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Best Fitting T-Shirts for Men (According to a Savile Row Tailor)

Best Fitting T-Shirts for Men (According to a Savile Row Tailor)

SCORES:

Mott & Bow — M8 / C8 / J7 — TOTAL: 23

Colorful Standard — M8 / C7 / J8 — TOTAL: 23

Asket — M7 / C8 / J7 — TOTAL: 22

Son of a Tailor — M5 / C8 / J7 — TOTAL: 20

Uniqlo — M6 / C7 / J6 — TOTAL: 19

Sunspel — M7 / C5 / J6 — TOTAL: 18

Rapanui — M5 / C6 / J6 — TOTAL: 18

True Classic — M5 / C4 / J7 — TOTAL: 16

Spoke — M4 / C4 / J4 — TOTAL: 12

Both ASKET and Mott & Bow produce high-quality T-shirts off the peg, but ASKET’s extensive choice of sizes, including width and length, should ensure everyone can find something that looks and feels great. Uniqlo seems to have created a superb-value, indestructible design that will last for years, while Colorful Standard proves that prewashed, hipster-approved organic tees can look great on all body shapes.

Of the two bespoke brands, Son of a Tailor was far superior to Spoke. The use of quality (albeit not organic) Supima cotton in a choice of weights, combined with a flattering, premium look and the ability to tweak subsequent designs to suit stands them apart, despite the strange discrepancy in sizing. Spoke failed to impress, although the remake of Chris’ original shirt was a significant improvement.

Taub isn’t surprised that the online algorithm approach isn’t, as yet, foolproof. “Getting people that aren’t experienced inputting their measurements is flawed. You could never get a customer to send their measurements accurately. I’m also surprised none of these brands ask for a simple photograph, as it would really add a dimension.”

But he does concede that “if you understand that the first T-shirt [ordered online] isn’t going to be the best, and instead consider it a journey with a brand you’re willing to trust and support—and that will still be in existence in the future—you will learn what looks good on you. Through trial and error, you will be able to get a custom fit from a factory-made garment. But from what I’ve seen so far, none of them really have been better than you just spending two days going to every single shop, and checking them out for yourself.”

‘Starfield’ Review: Get Lost in Space

‘Starfield’ Review: Get Lost in Space

Nearly two dozen hours into Starfield, the latest action role-playing game from Bethesda Game Studios, I stumbled upon a side story that was far more thrilling and formally inventive than anything else in the main plot up to that point.

In it, the player is forced to work undercover within a vicious gang, becoming something like a government mole who has to gain the trust of their new colleagues while avoiding becoming the kind of bloodthirsty criminal they’re trying to take down. There are heists, gunfights, daring escapes, and spots of moral intrigue along the way. It’s one of the most compelling bits of the sprawling sci-fi RPG and, because of the game’s design, it seems like it would be very easy to miss.

To get it started, the player must happen to speak to a character they’ve likely sprinted past many times before. They have to have ignored the demands of a main plotline that begs for attention and the innumerable side stories that pop up when walking the streets of Starfield’s sci-fi cities. It’s a diamond hidden deep in the rough that illustrates a major problem with the game’s design: There’s simply so much packed into it that it’s nearly impossible to tell what’s worthwhile.

All artists, from filmmakers and novelists to musicians and gamemakers, have to make countless small editing decisions in their work. Which parts of a character’s life need to be depicted to tell their story? How should multiple instrumental and vocal tracks be mixed to create the best version of a song? Which features and storylines should be included or cut in order to maintain a video game’s pace and overall coherence?

Screenshot of the 'Starfield' game featuring a character standing in a valley with a large planet in the sky in the distance

Courtesy of Bethesda

Starfield presents itself as if very few of these kinds of tough choices have been made. In some sense, this isn’t exactly a fault—many players will be more than happy to lose themselves aimlessly in the game for years to come—but it does make it difficult to recommend it to those less likely to be so committed. For many years, in games from its Fallout and The Elder Scrolls series, Starfield creator Bethesda Game Studios has warranted attention for the sheer size of the worlds it makes and the breadth of activities contained within. The promise of the studio’s work comes from the allure of enormous environments where the player, guiding a character whose morals and physical abilities they develop over time, can interact with the unexpected events that emerge from exploring massive buildings and rural landscapes dotted with roving enemies.

