Bob Patterson

I'm a digital marketer and an illustrator with a passion for user experience. I constantly dabble in gadgets and technology, with a particular interest in bags & EDC products, cooking, and creative tools. I'm also an old school punk rock guy and a rabid fan of sci-fi and fantasy genres... I have the Yoda tattoo to prove it.

Cyetus Mini Espresso Maker review – fast, flexible, and innovative coffee tech for your caffeine needs!

Cyetus MiniEspressoMachine 23

REVIEW – Pardon my shaky hands… I have the caffeine jitters after a month of testing the Cyetus Mini Espresso Maker! This device delivers coffee crazy fast in multiple cup sizes from multiple coffee sources. Got grounds? Got Nespresso pods? Got Dulce Gusto pods? Get in here. I gotchu. To the review! What is it? […]

Cyetus Mini Espresso Maker review – fast, flexible, and innovative coffee tech for your caffeine needs! Read More

Hilife Clothes Steamer review – dispatches wrinkles with style and grace!

Hilife ClothesSteamer 8

REVIEW – A clothes steamer is one of those utility appliances that you pick up in your journey towards adulting and hold on to for years. With that in mind, I now present the Hilife Clothes Steamer for your consideration. This compact fellow is looking to replace my old (and crusty) clothes steamer that’s been

Hilife Clothes Steamer review – dispatches wrinkles with style and grace! Read More

Edifier WiFi Smart Speaker review – big sound, no foolin’ around!

Edifier WiFiSmartSpeaker 1

REVIEW – I know about Edifier’s reputation for speaker products  (my son has a pair for his turntable), but now I have something new to play with! We’re looking at the Edifier WiFi Smart Speaker, which promises powerful sound with Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity. Does it rock? Does it whimper? To the review! What is

Edifier WiFi Smart Speaker review – big sound, no foolin’ around! Read More

An EDC convertible laptop bag from Tom Bihn? Meet the Cambiata! Preorders open on July 20!

TomBihn CambiataConvertiblePack 1

NEWS – I love the flexibility of a good convertible bag, but many of the designs I see present usability compromises as you switch between carrying modes. The new Cambiata by Tom Bihn looks it might fix that! Tom Bihn calls it a convertible tote/backpack, but it looks more like a vertical messenger to me.

An EDC convertible laptop bag from Tom Bihn? Meet the Cambiata! Preorders open on July 20! Read More

Mifo S Wireless Earbuds review – perfect for active people!

Mifo S Wireless Earbuds 11

  REVIEW – Workouts, running, cycling, walking… the Mifo S Wireless Earbuds are designed for doing the sporty things and the outdoorsey things with a rugged design and IPX7 water resistance. I beat these little guys around for a month to see how they hold up to the sweaty stuff. How do they do? To

Mifo S Wireless Earbuds review – perfect for active people! Read More

The Olight I5T Plus Pebble flashlight review – a solid EDC performer!

Olight I5TPlusPebbleFlashlight 8

REVIEW – It’s never a bad idea to have a flashlight in your EDC kit, and the Olight I5T Pebble Plus Flashlight is volunteering for duty. It’s pretty, but does it do the job? Let’s find out. To the review! What is it? The The Olight I5T Plus Pebble is an LED flashlight for your

The Olight I5T Plus Pebble flashlight review – a solid EDC performer! Read More

Waterfield Designs Agile Briefcase review – Keeping things trim & classy

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REVIEW – Briefcases are hit or miss for me. I often find them to be too small for my needs, too big to be practical, or built around odd styling. So here comes the Waterfield Agile Briefcase to challenge my thinking. It’s pretty. It’s functional. It’s from Waterfield, who makes some of the best bags

Waterfield Designs Agile Briefcase review – Keeping things trim & classy Read More

SUNMYTH exercise bike review

SUNMYTH ExerciseBike 3

REVIEW – Home exercise bikes are still a hot item in fitness these days, with hundreds (thousands?) of models and price points to choose from. The SUNMYTH Exercise Bike promises an improved experience over your bargain exercise bikes with a heavy-duty design, but it’s not as expensive as those $2000+ models. How do it do

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UGREEN 100W USB C Wall Charger review – is it really the one charger to rule (or replace) them all?

UGREEN 100WWall Charger 1

REVIEW – The UGREEN 100W USB C Wall Charger is designed to simplify your life by ditching all those extra chargers you need to haul around for your electronics. It’s got all the right stuff: portable, 100 W power output, and four ports to plug in all the things. Does it do the job? Is

UGREEN 100W USB C Wall Charger review – is it really the one charger to rule (or replace) them all? Read More

The Trakke Wester Roll-Top backpack is a thing of beauty, built for a lifetime of misadventures!

