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Bellroy Classic Plus Backpack review

REVIEW – That’s how I would describe the new Bellroy Classic Plus Backpack. After a month of testing, it just might be my favorite bag design of the year. To the review!

What is it?

It’s a 22-liter all-around backpack with a separate compartment for a 15” laptop designed for work, school, travel and play.

Hardware specs

  • 21” tall by 15” wide by 9” deep
  • 2.2 pounds
  • 22 liter capacity
  • YKK and YKK Aquaguard zips
  • Water-resistant Venture-weave polyester with leather accents

Design and features

The Bellroy Classic Plus is a smart looking bag. It’s a contemporary design that uses subtle geometry to put a grownup spin on the traditional bullet-shaped backpack form, without losing any of the function. Check out the sleek profile:

The combination of upscale materials and leather accents make this a bag that does high-end casual style right. You’ll also be able to pair it with a sports coat or business wear instead of a briefcase. It’s that good looking.

I was a huge fan of the Bellroy Tote Pack last year, and the Classic Plus continues that tradition of amazing construction. The primary material (called Venture weave) is supple with a nice texture. It imparts the same durability and water resistance as Cordura, without that rugged industrial feel. It’s a great choice to pair with the style of this bag.

The detail work is excellent, right up there with carry icons like Tom Bihn. YKK zips are used throughout, with Aquaguard zips on the external entry points for extra water resistance. You’ll find leather accents in all the right places. The supporting materials in the liners and pockets are just as good, and the finishing work throughout the bag is among the best I’ve seen. There isn’t a single detail that isn’t overbuilt, reinforced and trimmed to perfection. Check out some of the fine details:

The form factor is that of a top-loading pack, with two main compartments. Your laptop rides in the padded rear compartment, closest to your back. I’ve got a a 13” MacBook and my iPad Air in there for reference, but I’ve carried a 15” Thinkpad with no space issues:

You’ll also find a 5” by 9” flexible fabric pocket for your chargers and cables here, positioned at the top of the space for easy access. This pocket is designed so that it bellows into the main compartment, and doesn’t cramp your laptop space.

The 6″ deep main compartment is accessed by dual zips that, rather than set parallel to the vertical profile, are set at a reverse angle. This not only creates an interesting style element, but it also makes it easier to get into the depths of the space. There’s an  elastic pocket at the base that will take an oversized water bottle (I have a Contigo bottle in there in the pic):

On the inside front panel of the main compartment is a multipurpose storage pocket that also uses a bit of design magic to optimize the space. Here’s a look at the pocket from the inside of the bag:

Now check this out. See that shelf from the external view? That internal pocket bellows outward so that you can load it up without encroaching on the main compartment. Very clever. It also adds a bit of flair to the contemporary look:

You’ve also got two concealed external pockets for your quick-grab items, hidden behind concealed zips built into the seams of the bag. A horizontal zip at the top of the bag (behind the laptop zip) reveals a 10” by 2” flexible mesh pocket, suitable for a phone or other small stuff. Note that it’s anchored to the rear panel of the main compartment under the hood, so that doesn’t get in your way when rummaging in the bag:

The second external compartment is on the front face of the bag, accessed by a vertical zip. This 4” by 12” pocket includes a ring that could be used for your keys or an attachment point for organizer pouches. This pocket is also on the left side of the front panel, so it doesn’t compete with the internal water bottle pocket if you’re packed out.

The carry rig is really comfortable. A slender back pad runs the length of the back of the bag, and includes an extra bit of lower padding for lumbar support.

Wide, thinly padded shoulder straps are contoured to hug your body. You’ll also find locking collars to manage those extra strappy bits on the adjustment straps. The addition of a sternum strap helps stabilize your load and employ a unique magnetic clip design for easy connection and removal. Once it is clipped, it stays until you unlock it.

The Bellroy Classic Plus is rated at a 22 liter capacity, which seems about right based on my normal loadout. We’ll talk more about that in the next section.

