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The Rolling Stone Essentials 2020
The best new electronics, smart home devices, outdoor gear and accessories to buy right now
By
October 20, 2020
Photographs by Joseph Shin
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Thousands of products come across our desk each year, but only a few can earn the Rolling Stone stamp of approval. Our team of product editors spent months testing some of the best new electronics, smart home devices, outdoor gear, and accessories on the market to put together our inaugural Rolling Stone Essentials list.
With a focus on performance, innovation, and design, this year’s list features more than 60 products that we found ourselves reaching for and using over and over again — whether at home, at the office, or on an outdoor getaway. Products were reviewed based on ease of use, utility, and uniqueness, while factoring in items with a strong aesthetic point of view and diverse features.
From our favorite headphones and retro-inspired speakers to digital cameras, sneakers, and even a self-cleaning water bottle, here’s a look at what caught our eyes — and ears — this year.
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Best Shampoo: Baxter of California Deep Clean Shampoo
Image Credit: BaxterofCalifornia
Baxter of California’s Deep Clean Shampoo features a mix of apple cider vinegar, menthol, and ginseng to gently clean your hair instead of stripping it with chemicals. Its formula is designed to help remove dirt, oils, and product buildup (gel, mousse, etc.) from your hair and scalp, while rinsing out the sweat and grime from your day. It’ll clean your hair better than a typical daily shampoo, and you’ll only need to use it a couple of times a week. With a fresh, earthy scent and soothing lather, this is the shampoo to reach for to keep your hair in fighting shape.
Baxter of California Deep Clean Shampoo, $34, available at Baxter of California
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Best Body Wash: Disco Body Wash
Image Credit: Letsgodisco
Most body washes are overpowered by artificial fragrances and ingredient lists that run the length of the bottle. Disco’s body wash uses natural ingredients to soothe and hydrate, while leaving a light, clean, and, yes, shower-fresh scent. The body wash is powerful enough to blast through lingering sweat and dirt from your workout, but not so harsh that it’ll leave your skin dry as soon as you towel off. The soapy scent is subtle enough to not bother sensitive noses, but fresh enough for you to skip a day of cologne too.
The formula, meantime, features aloe, horsetail, and chamomile, to fully refresh your skin. Aloe can help repair damaged skin, horsetail may sooth irritated skin, and chamomile helps protect your skin from free radicals, which can accelerate aging.
If you’re interested in switching from a totally chemically-based body wash to one with some natural ingredients, clear some space on your shower caddy for Disco.
Disco Body Wash, $16, available at letsgodisco
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Best Shaving Gel: King C Gillette Transparent Shave Gel
Image Credit: Walgreens
King C Gillette’s Transparent Shave Gel was developed to help you get a better, cleaner shave while being easy on your skin. The gel lubricates your skin, so your razor will glide more smoothly, while its straightforward formula includes white tea and argan oil to help reduce discomfort during and after your shave. We found the shave gel to be gentle enough even for people with sensitive skin or those prone to redness after shaving.
The no-fuss shave gel applies evenly and rinses off clean, with a fresh, light scent that’s easy on the nose. For a closer and more comfortable shave without any irritation, this is the king of the crop.
King C Gillette Transparent Shave Gel, $7.99, available at Walgreens
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Best Deodorant: Old Spice Swagger Deodorant
Image Credit: Old Spice
Old Spice’s Swagger Deodorant is an aluminum-free, lime-and-cedarwood-scented deodorant that delivers 24-hour odor protection. Most drugstore deodorants default to cheap and cloying scents, but this one smells at once rich and subtle, woodsy and sweet, like a casual beach vacation to Spain or a hike up a mountain peak to catch the sunrise. The formula is made with Old Spice’s fade-resistant scent technology, to keep you smelling fresh — even if you sweat a lot.
If you want to switch up your scent, or want a deodorant that offers all-day protection, Old Spice’s Swagger lives up to its name as our top pick for feeling cool and confident.
Old Spice Swagger Deodorant, $22.74 (Three-Pack), available at Amazon
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Best Moisturizer: Lumin Ultra-Hydrating Moisturizing Balm
Image Credit: Luminskin
With simple natural ingredients, fuss-free application, and a clean finish (I.e. no white streaks here!), Lumin’s Ultra-Hydrating Moisturizer Balm is the easiest way to take care of your skin in the morning.
Lumin was founded in 2018 as a men’s skincare subscription service. In the short time since then, Lumin has made quite a splash, with effective products designed with the help of experts from Korea. Lumin brings years of research and innovation into an effective formula packed with everything you need to face the day.
Instead of adding an array of specific vitamins, this moisturizer uses just a few powerful ingredients for the heavy lifting — think meadowfoam-seed oil to fortify the skin barrier, and apple extract to deliver a dose of age-defying vitamin C. Rub the balm between your fingers to warm it up, then apply evenly over your face and neck. Use this daily to improve skin texture and to keep your mug looking clean, refreshed, and hydrated, from your first coffee in the morning to that last glass of wine before bed.
