Product Review: Sole Support Rocky" V2 Winter Insulated Boots

 

This is a good pair of insulated, steel-toed boots from The Sole Support. I live in a region with cold winters and we just got a slight dusting of snow that left sidewalks and driveways a bit slick. The boots have good traction, and I was able to walk across the driveway without any issues. They are comfortable and warm, fit well, and have decent support around the foot and ankle.  They come with wire laces that can be tightened by turning the dial on the tongue of the shoe. You pull the dial out to loosen them and then push it back in when you want to "tie" them again. They also come with a pair of regular shoelaces if you would rather use them. The company claims they are waterproof, but I will probably not get a sense of how legitimate that claim is until closer to spring when there are puddles outside. But my initial impression is they are a good pair of winter boots for everyday use (meaning not trudging through extremely deep snow) and reasonably priced (at a little over $100). They are manufactured in and shipped from China, so it does take about a week or so to arrive (if you use standard shipping) once they are shipped. 

Product Review: RIOLAND Stair Treads Carpet Non-Slip Indoor Stair Runners

 

I had the stairs from my front entry to the main floor of my townhouse covered with vinyl plank flooring. When that happened, the dog thought that the stuff was hot lava and would almost jump down the stairs, hurting himself a couple of times. So, I got these to provide some better tread on the stairs. He can now go down the stairs to the front door much easier. 

They are very easy to install, but the sticky backing (which I describe more as tacky than sticky) does not secure them to vinyl plank flooring. After reading some reviews, I decided to cover my bases and get a roll of carpet tape when I purchased these in case I needed it. I used that to secure these at the ends and in the middle (because, as another reviewer noted, the middle pops up because they are folded in the box), which keeps them very secure on the stairs. They are not extremely thick, but they do the job well, making the stairs safer, especially if you walk up them with wet shoes. 

Product Review: Sonos One (1st Generation)

 

I do not consider myself to be an audiophile so I am not sure how this compares with any of the Bose speakers, but comparing it against a first-generation echo unit (the tall one with the better speakers and sound quality) this blows that out of the water. Even with the volume set relatively low, I can hear details in songs or commercials that I could never hear through the echo. And the bass is so good that I sometimes mistake it for my neighbors making noise next door (I am in a townhouse with walls that are pretty easy to hear through).

It does have Alexa functionality (you have to put in your Amazon details in the Sonos app, and set it up in the Alexa app). It is a bit time-consuming but fairly straightforward. As long as you are not technophobic anyway. It can do most (but not all) of the things that a "regular" echo device can. It does not have as many microphones as the regular Echo does, so I find it spotty in responding correctly to the commands I say. It cannot do the "drop-in" functionality that the regular echo units can that allows people to talk to each other through the devices, and it also, at least for now, does not have the ability to have the wake word changed from Alexa to Echo. I preferred to use the latter, but this will only respond to Alexa as the wake word. That is really only a minor detail though. You can also connect it to an iHeart Radio, Pandora, Spotify, etc. account without having to go through the Alexa app. So if you do not have Amazon Prime you can still listen to content on any of those services.

One thing I hope will be changed in the future is the ability to connect it to a smart TV. For the moment it can only connect to other Sonos speakers, but cannot connect wirelessly to a TV. Aside from those relatively small issues, at least for me, it is a great option for a higher-end speaker that is a bit more affordable than some of the other options.

Product Review: Firestick TV Stick

 

I cut the cord a few years ago, canceling my satellite TV and switching to all streaming. I purchased this to use on one of my non-smart televisions to stream movies, TV, etc. The installation is fairly straightforward, depending on the quality of your wi-fi connection and router. When I connected it, I was having problems mainly because of a slow internet connection and poor router, so it took a lot longer than normal (and a lot longer than it did to connect when I upgraded my internet with a new modem and router) to connect to wi-fi and get it set up. 

