SpineZone, a healthtech startup using data to improve the treatment of skeletal conditions, has raised $12 million in a Series A funding round. 

Founded in 2014, the San Diego-based company creates data-driven personalized treatment programs, and uses its in-person clinics to treat back and neck pain more effectively. The company currently has around a million patients under management, and has partnerships with major healthcare companies such as Sharp HealthCare, Scripps, Providence Health, and health insurance providers such as Anthem.

The firm's latest funding round is led by Polaris Partners, an early backer of online blogging platform Wordpress, alongside investments from Providence Ventures and Martin Ventures. 

"During my 25-year career as a spinal surgeon, I noticed a dramatic increase in patients who were receiving surgery for back and neck pain, but who were not getting their desired long-term result," said Kamshad Raiszadeh, SpineZone's managing director and co-founder. "Many back and neck surgeries are not necessary. We wanted to develop a better model of patient-centric, value-based healthcare that truly puts the patient first."

Insider got an exclusive look at the pitch deck SpineZone used to bring investors on board. Check it out below: 

Technology is one of the most dynamic beats in journalism today. Outlets like The Washington Post are expanding their tech teams, new publications like Protocol are launching, and established journalists like Casey Newton are striking out on their own to chronicle the inner workings of tech companies and how tech is changing politics, business, and culture.

But keeping track of these journalists and what they cover is difficult for public relations pros, given how quickly coverage areas change.

Insider identified 59 of the most influential tech journalists working today through our original reporting. We leaned toward reporters known for authoritative scoops, investigations, and profiles that have had big impacts, like federal or internal investigations, the introduction of legislation, or wide social reach.

The journalists come from established tech publications like TechCrunch, mainstream news giants like The New York Times, and startups and solo practitioners like Protocol and Eric Newcomer, respectively.

This list by no means includes every top tech journalist out there. We stayed away from journalists who are predominantly editors, on-air commentators, and columnists, and didn't include our own tech stars like Eugene Kim, Meghan Morris, and Rob Price.

Scroll down to see the list in alphabetical order by last name, along with a description of their coverage areas and examples of their work and awards.

1. Reed Albergotti, consumer electronics reporter, The Washington Post

Albergotti has revealed how social media platforms may unwittingly host sexual offenders. In 2019, he found more than 1,500 complaints of unwanted sexual approaches were made against social networking companies like Monkey, Yubo, and other apps, which are hosted on Apple's App Store, with some cases involving children.

Albergotti also follows the most infamous cases in Silicon Valley, including Google's lawsuit against Anthony Levandowski, app store Cydia's suit against Apple on grounds of anti-competition, and Apple's attempts to shut down security research firm Corellium.

Albergotti published a story in 2019 about how an iPhone supplier relies on the forced labor of Uighur workers in China and another about Apple's bid to weaken a bill aimed at stopping forced labor in the country.

2. Bobby Allyn, business reporter, NPR

Allyn has a wide-ranging beat that tackles all the biggest stories happening in tech today, whether it's Twitter permanently banning former President Trump or Google employees protesting the firing of an AI researcher.

He's also written about Parler firing its CEO following a fight with conservative Rebekah Mercer, a 25 year-old woman who mistakenly keeps getting calls meant for Elon Musk, and Rob Monster, who is CEO of web services company Epik, which supports InfoWars, Fab, and Parler.

3. Dina Bass, tech reporter and Seattle bureau chief, Bloomberg

Bass has established herself as a prominent journalist covering Microsoft, helping write a feature about its resurgence under the leadership of CEO Satya Nadella with a growing cloud business and a market cap topping $1 trillion.

She's written about Microsoft's race to commercialize the quantum computer, its call for lawmakers to review Apple's App Store, and how its Xbox console reshaped the gaming industry.

Outside Microsoft, she's written about Salesforce's efforts to sell its cloud services for vaccine-related rollout initiatives, Google's ongoing investigation into the dismissal of a top AI researcher, and Amazon's new local cloud products.

During the pandemic, she examined how elderly Americans who aren't digital savvy struggle to get vaccines.

Her accolades include two 2019 Northwest Excellence in Journalism awards for technology reporting from the Society of Professional Journalists and a 2019 National Association of Real Estate Editors award.

4. Mark Bergen, reporter, Bloomberg

Bergen focuses his coverage on the Alphabet companies. He spearheaded a story about the internal debate at YouTube among executives who prioritized engagement at the expense of allowing conspiracy theories and radicalism to spread.

Bergen's also written about creators on the site, profiling the leader of a channel devoted to children's content and merchandise; and why climate science content struggles to find an audience on YouTube.

He provided a view into internal drama at Google when a group of software engineers refused to work on a security feature that would've helped the company win military contracts. He also wrote about the exit of a prominent employee who organized a walkout and its antitrust struggles.

He's at work on a book about YouTube.

5. Johana Bhuiyan, tech accountability reporter, Los Angeles Times

A former senior editor at Recode, Bhuiyan writes about how tech impacts "real people as well as civil liberties." She wrote an investigation exposing how Amazon withheld customer tips from delivery drivers to cover expenses for other drivers, which led to a $61.7 million settlement with the FTC.

Another story she wrote covered how the pandemic has affected workers for grocery delivery company Instacart. She also explored how Uber workers and riders are being affected by a California bill that would reclassify them as workers and extend labor protections.

6. Nick Bilton, special correspondent, Vanity Fair

Bilton frequently weighs in on tech's impact on society, arguing, for example, Twitter should've suspended Trump sooner.

He provided vivid details of the intense debate between Twitter's employees and leaders over how it should handle Trump's sometimes incendiary comments on its platform.

Bilton also writes about the lifestyles of the rich elite in technology, such as the private jets and cars they buy and the cities where they've fled in the wake of the pandemic.

He's also profiled some of tech's brightest stars, including Elon Musk and Jack Dorsey, the latter in a book called "Hatching Twitter." He wrote a book about the origins of The Silk Road, a website on the Dark Web where people sell contraband.

7. Shannon Bond, tech correspondent, NPR

Since joining NPR in 2019, Bond has written about how the biggest technology companies like Facebook, Amazon, and Uber transform how we live, work, and communicate.

She profiled Willy Solis, a grocery delivery worker who organized walkouts and protests for better pay and safety rules at Shipt, revealing insight about the gig economy.

She's produced pieces about how the Biden Administration will tackle some of the wide-ranging regulatory issues facing tech like anti-monopoly lawsuits and censorship rules and how the social media giants like Facebook and Twitter will tamp down on misinformation on their platforms. 

8. Nellie Bowles, domestic correspondent, The New York Times

Bowles has put the bewildering communities and trends on the Internet under a microscope, studying how they affect our society.

Her reporting uncovered how sexual predators use multiplayer games and chat apps to meet their victims and tech companies' strong dislike of then-presidential candidate Bernie Sanders.

She's written features about how Silicon Valley adjusted to an IPO fizzle, how PragerU is trying to convert Gen Zers to right-wing politics, and the rise of a new kind of consultant whose "business is borrowing from religious tradition to bring spiritual richness to corporate America."

Bowles, investigative reporter Michael H. Keller, and deputy investigations editor Gabriel J.X. Dance received a 2020 Gerald Loeb award for investigative journalism for their work uncovering the exponential growth of child pornography online, which led to a bipartisan bill in the House and Senate.

She's working on a book of essays across a variety of topics.

9. Tim Bradshaw, global tech correspondent, Financial Times

London-based Bradshaw covers tech in the US, Europe, and Asia markets.

He produced scoops about the UK building a second coronavirus contact-tracing app, investigating whether it should pull an app it developed or switch to the model proposed by Apple and Google. He also wrote about Apple's efforts to build its own search engine to compete with Google.

Bradshaw covered tech and ecommerce trends that the pandemic accelerated and will reshape urban centers. Other e-commerce stories have focused on Shopify and Thrasio.

He's also written about the gaming industry including companies like Supercell.

10. Ashley Carman, senior reporter, The Verge

Carman wrote about how the nascent podcast medium is struggling to moderate content.

Carman covered forays by legacy media companies like Condé Nast Entertainment into podcasts and infighting among producers, as well as new entities like investment firm PodFund. She's also written about the major podcast players like Spotify and its acquisitions like Megaphone and disputes with podcast hosts.

Outside podcasts, she profiled a young entrepreneur who was under investigation by the Federal Trade Commission, who alleged he spent money he raised through a crowdfunding campaign for a botched project on personal expenses.

11. Biz Carson, reporter, Protocol

Focusing on startups and venture capital, Carson broke news about direct-to-consumer retailer Brandless going out of business, becoming the first venture funded by SoftBank's Vision Fund to fail.

Carson also wrote about a new model pioneered by Sweat Equity Ventures, where its partners advise potential investments in exchange for equity instead of cash, how Trump's order banning federal contractors from diversity and inclusion training would affect tech companies, and Expensify's CEO encouraging employees to vote for Biden.

At the start of the pandemic, Carson wrote about Zoom-hosted layoffs sweeping tech companies like Compass and Airbnb. For years, Carson reported on Uber as the ride-hailing app navigated some perilous years during a CEO transition.

She previously reported for Forbes and Insider.

12. Rory Cellan-Jones, tech correspondent, BBC

A longtime vet of the BBC, Cellan-Jones has covered tech since the late 1990's dotcom bubble. Today, he's host of the podcast, Tech Tent, where he touches on all the biggest tech stories in the world.

Lately, Cellan-Jones has been covering 5G and the proliferation of conspiracy theorists around the cellular network technology. Through the pandemic, he charted the UK's efforts to contain the coronavirus through a contact tracing app; after that failed, the government turned to a new system created by Apple and Google.

13. Kate Clark, reporter, The Information

The TechCrunch and PitchBook News vet has extended her streak as one of the top venture capital and startup reporters since she joined The Information in 2020.

She wrote about how Silicon Valley made 2020 one of its best years ever for deals despite the pandemic. When animosity against Robinhood rose among retail investors, Clark interviewed the CEO of a competing trading app, Public.

Clark also wrote about how a startup called HeadSpin planned on returning $95 million in funding to investors following an internal probe of financial irregularities. She covers big venture capital firms like Benchmark and Sequoia and their investments in the fastest-rising startups.

Clark broke news on how Benchmark bested rivals like Andreessen Horowitz and Lightspeed Venture Partners for a stake in a social media app Popshop Live and how Sequoia secured a stake in the much-sought after software company Zapier for a multibillion dollar valuation.

14. Kate Conger, reporter, The New York Times

Over the past couple years, Conger has written story after story about how social media companies are changing their platforms to tamp down on misinformation and address privacy concerns.

Conger also has a special focus on Twitter and Uber. She and colleague Mike Isaac published a behind-the-scenes look at how top execs at Twitter permanently banned President Trump following the U.S. Capitol insurrection. She chronicled Uber's struggles getting into the self-driving car business and ride hailing companies' labor issues like the passing of Prop 22 in California.

Conger also wrote about Google employees pushing back against the company doing work they saw as unethical and unionization efforts at the Alphabet company.

15. Joseph Cox, senior staff writer, Vice/Motherboard

Cox has a wide-ranging beat, but specializes in surveillance and privacy issues.

He's written about departments at Snap that access user data, which employees have abused to spy on users, and how Amazon Web Services helped a firm sell location data through its platform.

His pieces have also offered looks inside social media giants that have navigated thorny free speech issues like a closed-door meeting between Twitter execs, including CEO Jack Dorsey, and President Trump. Cox also wrote about the US military buying location data and an Avast subsidiary that sells users' browsing data.

16. Sam Dean, staff writer, Los Angeles Times

Dean covers technology in California's lesser known tech hub, Los Angeles.

He wrote about rich home buyers' new fad, air filtration systems, a new company called PopID that allows users to make payments through facial recognition, and Amazon's hiring spree during the pandemic when one employee died from COVID after only two weeks on the job.

Dean wrote about Tony Hsieh's vision to turn Las Vegas into a "tech utopia." He also interviewed Brian Calle about buying the Village Voice.

17. Jason Del Rey, senior correspondent, Recode

Del Rey covers commerce for Recode, a part of Vox. He writes about the changing nature of how we shop, Amazon, and is writing a book about the rivalry between Amazon and Walmart.

His most popular stories include an oral history of how former CEO Jeff Bezos created Amazon Prime, a call Bezos made to Mike Bloomberg about the former New York Mayor running for president, and Paul Davis, one of the company's first employees, saying the tech giant should be broken up.

Del Rey wrote about Walmart's stealth efforts to build a competitor to Amazon Prime and how online shoppers can help food and grocery delivery workers. He also hosts a podcast series about Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix, and Google.

18. Megan Rose Dickey, senior reporter, TechCrunch

Through her newsletter, Human Capital, Dickey covers all the latest stories about diversity and inclusion and labor in the tech industry, including internal and external pushback at Google after it fired a top AI ethics researcher.

Her beat has gained relevance as more tech workers at companies like Alphabet try to form labor unions and after Black Lives Matter protests in 2020.

Dickey has also written about new social platforms like Something Good, a community for people of color; and where the electric scooter industry is going as city governments contemplate more regulations.

Dickey was previously a reporter at Insider.

19. Cyrus Farivar, investigative tech reporter, NBC News

Farivar has built a career by examining the good, bad, and strange ways technology has wrought change throughout society, authoring books like "The Internet of Elsewhere" and "Habeas Data."

Farivar also examined how people have become addicted to apps that offer casino-style games and lost millions. In 2019, Farivar and Olivia Solon, tech investigations editor at NBC, won the technology reporting award from the Society of Professional Journalists, northern California chapter, for their stories about privacy, facial recognition, and other areas.

20. Sheera Frenkel, cybersecurity correspondent, The New York Times

Frenkel covers cybersecurity and written numerous investigations about Facebook, contributing to a multi-byline story about how the social media giant battled crises in 2018 by delaying, denying, and deflecting.

She covered the Facebook walkout in the summer of 2020 as employees protested its response to controversial posts from then-President Trump and how the company later responded to growing criticism from within and outside its walls.

More recently, she reported on right-wing extremists organized the Capitol insurrection on social media and its ripple effects in the months after.

She's co-authoring a book called "An Ugly Truth: Inside Facebook's Battle for Dominion" with her colleague, Cecilia Kang, which is scheduled to be released in the summer of 2021.

21. Ina Fried, chief technology correspondent, Axios

Fried has a wide-ranging purview covering the most important issues affecting tech giants like Samsung, Google, and Facebook.

Covering tech from both a regulatory and innovation lens, Fried's stories have ranged from Oracle and Walmart's takeover of TikTok's US operations to Google's investigations of the exits of two AI ethicists. She's the author of Axios' tech newsletter, "Login." Before Axios, Fried was a founder and senior editor at Recode.

22. Sarah Frier, senior technology reporter, Bloomberg

Frier focuses on Facebook, Snapchat, and Instagram. Her book, "No Filter: The Inside Story of Instagram," chronicles the company's rise and impact, and won the 2020 Financial Times & McKinsey business book of the year award.

She wrote about how Facebook planned to counter lawmakers' arguments that it should be regulated and employee alarm that the company could be appeasing people in power.

Frier also reported on how platforms try to tamp down on misinformation and Snap's efforts to boost the amount of content its creators make for Spotlight videos.

In February, Frier tweeted she was transitioning from daily beat coverage to a senior role where she'll write about tech more broadly.

23. Sidney Fussell, senior staff writer, Wired

At Wired, Fussell writes about surveillance, adtech, and Silicon Valley's impact on society and politics.

As Black Lives Matter protest spread across the world, Fussell explored the surveillance tools that tech giants like Amazon sell to law enforcement and their potential to misidentify darker-skinned people; and a movement among city governments to ban police from using facial recognition.

He wrote about racial disparities in who is and isn't getting a coronavirus vaccine, how certain kinds of data end up in the police's hands, and the pandemic's effects on how crisis counselors do their jobs.

While at The Atlantic, Fussell wrote about racial bias in facial recognition technology and the controversial ways some companies have tried to correct the problem.

24. Tomio Geron, reporter, Protocol

The author of Protocol's Pipeline newsletter, Geron covers the ins and outs of venture capital and startups.

The stakes for Geron's beat, fintech, have increased astronomically following the GameStop short squeeze. Geron, who started working at Protocol at the end of 2020, covers some of the hottest names in fintech like Affirm, whose IPO is raising alarm bells it could contribute to growing debt.

Geron came from The Wall Street Journal, where he covered the venture capital firms and broke stories about cryptocurrency companies like Ripple.

25. Jack Gillum, senior reporter, ProPublica

Since joining ProPublica in 2018, Gillum has used his investigative skills to uncover vulnerabilities in the US election system, finding security gaps in an app used to count votes in the 2020 Iowa Caucuses in 2020.

In a joint investigation with German broadcaster Bayerischer Rundfunk, Gillum also reported that millions of patient data are "unprotected" on the internet and can be viewed by anyone with free software programs.

He also wrote about how a $2.2 million cybersecurity system could've prevented the SolarWinds hack, a Capitol riot suspect who tried to organize a militia on a private Telegram group, and how 15 large companies received more than $500 million in COVID relief funds intended for smaller companies.

Gillum tweeted he will pivot his coverage toward Facebook and TikTok in 2021.

26. Erin Griffith, correspondent, The New York Times

Griffith covers the nuts and bolts of tech beat reporting like IPOs and mergers and acquisitions, but her stories have also illuminated cultural rifts at some of the hottest startups.

She has written about Pinterest employees' demands for greater racial and gender equality and unfair treatment of some employees at $3 billion fintech startup Carta.

Griffith chronicled the fears inside Silicon Valley as the coronavirus spread. She also wrote about how employees grappled with layoffs as startup companies' glowing ethos clashed with reality.

27. Mark Gurman, reporter, Bloomberg

Gurman writes about major consumer tech companies like Google, Amazon, and Apple. As a former reporter for 9to5Mac, he's specialized in Apple, breaking news on forthcoming products like its new iPhone and VR headset.

Gurman wrote about how Apple CEO Tim Cook turned the tech giant into a "$2.3 trillion fortress" and its plans to develop 6G wireless. He's also written about the internal culture, publishing Cook's memo to Apple employees following the death of George Floyd and new face masks it developed for workers.

Gurman also published a story about how Amazon negotiated a deal for its App Store to host Amazon Prime by halving its fee. Besides Apple, Gurman wrote about Amazon's wireless earbuds and how Google is exploring ways to protect user privacy through a new anti-tracking feature.

28. Anthony Ha, senior writer, TechCrunch

Ha covers all the latest deals and developments in the media and advertising industries.

Over the past few months, Ha has been on top of the growing trend in which media and advertising companies like Taboola and Group Nine go public through SPACs. He's also covered the streaming wars and new funding raises for startups like Good Eggs, Literati, and You & Mrs. Jones.

Ha also writes the Daily Crunch newsletter and co-hosts the Original Content podcast.

29. Alex Heath, reporter, The Information

Heath carved out a beat covering social media companies like Facebook, Snap, and Twitter. Lately, he's been writing about the increasing competition between Facebook and Apple.

The House's antitrust report on Big Tech last summer cited two of Heath's stories, one about Facebook's secret research showing that users were posting too much on Instagram and WhatsApp would hurt its core app; and the other about how Google taps data from Android to monitor how users interact with non-Google apps.

Heath was formerly a senior reporter at Cheddar and Insider.

In 2018, Heath was a recipient of the SABEW's Larry Birger Award, which recognizes excellence in business journalists under 30.

30. Mike Isaac, technology correspondent, The New York Times

One of tech journalism's highest profile Uber reporters, Isaac covered the rapid ascent of the ride hailing giant and uncovered a litany of scandals, including its use of an app called Greyball to operate in markets where it was banned. He profiled former Uber CEO Travis Kalanick and wrote the book "Super Pumped: the Battle for Uber."

Beyond Uber, Isaac profiled Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg as the social media chief tries to show he's grown as a leader during the pandemic, and delivered scoops on Instagram's cofounders leaving and former Twitter employees working as Saudi spies. Isaac received the Gerald Loeb Award in June 2018 for those efforts.

31. Peter Kafka, senior correspondent, Recode

Longtime tech journalist Kafka has covered the overlap between media and tech with stories about Spotify's aggressive growth in podcasts when it acquired Gimlet and The Ringer and the streaming wars as media companies like Disney take on big tech. He's also written about Facebook's initiative to pay publishers for the news content hosted on its platform.

With the departure of Amazon's Jeff Bezos as CEO, Kafka gave his take on how the major tech companies have thrived without their founders, and he wrote about how being deplatformed will affect former President Trump.

Kafka hosts Recode Media — a podcast about Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix, and Google — and is co-executive producer of the Code Conference.

32. Alex Kantrowitz, founder, Big Technology

Kantrowitz is a former BuzzFeed News tech reporter who struck out on his own with a Substack newsletter. He is also an on-air contributor to CNBC, struck a two-year deal for speaking engagements, and launched a podcast to work on "big, impactful stories."

His newsletter, Big Technology, focuses on Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Google, and Microsoft — the subjects of his book "Always Day One"— and has produced stories about what cities tech workers are migrating to, Big Tech's "manipulation" of newspapers' op-ed sections, cost cuts at the Federal Trade Commission, and increasing discontent with workplace chat apps like Slack at tech companies.

His reporting is also syndicated through Medium's OneZero.

33. Kia Kokalitcheva, technology reporter, Axios

Kokalitcheva writes a wide range of stories about tech and venture capital for tech companies in Silicon Valley. She's covered fundraises for startups like Spin, which raised $125 million through a security token offering, and venture capital firms like Footwork.

She's broken news about Slack financing and launching a $50 million venture capital fund by itself, Uber's talks to sell its air taxi business, and the revenue online banking company Chime generates through out-of-network ATMs.

She's also written on tech employees fleeing the Bay Area during the pandemic and Coinbase employees walking out of an "ask me anything" session when the CEO declined to publicly support Black Lives Matter.

34. Lora Kolodny, tech reporter, CNBC

Kolodny covers robotics, vehicles, and mobility, and is one of the top reporters reporting on Tesla and CEO Elon Musk.

She's covered regulatory scrutiny of Tesla for fire risks related to its batteries and driver safety issues around its autopilot system. She also hits on internal issues like when sales employees asked for higher base salaries.

She covered Tesla extensively through the pandemic when it dismissed contractors for some factories, slashed pay and furloughed hourly workers, and laid the groundwork to resume operations.

Besides Tesla, she's written about other emerging mobility businesses like Volkswagen's QuantumScape and Amazon's electric delivery vans as well as state governments' efforts to boost growth in electric and hydrogen vehicles.

35. Timothy B. Lee, senior tech policy reporter, Ars Technica

Covering technology policy, AI, and the future of transportation, Lee has written about Twitter's decision not to take action against a tweet from the Chinese government praising its suppression of Uighurs.

He wrote how jails are replacing in-person visits with video calls and produced a deep dive on how Qualcomm dominated the cellular chip business. He wrote about creating a deepfake of Mark Zuckerberg with only $552 in two weeks.

He's also looked at the future of transportation, with the effect falling battery costs will have on cleaner energy alternatives, and updated readers on Tesla's progress in self-driving tech.

36. Alexandra S. Levine, reporter, Politico

Author of Politico's daily newsletter Morning Tech, Levine chronicles the fraught relationship between tech movers and shakers and the lawmakers in Washington, D.C.

She's been part of interviews with Huawei as the Chinese tech company tries to retain a working relationship with DC, wrote about Facebook critics pushing to permanently ban President Trump, and wrote about growing scrutiny of TikTok.

Levine wrote about Vice President Kamala Harris' potential impact on tech in terms of policy proposals and then-presidential candidate Joe Biden's criticism of Facebook.

Following the 2020 election, Levine wrote how tamping down on disinformation about COVID could be more challenging than election disinformation.

37. Ari Levy, senior tech reporter, CNBC

Levy profiles tech's movers and shakers through stories about how Snowflake CEO Frank Slootman prepared the company for its IPO and Andy Jassy built the cloud computing business at Amazon.

He covers the tech business from a financial perspective as well, writing about Netflix becoming the highest-performing stock of the decade with a 4,000% return and Uber's massive losses.

He tracked how the tech industry would be affected as companies cut leases and their workforce in the pandemic. When the Black Lives Matter movement spread, he asked Black tech CEOs how the death of George Floyd personally affected them.

He also wrote about Ben Kusin, an active Redditor on WallStreetBets who is the son of a GameStop cofounder; and tech companies ending their office leases.

38. Cristiano Lima, tech reporter, Politico

Lima covers the ins and outs of everything tech-related on Capitol Hill, writing about how a bipartisan alliance to reign in Big Tech was left in tatters after members of the GOP opposed certifying President Joe Biden's victory.

The ensuing Capitol riot "inflamed" Democrats' anger at tech companies and strengthened their resolve to tamp down on online extremism, according to Lima's reporting. He also reported on Democrats calling on Biden to diversify the people he picks to oversee federal agencies regulating the tech industry.

He's also covered all the Republican politicians that have joined conservative-friendly Parler and how social platforms like Reddit are moderating content.

39. Steve Lohr, technology and economics reporter, The New York Times

Lohr has written for The New York Times since the early 1990s on multiple industries, but a chunk of his reporting has zeroed in on Google, IBM, and Microsoft. In 1998, he was nominated for a Pulitzer for his coverage of Microsoft's antitrust lawsuit.

He now covers antitrust lawsuits against tech giants like Google. With a focus on how technology is used, Lohr has written about how automation will affect the economy and the groups fighting for control of the internet domain, .org.

Lohr has interviewed Tim Berners-Lee, creator of the web, about the next stage of his career and written about new theories that a form of regulation is needed to reign in tech beyond anti-trust suits.

