The Yadea KS5 Electric Scooter is the third scooter I’ve had the opportunity to review, and it’s the first that is more than merely fun to ride. Thanks to its powerful motor, excellent range, and assorted comfort and safety features, this scooter has enough “oomph” for me to use as a daily ride to and from my office a mile away.
The pandemic inspired many people to get back outside and enjoy biking, hiking, and other social-distancing-friendly activities. It was the inspiration for me to start biking again, and I’ve really enjoyed getting back into it with the State Bicycle Company 4130 Road Bike.
When I was a lad, we had one-speed bikes with banana seats* and sometimes big high backrests, like the kiddie version of Zed’s chopper, Grace, that Butch makes off with in Pulp Fiction. Sure, there were 10-speeds and the standard 1-speeds that Schwinn was famous for. And…um…that was pretty much it. Not any longer, baby! Now you’ve got so many different types of bikes it makes my head spin! And now we have word that Trek has expanded its premium custom bike program, Project One ICON, with a brand-new paint scheme called “First Light.”
There are certain tools we all need to carry to get us through a day. If I am at the ranch or out hunting or hiking, one of those tools is always a good flashlight. The Olight Warrior Mini 2 Four Elements Limited-Edition Tactical Light has proven itself to be a fantastic everyday carry option.
GoPro’s latest flagship action camera, the GoPro HERO9 Black is the first I’ve ever personally had the chance to check out from the brand, so I wanted to see if their slogan “More Everything” actually holds true.
The initial thought of a portable blender was, why? Then all of the possibilities came flooding in. Mix up a shake for the gym, breakfast on the go, or even some nice margaritas at the pool or the beach. The BlendJet 2 Portable Blender is a powerful, rechargeable option that will bring the freedom to blend shakes and drinks anytime and anywhere.
Finding the perfect pair of glasses for your face isn’t hard, depending on your face shape. But with Opolis Optics’ latest Bio-Collection, there’s something for everyone, whether you have an oval, round, rectangular, square, or diamond shape to your face. I was sent the Opolis Optics Largo Sunglasses for review; let’s check them out.
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.
I used to think that if we had a winter power outage lasting a week or more, Kev and I would be adequately prepared. We’d have plenty of drinking water on hand, piles of cut wood for the fireplace, our food would be safe (because, winter), and portable battery packs would power our electronics. Earlier this year, we got to find out just how unprepared we actually were when Texas got slammed with one winter storm after another, causing a massive power crisis. What would have made a huge difference for us during this disaster? The Anker PowerHouse II 800.
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.
Earlier this year, there was a massive power crisis in Texas that came as a result of severe winter storms, leaving over 4.5 million homes and businesses without power, many for several days. This inspired me to have a backup source of power for our home, should something similar ever happen. Fortuitously, I was offered a Goal Zero Yeti 500X for review, and we now have a solid solution. Released last year, the Goal Zero Yeti 500X is a mid-sized rechargeable portable power station that looks much more modern that the gas-guzzling generator my mom had that would power much…
Staying hydrated is one of the most important things you can do to get the most from summer; trust me, I’ve had a few encounters with dehydration. MyBevi offers a range of quality double-walled vacuum insulated stainless steel water bottles and canteens at excellent prices.
As we begin returning to the office, people are beginning to swap their sweatpants for something comfortable but more appropriate for the office. The same goes for footwear. After a year of wearing slippers, we deserve something equally comfortable on our feet. That’s exactly what I’ve found with the Rockport Total Motion Active Mesh Sneaker.
Rheos Sunglasses are made for the water but are great just about anywhere. Made with floating plastic frames and polarized nylon optics, Rheos sunglasses are unique for sure. I’ve worn my previous pair everywhere, from the beach to the pool and even skiing. Best of all, they retail for only $55.
In 2015, I reviewed the All Over Shorts, a pair of reenvisioned gym shorts from a new company named Olivers Apparel. The company has updated the All Over Shorts and has significantly increased its apparel offerings since then. In 2015, Olivers All Over Shorts were $68; they still are, but now they’re better than ever.
Raina and I have been trying to get out and hike in the woods near our home each weekend. It’s an important part of how we are getting through this pandemic winter. The new JBL Clip 4 is a great way for us to take our music with us. It is small, it is under $70, and it sounds impressive.
I love a large portable speaker, and my latest in for testing is the JBL PartyBox On-The-Go. This massive and multi-talented speaker pumps out 100W of bass-boosted sound that can easily fill a large room or the typical backyard. If you like to sing along, the PartyBox On-The-Go includes a wireless mic with adjustable gain, echo treble, and bass. If you or a friend plays guitar, they can plug-in and either strum along to the music or use the PartyBox as an amp to play their own compositions.
Mongoose has just released its first balance bike in 10 years, and we were one of the lucky few to get to test it out before launch. The Mongoose Title Tot is a balance bike designed to help kids 2 years and older build their confidence before riding their first bike.
We recently took a look at the Goal Zero Sherpa 100PD. It’s a fantastic power bank that saved the day when we lost power some weeks ago. That was just one of the Goal Zero products that saved the day. The second was the Goal Zero YETI 200X Portable Power Station; it’s a powerhouse of a power station!
Between the pandemic and the election, it’s been an insane year. Now that we have several vaccines on the way and the election results have been declared, we can all look forward to seeing what Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals are coming. We’ve put together a few of our favorite deals from some brands you know — and a few you should consider — that you can shop, all from the safety of your home!
I reviewed the BlendJet some months ago; the small, battery-operated blender does exactly what it promises and can go anywhere. Paired with the company’s JetPacks, you can have a smoothy anywhere. Now the company has released an updated version. BlendJet 2 is larger, quieter, has more power, has measurement markers built-in, and is still just as portable.