Horizon: Zero Dawn was my first review on this site, so before we get into the meat of the sequel, this is a message to anyone who reads my stuff: Thank you for being here as we cover the game’s successor. Anyway, now we have Horizon: Forbidden West—momentous occasion, sparkling wine for everyone, or in my case, hobo gin.
I have been reviewing Vivint products for a few years now and am excited about how much their product line has expanded. They keep developing new devices that make your house more secure and smarter. The latest device I have installed is the Vivint Chime Extender, which ensures you never miss a chime, even when away from the smart panel.
As summer begins and camping and road trips commence, keeping food and drink cold on the go is essential. Instead of hauling and draining ice when it melts, you can use a portable electric refrigerator. BougeRV has three sizes of portable coolers that will keep the essentials cold, whether powered by offshore power, battery, or plugged into a vehicle; we’re going to look at the BougeRV ASPEN 30 specifically.
Per Leather Honey’s website, “Leather Honey was invented in the early 1960s when a retired chemist met with businessman Daniel McGowen, who had recently taken over his father-in-law’s Philadelphia-based manufacturing company.” The two created the original formula for the cleaner and the conditioner and found it very effective at preserving leather. An early test on the soles of postal carriers’ shoes showed that those treated with Leather lasted twice as long as those that were unprotected. Leather Honey makes cleaners and conditioners for leather products, including the Leather Honey Leather Cleaner we received for review.
Many great phones are available worldwide, and while we can’t always use them on USA carriers, it’s still exciting when we get to test one out. Vivo, in particular, makes some amazing devices, and it’s been a blast checking out the Vivo V30 Pro.
Roku is best known for its TVs and streaming devices, but it also manufactures related audio devices and accessories and makes smart home products. The Roku Smart Home Starter Kit contains a Roku Indoor Camera, two Roku Smart Bulbs, and two Roku Indoor Smart Plugs; at $53.97, it is a very aggressively priced way of making your home a bit smarter.
In 2022, I reviewed the Withings ScanWatch Horizon. I called it the perfect combination of the chunky stainless diving-style watches that I love with the added benefit of accurate, advanced health-metrics tracking that even the most expensive diving-style watches can’t provide. Two years later, the Horizon has been refreshed as the Withings ScanWatch Nova. As you’ll see, the Nova is a very handsome hybrid smartwatch that gathers accurate health-tracking metrics while looking stylish. But, of course, Withings has added even more features to make the latest luxury ScanWatch even more compelling.
BLUETTI has cemented itself as a mainstay in the portable power device category. Perfect for camping, the beach, or any summer traveling trip, these devices will keep your electronics charged and bring some of the comforts of home. The BLUETTI AC70 Portable Power Station is a lightweight addition to their lineup that packs a punch with plenty of features.
We’ve been impressed by HeyBike’s electric bikes but never as much as we are with the HeyBike Brawn. The Brawn delivers unrivaled performance where robust design meets raw power, versatility, and modern technology. Starting at just $1799, the Brawn is not only affordable and ready to conquer any terrain you dare to tackle. We love the look… and the ride.
GVM (Great Video Maker) offers a line of assorted products for videographers and photographers that are often aggressively priced compared to the competition while providing similar features and overall quality. These include monolights, tube, panel, flexible, and pocket lights. They also produce camera sliders, wireless microphones, teleprompters, and other accessories. In this review, we are testing the 24″ GVM-BD25R Bi-Color RGB LED Tube Light 2-Light Kit. As per its name, this kit includes two light wands as well as several accessories that are optional when buying the Single Kit. As per its name, the GVM-BD25R Bi-Color RGB LED Tube Light…
Everyday carry flashlights have come a long way in the past few years. Quality has gone up, and price has gone down. The FlashlightGo Store specializes in many kinds of lights, knives, and accessories. They recently sent me the Imalent BL50 Dual Light Sources EDC Flashlight to review, which has a bright CREE LED and a UV light; it did not disappoint.
