July 2023

Gear Diary’s 2023 Back to School Gift Guide: Preparation Is Key, and We’re Making It Easy!

Where did the summer go? Hopefully, yours was full of good times with the kids and grands, and you were able to fit in a getaway with family and friends, but now it’s time to start thinking about the upcoming school year. Whether that means the kids in your life are attending elementary, middle, or high school or heading to college, our 2023 Back to School Gift Guide has got you covered.




Register Now to Save with EcoFlow’s EcoCredits Monthly Madness

We have covered and reviewed several EcoFlow products, which have proven to be excellent ways to power any lifestyle. Now, registered members in the U.S. and Canada can take advantage of EcoFlow’s EcoCredits Monthly Madness, which will take place on the fourth Thursday and Friday of every month, starting tomorrow; each sale period will last for just 48 hours.


Samsung Unpacked Introduces Latest Folding Flagships, the Galaxy Z Fold5 and Galaxy Z Flip5; Are You Ready to Upgrade?

At this morning’s Samsung Unpacked event in Seoul, details were revealed regarding the brand’s latest foldables, the Galaxy Z Fold5 and Galaxy Z Flip5. But unlike previous years, Samsung’s no longer one of the (very) few foldable readily available with US carrier financing. Now, we can choose from the Google Pixel Fold, the updated Motorola Razr, and, if the rumors hold true, an upcoming OnePlus device. With more Android foldable choices available, we’ll soon know if the latest Samsung Galaxy offerings will be enough to keep its future-forward users loyal; in the meantime, let’s discuss Samsung’s latest flagship releases.


Nomad ChargeKey: A Handy EDC Classic Is Reborn and Updated!

As I have shared countless times, Nomad’s products are among my favorite device accessories. I use their cases, chargers, and batteries daily. It all started with a single product, the Nomad ChargeKey. A small, key ring-friendly charging “cable,” while great, I never expected it to lead to what Nomad has become. Now, about a decade later, the ChargeKey is updated and reissued.








ICECO VL60 Review: An Extraordinary 63.4-Quart Dual-Zone Refrigerator and Freezer That’s Ready for Every Adventure

Kev and I recently purchased a travel trailer that can be pulled behind his Toyota Tacoma or my Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. Part of the fun of planning your first big camping adventure is making sure that you have all the necessary gear to go off-grid for days at a time, which is why the offer to review the ICECO VL60 couldn’t have come at a better time. The VL60 is a heavy-duty metal dual-zone refrigerator and/or freezer powered by a Danfoss SECOP compressor that can be used in multiple outdoor and indoor scenarios. Let’s take a look.


MediaTek Dimensity 6100+ Makes 5G Even More Affordable

Connectivity isn’t just about being able to post fun selfies on Instagram. It’s a lifeline to a world that’s become increasingly digital. So it’s become incredibly important to offer 5G at every phone level, whether the budget line or the ultimate flagship. MediaTek aims to bring 5G to the masses, and they’re getting one step closer with the new MediaTek Dimensity 6100+ series!




Govee AI Gaming Sync Box & Strip Light Kit Review: Dramatic AI Lighting Effects That Enhance Gaming and TV Watching

Since 2017, Govee has been designing and producing smart home products, including ambient lighting, home appliance products, and smart IoT systems. One of their most recently released products is the Govee AI Gaming Sync Box. I had a chance to review the version that comes with a single light strip meant to accommodate televisions between 55 and 65 inches measured diagonally. This version of the kit sells for $167.99. There is also a version that adds a pair of Govee’s RGBIC TV Light Bars, which sell for $299.


Nanoleaf Matter BR30 Smart Bulbs Review: Light Your Home According to Your Mood with These Flood Lights

There’s something supremely cool about having smart lights in your home that are white when you want but can also be any other colors when you prefer a different vibe. If you have recessed lighting, as I do, you may have considered installing smart floodlights, but if you want to get them from a known brand, they can be as much as $50 per bulb! The new Nanoleaf Matter BR30 Smart Bulbs are reasonably priced, and rather than being from some random maker, they come from Nanoleaf, a well-known smart lighting brand. Let’s take a look.



Zhiyun Crane-M 3S Review: A Stylish Handheld Gimbal Stabilizer for Vloggers and Content Creators

The Zhiyun Crane-M 3S is a beautifully designed lightweight camera stabilizer perfect for those who shoot with smartphones, action cameras, and mirrorless cameras with small lenses. Despite its small size and light weight, the gimbal offers some impressive features, including multiple shooting modes and a built-in light. The captured footage is much smoother than is possible to achieve through handheld shooting or in lens or body stabilization.


Metro Exodus Review: An Ambitious Ending to a Classic Series

Well, everyone, we’ve made it. Here we have the final step in the Metro trilogy that, presumedly, you have been waiting for. Following the events of Metro 2033: Last Light, we rejoin our silent friend Artyom as he ventures out from the musky subway tunnels of post-apocalyptic Moscow. It’s certainly an ambitious switch-up of the format that was very linear in the last two games in this series, and they have learned from what worked well in the past. That being said, they didn’t get the balance quite right, and that puts it a tier below Metro: Last Light.