Trakke WesterRollTopBackpack 1

NEWS – Here’s treat coming at you from across the pond! Trakke is a Scotland-based shop that makes hand crafted bags from British-sourced materials. Waterproof waxed canvas is their weapon of choice for backpacks, messengers and accessories. Their latest design is called the Wester, and it’s a rolltop-style pack designed to keep your gear dry

The Trakke Wester Roll-Top backpack is a thing of beauty, built for a lifetime of misadventures! Read More

Treat your feet to some fresh leather slippers from WP Standard!

WPStandard MrGrumpyLeatherSlippers 1

NEWS – WP Standard does lovely things with leather including bags, wallets, belts, and all sorts of accessories. Now they have something to keep your feet happy with the new Mr. Grumpy leather slippers. They just look comfy, don’t they? These slippers are made from full-grain leather with a padded heel, and have a leather

Treat your feet to some fresh leather slippers from WP Standard! Read More

New bags from Tom Bihn! The new Paramour backpack, the return of the Smart Alec, and more!

TomBihn ParamourBackpack 1

NEWS – If you’re hunting for a new backpack, we’ve got some new drops coming from Tom Bihn in April! First up is the Paramour, which is a fusion of the recently released Paragon and Paradigm backpack designs.The main compartment includes an integrated padded laptop sleeve for bigger devices (up to 17″), and a “3D

New bags from Tom Bihn! The new Paramour backpack, the return of the Smart Alec, and more! Read More

mbarc 7-Day pill organizer review – It levels up your travel game, but is it worth it?

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REVIEW – Yeah, yeah… I know what you’re going to say. “Bob, why do you need a fancy pill organizer when you get a cheap one at the dollar store?” That’s fair. But the mbarc 7-Day Pill Organizer promises an elevated experience in several useful and functional ways. I have thoughts. To the review! What

mbarc 7-Day pill organizer review – It levels up your travel game, but is it worth it? Read More

Flybird Adjustable Weight Bench review – Get pumped!

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REVIEW – If you’re tired of that creaky old budget weight bench but don’t want (or need) a big rig for your workouts the Flybird Adjustable Weight Bench may be your jam. Don’t let the compact size fool you; it’s a tough and flexible little beastie that you can fold & stash away when you

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The new Woodward Briefcase from WP Standard is an understated beauty!

WPStandard WoodwardBriefcase 1

NEWS – There’s nothing better than a good leather bag, right? WP Standard has a history of making great leather bags, and the new Woodward Briefcase marks the return of a business-ready brief to its product lineup. The Woodward Briefcase shows off all the things we love about WP Standard designs. The aesthetic is uncomplicated

The new Woodward Briefcase from WP Standard is an understated beauty! Read More

The new Grandfather Backpack Case from Saddleback Leather is something I’ve never seen before…

SaddleBackLeather GrandfatherBriefcase

NEWS – Saddleback Leather is always doing interesting things with new leather designs including takes on classic leather forms like Gladstone-style bags. Their recent releases have played with variations on hard-sided cases… which brings us to the brand new Grandfather Backpack Case released this week. The Grandfather Backpack Case is a hard-sided briefcase — box

The new Grandfather Backpack Case from Saddleback Leather is something I’ve never seen before… Read More

Trifo Lucy AI Robot Vacuum review – Should I be concerned that it watches me while it works?

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REVIEW – Meet the do-it-all robot vac! The Trifo Lucy AI Robot Vacuum not only professes an advanced AI for optimized cleaning, but it does much more. It’s got an integrated camera with two-way audio. It’s got motion sensing security technology. And you can manage it all remotely from your app. How does all of

Trifo Lucy AI Robot Vacuum review – Should I be concerned that it watches me while it works? Read More

Shokz OpenRun Pro sports headphones review – Time to get moving!

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REVIEW – What is this sorcery?!? I’m testing the Shokz OpenRun Pro sports headphones, which feature bone-conducting technology for those with active lifestyles. These are a game changer for me. Let’s find out more. To the review!! What is it? Shokz OpenRun Pro sports headphones are bone conduction open ear headphones. What’s in the box? You’ll

Shokz OpenRun Pro sports headphones review – Time to get moving! Read More

Rolling Square Edge Kit review – attach your phone to your laptop

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REVIEW – I am always fumbling for my phone while I am working. It’s awkward. But look at me now! My laptop and my phone are living in perfect harmony thanks to the Rolling Square Edge Kit. This kit not only mounts my phone next to my moneymaker, but it adds some extra features as

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