Fr Patrick van der Vorst visits Westminster Cathedral to explore one of London's hidden gems: the Great Rood Cross
this monumental cross frames the centre of the Cathedral
the mother church of England and Wales and the seat of the Archbishop of Westminster
Carved in Bruges to the designs of architect John Francis Bentley
the Great Rood is a striking neo-Byzantine masterpiece
Encircling his head are the Greek letters -meaning victory-a symbol of his triumph over death
Fr Patrick examines the four symbolic creatures at each corner-a winged lion
and an eagle-representing the Gospel writers
he reveals the golden finials-pomegranates entwined with palm leaves
represents all the faithful of the Church gathered together as one in Christ
foreshadowing His ultimate triumph over sin and death
Fr Patrick uncovers the hidden reverse side
where a powerful image of Our Lady of Sorrows
aligning perfectly with the wound in Christ's side
symbolises their shared suffering-uniting Mother and Son in the mystery of salvation
two titles appear in Greek: He Theotokos (Mother of God) and He Eleousa (The Chosen One)
lines from the Stabat Mater are inscribed:
Stabat Mater Dolorosa (The sorrowful mother stood)
Fac ut Ardeat Cor Meum (Make my heart burn in me)
and Juxta Crucem Tecum Stare (Beside the cross
Fr Patrick explores the significance of Mary's deep purple robe
embodies two central themes of faith-praise and sacrifice-encapsulating the entire Christian story
As Westminster Cathedral darkens for the evening
Fr Patrick invites viewers to take a fresh look at this extraordinary work of sacred art-one
Watch the YouTube video here: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mcm-o3Bga0E" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mcm-o3Bga0E</a>
Tags: <a href="https://www.indcatholicnews.com/search/Christian%20Art">Christian Art</a>, <a href="https://www.indcatholicnews.com/search/Westminster%20Cathedral"> Westminster Cathedral</a>, <a href="https://www.indcatholicnews.com/search/Fr%20Patrick%20van%20der%20Vorst"> Fr Patrick van der Vorst</a>
Gospel in Art: Do not work for food that perishes
Video: Duccio&#039;s Siena: Sacred Beauty and Private Devotion to Mary
Cameroon: Easter heartbreak - A deeply moving Resurrection story from the frontline
Missionary sister pays tribute to her cousin
Jesuit parishes to host open conversations this spring
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2025ShareThe 7 Best Shoes for Orangetheory
According to TrainersFrom treadmill sprints to strength circuits
these shoes were made for earning splat points
Making a purchase through our links may earn Well+Good a commission
Orangetheory Fitness isn’t just a workout—it’s a bonafide movement
OTF (as it’s called for short) has exploded in popularity
with more than 1,500 studios and a dedicated fan base that swears by its science-backed mix of rowing
After hearing countless friends rave about their “splat points” (OTF-speak for tracking effort levels)
vice president of fitness for <a href="https://www.orangetheory.com/en-us" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Orangetheory Fitness</a>
certified personal trainer, exercise nutrition coach, and author at <a href="https://www.garagegymreviews.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Garage Gym Reviews</a>
Orangetheory’s high-intensity intervals demanded a sneaker that could handle treadmill sprints
and all-out rows—without compromising stability or comfort
So began my mission to find the best shoes for Orangetheory
Over the course of a year (and 15 different pairs)
I tested everything from cushioned running sneakers to cross trainers
plus seven of the best pairs of shoes for Orangetheory.&nbsp;
OTF is an hour-long interval workout that is split into separate sections—and
a portion of the work is spent on a rowing machine
and the last focuses on functional strength and resistance training (the order of which will vary per class.) During the workout
OFT members wear monitors that measure heart rate
and each member’s performance statistics are displayed on monitors around the studio with their names or initials
The classes I’ve taken have involved about 30 minutes of cardio
I usually spend most of the workout jogging
which is why finding supportive running sneakers—and ideally
a pair that I can also lift weights in—was imperative for me
Additionally, you’ll want sneakers that provide traction underfoot. Shoes that feature a good grip will keep you steady on your feet as you run, row, and lift weights while preventing accidental slips and spills. Breathability is another important factor. To avoid sweaty soles, look for sneakers with mesh uppers, says Brown. Shoes made from knit fabrics, or that have features to optimize airflow, such as perforations, will also keep you cool while you sweat.
you needn’t purchase a weightlifting-specific shoe
“While Orangetheory workouts do include a functional strength floor block
you will not be lifting heavy weights,” says Brown
“[Weightlifting] flat-sole shoes often feature plastic or hardwood soles
and lack the arch support needed for the demands of high-impact training
the best sneakers for Orangetheory will neither be too rigid nor too flimsy
and they will offer ample stability and support for your feet
Traveling for work? Visiting friends for a long weekend? If you’re taking your fitness routine out of town and looking for a versatile, low-profile shoe that can do it all (including Orangetheory), the Tracksmith Eliot Runner is a perfect pick. Blending street style and running performance, they look great with a pair of jeans or dress, but also keep you cushioned and supported during high-intensity sweat sessions.
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Experts break down the findings of a new study that looks at the popular household spice.
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I am a commerce editor for Forbes Vetted covering beauty
I held positions at BuzzFeed and Dotdash Meredith where I was responsible for curating lifestyle content and testing products for real-world insights
I hold a Bachelor’s Degree in English/Creative Writing from Marist College and currently reside in Brooklyn
</a>I spent months testing a variety of crossbody bags to find the very best options.
These are the best crossbody bags, according to our testing.
To find the best crossbody bags, I spent months testing and scrutinizing the options so you don’t have to. I evaluated hard facts and metrics (like weight and capacity sizes), materials, and strap lengths, and then gave my fashion editor take on the style and versatility of the bags. Ahead, the best crossbody bags that are stylish, functional and versatile.
Materials: 100% leather | Colors: 4 total, including Cognac and Black | Closure: Zipper | Lining: Canvas | Interior pockets: 1
Exterior materials:&nbsp;100% leather |&nbsp;Colors:&nbsp;7 total, including Cognac and Black |&nbsp;Closure:&nbsp;Zipper |&nbsp;Lining:&nbsp;Linen |&nbsp;Interior pockets:&nbsp;2
Exterior materials:&nbsp;100% leather |&nbsp;Colors:&nbsp;3 total, including Stone and Black |&nbsp;Closure:&nbsp;Magnetic flaps |&nbsp;Lining:&nbsp;Leather |&nbsp;Interior pockets:&nbsp;2
Exterior materials:&nbsp;100% recycled oxford (polyester, nylon) |&nbsp;Colors:&nbsp;27 total, including Black and Raspberry |&nbsp;Closure:&nbsp;Zipper |&nbsp;Lining:&nbsp;Recycled oxford |&nbsp;Interior pockets:&nbsp;5
Exterior materials:&nbsp;Recycled polyester, nylon |&nbsp;Colors:&nbsp;18 total, including Pink Haze and Black |&nbsp;Closure:&nbsp;Zipper |&nbsp;Lining:&nbsp;Recycled polyester |&nbsp;Interior pockets:&nbsp;3
Exterior materials:&nbsp;Coated canvas |&nbsp;Colors:&nbsp;3 total, including Black and Navy |&nbsp;Closure:&nbsp;Flap, zipper and snap |&nbsp;Lining:&nbsp;Textile |&nbsp;Interior pockets:&nbsp;1
Exterior material:&nbsp;100% neoprene |&nbsp;Colors:&nbsp;10 total
including Storm and Dune |&nbsp;Closure:&nbsp;Zipper |&nbsp;Lining:&nbsp;Recycled polyester&nbsp; |&nbsp;Interior pockets:&nbsp;3
Exterior materials:&nbsp;100% leather |&nbsp;Colors:&nbsp;4 total, including Camel and Black Onyx |&nbsp;Closure:&nbsp;Zipper |&nbsp;Lining:&nbsp;Fabric |&nbsp;Interior pockets:&nbsp;3, plus card slots
Exterior materials:&nbsp;100% leather |&nbsp;Colors:&nbsp;9 total
including Natural With Stripes and Black Rattan |&nbsp;Closure:&nbsp;Zipper |&nbsp;Lining:&nbsp;Chambray |&nbsp;Interior pockets:&nbsp;None
designer Clare Vivier’s popular crossbody bag comes in fun colors
I tested the bestseller—which is made from beautiful
vegetable-tanned Italian leather with stripes down the center
It’s a chic look that’s not too loud or showy
I found myself reaching for this bag often
since it paired nicely with everything from jeans and flats to flowy skirts and heels
Exterior materials:&nbsp;100% leather |&nbsp;Colors:&nbsp;2 total
including New Cream and Desert Dune |&nbsp;Closure:&nbsp;Zipper |&nbsp;Lining:&nbsp;Cotton |&nbsp;Interior pockets:&nbsp;3
Tory Burch’s Kira crossbody was the only bag I tested with an interior lining that looked as beautiful as the exterior
It’s outfitted in a chic herringbone cotton fabric with luxe piping on the edges of the three pockets
which are great for keeping items organized
The rest of the bag is made from quilted Napa leather with a chic chevron design that adds a dressy feel to this crossbody
The gold-toned hardware and chain strap also elevate the look—I definitely reached for this bag on evenings out and could also see myself giving it as a gift
Exterior materials:&nbsp;Nylon |&nbsp;Colors:&nbsp;6 total
including Fog and Black |&nbsp;Closure:&nbsp;Zipper |&nbsp;Lining:&nbsp;Nylon |&nbsp;Interior pockets:&nbsp;2
Tumi’s crossbody bags are designed to be carried on the go
The Persia doubles as a travel purse since it’s outfitted with four cardholder slots inside
including an anti-theft zippered interior pocket and drop-in slot on the exterior for your phone
The entire bag is crafted primarily from water-resistant nylon
with durable leather fastenings to prevent wear and tear
detachable leather tab with a mirror on one side
I primarily examined three main factors: the caliber of the construction and materials; ease of use and comfort; and the practicality and versatility of the design
Did the quality of the bag justify the price point and align with other similar options in the market
Was the bag trendy or did it have a style that would last season after season?I considered options from both established and emerging brands that are known for their top-rated bags and accessories
</a>I tested a variety of crossbody bags for months
evaluating everything from strap lengths to ..
The resulting look is stylish and transitions well from daytime activities to more formal events
Polyester and nylon are popular choices because they’re lightweight
these materials are not quite as dressy or formal as leather
consider how you plan to use your bag and your style preferences
There are several different types of bag closures
ranging from zippers to magnetic snaps to drawstrings
While the closure might seem like an irrelevant detail
it can affect the overall aesthetic and function
a twist lock (or turnlock) closure has a more vintage feel and is usually more expensive than zippers
so they’re often associated with luxury purchases
and the majority of bags we tested feature this closure
Zippers are secure and keep the contents of your bag contained
which can be helpful if you’re using your bag while traveling or going through the airport
we added a buying guide that provides customers with key considerations for making informed purchasing decisions
We also ensured the current picks still meet our rigorous standards for the best crossbody bags
Dander And Odors","blogType":"vetted"},{"uri":"https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbes-personal-shopper/article/best-toddler-pillow/","date":1746473595831,"image":"https://specials-images.forbesimg.com/imageserve/6812ee0d17c461a5030b193f/960x0.jpg","title":"The 6 Best Toddler Pillows
There is a development cost to including crossplay and it's also not easy to implement for already available games
hence why you don't see it across the board
crossplay between Playstation consoles and Xbox consoles is becoming more common
and games that are part of Microsoft's Play Anywhere initiative automatically allow crossplay between Xbox and PC
Prior to crossplay becoming available for Overwatch developer Wes Yanagi commented that \"implementing crossplay is more difficult than people realize\" (via <a href=\"https://www.gamespot.com/articles/overwatch-dev-talks-origins-of-switch-version-tech/1100-6470226/\">GameSpot</a>)
Shawn Layden, former chairman of PlayStation Worldwide Studios, has also said that \"enabling crossplay isn't just about flipping a switch and 'there you go'. It's a very multi-dimensional kind of attribute or feature\" (via <a href=\"https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2018-09-29-playstation-chief-on-why-sony-took-so-long-to-enable-console-cross-play\">Eurogamer</a>)
Even as itechnical barriers fall platform manufacturers can also be hesitant to allow cross-platform play
given they want to give players reasons to purchase their specific platform above others
there are a lot of terms with the word &ldquo;cross&rdquo;-something in gaming these days
Crossplay and cross-platform are two that can be easily confused
The difference between crossplay and cross-platform games is
that a game that supports crossplay is one in which players on different platforms can play together via online multiplayer
even though you&rsquo;re on Xbox and your friend is on PlayStation
A cross-platform release is slightly different
It just means that a game is available on multiple platforms
but it won't necessarily include the crossplay support that allows players on these different platforms to play online together
cross-platform play is the same as crossplay
as it means you can play with others across platforms
While the word cross-gen sounds similar to crossplay
it doesn't have a lot to do with crossplay
but it can be handy is you're struggling to geta console of the current generation
Cross-gen games are those that are released on more than one generation of consoles &ndash; like how <a href=\"https://www.techradar.com/news/gaming/gta-5-review-cvg-gives-its-verdict-1181444\">GTA 5</a> was released on both PS4/Xbox One and PS3/Xbox 360, or how <a href=\"https://www.techradar.com/news/the-legend-of-zelda-breath-of-the-wild-review\">The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild</a> was released on Wii U as well as Nintendo Switch
Sometimes cross-gen games do support cross-play; Call of Duty Warzone
offers cross-play across both last-gen and current-gen consoles plus PC
meaning whatever platform you're playing on
Recruit your buddies and load into the best crossplay games together
The next few months of 2025 brings a bunch of fresh gaming releases for players to enjoy. Many will feature crossplay, the biggest being <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.techradar.com/gaming/when-is-the-next-marvel-rivals-season-update" target="_blank" data-before-rewrite-localise="https://www.techradar.com/gaming/when-is-the-next-marvel-rivals-season-update">Marvel Rivals' next season</a>
which continues to be a fantastic co-op game regardless of where you're playing it.Of course
there will be a new Call of Duty towards the end of the year as well
The best crossplay games in 2025 make it easy to play with all of your friends
They also help with picking up your game on a different platform without having to start over
and they show that playing together doesn&rsquo;t have to be restricted to your setup
Crossplay isn&rsquo;t easy for developers to implement
but more and more games come with crossplay
Not all games on this list may offer crossplay across all platforms (yet)
but we have picked games that allow crossplay on at least two platforms
"Perhaps Diablo 4&rsquo;s most adventurous quality is the move towards an open world in the 'modern' sense
the open world of Sanctuary fits the Diablo formula like a glove
providing the space in which the game&rsquo;s macabre aesthetic and bold mechanical design cohere beautifully." - Cat Bussell
Diablo 4 takes a bold step forward for the long-running action RPG series
one that unfolds and changes as you slowly chip away at it
and you'll be spending most of your time slaying hordes of enemies to earn skill points and upgrade materials
it's all about specializing your character
Now, Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred is out, a huge expansion <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.techradar.com/gaming/diablo-4-vessel-of-hatred-impressions-pre-release" target="_blank" data-before-rewrite-localise="https://www.techradar.com/gaming/diablo-4-vessel-of-hatred-impressions-pre-release">that we liked a lot</a>
All of this is available in crossplay between all platforms
meaning you can squad up and dungeon dive alongside your pals
"Monster Hunter Wilds is a bold and bustling continuation of its predecessor&rsquo;s approach to streamlining the once-niche series
By stripping away some of the more frustrating elements of the past
and focusing on getting players into hunts as quickly as possible
Monster Hunter Wilds has the potential to launch the series to new heights
Monster Hunter Wilds is a collection of the greatest hits from past games
one that finally delivers on the promise of a truly vibrant and living open world." - Jake Green
Monster Hunter Wilds is another huge step forward for the long-running action series
players can enjoy a wide open-world to explore
hunt them and then set out again without having to stop and manage your way through a sea of menus
this makes Monster Hunter Wilds the most approachable entry yet
One big change in Monster Hunter Wilds is the fact that you can now bring in two weapons
This encourages experimentation in a way that's been previously difficult
and is what finally convinced me to try out some new weapons
but manages to feature hunt after hunt of banger monster fights
best-in-class presentation bookending matches
Marvel Rivals is almost too good to be true
and some core problems with the way objectives play out
but given that Marvel Rivals has only just launched
you&rsquo;ll be able to jump in and have a blast
whether you&rsquo;re looking for a competitive challenge or casual fun." - Jake Green
<a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.techradar.com/tag/marvel" data-auto-tag-linker="true" data-before-rewrite-localise="https://www.techradar.com/tag/marvel">Marvel</a> Rivals has taken over the globe since it launched late last year, proving itself to be much more than just an <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.techradar.com/tag/overwatch" data-auto-tag-linker="true" data-before-rewrite-localise="https://www.techradar.com/tag/overwatch">Overwatch</a> clone
each with their own set of unique abilities and play style
Bec cause of this wide variety of characters
Marvel Rivals is easy to recommend for everyone
whether you want to play as a shooter like The Punisher
but thanks to a selection of vibrant and well-designed maps
there's plenty of fun to be had in Marvel Rivals
you'll earn currency that can be spent on skins
and each character has its own progression to work through
but Marvel Rivals is looking like a new contender in the multiplayer space
and is a great game to play along with friends
"Black Ops 6 is the best Call of Duty game in years
with an excellent suite of brand new maps to fight across
and the weapons are balanced." - Jake Green
Xbox Series X|S and PC (PS4 and Xbox One through backwards compatibility)
Black Ops 6 is a real return to form for the long-running shooter series
with a truly balanced suite of weapons ranging from fast-firing SMGs to tactical marksman rifles
The real fun comes courtesy of the new Omnimovement mechanics
and down staircases in search of the wildest trickshots
which means you can squad up with pals regardless of where you're all playing
with two maps and main missions to play through
we'll see Warzone getting some Black Ops 6 integration
but it's still one of the best crossplay games you can play with your pals
Inspired by the likes of Total Wipeout and Takeshi's Castle
Fall Guys is a unique battle royale game where players compete for survival
pushing your opponents around to get ahead
Fall Guys made quite a splash when it launched
it's proven itself to be one of the most fun multiplayer experiences going
You can squad up with friends on all platforms
you can spend real-world money on costumes and other cosmetic items
Fall Guys can be played on a wide range of consoles too
you'll be able to squad up with your pals regardless of where they're playing
Warzone has received smart and extensive overhauls to everything from looting to the way the map encourages engagements
and it offers more than enough interesting concepts like the Gulag and Contracts to make each match feel wholly unique
speeding up gameplay and introducing Omnimovement
No Man's Sky has come a heck of a long way since it launched nearly eight years ago
Hello Games has added major update after major update
with players able to squad up and explore the universe together
No Man's Sky has received countless updates since it launched
so many that the game is nearly unrecognizable to those that stopped playing after the first version
you can explore the universe with your friends
or just admire the beauty of each planet you land on
Whether you want to smuggle illegal goods as a space scoundrel
or study the fauna and flora of distant planets
No Man's Sky will likely have something for you
but after upgrading your ship's flight and weapon capacities
If you'd rather start with a bit more in your inventory
No Man's Sky's ongoing Expeditions will lead you through short narratives that guide you from place to place
beginning with different ship and item combinations
fleet management and a bounty system are all well worth your time
as is simply jumping from planet to planet to see the sights
making 2024 a great time to jump in and see what the universe has in store for you
Platforms that support crossplay: PS5 and PC
Helldivers 2 is one of the newest games on this list
It's been a global phenomenon since it came out
and after a shaky launch in terms of server struggles and bugs
it's now one of the most popular games going right now
This is mostly down to its hilariously difficult gameplay
and the fact that it can be picked up for around $40
You'll drop down onto a variety of planets filled with either the Terminds (Bugs) or Automatons (Robots)
As you fight to complete objectives you'll need to make use of special weapons
sheer luck and brute force to make it to the extraction zone
Make it out alive and you'll earn currency and XP which is used to unlock bigger and better weapons and Stratagems
but does feature a Quickplay function that'll throw you in with other players at the drop of a hat
"Helldivers 2 delivers on the promise of chaotic fun through superior firepower. Whether you&rsquo;re slaying enemies with your friends or slaying your friends while enemies are also present, if you&rsquo;ve got the crew, this is a guaranteed good time." - <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.techradar.com/author/jake-tucker" target="_blank" data-before-rewrite-localise="https://www.techradar.com/uk/author/jake-tucker">Jake Tucker</a>
Give Helldivers 2 a go if you like your games action packed
and full to the brim with heaps of personality
While it can be difficult to get into at first
and you'll soon find yourself jumping in over and over again to push the war effort forward
and to see your friends go flying as they're hit by wayward grenades and projectiles
Platforms that support crossplay: PS4, Xbox One, PS5, Xbox Series X/S and <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.techradar.com/reviews/nintendo-switch" data-before-rewrite-localise="https://www.techradar.com/reviews/nintendo-switch">Nintendo Switch</a>
Apex Legends is another contender vying for the battle royale crown
Developed by Respawn Entertainment and set in the Titanfall universe
Apex Legends is a squad-based battle royale shooter where teams of three go up against 57 other players to try to gather loot and be the last person (or squad) standing
However, unlike Fortnite and PUBG, Apex Legends sees players take on a class, each represented by a unique character (imagine Fortnite mixed with <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.techradar.com/tag/overwatch-2" data-before-rewrite-localise="https://www.techradar.com/tag/overwatch-2">Overwatch 2</a> and you&rsquo;ll be on the right track.)