Lohr authored two books: "Data-ism: The Revolution Transforming Decision Making, Consumer Behavior, and Almost Everything Else" and "Go to: The Story of the Math Majors, Bridge Players, Engineers, Chess Wizards, Maverick Scientists, and Iconoclasts — the Programmers Who Created the Software Revolution."

40. Taylor Lorenz, technology reporter, The New York Times

Lorenz has covered internet culture and the creator economy for more than a decade, treating the social media ecosystem of content as a business and tech story.

Lorenz wrote features about the GameStop short squeeze and Black influencers in Atlanta facing systemic racism, and investigated Shopify sites selling fake COVID cures. She's also unearthed new trends like TikTok mansions going public on the stock market, written about the millions of dollars Snapchat is paying its users to post content, and unionization efforts for Instagram memers.

At The Atlantic, she wrote about what it's like for parents to raise a social media star and investigated how an influencer-management platform lost thousands of dollars for dozens of creators. Forbes named her to its 40 under 40 list for media and entertainment.

41. Ryan Mac, senior tech writer, BuzzFeed

Mac has produced explosive reporting during his time at BuzzFeed News, including a recent article with colleague Rosie Gray on how The Trump Organization tried to negotiate a stake in Parler for Donald Trump if the then-president posted exclusively on the social network. That story led to a House investigation.

Following the Capitol insurrection in January 2020, he reported Amazon Web Services' decided to cut off Parler with John Paczkowski, tech and business editor. With colleague Craig Silverman, he also wrote about Facebook's inaction to remove ads promoting military products next to news about the riot.

Mac, Silverman, and tech reporter Pranav Dixit tag-teamed a story about how Facebook failed to prevent countries' leaders from using the social network to manipulate voters, according to an internal memo.

Mac and Silverman just received the George Polk Award for their coverage on how Facebook failed to tamp down disinformation and content that incited violence.

42. Matt McFarland, writer, CNN Business

McFarland has focused on how technology is reshaping transportation through AI, autonomous vehicles, drones, and other forms of emerging mobility.

For example, he's written about Waymo's efforts to differentiate itself from auto companies and Pete Buttigieg's challenges as Secretary of Transportation in integrating electric and autonomous vehicles.

He's also written about Elon Musk's project to build tunnels under Los Angeles for vehicles, why robots aren't being used for delivery services at a widespread scale, and how cargo bikes increased in popularity during the pandemic.

43. Rani Molla, senior data reporter, Recode

Molla tells stories about the tech industry through data, charts, images, and maps.

She showed how SoulCycle's attendance dipped after news broke that one of its investors was hosting a Trump fundraiser and wrote about the surge in popularity for anti-crime apps like Citizen by juxtaposing how many times they've been downloaded with lowering violent crime rates nationwide.

She also produced a story about the rising usage of work chat apps like Slack even as productivity levels failed to improve and a map about the biggest media owners today. She's created a series on how the pandemic will affect the layout of work offices, why some of the physical changes have been delayed, and the future of work from home.

She also serves as a host on Vox's podcast series, Land of the Giants.

44. Hannah Murphy, tech correspondent, Financial Times

Murphy covers social media giants like Facebook, privacy and cybersecurity issues, as well as cryptocurrencies and digital assets.

Her Facebook stories include exclusives like her report that the company was preparing for 70 potential scenarios in the runup to the 2020 election and a scoop where execs admitted it had a "trust deficit" on a call with about 200 advertisers during the 2020 ad boycott.

She also reported on TikTok's plans to compete with Facebook in US e-commerce and offered a peak inside Facebook's club for its biggest advertisers.

45. Stephen Nellis, tech correspondent, Reuters

Nellis covers Apple, autonomous driving hardware, and the semiconductor industry, keeping readers up to date on the company's upcoming products like its AirPods Max and the new iPhone.

He's written about Apple's plans to create a self-driving car by 2024, the company's move to store Chinese users' iCloud accounts in China, and its supply chain's reliance on China.

He broke news about Amazon's efforts to retain employees at a self-driving car startup, Zoox, it acquired in 2020; and Arm, a Softbank-owned semiconductor tech supplier, raising licensing fees for some customers.

46. Eric Newcomer, founder, Newcomer.co

After six years at Bloomberg, Newcomer struck out on his own with his own newsletter. His goal is to write about startups and venture capital with "an insider and independent accounting of what's going on in Silicon Valley."

He's interviewed tech leaders like Dara Khosrowshahi, Chamath Palihapitiya, and Bill Gurley, and published scoops about funding rounds. Newcomer wrote about how Doordash picked its early investors and Andreessen Horowitz's aspirations to become a media company.

At Bloomberg, one of Newcomer's most-read pieces was on a video of former Uber CEO Travis Kalanick arguing with a driver, and he co-wrote a feature on Kalanick's downfall later that year.

47. Casey Newton, founder, Platformer

The former Silicon Valley editor at The Verge, Newton was one of the most prominent journalists to leave a legacy tech publication and start their own Substack newsletter, launching Platformer, which focuses on "social networks and their relationships with the world."

In the few months since its launch, Newton has written about Twitter's precarious ability to continue operating in India, what Amazon's incoming CEO Andy Jassy should prioritize, and internal alarm at Signal about new features that could make the app more vulnerable to abuse.

He also published the email that got a top AI ethics researcher fired from Google. At The Verge, Newton published articles on secret recordings of Facebook meetings and its contentmoderators. 

48. Leah Nylen, tech reporter, Politico

Nylen covers the ongoing antitrust lawsuits and investigations against Big Tech.

She's kept Politico readers up to date on Parler's antitrust lawsuit against Amazon after Parler was booted off its web services and the court's rejection of Parler's request to be reinstated. She also wrote about the FTC interviewing Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and the FTC suing Facebook. 

49. Dan Primack, business editor, Axios

Primack covers all the biggest business deals, banks, movers and shakers. His Pro Rata newsletter has become an essential read for Silicon Valley insiders.

He's written about Verizon's sale of Tumblr, Dominion's plan to sue Trump lawyer Sidney Powell, and Benchmark's fraud lawsuit against Uber CEO Travis Kalanick. He recapped Robinhood's GameStop drama and interviewed Parler's CEO on why he declined striking a deal with President Trump.

Primack has also written about how Trump's stock market performed compared to Obama's and the percentage of US Fortune 500 companies that were started by immigrants and their children.

50. Jeff Roberts, executive editor, Decrypt Media

Roberts joined cryptocurrency outlet Decrypt Media in February after almost five years at Fortune.

At Fortune, he wrote about blockchain and cybersecurity issues, authoring a book about Coinbase called "Kings of Crypto: One Startup's Quest to Take Cryptocurrency Out of Silicon Valley and Onto Wall Street."

He's written about the Biden Administration's approach to cryptocurrency and fintech companies like PayPal and Robinhood.

Some of his crypto stories include pieces about Ripple being sued by the Securities and Exchange Commission and whether Coinbase $75 billion valuation is realistic.

51. Tony Romm, senior tech policy reporter, The Washington Post

Romm has led coverage around how tech companies are bracing for "the most aggressive regulatory assault against the tech industry in its history" at The Washington Post, writing about how state and federal investigators prepared to file antitrust charges against Facebook in October 2020.

As the pandemic wreaked havoc on the economy, he wrote about Comcast suspending new fees for Northeast customers. When Section 230 came under fire, Romm wrote about new legislation to help hold tech giants accountable for the content they host.

Romm landed a scoop about Arizona's lawsuit against Google, alleging the Alphabet company "illegally tracked Android smartphone users' locations," and shed light on the internal debate raging inside TikTok as US employees bristled at Beijing-based moderators' willingness to censor videos.

52. Theodore Schleifer, senior reporter, Recode

Schleifer covers how the tech elite use their influence by spending on politics, philanthropy, and coronavirus relief efforts.

Schleifer has written on Reid Hoffman's disruptive style, how Netflix's Reed Hasting is building a luxury retreat in Colorado for teachers, and tensions between Facebook and Mark Zuckerberg's philanthropic organization, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative.

He wrote about the $100 million barrage of ads tech donors released in the month before the 2020 election, picked apart the lack of transparency around the historic amount of money billionaires gave during the pandemic and previewed Jeff Bezos' life post Amazon.

After the attempted Capitol coup on January 6, Schleifer broke news about Doug Leone withdrawing his support for former President Trump. He also wrote about how Google's Eric Schmidt applied to become a citizen of Cyprus.

53. Jason Schreier, reporter, Bloomberg

Schreier has offered the public an insightful peek into the behind-the-scenes culture of the video games industry, revealing the missteps publisher and developer CD Projekt made in the leadup to its botched release of Cyberpunk 2077.

He also wrote about numerous allegations of sexual harassment and abuse against Ubisoft employees and the struggles of Amazon Game Studios.

One of his best-known stories uncovered the hours of overtime and crunch workers had to endure at RockStar Games, which released titles like the "Read Dead Redemption" and "Grand Theft Auto" series.

54. Deepa Seetharaman, reporter, The Wall Street Journal

As The Wall Street Journal's Facebook beat reporter, Seetharaman takes readers behind the scenes at the tech giant.

Seetharaman chronicled Facebook's indecision on dealing with political divisiveness among its users, CEO Mark Zuckerberg's tensions with COO Sheryl Sandberg, and the company's role in lobbying Washington, DC.

She broke news that Facebook softened its hate-speech rules for President Trump and reported on the online harassment directed at Microsoft founder and billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates over his comments about how the US should handled the pandemic.

55. Natasha Singer, reporter, The New York Times

A veteran of The New York Times technology beat, Singer has written extensively about consumer privacy, health tech, and education tech.

Singer reported on how dating apps have spread user information to advertising and marketing companies, how airlines are using COVID-19 health pass apps, and the alarm Facebook triggered when it announced it was pushing into facial recognition technology.

At the height of the pandemic, Singer wrote about privacy issues ensnaring Zoom, which has become an essential service for businesses and everyday users alike, as well as a South Korean app used to enforce quarantines.

She also wrote a series about the consumer data industry that led to several Congressional and federal investigations and a new California law that protects student online data. She's writing a book called "Coding Kids" about the computer science education boom in K-12 schools.

56. Olivia Solon, tech investigations editor, NBC News

Solon does her own reporting when she's not leading a team of investigative reporters in San Francisco. She found that a Microsoft-backed startup used facial recognition technology to surveil Palestinians through the West Bank, leading to Microsoft hiring Eric Holder to review those allegations.

With tech investigative reporter Cyrus Farivar, she showed how Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg tried to "consolidate the social network's power and control competitors by treating its users' data as a bargaining chip," based on 7,000 pages of leaked documents.

57. Ashlee Vance, senior writer, Bloomberg

Vance is well known for his coverage of Elon Musk and his career, having written a biography about the controversial billionaire as well as other features for Bloomberg, but his coverage is as diverse as the technology he profiles in his stories.

He's written about a neuroscience startup that uses a mask to map brain activity and GitHub's initiative to preserve an open source code in an Arctic cave. 

He wrote about a 27-year-old data scientist who produced a more accurate statistical model predicting COVID deaths than global institutions, an aviation startup promising to make flights much faster, and a Chinese company called DJI that dominates the drone market.

58. Kurt Wagner, tech reporter, Bloomberg

Wagner covers social media with an emphasis on Facebook and Twitter.

He wrote a feature about Facebook pinning its future on WhatsApp and its plans to make the messaging service more profitable. He also broke news that tens of thousands of Facebook employees had their payroll data compromised when corporate hard drives were stolen from an employee's car.

Wagner covered Twitter's decision to stop giving President Donald Trump "special treatment" if he lost the 2020 election. He was part of the team that broke news about Microsoft trying to buy TikTok in the US. Before Bloomberg, Wagner was a senior editor at Recode.

59. Kaya Yurieff, tech writer, CNN Business

Yurieff focuses on social media platforms, how people use them, and how creators and influencers earn a living.

She's written about how YouTubers deal with burnout, how one family dealt with their son's newfound fame on TikTok, how medical professionals like doctors and therapists used social media to share information about coronavirus, and how some online shoppers entice Instacart grocery delivery workers with tips only to give them nothing, which led to an FTC investigation.

• Laptop bags are essential: they need to be stylish, easy to carry, and durable.
• Options range from techy styles with lots of pockets, to luxurious leather totes.
• Our pick for the best laptop bag for women is the Ryan Laptop Bag from Dagne Dover.
• Check out Insider Reviews for more reviews, guides, and recommendations.

Laptop bags are one of the trickiest accessories to get right. We all want something that is stylish and easy to carry, but also durable enough to withstand a long commute. 

Some people prefer to stuff their laptop in large, fashionable bags, but we recommend finding something that at least has a dedicated laptop compartment. Luckily, there are plenty of attractive and protective options available.

The new generation of laptop carriers runs the gamut from techy styles with tons of extras to fashionable tote bags in luxurious leather. We love all different kinds of bags and have included a mix on this list to suit a variety of worker's needs.

We are currently in the process of testing a whole new batch of bags to see if they stack up to the ones already on this list. For now, the following four bags reign supreme.

Here are the best laptop bags for women:

• Best laptop bag for women overall: Dagne Dover Ryan Laptop Bag 
• Best affordable laptop bag for women: Ytonet 17-Inch Laptop Bag 
• Best stylish laptop bag for women: Dagne Dover Signature Tote 
• Best travel laptop bag for women: Lo & Sons O.G. 2 Overnight Bag

The best laptop bag overall

The Ryan Laptop Bag from Dagne Dover is super functional, complete with the brand's signature interior compartment system, and very cute.

Pros: Tons of compartments, detachable key fob, convertible straps, water resistant
Cons: Expensive

Laptop bags that actually look like laptop bags can be cute. The everyday-bag masters over at Dagne Dover have proved it with the design of the Ryan Laptop Bag, which is both stylish and very practical. 

It's very similar to the brand's best-selling Signature Tote, with a more durable, tech-friendly exterior made of water-resistant neoprene. The interior contains Dagne Dover's signature compartment system. There's a laptop sleeve, a key ring, several card slots, and mesh pockets to organize your workday essentials. A zippered exterior pocket allows you to stash items you reach for on the go, like your subway card, passport, and cell phone. 

The Ryan is available in both Medium ($135, carries most 13-inch laptops) and Large ($155, carries most 15-inch laptops) sizes and can be worn as a crossbody or shoulder bag.

"I wish the Dagne Dover Ryan Laptop Bag had existed while I was in college, because it would've actually held up to all the heavy study materials and the laptop I carried around campus," Insider Picks reporter Connie Chen wrote in a previous review. 

If you are a teacher or member of the military, you are eligible for a 20% discount on any Dagne Dover purchases you make. Simply fill out this form using your official education or military email address and the company will give you an exclusive code to use at checkout.

The best affordable laptop bag

With nearly 1,000 5-star customer reviews on Amazon, the Ytonet 17-Inch Laptop Bag is a relative bargain that will not let you down.

Pros: Affordable, has a lot of compartments, expandable, water resistant

Cons: Not the most stylish

You truly do not need to spend a ton of money in order to find a good quality laptop bag you'll actually want to carry every day. Sure, the Ytonet 17-Inch Laptop Bag is not the most stylish option on the market. But it's not hideous, and it is practical and affordable.

This sleek, structured rectangular bag contains a multitude of compartments to hold everything you could possibly need for one workday (or a full week of them). Seriously, there's an individual pocket for a cell phone, laptop, tablet, passport, pen, umbrella, water bottle, and even clothing! 

You can pack for a short business trip using just this one bag. There's even an expandable zipper to give you more room, effectively turning your laptop bag into a duffle. The bag has a 4.6-star rating based on nearly 1,300 Amazon customer reviews and has been praised by Travel + Leisure.

The best stylish laptop bag

The Dagne Dover Signature Tote is as attractive as a far less useful bag, but with all the functionality of the more utilitarian Ryan Laptop Bag.

Pros: Lots of interior pockets, fits 13-inch or 15-inch backpack, high-quality materials

Cons: Expensive

Dagne Dover really knows what its doing as far as work bags go. The Signature Tote is very similar to the more utilitarian in appearance Ryan Laptop Bag we chose as our top pick, only it doesn't look like a laptop bag at all.

If style is a top priority for you, you can't go wrong here. The Signature Tote is made of coated canvas with leather trim. It has a classic and simple silhouette that won't go out of style or clash with anything in your closet. 

Dagne Dover's founder and CEO Melissa Mash sums up our feelings about the tote best: "It's no longer good enough to just be 'arm candy'. Nowadays we expect the services and products we use to multitask, to be data-driven, and to work harder," Mash told Insider Reviews' director of content strategy Ellen Hoffman in a previous interview. "Dagne Dover is the only brand in the handbag market that does so while continuing to be stylish and organized."

This bag comes in a bunch of colors and four sizes, but the Classic ($245) and Legend ($265) styles are the only ones large enough to fit a laptop. Inside both models is a padded compartment large enough to conceal a 13-inch or 15-inch laptop, respectively, three pen loops, a phone/MetroCard pocket, a detachable key leash, and a neoprene water bottle holder. 

Just about everyone is a fan of the Dagne Dover Signature Tote. "I lead a fast-paced, on-the-go life and expect functional products that can adapt to my needs and perform beyond expectations. I want a product that fuses style with athlete-caliber function. [Dagne Dover's] Classic Tote does — and then some," Hoffman wrote in her review. The bag had also been featured by Best Products, Travel + Leisure, The Strategist, and Harper's Bazaar. 

If you are a teacher or member of the military, you are eligible for a 20% discount on any Dagne Dover purchases you make when you fill out this form using your official education or military email address. The company will give you a special discount code to use at checkout.

The best travel laptop bag

The O.G. 2 Overnight Bag from Lo & Sons is a stylish upgrade for the frequent professional traveler.

Pros: Water resistant, stylish, comes in two sizes, easy to carry, optional key leash

Cons: Expensive

Our affordable pick is a great option for travel but if you're looking for an upgrade, the O.G 2 Overnight Bag from Lo & Sons should be on your radar. Its predecessor comes highly recommended by Insider Reviews editors.

Not only are the overnight bags super cute, with a water-resistant nylon exterior available in a variety of chic, understated colors, they're extremely functional for overnight trips or use as an airplane personal item. One of the more unique features is the adjustable back panel that slides over a rolling luggage handle for easy transport as you move from security to your gate. You can choose from two sizes: medium ($378.00) and large ($398.00).

Carry the bag top-handle or use the attachable messenger strap and toss it over your shoulder. A series of pockets, including a padded laptop sleeve and a side pocket for shoes, make organization easy. Lo & Sons says the internal laptop sleeve for both sizes of the bag fits up to 13-inch laptops. Some 14-inch and 15-inch laptops can fit inside of the main compartment of the bags, but do not fit inside of the padded laptop compartment.

"With all of the smart features, I've found I'm able to fit just about everything I need for a weekend away in this one bag,"writes Insider Reviews reporter Remi Rosmarin of the previous model. Travel experts at Huffington Post and Good Housekeeping are also big fans.

Better yet, the O.G. 2 linked here has a dedicated laptop sleeve, and it has been reinforced for stability when fully packed up.

Other women's laptop bags we look forward to testing

• Everlane oversize Caryall: This large catch-all bag has a dedicated laptop compartment and comes from the maker of our much loved – but now discontinued – Everlane Form bag.
• Cuyana Tall Structured Leather Tote: Cuyana is known for its sustainable and ethically-sourced bags. This tote features a dedicated laptop compartment and is made from Italian leather from a woman-owned factory. 
• Bellroy System Messenger bag: This laptop bag is for travelers on-the go. It has a padded laptop pouch and lots of pockets – including ones that pop out and back in when not in use. The bag's luggage slip also fits over travel luggage handles.
• Go Dash Dot Puffle bag: This fun bag is Go Dash Dot's take on the classic duffle bag. It can be worn on  the shoulder or as a cross body. It has a dedicated laptop compartment, as well as an interior zipper that can release a shoe compartment for  more depth.
• EaseGave laptop bag for women: This stylish and affordable bag has a dedicated padded laptop pouch with a reinforced bottom and comes in 13 different colors.

One of the most popular cryptocurrency trading app companies, Coinbase, is officially going public: Coinbase filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission last year, with plans for a direct listing in early 2021.

As part of that process, Coinbase had to publicly disclose a trove of information in an S-1 filing, and the section labeled "Risk Factors" spells out some of the company's worst fears.

We break down the most important of those factors below:

SEE ALSO: Read Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong's letter celebrating the cryptocurrency platform filing to go public via direct listing

1. Cryptocurrency is volatile, and its future is unpredictable.

If you haven't been following the history of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, you might not know that it's prone to wild swings in value. Sometimes the bottom drops out suddenly, and sometimes it spikes in value by double or more.

It's that volatility that is prime on Coinbase's risk factors list.

"Our operating results have and will significantly fluctuate due to the highly volatile nature of crypto," the filing reads. "All of our sources of revenue are dependent on crypto assets and the broader cryptoeconomy. Due to the highly volatile nature of the cryptoeconomy and the prices of crypto assets, our operating results have, and will continue to, fluctuate significantly from quarter to quarter in accordance with market sentiments and movements in the broader cryptoeconomy."

This volatility is the foundational risk of Coinbase.

2. If Bitcoin and Ethereum become less popular, and another cryptocurrency doesn't replace them, Coinbase would be in major financial trouble.

With Bitcoin and Ethereum trades forming the foundation of Coinbase's business, the company has a lot riding on the ongoing popularity of two cryptocurrencies.

Though Coinbase says it supports "a diverse portfolio of crypto assets," Bitcoin and Ethereum trades made up 56% of the company's total trading volume in 2020. 

As such, "the majority of our net revenue from transaction fees," Coinbase says, was derived from just two cryptocurrencies. Should those cryptocurrencies fall out of favor and not be replaced by something else, Coinbase would lose the majority of its business.

3. As a company built around an online product, Coindesk is particularly vulnerable to cyber attacks.

Coinbase is a cryptocurrency trading platform that depends entirely on international computer networks to function. Since cryptocurrency is an asset, it is particularly attractive to nefarious actors.

The axis of those two risks is where Coinbase operates. To that end, the company says its business, "involves the collection, storage, processing, and transmission of confidential information, customer, employee, service provider, and other personal data, as well as information required to access customer assets."

If hackers were to breach the company's security, it could materially damage Coinbase's standing with its customers. "We have built our reputation on the premise that our platform offers customers a secure way to purchase, store, and transact in crypto assets," the filing says. 

4. Financial regulations are likely to be imposed on cryptocurrency, and that would assuredly impact crypto exchanges like Coinbase.

It's still early days for cryptocurrency regulation from federal regulators, and Coinbase considers that unknown future to be a major risk factor.

"We are subject to an extensive and highly-evolving regulatory landscape," the filing says, "and any adverse changes to, or our failure to comply with, any laws and regulations could adversely affect our brand, reputation, business, operating results, and financial condition."

Beyond cryptocurrency regulation itself, Coinbase operates in the financial services world, and that makes it subject to other types of regulation.

"These legal and regulatory regimes ... evolve frequently and may be modified, interpreted, and applied in an inconsistent manner from one jurisdiction to another, and may conflict with one another," the filing says. "Moreover, the complexity and evolving nature of our business and the significant uncertainty surrounding the regulation of the cryptoeconomy requires us to exercise our judgement as to whether certain laws, rules, and regulations apply to us, and it is possible that governmental bodies and regulators may disagree with our conclusions."

5. Profitability isn't assured in the near future, as operating costs are only expected to increase with the company's growth.

In the next few years, Coinbase has plans to expand — and that expansion is expected to cost a significant amount of money.

"We anticipate that our operating expenses will increase substantially in the foreseeable future," the filing says, "as we continue to hire additional employees, expand our sales and marketing efforts, develop additional products and services, and expand our international business."

Moreover, those growth expenses could potentially cost Coinbase profitability "on a consistent basis," the filing says. 

6. Despite having millions of users, Coinbase still depends on a small number of its users for the majority of its business.

As of the end of 2020, Coinbase counted 43 million verified users of its platform. Of that 43 million, just shy of 3 million were making monthly transactions on the platform.

More specifically: Just 6.5% of Coinbase users are actually using the platform to transact.

That dependence on a small percentage of the overall userbase is a major risk, the company says.

"A loss of these customers," the filing says, "or a reduction in their Trading Volume, and our inability to replace these customers with other customers, could have an adverse effect on our business, operating results, and financial condition."

7. The mysterious creator of Bitcoin owns a huge cache that, if sold, could destabilize the entire market.

Bitcoin was created by a person or people going by the name Satoshi Nakamoto.

That name shows up three times in Coinbase's filing document, but only one instance of its appearance is particularly interesting: When the company highlights that he's a risk factor to its business.

"The identification of Satoshi Nakamoto," the filing says, "the pseudonymous person or persons who developed Bitcoin, or the transfer of Satoshi's Bitcoins," could result in major destabilization. 

At least part of that is due to the massive cache of bitcoin that Nakamoto is said to have mined early on. If that cache were to be sold or transferred, it could have huge impacts on the entire bitcoin marketplace. 

Got a tip? Contact Insider senior correspondent Ben Gilbert via email (bgilbert@insider.com), or Twitter DM (@realbengilbert). We can keep sources anonymous. Use a non-work device to reach out. PR pitches by email only, please.

Disney Plus' Marvel series "WandaVision" has been the biggest series in the world since it debuted last month. And it's now the most in-demand series in the US, as well.

The series finally topped "The Mandalorian" and Netflix's "Cobra Kai" after slowly rising in audience demand.

Every week, Parrot Analytics provides Insider with a list of the nine most in-demand TV shows on streaming services in the US.

