The Week USA - 06.02.2020

The best of...spring running gear

Consumer

Car and Driver

The third-generation Bentley Flying Spur

turns out to be “a master class in posh-

ness.” Riding on a Porsche-designed

platform that creates more-elegant propor-

tions, the 17-foot-long luxury saloon also

leads with a new grille that “telegraphs

grand English luxury.” The 626-hp twin-

turbo 12-cylinder engine can power the car

to a top speed of 207 mph—“at which point

the Spur will have roughly the momentum

of the Earth.” Even so, the 5,372-pound limo

is “surprisingly willing to pivot and play.”

Automobile

Inside, the Spur “has reached new heights

of lavishness.” Design novelties include

sculpted leather quilting (requiring almost

2 miles of hand stitching) and a rotating

panel in the dash that alternates between

elegant walnut veneer, a 12.3-inch touch

screen, and a trio of analog gauges. And

where the tech in the previous Spur felt

dated, “the modernities of the new model

are seemingly countless.”

Motor Trend

No other full-size luxury car can match

this Bentley’s combination of sport-sedan

performance and stately road presence.

In fact, “the 2020 Flying Spur is the best

Bentley sedan of the modern era. It turns

the ubiquitous top-end S-class Benzes into

street furniture and makes the Rolls-Royce

Ghost seem oddly plebeian. And in this

company, it looks like a bargain.”

28 LEISURE

Tip of the week...
How to improve sluggish Wi-Fi

Best apps...

For falling asleep faster

And for those who have

everything...

You might need to

study your friends’

ears more closely

to spot “spring’s

surprising must-have

accessory.” So small

they’re almost invis-

ible, ear seeds began

trending last year but have a long history in

traditional Chinese medicine. Maybe you’ve

even seen Uma Thurman or Gwyneth

Paltrow sporting the current style—pin-size

stainless-steel pellets plated in 24 karat gold

or even capped with a Swarovski crystal.

Held to the ear by adhesive and placed on

pressure points, they “target everything

from headaches to libido” and add sparkle

while doing it. Neiman Marcus sells 20 gold-

plated ear seeds in a set that includes an

easy-to-follow application map.

$34, neimanmarcus.com

Source: Vogue

QRun a speed test. Plug a laptop directly
into your router and open Fast.com to learn
if the measured speed matches what you’re
paying for. You need 3 megabits per second
to stream Netflix, 5 Mbps for HD quality, and
25 Mbps for 4K content. Now disconnect the
laptop and check the Wi-Fi speeds in various
locations around the house.
QSwitch frequencies. If the Wi-Fi is running
on the 2.4 GHz frequency band, congestion
created by neighbors’ routers might be a
problem. Try 5 GHz if your router supports it.
QMove the router. Say you have dead spots
despite a strong router signal. Try moving
the router to a more central location, where
fewer walls and floors impede the signal.
QUpgrade. The new technology standard
is called Wi-Fi 6, but a Wi-Fi 5 router will do
you well into 2025. For a large home, con-
sider a mesh router, which uses multiple
nodes to spread the signal.
Source: Consumer Reports

QTide is a sleep-inducing app that will “bathe

your bedroom in all kinds of music and

sounds.” Choose between pure white noise

or such natural sounds as rain or ocean surf.

If you place your phone on your mattress, the

sounds will stop when you fall asleep.

QSpotify can be a soporific as well. Search

for “sleep” and you’ll find curated playlists

full of classical piano melodies, soothing

nature sounds, and more.

QCalm is all about mindfulness and medita-

tion, but the app also offers a series of “sleep

stories” designed to promote drowsiness.

QRelax Melodies is more comprehensive

than most sleep-aid apps. Available sounds

range “from flutes to thunderstorms,” and

users can mix, match, and add voice-overs.

QBrain.fm uses algorithms to create music

that can help you either doze off or focus on

work. Ten sessions are free before you have

to pay the $7 monthly fee.

Source: Gizmodo.com

The 2020 Bentley Flying Spur:What the critics say

The world’s fastest sedan, from $214,600

Tracksmith

Waffle Layer

When it’s still a little

chilly, “merino wool is

the way to go.” This

top insulates well,

whether it’s worn as

a base layer or alone.

It also breathes, wicks

moisture, regulates

temperature, and stays

warm when wet.

$108, tracksmith.com

Source: OutsideOnline.com

Smartwool PhD

Pro Endurance

Crew Socks

These socks have pad-

ding in the forefoot

and heel, and they’ll

keep your feet dry and

comfortable no matter

the weather. Made of a

blend of merino wool,

nylon, and elastane,

“they’ve excelled in all

conditions.”

$26, smartwool.com

Source: Runner’s World

Buff CoolNet UV+

A Buff is a lightweight,

stretchy tube of fabric

that can be worn as a

scarf, a balaclava, or a

sweat-absorbing head-

band. It comes in dozens

of colors and designs,

and the spring-ready

CoolNet UV+ provides

UPF 50 sun protection

that you can’t sweat off.

$24, buffusa.com

Source: NYMag.com

Amphipod Xinglet

If you buy only one

item of refl ective wear,

make it the Xinglet.

Highly visible from

any angle, the vest is

easy to adjust, doesn’t

require regular laun-

dering, and allows

“excellent ease of

movement.”

$30, amphipod.com

Source: TheWirecutter.com

The North Face

Futurelight Flight

The fi bers in this light-

weight trail runner’s

shell somehow both

vent heat and repel

water, making it breath-

able but waterproof.

“Even on warm days, it

keeps you more com-

fortably dry than old

seam-sealed shells.”

$280, thenorthface.com

Source: Runner’s World