Misc Gear | Gear Diary

Galanz ToastWave with TotalFry 360 Review: Replaces Half Your Kitchen Appliances with Delicious Results!

I am not a great cook. There are a few reliable things I can bang up in the kitchen, and I can generally grill and produce what my son assures me are edible meals. Still, the kitchen is a wild and vaguely frightening place. I was excited to check out the Galanz ToastWave, though, as it promised to combine several kitchen appliances into one; I had high hopes it would at least make my kitchen experiences less stressful!

Gear Bits

Trek Project One ICON ‘First Light’ Paint Scheme Featured in Tokyo Olympics

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.”

Outdoors, Reviews

Olight Warrior Mini 2 Four Elements Limited-Edition Tactical Light Review: A Beautiful, Bright, and Rechargeable Flashlight That’s Perfect for Everyday Carry

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.

Reviews

DaVinci IQC Vaporizer Review: Few Compromises Provide an Overall Excellent Vaping Experience

Back in 2017, we reviewed the DaVinci IQ Precision Vaporizer and were impressed. The company recently unveiled its latest, the DaVinci IQC Vaporizer. At $229, the IQC is $70 less than the IQ2. The IQC lacks its older sibling’s Air Dial that lets users adjust the airflow, but it adds charging via USB Type-C. Let’s take a look.

Reviews

LaCie d2 Professional Desktop Drive Review: A Subscription-Free Way of Backing up All of Your Data

LaCie is known for its premium external hard drives and SSDs that have been proven to be reliable at saving all the important data of our lives. I maxed out the 1TB hard drive on my Macbook Pro, and the 10TB LaCie d2 Professional Desktop Drive has become a great extension of my storage!

Reviews

AirVape Legacy SE Vaporizer Review: Brings Class, Style, and Wireless Charging to Vaping

Dry herb vaping is a fairly simple concept. Heat herbs, inhale the vapor, repeat as needed. But while it can be simple, there are many opportunities to blend technology into the process. AirVape Legacy SE Vaporizer puts simplicity and technology together into a single solid and sleek package!

Music Diary, News & Features

BOSS Announces EUROS GS-1 Electronic Guitar, First Wireless Expression Pedal, and Gig Bags

I am essentially hapless as a guitar player. My brother, now he can rip; he has a mini-studio, several guitars, a bunch of effects, friends he records with, and he even had a band for a while. Me? I stick to the piano. But I do love the equipment, the gizmos and gadgets, and gear. And here comes BOSS to fulfill my gadget/gear/gizmo-loving soul with the new EUROS GS-1 Electronic Guitar, Wireless Pedal, and gig bags.

Reviews

Meat District Ultimate Grilling Pack Review: Over 9 Pounds of Premium, Seasoned Meats Delivered to Your Door

It is no secret that I love to cook meats. Smoking and grilling are some of my favorite hobbies and one of the few that I would admit I am pretty good at. So when offered, I jumped at the chance to try out the Meat District Ultimate Grilling Pack. The meats come seasoned and frozen, delivered right to your door.

Reviews

Shark Air Purifier 6 Review: Getting My Allergies Under Control

If your home has issues with dust, pollen, pet dander, mold spores, or dust mites, you need an air purifier. And while there are plenty of them on the market, I think you should check out the Shark Air Purifier 6.

News & Features

The Samsung Jet Bot AI+ Robot Vacuum Navigates, Cleans, and Spies for You

Despite being a full-blown nerd from an early age (“Why do you always have to fiddle with things?” my brother once demanded when we were kids), I’ve rarely been an early adopter. I don’t get version one releases of software, cars, or new gizmos (with the notable exception of the iPhone). And I still don’t have a robot vacuum. But maybe I should take a look at the new Samsung Jet Bot AI+ Robot Vacuum, hm?

Reviews

Thrive Market Review: Organic Products Delivered to Your Home at an Average Savings of $32 Per Order

There are many options to order products online, but if you are conscious of how your products are produced, it is often hard to tell where to turn. Enter Thrive Market, which delivers organic products at fair prices right to your home. With 25-50 percent savings off retail pricing, the average savings for each order is $32.

