Misc Gear

A Review of the Viaggio Travel Pump by Silca

When we’re at the beach house during the summer, one thing we often have to worry about is air for our bike tires. But a lot of air pumps out there are clunky and outright cumbersome to deal with. However, the Viaggio Travel Pump by Silca is a stylish way of pumping up everything from pool toys, basketballs, and yes — even those bike tires.


ThermoWorks Signals Review: The Best Smart Thermometer for your BBQ

ThermoWorks is our favorite thermometer producer because they are known for producing high-quality, highly accurate thermometers, and their Signals 4-channel thermometer is no exception. Signals was built for the serious BBQ pitmaster who wants to keep track of four different temperatures at once over Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Signals retails for $229 and includes three cooking probes and one air probe.


IntelliARMOR’s Case for Apple’s AirPods Is Made of Premium Leather

If you have AirPods or intend to get a pair, you should really invest in a case that will protect not only the pods themselves but the case that holds them from sustaining hairline scratches. There’s one case I’ve been using the past few weeks that have surprised me, and I think you should check out. Introducing the CarryOn by intelliARMOR, a hand-crafted leather case designed for the Apple AirPods. Available in three colors: black, brown and camel, each of the clips comes complete with a handy metal clip that is great for attaching your keys, maybe a Tile item…


Keyport Modular Anywhere Tools Review

First things first: let me apologize to the fine folks at Keyport for my delay in writing this review. I received a set of Keyport’s Anywhere Tools all the way back in February. I put them on my keys, hoping to get some real-world use out of them before writing my review.


Beeps, Boops, and Paddles? Oh My!

As the title implies, those are just a few of the retro-feelies UNIS’s Pong coffee table will fill your home with. Alas, it is not all retro here my friends. Oh, no. UNIS ripped the classic game right out of its ATARI cartridge skin then stretched, molded, and modernized it into a sweet piece of functional furniture.




Sparky’s Scared of the Varram Pet Fitness Robot

Maybe I just have an awkward puppy, but Sparky is one of those pets that you’d consider a “chewer.” So when introducing him to the “Varram” — a “robot for pets” — it seemed that Sparky was more annoyed by it than excited.




Roland Announces Powerful New FANTOM Keyboards for #909Day!

Two of Roland’s most influential early products are the TR-808 and TR-909 Rhythm Composers, and each year on August 8th (808) and September 9th (909) the community celebrates by sharing favorites created with the classic tools and Roland offers great sales and launches awesome new products. This year is no exception, and we are covering each of the new products separately.



Austere’s Stylish A/V Accessories Are Now Available

A few months ago we wrote about Austere, a new A/V accessory company. Austere Describes their products as delivering “more than what’s expected, from design to performance.” Their products are pricey but look great. After that post, Judie and I had a chance to check out their offerings; we were impressed.


AvoSeedo Lets You Grow Your Own Avocado Tree (Toast Not Included)

I’ve never really given much thought to the seed in an avocado, except to the extent that I’m always worried I’ll lose a finger doing that whole “chop it with the knife and twist” move. But apparently, you can use the seed to grow your own avocado tree. This is normally somewhat complicated, but AvoSeedo 2.0 aims to make it both easy and fun to grow your own pet avocado tree! It’s a little unclear why their Kickstarter calls it a “pet” tree. However, unlike a pet rock, this pet at least needs actual care and shows growth? Also, small…



Gear Diary’s 2019 Back to School Guide

September is almost here, and you’re probably seeing endless “Back to School” commercials which can only mean one thing — people are headed back to the classroom. We’ve found quite a few products that you might enjoy, whether you are a parent, a student, or even a teacher.


A Review of MXL’s AC-404 LED USB Microphone

As a podcaster, I’m typically of a simple mindset — Absolutely no USB Microphones. They are a hindrance when recording as well as editing, picking up every single noise possible. But MXL’s AC-404 USB Conference Microphone actually surprised me; here are my thoughts.


Yield Co’s Willow Candle Brings Good Scents and Good Vibes to Any Space

CBD, or cannaboidal, is a big buzzword in health. It’s in the same plant family as marijuana, but without the tetrahydrocanibol (THC), aka the main psychoactive component. So it’s sort of like non-alcoholic beer, but unlike O’Douls,  CBD is more than just a pretty face-it is purported to have health benefits from anxiety soothing to pain relief. Enter Yield Co’s Black Dahlia Collection with CBD.


ThermoWorks IR Gun Thermometers Are Perfect for Many Uses

An accurate IR (infrared) Gun thermometer, like the ones made by ThermoWorks, can be an invaluable tool for a number of different activities. An IR Gun thermometer measures surface temperatures from a distance, so it’s great for the kitchen and BBQ, HVAC repair, construction, and maintenance. ThermoWorks offers a range of accurate IR Gun thermometers starting at $69.00.



CleverMade SnapBasket Cooler Is Perfect for Hot Temps

It is that time of the year when we all head out to the pool, beach, or outdoors enjoying the warm temperatures and sunny days. No summer trip is complete without bringing along cold beverages. CleverMade has a great option with the $29.99 SnapBasket Cooler. Not only will it keep drinks cold, but it stores easily. Let’s take a look.