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All buying guides
37 guides and counting. Search, filter by category or type, or sort by what changed most recently.
37 guides
Grills & Smokers
Blackstone vs. Camp Chef
Blackstone vs. Camp Chef flat-top griddles compared: size, grill-box option, upkeep and accessories, plus a low-maintenance Weber alternative.
Comparison · 4 min read
Lawn & Garden Tech
Husqvarna vs. Segway Navimow
Husqvarna Automower iQ vs. Segway Navimow i2 LiDAR and X4: lawn size, slopes, wire vs. wire-free navigation, installation, dealer support and price.
Comparison · 4 min read
Grills & Smokers
Kamado Joe vs. Big Green Egg
Kamado Joe Classic Joe III vs. Big Green Egg (Large): features, support, weight, accessories and who each ceramic kamado suits best.
Comparison · 4 min read
Hot Tubs & Wellness
Plunge vs. Ice Barrel
Plunge vs. Ice Barrel compared: built-in chiller vs. an insulated barrel you can add a chiller to, size, weight, warranty and who each suits.
Comparison · 5 min read
Lawn & Garden Tech
Rachio vs. Orbit B-hyve
Rachio 3 vs. Orbit B-hyve XR (plus Hunter Hydrawise for bigger systems): app quality, features, installation and which smart controller to buy.
Comparison · 4 min read
Grills & Smokers
Searwood vs. Ironwood
Weber Searwood vs. Traeger Ironwood compared: searing, app and Wi-Fi features, price tier, ease of use and the value alternatives worth a look.
Comparison · 4 min read
Fire Pits
Solo Stove vs. Breeo
Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0 and Yukon 2.0 vs. the Breeo X Series: portability, size, durability, cooking accessories and which smokeless pit fits you.
Comparison · 4 min read
Grills & Smokers
Best Electric Smokers
The best electric smokers for beginners to serious cooks: Masterbuilt, Bradley and Cookshack compared on size, controls, wood and warranty.
Top picks · 5 min read
Fire Pits
Best Outdoor Fireplaces & Chimineas
The best outdoor fireplaces and chimineas: Sunnydaze steel, Bali cast iron and a Napoleon gas fireplace compared on fuel, size, upkeep and warranty.
Top picks · 5 min read
Grills & Smokers
Best Portable Grills
The best portable grills for camping and tailgating: Weber, Pit Boss, Traeger, Lodge and Blackstone compared on weight, size, power and fuel.
Top picks · 5 min read
Hot Tubs & Wellness
Best Backyard Saunas
How to choose an outdoor sauna — barrel or cabin, electric or wood-burning — plus the leading makers to consider and what installation really involves.
Top picks · 3 min read
Hot Tubs & Wellness
Best Cold Plunge Tubs
Plunge, Ice Barrel and budget options compared — what a cold plunge costs, what you need to run one, and safety basics before you start.
Top picks · 3 min read
Grills & Smokers
Best Flat-Top Griddles
Smash burgers, breakfast for a crowd, fajitas and fried rice — the best outdoor griddles and how to choose the right size.
Top picks · 4 min read
Grills & Smokers
Best Gas Grills
How to choose a gas grill that lasts — plus our picks from Weber, Napoleon, Monument and Char-Broil at every budget.
Top picks · 4 min read
Grills & Smokers
Best Gifts for Backyard Cooks
Gift ideas for people who love to grill, make pizza and hang out around a fire — from stocking stuffers to the one big present.
Top picks · 4 min read
Hot Tubs & Wellness
Best Inflatable Hot Tubs
Inflatable hot tubs are the cheapest way to start soaking at home. Here's how Lay-Z-Spa, Intex, Coleman and MSpa compare — and the trade-offs to know first.
Top picks · 4 min read
Grills & Smokers
Best Kamado & Charcoal Grills
From the classic Weber Kettle to ceramic kamados and digital charcoal grills — the best charcoal cookers for flavor, sear and low-and-slow barbecue.
Top picks · 4 min read
Patio & Comfort
Best Mosquito Control for Yards
Repellers, traps, larvicides and simple habits — what really reduces mosquitoes around your patio, and what's a waste of money.
