Latest news with #CaitlinCusack
NBC News
16-05-2025
- Business
- NBC News
REI Anniversary Sale: Score up to 30% off The North Face, Saucony, Garmin and more
For more than eight decades, REI's been the premier retailer for everything related to camping gear, fitness, and recreational outdoor activities. Starting today through May 26, you can shop the brand's signature anniversary sale, which has premium brands like The North Face, Saucony, Garmin and Smartwool, up to 30% off. While the sale is open to all, REI members can also get bonus deals on one full-price item with the promo code ANNIV2025 and rewards money for certain purchases, which I noted below. Plus, those who sign up today can get a $30 Member Bonus Card to go toward your next purchase. Whether you're shopping for yourself or with the intention of finding a great Father's Day gift, you'll definitely find something for you. Want more from NBC Select? Sign up The best deals from REI's Anniversary Sale 2025 All of the deals below are either from brands we've covered in the past and/or products that have at least a 4-star average rating at REI. Hydro Flask is an absolute favorite among NBC Select staff members when it comes to reusable water bottles. The vacuum-insulated bottle keeps cold drinks cool and refreshing for up to a day and hot drinks warm for up to 12 hours, according to the brand. The straw cap flips up for easy siping, but when closed it makes the drink completely leakproof, according to Hydroflask. It's also BPA free and dishwasher safe. 'I got my first Hydro Flask several years ago and I've tried several other water bottles since then, but I keep coming back to this,' says NBC Select associate social media editor Caitlin Cusack. 'I'm an ice-water girl, and this bottle can keep my ice cold for over 24 hours. I've let it sit untouched for over a day and it still had ice in it.' Also available in men's, the Evolution full-zip sweatshirt is made of a cotton and polyester blend. It has an attached hood, front pockets, rib cuffs and hem and a slightly dropped shoulder design for a more casual fit. Reviewers like it for its softness and the hem, which comes to right above the hips. Garmin Forerunner 165 After reviewing the Garmin Forerunner 165, NBC Select tech reporter Harry Rabinowitz praised it for its exceptionally long battery life (up to 11 days), training tools and comfortable feel, making it one of our favorite fitness trackers to date. It can monitor heart rate, sleep habits, weather, recovery time and much more. Plus, it's compatible with both Android and Apple smartphones. If you're a seasoned camper then you know a portable, warm fleece blanket is a must-have — especially in chilly elevated areas. This one from Rumpl has a sherpa fleece lining to maintain warmth and at 72 x 52 inches, it's large enough to encompass more than one person. Plus, the corners of the blanket have clips so you can attach them to one another around your shoulders to wear it as a cape and free up your hands and arms. These ultra-comfortable sandals have arch support and are ideal for both casual wear and as a recovery slide. They're made of machine washable foam that's bacteria resistant, according to the brand. Since the sandals are only available in whole size, the brand recommends sizing down if you're a half size in men's and sizing up if you're a half-size in women's. 'I own another pair of sandals from Oofos and they are seriously some of the most comfortable summer shoes I own,' says NBC Select editor Lindsay Schneider. This warm sleeping bag collapses into a portable drawstring bag with a carrying loop. It's compatible with all sleeping positions and types, the outside is made of a water-repellent ripstop polyester and the lining is polyester taffeta. It's also suited for sleeping in conditions as cold as 20 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the brand. Made of breathable merino wool, which has antibacterial properties, these socks have thermoregulation (which prevents overheating) and moisture-wicking properties keeping your feet dry, making you less susceptible to athlete's foot. They also have specific mesh zones built in to add breathability and a seamless design to reduce chafing, according to Smartwool. JBL makes some of our favorite portable speakers, including the Flip 6, which is both water- and dustproof and has a battery life of up to 12 hours on a single charge, according to the brand. It's also compatible with the JBL app, which allows you to adjust features of the speaker, like audio quality or base. It has a USB-C charging cable and the speaker lets out a beeping sound if it's detected water in the system. This trail-running shoe is also available in men's sizes and provides moderate cushioning. It's made of high-strength mesh and has a rock guard to protect your feet from rough terrain. Available in mens, the Saucony Endorphin Speed 4 running shoes have maximum cushioning. They provide strong forward propulsion to improve speed, according to Saucony. Plus, the top is made of flexible mesh and has an integrated tongue to help give you a more supportive fit. Lifestraw's Peak Series water filter straw is helpful while traveling and on outdoor adventures — it allows you to safely consume water from natural sources by removing 99% of microplastics, parasites and bacteria, including according to LifeStraw. Around the size of a toothbrush case, you can fit the straw in backpack or jacket pockets. You can also filter water through it from one bottle to another. The Flexlite Camp Chair will come in handy for camping trips, park visits or tailgating. While it has a weight capacity of 250 pounds, it only weighs around 1 pound and collapses into a small cylindrical drawstring bag that makes it easy to carry from place to place. It's made of material similar to that of tents, according to the brand, and has a seat height of around 11 inches. This four-person tent weighs just under 20 pounds and has over 55 square feet of space on the floor. When set up, it stands at 64 inches tall, has one main door, multiple mesh pockets on the inside and has enough space to fit a queen-size mattress, according to the brand. It also has an e-port so you can get access to a power cord from inside the tent. Why trust NBC Select? I'm a commerce editor at NBC Select, where I regularly cover deals and sale events at REI. I've also written about the benefits of the retailer's membership program and related outdoor and lifestyle products.
