It is not a secret that we love cooking at Gear Diary. Recently, Ooni sent the new Karu Wood and Charcoal-Fired Portable Pizza Oven for me to try out. The oven allows users to make real wood-fired, stone-cooked pizza in minutes. It is totally portable and can be used anywhere in the outdoors. Let’s take a look.
Vivint products have made my home much smarter and more secure. The company keeps innovating, recently announcing the Vivint Doorbell Camera Pro. “Customers want us to do more than just record and report crime—they expect us to help prevent it,” said Matt Mahar, vice president of cameras at Vivint Smart Home.
Fender announced the American Acoustasonic Telecaster which sold out at launch in January 2019. They have now added a Stratocaster model to the lineup. It takes what was so popular with the initial model and mixes it with the original Stratocaster electric bringing a new genre-blending tool.
Ooni has released an outdoor pizza oven that requires no assembly, is portable, and fires out pizzas in 60 seconds flat! For $329, you can fire homemade pizza quickly and anywhere. The Ooni Karu is ready right out of the box and offers a fast and easy way to make great pizza.
One of my favorite hobbies is smoking meats, and in Texas, we do it all year long. I have used several pellet grills, but all of them are in a traditional grill layout. Pit Boss recently gave me the opportunity to try one of their upright smokers. The $379 Pit Boss Pro Series-4 Vertical Pellet Smoker is my first upright experience.
I absolutely love my Traeger 575 Pro. Since we still have grilling weather in South Texas, it has been working overtime. I recently installed the $79.99 Traeger Pellet Sensor, and I’ll never have to guess on the level of pellets again; it’s just another way to make your smoker more user-friendly and more techie.
Many people have trouble sleeping due to a racing brain. This racing mind is caused by increased activity of the frontal cortex of the brain. Ebb Therapeutics is debuting its first-of-its-kind technology at CES that promises to calm the racing mind and improving sleep.
BBQ is actually a simple idea. Get perfect seasoning and perfect meat temperature and you create great food. While the idea is simple, getting those temps perfect can be tricky. The GrillEye Pro+ ($99.99) is a hybrid wireless Bluetooth smoking thermometer which will ensure perfect temperatures every time without babysitting your smoker. Let’s take a look.
It is that time of the year when we all head out to the pool, beach, or outdoors enjoying the warm temperatures and sunny days. No summer trip is complete without bringing along cold beverages. CleverMade has a great option with the $29.99 SnapBasket Cooler. Not only will it keep drinks cold, but it stores easily. Let’s take a look.
As a self-proclaimed BBQ pitmaster, I spend most days of summer perfecting my craft. I am always looking for new ways to add smoke to meats and Traeger agreed to send me the $799.99 Pro Series 575 pellet grill to try out. I tested the grill with a whole chicken and an eleven-pound brisket. Let’s take a look!
I smoke a lot of meat and closely monitor temps in the pit as well as the meat. Some of these cooks can be up to 16 hours which can be a long time tied to the smoker. I recently was able to try out the FireBoard WiFi thermometer ($189-$249) and it has been a game changer. Let’s take a look.
I have been using the Vivint Smart Home for some time, and it has really become a regular part of our lives. The initial install and thoughts can be found here (pt1) and here (pt2). The Outdoor Camera Pro has since been released, and I have had the chance to take a look at it. The new camera and features are fantastic.
Most summer days here in south Texas get hot enough that working in the garage or being outside is almost unbearable. I recently had the opportunity to test out the $999 Portacool Cyclone 140 in my own garage/golf cart shop. Texas was kind enough to give me a 103-degree day to start my review. Let’s take a look.
I am in no way a movie buff, and it takes something pretty unique to pique my interest. The trailer for Yesterday immediately caught my attention as a unique story coupled with Beatles music. Directed by Danny Boyle, the movie is about a struggling musician who after an accident realizes he is the only person who remembers the Beatles.
I recently reviewed the ASP Pro DF Flashlight which has a permanent spot in my gear bag. I had the pleasure of also reviewing the Dot ($37), a 130 lumens rechargeable flashlight that fits on a keychain. The Dot is not only tiny, but it’s also rugged and brings plenty of light; it’s a great addition to my flashlight collection.
With football season in full swing and temperatures falling, many people are spending their weekends in cool stadiums. My wife has spent 21 years following around my football team and is an expert at stadium comfort. She has spent the beginning of my season using The Hot Seat ($79 on Indiegogo). Let’s see how it holds up to the Friday Night Lights.
I am completely sold on the idea of truly wireless earphones. While the selection is growing, finding quality is often difficult. Phiaton Corporation today announced the BOLT BT 700 wireless earphones featuring armature drivers and a portable charging case that doubles as a wireless speaker on Kickstarter ($79/$139). I was lucky enough to get an early sample so let’s take a look.
Flashlight technology has come a long way; whether you need one in tactical situations, outdoor adventures, or everyday use, the ASP Pro DF ($140) will meet your needs. As hunting season approaches, I plan on using the ASP Pro DF on a regular basis; it comes packed with features and is made with high-quality materials. Let’s take a look.
This time of year is super crazy here in Texas. As I chase the Friday Night Lights dream, I find myself constantly on the road. There are no charging stations on football fields and school buses. I always need a way to keep my phone charged often deep into the night. The RazorMega ($69.99) from MyCharge looks to be the perfect tool.
Many of our lives are spent at desks in front of monitors nowadays which is not helping anyone’s health. Standing desks have become popular and iMovR has brought them to a new level. The Lander Desk (starting at $999) is the company’s strongest, smartest, and quietest desk. Packed with features, it connects to your phone to bring it full automation.
As a member of a competitive BBQ team and lover of smoked meats, I do a lot of smoking in the summer. The big secret to great BBQ is correct temperatures and timing. ThermoWorks offers many products to make sure the temps are correct, and I recently had the opportunity to try their newest product, the $69 BlueDOT.