Performance

The Bellroy Classic Plus Backpack is a finely-tuned bag that’s dialed in for the daily commuter. If you regularly carry a laptop and the assortment of office essentials, you’re going to love the simplicity and usability of this bag. Everything is easy to get to if you’re running into meetings or the coffee shop, and the slim profile is great for running lean. As I mentioned before, the grownup style of the bag makes it ideal as a briefcase replacement.

As far as capacity goes… it’s just about right for a daypack with a bit of room for extras. The Classic Plus makes optimal use of every square inch of the bag with some really innovative design. The whole build, however, is tight and compact. This is not the kind of bag that can accommodate your gym sneakers or a six-pack you snagged on the way home along with rest of your work stuff. The pocket for a hydration bottle (or even a bottle of wine!) is nicely tucked inside the bag for that streamlined look, but it will eat up a lot of usable space. The layout is so well executed, however, that I am OK with foregoing the extra capacity for the streamlined style and excellent usability. If you’re carrying your world on your back every day, this probably isn’t the best choice for you.

I should note that, while the bag is extremely comfortable to carry, there’s no back channel to promote air circulation. Heat can build up back there on a warm day. The padding on the back and the straps are also smooth; while this does mean that you’re not dealing with that scratchy mesh weave found on many packs, the shoulder straps can slip if you don’t use the sternum strap. These were both minor issues in my testing, but important to note as you are considering this bag.

I also see this bag as an excellent traveling companion or day-tripper. It is sized perfectly for under-seat stowage and looks good enough that you can use it for business meetings in addition to sightseeing trips at your destination.

There’s another aspect of this bag that merits serious consideration: the value. Style-oriented bags can get expensive pretty quickly. The Bellroy Classic Plus gets you high-end style, innovative design, and superb construction for under $200. That’s really impressive.

What I like

  • Top-tier construction and materials
  • Contemporary styling
  • Excellent layout and usability
  • Extremely comfortable for all-day carry
  • Sized just about perfect for a daypack and carry on

What needs to be improved

  • The layout favors organized packing, which may not work for some users
  • Back panel can get sweaty on warm days
  • Shoulder straps can slip a bit without using the sternum strap

Final thoughts

Bellroy has become one of my favorite carry brands, and the Classic Plus Backpack is another winner. There’s a lot to love here as a work bag, a day-tripper, or a travel companion. In my opinion, it’s also a relative bargain at a $179 price point. Given the quality of the bag, you’re getting huge value for the dollar. If you’re looking for an upgrade to that bargain backpack you’ve been hauling around, this is one that should be on your short list.

Price: $179.00
Where to buy:Bellroy web site and Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Bellroy.

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Bellroy Classic Plus Backpack review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 24, 2018 at 9:00 am.

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HyperX Pulsefire FPS Pro gaming mouse review

REVIEW – I’m a huge fan of good accessories for my PC for home or work. I need a good sturdy keyboard and solid mouse for regular tasks as well as some light gaming. I prefer first-person shooters like Overwatch and CS:GO, and got the chance to review the HyperX Pulsefire FPS Pro mouse, I had to give it a try!

What is it?


The HyperX Pulsefire FPS Pro is a gaming mouse equipped with RGB lighting, precision sensor and six programmable buttons for customization. I was also sent the HyperX FURY S Pro gaming mouse pad which its optimized for use with the HyperX Pulsefire FPS Pro.

Hardware specs

  • Pixart 3389 sensor with native DPI up to 16,000
  • Attached braided USB cable
  • RGB lighting
  • Six programmable buttons
  • Onboard memory to store customizations
  • Extra-large mouse skates for smooth, controlled gliding
  • Weight: 4.6 oz
  • Dimensions: 5in x 2.8in x 1.7in

What’s in the box?

  • HyperX Pulsefire FPS Pro
  • User manual

Design and features

The HyperX Pulsefire FPS Pro comes in a sleek slate grey color, with an RGB backlit HyperX logo on the palm of the mouse and RGB backlight on the scroll wheel. It has a good hefty weight to it and fits the palm of the hand nicely.

