REVIEW – During the pandemic, my wife and I built a camper into a box trailer. A big part of that build was an entire 12V power system, including solar panels, a solar charge controller, a DC-AC inverter, and a battery. The battery is the key to this system because nothing works without it. When […]
REVIEW – It used to be that you had two choices for TV audio – the tiny speakers that are built into TVs or large home theater systems with many speakers that dominate the room. Then soundbars became popular and added a third option for folks that wanted much better sound than a TV can
Ultimea Apollo S50 Detachable Soundbar review – Better TV sound, with a few options! Read More
REVIEW – When I was a kid, we planned a ski trip to the mountains of West Virginia. The forecast was shaping up to be VERY cold, so my dad got me a pair of heated socks. They were wool socks with a bunch of D batteries in a holder that strapped to your
Kemimoto Classic Heated Vest review – Stay warm, just about anywhere! Read More
REVIEW – It seems like most of the activities I’m involved with involve mud. Caving, mountain biking, and trail running can get you very dirty, often far from any “normal” places where you could clean up. Additionally, you usually end up with muddy gear. This leaves me with the option to drive home sweaty and
Flextail Max portable shower review – clean off, anywhere! Read More
REVIEW – I’ve been on a mission to simplify the home theater setup in our living room. There is a squirrel’s nest of wires behind all the cabinets and in each corner, and there are speakers everywhere. Much of the equipment is around 15 years old, and we really just don’t use it. So I
REVIEW – Electric scooters are all the rage among city commuters. They are generally light, portable, powerful, and efficient. I’ve tried several, and as someone over 6 feet tall, I often feel cramped. And with height comes weight (190 lb, in my case), and with weight comes a need for power. Enter the InMotion S1
InMotion S1 electric scooter review – A comfortable ride, that’s just a bit larger Read More
REVIEW – Dash cameras have become inexpensive, small, and the quality of the imagery has really improved in the last few years. With all that improvement, it seems like a no-brainer to get a dash cam. At best, you could protect yourself in a lawsuit or dispute with an insurance company. Or you can just
Ombar DC42 Dash Cam review – a cheap insurance policy while driving Read More
REVIEW – My house has largely had the same holiday decorations for the last 10 or so years. This includes a tired “plastic” wreath on the front door, that so many of the needles have fallen off of that it looks more like a wreath of wire than greens. And it never had lights –
REVIEW – There are a lot of Bluetooth speakers out there. Most people I know have several, so for one to stand out in the market, it has to be unique. The House of Marley Get Together 2 stands out in a few ways. It uses unique and recycled materials. It looks pretty cool. And
REVIEW – Wood-fired “twig” stoves that work on the principle of wood gasification are all the rage right now in the “off-grid” community. The Tom Shoo stove and titanium pot represent a low-cost but very effective way to cook most things without using any electricity, propane, or gasoline. There are some tradeoffs, but with practice,
Tom Shoo Wood Stove and Titanium Pot review – Wood fired camp cooking is fun! Read More
REVIEW – A while back, I reviewed the Luxear Arc-Chill Cooling Comforter. I found that it was a very well made and comfortable summer comforter with some neat technology that could actually keep you cool on steamy nights. Luxear also has cooling pillowcases with the same technology built in. But does it work the same
Luxear Cooling Pillowcases review – Cooling technology for a better night’s sleep Read More
REVIEW – I love to read, but increasingly find the only time I have to read is in bed, right before going to sleep. Our bedroom has nightstands with lamps, but as I’ve grown older (and my eyes have gotten worse!) those lamps don’t quite cut it for reading. Enter the Glocusent rechargeable LED neck
Glocusent LED Neck Reading Light review – Gentle light, right where you need it Read More
REVIEW – There are historically four main calls for roadside service; flat tires, dead batteries, keys locked in the car, and out of gas. With modern cars, it’s now next to impossible to lock the keys inside. And running out of gas is usually driver error. But wouldn’t it be nice to have a small
REVIEW – For the last 10 years, my goto carry-on bag was a free overnighter that I got from work. It’s about as cheap as luggage can be and still function. When the opportunity to review the Roam medium duffel came up, the timing was perfect – a busy summer travel season and a current
Roam Medium Duffel review – Custom luggage that’s a pleasure to use Read More
REVIEW – We are in an era of smart things. Smartphones. Smartwatches. But smart furniture? I didn’t even know this was a thing that I needed. But it turns out that I did! There is this chair in our family room that the kids love to sit in. Because of that, it usually has a
REVIEW – Ever wanted a nice little light on your patio or your backyard picnic table? No power in those locations? No problem; the Haoyishu solar table lamp has you covered. What is it? The HAOYISHU Solar Table Lamp is a battery-powered small table lamp, that can be charged from USB or solar. What’s in
HAOYISHU Solar Table Lamp review – A little light, anywhere you need it! Read More
REVIEW – I’ve reviewed one other electric scooter for this site, and it was honestly disappointing. It had a cool design, but really lacked the power to get around. This one is different – lots of power, comfort, and safety, but in a bit of a bland package. What is it? The Gotrax G6 is
Gotrax G6 electric scooter review – More power equals more fun! Read More
REVIEW – When I was a kid, there was one blanket in the house that was coveted by everyone. It was baby blue, had a pretty open weave, and was made of some synthetic fabric that made it both soft and lightweight. But the best feature was this probably polyester trim that went around the
Luxear Arc-Chill Cooling Comforter review – a blanket to keep you cool? Read More
REVIEW – As power stations are becoming more ubiquitous in the market, we’re starting to see some new segments emerge. One of those positive segments is a “value power station,” and the Deeno GT X1500 is one of the first aiming in that direction. At around $700 for a 1000 Wh power station, the Deeno
REVIEW – A few months ago, I reviewed my first e-bike, the Himiway Zebra. I surprised myself by really enjoying it and actually riding it quite a bit, mostly as a car replacement for short trips. When the opportunity came around to review another e-bike, I thought it would be a great opportunity for my
Engwe L20 electric bike review – All the power in a lower package, with a few issues Read More