Gallery: March Product Madness: The Gear We Loved This Month
Josh Valcarcel/WIRED011M9A6557
The best restaurants all use Square now, so you're constantly having to sign your name on the same filthy iPad screen the 18 brogrammers in line in front of you just touched. Carry this [Wacom Bamboo Solo](http://www.wacom.com/en-us/products/stylus/bamboo-stylus-solo) stylus when you go out for lunch. The carbon fiber nib can deal with the germs, and you can keep your hands to yourself. $20
Josh Valcarcel/WIRED021M9A6754
Got a room in your house that's a little too quiet? Pick up a pair of vintage speakers at the Salvation Army and hook them up to the [Griffin Twenty](http://griffintechnology.com/twenty) amp. It's Bluetooth, so you can wirelessly play any audio from any phone. The sound quality is exceptional for a small 20W digital amp, and the brushed aluminum knob is a nice wink to the days of analog. $150
Josh Valcarcel/WIRED031M9A6879
You switched to a standing desk because standing was better for you than sitting. Turns out, standing isn't enough. What you really want is to move. The [FluidStance Level](http://www.fluidstance.com/) is a balance board that encourages you to slightly shift your weight, twist your hips, and move around while you're stand-up working. It's not as dangerous or annoying as it sounds. It's actually quite invigorating, especially during that mid-afternoon slump. $289
Josh Valcarcel/WIRED041M9A6566
My friend Scotch (his real name) gave me this [Benchmade](http://www.benchmade.com/) Mel Pardue 440C steel knife in 1999, and I've used it almost every single day since. I've had it machine-sharpened about a dozen times, and even though it's long in the tooth, it displays zero imperfections or defects. MSRP was $120 brand new. That seems kind of bananas, but when I think about the 16 years of abuse I've heaped onto the thing, $120 starts to sound like a bargain.
Josh Valcarcel/WIRED051M9A6735
Here's an easy way to turn any existing home stereo into a 21st century stream machine. Connect a [Gramofon](https://gramofon.com/) box using an audio cable, download a mobile app to control it, and start streaming tracks from Spotify. It's not Bluetooth—it connects directly to the cloud over your home Wi-Fi network. And when your Facebook friends drop by for a visit, they can instantly connect and stream without any pairing or logging in. $89
Josh Valcarcel/WIRED061M9A6621
When I arrive at the office on my bike, I change out of my dorky bike shoes into these Mata slip-ons from Vivobarefoot. The company is mostly known for its zany-looking minimalist running shoes, and these loafers take that same zero-drop tech and give it a business-casual spin. The leather upper has a roomy toe box, and the super-thin 3mm sole feels great underfoot. [Men's](http://www.vivobarefoot.com/us/mens/mata-mens-leather) and [women's](http://www.vivobarefoot.com/us/womens/mata-ladies) sizes. $130
Josh Valcarcel/WIRED071M9A6845
Sennheiser's Momentum headphones are an old favorite among the WIRED staff, and these cans are basically the baby versions of those. [These smaller Momentums](http://en-us.sennheiser.com/momentum-on-ear-headphones) are an on-ear design instead of the over-ear configuration of the larger ones. They're adjustable, super stylish, and super comfortable. They aren't cordless, but the cable is mobile-friendly and features an in-line remote for skipping tracks, changing volume, and taking phone calls. $200
Josh Valcarcel/WIRED081M9A6722
I bought this Polaroid OneStep Flash for $3 at a barn sale in Vermont. I loved shooting with it. But then Polaroid film went the way of the 8-track and the camera sat on the shelf for years. Now that [Impossible is making Polaroid 600 film](http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FKVWI90/?tag=polaroid0d-20) again, I've dusted it off and put it back into service. The film is pricey (8 exposures for $24), but the results are golden.
Josh Valcarcel/WIRED091M9A6821
Please don't shove your Apple laptop into that crappy old Jansport backpack. Classy your carry with a [Pad & Quill Valet Luxury Sleeve](http://www.padandquill.com/valet-luxury-sleeve-for-macbook-11-13.html). Made of fine-grained leather and accented with copper rivets, the sleeve is sized to fit any model MacBook between the 13-inch Pro and the 11-inch Air. (So yes, the new MacBook fits.) Storage slots inside hold your phone and iPad. $120
Josh Valcarcel/WIRED101M9A6596
What's the only thing sweeter than vaporizing herbs? Vaporizing herbs in the middle of a rainstorm, then slamming the vaporizer onto the wet ground and having it not break. (Don't ask me how I know this.) [Vapium's Summit](http://www.vapium.com/) vape is the vape world's first ruggedized all-weather vape, so you can vape in the most extreme conditions and not worry about breaking anything except your cerebral cortex. Pro vapers can explore all eight temperature settings. $150
Josh Valcarcel/WIRED111M9A6853
The [Boostcase for iPhone 6](http://boostcase.com/) isn't one of those bulky battery cases. It's a two-piece arrangement: a thin snap-on case that you leave on your phone all the time, plus a larger battery pack that you slide on the back when you need some juice. 2700mAh gives you more than one full charge, and there's a hole in the back so you can continue to use your camera while you re-up. $100
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Rosie Taylor
BYD's Fastest-Charging Car in the World Is Astonishing—in Good and Bad Ways
WIRED witnessed the game-changing Denza Z9 GT charge its battery in just 9 minutes. But the pricing for BYD's premium brand looks like a huge mistake.
Jeremy White
The Best Water Filter Pitchers for PFAS- and Lead-Free Living
Water filters promise the moon—but only some back up their claims. Here are the best filtered-water pitchers for those who prefer their water free of heavy metals and forever chemicals.
Matthew Korfhage
The Internet's Most Powerful Archiving Tool Is in Peril
As major news outlets cut off the Wayback Machine, journalists and advocacy groups are rallying to protect the Internet Archive’s vast collection of web pages.
Kate Knibbs
The Dumbest Hack of the Year Exposed a Very Real Problem
Last April, a hacker hijacked crosswalk announcements to mimic Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk. Records obtained by WIRED reveal how unprepared local authorities were.
Paresh Dave
AI Agents Are Coming for Your Dating Life
The developers of Pixel Societies are using AI agents to simulate social interactions. It's an attempt optimize the process of choosing new colleagues, friends, and even romantic partners.
Joel Khalili
A Lot of Shops Won't Fix Electric Bikes. Here's Why
Bike shop mechanics have lost fingers and their shirts while repairing ebikes of dubious origins. Make sure yours is repairable and third-party certified.
Stephanie Pearson
The Audacity Is the Broligarchy Takedown You Were Waiting For
AMC’s new black comedy about a manchild tech titan spinning out of control is a skewering Silicon Valley’s billionaire class deserves.
Miles Klee
It’s a Tablet! It’s a Laptop! After Testing the Best 2-in-1s, Here’s What I Recommend
Whether you want a detachable tablet or a laptop screen that spins, these 2-in-1 devices manage to balance being both a tablet and a laptop.
Luke Larsen
There’s a Secret Ingredient to Making Luxury Ice at Home
Nice ice is big business, but you can get perfectly clear cubes at home without freezing your assets.
Jeremy White
The Screenmaxxers Who Spend Every Waking Hour on Their Phones
As debates over social media addiction rage, people with extreme screen times tell WIRED they have no plans to cut back.
Miles Klee
Mammotion’s Spino E1 Pool Cleaner Isn’t Bad for the Price—It's Just Not That Good
This compact pool robot keeps its price down, but its performance doesn’t match that of more capable cleaners.
Christopher Null