Pool season is fast approaching, and if you’re in charge of keeping yours clean, the Beatbot Aquasense Pro will help you keep it in tip-top shape with minimal effort. Keeping our pool clean and ready to swim in is my husband Kev’s domain; when I was offered an Aquasense Pro to try, Kev was intrigued. After using it for over a month, I figured it was time to let you all know how it’s been going. Long story short, this pool-cleaning robot has made his life (and, consequently, my life) so much easier.
Whether you are an outdoor BBQ enthusiast or a seasoned chef, a high-quality apron is an essential cooking tool. The ThermoWorks x Hedley & Bennett Apron helps protect from spills and keeps important tools, like your Thermapen, close at hand. It does not hurt to have some style and quality in an apron! ThermoWorks makes fantastic thermometers, and Hedley & Bennet is a top kitchen linens company, so this partnership on a commercial kitchen-quality apron makes sense.
When you’ve got a craving for mobile gaming, everyone knows playing using a virtual joystick on your smartphone screen is a drag. That’s why the GameSir X2s Mobile Gaming Controller with USB-C connector is key for those who want to game well on the go. Retailing for $45.99, it’s a great budget option for those who don’t have deep pockets.
I’m not a hardcore gamer, but I do enjoy playing video games. Unfortunately, I spent most of my formative years playing Nintendo and Sega games, and anything more complicated has always spooked me. It’s never too late to face your fear of video games that are more complicated than the original Mario, and I am proud to say I’ve mastered far more complex games, thanks to my use of the Lenovo Legion Go!
Spring has sprung, and with it, there are the perennial tasks of car tune-ups, bicycle tire checks, and prepping sports gear for fun. That’s where the Denvix Air Inflator comes in. It’s the Swiss Army knife of air inflators; whether you’re inflating car tires, bike wheels, or sports balls, this compact device makes these thankless tasks a breeze. Let’s take a look.
Not everyone wants to wrangle a larger smartphone, so it’s always nice to find a slightly smaller flagship, like the Xiaomi 14, that doesn’t feel like a compromise. It boasts all the bells and whistles, including a top-of-the-line processor, a stunning AMOLED display with a dynamic refresh rate, super thin bezels around the display, all-day battery life with fast wired and wireless charging, and an IP68 dust and water resistance rating. Xiaomi’s partnership with photography icon Leica is also a 14 feature, with its Summilux optical lenses, 75mm floating telephoto lens, and Leica photo tuning. Intrigued? Well, let’s dig in!
We’ve reviewed many portable power stations at Gear Diary, and they usually fall into two basic sizes: small and easily portable to use with mobile devices while you’re out and about or much larger and heavier but suitable for off-grid use while camping or at home when power outages strike. The BougeRV JuiceGo 240Wh Portable Power Station I’ve been sent to test is an in-between-sized option that might hit the sweet spot for many campers who don’t want to lug a larger power source. Let’s take a look!
When asked about my BBQ technique, I always answer that it’s just heat control from one source to the meat. Monitoring those temperatures is an important tool for creating amazing BBQs, and ThermoWorks specializes in temperature. The ThermoWorks Signals BBQ Alarm Thermometer is an excellent way to get the temps correct for this summer’s cookouts. Signals sends important temperature readings and alarms wirelessly to your smartphone and web dashboard so you can easily monitor and analyze them.
It is the perfect time of year to get outside and enjoy the improving weather. It is also a great time to have a portable speaker ready for any adventure, but what if you want something more than the usual portable speaker can provide? That’s where the Rocksteady Stadium 2-Speaker and Subwoofer Pack shines. Sure, you can bring just one of the Rocksteady Stadium Speakers along, but if you want a bigger stereo sound with more bass oomph than a single portable speaker can provide, this is the perfect solution.
Last fall, I reviewed the Traeger Ironwood Series Pellet Grill, which has been a game-changer for my cooking. The ModiFIRE accessories allow for customization and extension of the Ironwood’s uses. I recently had a chance to check out the Traeger ModiFIRE Sear Grate, and it’s added a new angle to my pellet grill cooking.