35 incredibly useful products we've discovered in 2018 - from an $8 lemon juicer to a $170 robot vacuum

A robovac that vacuums your home even when you really don't to

Eufy Boost IQ RoboVac 11S, $169, available at Amazon

I’ve saved probably five hours a week worth of cleaning time because of this vacuum. All I have to do is set it on an automatic timer to run its course every day, and it travels around my apartment, clearing molding between rooms with ease. This one isn’t advanced enough to track its route so sometimes it’ll go over the same spots, but the ones with all those special features tend to cost a lot more than this one (which is pretty reasonable in my opinion). In addition to scheduling cleanings, you can also use the remote control to clean a specific area by directing the vacuum’s route yourself. It’s slim enough to make it under dressers and couches with low clearance, and strong enough to suck up all the cat hair and litter in my apartment. — Sally Kaplan

A headband that makes falling asleep to music easy

AcousticSheep SleepPhones Bluetooth Headphones, $99.95, available at Amazon

I like to fall asleep to music, but it’s a notoriously difficult task to find headphones that are comfortable (ie. slim enough) to sleep on top of at night without waking up with a sore neck. These AcousticSheep headphones look a bit like a science experiment, but they’re the best ones I’ve found yet: comfortable, loud (but not loud enough to disturb others), and a battery life that lasts all night. You can listen to soothing sounds from an app or your favorite Spotify playlist via Bluetooth. — Mara Leighton

A smartwatch that costs less than $100

Amazfit Bip Smartwatch, $79.99, available at Amazon

I use this affordable smartwatch to track my daily activity and sleep as well as for handy features like the timer, alarm clock, and text notifications. It’s an all-in-one accessory, which is why it’s under-$100 price is even more amazing. Since I hate the constant cycle of charging that comes with owning a lot of tech, the month-long battery life is another reason why I recommend it often to friends. The watch doesn’t take a lot of time to set up and get used to, but it will give back in many different ways. — Connie Chen

A wireless phone charger that's compatible with most phones and even thick cases

Anker PowerWave Wireless Charging Stand, $49.99, available at Amazon

Anker’s PowerWave Wireless Charging Stand sits on my desk so I can top off my iPhone’s battery when it’s running low. The charger is powerful enough to charge through thick cases, and it even charges through my PopSocket if I angle my phone right, which is amazing. No other wireless charger has been able to do that. I also like that it’s a stand because I can check my phone while it charges. Ever since I plugged the PowerWave in at my desk, my phone has always been full when I head home from work. — Malarie Gokey

A button-up duvet cover that is convenient and comfortable

Cool Supima Duvet Cover, $120, available at Casper

I can't praise Casper’s duvet cover enough for its superior design details that solve for the annoying inconveniences of typical duvet covers. There's no way you'll button up the wrong buttons and have to start all over again because there are no buttons, just a zipper and snaps in the corners. And if your duvet shifts around inside, there are hidden openings that let you adjust the duvet without having to undo the whole cover. — Ellen Hoffman

A well-designed set of pillowcases

Luxe Pillowcases, $46 for set of two, available at Brooklinen

My favorite bedding brand Brooklinen recently updated the design of its pillowcases to include envelope closures, which means there are no open ends, and there’s never any annoying pillow spillage. It’s small, clever improvements like this that keep me coming back to the brand time and again for new sheets, comforters, bath towels, and even scented candles. — Ellen Hoffman

A set of packing cubes that are great organizers and space savers

Eagle Creek Pack-It Specter Compression Cube Set, $29.85 (two-pack), available at Amazon

If you’re planning on traveling anytime soon, do yourself a favor and pick up some of these packing cubes before you go. These water-resistant, nylon bags help you keep clothing organized so you won’t waste time digging through your suitcase searching for what you need. Most importantly, they are great space-savers thanks to compression zippers that help you squeeze a lot of clothing into your small luggage.— Remi Rosmarin

