Introducing: Is It Worth It?

A deep dive into the health, wellness, and lifestyle products you see everywhere online, but aren't actually sure if they're worth your $$$.

featuring a shitty Canva logo whipped up while I still have Canva Pro for four more days

Over the last few years, I’ve tested over a hundred pairs of running shoes (and finished two major marathons in the process). I have a drawer full of fitness trackers and headphones that I’m in various stages of wearing and recharging. Much to my partner’s dismay (and eventual acceptance), I’ve accepted two giant pieces of home gym equipment into our 1100-square foot condo, plus a “smart” mattress pad that adjusts your bed’s temperature based on biometrics. I’ve swum with AI-enhanced goggles, I’ve worn sports bras that claim to improve your posture, and I’ve burritoed myself into bougie sauna blankets with jade and tourmaline stones.

All this testing experience means two things: First, I have an exceptionally crowded and cluttered home. Second, I’m the person my friends and Internet strangers come to for advice when they’re about to make a major purchase in the fitness or wellness category—because chances are, I Have Opinions.

My goal with Is It Worth It? is to, quite simply, answer the question. According to Shopify, the global health and wellness market is expected to reach $14 trillion—yes, that’s trillion with a t—by 2032. “In a McKinsey study of roughly 5,000 consumers, 82% of US consumer now consider wellness a top or important priority,” Shopify’s analysis goes on to say. TL;DR: You’re spending money on wellness. You deserve to know what actually works.

But isn’t that what Google is for? Great question, and congrats—you’ve caught me on my soapbox. My experience as an e-commerce shopping editor has convinced me that Google isn’t the best place for the in-depth reviews and analysis you want on $$$ products. A few incredibly quick reasons why:

• Google is pushing publisher content further and further down the page, in favor of its own Google Shopping blocks and AI Overview feature at the top, plus “People Also Ask,” “Buying Guide,” and “In Stores Nearby” blocks. So: You have to fight off the flashing lights and shiny “Click to Buy” buttons, and impulse purchases (with Google’s affiliate links) are easier than ever.

• Google is rewarding user forums like Reddit and Quora, arguing that they provide authentic user experiences and reviews, without the bias of affiliate links. Sure, but also: There’s no fact-checking on Reddit. There’s no editor asking you if you’ve interviewed three sources for this piece. There’s no method of standardized testing across similar products to accurately gauge their differences.

• Google makes the rules, and Google decides what you see. This can all change at the drop of a hat (and if you’ve noticed mass layoffs across media and publishing in the last couple of months, well, that’s directly related to a Google update).

In my (very! biased!) opinion, you’re better off as a consumer finding authors and publications you trust and respect, and going straight to them for your recommendations. That’s what I hope to be at Is It Worth It?

A few ground rules here before we get started:

• Each week, you can expect a long-form review of one fitness, health, or wellness item.

• I will be fully transparent about whether or not I paid for the item, and if so, how much.

• Each item will have been tested for at least one month, in my own home.

If you want to know more about why you should trust me, you can check out my uber-professional LinkedIn here for more of my bonafides in product testing and writing. If there’s something you’ve been wanting to buy but you’re not sure if it’s worth it, please tell me—I’d love to test it.

Thanks for being here. I’ll let Missy do the outro.

—Kristen