential North Carolina sunset over the Blue Ridge Mountains.  

This house has some availability still throughout January, February, and March. Dates are wide open from April on. 

Rating: 5.0 

COVID-19 cleaning procedures: This home participates in Airbnb's Enhanced Clean program, meaning the host is committed to a rigorous cleaning protocol developed with leading health and hospitality experts.

River cottage for large family, $302

Book this family cottage starting at $302 on Vrbo 

This sun-filled cottage overlooking the French Broad River provides everything you and your family need for an Asheville vacation, including proximity to the Biltmore Estate, plenty of nature, and easy access to downtown, Haywood Road, and the River Arts District. 

The theme of the home is blue, to reflect the nearby Blue Ridge Mountains. The master bedroom and kids' rooms are all blue-hued, and azure artwork adorns the walls. The large, open kitchen offsets this with dark wood cabinetry and gray tiling. The large dining area includes a long wooden table and makes for a delightful space for family gatherings. 

"There were activities close by if you wanted to raft down the river and we weren't far from restaurants. There's a lovely walking path along the river that we took part in. The house was very clean," writes one recent reviewer. 

This house has wide open availability over the next several months. 

Rating: 4.9 

COVID-19 cleaning procedures: No specific new procedures are outlines, but the house is highly rated for cleanliness.

Black Mountain log cabin, $331

Book this log cabin starting at $331 per night on Carolina Mornings 

Lakey Gap Lodge seems like it's far from civilization, but it's just minutes from America's most charming small town, Black Mountain. This newer property, built in 2017, is located in the community of Lynch Cove, less than a 20-minute drive from Asheville. It features a vaulted ceiling, a stone fireplace, and a modern kitchen. Built with an eastern white pine exterior, heart pine flooring, and knotty pine doors, it's a nature lover's dream, and the serene smell of wood is sure to help you relax.  

The wraparound porch hosts a hot tub and a wrought-iron dining table with an umbrella and chairs to take in the tree-filled hillsides. Soak up the sun and inhale the fresh mountain air on a wonderful walk that takes you up the road along the "Tranquility Lane" to a beautiful overlook. This pet-friendly house has two floors and four bedrooms, making this a good choice for families. 

The best part of a stay here are the perks, including the Mountain Discovery Pass to the Biltmore Estate (that's good every day of the stay), as well as access to seasonal activities. 

The log cabin has some availability left in January and February and is wide open starting in March. 

Rating: 5.0 

COVID-19 cleaning procedures: Carolina Mornings is the only company in Asheville that offers a 24-hour buffer between guest stays on every rental. They are exceeding all CDC recommendations for cleanliness and taking the safety of their guests seriously.

Blue Ridge Parkway secluded stay, $399

Book this luxury secluded stay starting at $399 per night on Greybeard Rentals   

Blue Ridge Bliss, as the name suggests, is a blissful escape set atop 10 wooded acres overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains. Situated minutes from the Blue Ridge Parkway and 15 minutes from Asheville, this newly built luxury vacation rental boasts 180-degree views from massive windows from the two living spaces and a private master suite with an ensuite bathroom. This pet-friendly house has three bedrooms, suitable for family get-togethers or stays with those in your bubble. 

The massive floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace is the centerpiece of the living room. A large, open kitchen has a rustic feel with cream-colored cabinets and a five-burner stove on the main island, making cooking meals with your family a joy. Gather around to do a puzzle at the wooden dining table overlooking the mountains, read a book by a roaring fire, or lounge in the downstairs den by the large flat-panel TV sitting in home-theater recliners. The upper loft, featuring a TV, seating, and a generous desk is ideal for kids or those who need to get work done.

Right outside the glass doors, a wooden firepit and a hot tub are just the icing on the cake compared to the panoramic views. 

This home still has plenty of available dates over the next several months.

Rating: 5.0 

COVID-19 cleaning procedures: Greybeard Rentals has a high standard for cleanliness and sends a quality control inspector after every housekeeping cleaning; cleaners have been using medical-grade disinfectant at homes. The rental company also has a mask policy for anyone other than renters entering the property, as well keyless, contact-free entry.

• Jumping rope is an excellent source of cardio exercise, and can easily be done either from the comfort of your home, at a local park or outdoor space, or while you're traveling.
• The best jump ropes are durable enough to stand up to constant use, come with extras like additional ropes or ball-bearing handles, and are backed by a useful warranty.
• Our top pick, the Crossrope Get Lean Set, comes with multiple rope weight options, an easy-to-use handle changing system, and a companion app that has a variety of workouts and how-tos.

Everyone has at least some distant memory of jumping rope growing up. Be it a jump-a-thon contest to raise money for your school or a grueling junior high workout, the jump rope's been a part of almost everyone's gym class upbringing. Despite whatever feeling you have about them today, the fact remains that jumping rope is an excellent cardio exercise. 

But forget about those bulky, segmented jump ropes of days past. Today's jump ropes are engineered specifically to cut through the air with the slightest flick of your wrists — tangling is virtually unheard of, too. The best jump ropes also feature a coated steel cable attached to comfortable, lightweight handles with ball bearings that allow for seamless rotation of the rope. In the world of jump ropes, this is considered high-tech. 

What makes this exercise even more appealing is that it's easy to get done no matter where you are. Whether you're at home or on-the-road, a few minutes of jump rope gets your heart pumping and lets you break a quick sweat — so long as you have your own jump rope on hand.

And that's where we come in. Though it's easy to think that all jump ropes are cut from the same cloth, there's quite a wide range of variety on the market. To help, we've tested (and continue to test) jump ropes from brands like Crossrope and WOD Nation in order to find those worthy of being included in your weekly fitness routine.

Based on proven performance, affordability, and durable design, the following five jump ropes all excelled in various categories such as the best for speed work, the best for beginners, and, of course, the best overall. At the end of this guide, we've included some tips on how to shop for a jump rope, as well as some insight into our testing methodology.

Here are the best jump ropes: 

• Best jump rope overall: Crossrope Get Lean Set
• Best jump rope for speed work: WOD Nation Speed Jump Rope
• Best jump rope for beginners: Fitskuad Jump Rope
• Best jump rope for double unders: Survival and Cross Jump Rope
• Best budget jump rope: XYLsports Jump Rope

Updated on 10/15/2020 by Rick Stella: Updated the section on how to shop for a jump rope, added a rundown of how exactly we tested each rope and what we looked for, checked the availability of each recommended jump rope, and updated the prices and links where necessary.

Best overall

Crossrope reimagines the tried-and-true jump rope by offering multiple weighted rope options, an easy-to-use handle clipping system, and a companion app with workouts and insight. 

Pros: Ropes come in multiple weight options, easy-to-swap soft handles, companion app has great workout guidance

Cons: Expensive

At $99, Crossrope's Get Lean Set isn't exactly inexpensive but it's not just any traditional jump rope. Rather, the brand specializes in a few features that set its jump ropes apart from the pack (and give it that premium price tag). 

First are its ergonomic handles. Lightweight and easy to hold, the handles feature a quick clasp system that makes it easy to swap them in and out of the ropes. Each handle also has a soft grip that won't slip out of your hand, even when you start sweating — we've tested this in the humidity of NYC and the comfortable, tacky grips are a very welcome sight.

The other feature that makes a Crossrop an attractive choice is its variety of rope weights. The Get Lean Set, specifically, comes with both a 1/2-pound rope good for advanced cardio exercises and a 1/4-pound rope that works well for HIIT routines and endurance training. As mentioned above, the handles just click in and out of the end of each rope for easy swapping. 

Crossrope also offers a companion smartphone application that comes standard with workout inspiration and routine guidance. The Lite version is completely free whereas premium access runs $10 per month. -- Rick Stella, health and fitness editor for Insider Reviews

Best for speed work

When speed and long-lasting performance are your main concerns, the WOD Nation Speed Jump Rope is your best option.

Pros: Comes with an extra cable, features a smooth bearing system for speed work

Cons: Susceptible to wear when used on hard surfaces

The WOD Nation Speed Jump Rope comes with an extra cable, replacement hardware, and a nylon drawstring carrying bag. The cable is 2.5 millimeters thick and is made of coated steel. It comes at a length of 11 feet, which you can easily adjust. The handles are 6.75 inches long and are made of a nylon resin that tapers at the end for a better grip.

This speed rope uses a patented four-metal ball bearing system in the handles. There is a bearing on the tip of each handle to hold the cable and another bearing in each handle for smooth rotations. This model is currently available in nine colors, including black, grey, purple, and orange.

WOD Nation says the jump rope comes with a "100% lifetime guarantee," but we were unable to find the specifics of this policy. On its website, WOD does state that it doesn't offer exchanges or refunds if fourteen days have passed since your purchase. Of course, if you order through Amazon, you get 30 days.

Best for beginners

The Fitskuad Jump Rope comes with a lot of extras that are ideal for someone just getting started with jump rope workouts.

Much like our top pick, the Fitskuad Jump Rope comes with an extra cable, additional attachments, and a carrying bag. It also comes with a free ebook titled "The Secret to Mastering Double Unders" for people new to jumping rope. The cable is ten feet long and coated with a PVC sleeve for durability. Meanwhile, the handles are six inches long and feature comfortable foam grips.

Fitskuad has a lifetime warranty on this jump rope. The company will send you a new unit if there is ever a problem with yours for any reason.

The biggest concern is that the screws that keep the cable attached to the handles can easily become loose. We recommend checking the screws before each workout to make sure they're tight.

Pros: Durable coated cable and long, comfortable handles

Cons: The screws may not stay tightened

Best for double unders

The Survival and Cross Jump Rope was designed for speed with its right-angle ball bearing construction and lightweight handles.

Pros: Excellent ball bearing system for speed

Cons: Handles may be too short, history of handles breaking

The Survival and Cross Jump Rope is the one I own. I bought it ten months ago to get a good cardio workout when Mother Nature made running or cycling unbearable. When I ordered it, I was a little surprised that Survival and Cross reached out to me multiple times to provide me with various resources to improve my workouts. I didn't use any of the resources, but it was a nice touch for users starting from scratch.

