Photo: Connie Park

After months of new testing for our guide to the best hammers, we now recommend a $265 one among our favorites. Yep, you read that right.

Why? In short, as senior staff writer and tool expert Doug Mahoney puts it: “It’s very cool.”

It’s made of titanium, which is much lighter than steel. Plus, titanium transfers far more of your swinging power into the nail head—and far less up into your elbow and shoulder. So the end result is a hammer that is considerably lighter, but at the same time, considerably more effective—all with less wear and tear on your body.

Is this worth spending nearly $300? If you swing a hammer often enough, the unique benefits of this general-purpose tool might just make the purchase worth it. It’s clearly not a tool for everyone, but it’s a unique and excellent experience for those willing to invest—or those who simply like the idea of owning a very fancy hammer.

All the hammers we recommend (including regularly priced ones)→

We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more ›

Fresh Sugar lip balm is expensive. But it’s great. It looks and feels three times as luxe as the other lip balms we tried→

A spendy bidet we can all get behind It has all the features you’d want in a bidet, like a prewarmed seat first thing in the morning→

A $400 hair dryer This well-constructed and fast-drying blow dryer may (unfortunately) be worth every penny→

Photo: Connie Park

We’ve found that packing our top-pick trunk just somehow feels more pleasant than packing other types of luggage. Maybe it’s the main compartment’s higher walls, which give a comforting feeling of placing your clothes deep within the confines of a box. Or perhaps it’s the shape’s somewhat vintage appeal. Either way, our experts think it’s a “reassuringly robust” luggage with a tall, narrow shape that is easier to wheel around than other checked suitcases.

Our deals experts have spotted a sale right now→

Clay sculpture: Dana Davis and Ezra Lee / Photo: Connie Park

From a great air purifier to a two-slot toaster, here are the products that we think you can get away with going the cheaper route for.

Opt for these more-affordable products over their fancier brethren→

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