Reviews

Nomad Leather Battery Wallet Charges Your Phone and Protects Your Info

In recent years I have tended to prefer a minimalist wallet over the more traditional ones I carried for years. The Nomad Leather Battery Wallet may have me rethinking things. Here is a gorgeous leather wallet that looks good out of the box and improves with age. Add in the built-in 2400mAh Battery and RFID blocking it will surely impress.


Ticwatch 2 Active Review: A Refreshingly Sleek and Streamlined Smartwatch

One of the complaints I’ve heard many times about smartwatches is that they’re too thick, too large, or they look too masculine. That’s understandable, especially when the one complaining isn’t a larger person. Options have been somewhat limited for those who’d prefer a less massive watch with smart features, but now there’s Ticwatch, and it’s surprisingly impressive.



MOCAcuff Wrist Monitor Makes Blood Pressure Checks Simple

Thanks to a combination of genetics and medications I take I developed high blood pressure a few years ago. It is generally controlled through medication, but I do need to check it regularly. The MOCAcuff from MOCACARE is a fast and convenient way to check it regularly.


BodyGuardz Pure 2 for Google Pixel XL: The Most Smudgeproof Protection Ever?

I’ve been using a BodyGuardz Pure 2 for Google Pixel XL for about two weeks. While that’s hardly enough time to test the claimed 3-5x improvement in scratch resistances or the 25% improvement in drop performance (resistance), I can say one thing; the visibility on this AlumiTech Accessory Glass 2 by Corning screen protector is about the best I’ve used.


Will the Incase Icon Lite Be My Gadget Backpack for 2017?

Every year, I find myself attempting to make the bag I carry lighter. The gadgets change frequently, but I try to keep the bags the same. In 2016 I used the Incase Icon bag to transport all of my tech gear, so when Incase sent over their Incase ICON Lite, I wondered if it would lighten my load? Let’s see!


Huawei Honor 6x Smartphone Review

Huawei’s focus has been making affordable smartphones with top-notch features for the past few years now, and a lot is the same with the Honor 6x, their latest smartphone that’s targeted at users who don’t want to spend a lot of money for premium features.


The IClever BoostRun Sweatproof Bluetooth Headphones Will Be Good for Your Health

iClever’s BoostRun BTH07 Sweat-proof Bluetooth Sport Headphones are a good budget option if you’ve got an iPhone 7 or 7 Plus without a headphone jack. The BoostRuns stay on your ears thanks to the built-in ear hook, and they are certified IPX4 waterproof to protect itself from rain and sweat. At ~$22, The iClever BoostRun are worth checking out.



Edge of Belgravia Precision Chef Knife Series and the Black Diamond Knife Block: Functional Art for the Kitchen

If the idea of putting a classic wooden knife block on your kitchen counter just doesn’t appeal to you, then you might have considered putting them in a drawer. That’s torture on your knives; they’ll rattle against each other, eventually becoming dull. Look for a knife block with a modern, architectural style, one like the Edge of Belgravia Black Diamond.



Pioneer Rayz Are Lightning Smart

Pioneer describes their new Rayz earphones as “Lightning smart” and “The iPhone’s perfect accessory.” After using them since Judie brought me a pair from CES, I would agree with that and add they are “brilliant at noise cancellation” and “among the best deals around.” Priced at just $99.99 and $149.99, they are worth every penny.


Fitkicks Shoes Review: Minimalism for the Masses

I love being barefoot. I work out barefoot, and in the spring and fall I wear Vibram FiveFingers when I need shoes and flip-flops in the summertime. While being barefoot is free, minimal shoes tend to be really, really expensive, as well as really polarizing in appearance. Fitkicks Shoes handily solves one of these issues!


Fidget Cube Is a Great Gift for the Fidgeter in Your Life

Are you a fidgeter? Does the expression “idle hands are the devil’s workshop” fit you to a T? Do you need a mindless plaything in your hands while you speak on the phone? If so, the Fidget Cube is for you. A successful Kickstarter project, Raina backed the campaign and got each of us one.


PITAKA Aramid Fiber iPhone 7 Case: Beautiful, Bulletproof Protection

It would be impossible for me to guess how many iPhone cases I’ve reviewed over the years, but I can count the number that have genuinely impressed me on one hand; the PITAKA Aramid Fiber iPhone 7 Case makes that list. It’s incredibly light and thin, and it provides minimalistic protection with no compromises.



Picture Keeper Connect Is an Excellent, yet Pricey Mobile Media Backup Solution

Picture Keeper Connect is the thumb drive you never knew you needed. We’ve all been there, running out of room on your mobile phone, struggling to clean out old photos, videos, and apps. Picture Keeper Connect is a USB thumb drive with a built-in lightning adapter that allows you to easily backup your iOS media and starts at $119.99.




Just Mobile Xtand Vent: Park Your Phone in a Cool Spot

I’ve tried plenty of phone holders in my vehicles, but the one thing that always stops me from wanting to keep using them is that they can be bulky, ugly, or they require special attachments to use. The Just Mobile Xtand Vent is a sleek, minimalistic vent holder for your phone. It works well, and it looks good.


TwelveSouth’s BookBook Makes My iPad Pro Look More Aesthetic

If you are a fan of TwelveSouth’s products, and happen to have an iPad Pro, you really need to check out the BookBook Hardback Leather Case for Apple’s iPad Pro tablet. They sent us over a unit to check out, so let’s dive right into it. Available in Brown or Rutledge I received the latter, and over the course of the past month have used it frequently every single day as my go-to iPad Pro case. What’s special about the BookBook that makes the brand such a fan favorite is the ability to stand out, without being overly gaudy. This…