Product Review: Fabric Resistance Bands

 

This is a set of three fabric resistance loops. I purchased them for use with the 645 Beachbody workout, but they can be used for any workout in which you are doing squats, leg lifts, or the like. The light gray band will provide the lightest resistance, the dark gray band will provide medium resistance, and the black band will provide heavy resistance. Most people, even those who are in relatively good shape will probably start out using the light band for most exercises and then work their way up to the heavier bands.

One big advantage to these over the rubber/latex loops/bands is that they hold their shape a lot better and will not roll or pinch your legs as you move, which can hurt, a lot, especially if you have hairy legs. They are not a total replacement for the rubber loops as there are still some things that those kinds of loops work better (for example, some lateral bound moves such as speed skaters with a band around your ankles), but for many types of exercises, these loops are a much better option.

Product Review: Deluxe Single Blu-Ray Replacement 11mm Thickness with Silver Embossed Logo (10 Pack)

 

This is a pack of ten 11 mm thick blu-ray cases. As most physical media collectors come to find out, when you order discs the cases can be damaged during production and/or shipping, but sometimes the discs themselves are fine. This is a way to swap out the case without the hassle of sending everything back and getting a replacement. They were packed very securely and arrived with no broken cases.

These cases are a standard size (or slightly thinner) than most one-disc blu-ray cases. But, the artwork from a regular blu-ray release will fit just fine (as opposed to the very thin cases that are 6 mm in which most artwork will bend if you try to to put it in the outer sleeve). So, if you are one of those people who still prefer buying physical discs to streaming, I absolutely recommend picking up a pack of these to replace any broken cases.

Product Review: MATCC Crampons Ice Snow Traction Cleats

 

I live in the upper Midwest, which is known for its horrible winters (from time to time anyway). My townhouse association does a crappy job at clearing off the ice that forms after the snow in the driveway is plowed, which can make it treacherous (to say the least) to bring the dog out, or walk down to the mailboxes in the winter. I have used these for a couple of years now and they do a great job of providing traction. I have found that they fit over a pair of sneakers a lot better than they do over a pair of boots, even relatively small boots. Putting them on sneakers is actually fine since it is really only when there is no snow on the ground to provide traction that makes it really hard to walk. Meaning, when there is a layer of ice, you are not walking through deep snow so wearing sneakers is doable.  The one pair of boots that I have that these do fit on has little to no grip when it is very icy out and it does work well on those. So, they can fit over a shoe or a pair of hiking boots pretty easily without the straps that come with them. If you have a pair of large boots (like Sorel boots) then you will need to get this a size or two larger than what your actual shoe size would indicate you need. I definitely recommend them if you live in a place that gets a lot of snow and/or ice in the winter, especially if you go hiking in the winter.

Product Review:2-Pack Air Filter Replacement Humidifier Wick Filters

 

This is a pack of two pretty small humidifier filters. So, depending on the size of the filters your humidifier needs, you may have to use both of them with the long side pointed up/vertically. They are the same thickness, however, as the other square filters out there, so assuming that one or both fit your humidifier they do work.

Product Review: WORX WX082L 4V ZipSnip Cordless Electric Scissors

 

This is definitely good for cutting thin things like wrapping paper, mesh (like screen material), etc. Basically, it can cut through anything that is relatively thin. It is not good for cutting stuff like thicker, cardboard, or anything much thicker than a couple of sheets of paper. But, for what it can cut, especially for long straight cuts that may be needed, it is much faster and easier than using scissors.

Product Review: TP-Link N300 WiFi Extender(RE105)

 

My townhouse is split-level and has dead zones on the upper level (my router is in my office in the basement). I bought two of them, and they definitely boost the signal on the upper levels and eliminate or reduce the dead zones. This is very easy to set up. You just plug it in near your router, push the WPS button on the router and the WPS button on the extender, then wait for the blinking light on the extender to turn solid. Then you can unplug the extender and move it to where you want the signal boost. Now I am getting the same Wi-Fi signal strength on the upper floors of my townhouse as I can in the basement. Given that these are relatively inexpensive, I definitely recommend this if you have a house that has Wi-Fi dead zones.

