Outdoor Gear


Goal Zero Yeti 500X Review: Portable Emergency Power When You Need It

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…



Rockport Total Motion Active Mesh Sneaker Review: Your Feet Will Love Them

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.





JBL PartyBox On-The-Go Review: Big 100W Portable Speaker That’s Ready to Party

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.



A Look at Some of Our Favorite 2020 Black Friday Deals

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!


BlendJet 2 Review: Builds on the Deliciousness of the Original

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.



Luno Air Mattress Review: Enjoy Car Camping at Its Finest and Most Comfortable

Are you a camper? Some people are, some people think they could be, and some people are not. I like the idea of camping, but when I think about sleeping unprotected — except for a sheer nylon tent barrier protecting me from wild animals, snakes, bugs, and the elements out in the middle of nowhere — it freaks me out, no joke. Car camping, though? That’s a possibility; with the Luno Air Mattress, it’s now possible, safe, and, most importantly, comfortable.


The KeySmart NanoTorch Twist Lights Up the Night

There are two tools I always have readily available, a sharp pocket knife and a powerful flashlight. Flashlight technology has improved so that even the brightest ones are more pocketable. The KeySmart NanoTorch Twist fits the bill, and with the added “twist” feature, it is even more usable. Let’s take a look!


BlendJet and JetPacks Let You Make Smoothies Anywhere, Anytime

A few years ago, Judie and I were at CES, and she turned me on to having a smoothie for breakfast. Most days since that time, I’ve done just that. Now, thanks to the BlendJet and JetPacks, I can have a delicious smoothy anywhere. With the company’s overpriced but delicious JetPacks, the process is even easier!


Xiaomi Impresses with Their Latest Launch

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.



The Mevo Start Is Finally Here, and We’ve Got a First Hand Look!

Mevo has been pioneering high-quality camera technology for a few years, so when the brand took to CES back in January I was excited about their latest product: The Mevo Start. And as someone who’s tried their hardest to Livestream from smartphones, tablets, and laptops, there’s always been more trouble than it was actually worth.


Ooni Karu Takes Pizza Cooking Outdoors

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.



Nomad Active Strap for Apple Watch Has Ruggedly Refined Good Looks

I love my fast, comfortable, cellular-connected Apple Watch Gen 4 and wear it daily. Over the summer, I used the Nomad Sport Strap so I could swim. (Read my review.) The rest of the time I’ve used the titanium band. (Read my review.) Since getting the new $69.95 the Nomad Active Strap, however, it’s been my “go-to” strap; here’s why.