Welcome to the Filter, the Guardian’s new home for trustworthy product reviews, informed recommendations and shopping guides – thanks for signing up to our newsletter. Whether you’re after a pair of hiking boots, a heated clothes airer, or a smartphone upgrade, we’re here to remove the stress of online shopping, help you make better decisions and save you money in the long run.
Our writers are experts in their fields. They go the extra mile – or 20 – in testing products as rigorously as possible. Paddy Maddison, a self-confessed hiking, cycling, running and snowboarding addict, tests outdoor clothing, footwear and gear for us. He clocked up hundreds of miles hiking in the north-east of England – and the French Alps – to rate the best walking boots. This included wading through the notoriously boggy Cheviot Hills to test their waterproofness (spoiler: not all of them were). Look out for his test of the best men’s outdoor jackets in a few weeks.
Jane Hoskyn has been testing products, including everything from smartwatches to mattress toppers, for three decades. With energy bills at a premium, heated airers are becoming an increasingly popular buy, so Jane put these nifty tumble dryer rivals through their extremely thorough paces to find the best. She is now sleeping on dozens of mattresses (not all at the same time) to determine the ones worthy of your home. Anything we recommend is based on this rigorous, independent testing.
Guardian experts, including Sali Hughes on beauty, Jess Cartner-Morley on fashion and Samuel Gibbs on tech, share their expertise on everything from the best sunscreens to the best bras and the top Android phones. And few know more about the perfect kitchen knives than our wonderful chefs on Feast who use them.
Fashion devotees loved Jess’s guide on looking great for under £100 this autumn, especially since some of her 50 ideas were completely free. We’ve all been buying Uniqlo’s cashmere-blend T-shirts to keep us stylishly warm throughout the season. And Jess will be giving us her fashion edit every month, starting with her tips for November. This month, she found Rivals-worthy earrings for under £10, and reveals a chic way to style a whole new outfit from your existing wardrobe.
We’re also here to inspire: we regularly ask ordinary folk for their recommendations, from the small item that made their everyday life better to the things they buy on subscription that saves them time and money. You, our readers, are the experts, too: who better to tell us what kit newborn babies need than parents of newborns (top tip: steer clear of fancy clothes they’ll grow out of in two minutes)? Who better to advise freshers on what to take to uni – and what to leave behind – than students themselves (sliders, plasters and extension cables, apparently)?
And now it’s November, it’s time to start looking ahead to Christmas. If you’ve ever been stumped for gift ideas, spend the present-buying season with us – starting this weekend.
Want to get something your teens won’t cringe at? We’ve asked teenagers what they really want for Christmas. Want to nail it this year for your cycling-mad girlfriend or Mamil husband? We’ve asked cyclists what they covet. We’ve also asked parents of small children, runners, gardeners, gym bunnies and many more for their present ideas. And we’ve got gift guides stuffed with products that pamper, taste amazing and look great at home. Got a Swiftie in your life? We’ve got a gift guide (which includes Taylor’s favourite clothing brand) coming for that, too.
Sustainability and intelligent, conscious consumption are at the heart of what we do at the Filter. We recognise that buying once is always best – for the planet and your pocket – so we’ll always seek out and recommend long-lasting items over throwaway options. We will help you find the best secondhand and preloved items; and where relevant, we’ll add pointers for fixing, mending, recycling, cleaning and ethical disposal. We’re going to bust a few myths, dive into new trends – and help you bypass the pointless ones – and tell you what you don’t need to buy.
We know you’re thoughtful and discerning consumers who don’t want to be part of a disposable culture. So, let the Filter be your guide. Happy shopping!
Hannah Booth
Launch editor, the Filter
This week’s picks
Beer, biscuits and … tools: 2024 Advent calendars – tried and tested
The best stand mixers to make baking easier – and even more fun
Everything I’ve learned as a beauty columnist about the products that actually work
Editor’s pick
The darkness of night began creeping in an hour earlier this week, so now’s the perfect time to think about winter sleepwear. The right pair of pyjamas will keep you cosy and comfortable whether you’re lounging on the sofa, sleeping or taking the bins out.
Our resident PJ obsessives Melanie Wilkinson and Helen Seamons have narrowed down the most comfortable sets for men and women, with a few unisex options thrown in – and some are even stylish enough to wear outside the house. I’ve been swooning over this leopard print set.
Monica Horridge
Deputy editor, the Filter
In case you missed it …
One essential baking tool is simply not enough, according to Benoit Blin, pastry chef, judge on Bake Off: The Professionals and author of Bake with Benoit Blin. A rolling pin, fluted cake tin, balloon whisk and silicone spatula – to “get all the batter out” of a bowl – top his baking kit list.
But what else should you keep in your baking kit arsenal? We asked some of our favourite star bakers about the tools they can’t live without.
Get involved
To help with the interminable festive shopping, we’d love to hear from you. Is there a gift you buy on repeat?
Let us know by replying to this newsletter, or emailing us on thefilter@theguardian.com.
