Articles by Dan Cohen

Marshall Major II On-Ear Headphones Sound as Good as They Look

Reviews

Marshall Major II On-Ear Headphones Sound as Good as They Look

If you like using on-ear headphones you owe it to yourself to check out the $119 Marshall Major II On-Ear Headphones. Not only are the well-built and comfortable but they offer amazingly good sound with plenty of bass. The fold up into a small package and, unlike other on-ear headphones, don’t put too much clamping pressure on your head. Marshall describes the second generation Marshall Major headphones this way: An impressive second act, the classic Major kicks up its performance a few notches. Updated sound, looks and durability, as well as improved ergonomics, give way to a whole new level…

The Distil Union Wally Bifold Wallet Is Minimalist Without the Minimal

Reviews

The Distil Union Wally Bifold Wallet Is Minimalist Without the Minimal

Distil Union describes the Wally bifold minimalist wallet as the “super-slim leather billfold wallet.” There’s actually truth in advertising here. The Wally bifold is super-slim, made of leather and includes a money-clip built right into the wallet. It is, by far, the best minimalist wallet I have tried. I’ve been using one of the $59.99 wallets and love it.

Lems Primal Shoes: I Reviewed It and Still Use It!

News & Features

Lems Primal Shoes: I Reviewed It and Still Use It!

I brought my black Lems Primal2 lightweight shoes to Israel and Greece with me last month but didn’t expect them to be the shoes I wore pretty much all day, every day. I did and my appreciation for the lightweight shoes grew. They’re a great option if you will be doing a lot of walking in the heat. The company describes the shoes this way- “We here at Lems Shoes don’t always wear shoes, but when we do we choose the Primal2. If lightweight (6.9oz), flexible, breathable, foot-shaped, and flat are all characteristics that you look for in footwear, than…

The Braven BRV-X Serves Up Music Outside and In

Reviews

The Braven BRV-X Serves Up Music Outside and In

August has just begun,  and that means there’s still plenty of outside time left before the cold arrives. If you want to bring your music with you into the great outdoors, you owe it to yourself to check out the weather-ready Braven BRV-X Bluetooth speaker. It’s designed to serve up great music no matter where you are, inside or out.

The Tilley TH5 HEMP Hat Is the Best Damn Travel Hat Ever

Reviews

The Tilley TH5 HEMP Hat Is the Best Damn Travel Hat Ever

I’m not sure why it has taken me this long to write this review but, having just returned from two weeks in Israel and Greece I felt the need to share my thoughts on my Tilley TH5 HEMP Hat. This $84 hat is, by far, the best damn travel hat EVER. I’ve had it for years and still love it.

The WaterField Indy Bag: I Reviewed It, and I Still Use It!

Travel

The WaterField Indy Bag: I Reviewed It, and I Still Use It!

I’m coming toward the end of a two-week trip. I spent the first week in Israel with side trips into the West Bank cities of Ramallah and Rawabi. This week saw me in Greece with Raina. Through it all some key items have come in rather handy. Chief among them the Waterfield Indy Bag Judie reviewed some time ago.

Oh, How Our Tech Has Changed #RabbisInIsrael

Gear Bits

Oh, How Our Tech Has Changed #RabbisInIsrael

I’m currently in Israel on a rabbinic mission with seventeen other rabbis. We spent some time on top of the second tallest building in Tel Aviv taking pictures, getting a sense of geography and strategic concerns. In the process, I came to a realization …

Sol Republic SHADOW Wireless Earphones Review

Reviews

Sol Republic SHADOW Wireless Earphones Review

I’ve tried wireless headphones that have a band that sits around your neck while wired earbuds extend up to your ears. I’ve never been all that impressed with the comfort of the approach… Until I tried the Sol Republic SHADOW Wireless Earphones. They are comfortable, light, hold a wireless connection well and, best of all, the sub-$100 headphones are comfortable.

Stay Hydrated With the Vapur Element Anti-Water Bottle!

Health and Fitness, Outdoors, Reviews, Yum Log

Stay Hydrated With the Vapur Element Anti-Water Bottle!

