Articles by Julie Strietelmeier

ACEBEAM Keylite 500 and ACEBEAM UC3A LED Flashlights Review: Two Tiny EDC Lights, but One Shines Brighter

Small EDC flashlights are one of those gadgets that are easy to overlook until the power goes out, a noise wakes you in the middle of the night, or you need to find something at the bottom of a bag. These two ACEBEAM EDC flashlights are made for those everyday moments, but they take very different approaches. The tiny, colorful ACEBEAM Keylite 500 is a simple USB-C rechargeable keychain light with a maximum 500-lumen output. The ACEBEAM UC3A is a larger 900-lumen pocket light with a removable battery, pocket clip, and an RGB sidelight that doubles as a mini lantern….

Reviews

Brinyte WT01 Flashlight Review: A Powerful Light with a Clever Charging Dock Feature

The Brinyte WT01 Flashlight is a hefty, rechargeable flashlight with a removable battery, multiple brightness levels, and a charging dock that does much more than keep the light topped off. It is easy to operate, bright enough to light up a dark stairway, and it has one especially useful feature that makes it an excellent choice for a nightstand or emergency spot.

Reviews

Quntis 3-Stage Foldable Desk Lamp Review: Big, Bright, and Built to Bend

The Quntis 3-Stage Foldable Desk Lamp is an interesting option for anyone who needs more than a small pool of light on their desk. Its long, three-section light bar can be folded into a compact shape, spread wide across a work surface, or arranged in several other configurations. Add a sturdy metal clamp, adjustable brightness and color temperature, a remote control, and a rear backlight, and this lamp has a lot going for it. Let’s take a closer look.

Reviews

Yuede Side Table Review: An Attractive Three-Tier Table with a Straightforward Build

If you need an inexpensive table beside a couch or chair, the Yuede Side Table offers a practical combination of a compact footprint, three usable tiers, and a warm wood-look finish. It arrives flat-packed, so some assembly is required, but the finished table looks nice and provides convenient spots for a drink, a coaster, books, and other living-room essentials.

Reviews

TP-Link Tapo C675D Security Camera Review: Two 4K Lenses, Solar Power, and No Subscription Required

Keeping an eye on my property while I’m away from home is always a concern because my house is pretty secluded. For that reason, I have many security cameras installed both inside and outside my home. I enjoy testing a variety of cameras because I’m always looking for the next best one that I can add to my array. Today we’re taking a look at the TP-Link Tapo C675D Security Camera. It’s two cameras in one! Let’s see if it’s a keeper.

Reviews

Wyze Cam Pan v4 and Wyze Duo Cam Pan Indoor/Outdoor Security Cameras Review: Budget Cams with Premium Features

I may have an unhealthy fascination with security cameras. I currently have 5 PoE cameras and 4 cellular trail cams on my property. Even though I work from home these days, I still like receiving notifications when the UPS or FedEx driver pulls up with my latest review sample or when a 5-point buck walks into our meadow. When offers for new security cameras come up for review, I’m always interested, so the latest cameras that I’ve set up and tested are the Wyze Duo Cam Pan and Wyze Cam Pan v4 indoor/outdoor cameras. Let’s take a closer look at…

Reviews

Looki L1 Wearable Lifelogging Camera Review: This AI Camera Turned My Everyday Life Into My Favorite Digital Journal

I like recording the notable and not-so-notable moments of my life. I’ve done this in handwritten journals since I was a kid. In the past few years, I’ve realized that I would rather save daily memories digitally because I can include lots of photos, and I can type so much faster than I can write on pen and paper. I’ve used digital journaling apps and cool trip recording apps like Time Atlas, and now I am excited to tell you all about the Looki L1 Wearable Lifelogging camera. Yes, it uses AI, but what it can do with AI is…

Health and Fitness, Reviews

CAVN Blood Pressure Monitor Review: A Blood Pressure Monitor Without Apps for Simple At-Home Readings

If you want a blood pressure monitor without apps, Bluetooth pairing, accounts, or phone notifications, the CAVN Blood Pressure Monitor takes a refreshingly straightforward approach to health tech. This is a large, desktop-style upper-arm monitor that lets you place your arm inside the built-in cuff, press a button, and read the result on its oversized display.

Reviews, Outdoors

Navimow i2 LiDAR Robotic Lawn Mower Review: Third Time’s the Charm — This Is the First Robot Mower That Could Handle My Tree-Filled Yard

You know the saying, “the third time’s the charm”? That may finally be true for me and robot lawn mowers. My first review unit couldn’t handle the weak GPS signal caused by the many trees in my yard. A year or two later, I tried another brand, hoping the technology had improved, but it failed for the same reason. Fast-forward another year, and I’ve been testing the Navimow i2 LiDAR mower, which doesn’t rely on GPS. Will this be the robot mower that finally works in my yard? Read on to find out.

Reviews

Baseus PicoGo Air and PicoGo AM52 Wireless Power Banks Review: Sleek Wireless Power Banks with an Important Catch

If you’ve been shopping for wireless power banks, two things probably matter most: how easy they are to carry and how well they actually charge your phone. Baseus has two new slim options that aim at slightly different needs. The Baseus PicoGo Air is the ultra-thin 5,000 mAh model, while the PicoGo AM52 steps up to 10,000 mAh capacity and adds a permanently attached USB-C cable.