It was fairly easy to use once it was set up (after discovering it somehow caused my router to reset itself and set up a new ID name and Password). Since upgrading my internet, however, that has not happened again. The home screen has all the Amazon video material on it and any apps you download, such as CBS, Hulu, HBO-GO, etc. If you are a Prime member, anything you can watch for free in the Amazon material is denoted with the Prime banner. The remote is a bit dinky and could have more buttons on it, but once you get used to it, it is fairly easy to use. Because the fire stick is plugged in behind the TV, you sometimes have to press things on the remote a couple of times to get it to respond. 

The only thing that can be a bit irritating is any time you download an app, even a free one such as the Fox TV app or PBS, it will essentially place an order through Amazon (you are not charged anything, of course), and you get an order confirmation email for each one. That gets to be a bit of a pain if you download a bunch of apps at once, but is ultimately a pretty minor issue. All-in-all it works well to turn a non-smart TV (as long as the TV has HDMI ports, which anything relatively new will) into a smart TV. Mine eventually died when it would no longer load, even working with Amazon's customer service. I am unsure if that was an issue common to early generations of the Firestick, but it is something to be aware of.

Product Review: Dishwasher Magnet Clean Dirty Sign

 

This is a small rectangular magnetic sign that can go on the front of the dishwasher. It has a door that can slide left and right to show whether the dishes in the dishwasher are clean or dirty. It is small enough (about 6 inches long and 2 inches high) to fit above most dishwashers' handles. And the magnet is strong enough to keep it in place. It also has a couple of adhesive stickers that you can use if the front of your dishwasher is not magnetic (e.g., if you have a cabinet panel on the front of your dishwasher). It is handy, especially if you have multiple people in your household.

Product Review: SAMSICHI Bidet Toilet Attachment

 

I have heard for years that people who have bidets love them. A family member suggested I get one for my aging mother who was having trouble cleaning after going to the bathroom, so I was looking for one that was simple to use (which this absolutely is) and relatively inexpensive. 

The bidet attaches to any standard toilet, as long as you have enough space between the toilet and the walls. It is very easy to hook up, and the instructions are very clear. The first toilet I installed it on has a grab bar attachment that also connects between the toilet seat and the base of the toilet. This was able to be installed along with the bar attachment without a problem, and the instructions to hook it up to the water line are very clear. It comes with a nice quality hose and connectors, and I have had no issues with water leaking from any of the attachment points.

This is very simple to operate. There are just four buttons, one to clean the nozzle, one for a rear wash, one for a feminine wash, and an off button. The dial on the side will increase or decrease the intensity of the spray. The only thing to note is that after you push one of the buttons, it does not shut off by itself. It will keep spraying (or cleaning the nozzles) until you push the stop button.  My mom liked it so much and hyped it up enough that I got a second one for myself.  It is absolutely worth the money, and I absolutely recommend it.

Product Review: Air Vent Deflector

 

This is a three-pack of magnetic air vent deflectors that hold on any metal vent and direct air horizontally into a room as opposed to straight down (like most ceiling vents) or straight up (like most floor vents). They have a single magnet on each side. There are similar deflectors that have two magnets on each side that definitely hold onto vents better, but I have one of these on both a ceiling and floor vent and they hold on just fine. The ones on the floor vents get bumped with a robotic vacuum and do not get bumped off or moved. The plastic portions can slide apart to accommodate the length of the vent you put it on. The plastic is not extremely heavy, but it is not cheap and flimsy either. I definitely think this is worth the price.

Product Review: COFACE Men's Memory Foam Slip On Slippers

 

These slippers have pros and cons. On the plus side, they are extremely comfortable. The memory foam feels really good on your feet, and they are warm. On the minus side, however, they easily slip off your feet, whether you are barefoot or have socks on. The toe is closed, which was a plus for me since the big reason I got them is to keep from stubbing my toes against my bed frame. However, because the back of the slipper does not go over your heel any significant amount your feet can slide right out of them, especially when going up or down stairs. 