NBC News
02-05-2025
- NBC News
Aura vs Skylight: We tested both digital photo frames for a month — here's what we learned.
Everyone I know loves taking photos with their smartphone but hates scrolling through their camera app to look at any of them. A lot of people I know would rather scroll through their group chat than their camera app — at least in the group chat its photos you decided to share instead of good photos mixed with bad photos mixed with pictures of receipts and random screenshots. I think digital photo frames are for everyone, not just your grandparents. They make it easy to enjoy your favorite photos without having to scroll through your phone. Two of the leading digital photo frame brands are Aura Frames and Skylight Frame. We tested both brands for a month — here's who came out on top. Dimensions: 9.7 x 7.6 x 2 in.| Display: 9 in. | Resolution: 1600x1200 | Aspect ratio: 4:3 | Orientation: portrait or landscape | Storage: unlimited cloud | Built-in speaker: yes | Styles and colors: 2 Skylight Frame 2 Dimensions: 12 x 8.5 x 0.9 in.| Display: 10 in. | Resolution: 1920x1200 | Aspect ratio: 16:9 | Orientation: portrait or landscape | Storage: 16GB built-in, unlimited cloud | Built-in speaker: yes | Styles and colors: 10 Aura and Skylight sell a few digital photo frames. We chose to test and compare the Aura Mason and Skylight Frame 2 — they are the most similar in size, price and functionality. I put both frames in my home for about a month, comparing the setup process, interface, design and picture quality of each. I also recruited NBC Select commerce editor Lindsay Schneider and NBC Select social editorial assistant Caitlin Cusack for testing — Schneider tried out the Skylight Frame 2 and Cusack tested the Aura Mason. Want more from NBC Select? Sign up for our newsletter, The Selection, and shop smarter. Our experience with Aura and Skylight The Aura and Skylight frames are excellent digital photo frames. Both are easy to use, and have been great additions to our homes. Which one is best for you will depend on a few key differences. Setup Aura The Aura Mason is very easy to set up — it took us less than five minutes from start to finish. Setup is done entirely through your phone — you download the Aura app, pair your frame, connect it to Wi-Fi and upload photos. If you are gifting an Aura frame, you can set it up virtually or by scanning the QR printed on the packaging under a peel-away sticker. I love the QR-code option, especially if I am gifting a frame to a non-techy person. Skylight The Skylight Frame 2 also has a simple setup process — we're confident almost anyone could do it with little issue. However, it's slightly more involved than Aura. You download the Skylight app and interact with both the app and the Frame 2 touchscreen during setup. For example, I had to input my Wi-Fi password by typing on the frame — Aura automatically synced my Wi-Fi network through my phone. You also have to set up an email address option for sharing photos — Aura has this too, but it does not force you to do this during setup. If you are gifting a Skylight Frame, you can set it up virtually and share a gift code with your giftee once they unbox the Frame 2. My take: Both frames are quick and easy to set up, but Aura is slightly simpler — Skylight has a few extra steps by comparison. Design Aura The Aura Mason isn't a looker. It doesn't look bad, but the thick frame, ribbed texture and general bulk make it look dated to me. The Mason's frame has touch bars you can swipe to manually scroll through photos, and you can press and hold to turn the Mason off. I enjoyed using the swipe touch bar, but it took some getting used to. Cusack found it overly sensitive, and would have preferred button controls instead. The Mason is available in one style and two colors. The power supply is blocky and has a built-in power cord — I was expecting something sleeker, or at least something with USB-C, like all my other gadgets. Skylight The Skylight Frame 2 is sleek and attractive, especially compared to the Aura Mason. You can pick from 10 styles and colors, including options with a faux frame mat, making it much easier to blend into existing decor than the Aura Mason. It's wider and taller than the Mason, but, crucially, half as thick. The Frame 2 is a touchscreen — you tap and swipe the screen to look through photos, albums and change settings. The touchscreen is intuitive but invites fingerprints, and because certain settings are only located on the frame (unless you subscribe to Skylight Plus), the screen ends up with a lot of fingerprints, says Schneider. The power supply is blocky and has a built-in power cord, just like the Aura Mason. The power cord is much shorter than the Mason, though — Schneider wanted to put her Frame 2 on a