Meg Muckenhoupt
The Wirecutter
Boston, MA, United States
Contact Meg
Discover and connect with journalists and influencers around the world, save time on email research, monitor the news, and more.
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Past articles by Meg:
The Best Scissors & Kitchen Shears: Reviews by Wirecutter
After conducting 30 hours of research on 75 models of scissors and shears, we think Kai's Dressmaking Shears are the best all-around pick for most people. → Read More
The Best Composters for Kitchen Scraps
If you need a low-maintenance composter for your yard, we recommend the Earth Machine, based on our 20 hours of research plus years of composting experience. → Read More
The Best Ice Scraper
After more than 40 hours of research and a trip to the negative-three-degree cold-chamber at Ford’s winter-weather test facility in Detroit, we found the Hopkins 80037 is the best ice scraper. Its scraping blade is one of the best we’ve tested, and its plow-like broom is the best, period. Plus, it’s robustly built and more thoughtfully designed than any of the competition. → Read More
The Best Garden Trowel
After spending more than 10 hours digging, cutting, and scooping dirt with 24 models, we found that the Wilcox 14” Garden Trowel is the best garden trowel for most gardeners. The single-piece, stainless steel Wilcox’s edge and shape penetrates the soil better than any other trowel, its wide blade scoops more soil than any soil knife, and it’s nearly indestructible. → Read More
The Best Sprinkler
After testing nine new sprinklers and comparing notes with our 25-sprinkler test in 2013, the Gardena ZoomMaxx Oscillating Sprinkler is the best sprinkler for most people. It’s durable, adjustable, and no other sprinkler we tested has its uniquely versatile spray patterns and even coverage over a wide range of spaces. → Read More
The Best Hand Weeder
After spending more than 50 hours comparing and testing weeders on dandelions, garlic bulbs, and more, we found the Nejiri Gama Hoe is the best tool for most gardens. Sharp and compact, this tool digs into a much wider variety of plants than the competition. It's also the only model we tested that could handle weeds growing in pavement cracks. → Read More
The Best Hand Weeder
After more than 50 hours comparing and testing weeders, we think the Nejiri Gama Hoe is the best to extract, uproot, and disrupt the most common small weeds. → Read More
The Best Garden Pruners
After testing 39 pruners on a variety of both delicate and woody stems, we found that the Felco 2 Classic Manual is the best garden pruner for most people. The Felco 2 made cleaner, straighter cuts than almost every pruner we tested because its blades are sharper and its cutting action is smoother. Plus, it’s more durable and easier to maneuver than the competition. → Read More
The Best Outdoor Brooms
After more than 25 hours researching and testing 14 outdoor brooms (and giving a long look at dozens more), we have three picks that can satisfyingly sweep up a → Read More
The Grow Lights We Like
If you're ready to get seedlings started indoors for the winter, we spent 50 hours on research and interviewed six experts (one of whom designed plant lighting for Antarctica and the moon) to find the best grow lights. The $91 Hydrofarm FLT24 is low-maintenance, runs cool in small spaces, and provides bright light for stout plants. → Read More
The Best Scissors & Kitchen Shears
After conducting 30 hours of research on 75 models of scissors and kitchen shears, consulting with experts (including a maker expert at San Francisco’s Explor → Read More
The Right Vase for the Right Flowers
Valentine’s Day is right around the corner and if you’re thinking of flowers for your special someone, we suggest pairing them with an appropriate vase. We spoke with five flower design experts to find out the dos and don’ts so you can impress without the legwork. → Read More
The Best Composters for Kitchen Scraps
If we were looking for a low-maintenance composter for your yard, we’d get Earth Machine (~$90), a composter that’s big enough for most households and often → Read More
The Best Leaf Rake
The Ames True Temper rake is our favorite leaf rake for the second year running, after more than 27 new hours of research and testing with five top rakes with a landscaping crew. The Ames is lighter, its tines are springier, and its handle is sturdier and more firmly attached than the competition’s. → Read More
The Best Ice Scraper
After 15 hours of research and attacking ice in single-digit temperatures, we found the Crossover Snow Broom was the most effective ice-destroyer. It’s an extendable combination ice scraper/snow broom that clears ice fast with a sharp blade and thick, pointed teeth. And at 36 inches, it will easily fit in most cars. → Read More
The Best Gardening Gloves
After years of comparing and testing gardening gloves, we recommend choosing the Atlas Nitrile Garden Gloves ($23 for six-pack). → Read More