On each side of the mouse, there are black, textured side grips to prevent slippage.

The USB cord is braided, which allows flexibility in movement around the desk.

The bottom of the mouse has nice large surface skates to glide over a desk or mouse pad.

Setup

Setup was a breeze as the mouse is wired USB. Upon connection, I was prompted to install the HyperX NGenuity software. This allows for customization of key bindings, RGB lighting, and macro recording on various profiles.

Full range of RGB color effects are customizable as well as DPI sensitivity levels.

The HyperX NGenuity software also allows for six customized button assignments and macros.

Performance

The HyperX Pulsefire FPS Pro gaming mouse is a pleasure to use for both gaming and everyday tasks. The cursor tracking was excellent, as I was able to customize the speed and sensitivity to my preference. The weight is perfect and feels smooth due to the ergonomic design of the mouse.

As mentioned previously, I was sent the extra large HyperX FURY S Pro gaming mouse pad, which was great to keep my speakers, keyboard, and mouse on top of. It was nice to use with the Pulsefire FPS Pro mouse, but not too necessary for the desk I use.

It has anti-fray stitched edges and a rubber textured underside, so everything on top of it stays stable and doesn’t slip around.

What I like

  • Well built construction
  • Smooth optical sensor
  • Software for customizable buttons and DPI settings

What needs to be improved

  • The mouse is a bit big for my medium sized hands, but this is a personal preference and doesn’t affect usage
  • The HyperX Fury S Pro mouse pad had a strong chemical smell uponopening, but lightens after time

Final thoughts

I really enjoyed using the HyperX Pulsefire FPS Pro even though it was a bit big for my grip. I tend to pick up the mouse alot while moving it, so that may or may not work for you. It feels great in hand otherwise, and I like customizing the lighting and programmable buttons via their software. If you want a smooth user experience and mouse upgrade, I’d recommend picking one up. The HyperX Fury S Pro mouse pad is optional, but good if you need a large anti-skid surface for the mouse to glide over.

Price: $59.99
Where to buy: HyperXgaming.com and Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided by HyperX.

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HyperX Pulsefire FPS Pro gaming mouse review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 23, 2018 at 11:00 am.

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Tactical Emergency Flashlight Kit Escape Tool review

REVIEW – In my world, the answer to the question “Do I need another flashlight?” is always the same: YES! The MeetIdea Tactical Emergency Flashlight Kit Escape Tool is definitely a welcome addition to my collection. I have flashlights everywhere – in the Jeep, in the truck, in my photography bag, and all over the house.

What is it?

The MeetIdea Tactical Emergency Flashlight Kit Escape Tool is a multi-function 5-in-1 car escape tool includes a car charger, power bank, seatbelt cutter, window breaker, and emergency light.

What’s in the box?

  • Tactical Emergency Flashlight Kit Escape Tool
  • Light Cones
  • USB Cable


Design and features

The Tactical Emergency Flashlight Kit Escape Tool came to me with a bit of reservation on my part. I’ve seen many aluminum flashlights that look great, but once you get them in your hand you realize that they’re just cheap junk. This flashlight was an exception to that.

The box looked really nice and as often is the case, indicated that there was some pride in its packaging as well as its construction. Normally I don’t open a product box until I’m ready to photograph it, to keep fingerprints and dust to a minimum, but this one looked so nice I just had to handle it.

From the moment I picked it up, I was not disappointed.

Being attracted to shiny objects, the first thing I noticed about this item was the serrated attack head. It’s milled from stainless steel, and has well-defined edges, but not too sharp as to damage your pocket while you’re carrying it. The first thing I thought was “I would NOT want to take a hit to the face with this thing!” The attack head also unscrews, making it easy to remove and clean the front lens of the light.