So, I generally wear these in my room when I am walking around the bed or when I am going to the bathroom, but do not wear them when I am otherwise doing stuff around the house, especially if I am going from one level to another. If the back went up over your heel so it was more like a soft slip-on shoe, it would easily be a five-star product. But, because they slide off your feet too easily, that knocks them down a couple of stars for me.

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 PUERSI Cookbook Stand (Wooden Cookbook Holder)

 

This is a pretty simple, but very nice-looking, cookbook stand. It is easy to put together and does not require any tools to assemble. You just slide the two notches together and set it down.

The stand is smaller than the picture makes it seem, but it will hold a reasonably-sized book (a book with 8.5" x 11" size pages with around 400 pages, give or take). It is too small, however, to hold an oversized book or a book that has a lot of pages such as the "America's Test Kitchen" cookbook, which has large pages and is well over 1000 pages long. 

The stand can easily fit in the corner of your counter without taking up too much space. It is perfect if you have a part of the counter that is kind of a "dead zone" that is too small for prep space or to put something like a blender. The stand could be a bit larger to accommodate larger books. But, for the books that it can hold, it does a great job, it looks nice on the counter, and does not feel flimsy.

Product Review: Lasko 5435 Max-Endurance Oscillating Ceramic Heater

 

I use this as a space heater at work because my office can get a bit cold in the winter, even with the building heater running. It works very well to keep a relatively small space warm. It is a bit loud, so if you do have to be on the phone quite a bit, you may have to turn it off to hear the phone call. Other than that, however, it is a good option if you need extra heat in a single room.

Product Review: DG Casa Bardy Upholstered Panel Bed Frame

 

I have a king-size bed on an adjustable base that my dog is small enough to get under. I am worried about him getting under there when I don't know it and getting hurt when I use the adjustable base, so I was looking for a frame that I could put around the bed to keep the dog (a 15-pound schoodle) from going under it. This is a bed kit (headboard, side rails, footboard, and crossbars) that will fit around an adjustable base (at least the Purple regular king adjustable base), but it is not a perfect fit (at least if the adjustable base is set up first). If you are putting it around an adjustable base you will use all the pieces except the crossbars.

The box is smaller than you would expect because most of the pieces are zipped into the back of the headboard. When you get it delivered, the box is just under 80lbs and it is helpful to have two people move it. But, once you get the headboard out and unzip the back, one person can move all of the pieces pretty comfortably (albeit not necessarily easily). There is some assembly required. For example, you do have to attach the legs and the sides to the headboard frame, connect the side boards together, and put the feet on the footboard. The instruction page is fairly clear on what all of the parts are, and what parts are to be used in which steps. All of the screws and washers are in a single bag, so it is very helpful to sort them out ahead of time which will make putting everything together much easier. The hardest part, if you are putting it together around an existing adjustable base will be to connect the side boards to the headboard and footboard. Basically, there are 8 screws, two on each side of the headboard and two on each side of the footboard that brackets on the side boards slip over and then you tighten the screws. It is not easy to get at the screws on the second side once you get one side put together. That said, the end product is very good.

I put this together by myself in about an hour and a half (aside from the crossbars which I obviously did not need). I love having a headboard that prevents my pillows from falling between the bed and the wall, and it looks nice. And, it does a good job preventing the dog from getting under the bed which was the main purpose I got this for. I absolutely recommend it.

Supplement Review: Legion Recharge Post Workout Supplement

 

I use this after any high-impact cardio workout or after lifting/circuit training. It definitely helps with post-workout soreness. It mixes well (I use a Blendjet 2 to mix it, and there are no lumps left after the 20-second cycle). I have not tried just putting it in a water bottle or shaker cup and shaking it though, but with something like a small blender, it mixes fine. 

The fruit punch flavor tastes pretty good although it is not as good as the original P90X post-workout drink (which I do not think is being made anymore) that they sold when the program first came out, which tasted like a creamsicle. But, this is a bit less expensive than that was, and gets you more servings than that did. And, it is not loaded with sugar like some post-workout powders are. I definitely recommend it.

