ARTICLE – The year 2020 was a difficult one for pretty much everyone on the planet. We saw some seriously major catastrophes, some planetwide, some more localized. There were also innumerable minor personal tragedies, things like missed graduations, weddings, birthday parties, etc. For me, the cancellation of an in-person 2020 New York Comic Con, while […]
New York Comic Con 2021 trip report Read More
REVIEW – Even in uneventful times everyone should own or have access to a good first aid kit. In many emergencies being able to respond quickly with the appropriate gear is one of the few ways to prevent catastrophe. Having worked briefly as a first responder, I know that having the right resources available in
My Medic Recon & MyFAK First Aid Kits review – Always be prepared! Read More
REVIEW – In my never-ending quest to always be prepared for any eventuality I’ve accumulated quite a few portable power units. Large and small, these power packs are strewn about my apartment, stored in pockets and backpacks, or stashed away in bins patiently awaiting the apocalypse. None of the many battery packs I own though
Goal Zero Yeti 1000 Core Portable Power Station review – Power all the things! Read More
REVIEW – Ever since bushcraft knives first came to my attention, I’ve been a big fan, mainly because of their incredible versatility. Bushcraft knives are designed specifically to tackle a ton of difficult tasks and are purpose-built for strength and durability. Swedish knifemaker Morakniv has been in the business of making some of the toughest
REVIEW – When assembling a kit for home defense, one of the most important considerations to make after deciding on a platform, is lighting. Whether you opt for a handgun, shotgun, carbine, or another platform altogether, your choice of a weapon-mounted flashlight is vital to the effectiveness of your setup. Every piece of equipment in
ThruNite TW10 Weaponlight review – USB-C rechargeable tactical light Read More
REVIEW – Since long-distance travel has been off the table for a while now, I’ve been making plans for shorter, closer-to-home trips. Inevitably, those trips involve long drives and off-the-grid locations. My usual EDC battery packs work fine to keep my power-hungry travel devices fed, but I have to pack three or four if the
Goal Zero Venture 75 Power Bank review Read More
REVIEW – Now that the pandemic restrictions are slowly being lifted across the country it’s time to get back out there and travel. For me, travel means jumping into my Toyota FJ with my adorable canine co-pilot, Addy, and hitting the road. While we’re out adventuring, keeping our food and drinks cold is a constant
AstroAI Electric Cooler review Read More
REVIEW – An integral part of any Everyday Carry (EDC) is a dependable flashlight. After all, if you can’t see what you’re doing the rest of your gear is pretty much useless. Over the years I’ve accumulated a good number of flashlights, most of them practically bombproof and reliable, some of them not so much.
Acebeam PT40 Multipurpose Work Flashlight review Read More
REVIEW – Ever since the Vinyl Revival began around 2007, I’ve been trying to convince myself to buy a new turntable. I’m a child of the 70s and 80s, so growing up I had a pretty big collection of LPs and 45s. I vividly remember the excitement of hearing a needle hit a new record
Victrola Eastwood Bluetooth Turntable review Read More
REVIEW – I’ve acquired quite a few new hobbies in the past year. The reasons for that are simple; global pandemic, boredom, no social life to speak of, etc. But what I can’t figure out is why each new hobby seems to be more costly than the last. There’s a clear, indirect relationship between my
Fix It Sticks – The Works Gun Field Maintenance Kit review Read More
REVIEW – Since working from home became the standard for me, along with millions of others, I’ve started to upgrade a lot of the equipment I use most frequently for my job. One item that has long needed upgrading is my webcam. I’ve been working remotely and attending endless daily video meetings for close to
AVerMedia PW315 1080p Wide Angle Webcam review Read More
ARTICLE – Having spent the majority of my life living and working in NYC, I’ve gotten pretty adept at making the best of small spaces. From the tiny one-room apartments I used to live in, to the slightly less tiny studios and startups I’ve worked for, space in NYC is always at a premium. Now
Gadgeteer team’s work from home (WFH) setups – Joe Porletto Read More
REVIEW – Working from home has brought about some serious challenges for a lot of people. Along with those challenges are some headaches that just aren’t quite as severe, but annoying nonetheless. For those of us who split our time between working and playing on the same computer, trying to find a setup that works
AUKEY KM-G12 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard review Read More
REVIEW – Since it’s pretty much impossible to see movies in a theatre right now, I’ve been looking for ways to make my home cinema experience a bit more exciting. One easy fix was to add backlighting, also known as bias lighting, to my television. Bias lighting helps increase picture contrast and reduce eye strain
Govee Flow Pro Wi-Fi TV Light Bars review Read More
REVIEW – A folding pocket knife has been part of my every day carry since I was ten years old, before I even knew what EDC meant. Not a day goes by without me using whatever knife I’m carrying, whether for opening packages, cutting loose threads off my shirt, or slicing up an apple. I
ROM Officer #1 Samurai Folding Knife review Read More
REVIEW – I have a lot of hobbies. Unfortunately for me, most of my hobbies require expensive equipment that constantly need maintenance. As a result, I’ve learned to make a lot of my own repairs and over the years I’ve acquired a good amount of specialty tools. Every year or so though I come across
DEPSTECH DS430 Dual-Lens Industrial Endoscope review Read More
REVIEW – One benefit of being forced to spend more time around the house during the pandemic is that now I’m able to jump back into some hobbies I’ve been neglecting. 3D printing is a hobby I really enjoy, but it can be costly and, before the pandemic, I never seemed to have enough time
Labists ET4 3D Printer review Read More
REVIEW – I work for a software company that is obsessed with security. The training sessions, emails, and reminders are endless, and with very good reason. Security, particularly the cyber variety, is a huge headache for everyone from national governments all the way down to corner bodegas and regular people like me. According to a
Apricorn Aegis Secure Key 3NXC review Read More
REVIEW – During this global pandemic everyone is slowly making their way through, video games have offered many a welcomed respite from the daily challenges they’re facing. Gaming subscriptions and purchases are on the rise compared to the same period pre-pandemic and this influx of interest and dollars is helping drive a lot of innovation,
GameSir X2 Type-C Mobile Gaming Controller review Read More
REVIEW – With wildfire season at its peak right now, the air quality in my city of Seattle has declined drastically. With all of that smoke blowing into town, this was the perfect time to review a device specifically designed to help alleviate some of the discomfort caused by the toxic haze, along with my
TruSens Z-2000 Air Purifier review Read More