Product Review: Umbra Venti Swing-Top 16.5-Gallon Kitchen Trash Lid– Large, 35-inch Tall Garbage Can

 

The first can I received was shipped in a huge Amazon box, with a smaller inner box (with old labels on it) indicating that it may have been a returned item. The inner box was all bent up, and when I opened it, the can had two huge cracks on each side of the cylinder, which basically caused the thing to fall apart. Needless to say, I returned that one. I just received the replacement which was shipped in a smaller box, was packaged much better, and was not damaged at all.

I use the SimpleHuman "P" type trash bags which were way too big for my 10-gallon garbage can. They fit perfectly in this, and I am definitely not wasting a portion of the bag now with the can filling up before the bag does. I like that there is a ring to hold the bag in place and keep it from slipping down into the interior of the can. I am not a huge fan of the swing-type lid, but as long as you do not have something that is too stinky in the can it is not a huge issue. But, one thing that would make it better is a lid that fully closes the interior.

Product Review: HDMI Switch 4K HDMI Splitter-Techole Aluminum Bi-Directional HDMI Switcher 2 Input 1 Output

 

I mounted my TV on the wall, and the mount covers one of the HDMI ports, making it impossible to access. So, I bought this so I could have both my Firestick and my blu-ray player connected to the TV without having to unplug a cable every time. A couple of things should be noted about this. First, it is a switch, not a splitter. So it does not allow for multiple displays on a single screen. It just allows you to switch between two devices by pushing the button on top of the unit. Second, it does not have its own power supply. It gets power by having something like a FireStick or Roku plugged into it (which is likely preferrable to most people). So, with those provisos, it works very well for what it is intended, and I definitely recommend it.

Product Review: 120PCS Push Pins, Plastic Head Transparent Thumb Tacks

 

This is a pretty basic collection of standard-sized thumb-tacks/push-pins. The small box they come in does not close very tightly, however, so you may want to transfer them into something that closes a bit better. During shipping, the small box had popped open inside the Amazon box it was shipped in, and tacks were all over the inside. Not a huge issue for me, but a bit of a pain nonetheless.

Product Review: WOVTE Bear Claw Black Telescopic Back Scratcher

 

This is a very compact back scratcher. I got it for my mom who is currently undergoing chemotherapy treatments. One of the side effects she is dealing with is hives that cause her to itch all over. This is small enough when compressed down to its smallest size to carry in a bag, backpack, satchel, purse, etc., but extends enough to reach your entire back. It is sturdy, but not so sturdy that you want to have something heavy sit on top of it for very long or drop something on it. Overall, however, it is definitely worth the pickup.

Product Review: Langov Elbow Brace For Men And Women (Pair) – Elbow Compression Sleeve For Tendonitis, Weightlifting, Golfers & Tennis Elbow Brace

 

I picked these up when I was battling tennis elbow for a few weeks, using an ACE bandage around my elbow when working out. I found this in a search for something that was a better solution, and it definitely helped a lot. I ordered the XL using their size chart. Although I was skeptical if that would fit correctly, I found that, at least for me, it did. I did see other reviewers on Amazon mentioned that the size chart is off, but it seems like that varies person-by-person. 

They give just the right amount of compression so that I do not feel pain when working out, yet, do not inhibit my range of motion or blood flow. It is also nice that you get a pair of them in a pack, in case you need two of them. I definitely recommend this for anyone who needs to keep their elbow wrapped and does not want to deal with an ACE bandage.

Product Review: Cable Matters 2-Pack Braided Low Profile Flat Power Cord 6 ft

 

These are not one of those extension cords you can plug multiple things into. I am using these to plug in a power recliner that is kind of in the middle of my living room. The good thing about these is that they are low profile enough that they can sit under a rug. While they will not be absolutely flat, will allow a rug to lie mostly flat. I definitely recommend them.

