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We hate mosquitoes, and so companies make a lot of anti-mosquito things: candles, wristbands, chemical and herbal sprays—even electronic devices. But if you want to keep mosquitoes off your bare skin this summer, you really just need two things: bug spray and a fan.

The many alternatives either don’t work, or aren’t worth your time. Citronella candles aren’t significantly more effective than regular candles, which, as you might guess, don’t do much to ward off mosquitoes. Those light-up bug zappers aren’t helpful, because mosquitoes don’t care about light. Wristbands only keep mosquitoes off your wrists, so unless you’re weaving them into a full-body jumpsuit, they aren’t much help. You get the idea. I’ve explored these disappointing truths in more depth here.

So what does work? Two things, one chemical and one not, which I’ll explain below. It’s also worth mentioning that you should make sure your yard isn’t a mosquito breeding haven. Dump out or take steps to dry up their breeding places (like buckets and puddles) and consider setting up a “bucket of doom” trap. But when it comes to that evening where you’d like to hang out on your porch and need to control the mosquito population ASAP, here are the two things to do:

Get a bug spray that actually works on mosquitoes

First, bug spray. I know, you’re shocked. DEET really works, and so do picaridin and oil of lemon eucalyptus. If a mosquito repellent spray (especially a “natural” one) doesn’t have one of these ingredients, it’s probably no good. The easiest way to tell which products are legit without memorizing a list? Check the back of the label for an EPA registration number.

DEET was the subject of some fearmongering in previous decades, but it’s not actually a dangerous chemical—EPA reviews keep concluding that it’s safe when used as directed. (Don’t put it on your food or in open wounds, for example. But I hope you weren’t going to anyway.) My favorite bug spray is Cutter Skinsations, which doesn’t smell as nasty or feel as sticky as some of the more traditional bug sprays out there. It’s 7% DEET, which is plenty for most backyard lounging and casual use—but you can buy stronger stuff for, say, camping in a swamp.

Set up a box fan

Second, a fan. If you’re hanging out on the porch and don’t want to spray anything on yourself—or if you did use the spray but they’re still flying around you and getting on your nerves—just set up a box fan. You can get one for about 20 bucks at a hardware store, which is less than you’d spend on, what, four mostly useless citronella candles? Mosquitoes are weak flyers, which is why they surround you when the air is stagnant and soupy. Set up a fan—or take advantage of a natural breeze—and you’ll keep them at bay.

Besides these effective strategies, there are a couple more that I didn’t mention because they’re no-brainers: wear long sleeves and pants if you can stand them, and stay inside if you don’t need to be out. I know, those are no fun. So if you want to enjoy your porch beers in shorts and a tank top, get yourself some bug spray and plug in a fan.

If you’re finding some websites slow or totally unresponsive, you’re not alone. Much of the internet is currently impacted by outages.

Downdetector, a site that tracks user reports of site outages, is reporting dozens sites and services that are impacted in some way. These platforms certainly run the gamut: There are games, including Rocket League, Pokémon Go, and Dragon Ball; streaming services including Paramount+; cellular networks like Verizon and T-Mobile; and a number of Google platforms, including Gmail and Google Maps.

While Downdetector had listed Cloudflare and Amazon Web Services as part of the outage, it’s not clear these services themselves were affected. Per a spokesperson, the only Cloudflare services affected were ones that used Google’s hosting services. Meanwhile, an Amazon spokesperson tells me that none of its services were affected, and that you can check its service health here. A previous version of this article reported these two services were affected.

You can see these sites on Downdetector’s front page. Though the list changes frequently, here’s where things currently stand:

• Spotify

• Google Cloud

• Discord

• Google

• Google Meet

• Amazon Web Services (Amazon disputes this)

• Snapchat

• CharacterAI

• Pokémon Trading Card Game

• Cloudflare

• FuboTV

• Rocket League

• Vimeo

• Etsy

• UPS

• Box

• Google Nest

• HighLevel

• Mailchimp

• Microsoft Azure

• Shopify

• Verizon

• Dialpad

• NPM

• T-Mobile

• Cursor

• Pokémon Go

• YouTube

• AT&T

• OpenAI

• Ecobee

• Gmail

• Phasmophobia

• Dragon Ball

• Microsoft 365

• DoorDash

• Zoom

• MLB TV

Those sites and services listed here are based on user reports complaining of outages or slow connections. As such, they may change over time. If you’re noticing issues with a site not listed here, you can enter it into Downdetector to view its outage reports from the past 24 hours, as well as place a report of your own. (Note: Ziff Davis, Lifehacker’s parent company, also owns Downdetector.)

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These Shokz OpenRun Pro headphones use bone conduction technology to keep your ears open and aware of your surroundings. Right now, they’re currently 31% off, down to $124.99—their lowest price ever, according to price trackers.