The Survival and Cross rope doesn't come with an extra cable, but it does come with extra hardware, a carrying bag, and plenty of online manuals and ebooks. The cable is ten feet long (good for people up to about 6'4" tall), and the handles are five inches long.

The only issue I've had with the rope is that the bearings don't move smoothly all of the time. This caused the cable to wrap around a handle while I'm jumping, eventually forcing me to stop and unravel it.

Best budget jump rope

When you're on a budget yet want a high-quality rope to up the intensity of your workouts, the XYLsports Jump Rope is your best bet.

Pros: Affordable, smooth rope swing, durable, comfortable grips, lifetime warranty

Cons: Difficult to adjust

The XYLsports Jump Rope may be the most affordable option on our list but it doesn't skimp on features. This model has premium-quality bearings in the handles to allow for smooth swinging and a cord that's thick enough to stand up to the elements yet nimble for speed workouts.

The rope is 9'8" long at its longest, which makes it great for taller people, and you can adjust it to fit your frame. Compared to most cable ropes, the XYLsports model is slightly thicker, which helps avoid tangling and doesn't hurt as much when you whack your shins.

The company also offers a 100% money-back guarantee and a lifetime warranty.

How to shop for a jump rope

When shopping for a jump rope, the most important part is finding the right fit. To do this, you'll first want to make sure the rope you intend on using is sized properly to your height. Too long a jump rope gets in the way of your workout while too short a rope can easily catch on your feet and send you tumbling.

To size your rope, start by standing in the middle of it with your foot. Next, adjust the length so the handles are at your armpits. From there, test out the rope and decide if you want it to be shorter or longer. Once you have a length you're comfortable with, we recommend using a wire cutter to clip the ends of the cable so you don't have annoying and unnecessary lengths of cable hanging off. 

How we test jump ropes

Each jump rope featured in this guide went through a series of tests to see how well they stacked up across these four categories: Ease of use, versatility, durability, and value. Specifically, here's how each category factored into which jump ropes ultimately made this guide:

Ease of use: Jump ropes should be easy to use right out of the box (so long as you have your timing and rhythm down), but through the course of testing for this guide, we realized there's plenty to a jump rope that can make it easy to use. First, is how comfortable the handles feel in-hand. We also considered the flexibility of the rope, if it rotated cleanly on the handle, and if it avoided getting tangled too easily.

Versatility: There are a variety of workouts you can do using a jump rope, and they're not all just the standard motion you first think of. Whether we were doing double under, crossing the rope, or any other variation, we looked at how well the rope moved along with us at every turn. Even if our own jump roping technique wasn't flawless, we still were able to see how versatile the rope was able to be.

Durability: Much of our jump rope tests occurred outdoors where the rope would constantly hit the cement beneath our feet. Because of this, the part of the rope hitting the ground would naturally start to file down. After spending several hours jumping rope with each pick, none of those we featured ended up snapping or even filing down dangerously close enough to breaking. 

Value: Jump ropes shouldn't cost much to begin with but it is important not to just buy whatever the cheapest on the market is. Keeping in mind the three categories above, as well as a jump rope's actual sticker price, is a great way to judge the overall value. Our top pick is even $99, which seems like a lot for a jump rope, but considering everything it comes with, and the fact it scored the highest in terms of ease of use, versatility, and durability, it's worth every bit of that investment.

Around 5.3 million initial doses of the coronavirus vaccine have been administered across the US, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In April, vaccines could start being distributed to young, healthy people. 

But around four in 10 Americans have said they won't get a coronavirus vaccine, according to some recent polls (though some said they might change their minds once more people get vaccinated or more information becomes available). 

When it comes to the safety of these vaccines, however, there are good reasons to be confident already. Here are 10 explanations to give to a friend or family member who's skeptical of the shots.

SEE ALSO: Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine should be safe for most Americans, but 5 groups may want to wait for more data before getting shots

The FDA authorization means expert scientists agree that the benefits of the vaccine outweigh the risks to most Americans.

The Food and Drug Administration's decisions to authorize the vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and Moderna were based on the recommendation of an independent panel of scientific experts, who analyzed months of data from late-stage clinical trials.

This process is standard for any vaccine, including the flu shots Americans receive every year.

While scrutinizing Pfizer's data, 17 out of 22 experts on the FDA advisory panel vote agreed that the benefits of the vaccine "outweighed its risks for use in individuals 16 years of age and older."

Four experts voted against that premise and one expert abstained. These dissenting committee members, for the most part, simply said they wanted more safety data for people ages 16 and 17. One pressed for at least two months of additional data that included more studies of vulnerable groups.

But none cited major safety concerns.

"I would have voted 'yes' most enthusiastically had the language been '…18 years of age and older,'" Dr. David Kim, who directs the vaccines division at the US Department of Health and Human Services, told Business Insider.

Moderna's vaccine received a "yes" vote from 20 of the 21 committee members. Dr. Michael Kurilla, an infectious-disease expert at the National Institutes of Health, was the lone abstention on the vote. He said he abstained because the question presented to the panel was too broad.

President Donald Trump may have attempted to politicize the vaccine development process, but that didn't affect the authorization.

Over the summer, President Trump suggested that a coronavirus vaccine may become available"right around" the election on November 3. The comment gave rise to concerns that pharmaceutical companies would feel pressure to rush a vaccine to market.

"I'm rushing it. I am. I'm pushing everybody," Trump told radio host Geraldo Rivera on August 6.

Soon after, pharmaceutical companies took a rare step to assuage concern: In September, nine leading drug companies, including Pfizer and Moderna, released a joint statement promising to put safety before speed. The companies vowed to "only submit for approval or emergency use authorization after demonstrating safety and efficacy through a Phase 3 clinical study that is designed and conducted to meet requirements of expert regulatory authorities such as FDA."

Pfizer also declined US government funds for research and development to avoid potential political conflicts, the New York Times reported. And although the FDA wanted to see infections in at least 64 volunteers in late-stage trials in order to assess a vaccine's efficacy, Pfizer waited to apply for authorization until 94 people got sick.

Coronavirus vaccines have already been tested in tens of thousands of volunteers, so scientists have a good sense of how people respond.

Study volunteers have been receiving Moderna shots since March and Pfizer shots since April. Both studies are randomized control trials, meaning participants were randomly and blindly assigned to either get vaccine or a placebo. 

Both Pfizer's and Moderna's trials are also at or above the average size. A 2012 review found that the average phase-three vaccine trial had around 30,000 participants.

Pfizer's late-stage trial involved more than 43,000 volunteers across six countries and 16 US states. Eight COVID-19 cases were recorded in the group that got the vaccine, compared to 162 cases in the placebo group. That suggests the vaccine is 95% effective in preventing the disease.

Moderna's trial, meanwhile, involved more than 30,000 participants throughout 30 US states. The researchers observed 90 COVID-19 cases in the placebo group and five in the vaccine group, suggesting the vaccine is 94.5% effective.

The most effective vaccine in history, the measles vaccine, is 97% effective.

Moderna and BioNTech each designed their vaccines within days, but that doesn't mean the process was too quick.

Previously, the fastest vaccine ever developed, for mumps, took more than four years.  

Unlike traditional shots, however, vaccines that rely on messenger RNA (mRNA) — genetic material instructs cells to make proteins — can be created using just a virus' genetic code. Chinese scientists sequenced and published the coronavirus' genome in January.

"We're not skipping steps — we actually have better technology," Albert Rizzo, chief medical officer for the American Lung Association, previously told Business Insider. "Why did it take two weeks to cross the Atlantic back in the 1800s? Well, we had to go on a boat. Whereas now, you can get across the ocean in several hours."

BioNTech's co-founder, Ugur Sahin, made a rough design of the company's vaccine over one weekend in mid-January, a company spokesperson told Business Insider. Moderna also developed its mRNA vaccine in just two days. 

Then Operation Warp Speed helped accelerate Moderna's process by giving the company $483 million to develop its shot, $472 million to advance its clinical trial, and $1.5 billion in a purchase order for 100 million doses.

Pfizer threw $2 billion of its own money into its vaccine initiative, the Wall Street Journal reported. Pfizer also tested multiple candidates at once so it wouldn't have to go back to the drawing board if some proved unsuccessful. And it shaved months off its timeline by making mRNA in disposable bags instead of steel tanks. 

Like Moderna, Pfizer manufactured vaccine doses while clinical trials were ongoing. Additionally, the company opted to store multiple doses in a single vial and ship them at subarctic temperatures guaranteed to preserve the shot, rather than test whether doses could survive at higher temperatures.

Vaccines using mRNA technology are relatively new, but scientists have been developing the approach for decades.

Scientists first discovered mRNA in 1961. Roughly 30 years later, researchers at the University of Wisconsin and biotech company Vical Incorporated figured out how to manufacture mRNA so that it would instruct living cells to make specific proteins.

By 2005, biochemist Katalin Karikó — now a senior vice president at BioNTech — had discovered how to configure mRNA to slip past the body's natural defenses to avoid a dangerous immune response. 

That work inspired the founding of Moderna, which focuses solely on mRNA therapies. Before the pandemic, Moderna had entered eight mRNA vaccines into clinical trials, including a flu vaccine.

In 2017, Karikó, along with several other researchers at BioNTech and the University of Pennsylvania, showed that an mRNA vaccine protected mice and monkeys against the Zika virus. So Karikó said she wasn't surprised when two mRNA vaccines were found to prevent COVID-19.

"When people are saying, 'There is no messenger RNA vaccine that's ever been,' it is very critical and very important to know that not because it failed," she told Business Insider. "It just didn't have time to be advanced by many people."

Long-term side effects are unlikely. It's the short-term ones that scientists typically watch out for — and those generally seem to be mild and fleeting.

Both Moderna and Pfizer followed up with volunteers at least two months after they received their second injection (both vaccines require two doses). No major safety concerns were found.

"Documented adverse effects to vaccines show up mostly in hours, sometimes in days, rarely in weeks," Megan Ranney, director of the Brown University Lifespan Center for Digital Health, recently wrote on Twitter. 