revamped take on battle royale that as it stands cannot be beat for its attention
This is the perfect battle royale game for those who enjoy the genre's premise but can't get on board with Call of Duty's slower speed or PUBG's hyper-competitiveness &ndash; and it's free-to-play
abilities and limited-time events make for a dynamic experience overall
Apex Legends has crossplay across all platforms
easily earning it a spot among the best crossplay games
Given it's available on pretty much every modern platform
that means you can play with friends (for free) no matter what hardware they own
Destiny 2 may have released several years ago but Bungie's online-multiplayer shooter is still going strong
This is a shooter that is constantly evolving
thanks to regular (and sometimes quite drastic) updates
Starting Destiny 2 can be a little bit daunting
but stick with it and you have hundreds of hours of top-tier looting and shooting ahead of you
Leveling up and raiding with a squad of friends is one of the best gaming experiences you can have
regardless of what platform you're playing on
but once you get into it (and we strongly advise to play with a group of friends) you'll find yourself hooked &ndash; Destiny 2 has a really strong and active community that's a joy to be part of
Like Apex Legends, Destiny 2 is not only one of the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.techradar.com/news/best-fps-games" data-before-rewrite-localise="https://www.techradar.com/news/best-fps-games">best FPS games</a>
it's one of the best crossplay games right now
allowing players across all platforms to play together that it's available on
Looking for an online horror to have you and your friends on tenterhooks (and literal hooks)
This asymmetric survival horror has a pretty simple premise: if you're a survivor then you want to repair all the generators and escape the killer
if you're the killer then you want to hunt down all the survivors and sacrifice them all to the Entity by hanging them on hooks
This is the perfect horror game to play with friends
The amount of coordination and trust you must have with your fellow survivors makes for some pretty thrilling and funny antics
It's also one of the best crossplay games available
with cross-platform play supported on all platforms
Mobile versions of the game on Android and iOS also exist
but these are only compatible for crossplay with each other
the incomparable physics-based rocket-car soccer game
remains one of the most popular online games &ndash; and it's not hard to see why
Rocket League is easy to pick up and difficult to master
It has stayed true to its roots even after all these years
with a great community that's willing to onboard newcomers as well
Rocket League's basic premise is simple (knock the ball into the goal)
while the ability to crossplay with friends means that youc an team up no matter what platform your friend is playing on
so there&rsquo;s a lot of flexibility when it comes to gathering your friends to play together
Rocket League is definitely better with friends &ndash; trying to coordinate your team between goalkeeping
defending and attacking takes coordination but can also devolve into frantic fun
There&rsquo;s also a league-based system online
so you get a nice sense of progression as your team grows from a fumbling mess into a well-oiled machine
Fortnite has had a meteoric rise since its release in 2017
The free-to-play battle royale game offers players an energetic and enjoyable online multiplayer experience
throwing in some building mechanics to set it off from its competitors
Fortnite is in many ways responsible for the popularity of the battle royale genre
Fortnite takes the top spot on this list of best crossplay games &ndash; not only does it support cross-platform play on consoles and PC
Platforms that support crossplay: Xbox One
Nintendo Switch and mobile devices (PS5 and Xbox Series X/S via backwards compatibility)
<a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.techradar.com/tag/minecraft" data-auto-tag-linker="true" data-before-rewrite-localise="https://www.techradar.com/tag/minecraft">Minecraft</a> released quite a few years ago
but the core experience is as magical as ever
The sandbox survival game allows players to build with blocks in a 3D-generated world
providing a perfect creative outlet for those who enjoy building impressive digital creations
You've likely heard many singing the praises of Minecraft
If you want to start a server with pals and build a functioning ski-lift
Limitless possibilities in a game that only continues to improve
Even if building castles and secret hideouts isn't your strenth
Minecraft offers you plenty of things to do &ndash; explore its world
bring back valuable loot and take on monsters that can lurk anywhere
While Minecraft Bedrock Edition does support crossplay
So if you and your friends want to play together across platforms
Prior to crossplay becoming available for Overwatch developer Wes Yanagi commented that "implementing crossplay is more difficult than people realize" (via <a href="https://www.gamespot.com/articles/overwatch-dev-talks-origins-of-switch-version-tech/1100-6470226/" data-url="https://www.gamespot.com/articles/overwatch-dev-talks-origins-of-switch-version-tech/1100-6470226/" target="_blank" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade" data-hl-processed="none">GameSpot</a>)
Sometimes cross-gen games do support cross-play; Call of Duty Warzone, for example, offers cross-play across both last-gen and current-gen consoles plus PC, meaning whatever platform you're playing on, you can join your friends.
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</a><a class="button-social   " href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoria-hood-7928a5135/" target="_self" aria-label="LINKEDIN"></a>Freelance writerAn award-winning games journalist
with seven years of experience in games journalism and a degree in journalism from City University
Dot Esports and more to the TechRadar table
You may have even heard her on the radio or speaking on a panel
as she&rsquo;s previously appeared on BBC Radio 4
but she's appeared on both panels and podcasts to discuss mental health awareness
Make sure to follow her on Twitter for more
Reebok; Design by Brittany LogginsSave this storySaveSave this storySaveAll products featured on GQ are independently selected by our editors
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Special Features: Lightweight and breathable
ProsNeutral shoe with decent cushionGrounded feelConsNot as much cushion as some Hoka diehards are probably used toNot really suited for long-runsMaterial: Single-layer mesh upper
ProsLocked-in feelStable platformConsBreathability could be betterMaterial: Mesh upper, grippy outsole
Special Features: Lace lock, extended rubber warp
ProsGrounded gripReally stableConsLook a little plainNot good for runsMaterial: Mesh upper, rubber outsole
Special Features: Herringbone pattern outsole, padded elements, water-repellent upper
The NoBull Impact is perhaps the grippiest option on this list. Thanks to a herringbone-style pattern that allows for intense traction on all kinds of surfaces, these shoes are great for strength training. While some gym rats swear by cheap Converse, they’ll get a kick out of how much more stable they&#x27;ll feel when they lace up in these. The flat sole ensures constant, even contact with the floor, and they’re almost as comfortable as being barefoot (almost).
If you’re an intense athlete who loves to work inside a sweaty gym and/or outside during the dead of summer, the Impact keeps you in place, only moving when you do. The upper is no slouch either, as it&#x27;s highly breathable, padded for comfort, and super durable, so they’ll take a beating and keep going. Just because the shoes look plain doesn’t mean they’re not capable of showing off some real flash.
ProsComfortableDurableSupportive without being overly cushionyConsSome bolder colorways would be coolMaterial: Mesh upper
ProsTotally waterproofVery supportiveVery supportiveConsLikely overkill for anything other than a trail runMaterial: Gore-Tex upper, Vibram sole, InFuse midsole
Special Features: Downturn shape for better support
ProsDefinitely makes you fasterReally stableConsHeel feels a little narrowA little expensiveMaterial: Sock-like mesh upper
ProsComfortable and cozy as hellGreat for wearing around the houseConsNot the sexiest-looking shoeMaterial: Primaloft insulation
I like to give my feet a break and step into some cushioned slides,” she tells us
“The Oocoozie Thermo Mule is built for comfort
it absorbs the impact so the body can recover
They are super warm as they have a primaloft insulation
keeping my feet toasty!” Cushioned and cozy
That sounds like the best way to make sure that you’re rested and ready for the next round
how you select a pair is going to boil down to what kind of activity you’re doing
Then you probably can get away with something that’s a little stiffer because you won’t be moving a lot and don’t need that flexibility
You might want something that’s really responsive so your feet aren’t killing you at the end of the day
Once you’ve locked into what it is you’ll be doing
it comes down to some key factors like grip to keep you grounded
support to ensure your lower body isn’t hurting
With so many different options on the market
the only way to see how these shoes perform is to
We scoured the internet for fitness enthusiasts&#x27; opinions on their favorite workout shoes
eventually pairing those selections to a final list of the pairs that appeared the most frequently
we put the shoes through a variety of different activities where comfort and support were among the most important factors
and those guided us in making our final selections
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numerous security features and general ease of use
but there are other top password managers out there to consider as well
<a href="#best-password-managers-for-2025" data-jump-link data-ylk="slk:Best password managers for 2025;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Best password managers for 2025</a>
<a href="#" data-jump-link data-ylk="slk:Are password managers safe?;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Are password managers safe?</a>
<a href="#are-password-managers-worth-it" data-jump-link data-ylk="slk:Are password managers worth it?;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Are password managers worth it?</a>
<a href="#how-we-tested-password-managers" data-jump-link data-ylk="slk:How we tested password managers;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">How we tested password managers</a>
<a href="#other-password-managers-we-tested" data-jump-link data-ylk="slk:Other password managers we tested;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Other password managers we tested</a>
<a href="#password-manager-faqs" data-jump-link data-ylk="slk:Password manager FAQs;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Password manager FAQs</a>
Number of tiers: 4 | Pricing: $3/month for Individual
$8/month per user for Business | Compatibility: macOS
which are credentials stored in your most used devices that are protected by biometric authentication (like fingerprints or facial recognition) or PINs
1Password has a pretty intuitive user interface across its mobile and desktop apps
A tutorial at download helps you import passwords from other managers onto 1Password so that you don’t feel like you’re starting over from scratch
It also clearly rates the strength of each password and has an “open and fill” option in the vault so that you can get into your desired site even more quickly
We also liked the user-friendly option to scan a set up code to easily connect your account to your mobile devices without too much tedious typing
the individual subscription comes with unlimited passwords
items and one gigabyte of document storage for your vault
credit card information and other saved credentials
If you upgrade to the family plan for $5 each month
you’ll get to invite up to five family members (plus more for $1 each per month) to be a part of the vault
$5/month per user for Enterprise Organization | Compatibility: macOS
<a data-i13n="cpos:1;pos:1;sec:large-product;subsec:commlist;pkgt:square-editorial;pos:9;cpos:2" href="https://bitwarden.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Bitwarden’s;cpos:1;pos:1;sec:large-product;subsec:commlist;pkgt:square-editorial;pos:9;cpos:2;elm:context_link;itc:0" class="link rapid-noclick-resp">Bitwarden’s</a> free plan includes unlimited passwords on an unlimited number of devices
which is more than we’ve seen from some of its competitors
There are drawbacks like you can only share vault items with one other user
Bitwarden may be the best free password manager
but it does have a paid plan and we do think it’s worth it
At $10 annually for individuals or $40 for families
you unlock premium features like encrypted file storage
But the free version comes with the basics that can get anyone set up on password management easily
$4/month for Family | Compatibility: macOS
making it even easier to get into accounts across devices
NordPass has a free option with unlimited passwords and syncs across devices
A $2-per-month premium plan keeps you logged in when switching devices
comes with security notifications and allows for item sharing
A family subscription comes with six premium accounts and only costs $4 per month
This makes it an excellent budget option as well
Besides the pairing code to connect accounts
NordPass is a pretty standard password manager
Scanning a code gets me from my laptop to mobile device to work computer super easily
If you’re constantly switching devices and those extra few seconds save your sanity
$7/month for Friends and Family | Compatibility: macOS
a premium user also gets VPN access and an $7.49-per-month family plan includes access for up to 10 subscribers
Access for up to 10 members in a family plan is one of the bigger plans we’ve seen as well
password sharing seemed front of mind with a tab dedicated to it in Dashlane’s browser extension
even if you wouldn’t think to call it that
Most phones and web browsers include a log of saved credentials on the device
like the “passwords” keychain in the settings of an iPhone
That means you’ve probably seen the benefits of not having to memorize a large number of passwords or even type them out already
the downfall of these built-in options are that they tend to be device specific
that works if you’re totally in the Apple ecosystem — but you become limited once you get an Android tablet
professor of electrical and computer engineering
If you use different devices for work and personal use and want a secure option for sharing passwords with others
or just don’t want to be tied to one brand forever
a third-party password manager is usually worth it
We tested password managers by downloading the apps for each of the nine contenders on iPhone
That helped us better understand what platforms each manager was available on
and see how support differs across operating systems and browsers
we took note of ease of use and how they iterated on the basic features of autofill and password generators
Nearly all password managers have these features
but some place limits on how much you can store while others give more control over creating easy-to-type yet complex passwords
we looked at extra features like data-breach monitoring to understand which managers offered the most for your money
These are the password managers we tested:
<a data-i13n="cpos:12;pos:1" href="https://bitwarden.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Bitwarden;cpos:12;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Bitwarden</a>
like autofill options and cross-platform availability
There's even a self-destruct feature that deletes local data after five incorrect login attempts
should your device be lost or stolen (the cloud-based data remains untouched)
That includes an inflation-beating “lifetime” access pass instead of a monthly payment for users really committed to the service
it was confusing to set up across devices and because Enpass stores data locally
we struggled to get started with it on mobile
account recovery and complex form-filing tools that come standard in many of the other password managers we tested
that include different levels of storage and features
it lacked some basic cross-platform availability that other password managers had already
Using a password manager can enhance your online security
They store all of your complex passwords and autofill them as needed
good passwords across the web without remembering each of them yourself
unique passwords are your first defense against attack
and a reliable manager makes it easier to keep track of them all
It seems counterintuitive to store all your sensitive information in one place
One hack could mean you lose it all to an attacker and struggle for months or even years to rebuild your online presence
not to mention you may have to cancel credit cards and other accounts
But most experts in the field agree that password managers are a generally secure and safe way to keep track of your personal data
complex passwords outweigh the possible risks
The mechanics of keeping those passwords safe differs slightly from provider to provider
complex “master password” that safeguards the rest of your information
you might also get a “security key” to enter when you log in to new devices
numbers and symbols that the company will send you at sign up
and because it’s stored locally on your device or printed out on paper
These multiple layers of security make it difficult for an attacker to get into your vault even if your password manager provider experiences a breach
But the company should also follow a few security basics
A “zero-knowledge” policy means that the company keeps none of your data on file
Regular health reports like pentests and security audits are essential for keeping companies up to par on best practices
and other efforts like bug bounty programs or hosting on an open source website encourage constant vigilance for security flaws
Most password managers now also offer some level of encryption falling under the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES)
because there are the most number of possible combinations
Think of password managers like virtual safe deposit boxes
in a section of the vault only accessible to you by security key or a master password
Most of these services have autofill features that make it convenient to log in to any site without needing to remember every password you have
and they keep your credit card information close for impulse purchases
But given that passwords are one of the <a data-i13n="cpos:27;pos:1" href="https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/news/choosing-and-protecting-passwords" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:top ways to keep your online identity secure;cpos:27;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">top ways to keep your online identity secure</a>
the real value of password managers is staying safe online
“It's just not possible without a password manager to have unique
long and hard-to-guess passwords,” Florian Schaub
an associate professor of information and of electrical engineering and computer science at the University of Michigan
Common guidance states that secure passwords should be unique
with the longest number of characters allowed and uppercase letters
This is the exact opposite of using one password everywhere
with minor variations depending on a site’s requirements
Think of how many online accounts and sites you have credentials for — it’s an impossible task to remember it all without somewhere to store passwords safely (especially in instances when you need to create a new password for any given account)
Password managers are more readily accessible and offer the benefit of filling in those long passwords for you
pretty much everyone could use a password manager
They’re not just for the tech-savvy people or businesses anymore because so much sensitive information ends up online behind passwords
from our bank accounts to our Netflix watch history
That’s the other perk of password managers: safe password sharing
friends or roommates can use them to safely access joint accounts
Texting a password to someone isn’t secure
and you can help your family break the habit by starting to use one yourself
executive director at National Cyber Security Alliance
file storage and other sites you share access with the people around you as well
Forgetting a master password won’t necessarily lock you out for good
but the recovery process varies from provider to provider
Some services give you a “security key” at sign up to enter when you log into new devices
It can also be used to securely recover your account because it’s a random string of keys stored locally that only you have access to
So creating a master password that you won’t forget is important
Experts often recommended thinking of it like a “passphrase” instead of a “password” to make it easier to remember
you can take a sentence like “My name is Bob Smith” and change it to “Myn@m3isB0b5m!th” to turn it into a secure master password that you won’t forget
April 2025: Updated for timeliness and to ensure our top picks were still current
5:15PM ET: This story has been updated to note that Keeper's "self-destruct" security feature only deletes local content when engaged
but maintains data on a subscriber's cloud-based account
Whether headed to the mountains or a music festival
a crossbody is always on our editors&#39; packing lists
Ashley is a writer and editor with more than 10 years of experience reporting on products in the fashion
plus it has thoughtful details like a pocket for a passport and a hidden spot in the strap for an AirPods case
The clear design is a must-have for concerts and sports venues
but it’s so cute and functional that we bring it to the beach
instead of just leather for added durability
The small body is way more spacious than it looks and the leather still looks new after multiple trips around the world
Our editor (who is short in height) found the strap slightly long