If you’ve never used bone conduction headphones, they offer the comfort of an open-ear headphone, but don’t sit inside your ear like an earbud. Instead, they transmit sound through the bones in your skull, leaving the ear canal open. Some people believe that they’re safer and better for hearing health than conventional headphones, as there’s no direct pressure on the eardrum. That said, they also won’t provide the deep, rich bass like a pair of over-ear headphones, but it may be a worthwhile tradeoff.

Lifehacker deal writer Daniel Oropeza tested the upgraded OpenRun Pro 2, and the original model offers a similar fit and weight (just over an ounce), making both models lightweight but durable. If you want fewer vibrations on your skin, a longer battery life, and better noise reduction during calls, you may want to opt for the upgraded model, though it comes at a higher price point.

These headphones offer up to 10 hours of battery life and have a quick-charge feature that gives you 1.5 hours of playback from just five minutes of charging. You can also easily toggle between two devices, like your phone and laptop, thanks to MultiPoint Bluetooth pairing. However, with that open-ear design, the sound isn’t as immersive, and it won’t block out ambient sound as well as in-ear or open-earbuds. (If you want to stay aware of your surroundings during a workout, that’s a good thing.)

If you’re looking for total sound immersion and noise isolation in a loud setting, noise-cancelling headphones may be a better choice. And while the IP55 rating protects against sweat and light rain, they’re not designed for submersion or heavy downpours. Overall, if you’ve struggled with the comfort (or fit) of in-ear and over-ear headphones and want a breathable, secure option that’s perfect for active use, the OpenRun Pro headphones are a solid deal.

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Garmin dropped a new watch today, a square-bodied Venu X1 that retails for $799.99 and will be available to order starting June 18. Garmin told me by email that it is “not a successor to Venu 3/3S,” which to me hints that there may still be a Venu 4 coming soon.

The Venu line, if you’re not familiar, contains Garmin’s most smartwatch-y watches. The Venu 3 and its smaller version (the 3S) can do voice calls and use a phone assistant like Siri, and it can take ECG readings. Unlike the cheaper Vivoactive 6, it has a built-in altimeter to measure how many flights of steps you climb in a day. It also boasts the most advanced version of Garmin’s heart rate sensor, making it potentially more accurate than lower-end models. The Venu 3 and 3S originally went for $449.99 each, although they’re currently both on sale for $349.99. 

What’s new in the Venu X1? 

The square shape is new—although an older Venu, the 2 Sq, also had that square shape. But the Venu 2 Sq was a lower-end watch, and the X1 is clearly on the higher end, with its price and shape positioning it as a competitor to the Apple Watch Ultra 2. (The Ultra 2 starts at $799.99.)

The Venu X1 has some sweet new features for that price, including: 

• An LED flashlight, just like the new Forerunner 970 (and the Fenix 8, and some Instinct models). People love their LED flashlights, saying that once you have one, you can’t go back. 

• A 41 x 46 millimeter screen, which Garmin emphasizes is its biggest screen.

• Sapphire instead of Gorilla glass, for extra scratch resistance.

• Maps, full vector style, including trail maps and cycling maps, and thousands of pre-loaded golf courses.

• Battery life is estimated at eight days—less than the Venu 3 (or most other Garmin watches) but significantly more than any Apple Watch. 

• Training readiness and training status, previously only on running-focused watches like Forerunner and Fenix models.

• Garmin coach training plans for running, cycling, and strength.

Unlike the Apple Watch, there’s no version of the Venu X1 that has cellular connectivity, so you need your phone with you if you want to make calls or talk to Siri. And it’s much lighter than the Apple Watch Ultra 2—just 34 grams for the X1 versus around 60 for the Ultra 2.

No ECG, though

There’s one major thing the Venu X1 is missing that the Venu 3 and 3S have: an ECG app, to take electrocardiogram readings (that’s the thing that tells you whether your heartbeats are in “Afib” versus “normal sinus rhythm”). You can see a full breakdown of the differences between the Venu 3 and the Venu X1 here. 

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If you have a massage gun, you probably have a favorite attachment. I know that when I have the option for the heat therapy head, I’m hard-pressed to swap it out for one of the ball, bullet, or fork heads instead. But this means I’m not making the most of the tools available to me: Each massage gun head serves a specific purpose, and understanding them is crucial for safe and effective use.

While more and more versatility is a big selling point , there are four primary attachments you’ll find with most massage guns, each designed for different muscle groups and treatment goals. Here’s how you can use them to maximize your massage gun’s potential while avoiding common mistakes that could lead to injury.

First, some massage gun basics

When I’m marathon training, I use a massage gun before and after my runs. In the photos below, you can see all the attachments that come with two of my massage guns, the Bob and Brad Q2 Pro Mini and the HeyChy D5 Pro. Here’s what I’ve learned using them over the years.