With mRNA vaccines in particular, the body destroys the molecule fairly quickly, meaning it won't linger in the body.

Most Pfizer participants reported temporary side effects after being vaccinated, including fatigue, headaches, and pain at the injection site. People under 55 reported more side effects overall. Among people aged 18 to 55, 4.6% reported severe fatigue after getting their second injection, and 3.2% had severe headaches.

In Moderna's trial, nine in 10 people who got the shots registered some side effects, but they were mostly mild or moderate. Around 17% reported more serious side effects including pain or swelling at the injection site, fever, headache, fatigue, nausea, and vomiting. The side effects typically lasted for one to three days, according to documents released by the FDA.

In both trials, these results were consistent across genders, age groups, ethnic and racial groups, and people with preexisting medical problems. 

"Prior experience shows that after a vaccine has been approved by the FDA, it is rare to discover any significant new serious unexpected side effects," Dr. Noam Tau, a physician at Sheba Medical Center, said in a statement to Business Insider.

Although some people have had allergic reactions to the vaccines, that's been very rare so far.

Recent CDC data suggests that only 29 cases of confirmed anaphylaxis have been reported among the 5 million Americans who have received shots from Moderna or Pfizer.

Most of the reactions happened within 15 minutes of the vaccination, which is why the CDC recommends that vaccination sites have epinephrine at the ready. At least four patients were hospitalized, with issues including wheezing, rashes, and in at least one case, some difficulty breathing, but all of them recovered. 

Some doctors suspect that in rare cases, people may be allergic to an ingredient called polyethylene glycol, which is found in the lipid component in the vaccines. Lipids are fatty substances that help the RNA cross the cell membrane. But most people ingest this ingredient daily in foods, cosmetics, and medications (it's in Miralax, for example).

The remaining vaccine ingredients aren't particularly allergenic: they're mostly salt, sugar, and a few substances that help stabilize other ingredients. Pfizer said its vaccine doesn't contain any common allergens like nuts, eggs, or heavy metals.

The FDA has said that anyone with severe allergies to the vaccines' ingredients shouldn't be immunized.

"People with just run of the mill seasonal allergies in general, I don't expect them to have problems with this," Dr. Erin Reigh, a physician at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, told ABC News.

The vaccines aren't yet recommended for certain groups, like pregnant women and young kids, but that's because of a lack of data — not any known safety problems.

Pfizer tested its vaccine in people ages 12 and older. But the sample size of kids from ages 12 to 15 was too small to weigh the risks, so the FDA only authorized the vaccine for people 16 and up. Moderna, meanwhile, only tested its vaccine in adults ages 18 and older.

Kids are often difficult to include in trials because of ethical and safety concerns. Parents may not feel comfortable signing their kids up to participate, and researchers usually prefer to test vaccines in adolescents before young children. But there's little reason to suspect that kids will react poorly.

"Children generally respond well to vaccines," Donna Farber, a Columbia University immunologist, told Business Insider. "They should respond well or comparably to a young adult — and maybe even better."

Pregnant women aren't expected to respond differently, either. Although they have not been included in trials yet, the FDA says pregnant women won't be denied coronavirus shots if they and their doctors decide it's the right option for them.

Pfizer and Moderna plan to follow up with pregnant women who choose to get vaccinated after the shot is authorized. That's how public-health experts eventually determined it was safe for pregnant women to get the flu vaccine, even though they were never included in the trials.

FDA reviews have also said there's "insufficient data" to assess whether the vaccine is safe for immunocompromised people. Though late-stage trials included some people with preexisting health problems, the shot might be less effective if a patient's immune system isn't working properly.

Clinical trials have a shameful history among communities of color, but the recent studies were conducted safely among a diverse group of volunteers.

Many Black Americans remain skeptical of vaccines due to a long history of medical exploitation.

In the 19th century, physician James Marion Sims performed reproductive health experiments on enslaved women without anesthesia. Starting in 1932, the 40-year Tuskegee experiment denied syphilis treatment to Black men who had enrolled under the promise of free medical care. From 1961 to 1974, the Holmesburg Prison experiment tested toxic substances and mind-altering drugs on Black inmates in Philadelphia.

The recent coronavirus vaccine trials attempted to include a diverse group of participants. Moderna even slowed down its trial in September to allow more time for volunteers of color to join.

"I would rather we have higher diverse participants and take one extra week," the company's CEO Stéphane Bancel told CNBC, adding that diversity "matters more to us than speed."

As of late October, 37% of Moderna trial participants were non-white. Hispanic/Latinx volunteers made up 20% of participants, while Black volunteers made up 10% and Asian-American volunteers made up 4%.

As of December 21, 42% of Pfizer's global trial participants were non-white. Hispanic/Latinx volunteers made up 26% of participants and Black volunteers made up 10%. Asian volunteers represented 5% of trial participants, while Native American volunteers represented 1.1%.

Scientists agree that it's much safer to get an FDA-authorized vaccine than to risk getting COVID-19, which has known long-term effects.

Many coronavirus patients develop long-term complications from their infections, though researchers still aren't sure precisely what portion of people experience this. A July report from the CDC found that about one-third of coronavirus patients surveyed had not recovered after two or three weeks. An August study estimated that one in 10 coronavirus patients experienced prolonged illness.

Many individuals have fought months-long battles with fatigue, muscle aches, trouble breathing, heart palpitations, or difficulty sleeping. Some have reported neurological problems like dizziness, confusion, and delirium. Others have identified strange symptoms like hair loss and red, scaly rashes.

Some COVID-19 patients with long-lasting symptoms also report feeling weak or foggy after too much physical activity — a hallmark of chronic fatigue syndrome, an illness that can last several years or more.

A follow-up study of SARS patients in Hong Kong found that 27% met the clinical criteria for chronic fatigue syndrome four years after their illness began. (SARS and the new coronavirus share about 80% of their genetic codes.) Another study of 109 SARS patients in Toronto found that more than half hadn't returned to work due to persistent fatigue and weakness a year after they were discharged from the ICU.

"There's talk in the the medical community about a chronic fatigue syndrome-like illness that could happen after coronavirus," Dr. Nate Favini, the medical lead at Forward, a primary-care practice, told Business Insider. "Unfortunately, there will be a small subset of people for whom that becomes the case and these symptoms really do become a chronic thing that you're dealing with for years."

Max Levchin, the founder and CEO of Affirm, looks like he's just about to join the tech billionaire club when Affirm goes public soon.

Affirm plans to price its shares between $33 and $38, which would value the company at more than $9 billion, according to the company's revised S-1 filing published Tuesday. Levchin owns about 27.6 million shares between his Class A and B stock. At the mid-range, his shares are worth about $965.4 million and at the high end, just over $1 billion. His estimated net worth now, before the IPO, is around $300 million, according to LA times.

Affirm was founded by Levchin in 2012 as a "buy now, pay later" online lender. It is his latest success in a long and storied career. Levchin was a member of the famous "PayPal Mafia," alongside Palantir's Peter Thiel, Tesla's Elon Musk, LinkedIn's Reid Hoffman, and other famous founders.

But beyond his start at PayPal, he has also founded over a dozen companies in his lifetime, including HVF, Slide and Glow, along with advising Yelp as Chairman and Yahoo as a board member.

Here a look at the colorful life and career of the serial entrepreneur:

SEE ALSO: Horrified by Trump supporters storming the US Capitol, VCs are calling on others to stop doing deals with Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner

SEE ALSO: Here are the boards of 21 of the biggest unicorns like Stripe, 23andMe, and Affirm as a diverse boardroom becomes a must on the road to an IPO

Max Levchin and his family immigrated from Kiev, Ukraine to the United States in 1991 with just a few hundred dollars.

Levchin, 45, was born in Kiev, Ukraine, and moved to the US at age 16, settling in Chicago.

In an email to President Obama in 2016, Levchin wrote about his own immigrant experience to support the administration's new proposed rule to welcome more international entrepreneurs to America.

Levchin described how his family immigrated to the United States from the USSR in 1991 with just a few hundred dollars.

"My story isn't unique -- America is a nation of immigrants and has always been a magnet for strivers, innovators, and entrepreneurs from every corner of the globe," he wrote.

Levchin's entrepreneurial spirit began in college where he started four companies while obtaining a computer science degree.

While a student at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Levchin founded four tech startups. The first three failed, while the fourth was acquired by LinkExchange. Levchin personally responded to a Quora post asking "What four startups did Max Levchin found prior to PayPal?"

Odd that anyone should care, but here's the more or less exact history:

1. SponsorNet New Media (ad banner network, '94-95)
2. NetMomentum Software (white-label classifieds for newspaper sites '96)
3. NetMeridian Software, (yeah, I basically wanted to keep the same logo '97)
4. ListBot/PositionAgent (acquired by LinkExchange, '98)

The last two were sort of blended (NM technically owned LB/PA, but was not actually sold to LE). This sale is what allowed me and my partner Eric to move to California in August '98.

After graduating in 1997 with a major in computer science, 23-year-old Levchin drove cross-country with some friends from college to start his next company, PayPal, in Silicon Valley.

Levchin arrived in Palo Alto without an apartment so he slept on a friend's floor and snuck into air-conditioned lecture halls at Stanford to nap during the day, he told Business Insider's Editor-in-Chief Alyson Shontell on an episode of the podcast "Success! How I Did It." 

Levchin met famed investor Peter Thiel by showing up to one of his lectures on campus.

Taking naps at Stanford turned into the opportunity of a lifetime. While he was on campus, one of Levchin's friends — Luke Nosek — encouraged him to attend Peter Thiel's lecture at Stanford.

Levchin told Business Insider's Shontell"I saw [Thiel's] name on the pinboard, wandered into a class that was taught by him, which turned out to be more like seminar with six people in the room. So it was a very small group of people. One: I couldn't sleep because it would be obvious, but two, he was actually pretty interesting. So I stayed awake and chatted him up afterwards."

Levchin and Thiel started what will one day become known as the "PayPal Mafia," Silicon Valley's elite club of famous founders who all worked at the payments company.