The data is based on "demand expressions," Parrot Analytics' globally standardized TV-demand measurement unit. Audience demand reflects the desire, engagement, and viewership weighted by importance. The list is ranked by how much more in demand the top series are than the average TV show in the US.

SEE ALSO: New data shows how heavily Netflix is leaning into international TV shows, especially in its upcoming projects

9. "The Crown" (Netflix)

Times more in demand than average show: 27.6

Description: "This drama follows the political rivalries and romance of Queen Elizabeth II's reign and the events that shaped the second half of the 20th century."

Rotten Tomatoes critic score (Season 4): 97%

What critics said:"From the shy smile, to the cocked head and whispered voice, [Corrin] has perfectly captured the mouse that eventually roared."— The Sun (season 4)

Season four premiered on November 15 on Netflix. See more insights for "The Crown."

8. "Lucifer" (Netflix)

Times more in demand than average show: 27.8

Description: "Bored with being the Lord of Hell, the devil relocates to Los Angeles, where he opens a nightclub and forms a connection with a homicide detective."

Rotten Tomatoes critic score (Season 5): 81%

What critics said:"Overall, there is plenty of good stuff here, the show just requires what it always does — taking its humour with a pinch of salt and just strapping in to enjoy the ride."— Daily Express (Season 5)

Season 5 premiered on Netflix on August 21. See more insights for "Lucifer."

7. "The Expanse" (Amazon Prime Video)

Times more in demand than average show: 27.9

Description: "In different parts of the Solar System, the crew of the Rocinante and their allies confront the sins of their past, while Marco Inaros unleashes an attack that will alter the future of Earth, Mars, the Belt, and the worlds beyond the Ring."

Rotten Tomatoes critic score (Season 5): 100%

What critics said:"These episodes are epic."— io9(Season 5)

Season 5 premiered on Prime Video on December 16. See more insights for "The Expanse."

6. "Titans" (HBO Max)

Times more in demand than average show: 31.7

Description: "'Titans' follows young heroes from across the DC Universe as they come of age and find belonging in a gritty take on the classic Teen Titans franchise. Dick Grayson and Rachel Roth, a special young girl possessed by a strange darkness, get embroiled in a conspiracy that could bring Hell on Earth. Joining them along the way are the hot-headed Starfire and lovable Beast Boy. Together they become a surrogate family and team of heroes."

Rotten Tomatoes critic score (Season 2): 81%

What critics said:"Bruce, Deathstroke, and Rose so far form an impressive trio of new characters that breathe life into the show. They seem to be well cast, and open up the story up to many possible new plot-lines."— Forbes (Season 2)

Season 2 premiered on DC Universe in September, 2019. See more insights for "Titans."

5. "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" (Disney Plus)

Times more in demand than average show: 36.3

Description: "From Dave Filoni, director and executive producer of 'The Mandalorian,' the new 'Clone Wars' episodes will continue the storylines introduced in the original series, exploring the events leading up to 'Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith.'"

Rotten Tomatoes critic score (Season 7): 100%

What critics said:"I'm so happy to be writing these words: The Clone Wars is back baby, and it's good! But don't you think for a second that I didn't notice Anakin's longer hair, which is both beautiful and worrisome ..."— SFX Magazine (season 7)

Season 7 premiered on February 21 on Disney Plus. See more insights for "Star Wars: The Clone Wars."

4. "Stranger Things" (Netflix)

Times more in demand than average show: 50.5

Description: "When a young boy vanishes, a small town uncovers a mystery involving secret experiments."

Rotten Tomatoes critic score (Season 3): 89%

What critics said:"After a lackluster sophomore slump, Stranger Things is back at the top of its game."— GameSpot (Season 3)

3. "Cobra Kai" (Netflix)

Times more in demand than average show: 51.4

Description: "Decades after the tournament that changed their lives, the rivalry between Johnny and Daniel reignites in this sequel to the 'Karate Kid' films."

Rotten Tomatoes critic score (Season 3): 90%

What critics said:"With hard hits, cool kicks, and an absolute mastery of tone (which is that of an evolved, self-aware '80s blow out), Cobra Kai balances valiant drama with (sometimes) utter ridiculousness."— IGN (season 3)

Season 3 premiered on January 1 on Netflix. See more insights for "Cobra Kai."

2. "The Mandalorian" (Disney Plus)

Times more in demand than average show: 60.1

Description: "After the fall of the Empire, a lone gunfighter makes his way through the lawless galaxy."

Rotten Tomatoes critic score (Season 2): 94%

What critics said:"Despite all the additional elements to keep things fresh, the show's heart remains with the ever-evolving bond between Mando and the Child."— SciFiNow (Season 2)

Season 2 premiered on Disney Plus on October 30. See more insights for "The Mandalorian."

1. "WandaVision" (Disney Plus)

Times more in demand than average show: 63.4

Description: "Marvel Studios' captivating new series 'WandaVision' stars Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany, and marks the first series from Marvel Studios streaming exclusively on Disney+. The series is a blend of classic television and the Marvel Cinematic Universe in which Wanda Maximoff and Vision — two super-powered beings living idealized suburban lives — begin to suspect that everything is not as it seems."

Rotten Tomatoes critic score (Season 1): 92%

What critics said: "I do want movies and TV to do the basic work of winning me over and establishing the stakes, and I chafe when a relationship is described rather than shown."— Polygon (Season 1)

Season 1 premiered on Disney Plus January 15. See more insights for "WandaVision."

The chicken sandwich wars are in full swing, and McDonald's is coming out with its own heavy hitters.

On February 24, McDonald's launched its newest lineup of chicken sandwiches: the Crispy Chicken Sandwich, the Deluxe Crispy Chicken Sandwich, and the Spicy Crispy Chicken Sandwich.

Immediately, fans and industry experts began to notice that the new offerings seemed very similar to Chick-fil-A's and Popeyes' iconic chicken sandwiches. Insider's Kate Taylor previously reported on a leaked menu that revealed McDonald's plans to release a new chicken sandwich, saying that the chain was planning to "take a page out of Chick-fil-A's playbook."

Former McDonald's chef Mike Haracz told Insider "it's very apparent" that McDonald's is following Chick-fil-A's lead with its sandwich. "It comes in a foil bag just like Chick-fil-A, from what I understand it has a very similar flavor profile," he said.

The description for the McDonald's crispy chicken sandwich describes it as a "southern style fried chicken sandwich" with crinkle-cut pickles and a toasted, buttered potato roll. Chick-fil-A's chicken sandwich also comes on a toasted, buttered bun with dill pickle chips. 

However, I wasn't going to assume that the sandwiches were identical — I had to try them for myself.

Here's what I thought of each chicken sandwich, from how similar they were to which one might even win the chicken sandwich wars.

SEE ALSO: Chick-fil-A is still the chicken sandwich king among people ordering delivery

I tried the new McDonald's crispy chicken sandwich and Chick-fil-A's original chicken sandwich.

Both sandwiches came in a foil and paper bag. They also both stayed warm, despite half an hour passing between the time I picked them up and when I finally got them home. 

The sandwiches were similar in size, though Chick-fil-A's bun and chicken fillet looked ever-so-slightly bigger.

I noticed that each sandwich had a very different bun. McDonald's bun was harder and slightly denser, while Chick-fil-A's was softer and slightly bigger than the fillet inside.

I've had the Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich countless times, but I tried to go into this taste test with a fresh perspective.

The chicken sandwich from Chick-fil-A cost me $6.85, making it slightly more expensive than the McDonald's sandwich. 

Chick-fil-A has been consistently voted as one of America's most beloved fast-food chains, and customer loyalty is high. 

"Chick-fil-A has very strong brand loyalists," former McDonald's chef Mike Haracz told Insider. "I've sat in panels when I was doing chicken work. They will try the food, but when you tell them it's not from Chick-fil-A they'll say, 'Well, I think it's great but I'm not going to buy it because I am a Chick-fil-A consumer." However, there are some people who might go to Chick-fil-A strictly for the flavor, and if McDonald's can match that, they may be swayed."

Chick-fil-A's chicken sandwich, which comes served on a toasted, buttered bun with dill pickle chips, is a favorite among customers.

According to a report by Edison Trends, Chick-fil-A received more online chicken sandwich delivery orders than any other brand in most of 2020, cornering around 45% of the total online order market share.

The bun was light and fluffy and the chicken breast was the perfect thickness.

Chick-fil-A's chicken breast was flakier as opposed to juicy. Looking at both of the sandwiches, the fillet itself also looked slightly bigger. The breading was thinner and clung to the chicken breast well, which gave it a great texture. 

However, I was slightly disappointed by Chick-fil-A's pickles — they didn't have the strong briny flavor or crunchiness I usually look for.

Next up was the newcomer: the McDonald's crispy chicken sandwich.

The McDonald's crispy chicken sandwich cost $5.99 at my local chain in Brooklyn, New York.

The chicken fillet was thick — right off the bat, it looked really similar to sandwiches I've had from other chains.

I've been a fan of McDonald's McChicken sandwiches for years, but I could already tell that I was going to like this sandwich a lot more.

The sandwich came with a few whole pickle chips on top of the chicken fillet.

The bun held the contents of the sandwich together perfectly, and in terms of size, I thought McDonald's did a great job at nailing the bun-to-chicken ratio. 

Biting in, I was immediately impressed.

The breading of the sandwich had a slight sweetness to it. However, it was perfectly balanced out by the tart, crunchy pickles, which had a strong briny flavor. The chicken was thick, juicy, and flavorful.

The only aspect of the sandwich I wasn't totally in love with was the bun — though it was a good size, I thought it was slightly too thick. I'm of the opinion that a sandwich bun's sole purpose is to hold everything together, without overpowering the other ingredients. I think this thicker potato bun slightly missed the mark on that.

It was really hard to say which one I liked more. However, I have to give props where props are due — McDonald's has come out with an undeniably good chicken sandwich.

So, how similar were the two sandwiches? Pretty similar, in my opinion. If I was to do a blind taste test, I might not even know which was which, unless one was slathered in Chick-fil-A sauce. However, this is not to say that McDonald's is in any way actively trying to copy or imitate Chick-fil-A's most iconic offering.

The fact is that there is a trend in what consumers across the board are looking for in a chicken sandwich, whether they're ordering from Chick-fil-A, McDonald's, Popeyes, or any other chain.

Judging by the success of the chicken-war competitors, consumers want a Southern-inspired flavor with juicy, flavorful chicken and tart and crunchy pickles. McDonald's definitely delivered on all counts.

As far as this food reporter is concerned, the new McDonald's chicken sandwich stacks up well against fan favorites — and might even be a new go-to menu item.

Coinbase, the company behind the cryptocurrency trading platform of the same name, is going public via direct listing.

It filed S-1 paperwork on Thursday with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and that paperwork contained a variety of details about the company that were previously unknown.

From information about financials to what the company considers major risks to its future business, here are the most important things we learned:

SEE ALSO: Coinbase just filed for a direct listing and it revealed a list of risk factors that investors should be aware of — from the volatile nature of cryptocurrency to the potential for cyber attacks

1. It's profitable.

In 2020, Coinbase had a net income of just over $320 million — up from a loss of over $30 million the year prior.

In short: Coinbase, as of last year, is profitable. Moreover, both revenue and profit grew year-over-year.

But the company repeatedly warned against traditional readings of its financials in the S-1 filing. 

"While we have benefited overall from past profitability, going forward, we may see periods of profit or loss," the filing says. "To better understand our performance, we evaluate our business, including our key metrics, over longer periods of time and across crypto asset price cycles. Due to the nature of our business and the early stage of the industry, we believe evaluating our business over longer time horizons is more informative than evaluating quarter-over-quarter fluctuations in operating results and metrics."

2. Coinbase has tens of millions of users.

As of the end of 2020, Coinbase counted 43 million verified users of its platform. Of that 43 million, just shy of 3 million were making monthly transactions on the platform.

The service is clearly very popular, and it only has intentions to grow in the years to come. 

"For the foreseeable future, our intent is to reinvest profits to drive growth in both our business and the ecosystem," the company says in the filing. 

Despite the high user number, Coinbase users who regularly transact still represent a small percentage — just 6.5% — of overall users. The company sees this is a potential risk going forward.

"A loss of these customers," the filing says, "or a reduction in their Trading Volume, and our inability to replace these customers with other customers, could have an adverse effect on our business, operating results, and financial condition."

3. Bitcoin's mysterious creator got several nods in the filing, including as a potential risk factor.

In addition to submitting the S-1 filing to the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as a gaggle of lawyers and other related parties, a copy was sent to the mysterious creator of bitcoin: Satoshi Nakamoto.

The popular cryptocurrency bitcoin is said to be created by a person or people going by the name Satoshi Nakamoto, though the actual identity of its creator remains unknown. 

The name appears a few times throughout the company's S-1 filing, perhaps most interestingly in the risk factors section. Simply identifying who it is could have a major impact, according to Coinbase.

"The identification of Satoshi Nakamoto," the filing says, "the pseudonymous person or persons who developed bitcoin, or the transfer of Satoshi's bitcoins," could result in major destabilization. 

At least part of that is due to the massive cache of bitcoin that Nakamoto is said to have mined early on. If that cache were to be sold or transferred, it could have huge impacts on the entire bitcoin marketplace. 

4. A variety of potential risks in the future, from the volatile nature of cryptocurrency to the potential for cyber attacks.

If you haven't been following the history of bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, you might not know that it's prone to wild swings in value. Sometimes the bottom drops out suddenly, and sometimes it spikes in value by double or more.

That volatility is prime on Coinbase's risk factors list, which starts with volatility and extends to a variety of potential issues: the regulatory environment in the US and in territories around the world, the relative popularity of cryptocurrencies, the constant threat of cyber attacks, and much more.

5. Here is the founder's letter from CEO Brian Armstrong:

Economic Freedom

Coinbase is a company with an ambitious vision: to create more economic freedom for every person and business. Everyone deserves access to financial services that can help empower them to create a better life for themselves and their families, but today we are a long way from this vision.

The current financial system is rife with high fees, delays, unequal access, and barriers to innovation. In many countries, citizens don't have access to sound money, a functioning credit system, or even basic property rights. If the world economy ran on a common set of standards, that could not be manipulated by any company or country, the world would be a more fair and free place, and human progress would accelerate.

When I first read the Bitcoin whitepaper back in 2010, I realized this computer science breakthrough might be the key to unlock this vision of the future. Every payment could be as fast, cheap, and global as sending an email. Cryptocurrency could provide the core tenets of economic freedom to anyone: property rights, sound money, free trade, and the ability to work how and where they want. Economic freedom is a necessary, if not sufficient, condition for human progress. Societies with greater economic freedom have higher life expectancy and GDP growth, less war and corruption, better treatment of the environment, and higher income of the poorest 10% of people in society. Higher economic freedom correlates with the kind of societies that we all aspire to create. Our job at Coinbase is to help make this future a reality.

The Cryptoeconomy

What started with Bitcoin has spawned an entire industry with countless different blockchains and tokens. We now have stablecoins, privacy coins, security tokens, reward tokens, governance tokens, and smart contracts. We're seeing the digitization of all types of value in a new economy that we call the cryptoeconomy.

Trading and speculation were the first major use cases to take off in cryptocurrency, just like people rushed to buy domain names in the early days of the internet. But we're now seeing cryptocurrency evolve into something much more important. People are using cryptocurrency to earn, spend, save, stake, borrow, lend, vote, and perform many other types of economic activity. Companies are being funded, getting early customers, and will eventually go public, all on the blockchain. The cryptoeconomy is just getting started. It is not intended to replace the traditional economy, but instead be a complement to it, much like email was to paper mail. The cryptoeconomy offers a more global, free, and fair alternative to traditional economies that is native to the internet.

A Safe, Trusted, and Easy-to-Use Platform

Coinbase is building the infrastructure to power the cryptoeconomy, helping bring the benefits of this new technology to the world. Today, you could think of our products as a safe and easy-to-use platform to buy, sell, store, save, spend, and use cryptocurrency. But for many of our customers, they simply think of us as their primary financial account in the cryptoeconomy. Coinbase is building a portfolio of different products and services that connect to this primary financial account, and we're enabling third party products and services to be connected as well. We seek to make all of our products and services the most trusted and easiest to use in the industry.

Trust is critical when it comes to storing money. From the early days, we decided to focus on compliance, reaching out to regulators proactively to be an educational resource, and pursuing Licenses even before they were needed. We invested heavily in cybersecurity, built novel key storage mechanisms, and obtained a cybercrime insurance policy. We even developed ways for customers to custody their own cryptocurrency safely, so they didn't need to trust us at all. Most importantly, we built a culture that doesn't take shortcuts or try to make a quick buck.

Ease of use is our other major area of focus. Cryptocurrency is still much too difficult to use for the average person. In the same way that people can access the internet without understanding how TCP/IP works, or turn on a Light switch without understanding how electricity works, they need to be able to use cryptocurrency without understanding the underlying complexity. We accomplish this by continually finding ways to simplify our products and pushing for new standards in the industry that improve usability.

Trust and ease of use will be as relevant in ten years as they are today, and our work here will never be done. We may not always move the fastest, or offer the Lowest prices, but if we accomplish our goal of being the most trusted and easiest to use, customers will continue to choose our products and services now and in the future.

Building for the Long Term

It is the very early days of this industry, and Coinbase has always taken a Long-term view. We are squarely focused on delivering the best crypto experience to our customers. Today, we are investing in growth because we believe that scale is critical to achieving the potential of our business model.

You can expect volatility in our financials, given the price cycles of the cryptocurrency industry. This doesn't faze us, because we've always taken a long-term perspective on crypto adoption. We may earn a profit when revenues are high, and we may Lose money when revenues are Low, but our goal is to roughly operate the company at break even, smoothed out over time, for the time being. We are Looking for Long-term investors who believe in our mission and will hold through price cycles.

Our goal is to build a portfolio of products and services with efficient capital allocation and to demonstrate repeatable innovation. We have done this before, taking the profits from our early products and services and reinvesting them into new products and services that we believe help accelerate our vision of the future. We will continue to make investments in new products and services when we see a sufficient probability of gaining market Leadership. Some of these investments will pay off, others will not. We will measure our products and services and the effectiveness of our investments analytically, and shut down products and services that do not provide expected returns. We will Learn from our successes and mistakes, and use those learnings to inform our decision making in the future. We hope this perspective will make us more profitable in the Long run as we see the full scale of this industry unfold.

Thank you,

Brian Armstrong
CEO, Coinbase

• Sous vide machines — also known as immersion circulators — heat up an accurate temperature quickly and feature intuitive controls.
• The Breville Joule Sous Vide is our top pick because of its high-tech features, compact size, and excellent customer service.

Sous vide machines work by preheating a water bath to a specific temperature. Food is then sealed in a container — usually a plastic bag — and lowered into the bath where it stays until it reaches the temperature of the water. This is not a fast process, but it virtually guarantees that you will not overcook your food.

There are two main types of sous vide machines: stick-like units called "immersion circulators" you use in your own container (a large pot should work fine) and all-in-one boxes, known as water ovens. We prefer immersion circulators because they're more compact and easy to store, they heat water faster, and you can use them in any size vessel to suit your needs. 

Though any airtight bag should work, you may want to consider purchasing a vacuum sealer along with your sous vide machine. The transfer of heat through water is 11 times more efficient than through air, and the vacuum sealer removes all of the air pockets and decreases the chance of uneven cooking. It also ensures that water won't leak into the food you're cooking.

The sous vide machines and immersion circulators featured in this guide have a track record of excellent performance and durability and produce delicious steaks, vegetables, and other dishes.

Here are the best sous vide machines

• Best overall: Breville Joule Sous Vide
• Best with onboard controls: Anova Culinary Sous Vide Precision Cooker
• Best on a budget: Kitchen Gizmo Sous Vide Immersion Circulator

The best overall

If you need a compact, high-tech sous vide machine that is powerful enough to get water up to temperature quickly, look no further than the Breville Joule Sous Vide.

Pros: Compact design, excellent customer service, ongoing app improvements

Cons: Requires a smartphone and Bluetooth 

Aside from the ability to heat water to precise temperatures, there are a couple of features that set the Breville Joule Sous Vide apart from others.

It's only 1.3 pounds and 11 inches tall so it's much smaller and easier to store. Breville has also clearly put a lot of work into its app. Not only does it allow you to monitor your meal, but it also has a "Visual Doneness" feature that shows you how your food looks as it cooks so you can see exactly what's going on.

Insider Reviews writer Brandt Ranj tested it and was very impressed that it let him cook steaks as perfectly as a professional chef and called it one of his favorite kitchen tools.

The Joule connects with your phone via Bluetooth, and the app has more than 100 cooking guides. Plus, it works with Amazon Alexa so you can cook with your voice too.

Breville backs the product with a one-year limited warranty. And, if you are not completely happy with the Joule within 90 days of purchase, the company will give you a full refund.

This is a great option because it's small enough to fit in a cooking utensil drawer, has a magnetic bottom that keeps it in place in metal receptacles, and is quiet when operating. However, keep in mind that you do need a phone and Bluetooth or Internet connection to use it. 

Read our comparison of the Joule and the Anova sous vide immersion circulators

Read our review of the Joule Sous Vide

The best with onboard controls

The Anova Culinary Sous Vide Precision Cooker can be programmed through an app or manually on the device itself.

Pros: Second smallest option on our list, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth compatible, works with a variety of containers, has onboard controls for those who don't want to have to use an app

Cons: Slower to heat, the app is sometimes buggy

In the world of sous vide machines, the Anova Culinary Sous Vide Precision Cooker and the Breville Joule are in a class of their own. When it comes to which of our top two picks are better, it's really a toss-up. We gave the Joule the edge because it has a higher wattage and smaller size. But, the Anova Culinary model can be used manually without an app in case you want to put your smartphone away. 

The unit attaches to your container via a ring clip. This allows you to adjust the depth of the circulator to fit the container. The Anova has a temperature range of 32 to 197 degrees Fahrenheit, a timer that runs up to 99 hours, and it can heat up to five gallons of water (that number goes up to 13 if you're using a lid). The size is nice and compact with an easy-to-read display.

This is also backed by a two-year warranty. 

The best on a budget

If you're interested in giving sous vide cooking a try and don't care if your cooker connects to a smartphone, then the Kitchen Gizmo Sous Vide Immersion Circulator is an excellent choice.

Pros: Affordable, energy-efficient, quiet, easy to set up and operate

Cons: Doesn't have Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connectivity, questionable customer service

Unlike our top two choices, the Kitchen Gizmo Sous Vide Immersion Circulator does not have Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connectivity. You simply set it up using the intuitive controls on the top of the device. This is ideal for when you don't want to have to use an app.

The 800-watt motor heats to temperatures up to 194 degrees Fahrenheit with a margin of error of 1 degree. This circulator clips to the side of your container and can circulate up to eight liters (or a little more than two gallons) per minute.

What we're testing next

While we stand by our current picks, we're in the process of testing a new crop of sous vide machines and are planning to update this guide in early 2021. Here are the models we're testing and comparing to our current top picks:

• Anova Precision Cooker Nano ($126): If you can do without the Wi-Fi function and deal with less power, Anova makes the affordable Nano Precision Cooker. This is a sleek device that connects to a smartphone using Bluetooth, but can also be programmed on the unit — just like the non-Nano version, except smaller. Despite its fewer features, Insider Reviews Guides Editor Les Shu, who uses the Nano, found it very capable at cooking steaks beautifully. It just requires a bit more time to bring the water to temperature. Read our Anova Precision Cooker Nano review here.
• Anova Precision Cooker Pro ($339): For those who are serious about sous vide cooking and are willing to spend a bit more, Anova makes a Pro version of its Precision Cooker. This model packs 1,200 watts of power to heat larger vessels of water faster. It also comes with onboard controls and app connectivity. Read our Anova Precision Cooker Pro review here.
• Tribest Sousvant Complete Sous Vide Circulator ($299.95): If you're looking for a water oven, options are fewer and further between. The Tribest Sousvant is one of the remaining water ovens on the market. We're currently testing it to see how it compares to our top immersion circulator picks.
• Breville Polyscience Hydro Pro ($499.95): The most recent product from the manufacturers of the Joule, this immersion circulator is meant for professional use and may appeal to some home users who use sous vide cooking a lot. It's a powerful unit with an entire built-in menu of different foods to choose from. 
• Instant Pot Duo Crisp ($179.95): While this option may be a bit of an outlier, Instant Pot recently introduced sous vide functionality to its Instant Pot Duo Crisp. If you're someone who is interested in sous vide, but don't want to buy an entirely separate device to try it out, this multicooker model may be a good option. 

FAQs

What is sous vide?

Sous vide is a method of cooking food where the ingredients are sealed in plastic (though glass jars can be used for some applications) and immersed in a water bath set to (typically) the final cooking temperature of the food. As the sealed food sits in the bath, it slowly comes up to the correct internal temperature, so there's no danger of overcooking. 

What types of foods can you sous vide?

Sous vide cooking works best with meat, vegetables, and eggs. It particularly excels as a method of rendering tough cuts of meat juicy and tender; the low and slow temperatures allow tough collagen and fat to render slowly over many hours. Sous vide can also be used as a method of pasteurization for foods like eggs or homemade mayonnaise. 

Do I need a vacuum sealer for sous vide?

No. You can sous vide in any zipper-lock bag as long as you first remove the air. The easiest way to do this is place the food in the zipper-lock bag, press as much air out as you can, and then use the zipper-lock to seal all but a small corner of the bag. Slowly submerge the partially sealed bag in the water bath until all but the unsealed corner of the bag is submerged. The water will push out almost all of the air. Once the food appears tight against the bag, seal the final corner and drop the bag into the bath to cook.

