Misc Gear | Gear Diary

Happily Running Makes Great Masks for Running … and for Life!

As someone who runs outside every morning, and also someone in an essential job that required me to go into a facility every day, finding a mask that promotes safety while also being comfortable has been a key. I have plenty of surgical masks and homemade masks, all of which work well in general – but for running I really needed something safe, lightweight, and comfortable. The best thing I have found so far are the masks from HappilyRunning.com, which I wholeheartedly recommend.

Gift Guides & Round-Ups

Gear Diary’s Father’s Day 2020 Gift Guide

June 21st is Father’s Day. Let that sink in for a moment; we are already halfway through 2020. While it may seem like this has been the longest year ever, there are still six more months just waiting to spring their surprises on us — which is all the more reason to take a minute, slow down, and celebrate the fathers in our lives.

News & Features

Win a Tivic Health ClearUp Sinus Pain Relief Device for Father’s Day

If you suffer from sinus pain, you’ve probably tried everything from nasal sprays to hot compresses trying to get the pain to stop so you could continue to function. Carly gave the Tivic Health ClearUp device a try last year to manage her sinus pain, and she had excellent results. As a Father’s Day gift for one of our readers, we have a ClearUp to give away!

Reviews

Peak Design’s Travel Tripod: A Well-Designed, Compact Tripod for Everyday Use

I have owned several travel tripods that were decent for quick shots, but serviceable at best. Something usually broke under minimal use after a short time, usually a knob, lever, or handle. Peak Design’s Travel Tripod is the tripod I never knew I was looking for; simply put, it is awesome.

Health and Fitness, Reviews

For My Family’s Safety, We’ve Been Wearing the Oura Air Mask

A lot is going on in our world today. Regardless of how much we’d like things to go back to how they used to be, at the current moment, it’s best to protect yourself from the Coronavirus with a face mask when you step out of your front door. Why not do it with a reusable mask that’s just as comfortable as it is functional?

Reviews

X-Chair X3 Management Desk Chair: Quite Possibly the Most Comfortable Chair Available

For the past three months, I’ve been working from home; now, I sit at my kitchen island for hours on end. About two weeks ago, I started having chest pains because of my terrible posture, and the majority of that stemmed from the chair I was using. This changed when I received the X-Chair X3 Management Office Desk Chair.

Game Diary, News & Features

Stern Pinball Is Craving Pizza with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Pinball is one of those nostalgic games that you’re just drawn to when you see it in a bar. Who can resist dropping in a few quarters and watching the laws of physics torture them with a tiny silver ball? Stern Pinball has always known how to mix the nostalgia of pinball with the fun of pop culture, and they’re looking to capture that magic again with a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles themed Stern Pinball machine!

Crowdfunding, Reviews

Lumio UV Self-Cleaning Sonic Toothbrush: Clean Your Teeth and Then Clean Your Brush Head

If the thought of poop particles on your toothbrush doesn’t give you pause, maybe the knowledge that blood, viruses, and other bodily fluids (found in your mouth) also end up on your toothbrush should. That’s all pretty gross, and the Lumio UV Self-Cleaning Sonic Toothbrush would like to propose a solution.

Crowdfunding, News & Features

Otto Wilde Grillers Debuts Groundbreaking New Smart Gas Grill on Kickstarter

There are just as many Kickstarter flops as there are stars in the sky, but the Otto Wilde Grillers story is different. The Otto Wilde O.F.B. Griller, Kickstarted in 2016 tripled its crowdfunding goal and became a sensation in the grilling and BBQ community. The Otto Wilde Grillers team is back with Otto’s G32, a high-end, modular, connected gas grill.

Reviews

Enjoy Big Grill Flavor in Small Spaces with the Kenyon Portable City Grill

I’ve lived in a condo for the last few years, and it’s great except for one thing: we can’t have any gas grills here. Honestly, I had forgotten how easy and tasty it was to quickly grill up some food, so when Kenyon offered us the chance to review their Portable City Grill I was super excited!