Reviews

Flipside 5 EDC Wallet Review: A Slim Metal Wallet That Treats Cash Like It Still Exists

I’ve looked at more than a few wallet designs over the years, and most of them force you to pick a side. You either get a super-slim card carrier with almost no personality, or you get something bulkier that handles cash better but takes up too much pocket space. The Flipside 5 aims for a nicer middle ground. This EDC wallet keeps the footprint compact, adds a more premium anodized aluminum shell, and still gives you quick access to both cards and bills.

Reviews, Health and Fitness, Yum Log

Mighty Spark Chicken Snack Sticks Review: A Surprisingly Tasty Protein Snack That Doesn’t Feel Like Punishment

When it comes to high-protein meat sticks, I usually expect something practical more than exciting. They are the kind of snack you toss in a bag for later, not the kind of food you get genuinely curious about. That was my mindset going into the Mighty Spark Chicken Snack Sticks. These high-protein meat sticks promise low calories, decent protein, and a healthier-sounding ingredient list, but the real question is simple: do they actually taste good?

Reviews, Health and Fitness

Aranet Radon Plus Digital Radon Detector Review: Find Out in 10 Minutes if You’re in Danger

The Aranet Radon Plus Digital Radon Detector is one of those gadgets you hope you never “need,” but once you have it, you won’t want to be without it. Radon is invisible, odorless, and potentially dangerous, so having a simple way to monitor it in real time brings real peace of mind. After dealing with elevated radon levels in my own home a few years ago, I’ve become a big believer in keeping tabs on it, and this little sensor makes that easier than ever.

Reviews, Health and Fitness

Eli Health Hormometer Cortisol Test Review: Feeling Stressed? Find Out If You Really Are

Everyone feels stressed at one point or another, but how do you know if it’s a chronic health issue or just a one-time problem? You can ask your doctor to test you, but it will involve a blood draw, be expensive, and the results will be for just that one point in time. What if you could test in the comfort of your own home without needles and have a result in as little as 20 minutes? That’s what the Eli Health Hormometer Cortisol Test Kit claims to offer. They sent me a kit, and I tried it. Let’s see…

Reviews

Time Atlas App Review: Automatically Record Your Adventures to Relive Later

I still have my first diary from the 1970s, and over the past six decades I’ve filled dozens more. I’d actually rather call them journals or life logs, since I’ve never been the kind of person who writes about feelings much. I use a journal to capture everyday activities and adventures so I can relive them years later. There have even been years when I didn’t keep one at all, and I regret that now. Wouldn’t it be great if an app could automatically record your daily activities and travels for you? There is. It’s called Time Atlas.

Reviews, Music Diary

Enya Cyber-G Pocket Review: The Fun, Folding Bluetooth Speaker You Can Actually Play

I can’t say I’ve ever wished for a Bluetooth speaker that doubles as a guitar. But I am always intrigued by gadgets that try to do more than one thing. The Enya Cyber-G Pocket is exactly that: part speaker, part instrument, and entirely unusual. Let’s take a closer look at how it all works.

Reviews, Outdoors

Duracell 5000 Lumens Tri-Powered Lantern Review: Brighter, Smarter, but Missing One Handy Feature

If you’re shopping for a lantern for camping, storm prep, or general emergency use, the updated Duracell 5000 Lumens Tri-Powered Lantern has a lot going for it. It keeps the same basic design as the earlier model, adds a brighter top output, and still offers multiple ways to keep it running. But it also drops one feature that made the older Duracell Tri-Mode 3000 Lumens Lantern a little more versatile.

Music Diary, Reviews

Tinker Tar One-String Guitar Review: Made for Kids, but Fun for Adults Too!

If you’ve ever wondered whether the Tinker Tar one-string guitar is just a novelty or an actual beginner-friendly music toy, this review will hopefully answer that question. This tiny guitar-shaped instrument is clearly aimed at kids, but it also manages to be genuinely playable, easy to understand, and inexpensive enough to feel like a low-risk way to spark musical interest.

Reviews, Outdoors

Chasesun Rechargeable Neck Fan Review: Dorky? Maybe. Surprisingly Great at Keeping You Cool? Absolutely.

When the weather heats up, as it does for me in southern Indiana, a rechargeable neck fan can look a little silly and still make perfect sense. That is exactly the category this Chasesun Rechargeable Neck Fan falls into. It is a wearable personal fan designed to sit around your neck and push air upward toward your chin and face, which is where cooling relief really matters when you are outside, gardening, walking, or just trying to survive a sweltering summer afternoon.

Reviews

DuRoBo Moodi Bluetooth Page Turner Review: Cute Remote, Useful Android Accessory, Limited Elsewhere

There is something undeniably appealing about a tiny remote that lets you turn pages without touching your e-reader. That is exactly the pitch behind the DuRoBo Moodi Bluetooth page turner. It is designed as a companion for the DuRoBo Krono eBook reader, but it also raises a bigger question: can this little gadget do more than just flip pages on a single device?

Reviews

ROKR Mechanical Typewriter Wooden 3D Puzzle Review: A Gorgeous Build That’s More Display Piece Than Typewriter

Most model kits give you a nice feeling of accomplishment and a finished piece by the end of the night. The ROKR Mechanical Typewriter Wooden 3D Puzzle is not that kind of kit. This is a 320-piece wooden puzzle model that demands patience (a LOT of patience), a steady hand, and a real willingness to stick with it when the build gets fiddly. It also promises something extra: not just a display piece, but a typewriter-inspired mechanism with moving keys, internal linkages, and a paper carriage. That sounded amazing on the box. In practice, it turned into a much bigger…

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