2021 | Gear Diary

Moment MagSafe Accessory Roundup: 5 Products That Help You Do More with Your iPhone’s MagSafe

I didn’t fully appreciate the MagSafe connector on my iPhone 12 until I was sent a collection of Moment MagSafe accessories to try. If you weren’t aware, Moment makes some of the best smartphone photography gear and accessories available. The Moment MagSafe accessories I’ll be telling you about today are great, and I can’t imagine going back to the old system for connecting my iPhone to a tripod, securing it in the car, or attaching cold shoe accessories like a microphone.

Reviews

Eggtronic Einova Wireless Charging Stone Review: A Beautiful and Stylish Way to Wirelessly Charge Your Devices

Wireless chargers have become quite commonplace for most of us these days. In my house and on my desk at work, these chargers are usually boring plastic pucks that I toss my device on as an afterthought. What if there was a wireless charger that added to the aesthetic of your home or workspace? The Eggtronic Einova Wireless Charging Stone does just that.

Reviews

Yale Laptop Alarmed Value Safe Review: Protect Your Valuables Without Paying a Fortune

Now that I’m a bit older, I’m learning the true value of privacy and security. Some friends in my crypto group discussed how they secure their valuables, and the subject of safes was a big one. So I started researching simple yet solid safes that I can store safely but didn’t stick out like a sore thumb. Enter the Yale Laptop Alarmed Value Safe.

Reviews

THC Living Freeze Cold Therapy Roll-On Review: Must-Have Pain Relief for Muscle Rehab

For the past few weeks, while training for a half marathon, I have used THC Living Freeze Cold Therapy Roll-On Nano 1:3 (100 mg THC:300 mg CBD) to aid with recovery and help keep muscular fatigue and soreness at bay. It is only available for sale in California, but if you live there, you’ll want to read on.

Reviews

Google Pixel Buds A-Series Review: Rich Sound for Less

As an avid Pixel phone user, I was excited that Google developed its own earbuds. I sat out on their first iteration of the true wireless version but jumped in with the Google Pixel Buds A-Series. The idea of wireless buds designed to work with my phone is an exciting idea for a non-iPhone user. The last week, both my son and I have put them through their paces.

Reviews

Rockport Total Motion Sport Mudguard Sneaker Review: Step Out in Comfort and Style

When you think about Rockport, you might think of them as old-fashioned “Dad shoes.” But the company truly has so much more variety and style than that! One of my personal favorites happens to be the Rockport Total Motion Sport Mudguard Sneaker.

Reviews

AirVape X Review: An Incredibly Well Made, Sleek, and Easy to Use Vape

We’ve reviewed numerous portable vaporizers, but few, if any, have the style and refinement of the AirVape X. The $139 vape is available in your choice of black or blue and, despite the affordable price, is packed with the latest technology. High-grade materials, state-of-the-art heating technology, and a lifetime warranty make this a great option.

Reviews

Nomad Leather Loop for AirTag Review: A Simple Yet Essential Accessory

When Apple’s new AirTag’s were released, my Tile Trackers became obsolete. Apple’s approach to locating keys and other everyday daily carries is more tightly integrated with iOS in ways Tile can’t match. But Apple offers no way to attach the pricey trackers to your daily carry. The new Nomad Leather Loop for AirTag elegantly solves that problem.

Reviews

Belkin MagSafe 3-in-1 Wireless Charger Review: Elevated Essential Charger for Your Everyday Carry Apple Items

When I purchased my iPhone 12 Pro Max back in 2020, one of the highlighted features was the MagSafe Charging. I went out of my way to purchase Apple’s charging puck for it at an astounding $39, but unfortunately, the lack of a dock option made it less useful than I had hoped. To the rescue came the Belkin MagSafe 3-in-1 Wireless Charger with MagSafe 15W Charging.

Reviews

TravelPro PLATINUM ELITE Compact Business Plus Carry-On Review: Travel in Style with This Expandable Hardside Spinner

I’ll soon be taking my first trip in almost a year and a half, a quick two-day trip to Los Angeles for a wedding. The quick trip means I don’t need much luggage and, thanks to the TravelPro Platinum Elite Compact Business Plus Carry-On, I’ll be able to carry everything I need. It’s fantastic luggage.

Reviews

Logitech BRIO Ultra HD Pro Business Webcam Review: An Essential Work from Home Accessory

Many of us have had the luxury of working from home over the past year which means many of us have been suffering through countless hours of Zoom and Webex conference calls. Historically, built-in webcams are terrible and such low-quality, no one can tell you’re rocking your PJs on the call. But with the Logitech BRIO Ultra HD Pro Business Webcam, you might want to shower and dress up, because you’ll come through crisp and clear!