KEF R3 Meta Review: Solid Bass, Premium Sound

KEF R3 Meta Review: Solid Bass, Premium Sound

Pulling the hefty speakers from their packaging, you’ll find a pair of port bungs, microfiber speaker grilles, and rubber feet. At the back of each speaker is a pair of rugged terminals allowing for discretely bi-amping the bass and upper drivers. I asked KEF about the need for bi-amping, as I only planned to connect to the lower terminals, and was told there’s no real company “voice” on the subject but the implication is that there’s minimal sonic benefit in doing so.

The speakers’ 4-ohm nominal impedance means they’ll likely be harder to drive than 6-ohm or 8-ohm speakers, but impedance is a complex subject and it varies by frequency. KEF claims the speakers can be powered by as little as 15 watts per side, but for best results, I still suggest a relatively brawny amp with good clarity, like the Naim Uniti Atom I employed.

Let It Glow

As gleeful as these speakers are to play, it’s no easy task to tell a story as rich and expressive as what the R3 Meta tell your ears minute by minute, beat by beat. You’ve just gotta hear these things. They’re incredibly nuanced, dynamic, and transparent, offering power and lyrical musicality on a level that few speakers their size can accomplish. Every song you play is a new chapter, as their chameleonic sound signature sets the stage for each new mix.

That’s not to say the speakers don’t offer their own distinctive sonic flavor; they certainly do. But what the R3 bring to the table is so clean, so sweet, and so effortlessly expressive—especially when powered by a transparent amplifier like the Uniti Atom—they lend themselves to every subject with sympathetic delivery. This means they’ll find all the flaws in your music, of course, but more often than not, it’s presented more as a stylistic choice. That lets your ears separate the production wheat from the chaff in everything you play, while still enjoying lo-fi recordings.

Older Beach Boys songs can sound a little thin and even tinny on many speakers, but songs like “In My Room” and “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” soar with the R3 Meta, with well-struck percussion that pops out from the immersive soundstage, satiny harmonies, and smooth guitar tones that seem to pull you to the warm Pacific beaches. Flipping to topflight modern production like The Weeknd’s “Starboy” resets the stage completely. The R3’s magnified clarity provided the best performance of the song I’ve heard yet, with laser synths, columns of bass, and swelling effects echoing out the sides and skimming past my face for an almost surreal experience.

The word “luminous” kept coming up again and again as I moved through dozens of compressed and hi-res tracks over several days. Every string and horn player, every synth effect, vocal, or guitar tone seems to bloom with its own intrinsic light when passed through the R3, for chill-inducing performances. When cymbals sparkle, the speakers light that sparkle with an extra shot of vivid shimmer. When reverb trails hang, the speakers extend and draw them out, letting them fade only just in time for the next musical entrance. And when bass bumps, it hits with marble-hard authority and musical energy.

Ninja Outdoor Oven Review: Smoky Goodness

Ninja Outdoor Oven Review: Smoky Goodness

If you’re a pellet smoker devotee who prides yourself on your devotion to your craft, then this workaround might make you barf in your mouth a little bit. But the Ninja oven had been in our house for all of three minutes before my husband ran to the store to get a rack of ribs.

My husband loves ribs, and he never gets to make them, because he has a full-time job, two little kids, an elderly dog, a house that’s constantly a mess, and a bespectacled gadget writer wife who is constantly wandering around mumbling, “Did you see where I put the … .” With the Ninja, he seasoned the meat, ran outside and toggled the oven to Smoker, filled the hopper with pellets, pressed Ignite, and set it to smoke for four hours at 250 degrees.

Then he went and mowed the lawn and jumped with his kids on the trampoline. By the time our friends came over, the ribs were ready. The ends were perfectly burnt and crispy, and the meat was falling off the bones.

We used Ninja’s proprietary Robust pellets, which are a mix of hickory, smoke, and cherry. Our backyard smelled awesome, but the meat tasted noticeably less smoky than restaurant ribs; it’s not the same as putting meat over a real fire all day. Since we’ve gotten the oven, however, my husband has made ribs many more times. No matter how you slice it (ha!), more ribs is better than zero ribs. Four hours is ideal, but even when we’re crunched for time, two hours with a wet sauce gave us a delicious, if a little less crispy, result.