Top picks · 3 min read
Pizza Ovens
Best Outdoor Pizza Ovens
We compared the current Ooni and Gozney lineups to find the best backyard pizza ovens for beginners, big families, wood-fire fans and tighter budgets.
Top picks · 6 min read
Patio & Comfort
Best Outdoor String Lights
Commercial-grade bistro lights, solar strings and smart permanent lighting compared — and how to hang them so they last.
Top picks · 3 min read
Patio & Comfort
Best Patio Heaters
The best patio heaters for fall and winter: propane tower heaters and plug-in infrared models, with output, safety and placement tips.
Top picks · 5 min read
Patio & Comfort
Best Patio Umbrellas
How to choose a patio umbrella that gives real shade and survives wind — plus top picks from Abba Patio, California Umbrella and Treasure Garden.
Top picks · 3 min read
Grills & Smokers
Best Pellet Grills
Pellet grills make smoking meat nearly foolproof. Here are the best options at every budget — and what to look for before you buy.
Top picks · 4 min read
Pizza Ovens
Best Pizza Oven Accessories
A peel, an infrared thermometer, a scale and a cover — the inexpensive gear that makes the biggest difference to your first pizzas.
Top picks · 3 min read
Fire Pits
Best Propane Fire Pit Tables
The best propane fire pit tables compared: Outland Living and Real Flame picks, plus BTU, size, tank and safety tips to choose the right one.
Top picks · 5 min read
Lawn & Garden Tech
Best Robot Lawn Mowers
Robot mowers have gotten good. Here's how Husqvarna, Segway Navimow, Mammotion and Worx compare — and how to choose by lawn size, slope and tree cover.
Top picks · 4 min read
Lawn & Garden Tech
Best Smart Sprinkler Controllers
Rachio, Orbit B-hyve and Hunter Hydrawise compared — how smart controllers work, what you need to install one and whether they pay for themselves.
Top picks · 3 min read
Fire Pits
Best Smokeless Fire Pits
Smokeless fire pits burn wood more cleanly — here are the best from Solo Stove, Breeo and BioLite, and who each one is for.
Top picks · 4 min read
Grills & Smokers
Best Wireless Meat Thermometers
The best wireless meat thermometers for grilling and smoking: MEATER, Typhur, Combustion and ThermoWorks compared on range, probes and battery.
Top picks · 5 min read
Hot Tubs & Wellness
Cold Plunge vs. Ice Bath
Cold plunge vs. ice bath: how a chilled tub differs from a tub of ice, what each costs to set up and run, and the safety basics to know first.
Guide · 5 min read
Pizza Ovens
Gas vs. Wood-Fired Pizza Ovens
Convenience or flavor? Here's how gas, wood, charcoal and multi-fuel pizza ovens really differ in taste, effort, cost and safety.
Guide · 4 min read
Hot Tubs & Wellness
Hot Tub Buying Guide
Purchase price, electrical needs, running costs, base requirements and the questions to ask a dealer — everything to know before buying a hot tub.
Guide · 4 min read
Fire Pits
How Far Should a Fire Pit Be From Your House?
Typical safe distances from your house, fence, trees and deck — plus surface, wind and local-rule basics. Always check local codes and the manufacturer's instructions.
Guide · 3 min read
Hot Tubs & Wellness
Infrared vs. Traditional Saunas
Infrared vs. traditional sauna: compare heat, warm-up time, electrical needs, outdoor use and cost before you buy a home sauna.
Guide · 5 min read
Pizza Ovens
Ooni vs. Gozney
A head-to-head comparison of the two biggest pizza-oven brands — lineups, fuel, size, warranty and which one fits your backyard.
Comparison · 5 min read
Patio & Comfort
Where to Buy Patio Furniture
Wayfair, Home Depot, Lowe's, Costco, Article and POLYWOOD compared — plus materials, cushions, sales timing and what to check before you buy.
Top picks · 4 min read
Fire Pits
Wood vs. Propane Fire Pits
Crackle and smoke, or switch-and-go? Compare cost, convenience, safety, rules and cleanup to choose between wood and propane fire pits.
Guide · 3 min read