Reviews


The Fugoo Style XL Speaker: Where Everything is Bigger

We review a lot of Bluetooth speakers here at Gear Diary, in all different shapes, sizes, colors, and beyond, but none quite like the Fugoo  Style XL. At $279.99, the Fugoo Style XL is certainly not the smallest speaker on the market, but it’s certainly one of the loudest, and stylish ones. If you’ve followed any of Fugoo’s other product including their popular Sports model, you know that they are notorious for creating Bluetooth speakers that are rugged and have a long lasting battery life. The Fugoo XL certainly means what they say in regards to XL as the 11.33…


Channel Your Inner DJ with Pioneer’s HRM-7 Headphones

Over the past month or so I’ve had the opportunity to review Pioneer’s HRM-7 Reference Monitor DJ Headphones from their Studio Monitor series, and for a lover in mixing music, or just audio in general, the HRM-7’s are not only unique, but great to wear! As soon as I opened the box and saw the headphones, the first things I thought was: Pioneer is serious about this! The DJ HRM-7’s are obviously something you’d catch that Dj at your favorite nightclub wearing, but for the casual user I will say that they are a bit bulky to just wear out…


IllumiBowl Takes the Guesswork out of Nighttime Bathroom Visits

Have you found that it’s pretty jarring to deal with bright overhead bathroom lights when you get up in the middle of the night to relieve yourself? Bright lights can wreck our sleep ability and cause health issues, it’s proven, but you still need to be able to see where you’re going and what you’re doing.




Incipio [Performance] Series Level 2 Dual-Layered Drop Protection

We’ve looked at the Incipio [Performance] Series Level 1 case. (Read the review.) It’s thin and light, and it offers just enough protection. If, however, you still want thin and light but need a bit more protection, you’ll want to check out the Incipio [Performance] Series Level 2 Dual Layered Drop Protection for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6S.


Beyzacases Maly for iPhone 6S Review: One Classy Hard Case

If you are looking for a hard shell case that has a bit more class than your typical hard shell case, look no further than the Beyzacases Maly for iPhone 6S. This case takes a shell-style case and dresses it up with a sheet of quality Beyzacases leather floating on the back. And at just over $30 it’s a bargain!



The SanDisk 200GB MicroSDXC UHS-I Card: A Tiny Marvel

One of the things I’ve never liked about iPhones and iPads has been Apple’s refusal to add a memory card slot. No removable battery? Fine. A closed ecosystem with curated apps? Fine. No ability to expand my phone or tablet’s memory without paying exorbitant upgrade prices? Not so fine. That’s where Android and Windows devices have a definite advantage.


Incipio [PERFORMANCE] Series Levels 1 Offers Lightweight Protection

Incipio has released a line of cases offering five different levels of protection. Each case looks good and reflects the thought and care that went into creating their design. And with each number you get a bit more protection. This time out, we will look at the two lightest cases in the lineup; the Level 1 and the Level 2. [PERFORMANCE] SERIES LEVEL 1 The Incipio [PERFORMANCE] Series Levels 1 offers lightweight drop protection for your iPhone 6 and iPhone 6S. For $24.99 the case gives you the lightest protection in the series. In this case lightest not only refers…


BEYZACASES Natural ID Slim for iPhone 6S

I’m not a huge fan of sleeve-style cases for the iPhone, preferring to have more protection surrounding my phone at all times. Still, there’s something about having a naked phone that is protected when not in use that is appealing. The Beyzacases Natural ID Slim is a great option if you are looking for a protective leather sleeve.




Grill Indoors This Winter with the Kenyon Revolution!

When the summer faded away last year, I wondered to myself how I would go without my grilled veggies and meats now that I could no longer grill outdoors. I’ve tried many options in the past, from George Foreman Grills, to even stovetop grill pans for $20 on Groupon that honestly do not work. So when Kenyon sent over their Revolution Grill, I knew that I had a product that would make the neighbors in my building jealous now that the outdoor grill has been shut up for the winter. Let’s start by saying this: The Kenyon Revolution Grill gets…




Scosche boomBottle H2O Takes Your Music to the Outdoors!

I spend a lot of time outdoors, hunting, fishing, grilling, and taking the kids to the pool. Of course, most outdoor activities are better with music, so there is always a Bluetooth speaker around. The Scosche boomBottle H2O ($109.99) has now given me great audio without the worry. The speaker is water proof, rugged, and perfect for the outdoors!


Ditto Gives You Discreet Notifications Without Getting in the Way

Judie and I received Huawei Mate 8 smartphones at CES 2016. The phablet is amazing but won’t work with our Apple Watches. We also picked up the amazing Withings Activité Steel Fitness Watch. It’s a great tracker but doesn’t do notifications. Fortunately, the Ditto notifier fills in that gap in a manner that is both inexpensive and discrete.


Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 1040 with AtmosCheerFX Review

Some friends of mine have frequently watched movies and football games in their backyard by setting up a projector. A few, like I have, used a projector as decoration or set pieces. This is thanks to the Epson Home Cinema 1040 and AtmosCheerFX. Next year, you can be the life of the party!


Avia Stride Activity Tracker Review

CES is now over and activity trackers and other wearables were all the rage at the show this year. With Under Armour, Casio, and others releasing devices, it looks like almost everyone has a tracker now. Avia, who I know more for sneakers than electronics even has one, and they sent me an Avia Stride; I am underwhelmed.