An easy, affordable device that centralizes your favorite streaming platforms

Fire TV Stick, $39.99, available at Amazon

Life in my apartment would be much less interesting without our Fire TV Stick, which makes it easy to browse and watch almost any show or movie we feel like. Since each of my roommates subscribes to a different streaming service (Hulu, Netflix, Prime, etc.), we can combine them all into one central hub and never miss out on the latest film or episode. The menus are easy to navigate, it’s Alexa-compatible, and the Fire TV app lets you control everything from your phone when you can’t find the remote. The stick is compact and portable, and you can bring it with you when you travel as long as your hotel room has a TV and WiFi. — Connie Chen

A waterproof power pack that can withstand the elements of the outdoors

LIFEACTIV P0wer Pack, $39.99, available at Amazon

Until now, I have never carried around a power pack with me because I knew I’d get it wet in no time and that would be that. LifeProof has finally made a submersible battery pack along the lines of their phone case (which I also fully endorse), and I couldn’t be more relieved. I don’t know how many times I’ve been out and about with a dead phone and wanting a little GPS assistance passing through a reef or hiking out of a high-alpine trout stream. This might well be a lifesaver for me, and I can’t recommend it enough. Also, the four-mode flashlight, while not necessarily unique, is much appreciated. — Owen Burke

A small, but very useful citrus press

Cucisina Citrus Press, $8, available at Amazon (third party sellers only)

If your cooking calls for a lot of juiced lemons or limes, or you just make a lot of guacamole, you need this $8 tool in your life. It’s a serious game changer. Lemon seeds falling into your food will be a thing of the past. — Ellen Hoffman

A pair of wireless headphones that stay put while you run

Jaybird RUN True Wireless In-Ear Headphones, $132.99, available at Amazon and Best Buy

I spent a long time looking for wireless earbuds that both felt secure and were loud enough to drown out the monotony of pounding feet on a treadmill, and these are the best I’ve ever come across. They fit the bill perfectly, and they’re tiny enough to fit in my jacket pocket or purse even in their charging case. They never fall out – or feel like they could – and they’ve got a great battery life: 12 hours on a full charge, and only five minutes in the charging case equaling one hour of playtime. They’re also dirt-, sweat-, and water-resistant. Thanks to their convenience, I’ve even started using them on my commute or as a space-friendly travel alternative to bulky headphones for short trips. If I lost them, I’d easily fork over $150 to replace them. — Mara Leighton

A stylish reusable bag that is an eco-friendly alternative to plastic

Standard BAGGU Reusable Bag, $10, available at BAGGU

Nothing fancy here — it’s a nylon bag, but a sturdy, stylish, and versatile one at that. I carry one with me most days to bring product samples home from the office, lug heavy groceries (which I inevitably overbuy at the market every time), and pack random knickknacks when I travel. Coming from a state where plastic bags are banned, I’m used to carrying reusable bags. They’re so much better for the environment, and they’re light and won’t weigh you down. BAGGU’s even folds down to a 5” x 5” square. — Connie Chen

An adhesive that gives you get the best grip on your tech

PopSocket Collapsible Grip & Stand, starting at $12, available at Amazon and PopSocket

PopSocket grips are honestly one of the greatest inventions known to humankind. They make holding your tech a heck of a lot easier, especially when commuting. I avoided using them for a long time because I’m a contrarian and I hate giving in to popular trends, which was honestly no excuse. They are incredibly useful, and now I have one on every device including my phone, tablet, and Kindle. I even use the one on my phone to neatly wrap and store my headphones sometimes. — Sally Kaplan

I don’t do trendy things as a rule, either, so I’m relieved I got my PopSocket before it was cool. I can’t imagine using my phone without one now. The PopSocket grips aren’t just cute and fun to look at, they’re incredibly practical. They make holding and navigating your phone one-handed a breeze, and PopSockets double as a stand when you want to watch a video on your phone. — Malarie Gokey

A window perch your cat will thank you for

Kitty Cot Original World's Best Cat Perch, $44.95, available at Amazon

I went through my Amazon order history for 2018 and, yes, this window perch that I bought back in March definitely qualifies as useful — well, for my cat, at least. She uses it to sunbathe, watch birds and construction workers on nearby rooftops, and of course, to nap. She is very satisfied by the purchase, albeit she didn’t offer to help pay for it...— Ellen Hoffman

