Russell McNorton

The boot people called ridiculous became a winter icon. Our new-in-box Timberland 6-inch waterproof boots, men’s 9.5, plus how to check a pair before you buy.

Ski towns have run used gear swaps for 62 years. Here’s why used ski clothes are a smart buy, what to check, and a real snow setup priced from our shop.

Customs seized 4.2 million fake boxes and packaging items last year. Here’s a 9-point check to spot fake sneakers, plus what looks fake but isn’t.

Golf dress codes don’t need pro shop prices. Here’s what courses require, what to check on used golf clothes, and two real outfits under $100.

A full-time lawyer built a $120K-a-year eBay business by checking sold prices before buying. Here’s his habit and how shoppers can use it in 30 seconds.

A 1946 housecoat bought on Instagram is now in a museum. What happened, and the 5 vintage clothing label checks we use before calling anything vintage.

Play Thrift Store Bingo: a 25-square card of funny thrift store finds, from the lonely fondue set to the letter jacket, plus the squares worth buying.

Thrift store Halloween costumes for $15 or less: 10 easy looks from the racks, a kids’ version, and how to find the pieces in 20 minutes.

Clothing repair basics for thrift shoppers: fix pilling, buttons, sticky zippers, open seams and dropped hems, and know which flaws to pass on at the rack.

The best brands to buy secondhand are the ones built to survive a second owner. Here are the labels we buy, the ones we skip, and the checks we run first.