polished exterior makes this a crossbody with plenty of style and function
The super compact size is ideal for traveling light
but it just barely fits our editor’s iPhone 15 Pro Max
A padded strap and water bottle holder make this bag perfect for hikes and day trips
plus it comes in several bright color options
but we think water-resistant is more accurate
There’s enough room to store sunglasses and a Kindle
yet it doesn’t feel cumbersome and the design keeps your hands free
The belt loop that secures the end of the strap comes loose sometimes
so the strap can flap around until it’s secured again
We’ve filled this bag’s many pockets and compartments to the brim with travel essentials and it still doesn’t look bulky or stuffed
This scratch- and water-resistant crossbody has great storage space and can be worn as a clutch or a shoulder bag
The zipper on the coin purse doesn’t glide very smoothly
from your phone and wallet to smaller toiletries
A micro-suede lining makes stains such as a lip gloss spill hard to clean
This bag’s soft leather looks and feels luxe
and the crossbody strap is adjustable so you can carry it by hand or shoulder
but we found it awkward to wear it that way
It&#39;s interior is lined with plenty of mesh pockets and pen loops
It can also be clipped onto backpacks to stay organized while traveling
You have to purchase the crossbody strap separately
and it comes in seven unique color choices
The zipper closure could be smoother and is prone to snagging
Two zip compartments keep things extra organized
and there’s enough room for a paperback book
There may not be as roomy as a bag with just one main compartment
and crafted entirely out of recycled nylon
We wish the main compartment opened up a little wider
Crossbody bags hang diagonally across one shoulder so that both of your hands stay free
these bags are especially useful while traveling when you need to carry shopping bags or luggage
Many crossbody bags are designed to be worn as shoulder bags or belt bags
a crossbody bag counts as a personal item and must be able to fit under the seat in front of you
We always suggest checking the airline’s website for specific guidelines
Crossbody bags are always in style for their comfortable fit and versatility
or everyday purposes and are available in a wide range of styles to suit everyone&#39;s preference
CrossFit athletes know no two days are alike
The sport asks a lot of you — and your shoes
With activities ranging from heavy deadlifts and Olympic weightlifting to gymnastics and distance running
it’s no surprise that finding the best CrossFit shoes can be a challenge
We researched and tested the most popular CrossFit &amp; cross-training shoes on the market — shoes you can run
is an experienced CrossFit coach who puts each shoe through its paces as he demonstrates exercises and techniques to classes and clients on a daily basis
is a CFL2 CrossFit coach and competitive powerlifter who has burned through hundreds of shoes over the course of his career
They evaluate each model to highlight its specific strengths and shortcomings and make recommendations based on the versatile needs of folks who are exclusively doing CrossFit
as well as those who are practicing stricter lifts and conditioning
we are proud to present our list of the best CrossFit shoes for 2025
Check out our comprehensive <a href="#guide">Buyer’s Guide</a> and <a href="#price">Price &amp; Value</a> sections for helpful tips, and have a look at our <a href="#chart">Comparison Chart</a> to steer your decision-making
Editor&#8217;s Note: For our February 13, 2025, update, we added one of our favorite new CrossFit shoes, the excellent all-arounder <a href="https://go.skimresources.com?id=66154X1501138&amp;xs=1&amp;xcust=gjbgfootwearfitnesscrossfitshoes&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.reebok.com%2Fproducts%2Freebok-nano-x5-moon-y2k-blue-ftwr-white-118838">Reebok Nano X5</a>
Well-known CrossFit shoe brands like Reebok and Nike regularly release new iterations, which can, unfortunately, lead to constantly varied quality between versions. Luckily, Nike’s newest, the <a href="https://www.tkqlhce.com/click-7767252-13067763?sid=gjbgfootwearfitnesscrossfitshoes&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nike.com%2Ft%2Fmetcon-9-mens-workout-shoes-Tc42zx%2FDZ2617-003">Metcon 9</a> ($150)
feels like the company has created the peak CrossFit shoe
This shoe feels like it was built from the ground up for the Sport of Fitness
We&#8217;ll start with one of the 9’s most noticeable features — the huge wraparound rope guard that wraps around the entire midfoot
This robust rope guard not only provides excellent protection from abrasion on rope climbs but also delivers excellent grip
This grip is further enhanced by a few rubber stripes on top of the toebox
Of the dozens of CrossFit shoes we’ve used over the years
none have come close to matching the Metcon 9’s grip
that alone is worth the price of admission
One other unique detail is the small hook-and-loop strap that secures the laces and very effectively prevents them from coming undone
but if you’ve ever had a lace come undone while trying to go unbroken in double-unders
but it’s one that every CrossFit shoe should have
The shoes’ combination of lateral heel stability and extremely flexible forefoot delivers cross-discipline utility
which shined in a test workout that entailed heavy power snatches and 200m sprints
the support on the lifts was comparable to lifters&#8217;
while the spring on the forefoot helped offset the heel’s clunky feel during the sprints (somewhat)
A tightly woven textile upper and wide toebox deliver a stable and comfortable fit (our feet never slid around during shuttle runs and split jerks)
and the shoes’ dual-density midsole absorbs the impact from box jump overs and broad jumps
this shoe feels like every component was made for a CrossFit movement
Like any all-arounder, the shoes aren’t perfect — they’re not the best runners on this list, the dense upper material hampers breathability a bit, and they’re heavier than many options on this list. But, like any good CrossFit athlete, the <a href="https://www.tkqlhce.com/click-7767252-13067763?sid=gjbgfootwearfitnesscrossfitshoes&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nike.com%2Ft%2Fmetcon-9-mens-workout-shoes-Tc42zx%2FDZ2617-003">Nike Metcon 9</a> can do almost everything very
With the average price for a CrossFit shoe floating around $150, finding a bargain usually means trying to find an older shoe on an outlet site. That’s not the case anymore, thanks to the <a href="https://www.pjtra.com/t/8-12946-131878-329833?sid=gjbgfootwearfitnesscrossfitshoes&amp;website=229302&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.reebok.com%2Fp%2F100208631%2Fnano-gym-shoes">Reebok Nano Gym</a> ($100)
the Nano Gym is adept at pushing through fitness classes
and (more so than most CrossFit shoes) running
While it may lack some CrossFit-specific features that bias it toward lifting
and flexibility to be a serviceable shoe in almost every CrossFit movement
The 8 mm midsole drop may be too high for people who want a more even lifting platform
but those with ankle mobility issues will love the boost during squats
The heel support is much softer than you’ll find on most CrossFit shoes
which means less power in explosive movements
but the TPU heel cradle provides additional stability
It’s well-known that CrossFit shoes are often terrible for running (the best of them on this list are merely serviceable)
but that soft heel and 8 mm drop made this our favorite runners during testing
One of the WODs that we did with these shoes required a mix of middle-distance runs
These shoes felt positively speedy on the run
while the lifting portions were more than comfortable (we PR’d that workout by over a minute)
Is it the best shoe for everything in CrossFit
That soft heel might be an unforgivable sin for many athletes
And the lack of midsole rope protection means these shoes will get destroyed if rope climbs are prescribed
But for any workout that calls for plyometrics, running, and sub-maximal lifts, the <a href="https://www.pjtra.com/t/8-12946-131878-329833?sid=gjbgfootwearfitnesscrossfitshoes&amp;website=229302&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.reebok.com%2Fp%2F100208631%2Fnano-gym-shoes">Reebok Nano Gym</a> is amazing for CrossFit
And the fact that it’s the cheapest new shoes you’ll find by $50 or more doesn’t hurt one bit
Reebok’s Nano series has gone through 15 iterations
each one with its specific strengths and weaknesses
We’re happy to report that the Reebok Nano X5 ($140) is the company’s best version in years
and possibly the best blend of lifting and running capabilities
The Nano X5’s toebox is noticeably wider than that of the Nano X4
combined with the flexible and slightly stretchy patterned FLEXWEAVE upper
gives the X5 excellent comfort right out of the box
Reebok also replaced the X4’s Floatride Energy Foam with a new DUALRESPONSE EVA midsole
This new midsole combines with Reebok’s Lift and Run Chassis System to deliver the most balanced support and cushioning we’ve experienced with a CrossFit shoe
And we’d like to emphasize the running part — CrossFit athletes have learned to appreciate shoes that hurt the least with running
and barely-there rocker (the toe is elevated a bit) gave us just enough to maintain a speedy
natural stride without that clompy feeling most CrossFit shoes deliver
They won’t replace your running shoes — after about a mile
and the heelstriking would commence — but for a CrossFit shoe
But thanks to its comfort for every modality of CrossFit
this is the perfect shoe for athletes who like to walk in the gym with no idea what the workout is
No matter what devious workout your coach has programmed
Normally, it takes a few iterations for a company to get CrossFit shoes dialed. Luckily for us, Born Primitive knocked it out of the park with its first attempt, the <a href="https://go.skimresources.com/?id=66154X1501138&amp;xs=1&amp;xcust=gjbgfootwearfitnesscrossfitshoes%7Cxid:fr1723579466186ghd&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fbornprimitive.com%2Fproducts%2Fmens-savage1-black-gum">Born Primitive Savage 1</a> ($130)
The Savage 1 are our favorite daily CrossFit shoes this year because they’ve excelled at all things CrossFit while being one of the lightest and most comfortable shoes on our list
We tried them for months across every modality
The Savage 1 has a super-breathable textile upper with a wide toebox and laminate overlays for support and added durability
The wide toebox and structure provided a comfortable fit
and the laminate upper kept the foot right where it belonged throughout our workouts
The Savage 1 was one of the first shoes that we tried that truly provided excellent stability during lifts like the clean &amp; jerk and snatch but was flexible enough to be comfortable during box jumps and burpees
so we won’t be running any half-marathons in them
though we would have appreciated more cushioning
but the rounded profile prevented them from coming undone at inopportune times
such as during double-unders or sprints to beat the time cap
they weren’t as grippy as other shoes on this list
Are they a full-fledged lifter? Certainly not. Nor are they a bonafide runner. But if you just want a low-heel-drop pair of shoes that you can do any workout in, anytime, while looking and feeling good — the <a href="https://go.skimresources.com/?id=66154X1501138&amp;xs=1&amp;xcust=gjbgfootwearfitnesscrossfitshoes%7Cxid:fr1723579466187deg&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fbornprimitive.com%2Fproducts%2Fmens-savage1-black-gum">Born Primitive Savage 1</a> is your shoe
and the Elite Carbon stepped up the performance even more with a more streamlined fit and a carbon fiber plate that provides a boost during jumping movements
It still has the CXT-2&#8217;s textile upper
which has more reinforcement to prevent sidewall blowouts
and the aggressive rope guard and heel protection add to the shoe’s durability
The new version lowers the heel-toe drop from the CXT-2’s 7 mm down to 4 mm
which made the shoe less likely to catch on double-unders
But the big difference here is that the Elite Carbon has a carbon plate inserted between the midsole and the outsole
is designed to increase power during explosive movements
presumably by adding rebound when you flex your shoe for a jumping movement
But we’re pleased to say after a few months of testing that these shoes deliver
We felt like we were flying through these movements with minimal effort
The flex and rebound of the carbon plate feel similar to wearing 7mm knee sleeves during a back squat — you feel some resistance as you lower into the bottom of the squat
That’s how it feels when you jump in these
They’re not bionic or anything (these shoes won’t allow you to hit a 50-inch box jump right out of the box)
but that little bit of extra help goes a long way in high-rep or high-speed workouts
This is because weightlifting shoes are built for two things — stability and stiffness
An extremely stiff sole maximizes power transfer during explosive movements necessary during cleans and snatches
stable base keeps ankle and foot movement to a minimum when squatting heavy weight
The Legacy Lifter III delivers on all of these parameters
the extremely firm thermoplastic polyurethane (basically a really hard plastic
also known as TPU) platform under the heel absorbed zero power during our Olympic lifts
We wore these on a 3-month Olympic lifting program and managed a 20-pound increase in his squat snatch and a 30-pound increase in his squat clean
the exterior TPU heel reinforcement that rises up over the heel prevented any foot movement when dropping into a squat and driving back up
The main noticeable difference between the Legacy Lifter III and its predecessor
the Legacy Lifter II is the addition of the Pump feature
which elder millennials may remember fondly from their childhoods
entails a pump button on the tongue that wearers can use to inflate the tongue for a more secure
That secure fit is bolstered by the shoe’s midsole strap
adding to the Legacy Lifter III’s superlative stability
We’ve gone through countless lifting shoes in our fitness journey
and the Legacy Lifter III is by far the most stable
We’ve been testing the shoe for nearly a year’s worth of workouts
We don’t anticipate any blowouts or degradation throughout our next few years of wear
We have a medium-width foot, which perfectly suits the Legacy Lifter III but may not work well with lifters who have narrower feet. If your feet tend to swim in medium-width shoes, we’d recommend something narrower, like the <a href="https://www.adidas.com/us/adipower-weightlifting-3-shoes/GY8926.html">Adidas Adipower 3</a>
While the forefoot is flexible enough for split jerks
you won’t want to do movements like burpees or box jumps in them
They weigh nearly three times as much as some of the shoes on this list
which is not ideal for toes to bar or muscle ups
And God help you if you try to run any distance in these
The bottom line is that if you don’t plan to hoist some heavy weight
If, however, you are looking for a shoe that’s ideal for Olympic movements, heavy back/front/overhead squats, and overhead work, you’re not going to find a more stable platform than the one on the <a href="https://www.gopjn.com/t/8-12946-131878-329833?sid=gjbgfootwearfitnesscrossfitshoes&amp;website=229302&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.reebok.com%2Fp%2F100201520%2Flegacy-lifter-iii-weightlifting-shoes">Reebok Legacy Lifter III</a>
Vivobarefoot has been in the minimalist shoe game for quite some time now. We tested the brand’s <a href="https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=7789&amp;awinaffid=687187&amp;campaign=&amp;clickref=gjbgfootwearfitnesscrossfitshoes&amp;ued=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.vivobarefoot.com%2Fus%2Fmotus-strength-mens&amp;platform=pl">Vivobarefoot Motus Strength</a> ($200) in this round and found these shoes to be well-made
but our testing made us confident that buyers will be satisfied with the top-quality construction of this shoe
Designed specifically for strength training
the shoe is an excellent option for the functional training crowd
and barefoot runners will value it for its wide fit
we would highly recommend that you ease into your runs and workouts while wearing them
Zero drop and zero padding mean zero support
so it might be a rough transition for folks switching to the minimalist shoe situation
this shoe is great if you’re interested in strengthening your feet and ankles or prefer to feel more tuned into your feet when lifting
We especially valued the bio-feedback of this minimal shoe during kettlebell conditioning
and makes the Motus Strength stand out among other barefoot-style shoes
While the bottom of the outsole remains minimalist and flexible
and toebox to help protect the foot from random weight drops (somewhat) and to provide some lateral stability during heavy lifts
Sizing can be a little tricky with the Motus Strength — they run a bit big
Vivobarefoot has a helpful guide on its site for choosing your appropriate size
so be sure to check that out before pulling the trigger
&amp; flexible — making for a great summer training shoe
<a href="https://www.nobullproject.com/products/mens-black-nobull-outwork?ctc=gjbgfootwearfitnesscrossfitshoes">NOBULL’s Outwork</a> ($139) shoes (formerly known as the NOBULL Trainer) are so durable that you may never need to buy another pair
so there are fewer weak points in the shoe
A minimal chance of those sidewall blowouts that you&#8217;ll see in other shoes
made by applying a layer of protective guard plates to a fabric
These guard plates are basically tiny pieces of hard plastic
The plastic acts as a shield over the fabric
making it abrasion-resistant without sacrificing breathability or flexibility
This also gives the shoes a distinct dot pattern
The low-profile lugs on the outsole provide both traction and a stable platform
while the firm midsole provides ample support during heavy lifts (though some athletes find them clunky on runs)
And that&#8217;s the big downside with the Outwork — if you want soft landings on jumps or any semblance of cushioning on a run
NOBULL takes pride in being an understated company. Its shoes are solid, stable, and durable, without any of the extra bells and whistles. The <a href="https://www.nobullproject.com/products/mens-black-nobull-outwork?ctc=gjbgfootwearfitnesscrossfitshoes" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Outwork</a> may not be flashy
but it&#8217;ll get the job done — and do it for years without showing any wear
GORUCK is known for its gritty, stripped-down styling, and the<a href="https://www.avantlink.com/click.php?tt=el&amp;merchant_id=899de5b0-21d1-4eb3-8c26-6b9365dcf591&amp;website_id=e1cda6bd-1c15-4176-b96e-563e0bd68c12&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.goruck.com%2Fproducts%2Fballistic-trainers&amp;ctc=gjbgfootwearfitnesscrossfitshoes|xid:fr1741810994373jcf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Ballistic Trainer</a> ($140) epitomizes those traits
With the durable Cordura ballistic nylon upper and subdued styling
the shoe looks like it was made to go through hell
We took the Ballistic Trainer through months of testing
and the dreaded Murph workout — a 1-mile run
The midsole provides what all CrossFit shoes offer
but rarely deliver — equal performance across various workouts
The platform felt secure and steady during Olympic lifts
and the elevated heel gave the shoe a lifter feel during heavy back squats
the forefoot provided more than enough flexibility to enable a full range of motion
One of the most noticeable aspects of the Ballistic Trainer is its durability
a quick wipe-down with a wet rag had our test pair looking like it just came out of the box
The <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BHKKKZ13/?tag=gjbgfootwearfitnesscrossfitshoes-20" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New Balance Minimus TR</a> ($130) is one of the more stylish shoes of this round&#8217;s additions
Multiple folks at our gym commented on their appearance during testing
as we had some trouble getting along with this shoe
Paul literally could not get his foot into the shoe due to its small sizing and extremely narrow toebox
he was able to slip his foot in with reasonable comfort but still had issues with the width
The fit caused some substantial toe overlap and one of his toenails cut into/rubbed the others even after clipping and rounding off — not ideal
Potential buyers should be sure that they need a narrow shoe before purchasing
We are generally big fans of zero-drop shoes
especially those with good stability and traction like the Minimus TR
The minimus is an excellent deadlift shoe because of its 0 mm drop and excellent floor contact
but users with limited ankle mobility may notice issues in their squat depth with this shoe — especially if coming from a shoe with more drop
One of the cool features about this shoe is the integrated tongue
making the Minimus a good option for wearing without socks
They are also a great functional fitness shoe; we really enjoyed our kettlebell workouts in them
The <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BHKKKZ13/?tag=gjbgfootwearfitnesscrossfitshoes-20" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Minimus TR</a> makes a decent runner
though it&#8217;s worth noting that folks not used to running in zero drop or minimalist shoes should exercise caution and gradually build up to running more than a mile or two at a time
Authors Billy Brown and Paul Mandell sought out the top footwear for CrossFit endeavors and put each pair of shoes through rigorous testing
Shoes are evaluated over the course of several months via rope climbing
GearJunkie Affiliate Managing Editor Billy Brown is a CFL2 CrossFit coach, a competitive athlete, a record-holding powerlifter, a USPA-certified powerlifting coach, and a former ultrarunner<a href="https://gearjunkie.com/buyers-guides/fitness-running-gear-reviews" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">.</a> His competition training generally consists of 5 to 6 days of strength training and conditioning across the powerlifting