After that initial meeting, Levchin and Thiel started a company called Confinity.

Thiel was the CEO and Levchin was the CTO. Two years later, Elon Musk's company X.com merged with Confinity, and was renamed PayPal.

So Tesla CEO Musk became another member of the original "PayPal Mafia." Yelp's Jeremy Stoppelman and LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman are also members.

eBay bought PayPal for $1.5 billion in 2002

As PayPal's chief technology officer, Levchin contributed to the company's early anti-fraud efforts. On his personal site, Levchin said February 15, 2002, the day PayPal went public, was the happiest day of his life.

"After months of struggling with the SEC, patent plaintiffs, lawyers of every kind possible, board of directors, and a million other evil minions, my little company went public," he wrote.

His time at a public PayPal didn't last long. Shortly after the IPO, PayPal was acquired by eBay for $1.5 billion. Levchin's 2.3% stake was worth about $34 million at the time of the acquisition. 

Levchin founded Slide in 2005 and sold it to Google five years later.

Levchin took the money he made from the eBay-PayPal acquisition to start Slide, a personal media-sharing service. As CEO and founder, Levchin invested $7 million of his own money into the company's Series A round, and received $39 million when the company was acquired by Google in 2010 for $182 million, according to VentureBeat.

Slide was created at MRL Ventures, an earlier exploration company Levchin founded in 2004, to create and fund companies that leveraged a new technology at the time known as social media.

Levchin also served on the Yahoo board during the Marissa Mayer years.

Through the sale of Slide to Google, Levchin was introduced to Marissa Mayer. He worked with her at Google when Slide was bought by the company in 2010, and was the first new board member to join Yahoo after Mayer was named CEO.

Levchin stayed on the board of Yahoo for three years, stepping down in 2015. The timing of his departure raised a few eyebrows because it was shortly after Yahoo decided not to spin off its stake in Alibaba. At the time, shareholders had been concerned that the spinoff could have incurred billions in dollars in taxes.

Levchin was Yelp's chairman for 11 years, leaving only to start a new fintech company called Affirm.

Besides Yahoo, Levchin was also chairman of Yelp's board of directors. At the time of his resignation in July 2015, Levchin said he was leaving Yelp after 11 years on the board to focus on his new startup, Affirm, which had just raised $275 million in new funding. 

"My investors and employees are very keen on a CEO who is single-mindedly focused on his company during its period of extreme growth,"he said at the time.

As if he didn't have enough on his plate, Levchin also created Glow, a fertility app aimed at helping women get pregnant.

In 2013, Levchin surprised the audience at the Wall Street Journal's All Things Digital conference by unveiling a new app called Glow, aimed at helping women conceive. 

In an interview with Lauren Goode from AllThingsD, he said the app was not inspired by personal experiences, but rather by people close to him who were going through multiple IVF trails and having difficulty getting pregnant. Levchin and his wife, Nellie, have two kids. 

Levchin remains on the board of directors.

Levchin founded Affirm in 2012.

Levchin founded Affirm in 2012. The company was born out of HVF, an exploration company Levchin founded to create and fund companies that leveraged large data sets in new ways.

Affirm has raised about $1.5 billion to date from investors including Andreessen Horowitz, Founders Fund, and Lightspeed. Its most recent funding round was a $500 million round led by Durable and GIC in September.

Consumers may not be that familiar with Affirm but those who own a Peloton bicycle, and opted to pay in installments, are likely users. Peloton is Affirm's biggest merchant partner, representing 30% of its total revenue for the three months that ended on September 30, 2020, the company said in its  S-1 documents.

• Candles can bring an alluring new scent to a room, add to your decor, or make for a thoughtful gift.
• Here are the best candle brands, whether you want a simple fragrance in a tin, tapered options to pair with candlesticks, or complex aromas in display-worthy jars.

Candles work wonders for a wide range of uses, from adding mood lighting or a fresh aroma to creating a centerpiece or dressing up your decor. Plus, they make for excellent gifts.

There are numerous types of candles to consider, and the use will largely dictate which option is best. You can give your kitchen or bathroom an easy update with a clean scent in a classic tin, while tapered and pillar candles make lovely centerpieces. For gifts and candles you plan to proudly display, the packaging comes into play. From elegant labels to hand-blown jars that can be reused long after you're done burning the last wax, many of our favorite brands make candles so beautiful you may even be tempted not to light them at all.

And, of course, the fragrance is key whether you love fruity notes, like to keep it fresh and simple, or want a signature winter scent wafting through your home.

Knowing that there's an overwhelming number of candle options to explore, we rounded up the very best candle brands based on our team's collective love for good candles and our own experiences.

Here are the best candle brands

Otherland

With their elaborate packaging and delicious scents, these candles live up to their name and will transport you to another world.

Great for gifting loved ones, friends, or as a treat to yourself, Otherland candles have become a top choice among millennials thanks to their beautiful packaging and labels, coupled with unique scents. Choices range from Silk Pajamas (with notes of ginger, bergamot zest, and spiced yuzu) to Canopy (featuring hints of fig, ivy greens, and summer dew). 

If you can't quite make up your mind, you can build your own three-pack and save 18%. Or, you can take gifting to the next level and build out a gift set that includes a black or white box, a single candle or three-pack, and a matchbox that has cute options for saying thanks, wishing someone happy birthday, and more. 

Good for: Unique scents, gifting

Worth a look:

Bath & Body Works

If you've ever set foot in a Bath & Body Works, then you know fun aromas are the name of the game, from holiday scents to fruity fragrances.

Bath & Body Works has been well-known for its scented candles for decades. But if you haven't looked at its candles for several years, you might be surprised at how much the shop has upped its branding game. Chic glass jars with three-wick candles and elegant labels are not only worthy of sitting out on the coffee table, but they will also last you months and are an excellent value.

Scents come in a wide range of seasonal and fun options, from Merry Mimosa and French Baguette to Fresh Balsam (a personal favorite) and Fiji White Sands. 

Good for: Candles in seasonal scents, good value

Worth a look:

Diptyque

For high-end candles with intoxicating scents worth gifting or putting on display, you can't go wrong with Diptyque.

French fragrance company Diptyque is practically synonymous with high-end candles. Though pricey, its options are très chic when it comes to both look and scent, exuding effortless elegance. Classic favorites like the popular Baies scent make for excellent gifts (they've long been my go-to housewarming gift), while the colorful glass and ceramic candle jars will certainly win you compliments.  

If you're vigilant enough to check for its annual limited-edition city candle collection that usually sells out fast, you can even score decor-worthy candles featuring aromas that will transport you to far-flung destinations like Tokyo and Berlin from the comfort of your living room.  

To celebrate the brand's 60th anniversary, a new Graphic Collection also just launched. While the limited-edition collection lasts, you can score Diptyque's four best-selling scents (Baies, Figuier, Roses, and Tubereuse) in decorative vessels with a unique black and white pattern and emblematic oval logo.   

You can also find Diptyque candles at popular retailers like Nordstrom and Bloomingdales. 

Good for: High-end candles worth gifting and using as decor

Worth a look:

Homesick

Like the name implies, Homesick features nostalgic candles that will bring you back to a specific place.

Whether it's for yourself or as a gift for a loved one, Homesick candles are great for transporting you via scent to a specific favorite locale. The brand features fragrances based on every US state, plus many popular cities and countries. It even has aromas to remind you of specific moments and favorite memories, such as Ski Trip, Friday Night Football, and Grandma's Kitchen.

Each candle is 13.75 oz and comes in a simple glass jar with a black and white label displaying the place or nostalgic moment it invokes. 

Read our full review of Homesick candles.

Good for: Nostalgic scents

Worth a look:

Greentree Home

For simple and classic beeswax candles from tapers to tea lights, Greentree Home has you covered at an affordable price. 

If your main goal is to find a classic candle to fit in those decorative candlestick holders or to pick up multiple tea lights to make a centerpiece the next time you host a holiday meal, you don't have to get too fancy. Greentree Home has simple but elevated options in an array of colors. 

Based in the foothills of the Catskills Mountains, the company designs and produces handmade beeswax candles that are a clear step above candles from your local Target, but that still come in at an affordable price point. And for those who are looking for something a little more fun, they also have candles in unique shapes like pine cones, monkeys, and bottles. 

Good for: Classic tapers, pillars, tea lights, fun shapes 

Worth a look:

Nest New York

Stylish glass jars and boxes, plus premium wax, set these candles apart.

Nest candles are great for leaving out on the mantle or table thanks to their simple but elegant glass holders that match just about any decor. Plus, they all arrive in dashing boxes, making them a nice option for giftings, too.

Depending on your budget, you can choose from large three-wick options, small minis, or classic single-wick candles. Choose from festive options like Holiday Classic, or go for a complex aroma that works year-round, like Moroccan Amber. 

Good for: Decorative candles, gifts

Worth a look:

Harlem Candle Co.

Long-lasting candles infused with history can be found at Harlem Candle Co.

Yes, Harlem Candle Co.'s signature 12 oz. candles burn for up to 80 hours, but what really sets them apart is that these candles come with backstories based on historical spots and people with ties to Harlem, where the candles are also made. 

For example, the Savoy candle highlights the iconic Savoy Ballroom. Evoke the glitzy and happening nightlife scene via rich notes of blackcurrant, mandarin, green apple, and juicy pear, along with Lily of the Valley and jasmine petals, and sandalwood. Similarly, the Ellington candle pays homage to the jazz legend with scents of bergamot, cinnamon, sage, lavender, crystalline amber, and more. 

You can also shop from collections like the "Nightclub Map of Harlem" or opt for 4-oz. travel-size candles that come in gold tins.   

Good for: Unique scents with enriching backstories, gifts

Worth a look:

Mrs. Meyer's

The brand you know and love for hand soap and cleaning products also makes fresh-scented candles.

Mrs. Meyer's is most well known for soaps and cleaning supplies. But the brand also makes simple candles that will help leave your house feeling fresh and extra clean. While the candles may not come in fancy containers, they're under $10 and smell great. And, if you do want something that looks a little nicer, you can also opt for the small tins that have cute illustrations on them. 

