Category: Outdoor Fun

What’s the best pH meter? Best for soil? Water in a pool or spa? What about the water in an aquarium?

We tried out a dozen pH meters designed for water and soil. We then asked gardening enthusiasts among our parent readers for their feedback. Finally, we talked with experts who professionally use pH meters (think chemists, wine makers and so on) how to find the best meter for your needs . . . and when you can save by getting a basic model. Here are the ones we’d recommend.

FYI: We’ve been reviewing and rating products for families since 1994. We don’t take money or freebies from brands we review—that keeps our work independent! Our reviews are 100% reader-supported!

What’s the best propane or gas fire pit? We surveyed the readers of our parenting books to find their favorites. Then we did another 10 hours of research, comparing features and reliability of top brands. We looked for fire pits that were easy to assemble and use. Here are the ones we’d recommend.

What’s the best outdoor thermometer? Do you want a simple stick thermometer to put outside window? Or a large dial thermometer to put on a fence or garage? What about a remote thermometer you can read from anywhere inside your house? As certified weather junkies, we tried out several options, looking for accuracy & …

What’s the best outdoor pizza oven? Yes, we consider ourselves pizza enthusiasts—and what’s better than pizza baked in an oven that can reach the high temperatures required to get that crust crispy? We surveyed our readers who use outdoor ovens for pizza for their favorites. Then we did 9 hours of additional research, looking real world tests of outdoor ovens. Here are the outdoor pizza ovens we’d recommend.

FYI: We’ve been reviewing and rating products for the home and families since 1994. To keep things independent, we don’t take money or freebies from brands we review! Our work is 100% reader-supported!

We tested 11 different balance bikes with babies between 10 months and 18 months to find the Best Baby Balance Bike. Judged on safety, quality and durability, we also looked at the fun factor—which ones did our testers love to ride?

So, what’s the difference between a balance bike for babies (1 year olds) and older toddlers? Balance bikes are pedal-free bikes that teach kids how to balance on two wheels. Baby balance bikes have an extra set of wheels to provide more stability for the youngest riders.

FYI: We are Baby Bargains, the #1 online resources for honest and independent baby gear reviews. We are 100% reader-supported and don’t take money or freebies from the brands we review! Thanks for reading this article!

What’s the best pH meter? Best for soil? Water in a pool or spa? What about the water in an aquarium? We tried out a dozen pH meters designed for water and soil. We then asked gardening enthusiasts among our parent readers for their feedback. Finally, we ask experts who professionally use pH meters (think chemists, wine makers and so on) how to find the best meter for your needs . . . and when you can save by getting a basic model. Here are the ones we’d recommend.

FYI: We’ve been reviewing and rating products for families since 1994. We don’t take money or freebies from brands we review—that keeps our work independent! Our reviews are 100% reader-supported!

Good news! You don’t have to spend a fortune to get a good balance bike for your toddler. We tested 9 balance bikes with actual toddlers to determine which ones were the best value . . . and the most fun! We looked at ease of assembly and compared safety features.

With the price of some balance bike topping three figures, we discovered there were several affordable options that were safe and fun. Here are the best bets.

FYI: We are Baby Bargains, the #1 online resource for baby and toddler gear reviews. We are 100% reader-supported and don’t take money or freebies from the brands we review! Thanks for reading our article!

What’s the best outdoor pizza oven? Yes, we consider ourselves pizza enthusiasts—and what’s better than pizza baked in an oven that can reach the high temperatures required to get that crust crispy? We surveyed our readers who use outdoor ovens for pizza for their favorites. Then we did 9 hours of additional research, looking real world tests of outdoor ovens. Here are the outdoor pizza ovens we’d recommend.

FYI: We’ve been reviewing and rating products for the home and families since 1994. To keep things independent, we don’t take money or freebies from brands we review! Our work is 100% reader-supported!

We tested 9 different balance bikes designed for 3 year olds. These pedal-free bike are best at teaching kids balance, self-confidence and riding skills.

When researching balance bikes, we quickly realized that some balance bikes are aimed at younger kids (1 or 2 year olds). We found 3 year olds need bikes that are somewhat bigger and heavier than those choices. Here are the winners of our tests with actual kiddos.

FYI: We are Baby Bargains, the #1 online resource for honest and independent gear reviews. Nope, we don’t take money for freebies from brands we review! We are 100% reader-supported! Thanks in advance for reading this article!

What’s the best rechargeable headlamp? We love headlamps—but if you use it frequently, a rechargeable headlamp saves in the long run. Plus if you use a headlamp for running or your work, having a fully charged headlamp is reassuring . . . and you don’t have to worry about running out of juice in the middle of a run or project. We tried out 11 different rechargeable headlamps, checking for easy of use and battery life. Here are the winners we’d recommend.

FYI: We’ve been reviewing and rating products for the home and families since 1994. To keep things independent, we don’t take money or freebies from brands we review! Our work is 100% reader-supported!

What’s the best outdoor ping pong table? To find out, we surveyed the readers of our books (2.1 million copies in print). We ask our table tennis enthusiasts which outdoor ping pong tables were the best. Here’s what they told us are the best bets.

FYI: Since 1994, we’ve been rating and reviewing products for families, children and the home. Good news: we don’t take money or freebies from the brand we review. That keeps our reviews independent. Our work is 100% reader-supported.