which gives him plenty of opportunities to test the newest and best CrossFit shoes on a regular basis
Testing the shoes on this list entailed taking each shoe through weeks of CrossFit workouts
running through a series of gymnastics movements
and running anywhere from 200 meters to three miles in each shoe
and general eagerness to lace them up for another workout
We also had other athletes at our gyms try out the shoes so we could get a wider range of opinions on each one&#8217;s performance
and daily wear (when applicable — we didn&#8217;t wear the lifting shoes around town)
Paul and Billy take CrossFit seriously and know that bad shoes can ruin a workout
so we rigorously tested every shoe on this list for comfort
since we know that every athlete is different and may have different needs
we tried to find a shoe to suit various needs and tastes
we update this guide with new models as they become available to ensure our readers have the best
Cushioning and heel drop are two of the most important factors in choosing a shoe for CrossFit
It&#8217;s also the first thing you notice when you put a pair on
As far as cushioning goes, there’s a delicate balance to maintain. Too little cushioning can be wildly painful during high-impact movements. Unless you’re used to barefoot shoes like the <a href="https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=7789&amp;awinaffid=687187&amp;campaign=&amp;clickref=gjbgfootwearfitnesscrossfitshoes&amp;ued=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.vivobarefoot.com%2Fus%2Fmotus-strength-mens&amp;platform=pl">Vivobarefoot Motus Strength</a>
these movements can give your feet a beating on long runs
can lead to a loss of power and responsiveness
Most CrossFit shoes strike a balance between cushion and support
with most leaning towards the support side
Heel drop refers to how high the heel is off the ground versus how high the toe is
4 to 7 millimeters seems to be the sweet spot
It strikes the perfect balance between cushioning on runs and balance on lifts
A soft sole’s cushioning will absorb the power that an athlete produces in their leg drive during explosive movements
However, athletes with narrow feet can feel like their feet aren’t getting any sidewall support in wider shoes. If you&#8217;ve got a narrower foot, consider something like the<a href="https://www.nobullproject.com/products/mens-black-nobull-outwork?ctc=gjbgfootwearfitnesscrossfitshoes"> NOBULL Outwork</a> or Reebok Nano X4
make sure the company has a good return policy
try them on immediately to make sure they&#8217;re a good fit
Lateral support is especially important for athletes with previous ankle injuries or who tend to roll their ankles
Shoes utilize different designs to combat this
CrossFit is as hard on the shoes as it is on the athlete (maybe more so)
We’ve seen every failure that a shoe can experience
from delaminating materials to a sole literally breaking in half
One of the most common failures in a CrossFit shoe is a sidewall blowout
From lateral pressure on the sidewalls to abrasion from rope climbs
shoes&#8217; sidewalls take a lot of abuse
Many shoemakers add TPU reinforcement on the sidewalls to shield the foot from this type of wear
We are painfully aware of the frustration of blowing out a sidewall or wearing a groove in an outsole during rope climbs
so any shoe that showed excessive wear did not make it into this list
There&#8217;s no way around it — CrossFit shoes are pricey
If you&#8217;re looking for a new pair of kicks for your box
you can expect to spend somewhere around $150
with a few exceptions for specialty shoes and discounted shoes from previous seasons
Here&#8217;s what you get (and don&#8217;t get) with the various price ranges
If you&#8217;re looking to spend as little as possible on a pair of CrossFit shoes, you can often find last year&#8217;s models online for anywhere from $60 to $100. The only new pair in this price range that we liked was the <a href="https://www.pjtra.com/t/8-12946-131878-329833?sid=gjbgfootwearfitnesscrossfitshoes&amp;website=229302&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.reebok.com%2Fp%2F100208631%2Fnano-gym-shoes">Reebok Nano Gym</a> ($100)
which offers plenty of cushioning and just enough stiffness to perform during lifts
but you&#8217;ll often find features like rope guards and sidewall support missing here
searching for a bargain shoe can be a good way to get started and discover what features you need (and don&#8217;t need) in your endeavors
you&#8217;ll find features like rope guards and grips
and lace locks to keep your shoes tied during double-unders
we&#8217;ve found that these shoes generally last longer than the shoes in the bargain range
These shoes offer specific features that you won&#8217;t find in general CrossFit shoes
like zero heel-toe drop or an extremely rigid heel for effective power transfer during lifts
these shoes aren&#8217;t entirely necessary
but if you&#8217;re looking to specialize or optimize your training for competition
The best CrossFit shoes for both men and women will vary by individual
The best cross trainer will be as versatile as the sport of CrossFit itself
The best shoes in the sport will allow you to run
The best CrossFit shoes are made to accommodate a variety of sports
since CrossFit shoes tend to have a firmer heel than most shoes to provide support during lifts
they&#8217;re far from the best running shoes you can find
athletes will wear dedicated running shoes for run-heavy workouts
CrossFit shoes should fit just like a regular shoe; snug enough to provide support without compressing the foot
Many athletes use some of the better-looking CrossFit shoes as their everyday walking-around shoes
We know athletes who would buy multiple pairs: one for the gym
Reebok skewed closer to the lifting side with its harder midsole
This worked well for lifting weights but was less comfortable during gymnastics and run-heavy WODs
Nike made a big splash by erring on the run side being a running shoe with a softer midsole material
Nike and Reebok refined both of their lines
striking a better balance between running and lifting
Yes. Not only will they help prevent blisters, they also keep your shoes from smelling like you stuffed them with roadkill between workouts. We recommend taller socks, as this also protects your shins during bar moves like deadlifts and snatches. It&#8217;s also a nice extra layer during rope climbs.
Normally, we’d suggest that you replace your shoes when they wear out or blow out. However, you should expect to get at least a few years out of each pair before they become unusable. And with new styles and designs coming out every year, you’ll be buying shoes before they do.
From Vuori to Under Armour, our fitness experts found the best gym shorts for men to fit every budget and workout. Get ready to sweat.
We tested the best workout headphones of 2025 with options for every budget and athlete. Top picks include Jaybird, Bose, and more!
Paul Mandell is a climber, cyclist, skier, and well-rounded mountain athlete. He hails from Bishop California, where he helps the remarkably fit townsfolk get even fitter through his strength coaching program. Paul is a big, hard-charging fella who routinely destroys his gear, so his assessments are solid, especially when evaluating aspects like durability and build quality. When he&#8217;s not running around in the mountains, Paul can be found tinkering with his bike and feeding feral cats.
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Every bite of these buns was filled with juicy chunks of blueberries
The classic attributes of a great hot cross bun were all there
with this one being spongy on the inside but crisp on the outside when toasted
I suppose it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Amazon’s selling competitvely priced hot cross buns
you get six generously sized buns that look exactly how a classic hot cross bun should – round
no-fuss hot cross bun that delivers flavour and value
M&S’s offering doesn’t mess with tradition
I loved them toasted with a thick slab of really good salty butter to balance out the bitter spice
luxurious treats – and the prices reflect that
When it comes to the bakery’s hot cross buns
and these had the best texture out of any I’ve tried – perfectly bready without being stodgy
with a delicious combo of milk and dark chocolate that made them a truly decadent treat
I tried them toasted and straight from the packet – when toasted
the gooey chocolate was heavenly; untoasted
the buns reminded me of a childhood brioche snack
What could be better than tucking into a giant hot cross bun this Easter
this mega bun makes the perfect Easter table centrepiece and a great gift
cake-like texture meant these gluten-free hot cross buns weren’t the slightest bit dry
they didn’t crisp up as much as I’d have liked when toasted
To say these buns are moreish would be an understatement
It sounds like the fudgy pieces combined with the melted chocolate chunks would be sickly
with an ideal raisin-to-bun ratio that makes sure every bite is bursting with flavour
these hot cross buns deliver on taste and quality without compromising a thing
Milk and More is a breakfast delivery company that brings breakfast right to your door
Starting originally as a good old-fashioned milkman service they have since expanded to all your morning essentials including juice
The first thing I noticed about these buns was the incredible smell
the room filled with a sweet spiced apple scent
Imagine a hot cross bun meets applesauce – deliciously sweet without straying too far from the classic flavours
I loved finding generous chunks of apple in almost every bite
these buns deliver exactly what they promise — a bold
unmistakable custard kick with a deliciously sweet vanilla undertone
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Spring has sprung, bringing with it some of my favourite seasonal snacks. From succulent roast lamb to indulgent <a href="/extras/indybest/easter/best-easter-eggs-b2707952.html">Easter eggs</a>
the springtime holiday has some seriously good nosh for us to get our teeth stuck into
there’s one tempting treat that trumps them all: the humble hot cross bun
Sweet, spiced buns filled with currants and sultanas, these <a href="/extras/indybest/food-drink/chocolate">sweet treats</a> have been a staple in British homes since the 1700s
with some evidence suggesting some iteration of the bun can be traced back to 12th century England
Today, hot cross buns have had a bit of a makeover. Almost every <a href="/extras/indybest/fashion-beauty/womens-clothing/best-supermarket-clothes-b2611023.html">supermarket</a> and bakery nationwide now offers its own take on the classic
with flavours ranging from savoury cheese to tart rhubarb and custard
there are still plenty of indulgent classic options on offer
I’ve been hard at work taste-testing every bun under the sun to find the best hot cross buns on offer this season
Keep scrolling for my full review and verdict
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This was a particularly tough testing process
I sampled a whole host of different hot cross buns
I was looking for those that toasted well on the outside but stayed fluffy and moist on the inside
I wanted plenty of fillings and even assessed how well they kept in the cupboard after a few days
All IndyBest reviews include products that have been tried and tested
with only those that impress the reviewer the most making the final line-up
Quality offerings that also provide value for money are prioritised
This is the second year running I’ve rounded up the best hot cross buns
I’m a stickler when it comes to how spiced a dough is
and I refuse to include any buns that skimp on the fillings
I selflessly sampled a range of hot cross buns
it would be that I’d have liked a slightly seasoned or spiced dough
I highly recommend this offering from Sainsbury’s
These hot cross buns are packed with fruit
Given the price and the freshly baked quality
perhaps an Easter brunch when entertaining family and friends
as you can have them delivered straight to your door or click and collect
I didn’t even bother with butter because the chocolate was rich enough
I think these buns would be a hit with someone who’s not necessarily a fan of the classic hot cross bun but still wants something indulgent and festive
This packet of chocolatey-goodness didn't last long in my home
Coming from the famous Harrogate tea room Bettys
it’s packed with currants and orange peel – perfect for fans of the classic flavour profile
I’d recommend cutting it into thick slices and enjoying it with plenty of good salty butter
I had the whole IndyBest team try the variety of giant hot cross bun flavours from Bettys
I recommend coating yours in salty butter to cut through the sweetness
They somehow managed to crisp up perfectly around the edges but maintained an almost custard-like texture in the centre
they’re so sugary that the edges can burn easily
so make sure to watch the toaster carefully -these are not to be wasted
The millionaire hot cross bun (bottom left) was a fan favourite in my house during testing
Made by experienced bakers at The Artisan Bakery
these buns were some of the largest I tested
The dough was very well seasoned and particularly orangey
The sweetness balanced out the heavy spice for a unique approach to the traditional hot cross bun
the texture was not particularly to my taste
as I found the chunks of orange peel a little tough
the idea of waking up on a Sunday morning to fresh artisanal hot cross buns right on your doorstep more than makes up for it
Liberally slather on the butter for this hot cross bun
I enjoyed these lightly toasted and found they tasted naturally buttery
so just a sliver of butter was all they needed
these hot cross buns have become one of my absolute favourites
The texture is spot on - crisp on the outside
while the custard flavour is front and centre (and absolutely delicious)
I found the rhubarb element a little underwhelming
tangy note would have added some welcome contrast to balance the sweetness
I swapped between the toaster and the air fryer through out my testing to find the perfect crispiness
Got a sweet tooth? We’ve rounded up the <a href="/extras/indybest/food-drink/subscription-boxes/best-chocolate-subscription-box-dark-vegan-monthly-milk-a9630811.html">best chocolate subscriptions</a>
taste-tested","description":"I tried much more than a baker’s dozen
As the editorial director of Forbes Vetted
I lead a nearly 30-person edit team to create the rigorously researched product recommendations and valuable shopping advice you see on the site
previously serving as the content director at Food52
in English literature and finance from UCLA and an M.A
in early modern literature from King’s College London
Boxer rescue pup and over a hundred cookbooks
you can find me tackling mile repeats on the track—I'm a competitive distance runner and a three-time World Majors marathoner always looking to best my PRs
</a>Work up a sweat in a pair of the best workout shoes for women
To narrow down contenders and evaluate models for this list
we reviewed a variety of shoes across activity types to see if they meet the demands of specific workouts
breathable fit and provide the right level of stability and support for the task at hand
We also gathered first-person feedback from staffers who actually wear these shoes for their fitness activities
to shed light on how these shoes perform and hold up in real life
and tips for selecting the best pair for your needs
Sizes: 5-11 | Weight (per pair): 15.9 ounces | Width: Standard | Drop: 7mm
Swiss footwear and apparel brand On has been around for well over a decade
but it really hit its stride in recent years
While some of its shoes are built specifically for racing and others lean toward street style
the Cloud X 4 is a versatile training shoe designed to handle a variety of workouts
It’s not the fastest or lightest shoe on this list
rendering it a good option for static strength training
"I’ve never experienced any discomfort or pain after wearing them for several miles or after a full day of being on my feet," says Forbes Vetted’s senior mattress and sleep editor
so my feet don’t get hot wearing them like they do in some other workout shoes.”
it’s a shoe you can slip on without much thought for most workouts
Sizes: 5-15 | Weight (per pair): 27 ounces | Width: Standard | Drop: 4mm
Nike introduced the Metcon in 2015 as a versatile cross trainer built to handle a wide range of workouts
and today it’s the shoe of choice for a lot of HIIT converts and CrossFit athletes
It features a slight 4mm drop to improve mobility through the ankle
and a rubber strip that extends from the base to the top of the shoe adds durability for rope climbs
dual-density foam enhances support and responsiveness
while the grippy rubber outsole keeps you steady on various surfaces
but we’ve found that it doesn’t leave your feet overheating during intense sessions
this shoe has proven itself as a reliable choice
whether you’re just getting into CrossFit or accustomed to a HIIT routine
Sizes: 5-12 | Weight (per pair): 14.6 ounces | Width: Standard
The Hoka Clifton is the brand’s most popular shoe by a wide margin
maximalist design and eye-catching colors (20 in all for the women’s shoe) that makes it a favorite; it’s the unmatched comfort that you can feel in every step
the Clifton 9 is the kind of shoe you can lace up for the first time and wear on the roads for hours
“I’ve been training for a 5K and the Hoka Clifton 9 shoes have been my go-to shoe for walking and running," says Forbes Vetted updates writer Alexandra Garrett
“They’re comfortable and supportive in all the right places
they’ve never once given me blisters–even while I was breaking them in.”
It’s worth noting the Clifton leans more toward cushy comfort than pure speed
so it may not get you across the finish line first
it’s a great walking shoe that can also serve as a running shoe at a moment’s notice
whether you're training for a race or just aiming to hit 10,000 steps a day
it’s a reliable choice to keep you moving comfortably
Sizes: 5-13 | Weight (per pair): 17 ounces | Width: Standard
supportive and comfortable—maybe not the lightest or fastest option
but if you just need something that feels good and gets the job done
just enough cushioning to smooth out longer runs and a breathable upper that keeps your feet cool
Brooks delivers on all fronts with the latest Ghost
And with four width options to choose from
it’s built to fit a variety of foot shapes
“I have the Brooks Ghost 16 and I’m really pleased with them,” explains senior branded content editor
“I can wear them for any running distance or speed and my feet feel completely cushioned
my stride has plenty of spring and I don’t experience any aches or pains.”
Sizes: 5.5-11 | Weight (per pair): 13.7 ounces | Width: Standard | Drop: 8mm
Whether you’re chasing a new PB or a qualifying time for one of the World Marathon Majors
the Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 3 will help you get there
nitrogen-infused foam and reinforced with an energy-returning carbon plate
the shoe quite literally makes the most of your every step
two-thirds of the weight of the Brooks Ghost 16
comfortable and supportive ride for big efforts
but that’s the nature of racing “super shoes.” At $230
it’s twice the price of a typical running shoe
and its foam won’t hold up nearly as long (experts estimate these shoes lose their bounce after about 250 miles)
the speed you’ll get from this pair comes at the expense of its durability
But if you’re looking to level up your runs in every way
Sizes: 5-11 | Weight (per pair): N/A | Width: Standard | Drop: N/A
fast-paced athletic shoes tend to steal the spotlight
but recovery footwear deserves some attention too
and there may be no recovery footwear more famous right now than the Oofos OOahh Recovery Slide
You can think of it as a sandal with a plush
absorbs 37% more impact than regular footwear
which helps take the strain off your ankles
it’s tough to measure exactly how much of a difference recovery shoes make
and keep me from getting leg cramps at night when I’ve been standing on my feet all day,” one of our testers shared
“And the next day I’m able to get right back on my feet without any soreness.”
this isn’t the kind of shoe you’ll wear mid-workout
but if you spend hours on your feet or like to wear slippers around the house
it’s a solid alternative to worn-out shoes
it’s a relatively inexpensive investment to see if the cushioning helps—especially with Oofos’ 30-day risk-free trial for added peace of mind
We evaluated the best workout shoes for women by looking for the following features:
When searching for a pair of workout shoes, it’s worth thinking about how and when you intend to use your shoes, as well as how they fit and the type of support they offer. Here’s what to consider:
The best way to find the right workout shoe is to consider what kind of exercise you need it for and to choose a pair designed for that activity. Keep in mind that different activities may require different shoes—running shoes focus on cushioning and smooth forward movement, while cross trainers are built for lateral support and all-purpose movement. Each type of shoe uses different materials and fits just a bit different to match its intended use.
A good workout shoe should feel comfortable and deliver a balance of cushioning and support. Dr. Costigan recommends looking for a snug (but not overly tight) fit, plus a style of arch support that complements your foot shape and walking patterns.
Keep in mind that different workouts call for different construction features: Running shoes (whether for the road or trail) come with breathable uppers and supportive midsoles, while cross trainers provide stability and side-to-side support. And even recovery shoes use different types of forgiving foams to offer relief.
And finally, durability is another key factor to consider, because workout shoes endure a lot of wear and tear. High-quality materials, reinforced stitching, sturdy uppers and tough rubber outsoles all make for a longer-lasting shoe.
