Misc Gear

GrandPad Review: Stay in Touch with Loved Ones No Matter Their Tech-Savvyness

Many years ago, my grandmother had a computer. She was super excited to keep in touch with me when I went to college, and she mostly used it to email me and play solitaire. Unfortunately, it eventually proved too complex for her, and she reluctantly gave it up. Technology has made a huge leap forward in the intervening 20 years, and now people have significantly more options for keeping in touch with elderly relatives. GrandPad thinks they have developed a smooth and easy way to keep grandparents and families connected. Does it work? Read on to find out!

Reviews, Health and Fitness

Amazon Halo View Review: It Will Track Your Steps, Your Fitness, and Even Your Tone!

Smartwatches are everywhere, but that doesn’t mean there’s no niche for a dedicated fitness tracker. Sometimes, you want that laser focus on your health over every notification possible. Amazon thinks they can get a foot in the door with the Amazon Halo View. We’ve put it through its paces to see if it can compete for wrist space among some stiff competition. The Amazon Halo View is a delightfully lightweight companion. It comes in at around 21g, which is just slightly more than half the weight of an Apple Watch. It’s quite slim and doesn’t interfere with wrist movements when…

Reviews, Outdoors

Shell Ride SR-5S Electric Scooter Review: A Premium, Weather-Resistant Scooter at a Budget Price

The Shell Ride SR-5S Electric Scooter is a light, affordable standing scooter that can go up to 20 miles per hour with a range of up to twenty miles per charge. It looks great, rides well, and can be found for as little as $499.99, making it a bargain if you are looking for inexpensive, fun, electric transportation.

Reviews

Zeus Arc GTS Hub Kit Review: No Muss or Fuss with This Complete Vaping Ecosystem

Three years ago, we reviewed the Zeus Arc GT. The small, compact device combines superb industrial design with the latest vaping technology. Now the company is back with a new model; the Zeus Arc GTS Hub Kit includes a vape that looks quite similar to its predecessor. Under the hood, there are significant improvements to the vape, but more importantly, it’s now part of a larger ecosystem.

Gift Guides, Giveaways

Gear Diary’s 2022 Back to School Gift Guide and Giveaway

It’s hard to believe that this long, hot summer is finally nearing its end, and it won’t be long before our kids are back in the classroom and our older kids are back at University. Here’s our 2022 back to school gift guide — it’s loaded with suggestions not just for those heading to school but also for the parents and grandparents who’ve just made it through a third pandemic summer. And as always, we have an amazing giveaway at the end of our gift guide, so be sure to enter!

Reviews

Isobaa Mens Merino 200 Long Sleeve Polo Shirt Review: A Versatile Layer That’s Nice Enough for the Office

When I started wearing clothes made from merino wool, it was all about the base layers. In recent months, I’ve come to appreciate that some companies are also using merino wool for more traditional clothing; the Isobaa Mens Merino 200 Long Sleeve Polo Shirt is a prime example.

Reviews

Isobaa Merino Blend 200 PJ Shorts Review: So Comfortable, You’ll Want to Wear Them All Day!

I’m still slightly surprised that more people don’t understand and appreciate that merino wool clothing isn’t just for winter. Merino t-shirts are great all year long, merino boxers provide four seasons of comfort, and the Isobaa Merino Blend 200 PJ Shorts are great for summer lounging and sleep. They’re pricy but oh so comfy.

Health and Fitness, Reviews

Taotronics 10 Speed Massage Gun Review: Proof That You Can Sometimes Get More Than You Pay For!

We’ve reviewed quite a few massage guns at Gear Diary; most of them are priced in the $75 to $125 range, and all do an excellent job of unclenching sore muscles and improving recovery times. One company has taken the budget-friendly massage gun concept to a whole new level by selling theirs for under $30. But is it possible to make an effective massage gun and sell it at that price? We’ve been testing the Taotronics 10 Speed Massage Gun, and we have some good news!

Gear Bits, Deals

Nomad Celebrates Its 10th Anniversary with a 30% Off Side-Wide Sale!

It’s no secret that we’re huge fans of Nomad here at Gear Diary. We love their chargers, watch bands, iPhone cases, and just about everything else we’ve tried from them. Believe it or not, it’s been a decade since Nomad first burst into the world of technology accessories! To celebrate their 10th anniversary, Nomad is knocking 30% off of their products sitewide!

Reviews

1TB iStorage datAshur SD Flash Drive Review: Encrypted Security You Can Count On

Imagine having a terabyte of data in your pocket; now imagine having a terabyte of encrypted data in your pocket. A microSD card with that much storage capacity and the smarts to keep all that data completely secure sounds like science fiction, doesn’t it? Well, science fiction meets reality in the iStorage datAshur SD Flash Drive, and the result is pretty impressive.