Reviews

Oaxis myFirst Sketch Book Review: A 10″ Tablet That’s Wonderful for Kids Who Like to Draw and Doodle

When I was a child, if I wanted to sketch something, it meant finding a piece of paper and grabbing a pencil or pen. Kids today can use the Oaxis myFirst Sketch Book to get a pressure-sensitive pen on paper experience while drawing on their own tablet; their creations are instantly digitized, and up to 1000 drawings can be saved on the device.

Reviews

Yale Laptop Alarmed Value Safe Review: Protect Your Valuables Without Paying a Fortune

Now that I’m a bit older, I’m learning the true value of privacy and security. Some friends in my crypto group discussed how they secure their valuables, and the subject of safes was a big one. So I started researching simple yet solid safes that I can store safely but didn’t stick out like a sore thumb. Enter the Yale Laptop Alarmed Value Safe.

Reviews

AirVape X Review: An Incredibly Well Made, Sleek, and Easy to Use Vape

We’ve reviewed numerous portable vaporizers, but few, if any, have the style and refinement of the AirVape X. The $139 vape is available in your choice of black or blue and, despite the affordable price, is packed with the latest technology. High-grade materials, state-of-the-art heating technology, and a lifetime warranty make this a great option.

Reviews

Logitech BRIO Ultra HD Pro Business Webcam Review: An Essential Work from Home Accessory

Many of us have had the luxury of working from home over the past year which means many of us have been suffering through countless hours of Zoom and Webex conference calls. Historically, built-in webcams are terrible and such low-quality, no one can tell you’re rocking your PJs on the call. But with the Logitech BRIO Ultra HD Pro Business Webcam, you might want to shower and dress up, because you’ll come through crisp and clear!

Gear Bits

Lexon Flip Premium Alarm Clock: A Stylishly Simple Way to Wake Up When Staying in Bed Isn’t an Option

Back in the day (my day, anyway), everyone had an alarm clock or clock radio by their bedside. My dad’s was so loud it once woke me at 5:30 am one morning, but that’s another story. Now, with everyone having an alarm on their phone, watch, and running shoes for all I know, the call for alarm clocks would seem to be minimal. “Ha!” says Lexon design to us, with the Lexon Flip Premium Alarm Clock.

News & Features

Trücup Low-Acid Coffee: When You Need Your Coffee, but Your Stomach Rebels

At my age—and no, I am absolutely not going to tell you how friggin’ old I am—acidic stomach issues are definitely something I have to keep in mind. But even if you’re a youngun’ like my daughter and you drink enough coffee, sometimes the very acidity of the brew can catch up with you sometimes. That’s what Trücup low-acid coffee wants to help alleviate.

Reviews

GoPro HERO9 Black Review: Raising the Bar on What’s Expected of an Action Camera

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.

Logitech MX Keys and Logitech MX Master 3

Reviews

Logitech MX Keys and MX Master 3 Review: Update Your Workspace with This Intelligent Keyboard and Mouse

Logitech is one of the leaders in computer peripherals for a good reason; their products look great and work extremely well. When I was creating my work from home setup, I knew it would only be complete with Logitech behind it, which is why I was so excited to check out the Logitech MX Keys and MX Master 3 mouse.

Reviews

OWC Thunderbolt 3 Dock Review: A 14-Port Do-All Solution for Working from Home

When I first began working from home, one of the biggest issues I had was that there were too many peripherals needed for my workflow and not enough ports. Then I had the opportunity to check out the OWC Thunderbolt 3 Dock. Ever since I received it, it’s been the ideal approach to connecting my external monitors and hard drives, creating an “office-like experience” all from the comfort of my home. The OWC Thunderbolt 3 Dock is compatible with Mac or Windows, but I’ve exclusively used it for my MacBook Pro and two external monitors for this review. Before having…

Gear Bits

New Datacolor SpyderX Kits Include Specialized Tools for Photography and Graphic Design

When I was a kid, I considered a career as a photographer. I imagined being Ansel Adams, with a giant Hasselblad camera, or the next Dorothea Lange. Or a sports photographer, catching the thrill of victory or agony of defeat. I even took a year and a half of photography classes in middle school, and still toy with the fantasy by playing with such gizmos like the SpyderX Kits for photography and graphic design.