The candles also use soy wax and vegetable wax, and the glass jars can be repurposed once you're done burning. Choose from crisp scents like Honeysuckle, Lemon Verbena, Basil Soy, and more.    

Good for: Basic and classic candles, clean scents, affordable candles  

Worth a look: 

Lafco

Hand-blown glass vessels and premium ingredients have made these a standout favorite.

When I asked my colleagues about their favorite candle brands, several lept at the chance to tell me about Lafco. These candles use premium, chemical-free ingredients like 100% cotton wicks, and vegan, soy wax.

But really makes them a favorite around our office is the gorgeous hand-blown glass jars they come in. From shiny, candy apple reds to deep and nuanced cerulean blues, these candles are eye-catching and sure to steal the show whether they're part of your special holiday decor or sit on your desk to take your home office game up a tier.   

Good for: Chemical-free candles, beautiful reusable jars

Worth a look:

Ani + Co

Channel peace and positivity with these coconut wax blend candles that are hand-poured in small batches.

The idea behind Ani + Co. was to create handmade candles that burn fresh and clean and inspire inner peace by creating options that are vegan, eco-friendly, cruelty-free, and phthalate-free.

The classic scents available include Homme, Myrrh, Passion Grapefruit, Campfire, Siena, and more. You can also buy candles as part of "Mood Sets," trio bundles, or sample packs of mini candles.

Good for: Candles made with all-natural ingredients, candles to light your at-home yoga studio or meditation room

Worth a look:

Le Labo

There's a reason Le Labo products and scents are found in many five-star hotels around the world. 

Step into a five-star hotel bathroom and there's a good chance you may find Le Labo bath products waiting for you. Bring that luxurious scent and feel into your own home with their candle collection. 

The Santal Collection is one of its best-known scents, and you can opt for the fresh scent in a classic glass jar, an elevated concrete holder, as three minis, or even get a vintage look with an expertly crumpled tin can option. You can even personalize the label the date and your name or a recipient's name for an extra-special touch.

Good for: Luxurious candles you'd find at fancy hotels

Worth a look:

Anecdote Candles

Great for a funny gift, anecdote candles will surely put a smile on any recipient's face. 

Need a last-minute, but fun birthday gift or still wracking your brain for what to bring to your friend's virtual White Elephant party? Anecdote candles are just the ticket.

There are humorous scents for all occasions and the descriptions of what each candle smells like are even funnier than the names. Options include Quarter-Life Crisis (smells like all panic and no disco), Bottomless Mimosas (smells like good vibes and fresh gossip), and Novella (smells like rich mahogany and thoughtful prose). 

Each candle comes in a simple glass jar or tin. There are also some fun holiday options that come in gold jars, like Mistletoe (smells like a silent wingman).

Good for: Fun candles, humorous gifts

Worth a look:

Capri Blue

Capri Blue has fun options for all budgets, from simple mini tins to fancy faceted jars. 

Whether you want a simple candle with a clean scent for under $10 or a fancy and colorful jar to keep out or gift, Capri Blue has options for you.

Options include 48-oz. jumbo jars that burn up to 100 hours, decorative mini tins, 19-oz. signature tins in colors from soothing blue to bubblegum pink, chic glass jars, and more. Scents equally run the gambit, from tropical and fruity Aloha Orchid Blue to Dark Vanilla and Sandalwood. 

Fun fact: if the candle sounds familiar, that's because it's Anthropologie's signature scent and what the stores burn all day, every day.

Good for: A range of budgets, classic jars and tins

Worth a look:

Boy Smells

A buzzy new-ish brand that's quickly amassed a loyal following, Boy Smells candles are known for great branding, inclusivity, and delicious aromas.

With a marketing mission to make their candles "genderful," as opposed to specifically targeting men, women, or being vaguely but pointedly gender-neutral, Matthew Herman and David Kien launched Boy Smells in 2016. Though it's a newcomer on the candle block, the buzzy brand has quickly amassed a devoted following thanks to its instantly iconic black candles with pink labels that stand out. Plus, they smell great.

The company has even recently partnered with Kacey Musgraves on a Slow Burn collection. But its signature candles include scents you won't find anywhere else — like the well-known Kush, which predictably smells of pot, mixed with suede, white musk, tulip, and amber. If you can't choose just one, pick up a bundle instead.  

Good for: Votive candles, the in-the-know millennial in your life

Worth a look:

Jo Malone

It should come as no surprise that the brand known for luxury perfumes also makes heavenly candles.

This luxury British fragrance brand likely makes the perfume worn by your effortlessly cool friend who jets off to Paris or Milan on a regular basis when traveling was still an option. But the same delicious and layered scents can also be found in their candle collections.

Candles are found in simple glass jars that tend to be more timeless than wow-worthy. But that can be a plus if you're seeking a decor-neutral option that's still sophisticated. As you might expect, these candles don't come cheap. For a more affordable option, you can opt for a travel-size candle — trust me, even in a smaller size the scent will still pack a sweet punch.  

You can also find Jo Malone candles at retailers like Nordstrom.

Good for: Decor-neutral candles, luxury candles

Worth a look:

Check out our other related buying guides

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• The 2020-21 NFL season is in full swing, but figuring out how to watch your favorite teams without cable can be difficult.
• Broadcast rights are spread across several networks, including ESPN, NBC, Fox, CBS, and the NFL Network.
• HD antennas and streaming services all offer select NFL games without the need for a cable subscription.
• Fubo TV or YouTube TV with the NFL RedZone add-on and an NFL Sunday Ticket plan will enable you to watch the most games all season long.

Whether you're interested in watching Tom Brady whip the pigskin in his new Florida digs, checking out how professional football looks in Las Vegas, or you happen to be a fool like me still holding out hopes that the Detroit Lions can win a Super Bowl (cue the uproarious and hurtful laughter), you can use at least one of the methods outlined below to watch the 2020 NFL season.

With that said, the right NFL streaming option for you will vary depending on your fandom priorities. Basically, the games are spread across five primary networks: ESPN, NBC, Fox, CBS, and the NFL Network. Your location also determines which games get aired on your local stations. Additionally, you can stream all your local in-market games on your mobile device for free using the Yahoo Sports app or the NFL app.

To help ensure you get access to all the games you'd like to watch, we've broken down the ins and outs of watching the NFL without a cable subscription.

Updated on 1/7/2021 by Danny Bakst: Added details about key games to watch during NFL 2020-21 playoffs.

How to watch NFL games without cable

You can access many of these channels without a cable subscription via several streaming services, like Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, FuboTV, YouTube TV, CBS All Access, and NFL Sunday Ticket. Additionally, some services offer NFL RedZone as an add-on for fans who want to watch all the best action from across the league simultaneously rather than sit through one game. If you want to watch games on your local stations without cable, you can also opt for an HDTV antenna.

The 2020-21 NFL season began on September 10 with a Thursday night game between the Houston Texans and Kansas City Chiefs on NBC. Subsequent games are being spread across different channels, and there are several options available to stream each network.

Sunday afternoon games with an NFC home team are being aired on Fox, and Sunday afternoon games with an AFC home team are shown on CBS. Meanwhile, Sunday Night Football airs on NBC, and regular Thursday Night Football is broadcast on NFL Network all season long. Thursday Night Football will also be shown on Fox and streamed via Amazon Prime or Twitch starting week five through the end of the season. Finally, Monday Night Football is on ESPN. 

Depending on the service, you can stream through smart TVs, game consoles, and streaming devices, like Apple TV, Roku, and Amazon Fire TV. Some platforms can also be streamed on-the-go via smartphones, laptops, and tablets. 

How to watch the NFL wild-card playoff games

The regular season is over, and while the coronavirus certainly impacted the schedule and arguably the outcome of some games, the NFL managed to make it to the playoffs without any major issues.

Now that we've made it to wild-card weekend, it's time for playoff football. This year features a brand-new playoff format, with every team playing on the first weekend except for each conference's first seed. This means you'll have to wait a week to watch Kansas City or Green Bay take the field. All the games are taking place on Saturday and Sunday.

Here's how you can watch each game:

• Indianapolis Colts at the Buffalo Bills: Saturday at 1:05 p.m. ET on CBS
• Los Angeles Rams at the Seattle Seahawks: Saturday at 4:40 p.m. ET on Fox
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the Washington Football Team: Saturday at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC
• Baltimore Ravens at the Tennessee Titans: Sunday at 1:05 p.m. ET on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN+, ABC
• Chicago Bears at the New Orleans Saints: Sunday at 4:40 p.m. ET on CBS, Nickelodeon, and streaming on Amazon Prime
• Cleveland Browns at the Pittsburgh Steelers: Sunday at 8:15 p.m. ET on NBC

Here's a full roundup of all the services you can use to stream NFL games without cable.

HDTV Antenna

You can purchase an antenna, like this 1 By One model, to add to your TV for about $24, giving you access to local channels within a certain distance. 

What you get:

Hooking up an HD antenna to your TV gives you access to local over-the-air (OTA) signals in your location. This means that you will be able to access the local affiliates of major broadcast networks, like Fox, CBS, and NBC.

This lets you watch all the regional games broadcast from wherever you're located. You also get the Sunday Night Football matchup that airs on NBC. Because it's only a one-time payment, this is a great option if you're solely interested in watching the team in your area. However, you will not get access to any out-of-market games or games that air on ESPN or the NFL Network.

Sling TV

If you're looking for a live TV streaming service to watch football, Sling TV is a great budget option that gives you most of the channels you need at a cheaper price than Hulu or FuboTV.

There are three different plans, depending on what channels you prioritize. Sling Orange and Sling Blue each cost $30 per month, while the combined Sling Orange + Blue plan costs $45 per month. Additionally, you can purchase the Sports Extra package to add NFL RedZone to your plan for $10 per month.

What you get:

Sling Orange has ESPN, while Sling Blue has Fox and NBC in select markets as well as the NFL network. CBS is not currently offered by Sling. While there is a Sports Extra package, it does not include any channels that air live NFL games. 