If you regularly sous vide large or irregularly-sized cuts of meat, you may want to purchase a vacuum sealer, which does a more complete job of removing air.

Do I need to vacuum seal eggs?

No. Whole eggs in their shells do not need to be vacuum sealed. You can place the whole egg directly in the water bath. The shell will act as its own little vacuum sealed environment.

Check out our other small kitchen appliance buying guides

• The best espresso machines
• The best vacuum sealers
• The best juicers
• The best air fryers

Property costs are one of the significant expenses when starting or running a business, but many franchises offer entrepreneurs a way to operate a business without a physical location. 

Mobile and remote opportunities are available in sales and services for people with a variety of skills and qualifications, and some brands offer a path to build toward a larger operation over time.

Insider parsed through Entrepreneur's authoritative Franchise 500 rankings for 2021 to highlight these top 15 franchise brands that can be run from home or a vehicle and have initial investments that start at less than $150,000.

Sell window blinds and dressings from home

Budget Blinds LLC

Initial investment: $125,000 - $254,000

Number of franchised units: 1,273

Additional employees needed: No

Budget Blinds sells a variety of name-brand window treatments and offers free in-home and virtual consultations, measurements, and installation. 

Website: Budget Blinds Franchising

Provide cleaning services for homes and businesses

Jan-Pro International, Inc.

Initial investment: $4,000 - $56,000

Number of franchised units: 10,118

Additional employees needed: No

Jan-Pro is one of the largest cleaning service brands in North America, and features a "Cleaning Greener" initiative that requires fewer chemicals to clean more.

Website: Franchising with Jan-Pro

Anago Cleaning Systems

Initial investment: $11,000 - $68,000

Number of franchised units: 1,711

Additional employees needed: No

Anago provides regularly-scheduled office cleanings and periodic commercial cleaning services.

Website: Anago Cleaning Systems Franchising

The Maids

Initial investment: $64,000 - $154,000

Number of franchised units: 1,299

Additional employees needed: Yes (20)

The Maids sends teams of four to clients' homes in distinctive yellow cars to use the brand's trademark 22-Step cleaning system.

Website: Franchising with The Maids

Stratus Building Solutions

Initial investment: $4,000 - $80,000

Number of franchised units: 2,030

Additional employees needed: Yes

Stratus Building Solutions uses proprietary chemicals and equipment to provide a "green clean" for commercial properties.

Website: Franchising with Stratus Building Solutions

Buy and sell houses

HomeVestors of America Inc.

Initial investment: $70,000 - $426,000

Number of franchised units: 1,122

Additional employees needed: No

HomeVestors is the company behind the "We Buy Ugly Houses" brand that specializes in flipping distressed properties.

Website: HomeVestors Franchising

NextHome Inc.

Initial investment: $15,000 - $213,000

Number of franchised units: 414

Additional employees needed: No

NextHome real estate brokers are equipped with modern tools and world-class marketing to stay relevant and attractive to consumers.

Website: Franchising with NextHome

Plan and book trips for tourists and business travelers

Cruise Planners

Initial investment: $2,000 - $24,000

Number of franchised units: 3,151

Additional employees needed: No

Cruise Planners is affiliated with American Express Travel Services and is the largest home-based travel advisor franchise in the US.

Website: Cruise Planners Franchising

Dream Vacations

Initial investment: $2,000 - $20,000

Number of franchised units: 1,553

Additional employees needed: No

Dream Vacations franchisees are certified travel agents who sell packages to tourists and business travellers.

Website: Dream Vacations Franchising

Sell auto repair tools from a truck

Matco Tools

Initial investment: $78,000 - $274,000

Number of franchised units: 1,808

Additional employees needed: No

Matco Tools franchisees bring trucks loaded with automotive tools and accessories to customers in all 50 states, as well as Puerto Rico and Canada.

Website: Matco Tools Franchising

Mac Tools

Initial investment: $132,000 - $287,00

Number of franchised units: 1,122

Additional employees needed: No

Mac Tools is a division of Stanley Black & Decker that sells automotive tools and equipment.

Website: Franchising with Mac Tools

Serve up a tasty frozen treat from a trailer

Kona Ice

Initial investment: $146,000 - $169,000

Number of franchised units: 1,286

Additional employees needed: Yes

Kona Ice is a brand of shaved ice that customers can flavor themselves, served from trucks, trailers, kiosks, and carts.

Website: Franchising with Kona

Help other entrepreneurs find their dream business

Transworld Business Advisors

Initial investment: $75,000 - $97,000

Number of franchised units: 321

Additional employees needed: No

Transworld Business Advisors help other franchise owners run, grow, and sell their businesses.

Website: Transworld Franchising

Keep the pipes flowing or the grass growing

Rooter-Man

Initial investment: $47,000 - $138,000

Number of franchised units: 732

Additional employees needed: Yes (2)

Rooter-Man provides plumbing and drain services to homes and businesses, as well as repairs and sewer cleaning.

Website: Rooter-Man Franchising

Lawn Doctor

Initial investment: $100,000 - $125,000

Number of franchised units: 592

Additional employees needed: Yes

Lawn Doctor is an all-season lawn care service, also offering fertilization, weed, and insect control.

Website: Lawn Doctor Franchising

• Backpack coolers are a convenient way to keep food and drinks cold when you're outdoors or hiking.
• A well-designed backpack cooler retains its temperature and is designed to be comfortable and ease the strain on your back.
• Our top pick, the Yeti Hopper Backflip 24, is durable, well-insulated, leakproof, and evenly distributes weight across your back.

The cooler is a tried-and-true staple of any camping trip or day spent at the beach. It offers a convenient way to keep drinks and food properly refrigerated, both to prevent bacterial growth and to ensure ice-cold sips hours into your adventures. But no matter its size, hauling a cooler around when it's full of ice and your beverage-of-choice is no easy task. Instead, consider a backpack cooler, a product designed specifically to solve that problem and make the ice chest more portable.

With a backpack cooler, there's no awkward dragging of a bulky box across the beach or shuffling along a dirt path as you and a friend try to share the load. These portable ice chests simply strap onto your back and you're free to lug whatever else you brought along or just enjoy your surroundings.

A backpack cooler might sound gimmicky, but thanks to modern manufacturing, many (if not all) are capable of keeping the entirety of its contents cooled and chilled for two, three, or sometimes four whole days. 

At the end of this guide, we go into how we tested for the below picks, but since we know you want to spend less time researching these packs and more time enjoying their contents, we've sifted through all the backpack coolers to find the best of the bunch. While companies like Yeti or IceMule are who you'd expect to see, brands like Hydro Flask and OtterBox surprised us with their own unique products. A backpack cooler isn't just an inventive new way to chill beverages — it's the best way.

Here are the best backpack coolers:

• Best backpack cooler overall: Yeti Hopper Backflip 24
• Best backpack cooler for easy access: Hydro Flask Soft Cooler Pack
• Best multi-purpose backpack cooler: OtterBox Trooper LT 30
• Best heavy duty backpack cooler: IceMule Boss
• Best budget backpack cooler: Barebones Backpack Cooler

Best overall

The Yeti Hopper Backflip 24 does it all and does it all extremely well with a tough-as-nails DryHide Shell, 100% leak-proof zipper, and insulation that can keep ice cold for several days.

Pros: Tough exterior is puncture-proof and protects against UV rays, HydroLock zipper offers superior waterproofing, ColdCell Insulation keeps drinks cold for days, holds up to 20 cans 

Cons: No shoulder strap for short trips, expensive

Yeti is one of, if not the, leading hard cooler brand, so it is no surprise they make the best backpack cooler. With the Hopper Backflip 24, an impeccable construction quality, ice retention, and durability make it an easy choice as our top pick.

Taller and wider than other Yeti offerings like the Hopper Flip, the Backpack can carry upwards of 20 cans of beer or soda or 25 pounds of ice.

To make hauling the Hopper Backflip's contents a breeze, Yeti designed it to evenly distribute its weight, no matter if you pack it top-heavy or not. With comfortable, ergonomic shoulder straps and a removable hip belt and chest strap, even longer hikes are made easy when toting along a heavy pack. In other words, pack this to the brim and don't look back.

But what makes the Hopper Backflip truly stand out rests with three of Yeti's proprietary technologies: Its DryHide Shell, Hydrolok Zipper, and ColdCell Insulation. The brand's DryHide Shell is a high-density material that makes the pack resistant to mold, mildew, and UV rays while still remaining waterproof.

Its Hyrdolok Zipper helps avoid any errant spills, keeping liquids where they belong — inside the cooler. Finally, the Hopper Backflip's ColdCell Insulation promises to keep ice as well, if not better, than any pack on the market. We found it achieved several days of ice retention, no matter how hot it got outside.

Though it sports a premium price tag of $300, for everything Yeti's Hopper Backflip offers, it's well-worth the investment. 

Best for easy access

Hydro Flask's Unbound Series backpack cooler keeps cold for 48 hours, and it has a unique self-standing design and hinged top that's super easy to access. 

Pros: Weighs just 3 lbs when empty, keeps pack cold for up to 48 hours, hinged top makes it incredibly easy to access, woven sternum strap and carry handles are comfortable for hauling, unsupported self-standing design, watertight zippers are 100% leakproof

Cons: Small capacity

Since it burst on the scene with its innovative insulated water bottles, Hydro Flask has made a name for itself designing and manufacturing high-quality products. As it moves into the market of backpack coolers with the Unbound series, that trademarked quality is met with supreme convenience.

Featuring a molded base that allows it to sit upright on its own, Hydro Flask's Soft Cooler also boasts what's called a "True Access hinged top" that easily flips back when unzipped, making it incredibly easy to fish out ice-cold beers.

There's just one exterior zippered pocket and one water bottle mesh pocket, which makes for a subtle design, though not a lot of storage if you're looking to carry more than a bottle opener or fork.

I like using Hydro Flask's Soft Cooler Pack on shorter day trips. Since it weighs just 3 lbs when empty, it won't weigh you down if those quick trips turn into longer day hikes. Featuring the brand's innovative cold-retaining technology, the pack was designed to sport more insulation at the base, where cold is usually lost more quickly. It's then capable of keeping contents cold for up to 48 hours, despite its smaller size.

If you do find yourself on the trail for more than two days, the pack's construction is watertight and backed by YKK Aquaseal zippers that won't let even a drop of liquid out (or in). It's cheaper than Yeti's Hopper or the IceMule Boss, and it's much smaller, too, but the Hydro Flask Soft Cooler Pack is anything but second-rate.

Best multi-purpose

Versatility is the name of the game with OtterBox's Trooper LT backpack cooler, which features an inventive mounting system, a backpack-to-shoulder strap conversion, and Duraflex tie-downs to conquer any adventure. 

Pros: 30-liter capacity, shoulder or backpack carry options, versatile accessory-mounting system, keeps contents cold for around 3 days, durable construction, capable of being opened with just one hand

Cons: Can feel bulky when on your back, expensive 

Known mostly for its ridiculously durable smartphone cases, OtterBox has diversified its product offerings in recent years by elbowing its way into the cooler market. Though this may seem an odd choice for the brand, its Trooper LT backpack cooler is one of the best we've tested, proving to be as versatile as it is tough.

It has an exterior mounting system that's perfect for attaching a bottle opener or dry box, and the Trooper LT also offers two Duraflex tie-downs for extra attachments. This means not having to decide what to leave behind on your next trip.

With a massive opening, loading and unloading the Trooper LT is easy, and its thermal insulation keeps ice for a whopping three days. No need to worry about a tipped cooler spilling water all over your back seat either, as its leak-proof seal keeps its interior contents secure. Additionally, its 30 liters of interior capacity means you can pack upwards of 24 cans of soda or beer and still have room for ice.

OtterBox also included an easy-open compound latch that you can open with just one hand and its exterior storage pocket is water-resistant, making the Trooper the perfect rafting companion. 

Best heavy-duty

The Cadillac of backpack coolers, the IceMule Boss has supreme ice retention of nearly three days, a large 30L capacity capable of holding 24 cans of beer or soda, and a backpack suspension system some hiking packs would be envious of. 

Pros: Wide-mouth enclosure makes it easy to load and unload, 30-liter capacity holds 24 cans plus ice, ability to take on extra air to boost insulation, suspension system and mesh back pads makes it comfortable to wear (even with up to 60 lbs of weight), features oversized exterior pockets, extremely durable

Cons: Anyone other than serious hikers or campers won't make use of entire pack

The words "behemoth" and "heavy-duty" only skim the surface of how durable and long-lasting the IceMule Boss is. Manufactured out of MuleSkin 1000-denier fabric, this cooler is designed to take an absolute beating without sacrificing even the slightest in performance.

Because of its bombproof-type construction, the IceMule Boss is best used for serious campers and hikers who intend to spend a few days digging through it while on the trail or deep in the backcountry. Its 30-liter capacity also means it offers enough storage space for at least 24 cans of beer or soda and ice — a capacity not many other backpack coolers on the market can claim.

The Boss achieves the ultimate in ice retention thanks to its closed-cell PolarLayer XT Insulation foam and IceMule's innovative IM AirValve. In essence, this valve adds extra air into the insulation layer, thus boosting the pack's overall insulating ability. So, even if it's touching triple digits outside, the Boss keeps any packed food and drink chilled to perfection. Its wide-mouth enclosure also makes it easy to load and unload whatever you want to bring along.

Of course, its insulation and durability get high marks, but perhaps the most underrated aspect of the Boss is its actual backpack design. Featuring the kind of suspension system you might find on an actual backpacking pack, it's able to pack up to 60 pounds of contents with ease.

Its air-mesh back pads, cushioned hipbelt, and comfortable sternum strap also help keep you cool on hot days and allow you to stay comfortable on longer treks.

Best on a budget

The Barebones Backpack Cooler holds less than others on our list, but at $80, enough room to pack a picnic, and decent cold-retention, this budget pick works great for shorter excursions.

Pros: Small design makes it perfect for day hikes, features comfortable soft straps, manufactured with water-resistant fabric, removable liner allows for easy cleaning, and $80 price tag is hard to beat

Cons: Not meant for anything other than a day hike for one or two people

With every other pick in our guide costing a minimum of $275, it's clear well-insulated, well-designed backpack coolers aren't exactly cheap. However, the Barebones Backpack Cooler costs less than $100 and still provides a high level of quality and insulation.

Featuring an interior capacity of 17.5 liters, the Barebones can hold roughly 20 cans of beer or soda. It's not the largest pack on our list, but its smaller size is perfect for a short day hike or a couple's trip to the beach.

With a top-access zippered compartment, the pack's wide-mouth opening makes it easy to load and unload a day's worth of food and drink. The pack's square base allows it to stand freely without falling over, which is great for picnic time. Barebones also designed its water-resistant shell to feature an antimicrobial silver foil lining and its removable liner is easy to clean between trips.

No matter how many cans of your favorite chilled beverage you pack along, the pack's soft straps allow it to stay comfortable while on your back and its leather handle is perfect for unloading from the car or transporting it over short distances.

At $80, you'd have a hard time finding as quality a backpack cooler for as cheap of a price. The Barebones Backpack Cooler isn't just a budget-friendly model, it's a reliable summertime companion for anyone.

How we tested

Though using a backpack cooler is a simple enough task, finding the best of what's available meant putting our review models through a variety of tests. To do this, we lugged these back-worn ice chests on weekend camping trips, afternoons spent lounging on the beach, and even on multi-mile hikes to see not just how well they kept our food and beverages cold, but if we actually enjoyed using them.

While testing, we looked at four specific categories: Comfort, performance, design, and value. Here's how each category factored in: 

• Comfort: There are plenty of variables that go into making a worthy backpack cooler but if the thing isn't comfortable while you tote a load of ice, drinks, and food, then it's no better than its non-backpack kin. Testing this meant loading each model up as full as we could and seeing how much strain it put on us while mobile. Plus one for the brands that included a hip strap to help evenly distribute the load.
• Performance: If a cooler has a hard time keeping ice for much longer than a few hours, then you'll run into more problems than having to swill some warm beer — if you're in the backcountry or even far from the nearest store, it could mean having to throw out spoiled food. Thankfully, this is where many of today's coolers excel, with most providing multiple days worth of kept ice. 
• Design: When judging the design of each backpack cooler, we wanted to see not just how it fit or how it looked, but how easy it is to load and unload contents, or if you're able to manage getting into it while it's on someone else's back. You don't want to be fumbling with zippers or needing three arms just to access your food and drink.
• Value: Value is the sum of a backpack cooler's parts. How well do the three previous categories play into making its sticker price worth the investment? Coolers aren't exactly cheap but the best should provide you with use for several years. 

Check out our other great outdoor guides

The best coolers

Whether you're heading out for a weekend camping trip, an afternoon in the park, a tailgating party, or you're grilling in the backyard, you'll need a cooler if you like cold drinks and fresh food. These are the best coolers.

The best charcoal grills

Charcoal grills sear meat and veggies to perfection and fill food with that perfect smoky flavor. Here are our top picks for the best charcoal grills.

The best camping chairs

Packing your own chair for a camping or backpacking trip is far more comfortable than resorting to whatever tree stump or large rock you come across on your trip. The best camp chairs should be easy to stow, provide enough seat and back support, and are durable enough to handle a beating no matter where in the backcountry they end up.

The best sleeping bags

A sleeping bag not only acts as your bed in the backcountry but it's also a shield against cold and damp weather, and the right one makes any camping trip much more enjoyable. These are the best sleeping bags according to our many nights of testing.

The best hiking backpacks

A good hiking pack is important for enjoying your next day hike or overnight camping trip. You need a reliable pack for multi-day treks, especially if you wander miles away from civilization. These are the best hiking backpacks you can buy.

• A private hot tub is an enticing Airbnb amenity, especially during the winter season.
• Some Airbnb hosts have installed hot tubs in incredible locations with stunning views.
• We rounded up some of the best Airbnbs with hot tubs across the US at affordable prices.

When choosing one Airbnb listing over another, a private hot tub is an enticing amenity that can tip the scales. Hot tubs are always exciting prospects and unlike pools, it doesn't matter what kind of weather you get. You can enjoy a hot tub on a cool summer night or a snowy afternoon. 

Many Airbnbs provide hot tubs for guests to use, but we kicked it up a notch and scoured for exceptional listings beyond just the hot tub. Additionally, each hot tub needed to be truly private. Even if you are filtering by "entire place" on Airbnb and only looking at listings for entire homes, that may not mean the hot tub is a private amenity. For example, you could book a condo that you will have all to yourself, but the hot tub might be a shared amenity among other residents. A hot tub is not the same thing as hand sanitizer, no matter how high you set the temperature, so having a tub all to yourself is an especially nice perk amidst the ongoing pandemic.

Also keep in mind that although the vaccine is rolling out and there is optimism for travel's return in the summer, there is still no guarantee when it comes to travel right now. We always recommend following guidelines from the CDC, checking local and state guidelines, practicing social distancing, washing hands frequently, and wearing a mask in public areas. You should exercise additional caution depending on your personal risk factors and whether you're traveling to or from a current hot spot. 

We chose top Airbnbs with hot tubs based on the following criteria:

1. Airbnb listings are for the entire home, so you don't have to worry about sharing a bathroom or keeping your distance from others.
2. As noted above, the hot tubs are totally private and not shared among other guests on the property or residents in an apartment complex. Many are uniquely positioned in fantastic locations with excellent views, too.
3. Each Airbnb is affordable, ranging in price from $45 to $304, with availability to book at publishing time.
4. All are highly-rated Airbnb listings with a review score of 4.6 or higher.
5. Each listing has committed to Airbnb's Enhanced Cleaning Protocol, which sets a high standard for cleanliness between guest visits.

Here are some of the best Airbnbs with hot tubs in the US, sorted by region and then price, from low to high.

Home close to the beach in Nags Head, North Carolina, $45

Book this beach house starting at $45 per night

In this seaside destination, this large home not far from the beach has a dedicated hot tub room for cozy nights after a day in the sun. This peach-colored home is an especially great choice for a family retreat near the water. The old style of this cottage with its distressed wooden exterior is typical of the area and it is located on the peaceful beach road. Amenities are modern and the interior is very homey, including spacious kitchen counters and a long family dining table for enjoying meals in.

Two of the bedrooms feature an attached deck and the hot tub area is covered, so when the rain ruins your beach day, you can still enjoy a relaxing soak.

There are plenty of dates available in the winter and spring months, but many dates in June and July have been claimed. At the time of writing, August still has full availability.

Windmill ranch in Wimberley, Texas, $176

Book this ranch starting at $176 per night

Located 45 minutes southwest of Austin, you'll find this modern ranch house sitting on 11 private acres. Surrounded by quiet hiking trails, this thoughtfully-designed home features a living room with a two-story windowed wall that opens up to the deck where you'll find the private hot tub and a small dining area.

From the hot tub, you can enjoy the peace of the surrounding nature and at night, you can turn off all the house lights to enjoy a sky full of stars. Amenities are modern with walk-in showers in the bathroom, stainless steel appliances in the kitchen area and a comfy sleeper sofa in the common area. If you need to warm up after a soak in the hot tub, you can gather around the fire pit for a late-night marshmallow roast.

The earliest booking is not available until late April, but many summer dates are still wide open.

Sonoma Redwoods cabin in Occidental, California, $111

Book this cabin starting at $111 per night

You can soak amongst the giants in this Redwood-surrounded cabin in Northern California. Small but sweet with an ivy-clad deck and mini outdoor kitchen, this home is an idyllic romantic escape for couples.

The building is technically a converted chicken coop, but don't let that deter you. The studio's interiors are plenty welcoming with colorful blue and green pillows atop the Double bed and a potbelly stove in the corner. In addition to the outdoor hot tub which is set into the deck, guests can also make use of the sauna or explore the surrounding gardens. The hot tub is a major perk, but the main attraction is the awe-inspiring 2,000-year-old redwood.

With no Wi-Fi, this Airbnb is a great choice if your priority is to disconnect from society and reconnect with nature.

This listing is super popular and dates book up fast. Currently, the earliest dates available to book start in December 2021, so it may be worth planning ahead and booking a future trip now.

Log home in Dillon, Montana, $123

Book this log home starting at $123 per night

In Big Sky Country, this log home is located 10 miles from the town of Dillon, offering a nature retreat in a remote setting. The home is sprawling and rustic with suspended wooden beams and a stone chimney, and the inset hot tub will hit the spot after a day of exploring the trails or fishing for blue-ribbon trout in the Beaverhead River.

The hot tub is indoors and built into the floor of the bathroom, which is a rare design choice that feels all the more luxurious. The interior decor is rustic-chic with wood-paneling in some rooms and log-stacked walls in others. A cowboy motif is everpresent in the decor and wall art. Outside there is a deck with a grill and plenty of firewood is provided for the indoor brick fireplace.

There are some dates available in March and April, but the calendar opens up more come the spring and summer.

Riverfront cabin in Monroe, Washington, $138

Book this riverfront cabin starting at $138 per night

With an in-deck hot tub that overlooks the Snoqualmie River, this charm-filled cabin is a romantic retreat. The interior features wood paneling and a huge skylight, allowing for maximum light, and the bed is set against another large window so you can wake up with the woods just across the pillow.

Amenities are simple, but you'll also have a washer and dryer and a fully-stocked kitchen. The living room is a nice spot to curl up thanks to the wood-burning stove, but you'll most likely want to spend your time on the deck where you can barbecue and enjoy long soaks in the hot tub with a river view. If it's warm out, you can head down to the dock on the river for a nice refreshing swim.

The earliest available dates are in April, but much of June and July has already been booked while August is still wide open.

Desert oasis in Washington, Utah, $156

Book this desert oasis starting at $156 per night

A 35-minute drive from Zion National Park, this mountain-facing home has stunning views and a well-landscaped backyard with the ultimate pool and hot tub combo. The stone hot tub has a waterfall feature and is attached to the pool, so you can easily do a hot-to-cold plunge.

Inside, the home has a contemporary design scheme with a neutral gray color palette, which continues into the bathrooms decked out with local granite and slate tiling and a custom farm door leading into a large walk-in shower. Other perks include multiple large flatscreen TVs and a stone fireplace. There is also a laundry room and although the kitchen is small, it includes new, stainless steel appliances. 

This popular Airbnb has limited availability until August. It may be worth booking a late summer trip far in advance.

Mountain retreat in Idaho Springs, Colorado, $280

Book this mountain retreat starting at $280 per night

This hot tub perched high in the hills belongs to a remote, two-story cabin. You'll need all-wheel-drive to get up the road and the nearest town is four miles away, so this is a hard-to-reach and hard-to-be-reached kind of retreat. The hot tub is located on the private deck, overlooking acres of forest teeming with wildlife.

The interior of the cabin includes stand-out design features like a beautiful spiral staircase and floor-to-ceiling windows in the master bedroom that capitalize on the mountain view. There's even a record player hooked up to the house sound system for listening to tunes while you indulge in an outdoor soak. 

There is limited availability in March, but dates open up in mid-April.

Tree cabin in Waterford, Vermont, $164

Book this tree cabin starting at $164 per night

Found in Vermont, this cabin has an electrically-heated, 500-gallon cedar hot tub built into the 250-square-foot deck suspended among oak trees. The tree house is a small studio decked out in pine and walnut wood with a Full-sized memory foam bed and a kitchenette that includes a mini-fridge and microwave.

The deck is where you'll spend most of your time, not only enjoying the views from the hot tub, but also making use of the grill, fire pit, or simply sitting on the swinging bench while enjoying the sounds of the surrounding forest. With two ski resorts located within 30 minutes of the cabin — Burk Ski Resort and Cannon Mountain — this is a great destination for the winter and looks even more magical with a light dusting of snow.