A stable shoe is designed to help prevent injuries, no matter what type of workout you do. If you lift weights or partake in HIIT classes, look for shoes with a firm heel, lateral support and a grippy outsole to help with balance. Runners should opt for decent midsole cushioning to absorb shock, and trail runners need both cushioning and aggressive tread to handle uneven terrain.
Sometimes, it takes a few wears to know if a shoe is the right fit. Even if it’s comfortable out of the box, it might not be the perfect shoe once you get to know it. Discomfort can also affect your knees, hips and lower back, so if something feels off, it’s worth trying a different shoe. And once you do find the perfect fit, consider picking up a second pair to rotate them and extend the lifespan of both pairs.
I have been writing and editing travel content for over 8 years
during which I have visited over 40 countries
stayed at numerous hotel properties and traveled with dozens of different suitcases
editing robust destination guides and writing daily travel news and features
I have also served in editorial roles at ABC News and Good Morning America.&nbsp;
What Are The Best Crossbody Bags For Travel
The best crossbody bags for travel are durable
secure and have enough space for your essentials
All the products highlighted in this guide are excellent options that our experienced travel team has vetted
The MZ Wallace Small Sutton Deluxe is our top pick
multiple interior pockets and secure zip-top closure
We also recommend the affordable Travelon Anti-Theft Classic Mini Shoulder Bag and Quince’s stylish Italian Leather Triple Compartment Crossbody
It must also fit underneath the seat in front of you
If you plan on bringing a larger backpack or travel tote
we recommend stashing your crossbody bag in the larger bag during your flight (then both bags will count as one personal item)
What Type Of Bags Are Good For International Travel
When packing for an international vacation
the first thing to consider is how long you’ll be traveling
The bag you might need for a month-long trip will differ from what you might need for a week-long getaway
look for a lightweight bag with plenty of internal compartments to keep you organized
International flights have different weight limits
so check the airline’s requirements before you get to the airport
You can usually purchase more capacity ahead of time
</a>The best crossbody bags for travel are durable
who has visited over 40 countries with various bags
the best crossbody bags for travel in 2025
Dimensions: 9.8 × 5.5 × 10.20 inches |&nbsp;Weight: 1.08 pounds |&nbsp;Colors: 25 total
including Matte Silver and Mauve |&nbsp;Materials: Recycled oxford (polyester
It has six interior pockets plus a detachable pouch that’s great for stashing beauty products that tend to spill
Its two exterior pockets keep frequently used items—like your passport or wallet—within reach
Other helpful features include a secure zip-top closure
Dimensions: 8.5 x 8.5 x 2.25 inches |&nbsp;Weight: 0.7 pounds | Colors: 12 total
including Black and Spruce |&nbsp;Materials: Polyester
Dimensions: 7.8 x 9.5 x 3 inches |&nbsp;Weight: 1.54 pounds |&nbsp;Colors: 3 total, including Mink and Black |&nbsp;Materials: Leather
Dimensions: 5.6 x 8 x 2 inches |&nbsp;Weight: 0.6 pounds |&nbsp;Colors: 23 total
including Deep Navy and Cognac |&nbsp;Materials: Nappa
Dimensions: 7.5 x 2 x 5 inches |&nbsp;Weight: N/A (not listed) |&nbsp;Colors: 7 total
including Passionate (hot pink) and Navy | Materials: Nylon
Dimensions: 13.5 x 9 x 4 inches |&nbsp;Weight: 1.3 pounds |&nbsp;Colors: Black |&nbsp;Materials: Nylon and polyester
Its spacious interior includes four pockets (including an RFID-blocking pocket for your cards) and an exterior pocket big enough to hold an 11-inch tablet
Other helpful features include a water bottle holder that zips away when not in use
a cord pass-through for charging devices on the go and tamper-resistant zippers
there’s a molded EVA back panel and tuck-away stabilizing strap
Dimensions:&nbsp;11 x 7 x 3 inches |&nbsp;Weight: 10 ounces |&nbsp;Colors: 6 total
including Cotopaxi Black and Chestnut |&nbsp;Materials: Recycled nylon
It’s made from recycled nylon with a TPU coating that makes it water-resistant
and it can be worn either as a crossbody or around the waist as a belt bag
The top zipper opens to a main compartment
and an interior phone pocket with fleece lining protects screens from scuffs and scratches
There are multiple grab handles for easy carrying
and G-hooks on both sides can be adjusted depending on how much you carry
The design of this crossbody is admittedly more casual
but we appreciate its bright colors and easy-to-care-for material
There are several factors to consider when shopping for the best crossbody bags for travel
Crossbody bags are available in many materials
from premium leather to canvas to recycled polyester
consider where and how often you’ll wear your bag
if you travel frequently and go on active trips
consider a material like recycled nylon or polyester
“A lightweight but durable nylon canvas is an ideal fabric as it’s resilient and stain resistant
so it can handle wear and tear while traveling,” says Albrecht
a little soap and water should easily remove the stain.” Leather is a stylish option that ages beautifully and develops a subtle sheen (or patina) over time
but textured leathers like Saffiano are typically more durable
“Genuine leather always wears better than synthetic leather and ages nicely,” adds Albrecht
The best crossbody bags for travel are durable, secure and have enough space for your essentials. All the products highlighted in this guide are excellent options that our experienced travel team has vetted. The MZ Wallace Small Sutton Deluxe is our top pick, thanks to its water-resistant shell, multiple interior pockets and secure zip-top closure. We also recommend the affordable Travelon Anti-Theft Classic Mini Shoulder Bag and Quince’s stylish Italian Leather Triple Compartment Crossbody.
You can take a crossbody bag on a plane, but it will count as a personal item. It must also fit underneath the seat in front of you. If you plan on bringing a larger backpack or travel tote, we recommend stashing your crossbody bag in the larger bag during your flight (then both bags will count as one personal item).
Checked for accuracy by our qualified verifiers and subject experts. Find out more about <a href="/about-us/editorial-guidelines/fact-checking">fact-checking at CHOICE</a>
hot cross buns start popping up on grocery shelves
the idea of buying Easter treats in December is absurd
but some of us Aussies clearly have such an appetite for these spicy
that we're willing to buy them well outside the traditional season
Their early appearance is certainly handy for us here at CHOICE &ndash; it gives our expert taste testers plenty of time to gather and compare all the options on the market
so you can make the smartest choice for your Easter treats.&nbsp;
But despite the availability of these gimmicky options
our polls consistently show that you can't go past a traditional fruit hot cross bun
So for those who'd prefer not to mess with a classic
This year Coles has knocked last year's winner Woolworths out of the top spot
Our panel of professionals taste-tested 19 hot cross bun products all up
including 9 traditional fruit varieties (it's a tough gig but somebody's gotta do it)
You can compare all products in our full <a href="/food-and-drink/bread-cereal-and-grains/bread/review-and-compare/hot-cross-buns">hot cross buns review</a>
Coles Luxurious Fruit Hot Cross Buns were the favourite traditional bun this year
Why wait for the Easter bunny to bring eggs when you can eat your chocolate in bun form?&nbsp;
If you prefer chocolate chips over dried fruit
the Coles Bakery Easter Choc Chip Hot Cross Buns took out the honours in this category
We also decided to give the gluten-free buns their own category
so the scores aren't directly comparable to their regular counterparts
Aldi Bakers Life Gluten Free Fruit Hot Cross Buns were the winners of the traditional gluten-free category this year
Prefer your hot cross buns with no gluten and no fruit
These buns impressed our experts for the second year running
The best tasting hot cross buns as rated by our experts
Coles Finest Luxurious Fruit Hot Cross Buns
Coles Bakery Easter Choc Chip Hot Cross Buns
Aldi Bakers Life Gluten-Free Fruit Hot Cross Buns
Woolworths Free From Gluten Choc Hot Cross Buns
Choosing a hot cross bun really comes down to personal preferences
Do you like lots of dried fruits and a spicy aroma
or would you rather a gooey chocolatey bun?&nbsp;
Do you like to eat them toasted and slathered in butter or do you just grab one fresh out of the bag and devour it
There are some things to consider before you just grab the first bag of hot cross buns you see on the shelf
Hot cross buns are usually wrapped in clear packaging so you can at least see what you're about to buy
Look for an even distribution of fruit or chocolate pieces – it's a pretty good indicator of a good bun that has well-balanced flavour and texture.&nbsp;
You can also check the fruit and chocolate content (as well as the type of dried fruit being used) by reading the ingredients list – the higher the number the better
The first thing you'll notice is how the bun looks
And if you're serving them up on a platter to guests you'll want to make sure they look the part.&nbsp;
Our experts assess the appearance of each bun and look for an even shape and size with decent rise (or dome) as well as nice browning on the outside with a well-covered glaze and evenly centred cross.&nbsp;
The bun should be light and fluffy to touch with a soft centre when you crack it open
A hot cross bun that feels dense and tough might be stale.&nbsp;
Keep in mind that toasting can improve the texture and flavour of a dense and stale bun
In some cases though – if the bun has artificial flavours – toasting can enhance these poor characteristics.&nbsp;
If you can smell the blend of spices or get a nice hit of chocolate
then chances are you'll be able to taste it when you take a bite.&nbsp;
Our experts noticed that some hot cross buns had little to no spice aroma but instead had a yeasty smell which then came through on tasting
If you like to buy freshly-baked hot cross buns
you'll want to look for those that are baked instore at Coles or Woolworths or those made fresh daily from stores like Bakers Delight
These products will usually show a baked-on date as well as a use-by date.&nbsp;
Other supermarket buns are usually frozen and then defrosted when they hit the shelves
This is convenient for supermarkets and helps them keep up with stock demands
butter and dried fruit are some of the ingredients you expect to see when you look at the ingredients list of a hot cross bun
they are usually packed with way more ingredients than the basics.&nbsp;
Almost all the products we tested also contain emulsifiers
Ingredients are listed on labels in descending order by weight
so the first ingredient will be present in the largest amount and so on.&nbsp;
Our CHOICE kitchen team Fiona Mair and Chantelle Dart unpack the products so they can be tasted &#39;blind&#39;
We tested hot cross bun products available in major Australian supermarket chains and bakeries
as well as wholesale warehouse Costco.&nbsp;
Price is for the pack size specified and bought in Sydney stores in February 2025 (not on special)
Our panel of three experts tasted the hot cross bun samples 'blind' (without knowing the brands) in a random order.&nbsp;
Eddie Stewart tastes one of the 19 hot cross bun products we compared and rated
The experts independently judged all hot cross bun products
consists of 90% sensory and 10% nutrition (based on the Health Star Rating).&nbsp;
The sensory score is made up of 50% for the toasted sample and the other 50% is for the fresh (untoasted) sample
The experts rate each hot cross bun on flavour
These sensory characteristics are weighted as follows:
We recommend traditional and chocolate hot cross buns with a CHOICE Expert Rating of 70% or more
and recommend gluten-free hot cross buns (all varieties) with a score of 60% or more
Eddie Stewart started his culinary career at the young age of 16 and has amassed over 20 years of experience in the industry
he has worked in various boutique restaurants and world-renowned hotels to develop his own unique style
He has served as the Head Chef of Savoury and Business Development Manager for the internationally acclaimed Black Star Pastry in Sydney
where he has gained extensive knowledge of the intricacies of the culinary business
he joined forces with Min Chai to create a brand new concept called Tokyo Lamington
where you can indulge in deliciously created lamingtons and other baked items
Jane Bardell might fill her days producing insurance content as one of our esteemed CHOICE content producers
but she spends her weekends and evenings perfecting her brioche
refining her frangipane tarts and decorating cakes for special occasions
She's just as comfortable manipulating data in a spreadsheet as she is shaping a loaf of sourdough
She also holds a statement of attainment in sensory analyses for fine food judging.&nbsp;
Get the best supermarket buys that topped our tests in one easy email
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we've been making a difference for Australian consumers
Instead we're funded by members who value&nbsp;expert reviews and independent product testing
You know without hesitation what's safe for you and your family
And you'll never be alone when something goes wrong or a business treats you unfairly
Learn more about <a href="/member/membership-options">CHOICE membership</a> today
CHOICE may publish opinions of the general insurance market
with the intention of improving general insurance for Australian consumers
ACA Insight Pty Ltd (AFSL 550139) (ACA Insight)
provides any general advice on general insurance products
This advice does not take into account your objectives
Consider the appropriateness of the advice before acting on it
Read the Product Disclosure Statement relating to any insurance product before making a decision to buy it
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on the current course to Blakely Rock and back since 1994
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</a><a href="https://www.timeout.com/london" class="_container_hkpro_1 _citySign_1px4w_78" data-testid="city-signs_testID">London
RECOMMENDED:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.timeout.com/london/bars-and-pubs/kings-cross-pubs">These are the best pubs in&nbsp;</a><a href="https://www.timeout.com/london/bars-and-pubs/kings-cross-pubs">King&rsquo;s Cross</a>
<a href="https://www.timeout.com/profile/leonie-cooper">Leonie Cooper</a> is Time Out London&rsquo;s Food and Drink Editor. For more about how we curate, see our <a href="https://www.timeout.com/about/editorial-guidelines">editorial guidelines</a>.&nbsp;
Come for Dim Sum Duck&rsquo;s particularly plump hargau (prawn dumplings) and huge xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) alongside a delicious array of Cantonese classics
beef ho fun (flat noodles) and charred salty green beans with minced pork
Just a warning; the place is walk-in only and often has long queues - so it&rsquo;s best to get there as close as possible to opening times (that's 12pm for lunch
this&nbsp;isn&rsquo;t a &lsquo;desi pub&rsquo; but a curry house for fast
and you get the impression that this is as good as these things get
loaded chilli cheese dosa and pokey masala dosa
but meat and fish options include king prawn and curry leaf varuval
thanjavur chicken curry and chettinad lamb curry.&nbsp;
Mestizo&rsquo;s food is way better than the majority of Mexican restaurants in London
the drinks menu is overflowing with tequila-based beverages that ensure no one goes home sober
But it&rsquo;s also got something else: a hilarious
endearing fun energy that turns every meal here into a party
all things you expect to see on a Mexican menu
but in London what you don&rsquo;t necessarily expect is quality this high
This is also one of the only places in London to serve drinks made with delicious raicilla
which tastes a little bit like tennis balls
we do love this cool little miracle near King&rsquo;s Cross station
Only the slurping of noodles disturbs the place&rsquo;s zen-like tranquillity
as punters dip into a virtuously healthy menu that makes the most of a few key ingredients (expects lots of tofu and seaweed)
art exhibitions and live music make Itadaki even more lovable
4 out of 5 starsRecommended<a href="/london/restaurants/the-midland-grand-dining-room" class="tileImageLink" target="_self" rel="" data-data-layer="{&quot;triggerOn&quot;:0,&quot;payload&quot;:{&quot;category&quot;:&quot;GP Engagement&quot;,&quot;label&quot;:&quot;in content&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:&quot;link - internal&quot;}}" data-testid="tile-link_testID">Michael Sinclair</a>As London dining rooms go
there are few as thigh-slappingly spectacular as the Midland Grand
the energy here is a bit Poirot On a Big Night Out
but there are touches of classic New York too
like we might have discovered a secret room at the bottom of the Chrysler Building
and Dorothy Parker is going to start flinging table scraps at us
The menu of strutting French food is a fittingly opulent match.&nbsp;
A Spanish-Mexican eatery located on the 10th floor of The Standard hotel. Chef Peter Sanchez-Iglesias has created a buzzing mid-century lounge filled with cacti, succulents and terracotta tiles.&nbsp;Decimo&rsquo;s wide-ranging menu invites diners to begin with small plates all tapas fans will recognise&nbsp;&ndash; tortilla, jamon, croquettas&nbsp;&ndash; before moving on to a more than substantial second half featuring meat, fish and a range of vegetable mains.
</a>This low-key neighbourhood Italian is a&nbsp;lovely place to linger over a light lunch and a good coffee thanks to its handful of pavement tables and exceptionally friendly owner. Opt for delicious fresh pasta, or just stop in for an aperitivo, as they bring a tasty array of snacks to your table.