Freshy cooked meats pizzas and other dishes outside next to the Ninja Outdoor Woodfire Oven

Photograph: Ninja

I’ve been using it to bake. I don’t like baking indoors when the air-conditioner is running (it’s a waste of energy), but with an outdoor electric oven, it’s fine. Preheating to a relatively low 350 degrees takes less than 10 minutes, or just as long as it takes to whip up batter. I can plug in a temperature and time, slide a pan in, walk into my blessedly cool house, and grab it when it’s done. My husband and I have both found the temperatures to be accurate; we haven’t had to recalibrate or adjust cook times to accommodate for inaccuracies. Thanks to the Ninja, my kids have been enjoying way more blueberry muffins, peach crisps, and plum tortes than they might otherwise have gotten this late in the summer.

I have my doubts about long-term durability of this oven. Ninja says you can store it outside and sent along a proprietary cover to endure all types of weather; nevertheless, the materials just feel cheaper and thinner than many other ovens I’ve tested. Also, this oven works, but it’s not a joyful experience to cook anything that requires high heat and a lot of vigilance.

But for cooking anything that’s set-it-and-forget-it, it’s amazing. On a recent beautiful summer evening, our next-door neighbor had a backyard party with several bands. With a rack of ribs in the Ninja, we were able to walk over, drink a beer, and keep an eye on dinner. When my 6-year-old went back to the party, he brought a chunky rib in his fist to gnaw on while listening to music.

“Did you bring enough of those for all of us?” a guest asked him. No, but just wait another week and we’ll see.

Samsung Galaxy Watch6 Classic Review: The Bezel Is Back

Samsung Galaxy Watch6 Classic Review: The Bezel Is Back

The Watch6 runs the new Wear OS 4 version, and the app selection on Google’s smartwatch platform is slowly improving. I’ve used it to check my Google Keep notes, and I love using the Google Home app to control my living room fan and the window AC in my office. I really want to see more messaging apps join the platform, though. WhatsApp is now available, which is great for starting new conversations if your phone is in another room, but can Telegram come back? Or Facebook Messenger?

One new crucial addition in Wear OS 4 is the ability to finally switch phones without having to completely reset the smartwatch. As someone who tests a new phone once every few weeks, I have been asking for a feature like this for years, and I am so happy to see it here. Naturally, when I was switching back to the Pixel Fold from the Galaxy Z Fold5, it took a few minutes and everything was set up exactly the way it was before within minutes. We live in the future.

Wear OS watches have always been laggier than Apple Watches, and while Samsung and Google have made strides to reduce the stutters you see while moving through the operating system, it’s still not as buttery smooth as using an Apple Watch. Even with the upgraded Exynos W930 chipset inside, you will see some slowdowns here and there.

Classic Health

I like using smartwatches to see basic health metrics too—mostly the ability to see what my heart rate is at any given moment and to track how little sleep I get. There’s also the peace of mind with features like fall detection (you have to manually turn this on), and the option to quickly contact 911 by pressing the top side button five times. If you menstruate, you can also take advantage of skin-temperature-based cycle tracking.

The Watch6 series now has FDA-cleared irregular heart rate notifications too, along with the existing electrocardiogram, which is a nice addition. Weirdly, you still need to download a separate app for these functions (Samsung Health Monitor). There is blood pressure monitoring, but it’s not available in the US, and it’s not cleared by the FDA. Just keep in mind that this trio of features is restricted to people who pair the watch with a Samsung phone. If you use another Android phone like a Google Pixel, you won’t be able to use the ECG or get irregular heart rate alerts.

One area where Samsung does fare well is battery life, at least when compared to smartwatches like the Apple Watch Series 8 and the Google Pixel Watch. Yes, there are Garmins, Coros, and Suunto watches that can last much longer, but the 47-mm Classic lost only half its battery after a full day of use. Come morning, it had around 30 percent left, which was enough to last roughly until 5 pm the next day. This is with the always-on display, so when I turned it off, the battery comfortably stretched to two full days (with activity tracking thrown in there). It’s nice not having to charge the battery every single day, but keep in mind that this is the largest of the Watch6 models. That means every other Watch6 will not last as long, which is a shame.