While there are a few scattered dates currently open, availability is subject to change.

Cozy cabin in Big Indian, New York, $304

Book this cozy cabin starting at $304 per night

Featuring a wood-fired hot tub with stunning views, this Catskills cabin makes for a memorable stay in all seasons. Unlike a traditional electric hot tub, this one takes a little work to get going because you'll have to light the fire yourself. However, firewood and instructions are provided.

The home is a vintage kit cabin that dates back to the 1960s nestled on five private acres with a sweeping lawn, fire pit, and charcoal grill. The cabin is straight out of a picturebook with bright orange trim, a fireplace, and antique furnishings. Although the interior is small, there is a spacious deck facing the mountain for enjoying the fresh air. Come fall, the view will be especially lovely.

There are plenty of available dates starting in late March.

Secluded cottage in Gary, Indiana, $141

Book this secluded cottage starting at $141 per night

Near Indiana Dunes National Park, this home has a six-person hot tub perched at the top of a dune, overlooking the house. The modern home includes sleek design details like leather couches and oversize light fixtures, as well as fun features like a dining table that can be transformed into a poker table. But the backyard is where the listing really shines.

In addition to the hot tub, there is a back porch with a grill, fire pit, and fully furnished dining area. String lights hang around the property to complete the tranquil scene. As an added bonus, this listing is also pet-friendly and fully fenced in if you wanted to bring along your pooch.

This home has availability starting in April.

Snowy paradise in Duluth, Minnesota, $213

Book this snowy paradise starting at $213 per night

Located ten minutes from Duluth Lakewalk, this Airbnb's interior is freshly-renovated and features modular living room furniture, a spacious and bright kitchen with bar seating, a cute log bench in the entryway, a small coffee station, and a handy washer and dryer for longer stays.

However, outdoors is where you'll want to spend most of your time. The fire pit area is equipped with four benches, and the hot tub is just steps from the front door, so if it's snowing you don't have to scurry too far. The location is very remote and peaceful and past guests commend the home's natural scenery, particularly for enjoying the Minnesota snows.

There are a few dates left for the end of March, but wider availability opens up in mid-April. 

Tech companies are often in the news, whether it's because of new innovations they're pitching or concerns about their impact on society that have landed many of them in the political hot seat.

These companies rely on public relations professionals to gain awareness of and favor for their products and show how they're responding to issues like unsavory content on their platforms, antitrust concerns, and job losses as a result of automation.

Business Insider identified 36 of the top PR pros in tech today through a combination of original reporting and nominations.

We also considered the views of journalists who are on the receiving end of their pitches and can be a tough bunch to please.

The list, in alphabetical order by last name, includes up-and-coming crisis pros, agency owners, venture capital spinners, and PR chiefs in charge of working on the brands of multibillion corporations.

Kyle Arteaga, CEO, The Bulleit Group

Since launching The Bulleit Group in 2012, Arteaga has built the agency into a $6 million agency with three dozen employees.

The agency has won a number of high-profile accounts, including Thor Trucks, Zoox, Google, Gradient Ventures, LinkedIn, and P&G Ventures.

But it's Arteaga's moves into the auto and transportation industry that particularly impressed one journalist.

"From the launch of Thor Trucks (electric semi competing with Tesla), EV and AV perception software, and working with Zoox (purpose-built self-driving company recently acquired by Amazon) they've shown they understand the increasingly intertwined nature of automotive and technology brands," the journalist said.

Morgan Borer, head of media relations, Bevel

Borer was Bevel's first employee when it launched in 2017 and has been instrumental to its growth to 18 employees and win client wins like Alan Patricof and his firm, Greycroft.

Borer helped get coverage for Patricof's Primetime Partners, a venture capital firm focused on companies founded by older entrepreneurs, in The Wall Street Journal Magazine, Bloomberg Businessweek, and other outlets.

Borer also handled PR for crypto firm Tagomi when it was acquired by Coinbase; Coca-Cola's investment in Dirty Lemon; and Reddit Founder Alexis Ohanian's investment in Rally.

Brandon Borrman, VP of communications, Twitter

As political tensions flared up during the summer of 2020 in the US, it fell to Borrman to explain Twitter's decisions like removing tweets from Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and President Donald Trump about breaking social distancing practices.

These decisions have stirred up a debate on free speech and censorship — issues that will continue to plague the social media company as it braces for regulation.

Borrman is not new to fraught territory, having coached CEO Jack Dorsey on his 2018 testimony in front of Congress that the AP to call him "unflappable."

He also leads PR for Twitter's support for an Open Internet, an initiative to promote competition online.

Kelly Boynton, communications lead, Gusto

At the human resources platform startup, Boynton has focused on the small businesses it serves and the relief they need in the pandemic, leading to coverage in the likes of The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and Bloomberg.

Journalists praised her for her work on IPOs for high-growth companies like DocuSign's listing on Nasdaq, which raised $629 million in 2018, one calling her a "consummate pro."

Another said she's "knowledgeable, prompt, and zero-bullshit" and "gotten me to pay more attention to the company."

Earlier, she spun for clients like Facebook, Intuit, and Hootsuite at Access Communications.

Allison Braley, operating partner of marketing and communications, Playground Global

Braley runs PR for Playground Global, a 36-person venture capital firm with $825 million in assets under management; and many of its portfolio companies, which include Relativity Space and Virta.

Braley joined the firm after founder Andy Rubin, a Google executive who had faced sexual harassment accusations, exited.

Earlier, she worked at Canvas, a Ford-owned vehicle leasing company; and Fair, which acquired Canvas.

At Zoosk, she oversaw PR through a failed IPO attempt and CEO transition. She also led marketing for The Information, where she helped get the word out about the business news startup.

Crystal Braswell, head of engineering and diversity and inclusion communications, LinkedIn

Braswell and her team have been getting out the word about the networking platform's efforts to fix gender and racial gaps, leading to a story in The Wall Street Journal about LinkedIn's new software to spot biases in algorithms.

Braswell also leads the diversity and inclusion communications team and its cultures programs, helpong promote its reputation as an employer in outlets like CNBC.

Earlier at LinkedIn, Braswell helped promote its higher education products and the redesign of its feed.

Jay Carney, SVP of global corporate affairs, Amazon

Carney served President Barack Obama as White House Press Secretary for three years. His political controvery wrangling skills have served him at Amazon, where he arrived in 2015.

Congressional and public scrutiny of the sprawling tech giant has grown as it expands into new businesses, and Carney has fought for public favor with news outlets and politicians as Amazon tries to stave off regulation around worker pay and antitrust issues.

J.J. Colao, founder and CEO, Haymaker Group

Colao's Haymaker Group, which was founded in 2014, has become a go-to firm for startups like Handy and Drift and more established players like Etsy and Zocdoc.

He has an extensive network of journalists, organizing events for the 1,300-member New York Media Meetup. He also runs a bi-monthly dinner with Jon Fine and Laurel Touby for founders, journalists, and investors.

Colao knows firsthand what a good story pitch is; he used to be a reporter at Forbes, which named his feature on Evan Spiegel that revealed the Snap founder turned down a $3 billion cash offer from Facebook one of its best stories of the decade.

Chantelle Darby, VP of communications, Accel

Silicon Valley vet Darby got her big break helping manage Yelp's $1.47 billion IPO in 2012.

Today, Darby helps oversee communications at one of the biggest venture capital firms, Accel, whose investments included Atlassian, Crowdstrike, Facebook, and Jet.

One tech journalist said Darby "does a great job of helping me understand what [Accel's companies] do and why it matters," getting interviews and information in a "very timely manner."

Between Accel and Yelp, Darby did PR for startups and helped launch Sheryl Sandberg's book, "Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead." 

Raman Deol, corporate communications lead, Flexport

At Flexport, a logistics startup, Deol has promoted the company's efforts to help with pandemic relief like distributing supplies to frontline responders.

Her work has helped land Susan Schöenberg, VP of impact and general manager, on Fortune's 40 under 40 technology list and a profile of CEO Ryan Petersen in TechCrunch.

Her previous posts include video chat app Houseparty; and OutCast, where she promoted GitHub's Series C funding and the launch of the Oculus Rift.

Corey duBrowa, VP of global communications and public affairs, Google

DuBrowa leads communications and public affairs at the tech giant.

While there, he's handled controversies around its Pentagon work, an employee walkout, and a censored search engine in China that it ultimately scrapped.

During his tenure, he's also whittled down Google's hundreds of agency relationships, tamped down on leaks, and helped prep CEO Sundar Pichai to testify on Capitol Hill.

Alan Dunton, managing director of the West Coast, Shift Communications

Dunton has helped launch a number of firsts in consumer and enterprise tech: HP's printer-faxer-scanner, SCio's first handheld spectrometer, the first language translation service for Babel Fish, and one of the first MP3 players for Diamond Multimedia.

Today, he's focused on emerging tech like autonomous mobility, the industrial Internet of Things, and digital transformation.

Between 2018 and 2020, Dunton helped win 20 new business accounts like Evite and TELUS International.

Prior to Shift, Dunton worked at Grayling, TriplePoint, Bigpoint, and other agencies.

Caitlin Epstein, director of PR, Twilio

Epstein has had a full plate, explaining how the developer Twilio has shifted its business focus to take on giants like Salesforce and Adobe.

In 2019, she handled press for its $3 billion acquisition of SendGrid, and its pivot to customer engagement.

She also helped get coverage for CEO Jeff Lawson as an ethical leader and managed communications after he criticized the Trump administration's child separation policy.

Phil Gomes, chief communications and marketing officer, Bloq

In PR, Gomes is an expert when it comes to blockchain technology.

At Bloq, Gomes helped reposition the company from a venture studio to one focused on providing blockchain infrastructure.

His focus on emerging technologies goes back to his days at Edelman, where he worked for more than a decade. There, he helped set up rules to use Wikipedia as PR agencies attracted scrutiny over their edits to the website's pages.

Jill Hazelbaker, SVP of marketing and public affairs, Uber

Like other fixers, Hazelbaker is a former politico-turned-marketing executive who served on Senator John McCain's 2008 campaign before having stints at Snap and Google.

At Uber, Hazelbaker confronted the ride-hailing giant's cultural issues like sexual harassment and gender discrimination by encouraging the company to publish a safety report in 2019 to show Uber was going to be more transparent with the press.

She was also among execs who called on embattled former CEO Travis Kalanick to resign.

Julie Henderson, chief communications officer, Snap

Henderson has changed public perception of the beleaguered social media company, leading to coverage about how CEO Evan Spiegel has matured and Snap being named"the most innovative company of 2020" by Fast Company.

Henderson also spread findings of a report on Gen Z's mental health issues, which led to Snap's product team developing an app with Headspace that allows users to share meditation sessions on its platform.

Before Snap, Henderson was chief communications officer at 21st Century Fox.

Toni Iafrate, VP of global communications, UiPath

With many workers worrying about automation taking their jobs, Iafrate has her work cut out for her at UiPath, which creates bots to do repetitive tasks.

The company has scored coverage in The New York Times, which reported it is "freeing workers from drudgery far more often than it is eliminating jobs," along with Forbes and The Wall Street Journal.

Iafrate has a long history of working for enterprise tech companies including Logmein, Qlick technologies, Cognos Corporation, and Newmediary.

Liz Jarvis-Shean, VP of communications and policy, DoorDash

After working on both President Obama's campaigns and in the White House, Jarvis-Shean jumped to the tech sector, working for companies like Tesla, Civis Analytics, Nuna, and Airbnb.

At DoorDash, she works with CEO Tony Xu as the delivery app company benefits from a pandemic boom and prepares for an IPO.

She worked behind the scenes to help delivery companies win a California measure called Prop 22 in 2020 to have drivers classified as contractors instead of employees. 

Dustee Jenkins, global head of communications and PR, Spotify

Jenkins was behind several efforts that bolstered Spotify's stock price by focusing on efforts to grow its advertising business, users, and subscriptions.

As competition has tightened in the music-streaming industry, Jenkins helped promote Spotify's podcast deals with personalities like Joe Rogan, Amy Schumer, and Jemele Hill.

She also pitched Spotify to Wall Street when the company took an unusual path to going public by listing directly without offering new shares.

Earlier, she had roles at Target and Public Strategies.

Michael Kaye, global communications and PR manager, OkCupid

Kaye was the only PR person at OkCupid when he joined in 2019, and he's been busy — it's gotten more than 100 articles about dating during the pandemic in publications like The New York Times and The Washington Post.

He also spread the word about OkCupid's new gender pronouns feature and spearheads OkCupid's relationships with nonprofits like the Human Rights Campaign and NAACP.

Kaye previously worked at Edelman, RF Binder, and Ruder Finn.

Katy Kenealy, SVP, Method Communications

Kenealy oversees some of tech PR agency Method Communications' biggest clients, like Domo, Vivint Smart Home, and Workplace from Facebook account teams.

When digital operations management platform PagerDuty prepared to go public, Kenealy drummed up enthusiasm in the press, helping get coverage in places like Fortune. Eventually, PagerDuty raised more than $200 million.

More recently, Kenealy helped Workplace from Facebook promote its support of businesses during the pandemic. She also supports Method's pro bono work for Parity, a non-profit for female leadership.

Elizabeth Luke, advertising communications lead, Pinterest

While other social platforms get more press, Luke has helped get outlets like The New York Times and Ad Age to pay attention to how Pinterest was tamping down on misinformation and providing a "refuge" from political ads.

She helped get Pinterest in the Global Alliance for Responsible Media, a trade body formed to tackle harmful content proliferating on social media.

Before Pinterest, Luke had a similar remit at Twitter.

Will Moss, director of reputation communications, Intel Corporation

Moss has helped Intel as it advocated for more semiconductor manufacturing in the US and sought government approval to sell products to Huawei.

During the pandemic, Moss was the point person when it came to communicating about health and safety to workers and the public.

Laura Anderson, who hired him in 2016, called him a "steadying force at the company, a trusted advisor within it and a go-to resource to top technology and business journalists at the leading global media organizations."

Before Intel, Moss worked at Motorola Mobility and BCW.

Will Nevius, head of communications, Canaan

Nevius helps Canaan, a venture capital with almost $6 billion in assets under management, and its investments as they seek help telling their stories to the press.

Nevius advised Aeva Inc., a company that is developing a sensor for self-driving cars, as it prepares to go public; and helped land coverage in Bloomberg for Canaan's announcement of a $800 million raise.

Before the coronavirus pandemic, he was known for cozying up to journalists by hosting off-the-record dinner parties with reporters.

Prior to joining Canaan, Nevius worked at Facebook's policy communications group and Glover Park Group.

Ayelet Noff, founder and CEO, SlicedBrand

Noff, the founder of Blonde 2.0, a PR firm that was well known among tech journalists for big-name clients like Waze, Microsoft, and Viber, liquidated it in 2020 and launched a new venture, SlicedBrand.

There, she doubled down on blockchain, representing the IOTA Foundation, which created a smart wallet with Jaguar Land Rover.

Other clients include AI startup XAIN, communications equipment supplier AudioCodes, and investing tool Springbox AI.

John O'Brien, principal, Strange Brew Strategies

At Strange Brew Strategies, which was founded in 2017, O'Brien focuses on high-tech areas like AI, machine learning, and aerospace and has helped roped in clients like American Express, Cloudflare, and Dataiku.

Notable media coverage for clients included pieces on GitHub and Arweave in Bloomberg Businessweek and Fortune, respectively.

"O'Brien consistently brings great story ideas and is a pleasure to work with," one senior tech reporter said.

O'Brien previously worked at The OutCast Agency, where he helped launch Coinbase.

Bo Park, head of technology PR, ICR

ICR has been a big name in financial communications and investor relations, but it's becoming a player in tech PR, thanks to the efforts of Bo Park.

She uses ICR's Wall Street experience to pitch against bigger PR firms, working with clients like Intel, Mobileye, Samsung's Harman, and Scout.

She also led PR around the IPOs of Zoom and BigCommerce and worked behind the scenes on SPAC transactions for electric vehicle companies like Fisker, Lordstown Motors, and Canoo.

Andrew Prairie, VP of corporate communications, AMD

Prairie is the guy behind the PR strategy for semiconductor manufacturer AMD as it created computer and graphics processors to compete against the likes of Intel and NVIDIA.

Prairie also helped get attention for AMD's new CEO, Lisa Su, through keynote speeches at CES and other tradeshows, and coverage in Barron's, which named her one of the world's best CEOs, as well as Bloomberg and Fortune.

The company has been on a tear, its share price topping $80 from below $10 just a few years ago.

Daniel Roberts, communications lead for innovation and growth, General Motors

Roberts joined General Motors in 2021 to handle communications around several businesses, including global connected customer, innovation, BrightDrop, and the office data and analaytics. His remit includes electric delivery vehicles and tech integrations with Apple, Amazon, and Google. 

The up-and-coming crisis communications manager joined GM from Facebook, where he helped steer its push to register 4 million voters ahead of the 2020 US presidential election, which included a partnership with Michelle Obama's voter registration drive.

Roberts was the lead spokesperson on high-profile stories like Facebook shutting down pages that governors Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI) and Phil Murphy (D-NJ) called on the company to do more to curb hate speech.

Before Facebook, Roberts led East Coast communications and marketing at Lyft, where he spearheaded a campaign that provided thousands of rides to Black cultural sites during Black History Month.

Ash Spiegelberg, partner and head of the San Francisco office, Brunswick Group

Spiegelberg leads Brunswick Group's San Francisco office, where he's headed up work on Pinterest's and ZoomInfo's IPOs and the upcoming IPOs of DoorDash and Airbnb.

"He's easy to talk to, always on the pulse of what's going on with the highest-profile tech companies, and won't mislead you," one tech journalist said of Spiegelberg.

Spiegelberg also advised voice chat company Discord; and ICON Health & Fitness on its IPO and lawsuit against Peloton. Facebook is a longstanding client.

Brittany Stone, managing director, Moxie Communications

Stone handles clients like WeTransfer, Pandora, and Mirror and is a press favorite.

Notably, journalists praised her for her candor and professionalism even when things go awry, as they did with Casper when its IPO performance was termed a "disaster."

"Legitimately, if more PR people were Brittany I'd hate my job a lot less," one tech journalist effused.

Daniella Vallurupalli, head of global communications, Cloudflare

Vallurapalli has juggled one sensitive issue after another at the cybersecurity company.

They include its 2019 outage; its 2017 brush with controversy after the company dropped the Daily Stormer; and its campaign to defeat a group of patent trolls.

She also oversaw comms for Cloudflare's 2019 IPO and helped it get press for sharing internet behavior trends during the pandemic.

And after Vallurupalli booked some appearances on "Mad Money" with Jim Cramer, Cloudflare was named one of the CNBC host's "work from home" stocks, along with Zoom and Slack.

Margit Wennmachers, operating partner, Andreessen Horowitz

Wennmachers has helped build the brands of companies like Facebook and Skype.

For decades, Wennmachers has cultivated relationships with reporters and taught tech founders to court the media.

Her work amplified Andreessen Horowitz's brand and made it synonymous with venture capital.

CNN called her the "real queen of Silicon Valley," while Wired said she has a "sixth sense for communications strategy."

Rachel Whetstone, chief communications officer, Netflix

This Tory power broker-turned-Silicon Valley PR pro has worked alongside some of the most powerful politicians in the world, an experience she uses to counsel some of the biggest CEOs in tech.

Whetstone has worked with former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, and COO Sheryl Sandberg, and former Uber CEO Travis Kalanick.

Today, she leads communications at Netflix, helping cement its reputation as a corporate do-gooder with a premium product by promoting its content, platform, and position as the leading digital video streamer.

Diana Wong, VP of communications, Imperva

For a decade and a half, Wong has been on the communications frontlines in Silicon Valley, helping launch products, fend off hostile takeovers, and shape the reputation of companies like Yahoo, HP, Oracle.

Since joining cybersecurity company Imperva three months ago, Wong handled communications of its acquisition of database security startup jSonar.

Most recently, at RSA Security, she led communications around its $2.1 billion sale by Dell last year. She also was the lead spokesperson for BEA System and Yahoo when they faced takeover attempts by Carl Icahn.

Carly Wyatt, director of global communications, Zoox

At Zoox, Wyatt's job has been to raise awareness of the self-driving car startup.

She and her team showcased Zoox's technology, safety, and business plans in places like The Financial Times, Venture Beat, and Business Insider.

Earlier this year, Wyatt and her team helped arrange appearances by Zoox CEO Aicha Evans and CTO Jesse Levinson on Kara Swisher's "Recode Decode"podcast.

She was also the PR go-to when Amazon bought the startup for $1.2 billion.

SEE ALSO: All of Insider Picks' buying guides, in one place

Leesa

Shop Leesa's sale here

Leesa, a socially conscious mattress retailer, has extended its Presidents' Day sale and has several great deals running on its mattresses and other products. Leesa is currently offering up to $400 off mattresses and 20% off bundles. Year round, you can save 20% off Leesa's Hybrid and Legend mattresses with code 'INSIDER.'

Read more about Leesa from Insider Reviews:

• Leesa Original mattress review
• Leesa Hybrid mattress review
• Leesa adjustable base review
• Leesa Hybrid pillow review

Tuft & Needle

Shop Tuft & Needle here

While Tuft & Needle's Presidents' Day sale has ended, you can still save 15% off mattresses with our exclusive code 'INSIDER15' from February 22 through April 17.

Read more about Tuft & Needle from Insider Reviews:

• Tuft & Needle Mint mattress review

Casper

Shop Casper's sale here

Casper, the well known and widely recommended mattress brand, has extended its Presidents' Day sale with discounts across the site. Casper is offering 15% off mattresses and 10% off other items, including pillows, sheets, and duvets.

Read more about Casper from Insider Reviews:

• Casper mattress review
• Casper Wave mattress review
• Casper sheets review
• Casper pillow review
• Casper dog bed review
• Casper adjustable bed frame review

Bear

Shop Bear's sale here

Mattress retailer Bear is currently offering 20% off all mattresses. In addition, every mattress purchase comes with a free gift set that includes a waterproof mattress protector and two free cloud pillows. Use code 'PD20' to get the discount and gift set.

Read more about Bear from Insider Reviews:

• Bear mattress review
• Bear Hybrid mattress review

Nectar Sleep

Shop Nectar Sleep's sale here

Nectar is offering up to $399 worth of accessories, including a sheet set, mattress protector, and two pillows, with every mattress purchase.

Read more about Nectar from Insider Reviews:

• Nectar adjustable bed frame review

Helix

Shop Helix's sale here

Helix is offering great deals across its mattresses. Your total savings will depend on your purchase total. You'll get $100 off any mattress purchase with code 'PRESDAY100,' $150 off orders of $1,250 or more with code 'PRESDAY150,' or save $200 off on orders of $1,750 or more with code 'PRESDAY200.' Using any code will also get you two free Dream Pillows with your purchase.

Read more about Helix from Insider Reviews:

• Helix mattress review
• Helix pillow review

Purple

Shop Purple's sale here

Purple, which is best known for its unique grid mattress design, is offering sales on several of its mattresses including up to $350 off select mattress and sleep bundles.

Read more about Purple from Insider Reviews:

• Purple mattress review
• Purple adjustable bed frame review

Brooklyn Bedding

Shop Brooklyn Bedding's sale here

Brooklyn Bedding is currently offering 20% off its mattresses during its winter sale. Use code 'WINTER20' at checkout to save.

Read more about Brooklyn Bedding from Insider Reviews:

• Brooklyn Bedding weighted blanket review
• Brooklyn Bedding Plank mattress review 
• Brooklyn Bedding Aurora mattress review

Layla

Shop Layla's sale here

Layla is offering up to $200 off mattresses and $300 in accessories with every purchase.

Read more about Layla from Insider Reviews:

• Layla mattress topper review
• Layla pillow review

DreamCloud

Shop DreamCloud's sale here

DreamCloud, which offers a very generous lifetime warranty, is offering $200 off mattresses. You'll also get $399 in accessories with any DreamCloud mattress purchase.

Read more about DreamCloud from Insider Reviews:

• DreamCloud mattress review

Tempur-Pedic

Shop Tempur-Pedic's mattresses here

Tempur-Pedic is offering several discounts across its mattresses and bedding, including 40% off Tempur-Toppers, 30% off Tempur-Cloud mattresses, and 25% off select bedding. The retailer is also offering $300 in free accessories with select mattress and base purchases and up to $500 off premium adjustable mattress sets.

Read more about Tempur-Pedic from Insider Reviews:

• Tempur-Pedic PRObreeze mattress with Ergo Power Base review
• Tempur-Pedic Cloud mattress review

Saatva

Shop Saatva's sale here

Luxury sleep brand Saatva is offering $200 off orders of $1,000 or more.

Read more about Saatva from Insider Reviews:

• Saatva Luxury Firm mattress review 

Emma

Shop Emma's sale here

Emma, a retailer that currently offers discounts for frontline workers, is also offering a generous discount anyone can take advantage of: up to 32% off mattresses on its website.

Read more about Emma from Insider Reviews:

• Emma mattress review

Cocoon by Sealy

Shop Cocoon by Sealy's sale here

Cocoon by Sealy is currently offering 35% off chill mattresses and a free pillow and sheet set with all purchases.

Read more about Cocoon by Sealy from Insider Reviews:

• Cocoon Chill mattress review

PlushBeds

Shop PlushBeds' sale here

PlushBeds, a retailer known for its commitment to sustainability, is offering several discounts across its products. It's currently offering $1,250 off bedroom mattresses, 25% off all toppers and bedding, and a free luxury sheet set with all mattress purchases.