The power switch is accented with a complementary metal ring, making it easier to visually locate, and is positioned in exactly the right spot and has a very nice feel to the click when changing modes. The 300 lumen LED light has four modes: High, Low, Blink, and SOS. To start the SOS mode, simply hold the power button for 3 seconds.


I found the light to be plenty bright enough, in fact for anything close to you the low power mode is plenty. The photos below were shot at the same exposure, with the swingset being about 50 feet from me.


Advertised as “At least 2 hours battery life under bright mode, 200 mins for strobe mode.”, I ran it for over 2.5 hours on bright mode.

The knurled hand grip provides a skidproof gripping surface without being overly aggressive. The narrower hand grip area fits nicely in the hand for use in either direction. The body portion has o-rings to seal it, but I’m not sure just how waterproof the entire light would be considering the USB ports at the back.

At the base of the light is the multi-function portion featuring a 12-volt car charger with 2.4a and 1.0 amp USB charging ports, a seat belt cutter, and a tungsten steel window breaking tip. The charger features a blue ring LED light that helps with locating the ports in the dark, and it’s not overly bright like some chargers. The light can be charged with this portion or via the included USB cord.


Perhaps one of my favorite features is the ability to use the flashlight as a battery bank to charge USB devices, such as a phone. The 2200mAh Li battery will provide a full charge for most phones.

I do wish there was a cap to cover the end of the light when the car charger isn’t installed, but I’m sure I can find a rubber cap at the local hardware store.

What I like

  • Defensive end
  • Multiple charging options
  • Rechargeable Battery
  • 2200 mAh Battery pack capability
  • Overall build quality

What needs to be improved

  • No charging indicator light
  • No battery level indicator lights
  • Cutter end has no positive connection to keep from falling off

Final thoughts

Currently priced at $29.99 makes this tool a great bargain. I’m going to be buying several of them to give as gifts and for my other vehicle.

Price: $29.99
Where to buy: MeetIDEA and Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided by MeetIDEA.

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Tactical Emergency Flashlight Kit Escape Tool review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 23, 2018 at 9:00 am.

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Brydge 12.9 Series II Bluetooth iPad Pro keyboard review

REVIEW – When I got a 12.9 in. IPad pro, I had already purchased a case for it. I’m that paranoid of dropping and ruining any iDevice I buy. The case I bought was the Speck Stylefolio Pencil Case—a great case that does not include a keyboard. I’ve never been thrilled with the choice of keyboard cases (including Apple’s), so I resorted to using a discarded Apple Bluetooth keyboard to do my typing. What I really wanted was something that was as easy to type with as my wife’s MacBook Pro laptop. I now have that keyboard—the Brydge 12.9 Series II Bluetooth keyboard.

What is it?

The Brydge 12.9 Series II Bluetooth keyboard is just that—a full-size keyboard for the larger iPad Pro. But it’s a bit more than that. The Brydge keyboard is so perfectly matched to my iPad Pro, that when closed, it looks just like a Mac laptop. You can feel the engineering quality as you open/close the lid or type on the keyboard. This is what Brydge calls the Series II Bluetooth keyboard.

Specs

  • Compatibility: iPad Pro 12.9 in.
  • Dimensions: 12 in. x 8.75 in. x 0.25 in.
  • Material: Aluminum
  • Weight: 1.55 lb.
  • Backlit Keys: Yes (3 levels)
  • Battery Life: 12 months (rechargeable)”
  • Connectivity: Bluetooth 4.1
  • Warranty: Limited Lifetime Warranty
  • Colors: Silver / Space Gray / Gold
  • What’s In The Box: Keyboard / USB Charging Cable / Quick Start Guide

Series II improvements over Series I

  • Faster connectivity
  • Longer battery life
  • Lower profile “butterfly” keys
  • Improved backlighting

Design and features

If you’re familiar with how the keyboard on an Apple MacBook laptop looks and feels, you will feel right at home with the Brydge 12.9 Series II Bluetooth keyboard. When paired with the 12.9 in. iPad Pro, the combination keyboard/iPad will fool anyone except an astute person that you’re typing on a Mac laptop. The giveaway is when you start touching the screen to perform certain functions. No Mac has a touchscreen option.