Lumin Ultra-Hydrating Moisturizing Balm, $23.20, available at Lumin
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Best Robot Vacuum: Neato D7 Robot Vacuum
Image Credit: Amazon
If you’re finally ready to try a robot vacuum, Neato’s D7 is the most technically advanced one we’ve tested.
Its sensors allow it to avoid walls and map out multiple rooms in your home — even those on different floors — to clean them more efficiently. You can even set up digital “no-go lines” for spots you’d like the D7 to avoid, using the company’s app (iOS and Android).
We tried this robot vacuum on hardwood and carpeting, and it did an excellent job sucking up dirt and debris we didn’t know was there. The vacuum’s flat side allows it to clean corners of rooms more easily than round-shaped ones.
The D7 lasted for between an hour and a half to two hours per cleaning session, and automatically returned to its charging dock when its battery ran low.
You can set the D7 to work on a set schedule with its app, so it won’t disturb you while you’re at work or trying to sleep. If you have a smart speaker from Google or Amazon, you can connect the D7 to them and control the vacuum without pushing a button.
If you’d like cleaner floors, but don’t have the time to dedicate to a deep clean, Neato’s D7 can save you the hassle.
Neato Robotics D7 Vacuum, $549.99, available at Amazon
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Best Cordless Vacuum: Roborock H6
Image Credit: Amazon
Roborock’s H6 is a cordless vacuum built to handle messes of all sizes without limiting where you can go.
The vacuum has a five-stage filtration and air-purification system that can suck up particles as small as .3 microns. Dirt and debris are collected in its dustbin, which can be emptied without changing a bag or getting your hands dirty.
The H6 can be used as a standard or handheld vacuum to help you clean hard-to-reach places without straining your arms. It weighs just over three pounds when fully assembled, so it’s not hard to push around.
Roborock says the H6 can clean for up to 90 minutes (an hour and a half) per charge. Its battery capacity is shown on an OLED display built into the vacuum’s handle. You should be able to clean an entire floor of your home without having to plug it in.
You should strongly consider Roborock’s H6 if you’d like to clean your floors without having to search for an outlet or reach for an extension cord. Its long reach, light weight, and powerful suction make the Roborock one of the most effective ways to clean up a mess — fast.
Roborock H6, $399.99, available at Target
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Best Air Purifier: Dyson Pure Humidify + Cool
Image Credit: Dyson
Dyson’s Pure Humidify + Cool air purifier can reduce the amount of allergens, dust, and dirt you breathe in, while making the room it’s in more comfortable.
This is a HEPA air purifier, which means it traps particles in a fine mesh layer that can catch 99.7 percent of pollutants. Sensors in the base of the air purifier detect pollutants in your air, and run them through a multilayered filtration system. The air is then cooled down and dispensed out of a fan at the top of the unit. The unique shape of the fan allows it to blow air in multiple directions.
At the bottom of the air purifier is a one-gallon water tank, which humidifies the air, so it’s not so dry. This is especially important during the winter, when dry air can cause cracked skin. Dyson’s air purifier cleans the water it uses to humidify your room with a UV light to avoid spreading bacteria in your air.
If you’re worried about the quality of the air in your home, and want to take a preventative measure against cracked skin in the winter, or colds year-round, Dyson’s Pure Humidify + Cool Air purifier can help.
Dyson Pure Humidify + Cool Air, $483.10, available at Amazon
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Best Outdoor Cooler: Yeti Hopper M30
Image Credit: YETI
Yeti’s M30 Soft Cooler is an exceptional accessory for campers, hunters, hikers, or anyone who likes to spend time outdoors.
The seven-pound cooler can hold up to 20 cans of beer and 15 pounds of ice at the same time, so it’ll have no problem chilling your beverages quickly. What sets this cooler apart is YETI’s custom technologies, which insulate the bag to help keep your drinks chilled as long as possible.
It features the company’s Dryhide covering, which prevents UV rays from getting through, and is durable enough to resist punctures. YETI’s Coldcell Insulation is made out of a foam material, and the company says it’ll keep your drinks cooler for a long time.
YETI recently update the design of this cooler to give it a wider mouth, so you’ll have an easier time filling it and pulling bottles or cans out. Two magnets keep the flap closed while comfortable handles and a shoulder strap make it easy to carry this bag from beach to campsite to (hopefully) a tailgate soon.
Yeti Hopper M30 Soft Cooler, $299.99, available at YETI
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Best Camping Cooler: Igloo Trailmate Journey 70-Quart Cooler
Image Credit: IGLOO
If you go camping often or need a large cooler for the beach, you won’t be able to beat the performance or convenience of Igloo’s Trailmate Journey.