Gear Bits

Lexon Flip Premium Alarm Clock: A Stylishly Simple Way to Wake Up When Staying in Bed Isn’t an Option

Back in the day (my day, anyway), everyone had an alarm clock or clock radio by their bedside. My dad’s was so loud it once woke me at 5:30 am one morning, but that’s another story. Now, with everyone having an alarm on their phone, watch, and running shoes for all I know, the call for alarm clocks would seem to be minimal. “Ha!” says Lexon design to us, with the Lexon Flip Premium Alarm Clock.

News & Features

Trücup Low-Acid Coffee: When You Need Your Coffee, but Your Stomach Rebels

At my age—and no, I am absolutely not going to tell you how friggin’ old I am—acidic stomach issues are definitely something I have to keep in mind. But even if you’re a youngun’ like my daughter and you drink enough coffee, sometimes the very acidity of the brew can catch up with you sometimes. That’s what Trücup low-acid coffee wants to help alleviate.

Reviews

GoPro HERO9 Black Review: Raising the Bar on What’s Expected of an Action Camera

GoPro’s latest flagship action camera, the GoPro HERO9 Black is the first I’ve ever personally had the chance to check out from the brand, so I wanted to see if their slogan “More Everything” actually holds true.

News & Features

Monoprice Monolith M-TWE Earphones Review: ANC Earbuds That Pack a Large Punch

The Monoprice Monolith M-TWE earphones have been an exciting maze to explore with few dead ends. Monolith went all out on these earbuds adding Sonarworks’ SoundID, Qualcomm aptX Audio, Qualcomm cVc 8.0 Echo Cancelling and Noise Suppression, Active Noise Cancelling (ANC), and making them “Sweatproof.” With a current sale price of $99.99, these true wireless earbuds pack a big punch for a small price.

Reviews

Moment MTW Battery Organizer Review: Organize and Pack Your Camera Batteries and Small Photography Accessories

Moment prides itself on being a resource for all things photography, which extends to their Travelwear line. It’s a line of backpacks, totes, and organizers that are designed to keep your photography equipment organized on the go. We’ve had the opportunity to check out the Moment MTW Battery Organizer, and we’re deeply impressed!

Logitech MX Keys and Logitech MX Master 3

Reviews

Logitech MX Keys and MX Master 3 Review: Update Your Workspace with This Intelligent Keyboard and Mouse

Logitech is one of the leaders in computer peripherals for a good reason; their products look great and work extremely well. When I was creating my work from home setup, I knew it would only be complete with Logitech behind it, which is why I was so excited to check out the Logitech MX Keys and MX Master 3 mouse.

News & Features

Smartphone for Snapdragon Insiders: Qualcomm and ASUS Debuting a Beast of a Smartphone!

In case you weren’t aware, in March, Qualcomm set up a program called Snapdragon Insiders. It all kicked off with a simple video done by Christiano R. Amon, the President and (at the time) CEO-Elect of Qualcomm. Amon promised access to Qualcomm experts, the latest updates from Snapdragon, and tech-reader collaborations. Months have passed; Amon is now the CEO of Qualcomm, and the Snapdragon Insiders program now has 1.6 million members. To celebrate, today they are announcing their first Smartphone for Snapdragon Insiders that utilizes the best Snapdragon has to offer in a mobile experience.

Reviews

NEXVOO NEXCHAIR Review: The Office Chair That Can Monitor Your Health As You Work

Having a good desk chair was key to surviving months of working from home during the pandemic. Raina and I both use comfortable, ergonomic chairs that have served us well. The NEXVOO NEXCHAIR has a similar design to my current chair, but there’s one big difference. As the company puts it, NEXCHAIR is “the world’s first health monitoring chair.”

News & Features

Nomad Leather Cover for MagSafe: Upgrade Your MagSafe Charger with Luxurious Horween Leather

Nomad has just introduced a great way to upgrade your desk or nightstand aesthetics. Apple’s MagSafe chargers for iPhones are the simplest and fastest way to charge the device, but they are boring white discs. The Nomad Leather Cover for MagSafe wraps the plastic disc MagSafe charger in Horween leather and, in the process, gives them some style.

Reviews

OWC Thunderbolt 3 Dock Review: A 14-Port Do-All Solution for Working from Home

When I first began working from home, one of the biggest issues I had was that there were too many peripherals needed for my workflow and not enough ports. Then I had the opportunity to check out the OWC Thunderbolt 3 Dock. Ever since I received it, it’s been the ideal approach to connecting my external monitors and hard drives, creating an “office-like experience” all from the comfort of my home. The OWC Thunderbolt 3 Dock is compatible with Mac or Windows, but I’ve exclusively used it for my MacBook Pro and two external monitors for this review. Before having…