Misc Gear

Invi Bracelet Means Well, but There Are Better Ways to Protect Yourself

It is a sad commentary on our society that so many companies are working to find ways to incorporate self-defense products into everyday life. We’ve seen tasers built into phone cases, discreet pepper sprays, and all sorts of apps that alert your loved ones if you aren’t home/at your destination by a set time. Most of the time the pitches make complete sense. Then there’s the Invi bracelet, which allows you to skunk your attacker.


Snuggle-Pedic Will Cuddle Your Head to a Good Night’s Sleep!

Sleep is very important. That’s pretty much non-negotiable for just about everyone, but many of us spend more money on a phone case than we do on pillows and other sleep accessories. A good pillow is the difference between healthy sleep and a miserable night, and the Snuggle-Pedic believes it is that pillow!


Botched Hair Dye Jobs Are About to Become a Thing of the Past

Say goodbye to botched dye jobs, because those are about to become a thing of the past. Designed to work within the confines of a professional salon, Henkel’s Schwarzkopf Professional SalonLab ecosystem scans your hair, analyzes it, and then its Customizer machine pops out the perfect bottle of shampoo or color — customized for your specific hair type and condition.




Distil Union MagLock Folly Sunglasses Stick Around Thanks to Magnets

Distil Union makes great wallets. I’ve reviewed a bunch and use one every single day. Now the company has released two sunglass designs. I received the Distil Union MagLock Folly Sunglasses for review. These aren’t any sunglasses though. They frames are unbreakable. The polarized lenses are good for your eyes. And, thanks to magnets, they’ll hang around for a while.


The Yamaha DTX400K Electronic Drum Set Really Rocks!

We have many musical instruments at our house, but we have always lacked a drum set. My youngest son has begged to learn how to play, so when I had the chance to review the Yamaha DTX400K electronic drum set (MSRP $799), we jumped all over it. I was not sure what to expect, but this thing has blown us away. 


Nava Meets the CleverPet, and She’s One Happy Pup!

When Raina saw the CleverPet game console on Facebook, she said, “We need to get Nava one of these.” (Nava is our eighteen-month-old miniature golden doodle.) I asked why the dog needs a game console. Raina replied, “Not need… want… she’ll love it.” This is the first in a series of posts about Nava and her app-controlled game.


It’s Not Too Late! Last Minute Gift Guide Ideas

Sometimes shopping at the last-minute can be a good thing. You get your pick of all of the price cuts, and in many cases you find gifts that you would’ve never thought of that will be useful for the new year. Here are a few items that I think that you should check out if you are still shopping for last-minute gifts.


Nightingale Smart Home Sleep System: Finally a Good Night’s Sleep!

Do you live on a busy street? Have noisy neighbors? Do you have a housemate who snores in an adjoining room? All of these things may be no big deal during the day, but at night, when you need to sleep, they aren’t exactly conducive to a solid 8+ hours, are they? You need the Nightingale Smart Home Sleep System.



Full Windsor Muncher: The Titanium Multi-Utensil You’ve Been Waiting For

When I travel, I inevitably end up in my hotel room with leftovers I’ve brought back from some restaurant. My intentions are good — I’m trying to not waste food from the meal I had, but 9-times-out-of-10 I don’t have anything to eat the leftovers with. I keep a Full Windsor Muncher Multi-Utensil in my checked luggage now: problem solved.


With Raven in Your Kid’s Car, You Can Helicopter Less Obviously

Did your 16-year-old just get their first car? Are you nervously biting your fingers every time they leave home? Raven gives you a way to know exactly what’s going on in your teen’s car — how they are driving, where they are driving, and who’s in the car with them — while disguising itself as a slick heads-up display.




There’s No Better Way to Bond with Your Pet Than the Link AKC

For the holidays I wanted to get my dog Sparky something other than cheap Amazon squeaker toys that he typically destroys in under an hour, so when I was presented with the chance to review the LINK AKC Smart Collar for Dogs, I was excited at testing a new product on Sparky that he couldn’t possibly rip to shreds.


Free Nomad Carabiner-Act Quickly to Snag This Carabiner/Mini USB Charge Cord Combo!

Nomad makes some amazing products, from cases to cables and stands, and if you’ve ever eyed their carabiner with a mini USB cable attached, now is the time to snag it. If you head to Hello Nomad, and enter the code MINI, you can snag the carabiner for only the cost of shipping (normally $29.95). This ONLY applies to the mini USB carabiner, and only one per person. Better head there fast, you never know when you’ll need to charge a camera while climbing a mountain!



Gear Diary’s Home Tech Holiday Gift Guide

Shopping for the holidays can be stressful, with so many gifts out there and so many different wants, needs, opinions, and deals. To help our readers make an informed decision, we’ve compiled a list of great home tech gifts that you can turn to in your time of need. We have personal experience with each gift we’re recommending.


SYNAVOLT Modular Power Bank Can Handle It All

We’ve reviewed many portable battery packs here, but the SYNAVOLT is the first I’ve ever seen that is both expandable and modular. Currently raising funds on Indiegogo, SYNAVOLT starts with a 20,000mAh base unit; it has two slotted expansion bay ends that can handle a variety of power-enabled modular attachments.