Your best bet to get access to the most NFL games via Sling is to sign up for the Sling Orange + Blue plan and cash in on Sling's current promotional offer of a free antenna for local channels. The free antenna requires that you prepay for two months of the Sling service. Plus, if you want RedZone you can add the Sports Extra package to the Orange + Blue Plan for a total of $60 per month.

If you don't want it all, you can just sign up for Sling Blue to gain access to Sunday afternoon games on Fox and Sunday Night Football games on NBC, or just Sling Orange to gain access to Monday Night games on ESPN, in addition to the local offerings included with the antenna. As with all streaming services, game availability is subject to blackouts.

With Sling's channel listings, add-ons, and the fact that they provide a free antenna, you can gain access to all local channels, the NFL Network, ESPN, and NFL RedZone, making it one of the most cost-effective ways to watch the NFL without cable. 

Hulu with Live TV

In addition to all of its other offerings, Hulu + Live TV has nearly everything you need to stream NFL games for $54.99 per month. However, like Sling TV, there's no option to add the NFL Network or NFL RedZone as a channel, which could be a deal-breaker if you're hoping to watch and monitor action across the league.

What you get: 

Like an HD antenna, Hulu + Live TV gets you access to all the local affiliates of the major broadcasts, meaning Fox, CBS, and NBC. These will show the games that are within your regional broadcast map with the exception of any blackouts. In addition, you also get ESPN, which gives you access to all Monday Night Football games, and some of the best NFL coverage and analysis on TV. 

While you don't get access to watch out-of-network games from across the country like you do with NFL RedZone or NFL Sunday Ticket, this is a comprehensive way to tune into most locally and nationally televised games. Hulu does not offer a way to watch the first three regular Thursday Night Football games, however, since those will be aired on NFL Network. 

FuboTV

At $64.99 per month for the Family Plan, FuboTV is one of the most comprehensive yet expensive live streaming options for NFL football. You can also spend an extra $10.99 per month to add the Sports Plus with NFL RedZone package or sign up for the Ultra Plan, which includes NFL Redzone and several other extra channels, for $84.99 per month.

What you get:

In terms of NFL games, the Family Plan includes access to local CBS, NBC, and Fox stations (regional availability and blackout restrictions apply). FuboTV's Family Plan also grants you access to ESPN to watch Monday Night Football, and NFL Network to stream Thursday Night Football all season long. 

YouTube TV

With a base price of $64.99 per month, YouTube TV is another service that offers access to most NFL games. Additionally, the service just announced an agreement with the NFL to offer NFL Redzone as an add-on included in their Sports Plus package for an additional $10.99 per month. 

What you get:

Like other services at this price range, YouTube TV offers access to all the local channels you need to watch NFL games, including CBS, Fox, and NBC. YouTube TV also offers ESPN and NFL Network in their base package, so you'll be able to watch all Monday Night Football and Thursday Night Football games. And with the news of the new Sports Plus package, you can also watch NFL Redzone for an additional $10.99 per month.

NFL Sunday Ticket

NFL Sunday Ticket used to only be available with a cable subscription, but NFL fans in non-DirecTV markets anywhere in the country can now gain access to every Sunday afternoon game.

There are two separate plans available: The NFL Sunday Ticket To Go plan costs $73.49 per month for four months, which is $293.96 total. There is also the NFL Sunday Ticket Max plan for $99 per month for four months, adding up to $396 total.

What you get:

Both plans give you access to all out-of-market Sunday afternoon games. This means that you do not get access to Thursday, Sunday, or Monday night games. You also won't be able to stream locally televised games with only an NFL Sunday Ticket subscription. However, this is the only way for people hoping to watch full live games of their favorite teams out of market. A fun feature included in both plans is that you can watch four games at once on your screen.

In addition to the normal features, NFL Sunday Ticket Max adds in NFL RedZone and the DirecTV Fantasy Zone, which is a new channel solely dedicated watching games through the lens of fantasy football. 

CBS All Access

If you're just interested in watching locally televised AFC home games, then a CBS All Access subscription could be all you need. The service lets you stream live CBS television, as well as a growing library of on-demand shows and exclusive titles. CBS All Access is available for $5.99 a month with commercials or $9.99 a month with ad-free streaming. With that said, all live broadcasts, including NFL games, still feature commercials with the ad-free plan.

What you get:

CBS All Access offers live streaming for every NFL game that airs on the regular CBS channel in your local market. However, since CBS All Access only offers CBS content you won't be able to watch any games that air on other networks or any out of market matches. You can see a full schedule of NFL games set to air on CBS here.

Amazon Prime Video

Though yon won't get local channels, NFL Network, or in-depth analysis, Amazon Prime Video members can watch select Thursday Night Football games with their subscription for no additional cost. A standalone Amazon Prime Video membership costs $8.99 a month, and the service is included as part of an Amazon Prime subscription for $119 per year.

What you get:

Amazon Prime Video will stream 11 Thursday Night Football games staring the week of October 8. These game will also be broadcast on NFL Network and Fox. Since Amazon won't be streaming any additional games, Prime Video on its own is really only suitable for very casual football fans who just want to stream a few games this season. 

Yahoo Sports app and NFL app

If you're only interested in watching in-market games without cable or an antenna, then you can stream live local and primetime games on a mobile device using the Yahoo Sports or NFL app. Both options are free and each app is available on iOS and Android smartphones and tablets. 

What you get:

These apps provide live streaming for regular season local and primetime games, playoffs, and the Super Bowl. With that said, you can only watch the games on a mobile device. You'll also need to ensure that your location services are activated on your phone or tablet.

• Sony's upcoming 2021 lineup of Bravia XR 4K and 8K TVs will launch later this year, with sizes ranging from 50 inches to 100 inches.
• The collection is led by a new flagship Master Series 8K LED and a new 4K OLED with improved brightness.
• Pricing hasn't been detailed yet, but we'll update this article with preorder options once they're available.
• See also: The best 4K OLED TVs

In anticipation of CES 2021, Sony has revealed its flagship collection of new Bravia XR 4K and 8K TVs. The lineup features a mix of LED and OLED models, with screen sizes as big as 100 inches. 

For 2021, Sony's displays will be making the jump from the Android TV platform to the new and improved Google TV system. The upgraded smart TV interface offers a more modern design with an emphasis on content, making it easier to jump right to your favorite streaming shows and movies.

The new TVs also make use of Sony's latest picture processing technology, with the brand-new Cognitive Processor XR. This advanced system is able to intelligently optimize the picture by analyzing different elements and emphasizing the focal point. Unlike other AI picture processing systems, Sony says this method is able to better understand how people actually see images.

All of the Bravia XR models will also come equipped with HDMI 2.1 ports for next-generation gaming features, like 4K 120Hz support and variable refresh rate. With that said, some of these features may require a firmware update later in the year. For added convenience, most of the new TVs will also allow buyers to choose between three different stand positions, allowing you to place the feet in a narrow, standard, or high position to suit your setup. 

Sony hasn't announced how much each new TV will cost yet, but full details will be revealed this spring. Below, we've broken down everything we know so far about each model.

Sony 8K LED TV

Sony's new Z9J 8K LED TV is sure to be a stunner, but the higher resolution is only a small part of what makes it so impressive.

Major TV manufacturers continue to push 8K resolution in their flagship models, and Sony is no different. That said, what makes the upcoming Z9J 8K TV so impressive has less to do with its resolution and more to do with its incredible brightness and contrast capabilities.

In addition to a native 8K panel, the TV boasts advanced local dimming. This allows the screen to dim and brighten across specific portions of the display for deep black levels and punchy highlights. Last year's Z8H model was capable of exceeding 2,000 nits, and we expect the new Z9J to offer similar if not better performance.

This means that the TV will be able to show off all the benefits of HDR streaming titles from services like Netflix and Disney Plus, as well as 4K Blu-ray discs. It will also offer a bright picture even if you watch TV in a room that lets in a lot of light. 

Though the benefits of an 8K panel over a 4K screen remain hard to see from typical viewing distances, the TV's advanced upscaling should offer some visible improvements, especially at an 85-inch screen size. That said, I still don't recommend buying any 8K TV purely for its higher resolution. Actual 8K movies and shows are virtually nonexistent, and it's really this TV's HDR performance that makes it so special.  

Though pricing hasn't been announced yet, buyers can expect the Z9J to be very expensive when it launches later this year. Last year's 85-inch Z8H 8K TV is currently listed for $9,000 and the 75-inch model still sells for $5,000. In other words, these 8K sets are really only geared toward big home theater fans with deep pockets. 

Sony Master Series Z9J 85-inch 8K LED TV, price TBA

Sony Master Series Z9J 75-inch 8K LED TV, price TBA

Sony 4K OLED TVs

The Sony A90J 4K OLED TV is designed to provide better brightness than previous OLED displays.

OLED remains my favorite consumer TV technology, and Sony's OLEDs are known for their incredibly accurate image. In fact, the 2020 Sony A8H is our pick for the best OLED TV for picture quality. The new 2021 A90J is designed to carry over that impressive performance while addressing one of the few areas where OLEDs have lagged behind other TV options: brightness.

Like other OLED TVs, the A90J features pixel-level contrast with true black levels. But unlike older models, the new A90J adds an aluminum sheet to the panel laminate. This allows the screen to disperse heat better. The TV is also able to employ WRGB light emission rather than just use white light.

What all that technical jargon should translate to is a higher peak brightness than we're used to seeing on an OLED TV. Higher peak brightness will make highlights pop more realistically for an even more impressive sense of contrast and depth. Low brightness was one of the only drawbacks for Sony's 2020 OLED models, so we're excited to see the improvements the A90J offers.

For buyers who would rather pay a little less for an OLED without higher brightness, Sony is also offering a new A80J model which will have brightness levels more on par with last year's models. Both OLEDs will also feature Sony's Acoustic Surface Audio+ technology. This tech allows the screen itself to become the speaker.

Sony hasn't revealed pricing yet, but last year's 65-inch Sony A8H OLED currently sells for $2,500, and has been on sale for as lows as $1,800. 