Crowdfunding, Gear Bits

The 21.5″ Lenovo Smart Frame Will Be Pre-Selling on Indiegogo; Here’s How You Can Get 50% Off

The Lenovo Smart Frame was one of my favorites new products announced at CES this year. Styled like a professionally matted portrait, the 21.5″ Smart Frame uses AI to curate your photo collection and build custom digital collages. A smartphone app will be available with hundreds of artworks that can be displayed on your Smart Frame, but you can also load your own photos. You can use hand gestures to play, pause, or continue the displayed photos or videos.

Reviews

The Sourdough Revolution: A Beginner’s Sourdough Recipe and a Review of the Challenger Bread Pan

While much of the world is spending a lot more time at home, many people, myself included, have taken up bread baking as a new hobby. Since commercial yeast is hard to come by, many have started using natural yeast to bake sourdough. Read on for my favorite beginner sourdough recipe and a review of Challenger Breadware’s groundbreaking bread pan.

Music Diary, Reviews

Fender Fullerton Series Ukuleles Bring a Rock ‘n Roll Style to the Island Scene

The Fender Strat Ukulele as if a Fender Stratocaster went on vacation to Hawaii, decided to settle down and assimilate with the local music scene. It’s as if a ukulele went through a teenage rebellion phase and got all rock ‘n roll. And for just about $200, the Fender Fullerton Series of ukuleles are well-built, stylish ukulele with great features.

Reviews

Roborock’s New S6 MaxV Vacuum Comes Complete with Intelligent Camera Technology

Roborock has extended its S-Series lineup of robot vacuums with the Roborock S6 MaxV, a leap forward in home robotics that allows you the ability to KNOW that you’ve cleaned in areas where your normal robot vacuum would pass through but not necessarily complete the job.

Editorials

Sheltering in Place During a Pandemic – How We’ve Made It Work

Due to the global pandemic, those of us who have been unexpectedly thrust into working from home have had to figure out how to get our work done while sheltering in place. We wanted to share some of the things that have helped us stay productive and more-or-less content since we began physically distancing ourselves from our loved ones and friends who live outside of our homes.

News & Features

Xfinity Home Knows How to Find Reruns and Your Keys!

Tile is one of the greatest inventions of modern times. Slap one on your keys, wallet, backpack, or any other easily misplaced item, and you can call upon the power of several devices to track your wayward possessions. Comcast wants in on that sweet tracking action, and now you can use your Xfinity remote to find your keys!

News & Features

On Mother’s Day, a Collage.com Sherpa Photo Blanket Brings the Whole Family Together While Apart

May 10th is Mother’s Day, and most of us will still be in self-isolation as we try to get COVID-19 under control. Chances are, you won’t be able to visit your mom for the holiday if you aren’t already sheltering with her, but that doesn’t mean you can’t help her hold everyone close with a personalized Collage.com Sherpa Photo Blanket.

Reviews

The KeySmart MagConnect Magnetic Keychain Connector Is Smart!

We’ve reviewed several products from KeySmart and have always been impressed; their KeySmart and KeySmart Pro are very handy. As KeySmart has expanded their portfolios, they have found additional ways to make carrying your keys smarter and more convenient; a case in point is the $9.99 Keysmart MagConnect, it’s brilliant.

Reviews

Moon UltraLight Is Awesome for Selfies and Video Calls

Selfies continue to be a huge part of our daily life. Still, with the recent coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic affecting the world, video calls have increasingly become just as important, if not more, to keep in touch. The Moon UltraLight is meant to take your selfie pictures to another level, which it can do, but it also is very useful for video calls; best of all, it can literally work on any device!

Reviews

Kami Wire-Free Outdoor Camera Is Great, Except for Security

Cameras are all around us in these modern times, and many people use them to keep track of their kids, dogs or even their properties. One of the biggest issues faced when using an outdoor camera is having to run a wire for power, so the Kami Wire-Free Outdoor Camera by Yi provides an alternative by relying only on rechargeable batteries.

News & Features

Expensive Security Solutions Give Businesses a False Sense of Cyber Security

If you’ve been watching the number of data breaches rise in recent years, you’ve probably reinforced your data security systems. Hopefully, you also have a strict set of rules that govern data storage and how that data is accessed by employees and contractors.