A well-thought-out dish rack that will motivate you to wash your dishes

Farberware 3-Piece Dish Rack Set, $27.08, available at Amazon

A large dish rack may not seem like a worthwhile investment, but believe me, it is. I bought Farberware’s dish rack last summer, and it’s changed my kitchen cleaning game. The rack has three holders for utensils, three spots on the side to dry glasses, and enough room in its main section to dry a sink-load of dishes. The rack itself is slightly slanted, so water can drain from your dishes directly into the sink. I realized that I wasn’t doing my dishes as often as I should have because the idea of doing it in several loads was annoying. Now that I don’t have that problem, the only thing I see when I look into the sink is the drain. — Brandt Ranj

A two-in-one heater and fan that can help lower your electricity bill

Dyson Pure Hot + Cool Link, $479.99, available at Best Buy

This winter my tiny, poorly insulated NYC apartment racked up over a $500 monthly electricity bill while we struggled to find a convenient, cost-effective solution. Savings on a big purchase like the Dyson Pure Hot + Cool Link usually add up gradually over time, but we saw returns on the investment within the first few months – cutting our bill by hundreds of dollars and evenly heating our apartment without demanding much space. It’s attractive and compact enough to keep in a main area, evenly circulates heat, removes 99.97% of pollutants and allergens according to the company, and can operate via voice control and a seven-day schedule (complete with night-time mode) so you can walk in the door to a toasty warm living room in December. It was a lifesaver. — Mara Leighton

A great water bottle for keeping beverages ice-cold on the go

40 oz. Wide-Mouth Vacuum Water Bottle (available in 11 colors), $42.95, available at Hydro Flask

After using the Hydro Flask Rocks Cup and True Pint Glass for my hot and cold drinks at work, I wanted to get something that I could use when I’m not in the office. I went with the 40 oz. Wide-Mouth Vacuum Water Bottle and I’ve used it just about every day since purchasing it. Originally, I thought I’d only carry it to the gym since it holds enough water to get me through my workouts, but I’ve started to carry it with me whenever I know I’ll be away from home for a while. Compared to normal water bottles, the Hydro Flask keeps my water cold for a much longer time. If I fill it with water and ice cubes in the morning, the ice cubes are usually still in there by the end of the day — even if it’s very hot outside. — Amir Ismael

Quick-drying, lightweight towels that are great for humid weather

Fouta Towels, starting at $4, available at Crane & Canopy

One of the worst things about humid, hot weather is that nothing dries — least of all the towels you have to use to dry off from multiple cold showers each day. I was lucky enough to get Crane & Canopy’s lightweight Fouta Turkish cotton towels just in time for a heat wave, and I love them. They dry super quickly, they don’t feel heavy on your body when it’s hot, and they’re really cute in your bathroom. —Malarie Gokey

A set of giant, cozy shower towels

Egyptian Cotton Towels, $24.95, available at L.L.Bean

I am not super tall (quite the opposite), but get cold very easily, which means that the moment I get out of the shower, I’m freezing. These bath sheets are huge (40 x 60), soft, dense, and warm me right up. I also like that they're not so plush that they don’t dry easily or anything like that. You can also have them monogrammed for $8.— Grace High

A book membership service that will satisfy avid readers

Scribd membership, $8.99 a month, available at Scribd

Scribd is a reading app that gives subscribers unlimited access to hundreds of thousands of audiobooks, e-books, magazines, sheet music, and more for $9 per month. You can download titles for offline reading and add highlights and notes. In my experience, it’s the best and broadest collection of titles for less than I pay for coffee in a week. It helps me read more, and it’s about the only subscription I’ve been loyal to for a year and remained totally content with. — Mara Leighton

A super-convenient utensil holder

OXO Good Grips Rotating Utensil Holder, $19.95, available at Amazon

As an avid home chef I’ve accumulated way too many tools and utensils to fit in my kitchen drawers. I bought OXO’s rotating utensil holder earlier this year, and never looked back. The holder is partitioned into three sections, so you can easily organize your tools based on which ones you use for certain types of cooking. And as silly as it may seem, the fact that this holder rotates makes it easy to get quick access to every tool you have stored inside. — Brandt Ranj