Supplement Review: Vitafusion Fiber Well Sugar Free Fiber Supplement

 

While this is not a substitute for getting fiber through foods, it is a good way to boost your fiber consumption (you get five grams of fiber from two gummies) in order to help you hit a fiber target (or just get a bit more fiber than you normally would). They are sweetened with sugar alcohol and have ten calories per serving. Basically, they taste like gummy bears without having the sugar and calorie content, and way more fiber than gummy bears will ever get you. And, they are way better than most of those fiber powders that you can mix with water or juice.

Product Review: Amazon Basics Upholstered Storage Rectangular Ottoman and Entryway Bench

 

This is a storage bench that is about the size of one and a half of those mid-sized plastic storage bins that you can get from any store. I use mine in my front entryway to store off-season coats, hats, gloves, etc. It is the perfect size for that. It is also something that you can easily put in a living room to store things like kid's toys, pet toys, or anything that you just want to keep out of the way and use as a footrest in front of a couch. 

The best thing about it is that you do not have to assemble anything. It is put together (including the legs) right out of the box. So, the hardest part will actually be getting it out of the shipping box. It is a great value for the money (as long as it is still in the $75-$95 range). If it is being sold for higher than that, then you may want to look for something else because I do not think it is worth more than $100. I definitely recommend it if you are looking for some kind of "hidden" storage solution.

Product Review: Energizer CR1632 3V Lithium Coin Battery (5-Pack)

 

These are the coin-sized batteries that are used in at least some of the tile trackers. You get 5 for a reasonable price and, at least so far, I have not had issues with them draining too fast. They are definitely worth the pickup if you have some device that requires them.

Product Review: CAP Barbell Coated Dumbbell Weight

 

This is a 12-pound hex dumbbell. These are gym-quality dumbbells, with a rubber coating on the ends. It appears that sometimes the page on Amazon offers just one dumbbell (making it necessary to purchase two at a time to get a set), and other times they are sold in pairs. So, pay particular attention when you are ordering if it just adds one to your cart or a pair, and order accordingly. I ordered the 12-lb dumbells (they were being sold as a pair when I purchased them) and they arrived in time and did not appear to be used at all, and were exactly as I expected them.

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: Ring Indoor Cam (1st Gen)

 

This is a set of two indoor Ring Cameras. I got them mainly to be able to keep an eye on and communicate with, a disabled parent, aimed at the staircases so I can be alerted of motion on the stairs and monitor for falls. They are very easy to set up (basically you download the ring app, select the option to add a new device, scan the QR code on the back of the camera, and follow the instructions). If you are familiar with setting up devices like Amazon Echo, smart speakers, or the like, you can easily set these up. The App has a free tier and a paid monthly subscription tier. The big difference between the paid tier and the free version is that movement activity will not be recorded on the free tier, so you cannot see what happened earlier. You can only get a live view.

Once you set them up, you can customize zones in the camera's view to detect motion, and you can turn the motion detection schedule on and off, for example, if you only want to detect motion from a camera overnight, or when you are out of the house, at work, or something like that, you can. That will keep you from getting notifications when you do not need them. You can also snooze notifications for a period of time. You can also, under the privacy settings, set up zones in the camera's field of view that will not be recorded. So, yes are some privacy options, although it does not appear that you can totally turn off the camera for a duration without unplugging it. You can also set the motion detection to alert only when a person is moving, so it does not chime every time a pet moves around (during the free trial and then if you pay for the subscription after that).

The video is very good. Even at night with all the lights off, you can see very well. Much better than old grainy security cameras where everything looks like pixelated blobs. The only con is that they do lose connection to the wireless signal from time to time. Sometimes it is very easy to get them reconnected just using the app, and sometimes you have to unplug the cameras and plug them back in to get them to reconnect. Overall, however, I am very happy with the purchase and definitely recommend these.