We publish a lot of comparisons and category guides. But occasionally, readers ask a simpler question: what would you actually buy? This page answers that — one pick per category, with the honest reasoning behind each choice.
Category 01 · Men's WearEditor's Pick: Peter England Regular Fit
Why: After testing 40+ shirts in our Levi's vs Peter England comparison, Peter England's Regular Fit is the shirt that actually fits most Indian male bodies — broader shoulder, shorter sleeve, roomier through the chest. At ₹400–₹600 per shirt, it's also 50–60% cheaper than Levi's equivalent. For daily office rotation, this is the obvious choice. Read the full comparison →
Category 02 · FootwearEditor's Pick: Woodland C-Shade
Why: Indian streets — dust, uneven surfaces, monsoon puddles, summer heat — are harder on shoes than almost any Western climate. Woodland's leather construction specifically addresses this. After one monsoon season, a ₹3,500 Woodland casual holds up better than a ₹6,000 imported sneaker. Read the full comparison →
Category 03 · Home AppliancesEditor's Pick: LG DUAL Inverter AC 1.5T 5★
Why: In our summer 2025 testing across 9 ACs, the LG DUAL Inverter had the lowest measured electricity bills — 14% less than Daikin, 11% less than Voltas across equivalent usage. Over 8 years, that's ₹22,000+ saved. The compressor noise level is also the quietest of any AC we tested. Read the full guide →
Category 04 · Home SecurityEditor's Pick: CP Plus for CCTV, Godrej for locks
Why: These aren't the same product category — CCTV and locks solve different problems. CP Plus has the fastest installer network we tested (2–3 day scheduling average) and strong mid-range footage quality. For physical security, Godrej's heritage and build quality are in a different class than any alternative at similar prices. Read the full comparison →
Category 05 · Data BackupEditor's Pick: Backblaze
Why: Genuinely unlimited backup, flat price, minimal setup. In our head-to-head with Acronis, Backblaze won on simplicity and value. Install it, confirm it's running, never think about it again — which is exactly what backup software should do. Read the full comparison →
Category 06 · Travel BookingEditor's Pick: MakeMyTrip for packages, Yatra for flash sales
Why: Keep both apps installed. MakeMyTrip for anything involving a holiday package or complex itinerary — deeper destination catalog, better customisation. Yatra specifically for when you're flexible on dates and willing to watch for a flash sale — in our 30-day price tracking, Yatra ran more frequent and deeper discounts. Read the full comparison →
Category 07 · Kitchen & CookwareEditor's Pick: Hawkins 5L Pressure Cooker
Why: Reaches pressure faster, uses less gas per cycle, gasket lasts longer — all confirmed in our 200-cycle test. It's the kitchen's most-used appliance and the one where quality compounds most over years. Read the full comparison →
Category 08 · Cloud StorageEditor's Pick: pCloud lifetime plan
Why: pCloud's lifetime plan (one-time payment for 2TB) is the only cloud storage that makes financial sense long-term if you're storing several terabytes. Monthly subscriptions add up to more than the lifetime price within 3–4 years. Zero ongoing cost after that. Read the full comparison →
"The best pick isn't the most popular — it's the one that solves your specific problem the most reliably."
— Arjun Kapoor, Editor-in-ChiefCategory 09 · Travel BookingEditor's Pick: MakeMyTrip for flights + hotels, Yatra for bus
Why: Our 30-day price tracking study found MakeMyTrip more consistently competitive on flight + hotel bundles, while Yatra ran more frequent and deeper flash-sale discounts. For buses specifically, redBus's specialisation means it outperforms both on the bus-booking use case.
Category 10 · Running FootwearEditor's Pick: Nike Pegasus (daily trainer)
Why: For daily running in Indian conditions — heat, variable surfaces, high mileage — the Pegasus's combination of cushioning, durability, and wide availability makes it the default recommendation. See our Nike vs Adidas running shoes comparison for the full breakdown.
Category 11 · VPNEditor's Pick: Mullvad for privacy, NordVPN for ease of use
Why: Two different needs, two different picks. Mullvad accepts cash payment, no email required, genuinely no-logs verified by independent audit — the strongest privacy posture available. NordVPN for buyers who want one-click setup, streaming support, and don't need maximum privacy architecture.
How We PickThe methodology behind every pick
Editor's picks are different from category recommendations or comparison winners. They answer a different question: not which brand is best across all criteria, but which product a specific editor who has tested the category extensively would spend their own money on today.
The three rules for editor's picks
- Must be based on direct testing: No pick is made without the editor having personally used or tested the product. This rules out any product released after our most recent testing cycle.
- Must be currently available to Indian buyers: A pick that requires importing or doesn't have official India retail or service support is excluded, regardless of how good it is.
- Must represent genuine personal preference, not compromise: If the editor would buy a different product for themselves than they'd recommend as "best overall," the pick reflects the editor's personal choice — not a consensus recommendation.
The difference between "editor's pick" and "best overall"
Our best-overall recommendations optimise for the most people. Editor's picks optimise for the editor's specific situation — which often involves priorities that not every buyer shares. Arjun's pick of Peter England over Van Heusen for daily shirts reflects his specific preference for fit over formal-weight fabric. A buyer who needs a stiffer collar for daily meetings might pick Van Heusen. Both are correct for their respective situations.
"An editor's pick is an honest answer to 'what would you buy?' — not 'what should everyone buy?'"
— Arjun Kapoor, Editor-in-ChiefUpdate LogWhen and why picks change
| Category | Last updated | Reason for any change |
|---|---|---|
| Men's Wear | July 2026 | No change — Peter England remains the pick |
| Footwear (casual) | July 2026 | No change — Woodland remains the pick |
| Home Appliances (AC) | July 2026 | Updated from Daikin to LG — 2025 electricity bill data confirmed LG efficiency edge |
| Home Security | July 2026 | No change |
| Data Backup | July 2026 | No change — Backblaze remains the simplest pick |
| Travel | July 2026 | Minor update: clarified Yatra specifically for flash sales vs packages |
| Kitchen | July 2026 | No change — Hawkins pressure cooker remains the pick |
| Cloud Storage | July 2026 | No change — pCloud lifetime plan remains best long-term value |