Sony Master Series A90J 83-inch 4K OLED TV, price TBA

Sony Master Series A90J 65-inch 4K OLED TV, price TBA

Sony Master Series A90J 55-inch 4K OLED TV, price TBA

Sony A80J 77-inch 4K OLED TV, price TBA

Sony A80J 65-inch 4K OLED TV, price TBA

Sony A80J 55-inch 4K OLED TV, price TBA

Sony 4K LED TVs

Sony's flagship 4K LED TVs range in size from 50 inches to a massive 100 inches.

Not to be forgotten among the company's more buzzworthy 8K or OLED TV offerings are Sony's new high-end 4K LED TVs. The X95J and X90J are both shaping up to be impressive options in 2021.

Both models use full-array local dimming for better contrast and black levels than a typical LED screen. That said, unlike Samsung, Sony isn't jumping on the Mini LED bandwagon just yet. Mini LED could end up giving Samsung's Neo QLED TVs an edge over Sony's LED TVs, but we'll have to wait to get hands-on with both to know for sure. 

Still, even without Mini LEDs, the X95J and X90J both feature impressive specifications on paper. The X95J will offer higher brightness and better contrast than the X90J, but both should provide strong HDR performance for movie-watching, streaming, and gaming. And unlike last year's X900H, the new X90J will use the same advanced processor as the more expensive models in the lineup.

Pricing for the 2021 TVs hasn't been detailed yet, but the 2020 X900H Sony 4K TV currently starts at $1,000 for the 55-inch model and goes up to $2,600 for the 85-inch model. 

Sony X95J 85-inch 4K LED TV, price TBA

Sony X95J 75-inch 4K LED TV, price TBA

Sony X95J 65-inch 4K LED TV, price TBA

Sony X90J 100-inch LED TV, price TBA

Sony X90J 75-inch LED TV, price TBA

Sony X90J 65-inch LED TV, price TBA

Sony X90J 55-inch LED TV, price TBA

Sony X90J 50-inch LED TV, price TBA

• No matter where "work" is these days, a clean, organized office desk can help you be more focused and productive. 
• If you can't ever seem to find the supply you need or your drawers are overflowing with snacks, it's time to add some organizational structure to your workspace. 
• From bin systems to cord organizers, these accessories will get you more organized, and they all cost under $25. 
• Read more: Indispensable desk accessories we use to stay focused and comfortable at work
• Sign up for Insider Reviews' weekly newsletter for more buying advice and great deals.

Driven by the new normal and the teachings of Marie Kondo, there's been a fervent desire to reorganize our lives. While most people are focused on organizing their closets, kitchens, and living rooms, your home office (wherever that might be) is another important place in need of tidying and where you actually spend the majority of your days.

Elbows tucked in as you type because you have no space for any other position or uses of the words "dig" or "paw" to describe how you sift through your filing cabinet drawers are a couple of tell-tale signs of a desk in desperate need of a makeover. 

A cluttered desk leads to a cluttered mind, and if you're taking important calls, reviewing the company budget, or (and let's be honest here) watching cute dog videos on TikTok, you (and your boss) won't appreciate the mess. As you optimize your space with necessary supplies and accessories designed to improve your focus and productivity, make sure to also keep them organized.  

Here are 19 desk organization ideas all under $25:

An eye-catching cord organizer

Fully Wiretamer

If you don't want to deal with cord management, just grab them all and lay them in this tray. It sits underneath your desk and comes in three neutral colors to match any home office look.

An adorable paper clip holder

Supfoxer Magnetic Clip Holder

Picking up paperclips has never been more chic. 

A storage bin with tip-out drawers

Marbrasse Big Desk Organizer

The design of these bin keeps your small supplies, pens, and scissors easily accessible thanks to the 45 degrees tilt. 

A monitor stand riser with a built-in drawer

SimpleHouseware Metal Desk Monitor Stand Riser with Organizer Drawer

This desk accessory pulls double duty, lifting your monitor to a comfortable viewing height and adding space below to store your most-used supplies.

An interlocking bin system for your drawer supplies

Made Smart Madesmart Interlocking Drawer Organizer (8 Bin)

You can mix and match the different bins in this set to fit any size drawer. There are three small, three medium, and two large bins that you can interlock and optimize your space.

Adhesive cable clips

Cable Clips & Cord Management System

Manage the cord chaos on your desk with these handy helpers, which will stick to any flat surface. They'll work with any cord up to 0.25 inches in diameter: charging cables, USB cords, headphone cords, and more. 

Lacquered accessory trays

Poppin Accessory Trays

These attractive modular stacking pieces look good on their own or combined with others in the collection. 

A sleek file holder

Project 62 Hanging File Holder with Folders Gold/Black Grid

Ditch the ugly file holders that have probably been hanging around your office for the last three decades and upgrade to this chic gold and black one.  

A monitor stand and drawer duo

Mind Reader Monitor Stand and Desk Organizer

If you want a monitor stand that instead includes pull-out drawers, try this one. You can remove the legs for a shorter height, or keep them on to create enough space below to stow a keyboard. 

A hanger for your headphones

Brainwavez Hengja Headphone Desk Hanger

Free up space on your desk by moving bulky electronics like headphones off to the side. This adjustable clamp is a strong, simple solution. 

Sturdy, expandable drawer dividers

OXO Good Grips Expandable Dresser Drawer Divider (2-Pack)

Most people use these expandable dividers for their dressers at home, but they also work perfectly for desk drawers and filing cabinets. They expand to 17 inches and have protective foam pads to grip the drawer walls.

A mesh organizer with plenty of compartments

SimpleHouseware Mesh Desk Organizer with Sliding Drawer

It has five upright compartments, one large tray, and one sliding tray that's further divided into smaller compartments. 

A clear drawer organizer that's easy to clean

Whitmor 3 Section Drawer Organizer

The sturdy plastic tray looks great for storing important desk necessities (read: snacks). 

A desktop storage unit with see-through drawers

IRIS Medium Desktop Drawer System

The mini version of popular storage units let you quickly identify its contents so you can grab a pen, notebook, or calculator at a moment's notice. 

A pencil holder and phone stand

Threshold Pencil Cup with Phone Stand

With limited space on your desk, it's smart to take advantage of multi-functional accessories like this pencil cup and phone stand. The wood construction also looks stylish. 

A phone stand that also holds your headphones

Hastings Headphone/Phone Holder

Even more multi-functional is this holder that adds a headphone stand. You can now prop up your phone, store your headphones, and keep small supplies in one place. 

A woven catch-all basket

Modern Weave Basket with Divider

If you're not a fan of plastic or metal mesh accessories, these pretty woven baskets will do just as good of a job at keeping you organized. 

A clear magazine holder

STORi Clear Plastic Magazine Holder

This magazine holder made from thick plastic is perfect for storing notebooks and files. 

A faux-grass desk organizer that doubles as decor

Kikkerland Desk Organization Pen Stand & Phone Holder

This delightful desk stand with faux grass lets you easily prop up your phone while you work, plus it is a great place to store pens and pencils, adding decoration and removing clutter in the process. 

SEE ALSO: Meet the Cuomo family, the New York political dynasty that's become the face of America's response to the coronavirus pandemic

DON'T MISS: Meet the de Blasio family, the first family of New York City

Donald Trump's grandfather, Friedrich Trump — born Friedrich Drumpf — emigrated to the US from Germany in 1885 at the age of 16.

Friedrich Trump was born in Kallstadt, Germany, and came to New York on a steamship, according to Post reporter Kristine Phillips 

"He didn't know English. He couldn't possibly have known English. He didn't have anything like a high school diploma. He was literate, but in German," Gwenda Blair, the author behind the 2000 book "The Trumps: Three Generations That Built an Empire," told the Washington Post.

Friedrich Trump's family in Germany had modest means and ran a small vineyard, per Phillips. He lived with his older sister on the Lower East Side in Manhattan after coming to New York.

A few years later, Friedrich moved to the Pacific Northwest, where he ran multiple businesses, like restaurants and hotels, across the region in former mining towns during the Gold Rush.

For years, the family said they were Swedish.

Per a 2016 New York Times story, the Trump family for years said they were Swedish.

Jason Horowitz, the author of the Times story, noted that this is said to have been born of a desire to make good with their Jewish friends and customers.

"He had a lot of Jewish tenants and it wasn't a good thing to be German in those days,'' John Walter, Donald Trump's cousin, said of Fred Trump, Donald Trump's father, talking about the time between World War II and the 1980s.

The Trump family's roots can be traced back to Kallstadt, a small German hamlet. The town also produced Johann Heinrich Heinz whose son Henry J. Heinz is the man behind Heinz ketchup, according to Sally McGrane of the New Yorker.

In 1902, Friedrich married Elisabeth Christ, a former neighbor in Kallstadt.

Elisabeth, who was 11 years her husband's junior, met Friedrich during one of his visits home in 1901.

Elisabeth moved to America with her husband after their wedding. By then, Friedrich was an American citizen. He shuttered his businesses on the West coast and turned his attention to Queens, according to Jason Horowitz of The Times.

In 1904, the family went back to Germany only to be deported shortly thereafter.

Government officials ruled that Friedrich be deported as he had never fulfilled his mandatory military service and had failed to notify authorities of his move to the US. Friedrich wrote a letter to the prince regent of Bavaria in 1905 requesting that he be allowed to continue to live there, but his petitions were rejected.

Upon their return to the US in July of 1905, they lived in the South Bronx neighborhood of New York City.

Friedrich Trump died of the Spanish Flu in 1918.

Friedrich Trump was 49 years old when he fell sick in May 1918. He started feeling ill in the afternoon and died "almost immediately"according to the Washington Post and biographer Gwenda Blair.

Per estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 675,000 people died of the Spanish Flu pandemic in the US.

Friedrich and Elisabeth had three children: Elizabeth, Fred, and John.

Elizabeth, Friedrich's oldest child and only daughter, served as a bookkeeper for her younger brother Fred during his early years in the real estate business. Her son, John Walter, was a self-appointed Trump family historian, according to Gwenda Blair. 

