Wirecutter - In defense of socks and sandals

A modem is a box that connects your home network to the Internet. A router is a box that then lets your devices use that Internet connection. But do you really need both? Yes—and here’s why.

Cats scratch to play, sharpen their claws, relieve stress, and mark their territory. But without a designated cat scratcher, they may turn to shredding your furniture instead. Here’s how to find the best option.

Deal price: $22 | Street price: $38

The Thermacell E55 is convenient and effective. A former pick in our mosquito control gear guide, this repeller’s 5.5-hour battery life isn’t as long as that of our top pick’s, but otherwise, the two are identical. This deal is available in royal blue.

Deal price: $1300 | Street price: $1600

The LG C2 TV features great visuals, native support for Dolby Atmos audio, and a full suite of HDMI 2.1 inputs. While it lacks the high brightness and color volume of our top OLED TV pick, you can’t beat its offering of top-tier picture quality at a more reasonable price. This deal also comes with a $125 Visa gift card.

Deal price: $216 | Street price: $270

The Breville Smart Oven quickly impressed us with its modern, intuitive interface and ability to maintain a set temperature. It doesn’t toast quite as evenly as our top pick does, but this medium-size toaster oven is spacious and even allows you to air fry food with the handy convection setting.