I recently reviewed the LED Spotlight from Rayovac. Luckily I got the opportunity to review the Virtually Indestructible LED 3D Lantern, also from the Virtually Indestructible family. The lantern boasts some of the same great features usable in a different format. Will the $29.99 lantern need to be added to your outdoor gear list? Let’s take a look.
The Nyne Bass Bluetooth Speaker is a wireless, 20-Watt portable that’s designed for outdoor use. It’s powered by Bluetooth 4.0, has NFC pairing capabilities, and it has a built-in 10-hour rechargeable battery which can serve as a power bank for smaller devices; the Nyne Bass can also be used as a speakerphone. You can purchase yours for $149.95.
Being an outdoorsman can be taxing on the gear I use. Everything I carry is subject to being dropped and knocked around, as well as the elements. I usually go through several lights a year due to them breaking or getting wet. Rayovac may solve this issue with the Virtually Indestructible LED Spotlight. Can the $39.99 spotlight hold up?
Hopefully the use of emergency lighting is reserved for camping and outdoor activities, but sometimes inclement weather and other events leave us in the dark. Either way, having lighting options with multiple charging possibilities can help keep us safe and comfortable. The Secur Dynamo Spotlight Lantern is a $35 product that will bring light and help charge your devices.
Natural disaster, zombie apocalypse or simply a camping trip. There are plenty of reasons to need a lantern that does not require electricity to work. The GoalZero Lighthouse 250 is a $79.99 USB rechargeable lantern. With three charging options and an integrated USB port, you will not be left in the dark and can charge your phone in an emergency.The Lighthouse 250 is a rechargeable lantern and USB hub all rolled into one. The lantern is adjustable up to 250 lumens which will easily light up a large area considering the small size of the product. Turn the small green nob to the right and both lights adjust from dim all the way to “Turbo” which will provide 360 degrees and the full 250 lumens of light. Turning the nob to the left utilizes one light in the same manner and is perfect if using while walking or against a wall. I will assume this mode will only use about half of the battery, while still providing plenty of light. A metal handle allows the lantern to be carried while foldable legs allow users to set the light up higher. The red triangle button turns on red blinking lights from the top of the lantern to be used in emergencies. While the red lights are not terribly bright, they would get someone’s attention in a dark emergency situation.So, the Lighthouse 250 is a great light for camping, hunting or power outages, but there are other cool features. The lantern charges via USB which is actually built into the unit. I absolutely love that there is no need to keep up with yet another charging cable. Simply plug it into any USB charging source, including solar panels, and you will never be without light. For a situation where no electricity is available, a hand crank is included in the top of the lantern that will charge the battery. One minute of crank will provide approximately 10 minutes of light.
Outdoor Technology sells products for people who like to enjoy being in the great outdoors. I had a chance to review the Turtle Shell 2.0, a totally rugged Bluetooth speaker and was very impressed. This water-resistant, dust-proof speaker is a great way to bring your tunes along wherever you go; it retails for $129.95.
A good game camera is important for any hunter. Understanding the number and age of the deer in a herd is important to aid in making good management decisions. The problem is getting accurate photos when not present. The Moultrie Panoramic 150 utlizes a 150ft radius, and at $254.99 does the work of three cameras. Check out the video below.
Being a bow hunter means carrying tons of gear and small gadgets. I have to hike about half a mile or so to my hunting spot, so weight and space is a big issue. Lansky BowSharp saves space and lightens my load by combining a broadhead sharpener and wrench with a bow tool kit for only $16.99.