Proper summer hydration is must. That’s especially true if, like me, you are headed to Israel and Greece in a few weeks. And while Raina and I both tend to carry a Nalgene Water Bottle with us everywhere, the thought of traveling with a big, bulky water bottle doesn’t appeal to me. That’s where the Vapur Element Anti-Bottle comes in. Unlike a traditional water bottle, the Vapur Element is collapsible, packable, and clippable. It has an unusual design that makes it ideal for long trips but will also work just fine as your daily go-to hydration system. The company explains…

Give Your Mac a Lift with the TwelveSouth BaseLift!

Reviews

Give Your Mac a Lift with the TwelveSouth BaseLift!

The TwelveSouth BaseLift is one of those simple accessories that adds to both the comfort and utility of your Macbook, MacBook Pro or MacBook Air. It offers a better typing angle and keeps your laptop cool on your lap. Best of all, this one accessory will work with pretty much any of the current portable Macs and is under $40.

Get to Know the Dead, Reckoning: Conversations with the Grateful Dead

eBooks, Music Diary

Get to Know the Dead, Reckoning: Conversations with the Grateful Dead

What do you do when you have numerous interviews with the surviving members of the Grateful Dead and have only published a small number of them? If you are musician and journalist Alan Paul, you pull the interviews together and publish them as an Amazon Kindle Single. The result? The eBook-only Reckoning: Conversations with the Grateful Dead by Alan Paul.

JBL Clip+ Bluetooth Speaker Lets You Clip It and Rock Out

Reviews

JBL Clip+ Bluetooth Speaker Lets You Clip It and Rock Out

The other day I was carrying a backpack with my JBL Clip speaker clipped to one shoulder strap. Someone asked me what it was and was impressed when I explained that it let me keep my music with me all the time. The new JBL Clip+ goes one better for the same sub-$60 now that it has a splashproof design.

UE ROLL Is Another Amazing Bluetooth Speaker From Ultimate Ears!

Reviews

UE ROLL Is Another Amazing Bluetooth Speaker From Ultimate Ears!

We’ve reviewed the UE Boom, UE Boom Mini, and UE MegaBoom Bluetooth speakers. Each and everyone one has impressed us with the quality, the durability, and the sound. And each has gotten better over time thanks to OTA updates from Ultimate Ears. Now comes the diminutive, sub-$100 UE ROLL Bluetooth Speaker. It too knocks it (way out!!) out of the park. The UE ROLL is the most affordable speaker yet to make an appearance in the company lineup. And yet, despite an MSRP of just $99, this speaker sounds amazing and packs in great features. That alone makes it worth…

Bluelounge Posto Headphones Stand Babies Your Headphones

Reviews

Bluelounge Posto Headphones Stand Babies Your Headphones

The first time Raina came to visit she took on look at my apartment and said, “That’s a hell of a lot of headphones.” It was, and is, and most of them were simply piled one on top of the next. The new $19.95 Bluelounge Posto universal headphone stand will help keep things more organized. It is low-profile and gets the job done.

Klhip Ultimate Clipper Lets You Groom with Style

Reviews

Klhip Ultimate Clipper Lets You Groom with Style

The Klhip Ultimate Clipper looks like no other nail clipper. And while nail clippers are not the most exciting accessories, proper grooming is important and being able to do so in style is rather nice. It is built tough, is the most ergonomic nail clipper ever and even comes with a fancy leather case. Here’s a closer look.

Waterfield Zip Briefcase for 12" MacBook Is Small, Light and Easy to Carry

Reviews

Waterfield Zip Briefcase for 12″ MacBook Is Small, Light and Easy to Carry

If you opted for one of Apple’s new 12″ MacBooks you are someone who appreciates style and cutting edge technology. (Yes, you are also someone who is willing to compromise performance for portability but that is another issue.) If you want to travel light but protect your MacBook you will want to check out the Waterfield Zip Briefcase for the new MacBook. The Zip is “just enough” laptop case without being “too much” laptop case. It almost looks like a sleeve but adds so much functionality on top of that that you certainly cannot call it a sleeve. Inside the…

iMagBond Vent Holds Your Phone on the Go

Reviews

iMagBond Vent Holds Your Phone on the Go

If you’re taking a road trip this summer, you’ll want a way to keep your phone safe, secure but also accessible. After all, holding your smartphone is not only dangerous but it is illegal in many states. The iMagBond Vent Mount system is a great option for keeping your pocket computer available but secure.