For someone with more free time than ever: things for the garden, slow mornings, family photos and maybe a new hobby. Each pick was recommended by independent reviewers.
Every product below comes from recent independent reviews, and an automated fact check confirmed each detail against its source. We don't test products ourselves. How we pick.
Products last fact-checked .
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Garden kneeler and seat
A padded kneeler for gardening that flips over into a low seat.
Mid-range pick
Abco Tech Garden Kneeler and Seat
- Works as a cushioned kneeler or a seat, with side supports, and folds for storage. (Bob Vila)
- Rated for 300 lb, measures 16 by 23 by 11 inches and weighs 6.7 lb. (Bob Vila)
- Comes with an attached tool pouch and a set of gardening gloves. (Bob Vila)
- Reviewers at Bob Vila found it comfortable to kneel on over two weeks, but the seat narrow and the closing mechanism awkward. (Bob Vila)
Recommended in: Bob Vila, Bob Vila
See price on AmazonHand garden tool set
A set of hand tools for planting and weeding.
Mid-range pick
Carsolt 10-Piece Stainless Steel Garden Tool Set
- Ten pieces: several trowels, a hand rake for loosening soil, a weeding knife and puller, two shears and a hand saw. (Bob Vila)
- Stainless steel heads with large rubberized grips, plus a canvas tote with a pocket for each tool. (Bob Vila)
- Reviewers at Bob Vila found the trowels dug dry soil easily but bent in dense wet soil after heavy rain. (Bob Vila)
- Reviewers at Bob Vila found the weeding tools performed well and the cutting tools handled off-season pruning. (Bob Vila)
Recommended in: Bob Vila, Drew & Jonathan
See price on AmazonDigital photo frame
A frame that shows a slideshow of photos.
Budget pick
YunQiDeer Frameo 10.1-inch Digital Picture Frame
- 10.1-inch touchscreen with 1,280 x 800 resolution that works in landscape or portrait. (Yahoo Tech)
- Has 16GB of built-in storage, expandable with a microSD card, and can back up photos to external storage. (Yahoo Tech)
- Photos are sent through the Frameo app, 10 at a time unless you pay for Frameo+, which adds cloud backup and longer videos. (Yahoo Tech)
- Reviewers at Yahoo Tech found its printed instructions very good and its viewing angles good. (Yahoo Tech)
Recommended in: Yahoo Tech
See price on AmazonMid-range pick
PhotoSpring 10" WiFi Digital Picture Frame
- 10.1-inch touchscreen with 1,280 x 800 resolution that works in portrait or landscape. (Engadget)
- Photos can come from the PhotoSpring app or website, Google Photos, a microSD card or a USB drive; the card and drive need no internet. (Engadget)
- No subscription is required. (Engadget)
- Reviewers at Engadget found worse viewing angles and more glare than on their top pick, and the touchscreen picks up fingerprints. (Engadget)
Recommended in: Engadget
See price on AmazonSplurge pick
Lexar Pexar 11-inch Digital Picture Frame
- 11-inch touchscreen with a sharp 2,000 x 1,200 (2K) matte display that reduces glare. (Yahoo Tech)
- Has 32GB of built-in storage, expandable with a microSD card or a USB drive. (PCMag (via Yahoo Tech))
- A magnetic clip-on stand makes it easy to switch between portrait and landscape. (Yahoo Tech)
- PCMag says it offers several ways to send photos to the frame without a cloud service or app, and it can hang on a wall. (PCMag (via Yahoo Tech))
Recommended in: Yahoo Tech, PCMag (via Yahoo Tech)
See price on AmazonCamping hammock
A hammock that packs small and hangs between two trees.
Mid-range pick
Wise Owl Outfitters Kit
- Comes with 9-foot Talon Hammock Straps Lite tree straps, two carabiners and a built-in stuff sack. (OutdoorGearLab)
- A double-width hammock, 10' by 6'6", rated for 500 lbs. (OutdoorGearLab)
- Made of 210 thread count rip-resistant parachute nylon with triple stitching. (OutdoorGearLab)
- OutdoorGearLab measured 30 oz for the hammock and straps. (OutdoorGearLab)
Recommended in: OutdoorGearLab
See price on AmazonSplurge pick
ENO DoubleNest
- Tree straps aren't included; OutdoorGearLab tested it with ENO Atlas straps. (OutdoorGearLab)
- OutdoorGearLab gives 19 oz for the hammock alone and about 30 oz with straps. (OutdoorGearLab)
- Made of 70-denier nylon taffeta and rated for 400 lbs. (Treeline Review)
- Packs into an attached stuff sack and hangs with its attached carabiners. (Treeline Review)
Recommended in: OutdoorGearLab, Treeline Review
See price on AmazonClip-on book light
Clips onto a book for reading in bed without lighting up the room.
Budget pick
Glocusent Portable Clip-on LED Reading Light
- Offers eight adjustable light settings. (TODAY (Shop TODAY))
- The head tilts and rotates, so you can aim the light and turn pages without re-clipping it. (TODAY (Shop TODAY))
- Reviewers at Shop TODAY found it compact and better suited to smaller books such as paperbacks. (TODAY (Shop TODAY))
Recommended in: TODAY (Shop TODAY)
See price on Amazon1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle
A big puzzle for slow evenings, solo or with company.
Mid-range pick
Magic Puzzle Company Mystic Maze Puzzle
- Has 1,000 cardboard pieces and measures about 27 x 28 inches when finished. (NBC Select (NBC News))
- Over 50 easter eggs are hidden in the artwork, and a list of them comes in the box. (NBC Select (NBC News))
- The completed picture pulls off a visual illusion, and the box also holds two art posters. (NBC Select (NBC News))
- Reviewers at Engadget found the pieces solid and the art colorful and full of hidden details. (Engadget)
Recommended in: NBC Select (NBC News), Engadget
See price on AmazonPour-over coffee set
A pour-over brewer for making coffee by hand.
Budget pick
Coffee Gator Pour-Over Coffee Maker (27 oz)
- Brews into a 27-ounce carafe; a 14-ounce version is also sold. (Taste of Home)
- Uses a reusable, dual-layer permanent mesh filter. (Taste of Home)
- Has printed measurements on the carafe and a handle for pouring. (Taste of Home)
Recommended in: Taste of Home, Yahoo Shopping
See price on AmazonSplurge pick
Chemex Classic Pour-Over Glass Coffeemaker (40 oz)
- Brews up to 40 ounces at a time. (Taste of Home)
- A glass carafe with a wooden collar that serves as a heat-blocking grip. (Taste of Home)
- Homegrounds notes the Chemex design is in the Museum of Modern Art's permanent collection. (Homegrounds)
Recommended in: Taste of Home, Homegrounds
See price on AmazonWatercolor paint set
A watercolor set for trying a new hobby.
Budget pick
MeiLiang Watercolor Paint Set
- The Good Housekeeping writer who bought it to try watercolor found its paints richly pigmented and good for layering. (Good Housekeeping (on Yahoo Shopping))
- It comes in a compact, light case the writer says she can toss in a tote bag. (Good Housekeeping (on Yahoo Shopping))
Recommended in: Good Housekeeping (on Yahoo Shopping)
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