high shelf, but couldn't because of the power cord's length. My take: This one's a tossup. The Skylight Frame 2 is thinner and nicer looking, but it invites fingerprints with its touchscreen controls. The Aura Mason's touch bar controls are okay, but the thick and boxy design feels a bit dated. Ease of use Aura The Aura Mason is exceedingly easy to use. Everything is controlled through the Aura app — uploading photos, inviting friends and family to share photos, changing each photo's framing, picking slideshow settings and more. Cusack sent her family a link to add photos, and she started seeing new photos and videos instantly. I love that everything is controlled via the app and not the frame itself — after all, a real photo frame is very much designed around the idea of: set it and forget it. Skylight The Skylight Frame 2 is also very easy to use, but slightly less so. Tasks like uploading photos usually have one extra step compared to the Aura. The Skylight app feels a little busier than Aura's, with more menus and submenus. Plus, settings are split: some are controlled via the Skylight app, others via the touchscreen on the Frame 2 itself. Ease of use is complicated by Skylight's optional subscription service, Skylight Plus. It lets you view and download photos to other devices, change frame settings from your phone, create and edit photo albums and more. It's $39 a year and covers all Skylight frames in your account, but feels like a strange addition for a device where simplicity is key. One advantage Skylight has over Aura is built-in storage. After you upload your photos to the Skylight, it does not need to be connected to Wi-Fi to display those photos — they are stored locally in the frame. This makes the Frame 2 the obvious choice for off-the-grid living or Wi-Fi dead zones. My take: The Aura is slightly easier to use than the Skylight. Its app is more intuitive and controls everything easily while Skylight splits functions between its frame and its app (unless you have a Skylight Plus subscription). But if you want to mess around with connectivity, the Skylight Frame 2 has more options. It has local storage built-in, making it the better option if you plan to display your frame somewhere without the need for Wi-Fi. Picture quality Aura Pictures on the Aura Mason look surprisingly good. I wasn't expecting much out of the frame's 1600 by 1200 pixel resolution, but photos looked true to life and never felt overly digital. The Mason has a 4:3 aspect ratio, matching that of your smartphone camera. That means that most of my smartphone photos filled the entire frame, without any crop or black borders. You cannot change the brightness of the Aura Mason. I took issue with this at first, but the more I tested the frame, the more I got over it — the brightness is good enough to see photos clearly, but not turned up so high that it's obvious the frame is digital. Skylight Pictures on the Skylight Frame 2 also look good, especially with its higher screen resolution. But more of them are cropped or have black borders than with the Aura Mason. That's because the Frame 2 has a 16:9 aspect ratio. Most smartphone cameras default to a 4:3 ratio — fitting into 16:9 naturally leads to more borders. You can change the brightness on the Skylight Frame 2, but I turned the brightness down a bit — out of the box, the screen looked too bright next to my real photo frames. My take: I think Aura has the edge when it comes to picture quality, but you may not notice the difference. The main advantage is the Mason's 4:3 aspect ratio, which matches that of most smartphone photos. Aura vs Skylight: The final verdict In the end, I prefer the Aura Mason because it feels more like a picture frame. It's simpler and arguably has less features than the Skylight Frame 2, but that works in its favor — I want my digital photo frame to act like a photo frame, not a tablet. While I think Aura is better for most people, Skylight has a few advantages that may sway you in its direction. Its larger, thinner design is more aesthetically pleasing at a glance. And after setting it up, the Frame 2 works without Wi-Fi. What about the Aura Aspen? While I was testing the Aura Mason and Skylight Frame 2, Aura released the Aura Aspen digital photo frame. It's everything I loved about the Aura Mason (the easy setup, simple app, touch bar controls) in a slim, modern design similar to the Skylight Frame 2. After testing it for a week, I think it's the best digital photo frame you can get, but it is much pricier than both the Aura Mason and Skylight Frame 2 at $229. Why trust NBC Select? I am a reporter smartwatches, running shoes, workout earbuds and more. For this piece, I, along with two NBC Select staffers, tested the Aura Mason and Skylight Frame 2 for about a month.
