Start cross-country skiing with confidence. A longtime skier breaks down the must-have gear, clothing, and essentials, with expert advice and personal testing.

Our “how to” guide highlights all the expert tips and equipment you’ll need to successfully hit the ice.

We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more› By Hannah Rimm Hannah Rimm is an editor at Wirecutter. She has spent a decade ...

Oxygen is a vital and constant presence on Earth today. But that hasn't always been the case. It wasn't until around 2.3 billion years ago that oxygen became a permanent fixture in the atmosphere, ...

Dr. Shields is a physical therapist with a background in English Literature and a passion for healthcare and education. She hopes to combine her clinical expertise with her love of writing, establish ...

Every day, you put on socks and forget about them — if they’re good. If they’re bad, you can’t help thinking about them. There are so many ways socks can go wrong: when they don’t hug your ankle ...

Running socks are like air traffic controllers—taken for granted until something bad happens. The best running socks quietly stay in the background while protecting from abrasion, wicking moisture, ...

Can wearing socks to bed on a cold night help you sleep better? Or is it unhealthy and unhygienic? Learn what the science shows. Wearing socks to bed may help some people fall asleep a little faster ...

A sock hop was a popular event in the 1950s. At sock hops, teenagers would gather to dance to the music of the day. But these considerate teens wouldn’t want to scuff up the dance floor that they ...

In a new study, people who followed a moderate-to-vigorous aerobic exercise routine for a year had a noticeable drop in brain age, while those who stuck to their usual fitness routine saw a slight ...