Outdoor Gear

Trek Project One ICON ‘First Light’ Paint Scheme Featured in Tokyo Olympics

When I was a lad, we had one-speed bikes with banana seats* and sometimes big high backrests, like the kiddie version of Zed’s chopper, Grace,  that Butch makes off with in Pulp Fiction. Sure, there were 10-speeds and the standard 1-speeds that Schwinn was famous for. And…um…that was pretty much it. Not any longer, baby! Now you’ve got so many different types of bikes it makes my head spin! And now we have word that Trek has expanded its premium custom bike program, Project One ICON, with a brand-new paint scheme called “First Light.”




BlendJet 2 Portable Blender Review: Be Anywhere, Blend (Almost) Anything

The initial thought of a portable blender was, why? Then all of the possibilities came flooding in. Mix up a shake for the gym, breakfast on the go, or even some nice margaritas at the pool or the beach. The BlendJet 2 Portable Blender is a powerful, rechargeable option that will bring the freedom to blend shakes and drinks anytime and anywhere.


Opolis Optics Largo Sunglasses Review: Perfect Shades for the Summer

Finding the perfect pair of glasses for your face isn’t hard, depending on your face shape. But with Opolis Optics’ latest Bio-Collection, there’s something for everyone, whether you have an oval, round, rectangular, square, or diamond shape to your face. I was sent the Opolis Optics Largo Sunglasses for review; let’s check them out.



Anker PowerHouse II 800 Review: Charges So Many Things When Needed!

I used to think that if we had a winter power outage lasting a week or more, Kev and I would be adequately prepared. We’d have plenty of drinking water on hand, piles of cut wood for the fireplace, our food would be safe (because, winter), and portable battery packs would power our electronics. Earlier this year, we got to find out just how unprepared we actually were when Texas got slammed with one winter storm after another, causing a massive power crisis. What would have made a huge difference for us during this disaster? The Anker PowerHouse II 800.



Goal Zero Yeti 500X Review: Portable Emergency Power When You Need It

Earlier this year, there was a massive power crisis in Texas that came as a result of severe winter storms, leaving over 4.5 million homes and businesses without power, many for several days. This inspired me to have a backup source of power for our home, should something similar ever happen. Fortuitously, I was offered a Goal Zero Yeti 500X for review, and we now have a solid solution. Released last year, the Goal Zero Yeti 500X is a mid-sized rechargeable portable power station that looks much more modern that the gas-guzzling generator my mom had that would power much…



Rockport Total Motion Active Mesh Sneaker Review: Your Feet Will Love Them

As we begin returning to the office, people are beginning to swap their sweatpants for something comfortable but more appropriate for the office. The same goes for footwear. After a year of wearing slippers, we deserve something equally comfortable on our feet. That’s exactly what I’ve found with the Rockport Total Motion Active Mesh Sneaker.





JBL PartyBox On-The-Go Review: Big 100W Portable Speaker That’s Ready to Party

I love a large portable speaker, and my latest in for testing is the JBL PartyBox On-The-Go. This massive and multi-talented speaker pumps out 100W of bass-boosted sound that can easily fill a large room or the typical backyard. If you like to sing along, the PartyBox On-The-Go includes a wireless mic with adjustable gain, echo treble, and bass. If you or a friend plays guitar, they can plug-in and either strum along to the music or use the PartyBox as an amp to play their own compositions.



A Look at Some of Our Favorite 2020 Black Friday Deals

Between the pandemic and the election, it’s been an insane year. Now that we have several vaccines on the way and the election results have been declared, we can all look forward to seeing what Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals are coming. We’ve put together a few of our favorite deals from some brands you know — and a few you should consider — that you can shop, all from the safety of your home!


BlendJet 2 Review: Builds on the Deliciousness of the Original

I reviewed the BlendJet some months ago; the small, battery-operated blender does exactly what it promises and can go anywhere. Paired with the company’s JetPacks, you can have a smoothy anywhere. Now the company has released an updated version. BlendJet 2 is larger, quieter, has more power, has measurement markers built-in, and is still just as portable.



Luno Air Mattress Review: Enjoy Car Camping at Its Finest and Most Comfortable

Are you a camper? Some people are, some people think they could be, and some people are not. I like the idea of camping, but when I think about sleeping unprotected — except for a sheer nylon tent barrier protecting me from wild animals, snakes, bugs, and the elements out in the middle of nowhere — it freaks me out, no joke. Car camping, though? That’s a possibility; with the Luno Air Mattress, it’s now possible, safe, and, most importantly, comfortable.


The KeySmart NanoTorch Twist Lights Up the Night

There are two tools I always have readily available, a sharp pocket knife and a powerful flashlight. Flashlight technology has improved so that even the brightest ones are more pocketable. The KeySmart NanoTorch Twist fits the bill, and with the added “twist” feature, it is even more usable. Let’s take a look!