Amerisleep

Shop Amerisleep's sale here

Amerisleep, which offers free no-contact delivery and free returns, is offering 30% off all mattresses with code 'AS30.'

Zoma

Shop Zoma's sale here

Specializing in comfort for athletes, mattress retailer Zoma is offering $150 off all mattresses with code 'WIN150.'

Eight Sleep

Shop Eight's sale here

Eight Sleep is offering up to $150 off mattresses with code 'AFF150.'

Read more about Eight from the Insider Picks team:

• Eight smart mattress review

Nest

Shop Nest's sale here

Nest is continuing its Presidents' Day discounts by offering 20% off sitewide with code 'PREzzzDAY.'

Idle Sleep

Shop Idle Sleep's sale here

Idle Sleep is offering 30% off sitewide, which includes discounts on mattresses and accessories such as bed sheets and pillows

Birch

Shop Birch's sale here

Birch, which offers free no-contact delivery on all orders, is offering $200 off any mattress purchase and two free pillows with every mattress purchase using code 'PRESDAY200.'

Read more about Birch from Insider Reviews:

• Birch mattress review

Sleep Number

Shop Sleep Number's sale here

Iconic mattress brand Sleep Number is offering 50% off its Sleep Number 360 Limited Edition Smart Bed and $100 off the Queen Sleep Number 360 C2 Smart Bed. The retailer is also offering free premium delivery and setup with any mattress and base purchases.

Read more about Sleep Number from Insider Reviews:

• Sleep Number C4 mattress review

Avocado

Shop Avocado's sale here

Avocado is offering several discounts across the site including $200 off select mattresses with code 'FLAG200,' and $100 off hybrid mattresses with code 'GREEN100.' The retailer is also offering $150 off select bed frames and $300 on the Mid-Century Modern Bed Frame. Two free pillows are also included with every green or vegan mattress purchase using code '2FREEPILLOWS.'

Read more about Avocado Mattress from Insider Reviews:

• Avocado Green Mattress Review

Other mattress deals you should know about

• Mattress Firm: Mattress Firm is offering up to 50% off select mattresses from best-selling brands.
• Overstock: Giant retailer Overstock is offering up to 30% off select mattresses.  
• Sears: The retailer is offering up to 60% off mattresses and an extra 10% on select mattress or foundation purchases with a qualifying Shop Your Way or Sears credit card. 
• Wayfair: Wayfair is currently offering up to 70% off across mattresses.

• Finding the right gifts for the men in your life can be tough. We rounded up a helpful list of gifts they're sure to enjoy. 
• Each gift is available on Amazon for less than $100 and with two-day shipping for Prime members.
• Need more gift ideas? Check out all Insider Reviews gift guides here.

Trying to find the right gift when none seem ideal tends to make procrastinators out of the best of us. That's when most of us turn to the convenient, fast, reliable perks of shopping on Amazon and its mountain of options. 

To make your last-minute shopping easier, we found 35 gifts for him that won't cost you more than $100, but that he's still sure to like.

Most of these items are available with free one-day or two-day shipping if you have Amazon Prime, so you don't have to stress over whether it'll arrive on time. 

The top 5 best Amazon gifts for him under $100:

1. A minimalist leather wallet from Bellroy ($75)
2. A Philips Norelco beard and body trimmer for a comfortable shave ($39.95)
3. A versatile iPhone case from Scooch ($49.99)
4. An Echo Show 5 from Amazon ($89.99)
5. A fun fidget toy from Speks ($19.95)

See more Amazon gifts for him:

A fun pair of socks

Hot Sox Men's Travel Series, from $5.40

Whether these socks remind him of his favorite travel destination or a special trip you shared, they're sure to be a great addition to his wardrobe. Each pair features a unique design inspired by 20 scenic sites around the world. 

A warm fleece vest

The North Face Gordon Lyons Vest, from $53.35

The North Face's Gordon Lyons Vest is a warm and comfortable layer that any guy can work into an outfit. It's available in a bunch of colors, so you can pick out his favorite.

A fast USB-C charger

Anker Nano 20W USB-C Charger, $16.99

This year's iPhones won't come with a charging adaptor in the box, so if you're gifting a new iPhone, you'll want to include an Anker Nano as a stocking stuffer. It charges three times faster than the typical Apple charger and is physically the same size.

A warm beanie

Carhartt Men's Acrylic Watch Hat, $16.99

Grab a warm, comfortable hat from a trusted outdoor brand for less than $20 and in 30+ colors.

A high-quality leather band for his Apple Watch

Bullstrap Full-Grain Italian Leather Watch Band, $89.95

Bullstrap's Italian Leather Watch Bands are the perfect way to add some elegance to his Apple Watch. They come in several colors of leather and are compatible with all generations of the Apple Watch.

A reliable and affordable cast-iron skillet

Lodge Cast Iron Skillet with Handle Holder, $34.48

A quality cast iron skillet is a gift that will get plenty of use and last a lifetime. Lodge's Cast Iron Skill is affordable, durable, and comes with a silicone handle cover for heat protection.

A mug he'll get plenty of use from

Yeti Rambler, $18.74

This ever-reliable mug is well equipped for outdoor adventures and morning coffees alike. The vacuum insulation, dishwasher safety, and wide-grip handle all make this mug a standout.

A minimalist leather wallet

Bellroy Low Slim Leather Wallet, $75

Replace his tired and tattered wallet with this slim leather billfold from Insider Reviews' favorite wallet brand Bellroy. It's made with ethically sourced leather that will age wonderfully and last many years.

A timesaving pizza cutter

Kitchy Pizza Cutter Wheel, $11.85

Whether he prefers homemade, takeout, or frozen, this pizza cutter will serve as a real timesaver in the kitchen.

A beard and body trimmer for a comfortable shave

Philips Norelco OneBlade Face + Body Trimmer, $49.95

What separates the Philips Norelco OneBlade from other trimmers and shavers is the unique blade. It uses a fast-moving OneBlade cutter with a dual-protection system on both ends. The base of the blade will contour to his face, allowing for a comfortable shave or trim without irritation — and it works for wet or dry shaving.

An affordable pair of headphones

Panasonic Ergofit in Ear Earbuds, from $9.49

These headphones come with an under $10 price tag and a 4.3 rating on Amazon across nearly 90,000 reviews. They're well-equipped for everyday use, the gym, or whenever Bluetooth isn't applicable.

A versatile iPhone case

Scooch Wingman case, $39.99: iPhone 12/12 Pro and 12 Pro Max

A durable case is always an essential accessory. The Scooch Wingman is a military-grade case that has a built-in grip, kickstand, and car dash mount. To learn why it's the only case I'll use on my phone, read my full review on the iPhone 11 version.

A portable waterproof Bluetooth speaker

JBL Flip 4, $79.95

Perfect for the adventure seeker, the JBL Flip 4 is rugged, portable, and waterproof. He can use it while camping in the backcountry, fishing at the lake, or even while he's swimming. A newer version of the speaker — the Flip 5— is also available, though it sells for over $100. 

A fun fidget toy

Speks Geode, $19.95

If he likes to fidget and play with things throughout the day, Speks magnets are an extremely satisfying option. We're partial to the classic set, but this geode is intended to create a striking sphere in one of four bright colors. 

A few big bricks of soap

Duke Cannon Big Brick of Soap WWII Era Collection, from $10

Duke Cannon is a military-inspired men's grooming brand that helps support veterans and active service members by donating a portion of all proceeds. Even if the man you're shopping for isn't a serviceman, he'll appreciate the smell and massive size of these soap bars.

A charging dock for his iPhone and Apple Watch

Belkin Powerhouse Charge Dock for Apple Watch and iPhone, $99.99

Sure, you could give him a regular charging cord to juice up his phone, but a charging dock is often more convenient and definitely cooler. This one in particular also comes with a convenient place to charge his Apple Watch. 

*This gift is unavailable to ship until December 29, but it's still available to purchase.

An 8-inch tablet for surfing the internet and streaming

Fire HD 8 32GB Tablet with Alexa, $89.99

With an 8-inch 1080p full HD screen, the Fire HD Tablet is the perfect size for surfing the web, checking emails, and streaming videos. He'll get lots of use out of it whether he's at home or on the go.

An Alexa-enabled smart display

Echo Show 5, $89.99

Help him stay connected to the world by gifting him the new Echo Show 5. This smart display is good for video chatting with friends and family, checking the news, and controlling smart home devices like robot vacuums, security systems, and more. 

A cold-brew maker

Takeya Deluxe Cold Brew Coffee Maker, $19.99

Save him hundreds of dollars per year with this cold brew maker that lives up to coffee shop quality. It easily fits into most refrigerator doors, is simple to use, and makes a good amount of cold brew at once.

A smart speaker

Echo Dot 4th Gen with Clock, $59.99

The newest Echo Dot is more convenient than ever. The all-new design features a larger speaker for better audio, a digital clock to display the time and timer countdowns, and all of Alexa's other skills.

A lavender-scented shaving kit

Art of Shaving Men's Lavender Mini Kit, $30

This four-piece shaving set is great for any guy trying to manage his five o'clock shadow; he just needs to supply his favorite razor. If he's on the fence about scented shaving products, know that the lavender scent isn't too strong.

A set of whiskey rocks

Lord's Rocks 11 Piece Whiskey Stones Gift Set, $19.99

Gone are the days of thinned-out drinks with these whiskey stones made of pure granite. Plus, it comes in a box set for easy gifting. 

A Tile Mate that will help him never lose his phone or wallet again

Tile Mate, $24.99

He can place this tracker in his wallet, bag, or phone case to make sure he never loses his things, because if he does, the Tile app makes it easy to retrace.

A popular multitool

Leatherman Wingman Multitool, $59.95

Leatherman is a well-respected company, and they're especially well-known for making multi-tools like this one. It has 14 tools including a knife, pliers, screwdrivers, a ruler, and both bottle and can openers hidden inside it.

A voice-enabled TV streaming stick

Fire TV Stick, Alexa-Enabled Voice Remote, $39.99

The all-new Fire TV Stick has a new Wi-Fi antenna design optimized for HD streaming and more storage for apps and games. Essentially, though, it's still your standard media streaming stick, and can convert a dumb TV into a smart one that can stream Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu, and more. It's Alexa-enabled, too, so you can control it by voice.

A specialty beer-making kit

Mr. Beer Premium Craft Making Kit, $47.40

If he's one of those guys that either is or will one day be holed up in the garage making specialty beers, he's going to love this DIY kit. It includes everything he'll need to get started, including bottles.

A handy money clip

Travelambo Carbon Fiber Money Clip, $9.99

This sleek money clip is durable, affordable, and lightweight. Whether he's constantly on the go or simply prone to losing his wallet, this money clip will likely eliminate some pain points.

A durable 6-foot iPhone cable

Anker 6-foot Charging Cable, $19.99

It's something every one of us will feel grateful for a couple of times per day, but always put off buying for ourselves: a durable, 6-foot-long charging cable.

A turntable for his growing record collection

Victrola Vintage 3-Speed Bluetooth Portable Suitcase Record Player, from $47.99

Help him rediscover his favorite classic records with this affordable, portable turntable. If you're feeling extra generous, pick up a record he doesn't have or sign him up for a subscription to Vnyl.

A beard grooming kit to keep him looking neat

Rapid Beard Grooming & Trimming Kit, $29.97

This bestselling beard grooming kit isn't messing around, and it's reliant upon 100% natural and organic ingredients like argan oil, jojoba oil, and vitamin E. It makes grooming, trimming, shaping, and taming easier.

Some of the best headphones you can find for $100

Status Audio BT One Wireless On-Ear Headphones, $79

The perfect pair of over-ear headphones is one that's both highly comfortable and sounds great. This pair from Status Audio is among the best you'll find at this price point. 

The most comfortable travel pillow

Trtl Pillow, $29.99

It looks gimmicky, but it's not. This is the best travel pillow on the internet in our opinion, and while it won't convince you that you're sleeping on a feather bed, it will make sleeping in an upright position far more enjoyable. If he travels, this is a thoughtful gift idea.

A hilarious coffee table book

"F in Exams," $6.29

This is a great gift for the person who can laugh at the little things in life, or for anyone who works as a teacher. It's a collection of hilarious wrong test answers that is sure to keep them laughing.

A smart outlet for upgrading his smart home

Wemo Mini WiFi-Enabled Smart Plug, $23.98

Isn't controlling everything in your house by voice so you never have to get up kind of the dream? These Wi-Fi- and Alexa-enabled outlets make that a reality. Plug them in, download the app, and you can control your lights and appliances from your phone and your voice.

A dry box for waterproof protection outdoors

OtterBox DRYBOX 3250 Series, $49.99

This rugged case is basically like a tiny storage box, protecting not only their phone but also their keys, wallet, and other small essentials. It's even waterproof up to 90 feet for 30 minutes, making it perfect for outdoor adventures.

The internet's most popular cooker

Instant Pot DUO80, $99

The Instant Pot is one of the most versatile appliances you can add to your kitchen for under $100. Help him make delicious home-cooked meals a cinch, even when he has to work late.

A soap bar that can bring dingy clothes back to life

The Laundress Wash & Stain Bar, $6.50

Add this stain remover bar as an additional gift. It's a longtime Insider Reviews favorite — it's relatively cheap and works exceptionally well. The Laundress Wash & Stain Bar is one of the only things that can bring white clothes back from the brink of donation piles, as we've attested in our roundup of the best things we bought on Amazon under $25.

• The perfect mattress for side sleepers includes features that are unique to this sleeping position. 
• We've done some research and testing to bring you the best mattresses for side sleepers.
• The fully customizable Helix mattress is our top pick because you can design it to suit your specific needs.

Side sleepers, it's a tough life we've chosen. Or rather, a tough life that's chosen us. Finding a mattress that allows us to attain that ever-elusive good night's sleep may be difficult, but it's certainly necessary. After all, if back sleepers and even stomach sleepers can find a way to catch some z's, why can't we?

Perhaps the biggest challenge that I've faced in my side sleeping days is finding a mattress that is firm enough to support my contours, but soft enough to avoid feeling pressure — particularly in my hips and shoulders. And while that mattress may seem like a unicorn, I'm here to bear some good news: There are, in fact, quite a few great mattresses for side sleepers that don't cost a fortune. We've put together this buying guide with the best ones you can buy based on research and testing.

Regardless of which one you choose from our favorites, we're confident that you'll get a good night's sleep. And if you find that these mattresses don't work for you, rest assured that they come with a sleep trial so you can take these beds for a test run before making a long-term commitment.

Here are the best mattresses for side sleepers:

• Best mattress for side sleepers overall: Leesa mattress 
• Best side-sleeper mattress for athletes: Bear mattress
• Best contouring side-sleeper mattress: Nectar mattress
• Best side-sleeper mattress for spinal alignment: Casper Wave mattress
• Best side-sleeper mattress for customization: Helix mattress

SEE ALSO: The best mattress protectors you can buy

The best mattress for side sleepers overall

The Leesa mattress is one of the best-designed mattresses that work for everyone, and it's great for side sleepers.

Pros: Great design, competitive price, innovative use of Avena foam, great social mission

Cons: If you're on the heavier side, this may not be the most supportive mattress

The Leesa mattress has long been one of my favorites, and we at Insider Reviews love it so much, we've named in our best mattress overall in our overarching guide to the best mattresses. Not only does it provide great pressure relief, but it's also one of the best looking mattresses on the market. I know, I know — once you put your sheets on and actually get into bed, you're not actually seeing the mattress itself.

One of the best things about the Leesa from a sleeping perspective lies in its consistency. I've never had a problem sleeping on the Leesa on my side, but I've also found that during nights when I end up on my front or on my back, I'm still extremely cozy. So if you toss and turn, or are generally sharing a bed with someone who doesn't prefer the same sleeping position as you do, the Leesa tends to be a good compromise.

When it comes to firmness, Leesa qualifies as a medium, or for some folks, a medium-soft. The amount of give the mattress offers is ideal for folks who often suffer from pressure points, and while most foam mattresses aren't particularly bouncy, the Leesa actually does have a bit of a spring to with it. That means that you can easily move around the bed without feeling as though you've sunk in.

The Leesa also avoids sleeping too hot thanks to its top layer of two-inch Avena foam. This material promotes airflow and cooling, while the pinholes and egg-crate-esque surface underneath this layer also ensure that you won't wake up sweating.

And if getting a good night's sleep is contingent upon knowing that you've done some good for the world, Leesa can certainly help out there. For every 10 mattresses sold, the company donates one to an organization helping to combat youth homelessness. The company also prides itself on other social impact initiatives, including planting trees for each product sold, and volunteer work in its local community.

The best side-sleeper mattress for athletes

The memory foam of the Bear mattress, combined with Celliant technology, makes this a great bed for active folks looking for some rest and recovery.

Pros: Celliant technology, memory foam support and softness, accessible price point, 10-year limited warranty

Cons: While some side sleepers love memory foam, it's not for everyone. Some reviewers also noted that the bed could be a bit too firm.  

If your muscles are already tired and sore from hours of sports practice and training, the last thing you need is a mattress that leaves you even tighter than before. Bear is here to ensure that doesn't happen. The mattress is made of a high-density memory foam, which is quick to respond. Because it's relatively soft, it certainly helps to relieve pressure points.

The real differentiating factor of this mattress, however, lies in its use of Celliant technology, a relatively new innovation that is rarely found in mattresses. All of Bear's mattresses are woven with Celliant's FDA Determined Infrared Yarn Technology, which claims to "harness your body's natural energy to aid recovery time and overall well-being."

As per Celliant's own website, the material applies a blend of minerals and "proprietary ingredients" in order to enhance tissue oxygen levels, improve athletic performance, and perhaps most importantly, improve sleep quality.

While this sounds a bit like magic, don't be so quick to write these claims off. I found that my rest on a Bear mattress seemed to yield better results than sleeping on other products — at the very least, it was easier to go to kickboxing in the morning.

Celliant technology also doesn't seem to result in any overheating (despite its leveraging of infrared energy). In fact, because the mattress utilizes graphite gel-infused memory foam, I found that my body temperature was quite well-regulated, and I didn't have to kick off all the covers in the middle of the night.

The best side-sleeper contouring mattress

The gel memory foam of the Nectar makes it a versatile mattress that conforms to the contours of your body to relieve pressure.

Pros: Provides great pressure relief (particularly to the hips and shoulders), bed bug resistant, great value   

Cons: Some customers have noted that the mattress sleeps too hot

Some of the best things in life have layers, and the Nectar mattress is among them. Nectar's mattresses boast an impressive five layers, topped with a Tencel Cooling cover, the same material that is often used in workout apparel and heralded for its sweat-wicking capabilities.

But heat dissipation aside, the Nectar is a fantastic mattress for folks who have sensitive pressure points in their hips and shoulders. That's thanks to the mattress' layers of memory foam and contouring gel layers. Together, these two materials create a soft yet supportive mattress.

So what exactly are these various layers comprised of? Once you get past the Tencel cover, you'll find a quilted pad of gel memory foam. The next layer is Nectar's patented LushFoam, which promises to distribute weight and heat evenly across your body. Then, there's the Hi Core adaptive foam, which seems to be the key to Nectar's ability to support your weight, and finally, there's a base layer of high-density foam, which contributes to the mattress' overall stability.

When I first laid down on the Nectar, I felt as though I were sinking into my bed in quite a luxurious manner. That's thanks largely to the one-inch quilted top layer, which is the first stage of the mattress' pressure relief. There's actually another inch of gel memory foam that is key to the contouring aspect of the mattress. I found that the Nectar conformed well to the shape of my body, rather than fighting against it (and my sleeping habits).

In essence, you're getting a bed whose whole purpose is to ensure that you don't wake up with pain points, which is all I've ever asked for in a bed.

The best side-sleeper mattress for spinal alignment

Casper's Wave Hybrid Mattress will ensure that your core doesn't sink too deeply into the mattress so that your spine is well aligned.

Pros: zoned support is great for aligning the body in any position, luxury feel, soft yet supportive, mix of foam and springs is more breathable than all-foam mattresses

Cons: Expensive

When it comes to bed-in-a-box brands, it often feels as though you're sacrificing luxury for convenience. But Casper is here to prove that just because your bed comes to you rolled up in a box, it doesn't mean that it can't be a truly sumptuous experience. The Wave Hybrid Mattress is the company's higher-end mattress, and while it certainly costs more than other mattresses in our guide, it's worth the extra dough.

The key is the mix of springs and foam that offers zone support and properly aligns your body, which is of the utmost importance for folks who tend to sleep on their sides. With the right alignment, your shoulders and hips will receive the support they need to keep your spine in check, but without causing any pressure or pain.

While this is particularly useful for side sleepers, one of the great things about the Casper Wave is its ability to please sleepers of all persuasions, so if you find yourself moving from your stomach to your back to your side throughout the night, you'll still be well-supported and comfortable.

In order to provide proper alignment, this mattress supports different parts of your body with unique levels of support. Unsurprisingly, your hips likely do not need the same level of firmness as your shoulders, and Casper's luxury mattress makes these adjustments. The upper half of the mattress (the part where your shoulders ought to go) is made of softer foam, whereas the lower half is a bit firmer, providing extra support where it's needed.

For this luxury mattress, Casper implemented its Natural Geometry System. The precisely contoured foam actually has grooves cut directly into the material to make it more forgiving, and to provide relief where you might otherwise experience the most pressure.

The best side-sleeper mattress for customization

Helix designs a bed to suit your particular needs after you take a quiz, so it's no surprise that you'll be able to get an excellent night's sleep out of a customized mattress.

Pros: Total customization allows for a soft (yet not too soft) mattress, plush feel, great for couples who have different sleeping positions

Cons: Some customers report that the Helix mattress does not age particularly well

Helix believes that when it comes to your mattress, there is no such thing as one size fits all. And for side sleepers, that's excellent news. Buying a mattress from this online company starts with a quiz and ends with a customized mattress. 

The quiz asks basic questions about your height and weight, as well as how many people are normally in your bed and what size you'd prefer. But then, it also gets into whether or not you toss and turn at night, your sleeping position, pressure points, whether or not you feel hot in the night, how firm your current mattress is, and how much you like it. From there, Helix begins to create a mattress that suits your body and your sleeping preferences.

I found that the Helix is particularly useful for side sleepers because of its relative softness. For years, I was convinced that I was a fan of firm mattresses, only to find that the firmer the mattress, the more pain I felt on my pressure points. But Helix's version of "firm" seems to be a bit less severe than other mattresses. That means that even if you're as overzealous as I am, you'll likely end up with a mattress that won't cause you to wake up stiff or in pain.

The Helix also features a Dynamic Foam top layer, which responds quickly to your movement so you never feel like you're sinking too far into the mattress (which could also affect your alignment). And if you're a hot sleeper, this layer of foam works with the microcoils of the mattress to aid in heat dissipation.  

Another important thing to note: Helix can actually personalize a mattress for two people, which means that if you and your partner don't have the same preferences when it comes to your bed, you can still lay on the same mattress. You'll have to stick to your respective lanes quite literally, of course, but at the very least, it allows you to comfortably share a bed.

FAQs

What makes a good mattress for a side sleeper?

When considering a side-sleeping mattress, you should keep a few things in mind. First and foremost, you'll want your bed to help with spinal alignment. There's nothing worse than waking up with terrible back pain because you've somehow collapsed into ball during the night. You'll also want to ensure that the mattress supports your contours and provides comfort on the rare occasions that you end up sleeping on your back or stomach.

What is the best mattress firmness for side sleepers?

A firm mattress that alleviates pressure is key for side sleepers. I often find that I toss and turn because my mattress isn't forgiving enough on my hips, or that my shoulders are sore because my mattress is just a little too firm.

That means that the ideal mattress for us side sleepers is likely a bit softer than you might otherwise want. But be sure that the mattress isn't too supple. After all, you'll need something that will support you across a range of sleeping positions. It's likely that even though you start off on your side, you ultimately fall asleep on your back or on your stomach, and as such, you'll want a mattress that is as dynamic and flexible as you are.

Check out more great buying guides for bedding

• The best sheets
• The best mattresses
• The best mattress toppers
• The best pillows
• The best mattresses for back pain
• The best spring mattress

So far this year big names in beauty have either made plans to tap the public markets or found a buyer.

Bloomberg reported in January that Jessica Alba's The Honest Co. is preparing to confidentially file for an IPO. Meanwhile, Estée Lauder agreed to buy a majority stake in skincare brand Deciem at a valuation of $2.2. billion, according to WWD.

Estée Lauder CEO Fabrizio Freda said before the acquisition that the company, whose brands include Becca, Two Faced, and Dr. Jart+, told analysts that it is still "looking into acquisitions and opportunity for reinforcing our portfolio in areas where we have strategic opportunities or strategic gaps."

Sales among high-end prestige beauty brands totaled $16.1 billion in 2020, according to NPD. While that represented a decline of 19% over 2019, certain categories of cosmetics fared better than others: Makeup sales were down 34%, while skincare declined 11%, and fragrances fell 8%. Sales of haircare products increased 7%, according to the data.

Even with the pandemic, many companies like Unilever, Estée Lauder, and others have kept up the hunt for the next exciting beauty brand, said Suzanne Kopulos, co-founder at Beauty Consultants and Strategists, which works with up-and-coming labels. One thing the big players are trying to do is acquire companies that use more novel, clean ingredients, she said.

"That is one of our criteria, first and foremost," Kopulos said. "Whenever we talk to anybody, it's clear product differentiation and innovation."

For brands that aren't ready to work with one of the biggest names in the industry, going public via a SPAC, an increasingly attractive option in a variety of industries, might be an option.

