Ryan Whitaker

I have spent the better part of three years testing compact kilns in a spare bedroom that doubles as my glass studio. When I first started, I had no idea what made a good tabletop glass fusing kiln, and I definitely did not understand the difference between a 120V and 240V unit. After firing hundreds … Read more

I remember the first time I brought my newborn home from the hospital. The sun hit the back seat sideways, and she scrunched her tiny face in seconds. That moment sent me on a hunt for the best car window sun shades for newborns that actually work. After three summers, two vehicles, and enough trial-and-error … Read more

Our team spent 90 days testing 10 truck bed tents with awnings across desert, alpine, and coastal terrain in , and we found that the right combo can turn a pickup into a fully capable overland basecamp in under 15 minutes. A truck bed tent with awning gives you elevated sleeping, shaded cooking space, and … Read more

I still remember the first time I tried sleeping in my SUV on a 14-hour road trip to Yellowstone. My back was aching for three days afterward, and I swore I would never car-camp again without proper bedding. That changed the night I unrolled my first SUV air mattress in the back of my friend’s … Read more

I remember the frustration of pulling up to a stoplight and still not being able to see over the hood. For shorter drivers, that daily struggle is real. An extra thick car seat cushion solves more than just visibility. After testing eight of the most popular boosters on the market over the past month, our … Read more

I spent 8 weeks testing inflatable car mattresses and rooftop tents across three SUV platforms, from a 4Runner to a Subaru Outback, and the debate between these two setups is louder than ever. After logging 14 nights in the field, driving more than 1,800 miles, and swapping setups mid-trip, I have hard data on which … Read more

I spent six weeks testing wedge car seat cushions across a Honda Civic, a Ford F-150, and a Subaru Outback to answer the question I kept getting from readers: are wedge car seat cushions worth it for posture? My lower back pain after 45-minute commutes disappeared within the first week, and my wife (5’2″) finally … Read more

I spent 6 weeks testing 8 different memory foam and gel car seat cushions, driving over 2,400 miles in everything from a 2007 Toyota Corolla to a brand-new F-150. My back hurt. My legs went numb. But I learned exactly which cushion materials hold up and which turn into expensive pancakes after 4 months. Here’s … Read more

I have taken more road trips with a toddler than I care to admit, and I can tell you from experience that a wailing 2-year-old 30 minutes into a five-hour drive will make you rethink every parenting decision you have ever made. The single best upgrade I ever made for our family SUV was a … Read more

Packing for a family vacation should not feel like playing Tetris with suitcases. Last summer our team of three drivers took a 6,000-mile loop through the Rockies with two kids, a dog, and four different rooftop cargo bags strapped to a Subaru Outback, a Honda CR-V, a Toyota Sienna minivan, and a Ford Explorer. We … Read more