Friedrich's youngest son, John, has received significant media coverage over the past few years, in part because of President Trump's repeated mention of his uncle throughout his presidency. At one point, he called his uncle "a great super genius."

John Trump had a storied career as an engineer, working at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for over 40 years. Among some of his most noted contributions was a breakthrough in X-Ray technology that advanced cancer treatment and research. 

Frederick Christ Trump, Donald Trump's father, was born in 1905 shortly after his parents were forced to move back to the US from Germany.

Per a 2018 Independent story, Fred Trump's first business venture was adding garage extensions to houses as a teenager.

Fred Trump built his career as a real estate mogul in the mid-1900s through construction projects in Brooklyn and Queens and parts of Pennsylvania and Virginia during World War II. 

His July 1999 New York Times obituary called him a "self-made man" who built "27,000 apartments and row houses in the neighborhoods of Coney Island, Bensonhurst, Sheepshead Bay, Flatbush, and Brighton Beach in Brooklyn and Flushing and Jamaica Estates in Queens."

According to The Times, the Justice Department sued the Trump Management Corporation in 1973 for "discrimination against [B]lacks in apartment rentals." Fred and Donald were both named as defendants on the suit. Donald Trump called the charges "absolutely ridiculous." 

At the time of his death, his estate was estimated to be somewhere between $250 million and $300 million. 

A 2018 New York Times investigation found that President Trump has received over $400 million from his father's real estate empire, adding that "much of this money came to Mr. Trump because he helped his parents dodge taxes."

Responding to the Times investigation, the Trump family said, "All appropriate gift and estate tax returns were filed, and the required taxes were paid. Our father's estate was closed in 2001 by both the Internal Revenue Service and the New York State tax authorities, and our mother's estate was closed in 2004. Our family has no other comment on these matters that happened some 20 years ago, and would appreciate your respecting the privacy of our deceased parents, may God rest their souls." 

In 1936, Fred Trump married Mary Anne McLeod, a Scottish immigrant.

The couple met and fell in love at a dance. 

McLeod had immigrated to the US from the Scottish Hebrides in 1929 as a teenager, Mary Pilon of The New Yorker reported in 2016. Like Friedrich Trump, she already had family in the US. She became a naturalized US citizen in 1942.

Fred and Mary Trump had five children: Maryanne, Fred, Elizabeth, Donald, and Robert.

Trump's oldest sister, Maryanne Trump Barry, 83, is a retired federal judge.

Barry has degrees from Mount Holyoke College and Columbia University. She has a son, David Desmond, who is a clinical psychologist. 

According to Town & Country magazine, she was nominated to the US District Court by President Ronald Reagan 1983 and the US Court of Appeals by President Bill Clinton in 1999.

"I knew better even as a child than to even attempt to compete with Donald. I wouldn't have been able to win. He was building models when he was very young. Huge buildings,"Barry told New York Magazine in 2002.

On August 22, the Washington Post released a number of voice notes where Barry can be heard being critical of her brother. In the recordings, Barry refers to Trump as "cruel" and comments on "the phoniness of it all."

"His goddamned tweet and the lying, oh my God. I'm talking too freely, but you know. The change of stories. The lack of preparation. The lying. Holy shit. But he's appealing to the base. What they're doing to the kids at the border, I mean,"Barry could be heard saying in the recording. 

"Every day it's something else, who cares. I miss my brother, and I'll continue to work hard for the American people. Not everyone agrees, but the results are obvious. Our country will soon be stronger than ever before," the White House said on behalf of Trump in a statement shared with Business Insider, referencing his late younger brother, Robert Trump.

Fred Trump Jr.'s career was a mixture of aviation, entrepreneurship, and joining the family business.

A Washington Post article referred to Fred Jr. as "tall, blond and movie-star handsome" and "the opposite of Donald Trump — soft-spoken, playful, and often joking."

Fred died in 1981 at the age of 46. He struggled with alcoholism, and President Trump has said that Fred's death has had a "tremendous impact" on him.

Fred had two children with his wife Linda Lee Clapp — Fred Trump III and Mary Trump, both named after his parents. 

On July 28, Mary Trump published a tell-all book about the president. The book, titled "Too Much and Never Enough," documents the president's childhood and includes anecdotes of him and his siblings as kids. 

She also wrote that Trump disparaged and ignored his father as Fred's health condition grew progressively worse due to Alzheimer's disease and that her side of the family was cut off from the family health insurance after they contested Fred Trump's will after his death.

Prior to the book's release, the late Robert Trump filed a motion to block Simon and Schuster from publishing the book, with the primary objective being that in writing the book, she was violating a confidentiality agreement that her branch of the family had entered into while settling a contentious dispute over the estate of Fred Trump Sr. Judge Hal Greenwald of Dutchess County, New York, issued a temporary restraining order barring the book's publication. This later was overruled by an appellate judge.

Elizabeth Trump Grau, 78, has stayed out of the family business.

In "The Art of The Deal," President Trump called Elizabeth "bright but less ambitious."

Elizabeth attended Southern Virginia University and went on to work at Chase Manhattan Bank, although there are conflicting reports of her exact role at the financial institution. 

She's married to producer James Grau. The couple lives in Florida. 

Robert Trump, the youngest Trump sibling, died on August 15 at the age of 71.

Robert Trump, a former top executive at The Trump Organization, told Page Six in 2016 that he supported his brother running for president "one thousand percent." 

On August 15, Trump shared that Robert had died and released a statement saying, "He was not just my brother, he was my best friend. He will be greatly missed, but we will meet again."

Donald Trump married his first wife Ivana Marie Zelníčková, a former skier and model, in 1977. Born and raised in Czechoslovakia, Ivana became a US citizen in 1988.

Ivana and Trump were married for 14 years and have three children together: Donald Jr., Eric, and Ivanka. The couple broke up amid reports of infidelity on Trump's part.

During their marriage, Ivana was involved in her husband's business in varying capacities — running various hotels and casinos, and designing the interiors of properties. 

In 2017, Ivana said that President Trump had made her an offer to be the ambassador to the Czech republic. She turned it down because "it's four years in Prague, so bye-bye to Miami, bye-bye to New York in spring and fall, bye-bye to Saint-Tropez in summer,"she told The New York Post.

Ivana published a book titled "Raising Trump" in 2017 about raising her children. "Donald might not have been the greatest husband to me, but he was a good father to the kids," she wrote.

Ivanka Trump, Trump's oldest daughter, is a Senior Advisor to her father.

Named Ivana after her mother, she goes by her nickname, "Ivanka."

Ivanka, 38, attended Georgetown University for two years. She transferred to the University of Pennsylvania where she secured a degree in economics. 

Ivanka starting modeling as a teenager and walked the runway for Versace, Business Insider previously reported.

She's also dabbled with helping the Trump Organization in deals and negotiations as well as starting her own lifestyle brand— The Ivanka Trump Collection. 

After assuming her role in the White House, she stepped down from both the Trump Organization and her fashion line. When Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, and others dropped her fashion line, citing poor sales, she shut down her brand in 2018.

She's married to real estate developer Jared Kushner, who is also a senior advisor to the president. They have three children: Arabella, Joseph, and Theodore. 

Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, Trump's sons, have taken charge of running the Trump Organization during their father's presidential term.

Donald Jr., 42, and Eric, 36, went to the University of Pennsylvania and Georgetown University, respectively. They're both executive vice presidents at Trump Organization. 

Donald Jr. was married to actress and model Vanessa Trump for 13 years and has five children with her. He's currently in a relationship with former Fox News television host Kimberly Guilfoyle. Guilfoyle was formerly married to the Democratic governor of California, Gavin Newsom.

Eric is married to television producer Lara Trump and has two children with her. In 2018, E News called them "the most normal, least controversial couple" in the Trump family. He has made media appearances on networks like Fox and CNN to defend statements made by his father.

Eric was involved with his father's 2020 reelection campaign, specifically with establishing a rapport with high profile donors and campaign finances, as Business Insider previously reported.

Per a Wall Street Journal story, Eric called 2019 a very profitable year for Trump Organization. In a statement to WSJ, Trump called Eric "an outstanding young man who has never let [him] down."

Brian Spegele and Rebecca Ballhaus reported for the WSJ that after the economy recovers and once Trump has left public office, the organization will focus on expanding its luxury hotel business. In the meantime, Eric has been tasked with the tricky business of reopening properties post coronavirus shutdowns.

Trump married Marla Maples in 1993. The two separated after four years of marriage, according to a 1999 New York Post story.

Their daughter, Tiffany, was born in October 1993. Two months later, the couple got married at the Plaza Hotel in New York City.

Vanity Fair's Gabriel Sherman wrote that"where Ivana was the austere European with royal aspirations, Maples was a beauty queen from the Bible Belt." 

After separating from Trump in 1997, Maples raised Tiffany in California. Tiffany, now 26, graduated from Georgetown Law School in May 2020. 

Speaking to the Times in 2019, Marla said, "I'm not in the White House. I have friends on both sides. I will just walk in the middle. I'll do everything I can to remind people that any type of anger or judgment can truly have such a negative impact on ourselves, and absolutely on our environment."

Trump has been married to Melania Trump, born Knauss, since 2005. They have one son, Barron Trump, who is 14.

Melania Trump was born in Slovenia and moved to New York in 1996 when she was 26 years old. Her White House profile says she appeared in "high profile ad campaigns and [worked] with some of the best photographers in the fashion industry."

Per a Brides story, Melania and Trump met when he was on a date with another woman. Guests at their wedding included Bill and Hillary Clinton.

One of her most widely-known efforts as the First Lady is the "Be Best" initiative focused on "major issues facing children today."

The program has been criticized for lack of proper policy or a path towards concrete legislation. In May 2020, CNN's Kate Bennett wrote that "most of its accomplishments in terms of advancing funding for children's issues under the banner of 'Be Best' come via partnerships with programs that already exist within the federal government."

Washington Post correspondent Mary Jordan published a book titled "The Art of Her Deal" in June 2020 that includes accounts of Melania renegotiating the terms of her prenup after Trump's 2016 election win and a contentious relationship between with Ivanka.