An affordable espresso maker that looks and feels like a luxury one

Flair Signature Espresso Maker, $199.99, available at Amazon

I’ve been hunting for an affordable alternative to a $5,000 espresso machine for most of my adult life. Regular coffee is not an option for me, and while I love my simple stovetop Moka pots, getting it to work right can be a challenge, if not a nuisance. The Flair pulls perfect shots every time, and looks great on my counter. At the cost of most espresso pod machines, you’ll get something along the lines of a real espresso shot with fresh coffee grounds. It’s also kind of fun to use, and, I might add, looks great on the kitchen counter. — Owen Burke

A quick-drying microfiber towel that can be compactly stored

REI Co-op Multi-Towel Lite, $9.95-$24.95, available at REI

I never thought I needed a microfiber towel, but they’re seriously convenient. They’re super absorbent and only take a few hours to dry completely. If you’re in a pinch for time, you can easily ring the towel out to the point where it’s just damp. The best part is the towel fits into a little nylon pouch, so you can easily tote it to the beach, on a hike, or travelling when you need to save luggage space, plus the nylon makes sure everything else in your bag stays dry. — Remi Rosmarin

Hydrocolloid patches that help pesky pimples disappear

Mighty Patch Hydrocolloid Acne Absorbing Spot Dots, $12.33, available at Amazon

These Mighty Patch stickers are the most effective acne weapon I’ve ever found, and both myself and fellow Insider Picks reporter Connie Chen have sung their praises many times. Stick the spot dot over a blemish at night when one crops up, and you’ll find that it is either gone or vastly diminished in severity and inflammation the next morning. The hydrocolloid – originally used for treating wounds – draws impurities out from pores without harsh chemicals or drying products, and the sticker cover protects blemishes from your wandering hands as well as dirt, dust, and germs so it can recover quickly and effectively. If you ever get a blemish and want the power to gently solve it overnight, you should try these. — Mara Leighton

A customizable, Alexa-enabled lighting system

Philips Hue White Ambiance Smart Bulb Starter Kit, $144, available at Amazon

My apartment is small and it operates with master switches — meaning one switch controls every outlet in a given room. Since most of my outlets are covered by furniture, I got the Philips Hue smart bulbs (after hearing so many positive recommendations from colleagues) so I could control the lights by my Amazon Echo or Hue app on my phone, and wake up to a warm glow on dark and dismal winter mornings. I’ve said it before, but the Philips Hue smart bulbs have surprised my by being one of the best and most convenient home upgrades I’ve ever made — not to mention fantastic for creating the ideal atmosphere (these have 50,000 shades of white light for you to play with, from night light to “energize”).— Mara Leighton

An all-natural sunscreen that is better for your body and the environment

Raw Elements Face and Body Natural Sunscreen, $17.49, available at Amazon

Chemical-based sunscreen is really noxious stuff, and as someone who spends a lot of time outdoors, the last thing I want to do is poison the very reefs which both dazzle and feed me. Oxybenzone, one of the primary ingredients in chemical-based sunscreens, is a chemical that we know almost nothing about, other than it kills corals.

The other side of the coin is that natural, mineral-based sunscreens are predominantly made with thick, gloppy zinc that leaves us looking like The Friendly Ghost. Raw Elements’ Face and Body is among the best solutions I’ve tried, and if you make sure to apply it well ahead of your day outside, it will soak in very well, and stay there better than most chemical-based alternatives. Their plastic-free tins are also a nice touch, and I reuse them for just about anything and everything. — Owen Burke

Boxes that help easily organize a big shoe collection

Men's Drop-Front Shoe Box, $9.99 each or $53.94 for a six-pack, available at The Container Store

The Container Store’s Drop-Front Shoe Boxes are easily the best investment I’ve made in keeping my large (and growing) shoe collection organized. Stacking regular shoe boxes turns out to be a total mess when you want a pair from the bottom, but with these clever shoe boxes, that’s not a problem. They’re designed to stack as high as you’d like and since you can open them from the front, you’ll never have to unstack boxes to get a pair of shoes out. You can read my full review here. — Amir Ismael