NBC News
26-03-2025
- Business
- NBC News
Lowest price ever: Shark's FlexStyle air styling and drying tool is 27% off right now
Want to look like you just hit up the salon for a blowout? You're going to need a number of tools — including a hair dryer, curling iron and potentially a few other products and tools, too. Or, you could invest in a multitasking hair tool like the Shark FlexStyle. This tool can dry, curl and smooth hair with the simple switch of attachments. Even better news: Right now the version for curly and coily hair is 27% off as part of Amazon's Big Spring Sale event, making it $219, which is the lowest price it has ever been. 4.2-star average rating from 6,761 reviews on Amazon NBC Select social media assistant Caitlin Cusack recommended the Shark FlexStyle in our roundup of the best blow dryer brushes, who says it cut her styling time from 40 minutes down to 20 and that it gives her hair a perfect blowout look. You can use the tool as a hair dryer, or you can add one of the five attachments to give you a different style. The attachments include two interchangeable auto-wrap curlers, an oval brush, a styling concentrator and a diffuser since this is the version for curly and coily hair. The Shark FlexStyle also works hard to keep hair healthy by consistently measuring the heat output to ensure consistent air temperatures and avoid heat damage, according to the brand. The Shark FlexStyle is also on the lighter side, weighing just 1.5 pounds. This tool is on sale for 29% off at Amazon, bringing the price down to $219. The brand also makes one for straight hair, though it's not currently on sale. What is Amazon's Big Spring Sale? The weeklong sale runs through March 31 and is open to Prime members (and non-Prime members) alike. You can get discounts across every major category including beauty and tech. We even found some of our favorite brands on sale, including Ninja and JBL. Since deals are changing daily, if you see something you like, we recommend checking out quickly. Why trust NBC Select? I'm a writer at NBC Select who covers a variety of topics, including home, tech and beauty. I've been covering major shopping events like Amazon Prime Day, Black Friday and Cyber Monday for over a decade.
NBC News
09-03-2025
- Business
- NBC News
Sale alert: Shark's FlexStyle Hair Dryer is 22% off on Amazon right now
Hair dryers, curling irons, smoothing brushes — if you were to buy all the tools out there that promise to give you the hair of your dreams, you'd quickly run out of money and space in your bathroom. Another option? Investing in one multi-purpose tool — like the Shark FlexStyle Hair Dryer. This tool, which normally retails for $319.99, can be used as a hair dryer, curling iron, smoothing brush and more. And, right now, it's 22% on Amazon, making the price $249.99. Shark FlexStyle Hair Dryer deal Shark FlexStyle Hair Dryer Rotate the top of Shark's FlexStyle and it can be used as a hairdryer, or keep the barrel straight to affix one of six attachments it comes with — a diffuser, two auto-wrap curlers, a paddle brush, round brush or style concentrator. 'I'll first use the paddle brush to make sure my hair is dry, then I'll use the rounded attachment to give my hair volume and a bouncy blowout finish,' says NBC Select social media assistant Caitlin Cusack, who notes that the efficiency of the FlexStyle has cut the time she spends on her hair in half. While the FlexStyle is about multi-tasking, it also focuses on keeping hair healthy. It constantly measures the heat output to ensure consistent air temperatures and avoid heat damage, according to the brand. The brush attachments also have two different bristles of different lengths, which help to detangle and prevent hair from getting caught and damaged in the brush. The Shark FlexStyle is also on the lighter side, weighing just 1.5 pounds. This hair dryer is currently on sale for 22% off at Amazon, bringing the price down to $249.99. Why trust NBC Select? I'm a writer at NBC Select who covers various topics, including home, tech and beauty. I have covered major shopping events like Amazon Prime Day, Black Friday and Cyber Monday for over a decade.