Insider asked beauty industry experts which brands they're keeping an eye on for potential IPOs or acquisitions. Here are 9 brands and groups of companies they pointed to:

Mented

Retailers from Rent the Runway to Sephora signed onto the 15% pledge last summer in the wake of the murder of George Floyd. Under the pledge, retailers say they'll dedicate 15% of their shelf space to black-owned brands. 

But whether those brands and their founders have enough support from financiers in the first place represents a challenge to fulfilling that promise, said Kristy Engels, president at the Beauty Strategy Group.

Brands like Mented, a non-toxic, inclusive beauty brand that made its mark on the beauty scene a few years ago with a nude lip color for women of color, have received early-stage investments but have yet to attract the same level of interest as other brands that don't cater to people of color.

"They've been overlooked by private equity," said Kristy Engels, president at Beauty Strategy Group. Whether backers make investments in these brands will be "the true test" of whether they gain space at retailers and succeed in the long run, she added.

Rachel Weingarten, a consultant who works with beauty brands, pointed to Procter & Gamble's 2018 acquisition of Walker & Company, which makes Black-focused shaving brand Bevel, as evidence that companies could make more acquisitions in the area.

Sparitual

Sparitual's products are "for the spa professional and the self-care activist," according to its website. The company's lineup includes vegan nail polish, but the real standout products are its skincare treatments developed specifically for hands.

"They're treating your hands as this part of your body that needs special attention beyond the cheapo hand cream or the fancy hand cream," Weingarten said.

That focus on a specific use helps differentiate the brand from existing options, and could make it an appealing target for a larger player in beauty, Weingarten said. "That's something we're looking for: Does it make me feel special in any way?" she said. "Because EstéeLauder and L'Oréal don't make me feel special at all."

Tula

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Tula got its start in 2014 when it was created by Ken Landis, co-founder of Bobbi Brown Cosmetics; Dan Reich, a technology entrepreneur; and Dr. Roshini Raj, a gastroenterologist —  a doctor focused on digestive health.

Dr. Raj is the face of the brand which uses bacteria for skin health in the same way that probiotic yogurt uses bacteria to improve digestive health. Its products range from eye balm to acne care and have attracted investment interest from private equity firm L Catterton.

Tula's focus on probiotics and solving specific skin ailments for consumers in a range of ages makes the brand an appealing acquisition target or IPO candidate, said Kopulos. Tula has also offered more products lately that appeal to a wider variety of needs, including an anti-aging line it released last October. "I think that they've probably started to position themselves in a bigger way," she said.

"They speak to a lot of generations of women," she said of Tula. "They have this overall feeling of trying to tell you 'We understand your skin concerns, and here's something that can help you, and it's clean.'"

Supergoop

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Supergoop has raised $8.8 million so far from investors including tennis pro Maria Sharapova. While its products range from hand lotions to body butter, they all have one thing in common: sunscreen-level protection. 

Though the company is private, it disclosed to Inc that its 2018 revenue was $40 million, double its total for the previous year. That number has stuck with lots of people in the beauty industry and made the company stand out in a sea of up-and-coming skincare brands, Kopulos said.

"Everybody's talking about Supergoop because of their SPF skincare," she said. "Everybody's looking at them" as a potential acquisition or investment target, she added.

Perfect Corp.

One of the million-dollar questions for beauty companies is how much of the business that's moved online will stay there even after the pandemic eases. Kenya Watson, intelligence analyst at CB Insights, told Insider that many cosmetics sales will continue to occur online thanks to the full year consumers have had to get used to the e-commerce experience.

"I think more will stay online than if the pandemic had ended in June or July," she said. "A lot of beauty customers are really adapting their habits to online, especially consumers who buy a lot of products who are already familiar with them."

That's where startups like Perfect Corp. come in, Watson adds. The startup's YouCam Makeup app allows customers to try a new shade of eyeliner, lipstick, and other makeup using augmented reality. The company's investors so far include Goldman Sachs and Alibaba, according to Pitchbook.

For a retailer, it could be a useful tool that's better bought instead of built from scratch. "It can do all of these different things, and that helps you in making a purchasing decision," Watson said.

Amika

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Amika was a well-known name in salons and among professional stylists for years before it decided to start selling directly to consumers over the last few years. That's included a pop-up shop in New York's SoHo as well as revamping the chatbot function on its website to accommodate questions from individual consumers instead of salons ordering wholesale, according to Glossy — all things that make it more attractive as a potential deal target.

"Before, they had been a little bit more focused on their salon business, and now they're really embracing more of their direct-to-consumer relationship," Engels said. 

Last year, it ranked among NPD's top 10 best-selling prestige haircare brands. The brand has also expanded its line, targeting consumers with textured hair. 

Huda Beauty

Huda Beauty takes its name from founder beauty blogger Huda Kattan. The company had a valuation of $1.25 billion and counts private equity firm TSG Consumer as an investor, according to Pitchbook.

The brand has become known for products like its Faux Filter foundation. But Engels of Beauty Strategy Group said that the brand's ability to get feedback from its most avid fans and act on it separates it from other beauty labels. In January, Huda released a fresh version of Faux Filter with new features prompted by crowdsourced feedback.

"Huda just does a phenomenal job of mining consumer insights, talking to her community," Engels said. "I think Kylie set the bar on that," she added, referring to Kylie Jenner's cosmetics brand, which Coty acquired for $600 million in 2020.

Function of Beauty

Function of Beauty has raised $167 million from investors including L Catterton, Y Combinator, and BBG Ventures. Its shampoos, serums, lotions, and other personal care products are all customizable, and first-time customers are directed to a survey with questions about their hair texture, how oily their skin is, and other attributes.

But the real genius move is how Function of Beauty then takes that information and applies it to product suggestions and marketing aimed at specific consumers and their needs, Beauty Strategy Group's Engels said.

"They'll know who suffers from itchy scalp and utilize that in their marketing activity," Engels said. The brand "could be poised for an IPO if they keep their current growth trajectory," she added. 

Bulk Homme

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Men's shaving brands from Harry's to Gillette have received attention for several years as they fought each other over razors. But CB Insights's Watson said there are a whole range of brands offering men cosmetics and skincare choices.

Japanese brand Bulk Homme, for instance, makes toner, lotion, and face wash for men and started selling in the US earlier this month.

Hawthorne for Men is another brand the industry is watching for an acquisition. That company sells face moisturizers and shampoos for damaged hair.

These brands could become more attractive acquisition targets as they get into a wider variety of products, Watson said. "We'll continue to see those startups getting funding and men's grooming continue to expand out of shaving products," Watson said. "Men, too, saw skincare and these products as ways to take care of themselves and practice self-care" during the pandemic, she added.

• If you have high blood pressure, a home blood pressure monitor can track trends in your hypertension. 
• Studies show taking a daily blood pressure reading helps you to control your hypertension over time.
• Our top pick, Omron Platinum Blood Pressure Monitor, can save 100 accurate readings for two people to be shared with your doc. 
• This article was medically reviewed by Dr. Velimir Petkov, DPM, a podiatrist and board-certified wound specialist physician, practicing at Premier Podiatry.

High blood pressure is very common, but it is also very serious — it's known as the "silent killer" because it can be dangerous, even deadly if left untreated. If you go to the doctor and they reveal you have high blood pressure (hypertension), taking regular readings on your own at home gives you a better picture of whether your health is improving or getting worse — and, especially, if you're nearing dangerous levels that may cause a heart attack. 

What's more with fewer in-person doctor visits these days and more autonomy over owning your health, an at-home blood pressure monitor is a smart device to invest in if you have high blood pressure. By recording your blood pressure levels several times a day for several months, you can provide our doctors with a larger set of data for examining chronic health issues or determining our current level of physical fitness. In fact, studies show being aware of your blood pressure on a daily basis can help you learn to control it and even lower it over time. 

At-home blood pressure monitor devices are affordable, easy to use, and incredibly helpful for people with hypertension.

At the end of this guide, we've included insight into whether wrist- or arm-based blood pressure monitors are better, as well as the overall accuracy of at-home monitors. Here, the five most accurate, affordable, and generally helpful blood pressure monitors available for home use.

Here are the best blood pressure monitors:

• Best blood pressure monitor overall: Omron Platinum Blood Pressure Monitor 
• Best digital arm monitor: Beurer BM47 Upper Arm Blood Pressure Monitor
• Best bare-bones monitor: Paramed Professional Manual Blood Pressure Cuff
• Best wrist monitor: Paramed Automatic Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor
• Best budget monitor: Hyology Arm Blood Pressure Monitor

Best blood pressure monitor overall

The Omron Platinum has an easy-to-read digital screen, support for multiple users, and the ability to track how your blood pressure changes over time.

Pros: Fast and easy to use, wireless cuff, rechargeable battery, multi-user support, saved historical data, irregular heartbeat alerts

Cons: Smartphone app not user friendly

Thanks to its ease-of-use and numerous features, the Omron Platinum tops our list as the best at-home blood pressure monitor on the market. The device has a cuff that is designed to fit most people and it can wirelessly share its readings with the base unit. It doesn't have any cables or pumps that can get tangled or in the way while measuring your blood pressure. You can easily strap the monitor onto a person while they are in a chair or even in bed for quick and easy checks. 

The Omron Platinum has the ability to support two users and keep track of the results for each person individually, which is great for a household focused on getting healthier. The device can save 100 blood pressure readings per user in its memory and that information can easily be shared with doctors.

Thanks to the Platinum's built-in Bluetooth, the base unit can be paired with a smartphone as well. You can add even more users and results and save them in Omron's free app for iOS and Android. The app isn't as user-friendly as it could be, but it is usable once you get the hang of it.

One of the more unique features of this particular monitor is its ability to compare current blood pressure results with those stored in the memory and issue an alert if something is amiss. The device can tell if the systolic or diastolic measurements are abnormal, which is especially helpful in the morning when there is a higher risk for heart attack or stroke. By raising the users' awareness of their condition, it gives them time to see medical assistance for what could be a potentially life-threatening problem. 

Well-built and easy-to-use, the Omron Platinum's dual backlit screens are bright and easy to read from any angle. This dual-screen approach allows the device to display the user's current blood pressure readings on one side, and show historical data on the second screen. This can be extremely helpful for giving patients a better understanding of how their blood pressure varies from day to day and how stress, anxiety, and other factors can influence it. 

Best digital arm monitor

The Beurer BM47 is easy to use thanks to its digital screen, adjustable cuff, and ability to track four patients' blood pressure over time.

Pros: Accurate, simple, multi-user support for up to four people, large LED screen

Cons: Only saves historical data for seven days

Inexpensive, easy to use, and feature-packed, the Beurer BM47 upper arm blood pressure monitor will suit the needs of most people. The compact device includes a soft, adjustable cuff designed to fit small and large arms. The monitor supports up to four users.

One of the BM47's best features is its simplicity. Once the cuff is securely in place, all you need to do is tap a single button to activate the device. Within a matter of seconds, the cuff will constrict and measure systolic and diastolic blood pressure. The readings are then displayed on the large LED screen along with the patient's heart rate. A series of colored lights along the edge of the unit serves as an indicator of a patient's current danger level, making it easy to tell at a glance if their blood pressure is too high. 

The BM47 is lauded for its accuracy and it has the ability to save up to 30 blood pressure measurements for four unique users in its onboard memory. When checking an individual's current blood pressure, the device can then compare the results to the readings that have been taken over the previous seven days. This can be useful for tracking short-term variances, but if you want to compare data for a period longer than a week, you'll need to save the data manually. 

Because the BM47 tracks a user's pulse, it also has the ability to identify unusual heart rhythms. This is yet another safety feature that could give users a warning if the device detects arrhythmia.

Best bare-bones monitor

The Paramed Professional Manual Blood Pressure Cuff is a traditional monitor that uses a cuff and a small air pump to measure blood pressure on an analog gauge.

Pros: Traditional analog design may appeal to some, easy to use, affordable price, accurate readings, comes with a case

Cons: Analog dial not as easy to read as a digital screen, no alerts or digital monitoring system

Some would describe the Paramed Professional Manual Blood Pressure Cuff as an old-school method for monitoring your blood pressure, but we prefer to think of it as a tried-and-true approach instead. This monitor resembles the ones that were used by doctors for decades before high-tech, digital devices came along. The traditional method continues to work well, particularly for those who just want as simple a monitor as possible. 

Technically defined as a sphygmomanometer, this monitor features a traditional cuff that wraps around the upper arm. The user then squeezes a small air pump that causes the cuff to inflate and constrict. As the pressure is released through an air valve it will equalize at approximately the same level of the current systolic pressure in the body. It then provides the blood pressure reading, which is indicated by a needle pointing to a number on an analog gauge rather than a digital screen. 

This model is a no-frills, simple, and very accurate way to monitor your blood pressure. That said, all of its components are very durable and made of high-quality materials which makes it feel like a premium product, even though it has an affordable price tag. The sphygmomanometer even comes with a handy case for storage and transport, making it easy to take with you when traveling. 

Obviously, this low-tech monitor lacks a lot of features that you'll find in other models. It doesn't keep track of your blood pressure results for instance, nor is it capable of providing any kind of alerts if a patient's blood pressure is too low or too high. Instead, it is a simple, proven method for keeping track of this important indicator of your health, and for many people, that's all it needs to be. 

Best wrist monitor

If you're looking for a wrist blood pressure monitor, the Paramed Automatic is a good choice because it is easy to operate and more accurate than most wrist-based monitors.

Pros: Small, lightweight, easy to carry, accurate for a wrist monitor, large LCD screen, can store up to 90 results

Cons: Screen can be hard to read in some lighting conditions, only single-user support

Compact and lightweight, the Paramed Automatic Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor is a good alternative to the more traditional upper arm cuff models. This FDA-approved device wraps around the user's wrist and is activated with the touch of a single button. You can see results for the systolic and diastolic numbers and the patient's current heart rate within 30 seconds.

The main appeal of this monitor is how small and simple it is: Its onboard memory can store the results of 90 blood pressure readings, which can help you better understand trends in your levels. It can only hold one person's profile, but it's compact enough to be carried with you anywhere, making it a great choice for folks always on the go who have trouble with bulkier arm models.

With its surprisingly large display, this wrist-worn blood pressure monitor presents information in a clear, easy-to-understand fashion. The monochrome screen works well in most circumstances but can get a little washed out in direct sunlight. It can be hard to read while outdoors, but it functions just fine under most other circumstances.

As already mentioned, wrist blood pressure monitors can be a bit more finicky and lack the level of accuracy found in the bulkier upper-arm models. That said, this particular unit is quite accurate and dependable, making it easy to recommend. 

Best budget monitor

Hyology's digital arm monitor is an affordable option that is still accurate and feature-packed.

Pros: Inexpensive, easy to use, supports two users, stores 90 readings per user, can be powered by batteries or wall outlet

Cons: Slower than some other models

There are a number of inexpensive blood pressure monitors to choose from, many of which will perform adequately when it comes to monitoring your health. But few models offer the same level of value that you'll find in the Hyology Arm Blood Pressure Monitor, a device that packs in a lot of features for an easy-to-swallow price.

It has a large, bright LCD screen that displays both systolic or diastolic readings, along with heart rate. It offers a simple one-button operation, supports two users, and can store 90 readings for each individual. It can even detect an irregular heartbeat and alert the user if something seems amiss. 

Unlike the other models we recommend, this device can operate with either standard AAA batteries or charge up with a USB-C cable and power adapter. 

This model isn't the fastest blood pressure monitor around, and it takes about one minute for it to collect data for its readings, but it's a good deal at this price. Hyology created an affordable monitor that gives anyone the ability to add an accurate and handy blood pressure monitor to their home. 

Wrist vs. arm blood pressure monitors

When shopping for a blood pressure monitor of your own, you're likely to come across two distinct types: those that wrap around the upper arm and those that go around the wrist. Generally speaking, the monitors that take their readings from the upper arm tend to be more accurate and consistent. That's not to say that wrist monitors can't be reliable too; they are just a bit more finicky to use. 

Arm monitors fall into two distinct categories: aneroid or digital. An aneroid model features a more traditional design with a cuff that wraps around the upper arm and is inflated by squeezing on a bulb. The blood pressure is then read from a mechanical gauge. These types of monitors are slower and can be less accurate, but they are also more affordable. 

Alternatively, a digital monitor inflates the cuff either with a bulb or automatically from the device depending on the individual model. The results are displayed on an easy-to-read screen. Digital monitors are simple and straightforward to use. That simplicity comes at a price, though, as digital models are usually more expensive than their aneroid counterparts. 

Are at-home blood pressure monitors accurate?

Good-quality at-home blood pressure monitors are accurate, but it's important to do the research to find the best option for your needs. No matter which type of blood pressure device you choose, it is a good idea to check its accuracy before relying on it too closely. 

You can check its accuracy by bringing the monitor along with you on a visit to your doctor's office and comparing the numbers between your monitor and the one that is used by the healthcare professionals. Slight variances in accuracy are normal, but if the numbers vary dramatically, you should return the one you purchased for a different model. 

When deciding which specific blood pressure monitor is right for you, you'll want to be sure that the cuff fits properly before purchasing. Most devices have a fairly universal fit, but some arm cuffs can be too large or too small. If the cuff is too loose or too tight, the blood pressure readings may not be accurate, invalidating any tests. It helps to try a few of the monitors out ahead of time to ensure that they'll work for you and to get a sense of the other features they offer as well. 

• Easy access to nature and numerous cultural attractions make the Berkshires an enticing getaway.
• From Williamstown to the shores of Lake Laurel, we rounded up the best hotels in the Berkshires.
• Our top picks range from $130 to $239 per night, plus one splurge-worthy option for a truly special stay. 

The Berkshires have long been a magnet for Northeast city dwellers craving an immersion in nature. During the Gilded Age, well-heeled visitors called it the Inland Newport and flocked here for the fresh country air and outdoor activities, just as travelers still do today. 

These hills are also a haven for those who appreciate culture. Since the 19th century, it has been a favorite retreat for artists, musicians, and writers, who draw inspiration from the bucolic scenery. A patchwork of picturesque villages offer a springboard for a wealth of cultural attractions, from Tanglewood, the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, to Shakespeare & Company for lovers of the Bard. Noted art museums range from large-scale contemporary work at Mass MoCA to the nostalgic illustrations at the Norman Rockwell Museum. However, keep in mind that many area museums are presently open at reduced capacity.

Additionally, to slow the spread of COVID-19, there are currently travel restrictions for visitors entering Massachusetts from high-risk states. The situation is fluid, so be sure to read up on the most current information.

It is equally important to note that there is no guarantee of safety when it comes to travel during the ongoing pandemic. We recommend following guidelines form the CDC, WHO, and other reputable organizations, as well as wearing a mask, washing your hands frequently, and maintaining social distancing.

That said, visiting the Berkshires is a particularly attractive option right now since it's within an easy drive of many East Coast cities, and there's plenty of space to roam and social distance.   

We selected the best Berkshires hotels based on the following criteria:

1. All have COVID-19 safety precautions in place.
2. We've kept affordability at the forefront, with accommodations between $130 to $289 per night, plus one splurge.
3. I've stayed at many of these hotels myself, but all also have excellent ratings and reviews from Trip Advisor and Booking.com.
4. We've included a range of accommodations, from cozy B&Bs to opulent hotels in Gilded Age mansions.

Here are the best hotels in the Berkshires, sorted by price from low to high.

Hotel on North

Book Hotel on North starting from $130 per night

This boutique hotel is located in Pittsfield, a small city with cosmopolitan flavor and a rich arts and culture scene. The design team has maintained a commitment to historic preservation, modernizing two 19th century retail buildings while keeping original details like tin ceilings and quirky columns. These heritage nods blend with modern conveniences, satisfying your sense of style without sacrificing creature comforts.

The 45 guest rooms embrace a local artisan ethos. Hand-crafted wood furnishings are made in the Berkshires, the in-room coffee is roasted right in town, and local artwork hangs on the exposed brick walls. All rooms have flat-screen televisions, Bluetooth-enabled audio, and fiber-optic Wi-Fi. Some have gas fireplaces, kitchenettes, and washer/dryers. Bathrooms have separate showers or claw-foot soaking tubs. Perks include LATHER aromatherapy-based bath products and downy-soft Mascioni bed linens.

Trip Advisor Ranking: 2 out of 8 hotels in Pittsfield

Booking.com Rating: 9.2 out of 10

Pros: The art gallery adjacent to the lobby offers a rotating exhibit of paintings, sculptures, and photographs by area artists. Pets are welcome.

Cons: It's in the heart of Pittsfield, so the setting is more urban than bucolic.

COVID-19 cleaning and safety procedures: 

• The restaurant is currently closed.
• Daily housekeeping is suspended.
• Hand sanitizer can be found in public spaces.
• Masks are required to worn by the staff and guests.
• Social distancing must be maintained.

The Black Swan

Book the Black Swan starting from $144 nightly

The Black Swan sits on the shores of Lake Laurel and at the foothills of October Mountain State Park. With a wealth of recreational options at your fingertips, plus fishing, swimming, and hiking on-site, it feels like a rustic resort. Take advantage of the location and relax in an Adirondack chair as you soak in the sparkling lake, or rent a kayak for an on-the-water experience. 

Guest rooms are standard motel-style units that are simple but plenty comfortable. Some come with private balconies offering views of the lake. A desk, Wi-Fi, coffee makers, and a mini-fridge are practical and welcome amenities. Most guests come here to enjoy the outdoors, so chances are you won't be spending much time in your room.

Mint, the on-site lakeside restaurant, serves authentic Indian cuisine.

Trip Advisor Ranking: 3 out of 9 hotels in Lee

Booking.com Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Pros: The lake setting is stunning and breakfast is included in the room rate.

Cons: If you're looking for a guest room with bells and whistles, the simple accommodations will disappoint. The onsite Indian restaurant prepares its food spicy, so let your server know if you can't take the heat.

COVID-19 cleaning and safety procedures: 

• Breakfast is served grab-and-go.
• Enhanced and frequent cleaning of all public spaces.
• Staff and guests must wear face masks.
• The fitness room is closed until further notice.
• Rental boats are cleaned between use.

The Porches Inn

Book The Porches Inn starting from $174 per night

An overnight stay at The Porches allows guests to dive into both history and culture. The hotel is located in North Adams, once a thriving manufacturing center. The 20th century brought factory closures, but North Adams managed to transform what could have been ruin into visual riches thanks to Mass MoCa. Housed in the former Sprague Electric factory, the museum is one of the most evocative centers of contemporary art in the world.

The Porches is set in seven renovated Victorian-era buildings that originally provided housing for mill workers. Rooms have access to a long porch and rocking chairs with views of MASS MoCA across the street.

The inn's quirky collection of American antiques complements a clever synthesis of retro and contemporary designs. Decor intentionally blends old and new with a touch of ironic whimsy that might best be described as "granny chic." Architectural framings and angles vary, with no two rooms alike. Some have private porches, lofts, fireplaces, and spiral staircases. Industrial architecture mingles with modern technology including fast Wi-Fi and Apple TVs. Unusual decorative notes include framed paint-by-number pictures, vintage TV lamps, and quirky collectible plates. Heated slate-floors in the bathroom, comfy oversized sofas, and a rich palette of color add atmosphere.

Trip Advisor Ranking: 1 of 3 hotels in North Adams

Booking.com Rating: 9.0 out of 10

Pros: The outdoor lap pool has a heated stone deck and is open year-round. An amped-up continental breakfast is included in the rate.

Cons: Some guests report in-room noise.

COVID-19 cleaning and safety procedures: 

• Increased cleaning and sanitizing in all public spaces.
• Breakfast is now served in grab-and-go boxes.
• Pool seating is configured to allow for at least six feet of separation between guests.
• All employees receive training on COVID-19 safety protocol.
• Hand sanitizer dispensers, touchless whenever possible, can be found around the hotel.
• Masks will be worn by all employees at all times.
• Guests are asked to use hand sanitizer and to wear a mask, provided by the property.
• The sauna and hot tub are closed.

The Williams Inn

Book the Williams Inn starting at $179 per night

Home to Williams College and a world-class French Impressionist collection of paintings at the Clark Art Institute, Williamstown is a New England classic.

Built of stone and wood, the Williams Inn is reminiscent of a New England farmhouse. The farmhouse theme carries over into the guest rooms, with reclaimed barn doors and spare Shaker-style furniture, elegant in its simplicity. It's all accentuated by natural light flooding in from the ample windows. There are dashes of color, including buttery yellows and smoky greys, but always in a soothing palette. Beds feature Euro-top mattresses and quality linens. Vaulted ceilings give a sense of space while a compact in-room fridge and excellent Wi-Fi add sensible notes.

Trip Advisor Ranking: 8 out of 15 hotels in Williamstown

Booking.com Rating: 9.4 out of 10

Pros: After a top-to-bottom recent renovation, the hotel is in excellent shape. The New England vibe is just enough without going overboard.

Cons: Some guests complain that the youthful staff could use additional training.

COVID-19 cleaning and safety procedures: 

• Masks are worn by all employees at all times.
• Guests must comply with mask-wearing and social distancing.
• Cleaning and sanitizing have been increased in all public spaces.
• Guest rooms and common areas are cleaned using bacteria-killing ingredients in accordance with CDC guidelines.
• The on-site restaurant is currently open for dinner only, Wednesday-Sunday evenings from 4 to 8 p.m.

Briarcliff Motel

Book the Briarcliff Motel starting at $180 per night

The Briarcliff Motel is a renovated 1960s motor lodge with retro flair. You'll drive your car straight to the door of your room so it harkens back to the days of the great American road trip, which is seeing a revival amidst the pandemic. There's a grassy lawn with a vegetable garden, firepit, volleyball net, and picnic tables for enjoying the outdoors.

