The summer heat is here and so are pool days. Pools have become very popular in homes and safety is always of utmost importance. If you own the Vivint Outdoor Camera Pro, which I reviewed here, there is a new Vivint Pool Alerts beta feature that adds a second detection zone to alert you of activity near your pool area.
During the pandemic, Raina and I knew we needed to spend more time outside. We began hiking on the reservation near our home with our mini golden doodle Nava. The first few times, we didn’t have the right gear; now we do. Here’s a look at the hiking gear that we’ve come to depend on.
I had previously reviewed the e Prime Air, one of Razor’s motorized scooters. It’s a fun way to get around, but between our hilly roads and my being 185 pounds, the motor couldn’t always keep up. The new Razor EcoSmart Metro HD Electric Scooter I received for review is even more fun and has a more powerful motor.
Xiaomi may not be the first brand that people in the US think of for smartphones, but they are ranked at #4 worldwide behind Samsung, Huawei, and Apple. Their smartphones have garnered praise from stateside reviewers for having excellent cameras, best-in-class features, and, most importantly, affordability. But Xiaomi makes more than just smartphones; they also sell home, health, and lifestyle products that include routers, fitness bands, LED desk lamps, air purifiers, and electric scooters, to name just a few.
While I tend to grill and smoke year-round, the true grilling season is upon us. Technology has brought many new ways to tend to our pits and Weber has released the Weber Connect Smart Grilling Hub which will connect your backyard grill to your smartphone. Using both Bluetooth as well as WiFi, the Weber app keeps you connected to your cook remotely.
The SmokeFire is Weber’s first foray into the pellet grill space, and while it checks a lot of boxes, it has its quirks. The Weber SmokeFire is a good option if you’re looking for a grill that will allow you to both smoke at low temperatures and grill with high heat. Coming in two sizes, the SmokeFire starts at $999.
It is not a secret that we love cooking at Gear Diary. Recently, we were sent the new Ooni Karu Wood and Charcoal-Fired Portable Pizza Oven 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.
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 allowed me to try one of their upright smokers. The 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 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.
Having already established itself as a leader in “last mile” innovation, Segway Ninebot plans to expand its foothold on the market with two brand new electric micro-mobility vehicles in 2020. The Ninebot eMoped and Ninebot eScooter will help travelers get from point A to point B much more efficiently and cost-effectively thanks to intelligent safety features.
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.
Weber, one of the most well-known names in BBQ, is breaking into the pellet grill market in a big way with the new Weber SmokeFire. Starting on Cyber Monday, December 2nd, 2019, you’ll be able to pre-order the SmokeFire for early 2020 release. The 24” and 36” models will be priced at $999 and $1,199 respectively.
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 Traeger 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.
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.
When Raina and I moved into our home just a mile from the synagogue, it seemed logical that I would walk to work on nice days. But the first time I did, I needed my car and had to sprint home. I haven’t walked since. Now, thanks to the Razor E Prime Air electric scooter, I have a third option.
Watering plants, mowing grass and trimming shrubs isn’t the ideal weekend for most. That especially goes for folks who have brown thumbs. One study found one-third of people would rather visit their in-laws than work on their lawn.
At CES in Las Vegas, our friends at Swagtron dropped details on a ton of new, upcoming products for 2019. Swagtron is continuing their evolution from their beginnings with hoverboards to affordable alternative transportation options. In 2019, you’ll start to see a lot of new Light Electric Vehicles (LEVs), including e-bikes, electric scooters, and electric skateboards.
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.