6 products our experts fell for after testing

One of the brilliant things about working for Which? product testing is that we're always learning something new while trying products for our latest reviews. This includes our latest Best Buy, Great Value and Eco Buy recommendations as well as the products we single out as Don't Buys. 

Then there are those times when we get to use a type of product we wouldn't have thought about buying for ourselves.

Here are things our Which? experts never thought they'd fall in love with but they did, thanks to our testing. 

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1. 'A hybrid pillow revolutionised my sleep'

Sabrina Sahota, senior researcher and writer:

'I was one of the 50 or so people who got involved to help with our pillows testing. Some of the pillows we tested were hybrids which you can adjust yourself to make them higher or lower, harder or softer, to customise your sleep to that Goldilocks feeling of just right.

'These weren't a type of pillow I'd considered before but I really liked the idea of being able to fine-tune my pillow's firmness and height. And it turned out they were my favourite type during the testing.

'I’d been sleeping on the same bog-standard pillows for a few years. They’d lost their shape and weren’t providing adequate support. 

'You're advised to replace your pillows every two to three years, so I knew I was well in need of a replacement, which my constant neck pain in the morning was reminding me about.

'After testing I got myself the Simba Hybrid Pillow. It contains teeny inner cubes that I could remove handfuls of (and replace them) until I got a pillow that felt just perfect for me. 

'After sleeping on it for a few nights, my neck and shoulders felt far more supported and I didn’t need to double up with two pillows. More than a year later, the pillow has held its shape and still provides excellent support.' 

Find the perfect pillow for you. Compare our reviews of the best pillows for front, back and side sleepers.

2. 'I'm no longer getting lost. Thanks car phone holder!'

Chris Brookes, researcher and writer:

'Ever since passing my driving test (first time, if you’re asking), I had relied on my trusty sat nav to get me from A to B. 

'While I thank it for its years of loyal service, it was on its last legs by the time I started testing car phone holders for Which?. 

'The suction pad had degraded to the point where it came crashing down onto my dashboard after any minor bump in the road. 

'The final straw was when I tried to go to Stansted airport to pick up my girlfriend’s mum and ended up driving for an hour the wrong way. 

'I blame the sat nav’s poor search function and lack of internet connectivity, but I could also blame the person who decided to put Stanstead Road next to Heathrow Airport – or myself for having no sense of direction. 

'Now that I’ve switched to a trusty car phone holder, I don’t have any of these issues. I’ve been using the Vanmass Car Phone Holder 2023.

'It's stable, sturdy, and always ready for duty. While it may not be the most glamorous of products, it does its job quietly in the background, ensuring that my phone stays safely cradled and pointing me in the right direction – I clearly need it.'

Find a phone holder that works for you. Head to the best car phone holders for more.

3. ‘Espresso is so last year. It’s all about filter coffee in our house'

Matt Knight, product testing team leader:

'Before we tested filter coffee machines for Which?, the only people I knew who owned one were my two grandmas.

'We decided to revive testing them at Which? in 2022, as we continuously keep an eye on what people are searching for and buying and had noticed a growing trend for filtered coffee. 

'When we first started testing, we were worried that the keep-warm function would make them pricey to run. However, we measured the energy costs and discovered that if you brewed the minimum amount twice a day every day for a year, you’d be looking at £20 to run and keep the hot plate on for the most energy-hungry filter coffee machines we’ve tested.

'I never dreamed I’d become a convert, but I think the coffee tastes better through a paper filter. You only have to make it once in the morning and then you can keep topping up the warm pot throughout the day. It’s also much less messy than any other coffee gadget I own. I love it.

'At home, I have an espresso machine and a cafetiere that barely gets used any more because of my new Melitta Look IV Therm Timer Filter Coffee Machine.

'I’m a fan because my filter coffee machine makes a more mellow cup of coffee, so I can have more of it throughout the day. It also makes eight cups of coffee in one go, so my wife and I can enjoy it all day and only need to go through the process of making it once.'

We noticed that almost as many people are wanting to see our pick of the best filter coffee machines as they are our reviews of the best espresso machines. Time to follow the crowd? 

4. 'A massage gun halved my recovery time'

Joel Bates, senior researcher and writer:

'Aches and pains are a natural part of being a runner, and although a good cool down and a stretch always help, at least some soreness in your muscles feels like an inevitability. 

'Testing out massage guns was a revelation for my recovery times. 

'Not only are the best ones satisfying to use, but they cut my recovery times by around half. My go-to massage gun is the Theragun Mini. Its portability won me over. 

'Where I would usually need a couple of days after a long run before going for another, I found myself pretty much free of aches and ready to go the following day. 

'It doesn’t replace the need for a good stretch and eating the right food, but it really helps my leg muscles handle the demands of frequent trail running.'

Don't miss our pick of the best massage guns.

5. 'I love how a water flosser makes my teeth feel'

Chad England, product content lead:

'I never thought about buying a water flosser. One went on my Christmas list last year, though, after I'd read our reviews – and I love it. It also makes me feel like I'm being better for the environment by not using flossing harps. 

'I have the Panasonic EW1511 Water Flosser and I love how clean my teeth feel after using it. The intensity of the stream definitely fills me with confidence that it's working. 

'I'd read that they can be pretty messy to use, with water going everywhere. However, I've discovered that the most effective way to manage the power is by starting mine in position leaning over the sink and collecting the water in my mouth slightly as it sprays. That way, my teeth stay sparkling and my bathroom is a splash-free zone.'

Head to our round up of the best water flossers and Waterpik flossers.

6. 'I know what's going into my bread-maker bread'

Lisa Barber, senior editor, Which? Tech magazine:

'I got my first bread maker years ago after I tried one out after we’d tested them at Which?.

'I thought a bread maker would be a right faff, whereas trying one out for Which? all those years ago made me realise how easy it was – particularly as I use it so much.

'My first one lasted me many, many years before it finally gave up the ghost and started creating bricks. I’m now on my second Panasonic model.

'Our bread maker reviews made me confident that I was buying a good model that would make fab bread – they're not cheap, so I didn't want to waste my money on something that would annoy me.

'I love that I get fresh, super-tasty bread and I know what's in it – no sugar or odd preservatives. Only salt, butter, water and flour. I mix seeded strong bread flour with white bread flour to get what I reckon is the perfect mix.'

See which models we’ve rated the best bread makers.

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