Wirecutter's Hall of Fame

Wirecutter's "Hall of Fame" episode celebrates products that have maintained their status as top recommendations for at least six years, with 50 items selected through passionate debate among journalists. Christine Cyr-Claisset introduces the concept, explaining that these products consistently outperform competitors, prove more durable, and become indispensable in personal lives.

Doug Mahoney discusses the Leatherman Skeletool CX, a stripped-down multi-tool based around pliers rather than a Swiss Army knife model. It contains only essential tools: wire cutters, knife, double-sided screwdriver bits, and a carabiner clip. Mahoney explains that by eliminating unnecessary tools like saws and files, the Skeletool remains lightweight and practical for everyday carry. He notes the brand's heritage, founded by Tim Leatherman in Portland, Oregon in the early 1980s, with a generous 25-year warranty. Mahoney shares that he used the Skeletool to cut an umbilical cord from a newborn lamb on his farm, illustrating its versatility.

Mahoney also highlights the Corky toilet plunger as an underrated Hall of Fame pick. The plunger's large bulb holds approximately seven cups of water compared to three in standard plungers. Its distinctive beehive shape combines rigid rubber on top with pliable rubber on the bottom, allowing it to conform to various toilet outlet shapes. The design enables proper plunging technique by moving water through the drain rather than air.

Leslie Stockton covers the Z-Roll original ice cream scoop, which has been a Wirecutter pick since 2016 (approximately ten years). The scoop is machined from a single piece of aluminum filled with heat-transferring fluid that conducts warmth from the user's hand. A beveled edge on the inside helps slice into hard ice cream. The traditional tool, patented in 1935, is favored by ice cream parlors. Stockton notes that proper maintenance requires hand-washing to protect the sealing cap. She also discusses the Baratza Encore burr grinder, which she has owned since 2013 and has repeatedly repaired herself. She emphasizes that burr grinders produce consistent grinds from fine to coarse, enabling even extraction in coffee, and argues that upgrading to a burr grinder improves home coffee more than any other single change, even with an inexpensive coffee maker.

Lauren Dragon discusses the Puro Sound Labs BT2200 kids' headphones, a pick for seven years (or ten years including earlier iterations). The headphones feature volume limiting capped at approximately 85 decibels to prevent hearing damage, swappable ear cups for different head sizes, and daisy-chain capability allowing two pairs to connect to one device. Dragon's testing revealed that many competitor headphones claiming volume limiting actually reached dangerous levels—102-104 decibels—or had overridable safety features. She emphasizes that children's hearing is better than adults', making sound quality important. Dragon expresses a desire for replaceable batteries and headbands, and mentions AuraCast as a future feature enabling wireless broadcasting to multiple devices simultaneously.

Tim Heffernan covers the Coway AP1512HH Mighty air purifier, a pick since 2014. He attributes its longevity to exceptional performance in particle removal combined with livability factors: quiet operation, energy efficiency, compact visual design, and reliability over years of continuous use. Heffernan explains that while overall U.S. air quality has improved historically, wildfires since 2017-2018 have intensified and become more common, making purifiers increasingly relevant. He measured indoor air quality during the 2023 New York smoke event and found interior air approximately one thousand times cleaner than outside air with the Coway running. Heffernan notes that most good purifiers achieve 98-99% particle removal; differences lie in livability factors like noise, light output, and smart features. He explains that HEPA filtration—removing 99.97% of 0.3-micron particles—has not fundamentally changed since the purifier's introduction, and that ionizing functions add minimal real benefit. Fine particulates represent a long-term health risk, potentially crossing the blood-brain barrier after entering the bloodstream.