A backpack cooler that you can take anywhere

Hopper Backflip 24, $299.99, available at YETI

This cooler has become one of my best friends this year. It’s so compact and well-sealed that I can take it just about anywhere, and transporting food and drink — be it on the train, to the park or beach for a picnic, or anywhere, really — has become much less of a chore. Backpack coolers have been a big hit this year, and I’m also a big fan of the IceMule BOSS for bigger, longer trips, the YETI BackFlip has been my all-around favorite this year. Oh, and it also holds ice for a really long time. — Owen Burke

A dry bag that keeps your belongings easily accessible and dry

Sidekick Dry, $49.99, available at YETI

The Sidekick Dry has to be one of my favorite innovations from YETI yet. If there’s one issue I’ve had with every dry bag I’ve owned, it’s been opening and closing it, especially with wet or dirty hands in the outdoors. Dry bags require about three or four even rolls at the top in order to seal properly, and if you find yourself needing to get in and out of them repeatedly, they become a real pain. The Sidekick Dry eliminates that conundrum as much as anything could. A sturdy Velcro tab and a zip-lock-like magnetic seal accommodate even the most debilitated, preoccupied hands, and I’ve been able to pull out all sorts of essentials in a heartbeat thanks to it. — Owen Burke

A small hand steamer and iron that perks up your clothes in a pinch

Rowenta Hand-Held Steamer and Iron, $22, available at Amazon

This hybrid iron and steamer has taken the place of two devices for me. Though it’s not ideal for ironing large pieces of clothing or linen sheets, it’s perfect for steaming out wrinkles on most things in my closet and crisping up collars and sleeves. — Sally Kaplan

A drain protector that catches all hairs that cross its path

TubShroom Drain Protector, $12.99, available at Amazon

Much to my partner’s chagrin, my hair is constantly clogging the shower drain. So on a whim, I bought the internet famous TubShroom (it has nearly 15,000 reviews on Amazon and a 4.2-star rating) to mitigate the problem. And it’s not a gimmick. It works like a charm, it’s easy to clean, and best of all, it’s only $13. — Ellen Hoffman

A deceivingly comfortable pair of chinos

Men's Tech Chinos, $168, available at Bonobos

I wear pants a lot and this is my absolute favorite pair. They are not cheap at $168 per pair and they seem to be immune to Bonobos’ sales, but I still love them anyway. In November of 2017 I called them "the perfect pair of pants" and I stand by that. I bought two more pairs this year. They look professional but feel like casual pants so I even find myself wearing them on weekends. These pants are water and stain resistant, stretch, fit great and once you buy a pair you’ll see what I’m talking about. We’ve featured them in a few other stories, one of which you can read here, if you need further convincing. — Breton Fischetti

A pair of glasses that protect your eyes from the harsh blue light of computers, phones, and other tech

ZENNI Blue Light Glasses, starting at $6.95, available at ZENNI

These under-$20 blue light reflecting glasses were among the most life-changing accessories I’ve acquired this year. I only wish I’d gotten them sooner. I’ve always noticed that my eyes were exhausted by the end of a day’s worth of glaring at a computer screen, but I never really thought to do anything about it. I’ve tried a few different pairs, but ZENNI’s have been my favorite, far and away. I don’t feel like I have to go find some sort of dark chamber in which to regather my vision after a day in the office. — Owen Burke

The only backpack you need for everyday use

EveryDay Backpack 2oL, $259.95, available at Peak Design

Peak’s 20L EveryDay Backpack is basically the perfect backpack for, well, every day. It doubles as a camera bag, but works for just about everything else, too. Movable, adjustable shelves let you reconfigure the bag on the fly, and comfortable, well-designed padding and straps make it easy to carry even when it’s full. It’s become my go-to commute bag, as well as my camera day bag for when I’m traveling. You can read my full review here. — David Slotnick

Vacuum seal bags that seriously maximize your storage space

SpaceSaver Premium Reusable Vacuum Storage Bags, $29.99, available at Amazon

Despite having a thimble-sized closet, I resisted buying vacuum storage bags for a long time – at 23, they seemed too intimately related to infomercials and old age. But, now that I have them, I can't readily name a better use of $30 (which gets you six "jumbo" bags). They've freed up about 60% of my storage space, are incredibly simple to use and reuse, and slide easily under my bed so I don't have to look at or think about them. — Mara Leighton