Sylvain LANDAT</a>A trip to Paris on the Eurostar might be the best way to indulge in an oh-l&agrave;-l&agrave; French caf&eacute; experience
A trip to King&rsquo;s Cross and a visit to this endearing little caf&eacute; &ndash; a mere boule&rsquo;s-throw from the Eurostar terminal
Aux Pains de Papy already has a loyal following of office workers seeking their daily bread and satisfying lunchtime sandwiches
but it&rsquo;s also worth seeking out for patisserie and boulangerie
Recommended<a href="/london/restaurants/morty-bobs-kings-cross" class="tileImageLink" target="_self" rel="" data-data-layer="{&quot;triggerOn&quot;:0,&quot;payload&quot;:{&quot;category&quot;:&quot;GP Engagement&quot;,&quot;label&quot;:&quot;in content&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:&quot;link - internal&quot;}}" data-testid="tile-link_testID"></a>The only thing you need to know about Morty &amp; Bob&rsquo;s is that it serves grilled cheese for breakfast
That&rsquo;s the reason to go: for this street-food-stall-turned-caf&eacute;&rsquo;s golden
cut into halves and stuffed with lovely things like onions
this cosy all-day spot&nbsp;in Coal Drops Yard does stellar speciality coffee all day
along with fresh lunches and bar food at night
Having already gained a cult following since opening in early 2023
casual (and often hectic) spot specialises in authentic and well-seasoned grilled skewers aka&nbsp;chuan er&nbsp;or chinese BBQ
roasted chives and crunchy grilled buns on skewers are particular highlights
broth and vermicelli are a must-order.&nbsp;For a more off-piste selection
try the crispy chicken skin skewers for a crunchy
Fifteen minutes walk from King&rsquo;s Cross station
this restaurant is a cosy and unassuming ode to Cantonese cuisine
with simple decor and friendly staff who are always happy to make recommendations
Being a little further from the station than its Cantonese neighbour&nbsp;Dim Sum Duck
making it easier to get a spontaneous table
Get the fried salt and pepper tofu dish for a crunchy
satisfying bite &ndash; this is the stuff of dreams
Another favourite is the salted egg yolk batter chicken wings
slightly chewy corn tortillas are made in-house: order a bunch of them
topped with the likes of juicy pork shoulder and pineapple and baja fish.&nbsp;
If you're considering eating in King's Cross and immediately think of Coal Drops Yard, you&rsquo;re doing it wrong. <a href="https://www.paolinathai.co.uk/">Paolina Thai Caf&eacute;</a> is a cracking little BYOB restaurant just a few minutes&rsquo; walk from the station
and the food is well-priced and comforting with very generous portions
Definitely order the mixed platter for two to start but don&rsquo;t be fooled
Thai curries and all sorts of other multicultural stuff
and this spot has the added bonus of in-demand alfresco tables on a quiet piazza
Recommended<a href="/london/restaurants/caravan-kings-cross" class="tileImageLink" target="_self" rel="" data-data-layer="{&quot;triggerOn&quot;:0,&quot;payload&quot;:{&quot;category&quot;:&quot;GP Engagement&quot;,&quot;label&quot;:&quot;in content&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:&quot;link - internal&quot;}}" data-testid="tile-link_testID">Rob Greig / Time Out</a>Compared to some of its other branches
the King&rsquo;s Cross offshoot of Caravan is a grandiose urbane proposition &ndash; all concrete floors
The industrial-themed interior isn&rsquo;t built for intimacy
but it still has a laidback buzz and great people-watching opportunities
efficient staff and a menu of what it calls &lsquo;well-travelled food&rsquo; &ndash; ie plates of global fusion ranging from lamb ribs with chermoula to Burmese chicken salad
low-lit Korean spot in that slightly corporate new bit of King&rsquo;s Cross by the Google offices
no-frills lunch or dinner if you can&rsquo;t be bothered waiting for a table up the road&nbsp;in Coal Drops Yard
thick udon with fiery fried chicken or the crisp-edged tofu stir-fried with pork and topped with sour
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Sep 8, 2017 | <a href="https://raed.academy/en/academicians-in-society/" rel="tag">Academicians in society</a>, <a href="https://raed.academy/en/prizes-awards-and-appointments/" rel="tag">Prizes, awards and appointments</a>
<a href="http://raed.academy/en/academicians/dr-pedro-claros-blanch/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pedro Clarós</a>, full academician and vice-president of the Royal European Academy of Doctors-Barcelona 1914 (RAED), has been recognized by the Spanish <a href="http://www.instituciondelmeritohumanitario.es" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Institution of Humanitarian Merit</a> with its highest distinction
which will be imposed solemnly at a ceremony which will be held in June 2018 in Barcelona
Recognized by the Spanish Ministry of the Interior
the Institution of Humanitarian Merit was created in Barcelona in 1999 with the mission of annually awarding social
cultural and benefactor figures who have demonstrated with diligence and concern their concern and care for humanitarian work and human values
It&#8217;s presided over by Marino José Pérez Meler
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Rebecca MarcusSenior researcher &amp; writerIn this article
toasted or adorned with the topping of your choice
To find out which supermarket hot cross buns are worth snapping up this Easter
we asked a panel of 65 people to blind-taste and rate eight supermarket options
Marks &amp; Spencer&#x27;s premium buns were a big hit with our tasters
but Aldi&#x27;s cheap and cheerful hot cross buns weren&#x27;t far behind
and what you need to know about sugar levels
Eat well, live better and stay healthy: <a href="https://signup.which.co.uk/wlp-foodandhealthnewsletter?internalReferral=incopypromotion" class="Link_link__714JP Link_linkPrimary__FU1jh">sign up for our free monthly Food &amp; Health newsletter for the latest insights delivered straight to your inbox</a>
M&amp;S topped our test for the second year running
winning over our panel with its appetising fruity buns
Aldi&#x27;s Great Value buns are also worth considering if you&#x27;re after a cheaper alternative that&#x27;s still appealingly tasty
These fruity and well-spiced hot cross buns from M&amp;S were rated a cut above most other supermarkets overall
The majority of our testers thought the sweetness
spice levels and amount of fruit were spot on
while nearly everyone was impressed with the moist texture
they&#x27;re the joint most expensive on test
but they&#x27;re worth paying more for if you&#x27;re after some top-notch buns to indulge in this Easter
Available from M&amp;S (in-store only) and <a href="https://www.ocado.com/products/m-s-luxury-hot-cross-buns-510683011" class="Link_link__714JP Link_linkPrimary__FU1jh" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Ocado</a>
M&amp;S also has a version of <a href="https://www.ocado.com/products/m-s-luxury-mini-hot-cross-buns-510685011" class="Link_link__714JP Link_linkPrimary__FU1jh" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">mini hot cross buns</a> (£2 for nine)
Our tasters loved the enticing aroma and moist texture of Co-op&#x27;s hot cross buns
They were some of the best-rated buns for sweetness and spice strength
and the majority of our panel praised their well-balanced flavour
In addition to being among the tastiest on test
these buns were also slightly lower in sugar content compared to most other supermarket options
Available from <a href="https://shop.coop.co.uk/product/co-op-irresistible-richly-fruited-hot-cross-buns--9a9e59e6-091d-4878-94a6-3390a76e1bcb" class="Link_link__714JP Link_linkPrimary__FU1jh" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Co-op</a>
These budget-friendly buns from Aldi impressed our panel
They weren&#x27;t quite as moist as some other hot cross buns we tested
with just under half of our tasters finding them too dry
people did like their flavour and appearance
and the majority thought the buns had just the right amount of fruit
These are currently on special offer for £1.25
They&#x27;re a good choice if you&#x27;re looking for some cheap and cheerful buns to enjoy this Easter
and they&#x27;ve got the lowest sugar levels
Available from <a href="https://groceries.aldi.co.uk/en-GB/p-specially-selected-luxury-fruited-hot-cross-buns-260g4-pack/4061459984118" class="Link_link__714JP Link_linkPrimary__FU1jh" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Aldi</a>
Waitrose&#x27;s hot cross buns finished in joint third place
Most tasters were satisfied with the amount of fruit and liked their soft texture
although half of our panel felt the buns could be a bit spicier
they&#x27;re up there with M&amp;S and Co-op for being a little pricier than most of the others
but these Waitrose buns aren&#x27;t a bad choice
Available from <a href="https://www.waitrose.com/ecom/products/waitrose-richly-fruited-hot-cross-buns/576970-794942-794943" class="Link_link__714JP Link_linkPrimary__FU1jh" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Waitrose</a>
Waitrose also sells <a href="https://www.waitrose.com/ecom/products/waitrose-easter-9-richly-fruited-mini-hot-cross-buns/450621-794910-794911" class="Link_link__714JP Link_linkPrimary__FU1jh" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">mini hot cross buns</a> (£1.95 for nine)
We haven&#x27;t taste tested these but they are the same range
Most of the other supermarket hot cross buns scored similarly to each other (and cost the same), although some lost marks for being too dry and not spicy enough. Here&#x27;s what our tasters thought of the rest:
<a href="https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/best-cheap-supermarket-food-and-drink-the-own-labels-that-beat-the-big-brands-aZyW11P2L9ul" class="Link_link__714JP Link_linkPrimary__FU1jh">Best cheap supermarket food and drink</a> – find out which cheaper own labels have beaten the big brands in our blind-taste tests
All the hot cross buns were blind-tasted and rated by a panel of 65 people in February 2024 at our specialist test lab
All of our panel were regular buyers of hot cross buns
and they broadly represented the demographic profile of adults in the UK (age range
The buns were toasted according to pack instructions and the taste test was blind
so our testers didn’t know which brand they were trying
They tasted the hot cross buns in a fully rotated order to avoid any bias
so they couldn’t discuss what they were tasting or be influenced by others
appearance and texture of each hot cross bun
These weightings are based on what people ranked as the most important attributes when tasting hot cross buns
All our results are checked and analysed by our in-house statistical team
The fruit content and glazed top mean that hot cross buns can have quite high sugar levels – some will wipe out nearly a quarter of the adult daily recommended allowance of sugar in one go
And that&#x27;s before you start adding toppings
as this isn&#x27;t necessarily added sugar
&#x27;Although hot cross buns contain quite a lot of sugar (three to five teaspoons per bun)
The higher-sugar buns from Asda and M&amp;S both contain 33% dried fruit – that&#x27;s around 26g of sultanas and currants per bun
&#x27;While this amount doesn&#x27;t quite make up a portion of your five-a-day
Morrisons hot cross buns have the highest sugar content
while Co-op and Aldi have the lowest (despite being rated highly for taste)
Many supermarkets also do mini versions of hot cross buns if you want to scale down your portion size
you might have noticed hot cross bun prices creeping up compared to last year
We compared average price per pack for the supermarket premium hot cross buns we tested over a one month period (1 Feb - 1 March) in 2024 and 2025
using an independent third party data source (not including discounts
While average price changes varied across supermarkets
most hot cross buns had risen in price for 2025
with an average increase of 16% (around 23p per pack
<a href="https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/bread-makers/article/best-bread-makers-a7FsI7S891Tq" class="Link_link__714JP Link_linkPrimary__FU1jh">Best bread makers</a> – find out which models are best for homemade treats
Most standard hot cross buns can be either heated under the grill or popped in a toaster
it&#x27;s worth checking the instructions as toasting them could pose a potential fire risk
they may stick to the toaster wires and potentially catch fire
Using the grill is generally a safer option
For more on why squeezing a hot cross bun into your toaster may not be a great idea, head to our article on why <a href="https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/why-toasting-your-hot-cross-bun-could-actually-be-a-fire-hazard-a1ShL0N9XhlV" class="Link_link__714JP Link_linkPrimary__FU1jh">toasting your hot cross bun could actually be a fire hazard</a>
Hot cross buns are traditionally served warm with butter or jam. But if you fancy something a bit different, why not try another sweet and savoury topping? <a href="https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/hot-cross-bun-topping-ideas" class="Link_link__714JP Link_linkPrimary__FU1jh" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">BBC Good Food</a> has a variety of creative topping ideas
from bacon and marmalade to salted caramel
<a href="https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/food-and-drink/article/marmalade-taste-test-a29zU6U4ucjz" class="Link_link__714JP Link_linkPrimary__FU1jh">Best marmalade</a> – we reveal the supermarket jars that beat popular brands including Tiptree and Frank Cooper&#x27;s
If a standard spiced bun doesn’t float your boat, there are plenty of alternative flavours to try, from apple and cinnamon to white chocolate and lemon. The more adventurous might be intrigued by savoury options such as Tesco&#x27;s cheddar and red leicester buns.
Most supermarkets offer a couple of alternative versions, with Sainsbury&#x27;s and Tesco having the widest selection. Here&#x27;s an overview:
apricot and stem ginger)Are hot cross buns vegan?Buns are not typically labelled as vegan
so you&#x27;ll need to carefully check the ingredients
While some hot cross buns don&#x27;t list animal products
There are some &#x27;free from&#x27; versions available
The buns we tested all list palm oil as an ingredient
apart from the Asda hot cross buns we tested
All the supermarkets are signed up to the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) certification system so, in theory, the palm oil used in the buns comes from a sustainable source. For more information, see our guide on <a href="https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/shopping-sustainably/article/how-to-buy-sustainable-palm-oil-axGKk6n1Okru" class="Link_link__714JP Link_linkPrimary__FU1jh">how to buy sustainable palm oil</a>.
When it comes to the packaging, the cardboard inner can be recycled at home, but the plastic film needs to be taken to a large supermarket which has a soft-plastics recycling scheme.
Price and availability correct as of 17 March 2025
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At the end of the first episode of HBO’s <a href="https://www.vogue.com/article/catherine-the-great-hbo-news-cast-date-plot-trailer">Catherine the Great</a>, the empress Catherine (played by <a href="https://www.vogue.com/article/helen-mirren-interview-catherine-the-great">Helen Mirren</a>—née Mironoff) holds a cross-dressing ball at the palace
heavily embroidered gowns (courtesy of costume designer Maja Meschede)
is pictured instead wearing a tailcoat and breeches
taking advantage of the relative ease of movement to prance about the room and lead her courtiers in a traditional Russian dance
who are usually seen in the episode trying to undermine Catherine’s authority
toying uncomfortably with their undergarments and badly fitted wigs
Her power-hungry lover Grigory Orlov (Richard Roxburgh) is now more frustrated by his corset than by his diminishing presence at court: “This fucking thing—it pushes my tits up too far.”
These gender-bending masquerades actually existed and were known at the time as metamorphosis balls
They were first popularized in Russia in the 1740s by Empress Elizabeth I
the daughter of Peter the Great and Catherine’s de facto mother-in-law
who purportedly held eight as part of her coronation celebrations and then every Tuesday throughout her reign
While balls involving cross-dressing were popular throughout Europe
they took on special meaning in Russia in the 18th century
an era dominated by female rulers looking to assert their authority through symbols of masculinity
However Elizabeth I’s contemporaries attributed her mania for these balls to her own vanity—she apparently had great legs and was tired of covering them up in dresses
Helen Mirren as Catherine the Great and Richard Roxburgh as Grigory Orlov in Catherine the Great
In her memoirs Catherine the Great reflected back on her early experiences in the Russian court as a newlywed
including her mother-in-law’s penchant for drag: “The Empress had a fancy to have all men appear at the Court balls dressed as women and the women as men
without masks; it was like a Court day metamorphosed.” In a sea of uncomfortable
badly made-up male courtiers and sycophants
was a revelation to the young Catherine: “The only woman who looked really well and completely a man was the Empress herself
She had the handsomest leg I have ever seen.”
For Meschede the metamorphosis ball was a highlight
For Mirren’s turn as Catherine in menswear
Meschede designed a stunning gold ensemble
meant to invoke both decadence and a uniquely Russian color palette: “We chose gold
a specific warm gold that’s used in the beautiful Russian Orthodox churches,” she told me
a team of 15 people spent almost three weeks hand-embroidering the gold detailing for Mirren’s costume
“I wanted her to look like a Russian icon from one of the paintings,” Meschede explained
The metamorphosis ball in Catherine the Great
Though they were popularized by Elizabeth I
Catherine continued the tradition in her court
using them to mark important military victories
In anticipation of a victory over the Ottoman Empire
she held a ball where the men wore Persian veils and the women Turkish turbans
followed by a sumptuous meal at the Winter Palace
“Everyone was very merry,” her secretary noted in his journal
At that ball attendees were met by French actors at booths selling the special theme pieces on credit
but typically courtiers had their own clothes made in advance for these balls
they put a lot of effort and money into looking their best in drag: “All the aristocrats had their own fabric weavers
The great cross-sector convergence in the battery mineral value chain
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Closing this gap requires close collaboration across mining
utilities and manufacturing players — as well as ample government support.¹ The challenge is: to meet electrification targets
these stakeholders and industries must be in lockstep
delivering against goals from critical mineral extraction right through to power and infrastructure
This is required to ultimately support and sustain the energy transition
<a href="/en_ca/insights/energy-resources/critical-minerals-supply-and-demand-challenges" target="_self" rel="noopener noreferrer">Demand for critical minerals is exploding</a>
it will take a 40-fold increase in lithium production and 20 times the amount of nickel
The industry can’t produce — or bring new mines online fast enough — to meet that demand under current conditions
The surging demand for critical minerals will require more intensive mining going forward
Given that it can take more than a decade of investment and development to bring a mine to production
These gaps need to be bridged at every single stage of the process
That means ramping up investment in exploration
partnering with governments to accelerate regulatory and permitting necessities — without compromising environmental factors — and innovating to drive more efficient extraction while continuing to decarbonize operations
And the mining industry cannot be the sole actor pushing for these changes
Making progress will take concerted effort from all stakeholders in the value chain
Those challenges come full circle when we consider the bigger picture: if there are fewer exploratory or junior mining companies coming online
larger organizations will have limited paths to expand or acquire
While ESG and climate change come first and third on the industry’s risk list
Challenges like resource nationalism are expected to impact operations as governments seek to fill post COVID-19 pandemic spending revenue and capitalize on higher commodity prices through new or increased mining royalties
these factors squeeze the battery mineral value chain
disrupting EV adoption and decarbonization overall
EY Americas and Canada Mining &amp; Metals Leader
How can industries collaborate to effectively tackle critical mineral shortages
Upstream, downstream and consumer power needs are poised to change dramatically as EV adoption takes hold in Canada and beyond. <a href="https://www.ey.com/en_ca/oil-gas/how-canadian-energy-companies-can-prepare-for-electric-vehicles">High adoption scenarios that suggest 30% of all cars on Canadian roads should be EVs in the next seven years would require a significant national charging infrastructure</a>
Looking beyond the charging stations themselves
that kind of undertaking also necessitates major expansions to everything from hydro poles to wires
And that’s all just to support the actual cars
Electrification at scale would require a tremendous network of charging infrastructure
it’s not just the cars themselves that will require more power
Ramping up critical mineral extraction means building and extending power networks in new and sustainable ways to offset the uptick in carbon emissions as production grows
Building out additional capacity at automotive and manufacturing production sites — including automotive manufacturers — could necessitate similar growth of the power network
That’s to say nothing of the uptick in home-charging stations and private facilities
as we continue to retire coal plants and look for cleaner generation as part of the energy transition
load balancing will also become a critical challenge requiring strategic thought
That discussion should likely cover the use of intermittent wind and solar power
the short-term need for more hydro and natural gas generation — and a fulsome
longer-term dialogue about the role nuclear can or should ultimately play
All of this comes at a time when utilities continue to be plagued by regulatory conflicts of interest between their core purpose - providing accessible and affordable energy — and the need to adapt
innovate and build for a very different future
Making good on EV uptake targets will also likely require broader regulatory and policy change
That’s critical to support the lightning-speed growth necessary if power and utilities giants are going to keep up with decarbonization and EV adoption in Canada
Anything less could widen existing geographic disparities
Case in point: incentive and tax credit programs for EVs vary significantly from British Columbia to Ontario to Québec
Put that in the context of power and utilities
and it’s clear that the regulatory environment doesn’t really support the industry in thinking or innovating outside the box
Utilities themselves are mandated to manage rate costs while delivering enough safe and reliable energy to meet current needs
That doesn’t leave much room to proactively adapt to what’s coming down the pike with EVs
it begs the need for reaching across industry and sector lines to make progress quickly
The oil and gas industry offers prime examples of massively collaborative approaches to fuel innovation
Companies are investing significant dollars to better understand the transition through their significant retail footprints
We’re already seeing big energy brands move into the power generation space with a focus on renewable energy: think solar and wind
oil and gas companies are also converging around high-impact possibilities like hydrogen
carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS) and natural gas — all necessary to support Canadian electrification
How can industries collaborate across the battery mineral value chain to quickly build needed infrastructure
Making meaningful progress requires us to address the key challenge of the fragmented value chain itself
flexibility and responsiveness in the value chain to manage anticipated volatility
Asia dominates the midstream for battery materials
That represents a bottleneck — as well as opportunities for Canadian-based cell production
Creating a more agile value chain by bolstering the midstream for battery minerals and closing the downstream and upstream loop can help
The Canadian critical mineral and EV industries present a unique opportunity for various stakeholders
from mining organizations and manufacturers to utilities and government bodies
to collaborate towards the shared objective of reaping mutual benefits
the question arises: is Canada ready to fully take advantage of this opportunity and seize the battery mineral value chain
it’s imperative to note that the landscape is rapidly evolving
with large automotive manufacturers making significant investments and decisions with far-reaching implications
innovation and collaboration among Canadian organizations can fuel success
stakeholders can unlock the potential to capture a greater share of the battery mineral value chain market and compete on a global scale
As the demand for critical minerals continues to grow
the importance of a collaborative approach cannot be overstated
Canadian organizations can tap into the full potential of the critical mineral value chain
create a robust ecosystem and emerge as global leaders in the field
As industry leaders embrace new operating models and innovate to bring more aspects of the EV buying process in-house
will rest on industry’s ability to continue innovating not only within a given sector
Doing so will create greater agility and tighter integration
it’s important to get more elements of the e-mobility value chain making progress in tandem rather than at different speeds
EY Canada Advanced Manufacturing and Mobility Leader
How can industries collaborate across the battery value chain to bolster consumer certainty and alleviate pricing woes
Successfully electrifying at scale requires Canadian industries and public sector stakeholders to work together
Gaps across the battery mineral value chain are simply too big for anything short of colossal collaboration to succeed
Embracing that new mindset now can help these industries and organizations future-proof their businesses and create new opportunities
all while fuelling decarbonization at the same time
of the member firms of Ernst &amp; Young Global Limited
A 60-foot white cross stands atop a mountain in nearby Pennsylvania
strikingly different from the instrument of agonizing torture and death that preceded the first Easter more than 2,000 years ago
Symbolic of the victory over sin and death
The Great Cross of Christ on the mountaintop this morning was the focus of Easter sunrise services similar to observances underway in many locations throughout Eastern Ohio
&#8220;It&#8217;s a landmark that can be seen for miles
It gives people lots of hope and encouragement,&#8221; said Jaye Beatty
administrative assistant for the president of the Jumonville Methodist Camp and Retreat Center where it is located.This United Methodist facility also can be used by other denominations
Maryland and West Virginia &#8212; as well as seven counties can be seen from the mountaintop
Noting she had heard stories about how the cross had inspired others
Beatty said it had given hope to a woman who passed it on her way to cancer treatments
It also has been of benefit to sick animals as one individual said the sight of the cross kept her going throughout the night as she tended a sick horse
Facebook comments also mention the impressive sight
2,480 feet above sea level since its dedication in 1950
but efforts to construct it began nearly a decade before that year
but he initially thought the dream &#8220;was so far out that he was afraid to mention it to the board of directors,&#8221; according to the a website about &#8220;The Story of the Cross at Jumonville.&#8221; The board
construction of the cross encountered difficulties
This symbol to honor the Prince of Peace was delayed because of a shortage of steel during World War II
it was a struggle to get it up there,&#8221; said Beatty
A road was cut on the back side of the mountain so materials could be hauled to the site where the 60-foot cross was to be built
Today&#8217;s technology also wasn&#8217;t available more than 60 years ago
and Beatty indicated the construction itself revealed &#8220;a lot of ingenuity for 1950.&#8221;
Two cranes were used to lift it on the 6-foot foundation
The foundation involves 183 tons of concrete
and the main shaft of the cross weighs about 47,000 pounds
which were transported to the cross separately
and it was originally coated with Gilsonite with white mica imbedded in it
&#8220;The completed structure will withstand winds of 100 miles an hour and the torsion that might be developed by a whirlwind,&#8221; officials report
Initial fund-raising for the cross resulted in $9,000 being collected in hundreds of Methodist churches
Sunday School children also contributed pennies and dimes
much like the youngsters in Martins Ferry who helped with the statue of Betty Zane
Names of thousands of children who contributed are sealed in the foundation of the cross
Beatty said about two years after the dedication
an event was held with slides showing the beauty of the cross and activities such as the youths taking Holy Communion
Steiner of the Latrobe Foundry and Machine Co
said he would provide the money to cover the rest of the cost
Beatty noted that Steiner said he had no idea what the cross planners had meant when they told him about the cross
but he was impressed with what was shown in the slides
There&#8217;s no charge to view the cross and the large signs explaining its background at the site
but they also can obtain a key to drive to the cross if they call the office
Beatty advises anyone interested in visiting the cross to call ahead
Whether it&#8217;s called The Great Cross of Christ or just the Cross
this enduring symbol of inspiration every night is illuminated as it reaches toward the heavens to honor the Light of the World
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Penny&nbsp;for&nbsp;Pound's&nbsp;sell-out-in-seconds-flat hot cross buns&nbsp;are back and we're hungry! Opt for the traditional classic with Earl Grey-soaked fruit, orange zest and cinnamon, or indulge in a sweeter pick&nbsp;via the triple choc hot cross bun oozing with rich dark chocolate chunks.&nbsp;You can&nbsp;pre-order the buns for pick-up from the store, or&nbsp;<a href="https://pennyforpound.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">buy them now online.</a>
</a>These are of the sourdough nature, so expect a dense and complex bun.&nbsp;The Australian fruit is organic, the lemon and orange peel are candied in-house, and a dark malt syrup adds lustre to the glaze. These breakfasty buns reign supreme thanks to their savoury and slightly acidic nature. It&rsquo;s only a few steps from <a href="https://www.timeout.com/melbourne/restaurants/dench-bakers">Dench Bakers</a>, putting Fitzroy North high on the bun-lover&rsquo;s radar.