How hard to press when using a massage gun

One of the most common mistakes with massage gun use is applying too much pressure. “Remember to let the gun do the work,” advises Amanda Grimm, a sports and remedial massage therapist and physical therapist. “Don’t press hard, move it slowly across the targeted area and limit its use to 1-2 minutes per muscle group.”

Use soft heads on sensitive tissues, and heavier heads on deeper muscles. It’s the device’s percussive action that provides the therapeutic benefit, not the pressure you apply. If you find yourself pressing hard to “feel” the effect, you’re likely using too much force and risking injury or excessive soreness.

How often to use a massage gun

While it’s tempting to use the massage gun daily, giving muscles time to recover between sessions is important. Use it as part of your warm-up routine before exercise or for recovery afterward, but avoid daily intensive treatment of the same areas.

National Academy of Sports Medicine-certified trainer Baltazar Villanueva recommends pairing massage gun therapy with active movement to maximize benefits. This approach helps reinforce the increased range of motion and flexibility gained from the percussive therapy. Try to move the treated area through its range of motion immediately after massage gun therapy. This helps your body “remember” the improved mobility and can make the benefits more persistent than using the massage gun alone.

However, when you encounter a specific knot or trigger point, the approach changes slightly. Use the bullet head attachment and apply gentle, sustained pressure for 10-15 seconds before slowly moving away. Remember, more intensity doesn’t necessarily mean better results.

Now, let’s get into the specifics of which attachments help which parts of your body.

The ball head: Your go-to for large muscle groups

The ball head attachment is the workhorse of massage gun therapy. Its rounded, cushioned surface makes it ideal for treating expansive muscle areas without causing discomfort. As Grimm explains, the ball head excels because it distributes force more evenly across the treatment area, making it perfect for general recovery on large muscle groups like the quadriceps, glutes, and hamstrings.

The ball head’s design allows for comfortable pressure distribution, making it perfect for post-workout recovery sessions on your major muscle groups according to Villanueva. Its versatility also makes it suitable for treating broad areas of muscle tension, though care should be taken to avoid bony areas like the kneecap.

The flat head: Has your back

The flat head attachment features a wider, level surface that’s specifically engineered for broader muscle areas. As Grimm explains, this makes it exceptional for back muscles, where its design can cover more territory with each pass. The flat head works particularly well on the upper back and shoulder blade area, where muscle tension often spreads across wide zones.

The flat head is particularly effective for denser muscle tissue and is an excellent choice for people who are more sensitive to vibration, as its broader surface area distributes the percussive force more gently than other attachments.

When using the flat head on your back, focus on the muscle tissue rather than the spine itself. The attachment’s broad surface helps ensure you’re treating muscle rather than risking contact with bony structures.

The bullet head: Precision targeting for problem areas

The bullet head is your precision instrument, designed with a smaller, more focused contact point. This attachment provides concentrated pressure that makes it particularly effective for targeting trigger points and specific problem areas. However, as Grimm cautions, the bullet head should be used with extra care, especially around bony areas, due to its concentrated force delivery.

This focused pressure makes the bullet head ideal for working on specific tension spots in smaller muscle groups like the calves, but it requires more careful handling than broader attachments. Use lighter pressure and shorter duration to avoid overstimulation of sensitive tissues, and always be mindful of underlying bone structures.

The fork head: Spine-safe muscle relief

The fork head features a unique design with two prongs that create a channel down the middle. This shape allows you to work on muscles alongside the spine without making direct contact with the vertebrae. Villanueva notes that the fork head is excellent for treating areas around the spine, such as the trapezius muscles, and can even be used effectively on the Achilles tendon area, as its design specifically avoids direct contact with bone.

This attachment addresses a common problem: how to treat back muscles without risking spine injury. The fork head’s design ensures you can provide effective treatment to paraspinal muscles while maintaining safe distance from the spine itself, making it an essential tool for addressing upper back tension and other areas where bone proximity is a concern.

Start slow

Understanding the specific purpose of each massage gun attachment will help you gain maximum benefit while minimizing risk. Always prioritize safety over intensity. If you’re new to massage gun therapy, start conservatively. Begin with the lowest intensity setting and use the ball head attachment on large, less sensitive muscle groups like the quadriceps or glutes. Try gentle pressure and slow movements, paying attention to how your body responds.

As you become more comfortable with the device and understand your body’s response, you can gradually explore other attachments and muscle groups. Always listen to your body, and if something doesn’t feel right, stop immediately.

Finally, massage guns work best as part of a more comprehensive recovery routine. Combine their use with proper hydration, adequate sleep, stretching, and movement correction. The gun addresses symptoms, but underlying issues like poor posture or movement patterns need separate attention.