Since the Brydge Bluetooth keyboard has Bluetooth 4.1, there is no noticeable lag time—typing is instantaneous. Plus, the Brydge keyboard comes with many features that make typing much faster than using the on-screen keyboard. For instance, Command-C will copy any selected text and Command-V will paste—just like a Mac. The top row of keys features keys that control screen brightness, speaker volume, play/pause, on/off and battery life. There’s also a home button that will take you back to the home page regardless of what app you’re in. Speaking of battery life, the Brydge keyboard will last 12 months between charges. Impressive.

One of my favorite features are the backlit keys that can be set in three brightness levels at the touch of a key. Apple’s own overpriced keyboard case doesn’t even have backlighting. I also appreciate the directional text arrow keys. I don’t have to touch the screen to place the cursor. The arrow keys move it much more efficiently—just like a Mac. (Notice a trend here?)

One thing the Brydge 12.9 Series II Bluetooth keyboard does not have is a way to connect to the iPad’s built-in Apple Smart Connector. This connector bypasses Bluetooth completely and allows an attached keyboard to have more custom functions than is possible with Bluetooth alone. Maybe Brydge can incorporate the Smart Connector in a future version of their keyboard. Time will tell.

When the Brydge 12.9 Series II Bluetooth keyboard is open for typing, there’s a large area below the keys for resting the palms while typing. Ordinarily, this is where a trackpad would go, but Apple’s iOS does not support trackpad gestures. 

One thing to note is that the Brydge is a “clip-on” keyboard only. It is not a case and does not add any protection to the iPad, except maybe the screen surface when it’s closed. But it was never Brydge’s intention to design a case that also happens to have a built-in keyboard. Let others do that. Brydge set out to make an aluminum keyboard that perfectly matches the iPad and that’s exactly what they accomplished.

What I like

  • The Brydge 12.9 Series II Bluetooth keyboard ranks up there with Apple’s own laptop keyboards. 
  • 3-level backlighting for typing in less than favorable conditions 
  • Superb 12-month battery life
  • Quality construction

What needs to be improved

  • Offers no protection
  • Doesn’t connect to iPad’s Smart Connector

Final Thoughts

The last 3 reviews I’ve written have been typed mostly using the Brydge 12.9 Series II Bluetooth keyboard. I tend to switch between my iMac and iPad when writing reviews and the Brydge makes it much easier to jump from one to the other using Apple Pages with iCloud. It’s becoming my new—and improved—way of working. The Brydge has made my portable life more efficient, productive and fun. I may not be a quick typist, but my typing speed has noticeably improved since using the Brydge keyboard. It’s a keeper.

Price: $149.99
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The samples for this product were provided by Brydge.

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Brydge 12.9 Series II Bluetooth iPad Pro keyboard review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 22, 2018 at 11:00 am.

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MK Controls Lightning Bug review


REVIEW – As a photographer, I like to shoot all types of photos. Recently, I have been shooting waterdrop photography, with a device that functions in many modes including being triggered by sound and light to be able to photograph other events. Another type of event I would like to shoot is lightning strikes, and while the device that I have incorporates that ability, I was very intrigued when I came across a device that is designed specifically for lightning strike photography. MK Controls immediately and willingly granted our request to review and test their Lightning Bug. Here is the summary of the review.

What is it?

The Lightning Bug is a device that is designed to connect to your compatible camera and trigger it to take photos when lighting strikes. As per the manufacturer: “The Lightning Bug is based upon the science of lightning. There are two components of lightning; the bright white flash everyone wants to capture and the unseen infrared light that always precedes it. The Lightning Bug uses a high-speed photodiode sensor optimized to the infrared burst that occurs just before a lightning strike. This infrared light comes from the vaporization of air and particles in the air. The Lightning Bug acts as a lookout for your camera, watching for a change in infrared light. When a significant change of infra-red light over a very short period of time is detected, it directs the camera shutter to trip and capture the lightning in action”. It will also work for fireworks.

