ARTICLE – I hope you have enjoyed reading about the team’s and my favorite gadgets this week. I’ve already posted Part 1 and Part 2 of this series and today we have Part 3.
Gary Cleveland
soundcore AeroFit Pro earbuds
It seems odd to say that a set of earbuds can be life-changing, but I’ll stand by it. Before open-air earbuds were a thing, I absolutely could not find a pair of comfortable in-ear buds, and bone conduction audio quality isn’t great. Once I had a chance to try out the soundcore AeroFit Pro’s, I was immediately hooked – and they’ve been the gold standard for me ever since. The sound and build quality are excellent, and being open-air means I can safely enjoy them on the bike. These have checked all the boxes for me, and have been an EDC staple this year.
Where to buy: Amazon
MoErgo Glove80 mechanical keyboard
The Glove80 by MoErgo is easily my top keyboard for 2024, and quite frankly, all time. It’s an absolute ergonomic powerhouse that packs in a ton of features and design elements that is rare to find in a pre-built. While the learning curve can be steep, I found the typing comfort to be well worth the time investment. If you’re looking for an ergonomic keyboard, backed by a wonderful ergonomic community, the Glove80 should absolutely be on your shortlist.
Where to buy: MoErgo
Narwal Freo Z Ultra robot vacuum
Somehow, the Narwal Freo line keeps getting better – so much so that I genuinely have no idea how they’re going to further improve the Freo Z beyond the newest Ultra. This helpful home cleaning automaton has a self-emptying dust bin, color cameras, baseboard dusting, and a more powerful motor from it’s predecessor. The AI components of the Freo Z are actually useful, and the app experience is also excellent. It’s as close to fully hands off as it gets to keep your floors clean, and lands this as my top robot vacuum pick for 2024.
Where to buy: Narwal
Lee Shipman
Anker Solix C300DC power station
One of my favorite gadgets this year is the Anker Solix C300DC power station. This is essentially a larger-than-typical, DC-only, USB-centric portable power bank. Not only does it provide six USB ports, but it also includes one 12V DC car cigarette lighter port. The six USB ports consist of four USB-C and two USB-A ports, with two of the USB-C ports capable of providing up to 140 W each and one USB-C port capable of providing up to 100 W. The remaining USB-C port is limited to only 15 W, while the USB-A ports can output 12 W. While those specifications are impressive, the most remarkable feature is that the C300DC can supply 300 W of power and has a substantial 288 Wh battery. This capability allows a fully charged C300DC to power and charge a phone, iPad, and laptop simultaneously, and it can even power one of those DC-powered refrigerators. In short, it can effectively power or charge any DC-powered device that you own. All of that, and I did not even get to mention the 3-position popup lantern style light!
Where to buy: Anker and Amazon
EnergyCell 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Station
When I finally upgraded my iPhone from the dinosaur version 8 to the new iPhone 16 Pro, I realized I needed to upgrade my charging station as well. Since I am immersed in the Apple ecosystem and also own an Apple Watch and AirPods Pro 2, I wanted a convenient way to charge all three devices with just one cable. The EnergyCell 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Station can charge all three simultaneously using a single USB-C cable. It comes with its own 30W power brick, which means it only occupies one outlet, making it perfect for use with battery-powered power banks. Using MagSafe for the iPhone unlocks iOS 17 and beyond’s StandBy mode, effectively turning my iPhone into a nightstand clock and weather display when it’s charged in landscape orientation. This foldable gem is not only useful at home, but it also travels exceptionally well. In its folded configuration, it can still wirelessly charge my iPhone, even while lying it on its side inside a travel bag, thanks to its powerful MagSafe magnet.
Where to buy: Amazon
Kathleen Chapman
Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550 All-in-One Wide-format Supertank Printer
I LOVE the Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550 printer. It prints beautiful color photos up to 13″ x 19″ and does a wonderful job printing my Christmas cards. The Epson Smart Panel app is awesome and easy to use, so I can print photos directly from my phone. I also love the large ink tanks that are so easily refillable. The only real downside is that it is pretty expensive—$499.00 from B&H Photo.
Where to buy: Amazon, Epson, B&H Photo, Adorama, Office Depot, Staples
TerraMaster F4-424 Pro NAS
The TerraMaster F4-424 Pro NAS is another one of my favorite 2024 devices. This is the first NAS I’ve ever used and I am happy with it. I was worried about how difficult it would be to set up a NAS to back up and share my important files, but it ended up being doable. Now that it’s set up, I can implement “best practices” when tending to my home network (scheduled backups, offsite backups, central file sharing). Yay!! The TerraMaster F4-424 Pro NAS is available on Amazon for $379.99.
Where to buy: TerraMaster and Amazon
Bob Patterson
BOB AND BRAD Q2 Pro Mini with Heat and Cold Massage Gun
I use the Bob and Brad Q2 Pro Mini massage gun every day for post-workout recovery. The ergonomic, compact design is easy to use one-handed when you’re trying to target different muscle groups. The action is much smoother & more comfortable than some of the larger models I’ve used in the past, and the hot/cold modes are surprisingly effective. The battery life is outstanding. It stores in a drawer and the case is great for travel. There’s nothing to complain about on this one!
Where to buy: Amazon
Kamado Joe Konnected Joe Digital Charcoal Grill & Smoker
The Kamado Joe Konnected grill is a thing I never knew I needed but now I can’t live without. The combination of the Kamado design and the digital control take all the guesswork out of roasting, smoking, and low-and-slow barbecue. I’ve done wings, drumsticks, pulled pork, ribs, whole chickens, pork belly, smoked salts, steaks, burgers, fish, and more on this thing. I haven’t done pizzas or breads yet, but they’re on my list!
Where to buy: Buy at the Kamado Joe web site
EarFun Air Pro 4 earbuds
Hands down, the EarFun Air Pro 4 earbuds are my favorite all-time earbuds. Excellent sound quality with audio customizations that will make the most discerning audiophile happy. The different levels of active noise cancelling actually work for everything from airplane travel to outdoor walks to mowing the lawn. The battery life lasts forever between charges, and you can customize all of your controls from the app.
I was doing a fall cleanout in the backyard this fall when I was attacked by yellowjackets. In the process of swatting them away and running for my life, I lost one of the earbuds in the yard. I looked for it for an hour (after the stingy buggers calmed down), then I remembered that these earbuds have a “find” feature in the app that plays a tone so you can track them down! I found my earbud. Life is good again.
Where to buy: EarFun and Amazon
Troubador Apex Backpack 3.0
Y’all know that I love to evaluate bags, and the Troubador Apex backpack has become one of my favorites in a very short period of time. The usability is just excellent for a commuter backpack as it is *just* the right balance of pockets and spaces for all your EDC needs. The understated design is elegant, functional, and works in business and casual settings. I was lucky enough to test a number of excellent EDC bags in 2024 that I would recommend without hesitation. This is the one that edged out the rest of the pack.
Where to buy: Troubador