Photograph: Supplied</a>Woodfrog Bakery specialises in uncompromised, naturally leavened, hand-shaped sourdough breads, but it's the generosity of currants and sultanas, high tones of unintrusive citrus and soft interior that pushes this finely glazed bun to the top of the pile. Another plus is you won't need to order ahead to avoid disappointment, as production is plentiful across all branches.
</a>Dense, chewy, flavoured headily with pure&eacute;d whole oranges and Australian vine fruits and spiced with a top secret blend,&nbsp;Dench's hot cross buns are rightly famous and flying off the shelves this year. They're best eaten the day of purchase.
</a>Orange and ginger pur&eacute;e flavour the traditional sourdough buns, which are spiked with juicy currants and given the golden glaze treatment. Rather than cooking up a new recipe each year, chef Dan's tried-and-tested Italian formula plays on repeat. Fair warning though,&nbsp;these buns are on the hefty side, so if you're more used to a traditional treat, these benefit from a light toast.
Photograph: Cass Knowlton</a>Brioche fans can rejoice, as that is the base of Ned's gently spiced hot crossies. The European-inspired bakery makes two varieties of buns: the traditional spiced fruit (with sultanas, currants, mixed peel and ginger) and the cherry and chocolate kind. You can order them online or pick them up at the Armadale, South Yarra, Albert Park or Middle Park location.
Photograph: Manu Potoi</a>Falco&rsquo;s hot cross buns are made using organic Australian flour, Australian fruit and cultured butter and milk from St David Dairy. The base is a tender, light brioche bun, carefully spiced and sweetened with fruits that are rolled by hand daily. There is candied peel in the mix, so if you're not a citrus lover, beware. This is fantastic untoasted due to the brioche base, but toast it up and lather on some extra butter for luxury.
</a>You must order ahead for these hot cross buns
as they usually disappear well before midday.&nbsp;These buns are perfectly round
cakey (they contain egg) and on the softer side
The zesty spice mix is warmed up with cinnamon
allspice and clove for a festive&nbsp;flavour-loaded treat
Each slice is adorned with layers of allspice-whipped ganache and intricate chocolate decorations
Available as a singular &lsquo;bun&rsquo; or in a larger slab of six or nine
the&nbsp;Hot&nbsp;Cross&nbsp;Cake will be a show-stopping dessert for any Easter gatherings in the works
Ice cream maven Pidapipo Laboratorio may tempt you to shirk the traditional hot cross bun this Easter
sugar-dusted&nbsp;'ultimate non-hot-cross-bun'.&nbsp;Made to order and available exclusively at the Fitzroy Laboratorio
the fresh&nbsp;doughnuts come topped with fior di latte gelato and spiced caramel sauce
Pop into the Fitzroy location to satisfy that sweet tooth asap.&nbsp;
Recommended<a href="/melbourne/restaurants/the-best-restaurants-in-melbourne" class="tileImageLink" target="_self" rel="" data-data-layer="{&quot;triggerOn&quot;:0,&quot;payload&quot;:{&quot;category&quot;:&quot;GP Engagement&quot;,&quot;label&quot;:&quot;in content&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:&quot;link - internal&quot;}}" data-testid="tile-link_testID">Photograph: Graham Denholm</a>Unless you have the metabolism of a nine-year-old and the finances of a Kardashian
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have climbed a new route on Baffin Island at the start of what promises to be a busy summer on Baffin Island
Allfrey and Lempe are two of America&#8217;s strongest big wall climbers
the pair climbed a new route on Great Cross Pillar in the Sam Ford Fjord on Baffin Island
and called it Deconstructing Jenga VI 5.9+ A3+
&#8220;It had everything from loose rock and frozen walls of kitty litter to off-widths and chimneys,&#8221; wrote Allfrey on his Facebook page
it also had immaculate and amazing golden granite to dream of for days.&#8221;
They climbed 18 pitches over 1,000 metres of vertical ground
While on the large talus ledge 1,200 feet (400 metres) up the route at Camp One,&#8221; wrote Allfrey on his Facebook page
&#8220;we dislodged a block during high wind
The rock fell about 40 feet (12 metres) and hit me in the lower back
we did a quick assessment and discussed our options
I didn&#8217;t appear to be broken or seriously hurt so we gathered our things and fixed our ropes to the ground.&#8221;
They left Baffin Island and two days later were home in Las Vegas
&#8220;It was a lucky situation but we handled it well and had the best trip ever,&#8221; Allfrey finished his Facebook post with
&#8220;I really just wanted to let everyone know we are home safe and had a great trip
Never take anything for granted out there and always enjoy the sweetness of life&#8221;
&#8211; Follow David Allfrey on his Instagram @daveallfrey or his website <a href="http://davidallfrey.blogspot.ca/">here</a>. And, Cheyne Lempe&#8217;s Instagram is @cheynelempe and his website is <a href="http://www.cheynelempe.com/">here</a>
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One of early American golf architecture’s most dramatic design features is being reinvigorated for the modern game
Tillinghast pioneered the “Great Hazard,” a massive expanse of wasteland usually set in the middle of a par 5
He often coupled this with a smaller but still gnarly bunker complex at the front of the green
this system demands a series of great shots
whether the player is going for the green in two
The smallest imprecision off the tee forces the player to recalculate the odds all along the way
including a punch-out and back-to-back layups
may be required to hopscotch up to the green
The overconfident player who mismanages the percentages could be in for a huge number
players and equipment have evolved to the point that many of the original Great Hazards no longer threaten the tactical headlocks their creator intended
Longer hitters simply blast over the wasteland to set up an approach with a lofted club over the greenside bunker complex
who has restored about a half-dozen Tillinghast designs in New York and New Jersey
Hanse moved the network of fairway-interrupting bunkers and tall-grass islands downrange some 40 yards
 with the leftmost portion potentially gobbling drives and the rightmost path offering the most aggressive line to the green
it’s a big carry out of or over the hazard
accomplished golfers were able to drive it into the (Great Hazard)
now the positioning of the hazard is you have to hit a monumentally good shot to get over.”
be anywhere but perfect and you’re blocked out and hitting sideways
setting up a third shot with a long iron or wood
multi-tiered green with intimidating bunkers in front and left
Throw in three bunkers that protect the second layup area
and it makes a hole the pros might not often birdie when the PGA Championship returns to Baltusrol in 2029
Hanse said the original hazard at Baltusrol had become smaller over time
He used Tillinghast’s plans and photos from the early years to reestablish the scale and dimensions of the original work
“Moving the Great Hazard exemplified Gil Hanse’s statement of a ‘sympathetic restoration,’ ” said Baltusrol club president Matt Wirths
who worked closely with Hanse on the exacting details of the project
“It restored a signature design element of a Tillinghast course
but in a way that recognizes the changes that have taken place since the original hole was built.”
reinvented and stiffened at courses around the country
Keith Foster specializes in restoring classic-era courses to preserve their timelessness
He reworked Tillinghast’s 607-yard 14th hole at Baltimore Country Club’s Five Farms East Course and his 553-yard seventh hole at Philadelphia Cricket Club’s Wissahickon Course to put the teeth back into those courses’ Great Hazard holes
And Foster’s proposed master plan at Lakewood Country Club near Cleveland envisions a similar opportunity on the 570-yard sixth hole
which has become less strategically demanding over time
Some of that softening tracked with ebbs in the American economy
When courses faced headwinds during the Great Depression
they had to alter parts of their properties that were costly to maintain
that meant Great Hazards shrank; portions had been filled in with dirt or grassed over
a Great Hazard on the 15th hole at Tillinghast’s Brook Hollow Golf Club in Dallas was completely filled in during the Great Depression
Foster rediscovered it and adapted it to fit the modern game
Foster unearthed the original massive bunker complex and rebuilt it so it looked like a series of waves coming at the player off the tee
The Five Farms example illustrates how versatile the Great Hazard concept can be
Whereas it can be a visually terrifying desert of sand
as it famously is with Hell’s Half-Acre at Pine Valley’s 638-yard seventh hole in New Jersey
it also can look more subtle – but be just as penal
Foster worked from aerial photos and original letters between Tillinghast and club officials to recover the original intent
In the decades leading up to the restoration
the Great Hazard had become mostly maintained rough with thick
Foster stripped all that back to return rustic-edged bunkering
wispy grasses that players actually could hit through if they found their balls there
Based on what he learned at the Eastward Ho
course on the wind-battered coast of Cape Cod
Foster cultivated on both the Philadelphia and Baltimore courses sandy
nutrient-diminished soils that ensure the grass never becomes unfairly robust
But that means maintaining it takes extra care
“It is interesting that the work that endures from back in the 1920s is handcrafted,” Foster said
(The Great Hazard) has relevance to us now
as courses mine their archives and old newspaper and magazine articles
in search of elusive clues about what Tillinghast intended with each subtlety
Five Farms head greenkeeper Tim Kennelly said the club is still trying to figure out if a grassy depression behind the 14th hole was supposed to be a bunker
It looks exactly like a Tillinghast bunker but never has had sand in it
While most of these private courses are inaccessible to most golfers
they can see examples of the Great Hazard at several resort courses and even a few munis
A recent restoration/renovation of a Tilly gem that had fallen into disrepair resulted in a Great Hazard – uniquely
At the municipal Belmont Golf Course in Richmond
Davis Love III’s design team created a new third hole
a 485-yard test that combines the Great Hazard concept with a green inspired by Tillinghast’s 18th at Winged Foot’s West Course
features a Great Hazard on its fourth hole
Though the 517-yarder is relatively short for a par 5
Tillinghast uses angles (it’s a double-dogleg) and an unrelenting uphill climb to press players into a decision about how much of the hazard to take on
the steeper the penalty if he doesn’t execute
The hole will be especially pivotal during risk-encouraging match play when Bethpage hosts the Ryder Cup in 2025
which features three of the top 22 on Golfweek’s most recent list of top 100 public courses in the U.S.
while not strictly “Great Hazards,” evoke much of the same fear and demand similar strategic choices
players must negotiate a string of diagonal cross-bunkers with their second shots
While these bunkers are not one single contiguous waste area
The strips of turf between the traps are so firm and angled that misplayed balls are dumped into the sand just about every time
Adding to the challenges is that the grade of the hole climbs sharply after the bunkers
making it even more difficult for many players who have laid up to clear the traps with a club long enough to make the green
the 10th presents a modified Great Hazard – with one big exception
The 548-yard par 5 follows an S-shaped path
with a grassed route around the nearly 80-yards-deep
The safe layup to the left may cost the recreational golfer a half a shot or more to get to the green
But it also opens a far more favorable approach to a diabolical putting surface that slopes toward the back
This version of the Great Hazard can affect players
on a layup and even on a long approach directly at the green
Public-access golfers also have an opportunity to experience the thrill of the true “all-or-nothing proposition,” as Hanse called it
after he channeled the angularity of many of the holes described above when he built the new ninth hole on Pinehurst No
The Great Hazard wasn’t in Donald Ross’s original design of the No
he and his partner Jim Wagner looked at the land and saw an opportunity to try it
“With the sandy nature of the landscape there
“The key to the hole is taking the correct line off the tee
Just being in the fairway may not be enough.”
but from where?Tillinghast made the Great Hazard famous as one of his template holes
Architecture aficionados will think of Hell’s Half-Acre at Pine Valley –<a href=https://golfweek.usatoday.com/lists/top-200-classic-golf-courses-built-before-1960/> the highest-rated course in the world in Golfweek’s Best rankings</a> – as the OG of Great Hazards
there’s an unresolved debate about whether club founder George Crump designed No
or whether it came from elsewhere – perhaps from Crump himself
says all the available evidence suggests Tillinghast heavily influenced No
including pressing for the club to acquire more land to lengthen it to a par 5
Crump was the “colander” through which ideas of so many great architects of the day poured
and he made all the final decisions at Pine Valley
Mutch said the Great Hazard helped cement Crump’s effort to make the hardest golf course in the world
par-5 ninth hole at National Golf Links of America in New York
Macdonald himself traced the “Sahara” idea back to Royal St
nervy test into the sea breeze and over wild grasses
“It’s a visual intimidation he’s replicating,” Mutch says
“You’re standing there and you’re faced with this immediate hazard that almost takes your mind away from the work at hand.”
And one last possible solution to the mystery: Stuart Wolffe
“As I came down the (14th) and saw how the Hell Bunker worked with the other bunkers that totally go across the fairway
I really do believe he got that inspiration (for the Great Hazard) from Old Tom Morris.”
– Mackenzie Warren is Gannett’s Senior Director of News Strategy and a Golfweek course rater
Finding an email app that I can enjoy using has proven to be quite a challenge
I want an app that is available on multiple platforms
I also want it to support all my favorite email services
and make it easy for me to sort all my messages quickly
as it lacks an OS X version -- which forces me to either use a different app on my Mac or turn to the browser -- and it also has some usability issues
depending on the platform or the provider I am using
I said until recently because I now find CloudMagic to be a superior option
having made its debut on Android and iOS years ago
which is when I started paying attention to it
but it is a huge deal for me because my Mac is most-often running OS X
(The app is not available on Windows (yet)
I find myself using Windows too little anyway during work hours
which is when I typically need CloudMagic.)