JVC announced a couple new Everio camcorders that combine the features of GoPro-type action cameras with full-featured camcorders. The GZ-R70 and GZ-R10 both feature JVC’s “Quad-Proof” structure which is water resistance to a depth of 5m, has the ability to withstand a drop from 1.5m, is dust proof, and freeze proof to 14°F. These action cam’s on steroids go beyond your typical smartphone or action camera by including 40x optical zoom, 2.5 megapixel back-illuminated CMOS image sensor, audio that zooms with the image, and compatibility with third party editing software. The GX-R70 and the GZ-R10 are differentiated by internal memory…
The Iron X Action Cam (A.K.A. DXG 5G9V) is a small, lightweight action camera that’s got a lot going for it. It records video in 1080p at 30 fps and takes 5 megapixel photos. It also has an OLED screen on top and comes with a remote control wrist strap and waterproof case. The Iron X retails for $249.99.
The SJ2000 Outdoor Sports HD Digital Video Camera is a budget entry into the action camera market. It has a 12MP sensor for digital photos and it records digital video in 1080p with its 170-degree lens. It comes with many Velcro and pressure mounting options and does not have any built-in memory. You can purchase the SJ2000 for $64.95.
It seems like today, most everyone spends at least some part of their day searching for a place to charge. The mobile gadget lifestyle is great, unless you are plagued with dead batteries. The PowerBinder strives to alleviate the daily plug search with solar panels and an internal battery. It comes in at $149 and can charge a phone 2.5 times.
The PowerPot V is a small thermoelectric generator that uses the heat used to boil water and converts it into juice for your USB powered devices. The PowerPot is billed to output 5 watts of power and can work over any heat source, including an open fire. The PowerPot V sells for $149.00.
Occasionally, my wife, Sarah will point out products she thinks we should cover on Gear Diary. Often they’re interesting or unusual, and sometimes they’re just “oh, come on, you’ve got to be kidding me” ridiculous. The My Spy Birdhouse we saw on TV today clearly falls in the latter category, and Sarah practically fell off the couch laughing at it!
The G-Boom Wireless Bluetooth Boombox by G-Project is a rugged speaker system that, despite it’s lower-end price tag, actually sounds pretty good. The G-Boom has a rechargeable battery for when you want to take the boombox into the woods, audio line-in jack, and volume, play, and forward/backward control buttons on the top. The G-Boom Bluetooth Boombox retails for $99.99.
A really cool review item just came across my desk: the Power Pot V, which turns your campfire or any other heat source into juice for your USB-powered device. All you do is fill the pot with water, heat it up, plug in your device, and the Power Pot charges your device. The Power Pot sells for $149.00.
Most days I wear dress shoes. I hate it, but they go best with a suit. When I’m not dressed up, I tend to wear a favorite pair of low-rise boots.That may change thanks to the lightweight, minimalist Lems Primal2s I’ve been trying out. Honestly I don’t think I’ve ever worn a pair of shoes quite as so comfortable!
I am on the go a lot — almost always without access to electricity. Whether I’m hunting or coaching, being a geek in the great outdoors can sometimes leave me with dead devices. The PowerBinder is a simple to use solar charging mobile power solution. I have the $199 PowerBinder in hand, so look for a full review soon! Check out the PowerBinder at the PowerStick website.
As the college and pro football seasons hit the home stretch, it’s prime tailgating time. Getting your drinks safely to the stadium is a key component of any outdoor party, so check out these handy beverage transport tools, the Mountainsmith Cooler Cube, Sachi Vino Wine Tote and GSI Outdoors Wine set.
I am a huge fan of sports, whether it’s watching professionals or playing myself. When the weather is right, I love playing tennis with friends. Unfortunately, I get too into the game itself and forget to keep score. Now, there’s a Score Band on my wrist to keep track for me; Score Band sells for $24.99.
With bow hunting season in full swing, many hunters like to share their hunts as well as review shot placements. I try to use a regular video camera on my hunts, but that is not always easy when sitting in a tripod or tree. TACTACAM has brought HD video to the bow stabilizer turning the bow into the camera for $229.00. The TACTACAM attaches to any compound bow not only as a camera, but also as stabilizer. Basically, the HD camera becomes part of the hunt rather than a difficult extra piece of equipment needing to be concealed. The camera…