The 70-quart cooler can hold more than a hundred 12-ounce cans, or a mix of cans, bottles, and ice. This cooler is made out of Ultratherm, a custom material that Igloo says can keep ice cold for up to four days.
This level of performance is impressive, but it’s the Trailmate Journey’s design that puts it ahead of any other cooler we’ve seen. It has a handle and thick, 10-inch wheels, so you can take it on the beach without carrying it. There are four can holders built into its lid, plus a “butler tray” you can use to hold a cutting board while preparing cocktail garnishes or snacks.
There are two bottle openers on the side, and a drain plug on the end, so you can empty the cooler without having to tip it over. All of these little conveniences make the Igloo Trailmate Journey an all-in-one solution, and an essential piece of gear for anyone who spends time outdoors.
Trailmate Journey 70 Qt Cooler, $319.99, available at Amazon
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Best Weekender: Patagonia Black Hole Duffel
Image Credit: Patagonia
Patagonia’s Black Hole Duffel is the perfect pack to take with you on a short trip.
It’s made out of weather-resistant polyurethane with a durable water-repellent finish, so your gear won’t get soaked if you run into some rain. The fabric Patagonia uses on the Black Hole Duffel is 100 percent recycled, which can’t be said for most bags.
You can carry the Black Hole Duffel around like a traditional duffel bag or use its shoulder straps to turn it into a backpack on the fly. When it’s not in use, you can stuff the entire bag into its main pocket for convenience storage.
We’re recommending the 55L (Liter) Black Hole Duffel because we feel it’s the right size for a weekender bag, but it’s available in three other sizes: 40L, 70L, and 100L. Patagonia’s Black Hole is a well-designed duffel bag whose key features you’ll appreciate and actually use.
Patagonia Black Hole Duffel, $139, available at Patagonia
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Best Backpack: Filson Ripstop Nylon Pullman
Image Credit: Filson
Filson’s Ripstop Nylon Pullman is a three-in-one backpack that’s ideal for commuters, travelers, or as an everyday carry.
The outside Pullman is made out of water-resistant nylon, and its AquaGuard zipper opens on three sides for easy access, while sealing out the elements. On the inside, you’ll find multiple pockets and compartments, so you can organize your gear for quick and easy access. There’s enough room for everything from a laptop to your gym clothes.
The main reason we like Filson’s backpack is its removable straps, which let you carry it like a briefcase or wear it as a shoulder bag or backpack. The ability to switch between these modes on the fly, depending on your situation, plus its excellent water resistance, puts it a cut above the rest. If you need a reliable bag for work or travel, you can’t go wrong with this feature-packed pick from Filson. Its smart design and versatility make it a go-to bag for the modern commuter.
Filson Ripstop Nylon Pullman, $250, available at Filson
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Best Modern Box Set: Metallica S&M 2 Box Set
Image Credit: Amazon
Metallica’s S&M 2 boxed set is a seven-disc collection of the band’s collaboration with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, recorded live in September 2019.
It contains the entire show on two CDs and four LPs, plus a Blu-ray concert film that has a stereo and surround sound mix. Beyond the music, this box set contains five guitar picks, sheet music (with notes), a poster, and a record-size booklet containing photos of the event.
With the S&M 2 box set, Metallica is offering a complete document of shows that pushed the band out of its comfort zone while showcasing the group’s most adventurous sonic collaboration yet.
Metallica S&M 2, $19.27, available at Amazon
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Best Reissue Box Set: Frank Zappa and the Mothers 1970
Image Credit: Amazon
The Mothers 1970 is a four-disc box set that captures Frank Zappa and his band during and after the recording of Chunga’s Revenge.
The first disc is dedicated to studio outtakes, and the other three are culled from a handful of live shows the band performed during the summer and autumn of that year.
All 70 of the tracks in this box set were previously unreleased and offer the clearest view of Frank Zappa’s career at this point. The box contains four CDs, a booklet, and a promotional button, and it’s a must-have for any Zappa fan old and new.
Frank Zappa The Mothers 1970 Box Set, $46.49, available at Amazon
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Best Box Set: Sign O’ The Times (Super Deluxe Edition)
Image Credit: Amazon
Prince’s musical vault was legendary and this super-deluxe edition of his 1987 album Sign O’ The Times released by his estate proves why.
The nine-disc collection contains eight CDs: a remaster of the original album, a disc of remastered singles and edited mixes, three discs of unreleased studio recordings, and two discs that contain the entirety of a show from that tour.
This treasure trove of musical content is supplemented with a DVD of the same live show, a 120-page hardcover booklet containing newly penned liner notes, copies of Prince’s handwritten lyric sheets, and unreleased photos.
This is a definitive, comprehensive look at one of the most highly acclaimed albums from Prince’s impressive career.
Prince Sign O The Times (Super Deluxe Edition), $159.98, available at Amazon
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