Someone may be quick to point out that I could use Outlook on my Mac too
except for the fact that Outlook for Mac is a heavy piece of software -- being designed as part of Office -- that is simply too complex for me and
the user experience it provides is far different to Outlook running on a mobile device
which is why using the "real" Outlook is a no-go
makes it easier for me to miss important messages and forget to reply
so I never know exactly where those email tabs actually are
All these things are driving me towards CloudMagic
CloudMagic has started out as a mobile-centric email app
the content (emails) sits front and center
the controls are where you expect them to be
which I appreciate quite a lot because my Mac only has 4GB of RAM and a dual-core processor
but the Android counterpart is very similar to CloudMagic for OS X in terms of functionality and ease of use
It is easy to get used to the app on multiple devices; the transition between CloudMagic for Android and OS X is seamless
which is more than I can say about the Android and iOS versions of Outlook
You can configure emails to be marked as read when they are archived
which should keep the unread count for some folders low
The option to archive emails does not work in folders
but CloudMagic tells me this will be addressed
which enables users to share information from emails with various apps and services
save a part of an email -- or the entire thing -- in an Evernote note
and view information about the sender pulled from social networks
Another feature worth mentioning is the ability to share contacts with other users
which is probably going to appeal most to business users working in teams
It can be quickly set up from the Settings menu
and it only works with Google Apps accounts at this stage
But the feature that really gets me excited about CloudMagic is that it offers notifications for emails that arrive in non-Inbox folders
Few apps have this option based on my experience
and Outlook is not one of them in case you are wondering
if you have emails that go straight to custom folders
say a folder on Outlook.com dedicated to an alias
CloudMagic will notify you when they arrive
With Outlook I had to frequently check my Outlook.com folders to see if I got new emails
You will no longer waste time doing that anymore
you will appreciate just how nice it is to get notifications from just about every folder you want
it amazes me that not all email apps -- especially Outlook
which owns Outlook.com -- have this feature
On Outlook I would normally use Sunrise for managing my calendar
but I find that the widget and calendar support offered by CloudMagic are sufficient for my needs
These are nice and welcome additions to an email app
because calendars are integrated with major email services anyway
There is no support for Outlook.com's calendar
but it does work with Gmail and Google Apps
You can get notifications for events and customize certain aspects
CloudMagic supports all the popular email providers
There is also support for Office 365 and IMAP
the latter of which is supported by lots of other providers
You can choose to add accounts individually on all your devices
you only need to log in to get access to them quickly
but it also impacts security -- putting all your eggs in one basket can be risky
You can read the privacy policy <a href="https://cloudmagic.com/k/privacypolicy" target="_blank">here</a>
but the gist of it is that the company cares about keeping your information private and secure
A good idea would be to enable two factor authentication
but this option is not (yet) offered for CloudMagic accounts
Knowing how easy it is to get all my accounts added in CloudMagic after I install a new firmware or reset my devices
If you do not mind adding accounts manually
this is not needed (you also get to enjoy the added security benefit in the process)
I find CloudMagic to be an excellent mobile-centric email client
having only a few complaints which I detailed above
It does basically everything I want from an email client
no matter if I am using my Android tablet or smartphone or my Mac
However, at least for Mac users, it is not cheap, <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/cloudmagic-email/id1059655371" target="_blank">costing $19.99</a>. The <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.cloudmagic.mail" target="_blank">Android</a> and <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/cloudmagic-email/id721677994" target="_blank">iOS</a> versions are free though
which is more relevant anyway given the two platforms' popularity
has a 4.5 stars rating on Apple's iOS App Store and Google Play
and a four-star rating on the Mac version of the App Store
It supports Android Wear and Apple Watch devices
&copy; 1998-2025 BetaNews, Inc. All Rights Reserved. <a href="/privacy-policy">Privacy Policy</a> - <a href="/cookie-policy">Cookie Policy</a>
We list the best free office software, to make it simple and easy to try something different to <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.techradar.com/tag/microsoft" data-auto-tag-linker="true" data-before-rewrite-localise="https://www.techradar.com/tag/microsoft">Microsoft</a>
However, over the years other companies have released rival office suites to help with <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.techradar.com/best/best-productivity-apps" target="_blank" data-before-rewrite-localise="https://www.techradar.com/best/best-productivity-apps">productivity</a>
some of which is paid-for and some of which is free - sometimes with the same company offering both
while most offer the ability to work with traditional Microsoft Office documents
do be aware that not all will preserve formatting when exporting to or from Microsoft Office
which can be a problem when sending documents between different programs
and organize office documents without incurring immediate subscription costs can be very welcome
Here below we'll list the best free office software apps currently available
We've also featured the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.techradar.com/best/best-open-source-software" data-before-rewrite-redirect="https://www.techradar.com/best/best-free-software-small-business" data-before-rewrite-localise="https://www.techradar.com/best/best-open-source-software">best free software for SMB's</a>
Thought you had to pay to use Microsoft Office? Yes, you do, if you want all the full features. But noting the threat from free rivals, especially <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.techradar.com/tag/google" data-auto-tag-linker="true" data-before-rewrite-localise="https://www.techradar.com/tag/google">Google</a> Google Workspace (formerly G Suite) Microsoft has created its own set of free Microsoft Office online apps
Microsoft 365 Basic looks and works just like its desktop equivalent
and although advanced tools like pivot tables aren't available
though they aren&rsquo;t offered by Google either
There's a version of Microsoft 365 Basic for Chrome
Read our full <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.techradar.com/reviews/microsoft-365-review" data-before-rewrite-redirect="https://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/software/home-and-reference-software/microsoft-office-365-980626/review" data-before-rewrite-localise="https://www.techradar.com/reviews/microsoft-365-review">Microsoft 365 review</a>
LibreOffice is compatible with all Microsoft document formats
and has almost every feature you'll find in the latest versions of Word
The suite contains six programs to cover every common office task: Writer
The last three are tools you won't find in many other free office suites
The latter is particularly useful; free alternatives to Microsoft Access are hard to find
LibreOffice is an open source project maintained by a huge and enthusiastic community of volunteers constantly working to improve stability and add new features
There's a great selection of extensions and templates to make it even more flexible
and it's free for businesses as well as home users
LibreOffice is a fork of Apache OpenOffice
but LibreOffice is the better overall product and properly supports file conversion that preserves existing formatting - so your Word .doc files should look the same in LibreOffice as they do in Word
but there are no official mobile versions available except for a document viewer for Android
but they're experimental and we wouldn't advise relying on them
Read our full <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.techradar.com/reviews/libreoffice" data-before-rewrite-localise="https://www.techradar.com/reviews/libreoffice">LibreOffice review</a>
WPS Office Free is a slimmed down version of a premium office suite
Each of its three programs looks just as slick as the latest versions of Word
and you can save your work in native Microsoft formats for easy sharing with Office users
but WPS Office comes with an excellent free PDF reader that's a great replacement for Windows' built-in app
They certainly won't get in the way of your work
and you'll easily forget that everything in this suite is completely free
There are versions of WPS Office Free for Windows and Linux systems, as well as apps for Android devices, but <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.techradar.com/tag/apple" data-auto-tag-linker="true" data-before-rewrite-localise="https://www.techradar.com/tag/apple">Apple</a> device users will need to look elsewhere
Read our full <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.techradar.com/reviews/wps-office-free" data-before-rewrite-localise="https://www.techradar.com/reviews/wps-office-free">WPS Office Free review</a>
Zoho Workplace is very good in its own right
It's certainly closer to a desktop office package
and it's strong enough to have attracted businesses like the BBC and Nike as regular users
Zoho's new-look word processor (which ditches the classic Word-style interface in favor of a formatting sidebar) is very well-presented and capable of producing professional-looking docs
and it has a sterling spreadsheet and reasonable presentation package alongside it
however &ndash; Zoho Workplace includes a powerful site creation tool
a file management solution and many collaborative tools
so they'll likely not replace anything you might already have in place
but if you're starting out as a small business Zoho is probably a good jumping-off point
If you want to signup for the free version of Zoho Workplace you need to search the pricing page for the "Forever free" plan
and instead you have to go through a sign up process that begins by providing details of an existing business domain
Read our full <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.techradar.com/reviews/zoho-workplace" data-before-rewrite-localise="https://www.techradar.com/reviews/zoho-workplace">Zoho Workplace review</a>
If you own a <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.techradar.com/tag/samsung" data-auto-tag-linker="true" data-before-rewrite-localise="https://www.techradar.com/tag/samsung">Samsung</a> phone
you might already be familiar with the mobile version of Polaris Office
This cross-platform free office software is available for Windows
and comes pre-installed on some Samsung handsets
It&rsquo;s compatible with all Microsoft document formats
and offers a slick ribbon-based interface with some basic customization options
Take care if you choose to install Windows version, you&rsquo;ll see various additional pieces of bundled software, which could potentially include a browser extension from McAfee called WebAdvisor, a market research tool called PremierOpinion, and <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.techradar.com/best/best-antivirus" target="_blank" data-before-rewrite-localise="https://www.techradar.com/best/best-antivirus">antivirus software</a>
You can decline all of these &ndash; just keep an eye out
Upgrading to a premium Polaris account gives you access to extra features including a PDF editor
and the ability to search within a document
Read our full <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.techradar.com/reviews/polaris-office" data-before-rewrite-localise="https://www.techradar.com/reviews/polaris-office">Polaris Office review</a>
Sheets and Slides could be your first port of call
For anyone who's already deep into the Android/Google ecosystem
The three key tools run happily in any web browser
and are available as mobile apps for Apple and Android devices
Google's free office suite doesn't offer the advanced tools you'll find in desktop software like LibreOffice (there are no pivot tables
and there's no database tool) but everything is laid out in a clear
logical way and all your files will be saved and synced automatically so you don't have to worry about transfers and backups
Sheets and Slides is that opening files created using other office software is a cumbersome process and file formatting isn't is always converted properly
This is partly because Google's office tools use web fonts rather than ones stored locally on your device
and partly because Google doesn't support some of the features built into Microsoft software
there are some quirks with Google Docs that make it less user-friendly than other office software
but as a paid product it still lags far behind the features and functionality of Microsoft 365
Read our full <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.techradar.com/reviews/google-docs" data-before-rewrite-localise="https://www.techradar.com/reviews/google-docs">Google Docs review</a>
SoftMaker FreeOffice provides analogs for Microsoft Word
As with all the free office suites in this roundup
there's support for Microsoft file formats from 1997 onwards
It also offers effortless conversion to both PDF and Epub formats
some key features are exclusive to the premium version of the software
Some of these (like tabbed browsing) are nice to have but non-essential
but the lack of a thesaurus is a real drawback for anyone who writes on a regular basis
FreeOffice doesn't look quite as smart as WPS Office
but if you dislike the Microsoft ribbon and find it unintuitive then you'll prefer the slightly more old fashioned approach to navigation
Read our full <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.techradar.com/reviews/softmaker-freeoffice" data-before-rewrite-localise="https://www.techradar.com/reviews/softmaker-freeoffice">FreeOffice review</a>
<a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.techradar.com/best/best-document-management-software" data-before-rewrite-redirect="https://www.techradar.com/best/best-document-editing-management-software" data-before-rewrite-localise="https://www.techradar.com/best/best-document-management-software">We've also featured the best document editing and management software</a>
When deciding which free office software to download and use
as sometimes free platforms will only give you access to a basic set of tools
so you may find a paid subscription is much more worthwhile
budget software options can sometimes prove limited when it comes to the variety of tools available
while higher-end software can really cater for every need
so do ensure you have a good idea of which features you think you may need
To test for the best free office software we first set up an account with the relevant software platform
whether as a download or as an online service
We then tested the service to see how the office software could be used for different purposes and in different situations
such as syncing between devices and backing up to the cloud
as well as different user tools that might be expected in any office software platform
<a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.techradar.com/news/how-we-test" data-before-rewrite-localise="https://www.techradar.com/news/how-we-test">Read more on how we test, rate, and review products on TechRadar</a>
Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news
features and guidance your business needs to succeed
<a href="https://www.techradar.com/author/brian-turner" target="_self" class="link author__name_link" data-before-rewrite-localise="https://www.techradar.com/author/brian-turner">Brian Turner</a>Brian has over 30 years publishing experience as a writer and editor across a range of computing
He has been interviewed multiple times for the BBC and been a speaker at international conferences
His specialty on techradar is Software as a Service (SaaS) applications
covering everything from office suites to IT service tools
He is also a science fiction and fantasy author
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showing the line of the Norwegian Route (VI A3+
1995) takes a line up the nose to the right
During the first ascent of the Norwegian Route (VI A3+
Some of the gear used to make the first ascent of the Norwegian Route (VI A3+
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Infanta Sofia already has her first award after reaching the age of majority
The Government has granted to the youngest daughter of the Kings the Great Cross of Isabel la Católica
an anniversary that  &#8230; It went unnoticed after the great blackout last Monday
The granting of this distinction has been approved by the Council of Ministers in the Extraordinary meeting held on Wednesday
by approval of the corresponding Royal Decree
which will be published in the Official State Gazette (BOE)
This distinction has been approved by the Council of Ministers at the request of King Felipe
who He wanted to recognize Infanta Sofiawho occupies second place in the line of succession to the throne
Infanta Sofia turned 18 on April 29 away from home
Princess Leonor&#8217;s sister is currently studying her second International Baccalaureate course at AWC Atlantic College boarding school in Wales
as they did two years ago when Princess Leonor touched
the heiress of the crown will not be able to accompany his sister
since he is embarked on the ship of the Juan Sebastián de Elcano Navy
On the occasion of the Anniversary of the Infanta
the King&#8217;s house distributed unpublished photographs of Sofia last Tuesday
At the moment the Infanta curriculum for the next course is unknown
it is not planned to follow your sister&#8217;s steps and receive military training
At the moment the Infanta has sent requests for different universities and The King&#8217;s house will inform about her studies when she has made a decision to study
the age of the infanta marks a before and after in her career with respect to her sister
since so far Sofia has followed the footsteps of Princess Leonor in terms of her academic training
but now the distinctions between the two begin to be seen
<a href="https://www.abc.es/espana/gobierno-concede-gran-cruz-isabel-catolica-infanta-20250430202106-nt.html">Source link </a>
The test, which evaluated 19 varieties from supermarkets like <a href="https://happymag.tv/coles-is-launching-a-self-serve-doggy-treat-bar/">Coles</a>, Aldi, <a href="https://happymag.tv/woolworths-boycott-trending-newscorp-partnership/">Woolworths</a>
found that Coles’ Finest Luxurious Fruit Hot Cross Buns earned the highest score in the traditional category
Their Bakery Easter Choc Chip Hot Cross Buns also scored an impressive 82% overall
Judges praised the Choc Chip Hot Cross Buns for their rich
Culinary judge Brigid Treloar described the toasted buns as having a “luscious texture and chocolatey flavour,” reported The Guardian
highlighting the melt-in-your-mouth quality of the chocolate
with Treloar noting their blend of fruits like candied orange peel
which provided “more texture and more variety of flavour.”
Their Bakers Life Gluten Free Fruit Hot Cross Buns were rated highest in the gluten-free category
Coles’ top-rated buns were considerably more expensive
with the Luxurious Fruit Hot Cross Buns costing $1.38 each
while Aldi’s Bakers Life variety came in at just 67c each
showcasing the increasing quality and variety of supermarket offerings
You also don’t want butter softening the texture because one of the things we’re testing is how well it toasts.&#8221;
&#8220;You don’t want a hot cross bun to fall into a ball of dough when you start to eat it
News and Entertainment from Australia's favourite youth publisher
you&rsquo;ll quickly realize that your operating system&rsquo;s default text editor isn&rsquo;t quite up to the task
but it&rsquo;s like trying to make a portrait with a box of eight Crayolas
The plain text editors below provide robust and efficient tools and options
with all kinds of built-in features to make writing
and revising code easier and more pleasant
Tip: want to learn how to code? Asking these questions will teach you the <a href="https://www.maketecheasier.com/questions-learn-fundamentals-of-programming-language/">fundamentals of programming</a>
<a href="https://pulsar-edit.dev/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pulsar</a> is the open-source successor to the Atom editor after GitHub officially dropped support for it on December 15
You can add or remove features as much as you&rsquo;d like
which is great if you&rsquo;re looking for a fully-customizable plain text editor to write code
it doesn&rsquo;t show any indication that it&rsquo;s loading when you try to run it
so if you happen to press Enter a bunch of times
you&rsquo;ll be surprised at how many windows might pop up when it does run
Tip: make learning programming fun with these <a href="https://www.maketecheasier.com/coding-games-build-programming-chops/">coding games</a>
<a href="https://lighttable.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Light Table</a> was one of the top technology Kickstarter projects ever
and it has some sleek features that make it unique
The best one is probably the ability to open a browser tab next to your code within the application to see the changes you make to your code reflected in real-time
It&rsquo;s one of the few code editors to have features like this built-in
but you shouldn&rsquo;t ever need to move your fingers from the home row
every other editor will feel like sludge sliding downhill
Price: $79.95 per year (editor only) / $99.95 per year (all tools)Available for: Windows
Like Sublime Text, <a href="https://www.ultraedit.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UltraEdit</a> is a powerful text editor that gives you many tools and much freedom
It even includes features such as multi-caret editing and a customizable user interface
It has more of an enterprise-level focus than the other editors on the list
Price: FreeAvailable for: Can run in any browser with PHP
What could possibly be more cross-platform than a browser? <a href="https://icecoder.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ICECoder</a> runs inside a Chrome tab
providing much of the power of other editors in a ubiquitously available platform
ICECoder&rsquo;s focus was initially on browser-based programming and markup languages like HTML and JavaScript
but it has since expanded to include C and Java and more
Be careful about accidentally pressing Ctrl + W
or you&rsquo;ll end up closing your window
<a href="https://code.visualstudio.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Visual Studio Code</a> joins Emacs and Light Table in the group of code editors that blur the line between IDEs and customizable plain text editors. Mostly, it&rsquo;s used to edit code outside of the Visual Studio IDE. You could <a href="https://www.maketecheasier.com/program-arduino-with-platformio/">turn it into a light IDE</a> by installing plug-ins with just a few button clicks
making it simple for someone new to start with
But when you get to the point where you want everything personalized the way you want it
you&rsquo;ll have to move (at least temporarily) to other editors that are easier to customize by yourself
Tip: become a pro user with this handy <a href="https://www.maketecheasier.com/cheatsheet/vscode-keyboard-shortcuts/">VSCode shortcuts cheatsheet</a>
<a href="https://vscodium.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">VSCodium</a> is the little sister to Visual Studio Code without the proprietary plug-ins and opt-out-by-default telemetry data
as it&rsquo;s a fork to the open-source version of Visual Studio Code
Only use this if you like Visual Studio Code but don&rsquo;t like Microsoft and love data privacy
While Notepad++ is a Windows exclusive, you can get it to work on Linux (unofficially) via a Snap application. One of the more straightforward plain text code editors, <a href="https://notepad-plus-plus.org/downloads/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Notepad++</a> is great as a quick and portable code editor that you could save into a thumb drive and plug into a work computer without taking up too much space
Although you could do the same with most other code editors
this one in particular starts up pretty fast and is great for making quick notes anywhere
Tip: no coding skills? These platforms let you <a href="https://www.maketecheasier.com/platforms-build-apps-without-coding/">build apps without any programming knowledge</a>
The original plain text code editor on UNIX systems is vi
Vim is an improved version that has more commands and a GUI to work with
An IDE has all the tools needed to make coding easier
while an editor generally only works with helping you type things better
an IDE can be connected to a version control software like Git or a debugging program like GDB
the difference between IDEs and editors is rather murky
can blur the line deeper by having these available through plug-ins
Because Atom has been losing in popularity over the years
the folks at GitHub planned to discontinue it and focus on their other projects
the source code for the latest Atom version has been turned into a public archive
letting anyone make a fork out of it while preserving the code for future generations to see
Electron JS is a JavaScript framework for building web apps that look like desktop applications
It&rsquo;s used in a number of plain text code editors
Image source: <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/dMUt0X3f59Q" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Unsplash</a>
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tips and tricks to help you navigate the complicated world of technology