Guest rooms are anything but cookie-cutter. Plush-top mattress and pure cotton linens make for a cozy bed setup, while bright red headboards and playful Marimekko floral and polka dot bedspreads in saturated shades of blue and red add a punch of color and personality. Vintage tiles and fixtures in the bathrooms add to the nostalgic vibe. Each has plenty of practical comforts too, such as a mini-fridge, flat-screen television, and high-speed internet. 

The property is just across the road from towering Monument Mountain, where you'll find the trailhead to hikes with stunning views of the valley.

Trip Advisor Ranking: 2 out of 10 hotels in Great Barrington

Booking.com Rating: 8.6 out of 10

Pros: The Briarcliff enjoys a tranquil location just a five-minute drive from the center of both Stockbridge and Great Barrington. The outdoor space is especially great for families.

Cons: There's no on-site restaurant, though a simple Continental breakfast is served.

COVID-19 cleaning and safety procedures: 

• Guests will receive a door code to their room for contactless check-in.
• You walk straight from your car to your room, a plus during the pandemic.
• Breakfast is not currently being served. Instead, guests receive a $12 per person, per day voucher to dine at the Red Lion Inn, a 5-minute drive.
• In-room housekeeping and high-touch areas are cleaned with great attention.
• Daily housekeeping is unavailable at this time.
• The lobby and firepit are closed.

The Red Lion Inn

Book the Red Lion Inn starting at $188 per night

The Red Lion Inn has been an anchor of Stockbridge since 1773, when it was born as a small tavern. It's located in the middle of the idyllic village, walking distance from excellent dining and shopping.

Visitors step into the inn from the sweeping front porch with a cluster of old-fashioned rocking chairs and are greeted by the hotel's collection of paintings, including works by Norman Rockwell, a plethora of antiques, and fine China mounted on the walls. Guests are given old-school room keys and may encounter a creaky staircase or two.

Lucky guests will catch a glimpse of the resident housecat curled up by the lobby's wood-burning fireplace, and the sound of diners enjoying a hearty meal of folksy New England fare in the dining room adds to the homey vibe. Confident enough in its grandeur to embrace its eccentricities, it's the Auntie Mame of Berkshire hotels.

Each room here has a distinct personality. Clawfoot tubs, braided rugs, floral wallpaper, and canopy beds exude traditional New England character while blending comforts like high-thread-count linens and fluffy bathrobes. The walls are decorated with timeless Toile de Jouy, a perfect foil for modern staples such as high-speed internet and plush mattresses.

Red Lion Inn's newest annex, Maple Glen, provides an additional 17 guest rooms.

Trip Advisor Ranking: 1 out of 1 hotels in Stockbridge

Booking.com Rating: 8.6 out of 10

Pros: If you like historic hotels with Grande Dame style, it's a slice of heaven. The dining room draws a loyal crowd who come to dine on creamy New England clam chowder and warm brown sugar cake.

Cons: Some guests report that the hotel is showing signs of its age, with rooms that are slightly frayed around the edges.

COVID-19 cleaning and safety procedures: 

• The hiring of a COVID Compliance Officer, with a background as a board-certified physician, who is informed on the latest public health advancements in order to advise on any necessary changes to the hotel's protocols and procedures.
• A partnership with Blue Canary, a company that trains hotels in hospital-level cleaning methods.
• Employees receive training on COVID-19 sanitation protocols.
• Hand sanitizer dispensers available in key areas around the hotel.
• Appropriate PPE will be worn by all employees at all times.
• Guests are asked to use hand sanitizer and to wear a mask, provided by the property in an amenity bag.
• Reminders throughout the property on the proper way to wear, handle, and dispose of masks.

Seven Hills Inn

Book Seven Hills Inn Starting at $189 per night

This boutique hotel underwent extensive renovations just prior to the pandemic. The expansive bluestone patio is a lovely spot to soak in the property's mature trees, lush lawns, and glorious gardens.

The centerpiece is a Gilded Age mansion that has been reimagined for today's visitor. Guest rooms are found in three buildings, including the historic manor house. Decor leans modern, with clean lines and simple wood floors adding to the un-stuffy visual. Quality bed linens, mini-refrigerators, and Bigelow Apothecary bath and body products join the high-end furnishings. Modern amenities such as Bluetooth radios, USB plugs, and Wi-Fi keep things up-to-date. Rooms in the Carriage House have kitchenettes, while those in the Terrace House are particularly light and airy.

Have a dip in the seasonal outdoor pool and pedal around Lenox on loaner bikes.

Trip Advisor Ranking: 6 out of 18 hotels in Lenox

Booking.com Rating: 8.2 out of 10

Pros: It's next door to The Mount, author Edith Wharton's magnificent home and garden.

Cons: Some guests complain about a lack of staff.

COVID-19 cleaning and safety procedures: 

• Check-in available inside your car.
• If you choose a traditional check-in, masked staff is behind a protective plexiglass shield.
• Guest rooms are deep cleaned prior to guest arrival.
• Hand sanitizer and wipes are available throughout the hotel.
• Breakfast is served grab-and-go.
• Check-out may be contactless via phone.

Gateways Inn

Book Gateways Inn starting at $209 per night

Gateways Inn is a romantic lodge in Lenox. Originally the summer home of Harley Proctor of the Proctor & Gamble family, there's a relaxed feel, with hands-on innkeepers dedicated to perfecting the guest experience.

In a nod to the area's literary legacy, each of the guestrooms is named after a Shakespearian heroine. Rooms are thoughtfully decorated with spindled sleigh beds, fireplaces, French doors, and marble sinks. In-room amenities include a mini-fridge and cable television, and fresh floral arrangements add a thoughtful touch.

In the common area, the grand foyer staircase has intricate woodwork that harks back to the affluence of the Gilded Age. The piano bar often draws a crowd thanks to live music and potent drinks, though it's unfortunately currently closed due to COVID-19.

Trip Advisor Ranking: 3 out of 19 B&Bs in Lenox

Booking.com Rating: 9.2 out of 10

Pros: Friendly innkeepers offer a genuine welcome and the in-town location works well for those who want to explore without a car.

Cons: Some guests complain of spotty in-room Wi-Fi.

COVID-19 cleaning and safety procedures: 

• Breakfast service has been discontinued.
• The bar and highly-rated restaurant are currently closed.
• Contactless check-in and check-out.
• 48 hours of downtime between guests in each room.
• Frequent cleaning with an emphasis on high-touch areas.
• Mask must be worn by staff and guests.
• Frequent handwashing for all employees.
• Rooms are cleaned with electrostatic sanitation tactic prior to guest arrival.

Shaker Mill Inn

Book Shaker Mill Inn starting at $239 nightly

Social distancing comes easily at the Shaker Mill Inn, located in West Stockbridge. Rooms all have private entrances and there are no common gathering areas.

If you crave space, all guest rooms are suite-style. Units have wood floors, cheerful patchwork quilts, stone hearth fireplaces, and sleigh beds. Jacuzzi tubs and kitchenettes add to the amenities, while private decks, patios, and skylights add light. Suites all have satellite televisions, DVD players, and kitchens stocked with a variety of breakfast items to enjoy a morning meal in the safety and privacy of your room.

Trip Advisor Ranking: 1 out of 1 B&Bs in West Stockbridge

Booking.com Ranking: 9.2 out of 10

Pros: All units have kitchenettes, and several are pet-friendly. Each room also comes with a complimentary bottle of wine.

Cons: If you'd like someone else to prepare your morning meal, book elsewhere or stroll over to No. Six Depot for the Berkshire's best cup of coffee.

COVID-19 cleaning and safety procedures: 

• Contactless check-in and check-out.
• Enhanced room cleaning using products recommended by the state health department.
• Proper social distancing is expected.
• Masks must be worn by guests and staff.

The Inn at Stockbridge

Book the Inn at Stockbridge starting at $277 per night

The Inn at Stockbridge is a peaceful B&B nestled among acres of lush gardens growing flowers, herbs, and produce, with a seasonal outdoor heated pool dropped in for good measure. Housed in a 1906 Georgian-style mansion, the current innkeepers have restored it with great attention to detail and guest comfort.

The main house has eight traditional rooms with antique-style standing mirrors, four-poster beds, and gas fireplaces. Rooms feature floral wallpaper and curtains, but it's sophisticated and won't remind you of your grandma's bedroom. Subtle accents of wicker and greenery bring the natural setting indoors.

Rooms in the Cottage House are light, airy, and dog-friendly, while rooms in The Barn are extra-spacious and work well for families. All rooms include CD players, sumptuous bathrobes, a mound of fluffy bed pillows, house-made room spray infused with essential oils, and Damana bath products enriched with herbal extracts.

A library, grand piano, game room, and extensive collection of vinyl can be found in the main house. Guests are encouraged to indulge in the daily wine and cheese reception on the wrap-around porch.

Trip Advisor Ranking: 1 out of 7 B&Bs in Stockbridge

Booking.com Rating: 9.6 out 10

Pros: Guests rave about breakfast, included in the rate. The innkeepers win accolades for service.

Cons: Some guests complain about noise in the main house due to thin walls.

COVID-19 cleaning and safety procedures: 

• Rooms are sanitized with a disinfectant fogger prior to check-in.
• Rooms are cleaned only on request.
• Breakfast is served in-room or on the back porch.
• Guests and staff must wear masks and socially distance.
• The fitness center is closed.
• Proper social distancing must be maintained at the seasonal pool.

33 Main

Book 33 Main starting at $289 per night

33 Main epitomizes casual chic. Berkshire-bred designer Annie Selke recently renovated this Federal-style building in the heart of downtown Lenox, furnishing the eight individually-appointed rooms with top-quality furniture and accessories that are for sale in her showroom across the street.

Selke favors a calm color palette with touches of Robin's egg blue and soft pastels. Accents like grasscloth wallpaper, patterned window treatments, chunky knit throws, sheepskin decorative pillows, and hooked rugs add panache. Rooms all have a handmade Hastens mattress, which is the same company that supplies the Swedish Royal Court, so you'll literally be sleeping like a king. Bathrooms have soaking tubs and an array of certified organic lotions and soaps from Farmaesthetics.

You'll be pampered from the moment you arrive with in-room treats like fresh flowers and just-baked cookies. A scrumptious breakfast and late afternoon nibbles in the parlor are included in the room rate.

Trip Advisor Ranking: 6 out of 19 B&Bs in Lenox

Booking.com Rating: 9.4 out of 10

Pros: With the look and feel of a gracious estate, the inn presents a design-forward aesthetic.

Cons: If you're looking for an anonymous experience, the inn may be a tad too intimate.

COVID-19 cleaning and safety procedures: 

• Guests are required to have a negative COVID test result within 72 hours of arrival.
• Guests and staff are required to wear masks in public areas.
• Hand sanitizer is available throughout the inn.
• Breakfast and cocktail time are staggered to reduce person-to-person contact.
• All guest rooms and common areas are cleaned using bacteria-killing ingredients in accordance with CDC guidelines.
• No in-room housekeeping once the guest has arrived.
• Rooms are kept vacant for 24 hours between guests and sanitized with a UV light.

Wheatleigh

Book Wheatleigh starting at $853 per night

For a refined luxury experience worthy of a splurge, it's hard to beat Wheatleigh. This romantic, 19-room hotel is located on what was originally a private country estate and features magnificent grounds. For guests who can afford the steep price tag, a night at this Italianate-style mansion is an elegant immersion in aristocratic living.

It's an oasis of rambling wooded paths and lush flower beds. Towering porticos, fountains, and fresh floral arrangements add to the hotel's dignified feel.

Guest rooms offer great attention to detail from the fine antique furniture, marble-topped tables, and soaring ceilings to the museum-quality artwork throughout. Bathrooms feature large soaking tubs and separate showers. Modern amenities include Roku-enabled televisions and Bose sound systems.

The on-site restaurant, Portico, has won numerous awards for its gourmet cuisine, noteworthy wine cellar, and fine service.

Trip Advisor Ranking: 9 out of 18 hotels in Lenox (But don't let that fool you. Most guests of this Forbes Five-Star hotel gave the property a perfect score in all categories with the exception of value, due to its soaring nightly rate.)

Pros: You'll feel like a time machine has whisked you back to the Gilded Age. A fabulous breakfast is included in the rate.

Cons: Prices are prohibitive for many.

COVID-19 cleaning procedures: The hotel feels like a private sanctuary so social distancing is inherent in the layout. Additional safety measures include:

• Temperature checks for guests on arrival and staff at the start of each shift.
• The grounds and restaurant are operating at 40% capacity, exclusively for hotel guests.
• Numerous guest rooms are purposefully left vacant.
• Guests must have received a negative COVID test result within 72 of arrival.
• Hand sanitizer in guest accommodations and public areas.
• Staff wears masks at all times, as do guests when in public spaces.
• Housekeeping and valet services are customizable according to guest preference.

The GameStop short squeeze and stock bonanza might have felt like a once-a-decade or once-in-a-lifetime event, but Goldman Sachs says it could happen again, and soon.

Even if there were many ways the social media-fueled frenzy in GameStop and AMC Networks and Bed Bath & Beyond was unique, many of its most notable ingredients are still there, according to Goldman Sachs. Chief among them are these two: There are a lot of big short bets on the market, and retail investors still have a ton of money.

While short bets against the average stock are low and hedge funds are dumping exposure, Goldman Chief US Equity Strategist David Kostin says there are still huge bets against specific stocks — including GameStop and its recent short-squeeze peers.

"In the last three months, a basket containing the 50 Russell 3000 stocks with market caps above $1 billion and the largest short interest as a share of float has rallied by 98%," Kostin wrote in a research note published January 29.

He says that's unmatched in any other period. And while shorts against the average Russell 3000 stock are small — Kostin says the average short interest as a percentage of the total share float is only 3% — the heavily-shorted stocks can still blow up, and it would cause hedge funds just as much pain as it did in January. 

"In recent years elevated crowding, low turnover, and high concentration have been consistent patterns, boosting the risk that one fund's unwind could snowball through the market," he wrote.

Meanwhile, Kostin says retail investors have a ton of money they could invest, in news the members of r/Wallstreetbets might be happy to hear.

"More than 50% of the $5 trillion in money market mutual funds is owned by households and is $1 trillion greater than before the pandemic," he wrote. "Regulatory actions, broker risk limits, or unexpected losses could all dampen the activity ... But otherwise, an abundance of US household cash should continue to fuel the trading boom."

Now that everyone is aware of the hidden potential in heavily shorted stocks, Kostin is identifying the biggest short interest targets on the market.

The 40 stocks listed here had the largest bets against them of any Russell 3000 stocks as of January 29. They're ranked from lowest to highest based on the short interest as a percentage of their overall share float.

SEE ALSO: One of Wall Street's most popular self-defense strategies failed during the coronavirus meltdown. Ex-Bridgewater advisor Damien Bisserier was among the few who made it work, and he told us how he did it.

40. OPKO Health

Ticker: OPK

Sector: Healthcare

Market cap: $3.8 billion

Short interest as of January 29: 25%

Source: Goldman Sachs

39. vTv Therapeutics

Ticker: VTVT

Sector: Healthcare

Market cap: $130 million

Short interest as of January 29: 25%

Source: Goldman Sachs

38. B&G Foods

Ticker: BGS

Sector: Consumer staples

Market cap: $3.1 billion

Short interest as of January 29: 25%

Source: Goldman Sachs

37. BigCommerce Holdings

Ticker: BIGC

Sector: Information technology

Market cap: $4.9 billion

Short interest as of January 29: 26%

Source: Goldman Sachs

36. Alpha Pro Tech

Ticker: APT

Sector: Industrials

Market cap: $257 million

Short interest as of January 29: 26%

Source: Goldman Sachs

35. Tabula Rasa Healthcare

Ticker: TRHC

Sector: Healthcare

Market cap: $1.3 billion

Short interest as of January 29: 26%

Source: Goldman Sachs

34. Kaleido Biosciences

Ticker: KLDO

Sector: Healthcare

Market cap: $454 million

Short interest as of January 29: 26%

Source: Goldman Sachs

33. TherapeuticsMD

Ticker: TXMD

Sector: Healthcare

Market cap: $650 million

Short interest as of January 29: 26%

Source: Goldman Sachs

32. Madrigal Pharmaceuticals

Ticker: MDGL

Sector: Healthcare

Market cap: $1.9 billion

Short interest as of January 29: 26%

Source: Goldman Sachs

31. Inovio Pharmaceuticals

Ticker: INO

Sector: Healthcare

Market cap: $2.7 billion

Short interest as of January 29: 26%

Source: Goldman Sachs

30. Continental Resources

Ticker: CLR

Sector: Energy

Market cap: $8.4 billion

Short interest as of January 29: 26%

Source: Goldman Sachs

29. BioXcel Therapeutics

Ticker: BTAI

Sector: Healthcare

Market cap: $1.5 billion

Short interest as of January 29: 27%

Source: Goldman Sachs

28. Bed Bath & Beyond

Ticker: BBBY

Sector: Consumer discretionary

Market cap: $3.5 billion

Short interest as of January 29: 27%

Source: Goldman Sachs

27. PetMed Express

Ticker: PETS

Sector: Consumer discretionary

Market cap: $708 million

Short interest as of January 29: 27%

Source: Goldman Sachs

26. Buckle

Ticker: BKE

Sector: Consumer discretionary

Market cap: $2.0 billion

Short interest as of January 29: 27%

Source: Goldman Sachs

25. Revlon

Ticker: REV

Sector: Consumer staples

Market cap: $595 million

Short interest as of January 29: 28%

Source: Goldman Sachs

24. Vaxart

Ticker: VXRT

Sector: Healthcare

Market cap: $922 million

Short interest as of January 29: 28%

Source: Goldman Sachs

23. Seritage Growth Properties

Ticker: SRG

Sector: Real estate

Market cap: $759 million

Short interest as of January 29: 28%

Source: Goldman Sachs

22. Intercept Pharmaceuticals

Ticker: ICPT

Sector: Healthcare

Market cap: $1.1 billion

Short interest as of January 29: 28%

Source: Goldman Sachs

21. Fulgent Genetics

Ticker: FLGT

Sector: Healthcare

Market cap: $4.2 billion

Short interest as of January 29: 30%

Source: Goldman Sachs

20. Retractable Technologies

Ticker: RVP

Sector: Healthcare

Market cap: $583 million

Short interest as of January 29: 30%

Source: Goldman Sachs

19. Tootsie Roll Industries

Ticker: TR

Sector: Consumer staples

Market cap: $2.1 billion

Short interest as of January 29: 31%

Source: Goldman Sachs

18. Discovery

Ticker: DISCA

Sector: Communication services

Market cap: $22.9 billion

Short interest as of January 29: 31%

Source: Goldman Sachs

17. Zynex

Ticker: ZYXI

Sector: Healthcare

Market cap: $677 million

Short interest as of January 29: 31%

Source: Goldman Sachs

16. Rocket Companies

Ticker: RKT

Sector: Financials

Market cap: $40.8 billion

Short interest as of January 29: 31%

Source: Goldman Sachs

15. Ontrak

Ticker: OTRK

Sector: Healthcare

Market cap: $1.6 billion

Short interest as of January 29: 32%

Source: Goldman Sachs

14. SunPower

Ticker: SPWR

Sector: Information technology

Market cap: $8.4 billion

Short interest as of January 29: 32%

Source: Goldman Sachs

13. Marcus

Ticker: MCS

Sector: Communication services

Market cap: $532 million

Short interest as of January 29: 32%

Source: Goldman Sachs

12. AMC Networks

Ticker: AMCX

Sector: Communication services

Market cap: $2.0 billion

Short interest as of January 29: 33%

Source: Goldman Sachs

11. Precigen

Ticker: PGEN

Sector: Healthcare

Market cap: $1.8 billion

Short interest as of January 29: 33%

Source: Goldman Sachs

10. National Beverage

Ticker: FIZZ

Sector: Consumer staples

Market cap: $5.5 billion

Short interest as of January 29: 35%

Source: Goldman Sachs

9. Accelerate Diagnostics

Ticker: AXDX

Sector: Healthcare

Market cap: $750 million

Short interest as of January 29: 36%

Source: Goldman Sachs

8. Esperion Therapeutics

Ticker: ESPR

Sector: Healthcare

Market cap: $896 million

Short interest as of January 29: 38%

Source: Goldman Sachs

7. Ligand Pharmaceuticals

Ticker: LGND

Sector: Healthcare

Market cap: $3.4 billion

Short interest as of January 29: 39%

Source: Goldman Sachs

6. Tanger Factory Outlet Centers

Ticker: SKT

Sector: Real estate

Market cap: $1.4 billion

Short interest as of January 29: 41%

Source: Goldman Sachs

5. International Flavors & Fragrances

Ticker: IFF

Sector: Materials

Market cap: $33.7 billion

Short interest as of January 29: 41%

Source: Goldman Sachs

4. Clovis Oncology

Ticker: CLVS

Sector: Healthcare

Market cap: $842 million

Short interest as of January 29: 42%

Source: Goldman Sachs

3. GameStop

Ticker: GME

Sector: Consumer discretionary

Market cap: $3.6 billion

Short interest as of January 29: 43%

Source: Goldman Sachs

2. Gogo

Ticker: GOGO

Sector: Communication services

Market cap: $1.2 billion

Short interest as of January 29: 43%

Source: Goldman Sachs

1. Academy Sports and Outdoors

Ticker: ASO

Sector: Consumer discretionary

Market cap: $2.3 billion

Short interest as of January 29: 46%

Source: Goldman Sachs

We rounded up the best sales and deals happening online today, including savings at UnderArmour and Rhone.

Deals in this story are subject to change throughout the day. The prices listed reflect the deal at the time of publication. For even more deals and savings across the web, check out Business Insider Coupons.

The best deals available right now

The best sales and discounts happening right now

Get up to 50% off at UnderArmour

Shop the UnderArmour Outlet Sale now.

Now through March 1, UnderArmour is offering up to $50 off when you use code 25OFF75 on outlet orders of $75 or more. Shipping is also free with orders of $60 or more. Tons of items are included in the sale, including jackets, shorts, sports bras, and even the UA Sportsmask.

Get up to 50% off at Rhone

Shop the Rhone Winter Sale now.

We love Rhone's apparel. If you're looking for great athleisure wear for men, Rhone looks, feels, and performs exceptionally well. Right now, the brand is holding a sale with up to 50% off everything — including button-downs, athletic wear, and jackets. Just use code WinterSale to get an extra 20% off or, if you're adding more than one item to cart, WinterSale30 to get 30% off. The sale ends February 28.

Get up to 50% off sitewide from J.Crew Factory

Shop the J.Crew Factory sale now.

The same great styles but at a lower price, J.Crew Factory is the place to go for fashion without breaking the bank. Right now, the retailer is holding a sale offering up to 50% off sitewide, plus an extra 50% off clearance with promo code HELLODEALS. Shopping the sale is going to be far from the J.Crew private shopping session we tried out last year, but it's still an excellent chance to fill your wardrobe with high-quality threads for less. The sale ends February 27.

Get an extra 20% off select apparel at Backcountry

Shop the Backcountry Winter Yard sale now.

Now through Thursday, February 25, you can get an extra 20% off winter gear and apparel from Backcountry. Tons of cold-weather apparel, gear, and accessories are discounted, including jackets, pants,  skis, and bags. Most of the discounted items are from Backcountry's own apparel brand, but you can also find some great pieces from Stoic included in the sale.

Get 15% off sitewide at Melissa & Doug

Shop the Melissa & Doug Sitewide Savings sale now.

Now through the end of February, Melissa & Doug shoppers can get 15% off sitewide with promo code EXPLORE15. The brand makes great toys and storage for the little ones in your life — we know after testing and reviewing them over the years. Some of our favorites include the Melissa & Doug wooden toy box and dollhouse. 

Get 25% off sitewide at Speck

Shop the Speck sitewide sale now.

For the remainder of February, you can get 25% off sitewide from Speck with promo code SPECK02. We recommend Speck phone cases if you like a grippier case; they're also available for a ton of different phone models in a variety of colors. Since the whole site is discounted with the code, you can even find gear for your Macbook or iPad, 25% off. The sale ends February 28.

Get $500 off a Carol bike

Shop the Carol bike sale now.

It's pricey for sure, but the AI-powered Carol bike will customize each session you have to be as effective as possible. Right now you can get $500 off your own Carol bike plus a free chest belt and a one-year subscription with promo code CAROL2021. It's a huge discount and includes some great freebies to get you started on your fitness goals. The code will work through February 28.

Get 40% off at Sunski

Shop the Full Send Special at Sunski now.

A rare sale on some already-affordable glasses, right now you can snag 40% off select Sunski styles. The sale includes 5 styles: the Andiamo, Portola, Original, Mattina, and Olema. We like Sunski for being stylish yet affordable, and right now is a great chance to snag a pair for even less. Sales from Sunski are rare, and we don't expect this one to last too long.

Get up to 30% off from Stio

Shop the Stio annual Winter Sale now.

If you're planning to brave the cold or need a gift for someone who will, Stio is having a great sale right now with some great discounted gear. Styles for men and women including snow and ski jackets, pants, and more are all up to 30% off right now. Though Stio didn't make it into our top picks, it was in the running (and performed well) in our guide to the best men's overshirts.

Get 20% off sitewide from AeroGarden

Shop the AeroGarden Valentine's Day sale now.

The maker of our top indoor herb garden pick, AeroGarden, is holding a sale right now. With promo code GROWLOVE, you can get up to 40% off your very own indoor herb garden, including our pick, the Harvest. It's a low-mess unit that requires no potting soil, making it a great addition for any countertop. The sale ends February 28.