Product Review: Crescent Creative Products Perfect Pro Picture Frame Wall Hanging Tool with Level

 

This is a picture-hanging tool that is mainly for hanging larger pictures or even posters where you may have hooks on each side of the frame. This allows you to hang your picture level by getting the width needed, setting the arms of the hanging tool in place, taking it to the wall, and marking where the nail holes go. The tool has a built-in level so you do not have to guess where the nail holes need to line up with each other. It is definitely worth the purchase.

Product Review: Paint Roller Cover, Paint Roller Kit 9 Inch 3/8 Inch Nap

 

You can get a couple of coats in a decent-sized room or front entryway with these before they start shedding. They also do rinse off fairly well with water so if you have not used them up at the end of your paint job, they can be cleaned and reused. They are not as durable as some of the more expensive roller pads, but they give you good coverage and are good for smaller jobs. If you are painting multiple rooms in the same color, however, you may want to get ones that last a bit longer.

Product Review: Wooster 48493 Deluxe Metal Paint Tray

 

This is an affordable and very sturdy paint tray. It is reusable, especially if you use paint tray liners while you are painting. And, it is large enough that you can get a good amount of paint in it and do not have to constantly refill it. It is definitely worth the price.

Product Review: Shur-Line 2007053 Premium Corner Painter

 

I like the concept of this, but the execution is a bit off. The idea is that you can edge two walls at the same time by putting paint on each side of the edger. However, I found that to get good enough coverage that you do not leave bare spots you have to coat both sides with so much paint it is prone to dripping on the floor, so you definitely need to keep any floors you do not want paint dripped on covered with a drop cloth. And, while you can put it on a paint pole, it is very hard to control the paint coverage when doing so.

Product Review: 4K HDMI Cable 10 ft - Atevon High Speed 18Gbps HDMI 2.0 Cable

 

When I remodeled my townhouse I switched out my old wood-burning fireplace with a gas fireplace. I decided to mount my TV above the fireplace on the drywall bump out where the gas insert is mounted. I got this to run through the drywall from the side of the bump-out to the front where the TV is mounted so I did not have to run a cable down the wall and around the corner to plug it into a Roku or blu-ray player. The cable is a perfect length to go through the wall and has enough length on either end to easily reach the HDMI ports on the TV and place a device at the other end where you want it. So, if you are looking to do something like that, I highly recommend this cable.

Product Review: Filtrete 16x25x1 Air Filter, MPR 300, MERV 5 Basic Dust 3-Month Pleated 1-Inch Air Filters

 

I had an older furnace (about 20 years old, give or take) that could not handle one of the heavy-duty filters. These are perfect as basic filters that I can replace every 1-3 months and are not prohibitively expensive. Even though I now have a newer furnace, these do keep it from getting too dusty and dirty (that and regular yearly maintenance), which is really the point of the air filters. 

Product Review: RIYCUOWT Damaged Screw Extractor

 

I got this because I had three braces for large floating shelves that had screws with stripped heads in them. I was able to use these to get some, but not all, of them out. If the head is damaged too much, these will not get them out. But, if they are not, these work as advertised. It is important that you have the drill in reverse at all times when you are using these otherwise it will not work to get the screws out.

Product Review: FROGTAPE 280222 Delicate Surface Painter's Tape with PaintBlock

 

I used this to tape around door frames so I could paint the walls around the doors (which had also been painted along with the frames). I specifically used the tape for delicate surfaces because the door frames had been newly painted. When taking this off, some of the paint did come off the doors. The tape would remove fine, then pull a bunch of the paint from the door off, then be fine again. so, needless to say, the door frames needed touching up again. And, the tape did allow some amount of bleed-through in some spots. So, it does not work as advertised, at least in some situations.