Gear Bits

SoftStartUp Provides RV Power Management and Surge Protection from A/C Power Spikes

Power management is a problem that plagues RV users, especially regarding the air conditioner and possible power surges. The A/C spike at start-up is often too much for most small generators, and shore power often cannot handle it. SoftStartUp has been developed to prevent this problem while adding a level of protection against power surges. It is plug-and-play and easy to use.

Aiper Seagull 1500 Cordless Robotic Pool Cleaner on bottom of the author's pool

Reviews

Aiper Seagull 1500 Cordless Robotic Pool Cleaner Review: Keep Your Pool Clean and Ready for Summer Fun

When we bought our home, we became the proud owners of a backyard pool. A pool service comes weekly, and we manually skim the pool before we swim, yet it constantly has leaves, branches, and bugs on the bottom. The Aiper Seagull 1500 Cordless Robotic Pool Cleaner has changed all that; I just wish we’d had it sooner!

sausage cooked on the ZGrills Cruiser 200A

Outdoors, Reviews

ZGrills Cruiser 200A Review: Takes Smoking on the Road and Does It Right

We are deep into BBQ season as well as camping season. My family loves to take the camper out, spend a weekend relaxing, and let me cook for them. Taking a pellet smoker on the road wasn’t an easy task until I tried out the ZGrills Cruiser 200A portable pellet grill.

Reviews

BN3TH Boxer Briefs Review: Maybe It’s Time to Upgrade Your Undies

I first met BN3TH last fall when I reviewed their new merino wool base layers. Since then, I’ve become a fan of the company’s base layers and undergarments. They recently sent me a pair of their new Entourage boxer briefs and the North Shore Bike Chamois. Both pairs of BN3TH Boxer Briefs have impressed me. Let’s take a look.

Gear Bits, Editorials

A Reminder: Buying a Massage Gun Shouldn’t Mean That You Have to Break the Bank!

We received a pitch for a massage gun that clocked in at a jaw-droppingly cheap $26.31 (or as low as $22.10 if you buy in bulk!). In an email to me, Judie questioned whether a massage gun that cheap could possibly be effective. While we plan to review this inexpensive massage gun to see how it does, I pointed out that while $26 does seem overly cheap, the reality is that a massage gun is a relatively simple device that probably shouldn’t cost $300 and up, either!

Reviews

Xreart Studio Review: Give the Gift of Upcycled Gadgets with Unique Teardown Art

Art is subjective. What speaks to one person might not strike someone else in the same way. However, if you’re reading Gear Diary, you probably have a strong appreciation for technology, especially the devices that impacted your life. Maybe your gateway to geekery was a Game Boy, an original iPhone, or your first smartwatch; Xreart takes that love for gadgets and turns them into works of art!

Reviews

VTOMAN Jump 1000 Portable Power Station Review: Emergency Power That Will Even Jump-Start Your Car

Portable power station technology has come a long way; large-capacity batteries that can keep appliances and vital medical devices running in a power outage are becoming more common and affordable. The VTOMAN Jump 1000 is one such portable power station; it is packed with features and can even jump-start your vehicle! I’ve reviewed quite a few portable power stations, but this is the first I’ve tried that can also help in an automotive emergency.

Reviews

8″ Vosteed Morgan Chef’s Knife Review: A Kitchen Workhorse!

One of the most underrated kitchen tools is often the knife. Quality knives make so many tasks better while cooking. I prefer an all-around style knife that can slice, dice, chop and cut anything we plan to cook; the 8″ Vosteed Morgan Chef’s Knife has proven to be the workhouse I have been looking for.

Reviews

Thermacell LIV Smart Mosquito Repellent System Review: Enjoy Your Yard This Summer Without Being Eaten Alive

I am one of the sweetest people in the world; at least, that’s what mosquitos think. Put me outside for more than ten minutes, and I’ll be covered with bites, which really puts a damper on enjoying the outside. Thankfully, I’ve now got the Thermacell LIV Smart Mosquito Repellent System; mosquitos are no longer a problem.

Gift Guides

Gear Diary’s 2022 Father’s Day Gift Guide

Father’s Day is June 19, and if you’re stumped about what to give one of the most influential men in your life, check out our 2022 Father’s Day Gift Guide for an assortment of our favorite products for your consideration.

Deals

Memorial Day Sales Abound; Here Are Some Deals You Won’t Want to Miss

Brands are really leaning into Memorial Day sales this year, which is fortuitous since the cost of everything seems to be skyrocketing. Keep a little bit more of that green in your wallet by taking advantage of these deals.

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