What’s in the box


1 x Lightning Bug
1 x CD instruction manual
1 x Compatible camera cable

Design and features

Manufacturer Specifications:

Power-On Self-Test
Sensitivity set-point indicator (LED Bargraph)
MOSFET isolation between the camera and the Lightning Bug™ circuitry
26 levels of sensitivity
Easily adjust frames per second (from 1 to 10)
Water Resistant Soft-touch panel buttons
Front Overhang (from the center of camera shoe): 3.51″
Rear Overhang (from the center of camera shoe): 0.74″
Overall Height (not including the shoe mount): 1.13″
Overall Height (including the shoe mount): 2.10″
Overall Length: 4.25″
Overall Width: 2.60″
Weight (not including Battery): 2.96 oz
Weight (including Battery): 4.48 oz
Battery: Standard 9V Cell

On the top surface of the Lightning Bug, there is the company name and device name, the sensitivity meter, and the 3 surface-mounted control buttons.


At the bottom of the Lightning Bug, there is a camera shoe mount that also has a 1/4-20″ threaded mount so that it can be mounted off camera on a light stand or tripod, etc, and a sticker with a summary of the controls and other industry required information.


One one of the short sides at the back of the Lightning Bug is a cover and a battery compartment for the required 9-Volt battery. On the opposite side at the front is the IR cover, and on one of the long sides is the 1/8″ jack for the camera cable.



Connectivity and function

The Lightning Bug attaches to the camera shoe mount or any mount with a 1/4″-20 stud, and the cable is attached to the 1/8″ jack on the device and the appropriate jack on the camera. (See the MK Controls website for the compatible camera list).


When you power on the camera and the device, the sensitivity indicator lights up. You can use the left or right buttons to increase or decrease the sensitivity.


Operation and Performance

The Lightning Bug has 2 operational modes which are Standard Mode and Fireworks Mode. When you power on the device starts up in Standard Mode which is used for Lightning photography) or in Fireworks Mode depending on which buttons are held down during startup. Fireworks Mode allows for delayed shutter release.
To start the unit in Standard Mode, you have to press and hold down the power button for approximately 2 seconds. To start the unit in Fireworks Mode you have to press and hold down the power button and the Increase Sensitivity button at the same time for approximately 2 seconds, and then release both buttons.
When you first turn on the device, it displays the current firmware version by lighting up the LEDs, and the display stays that way until the power button is released. The settings that you choose are saved in the device’s memory for the next time you power on. An additional nice feature is that the device will automatically turn your meter off after approximately 15 minutes of inactivity.
There are a total of 26 levels of available sensitivity. The factory default setting is level 12. The yellow LED that looks like a lightning bolt, lights up whenever the unit has detected an event and has triggered the shutter.
With fireworks photography, the yellow activity light flashes to let you know that you are in the Fireworks Mode. In this mode, you must be relatively close to the fireworks to be successful. To exit, you have to turn the device off, then back on again.
There are numerous settings to customize. The complete manual is available on the MK Controls Website.

This section will be updated once I get an opportunity to photograph fireworks and/or storms.

What I like

  • That it is lightweight
  • The size
  • The functionality

What can be improved

  • Although I like how lightweight it is, I would prefer it to have a rechargeable battery that can be charged internally or externally
  • (Nothing else so far until I get to take pics)

Final thoughts

As a photographer that likes many types of photography, I like the Lightning Bug device. Apart from the fact that it is compact and lightweight, it provides a dedicated function that should produce amazing results. There are fantastic examples of photos taken with the use of this device on the MK Controls website. You can take a look at them here. While I have not yet been able to shoot with it, I will give a thumbs up to its simple construction and its intended functionality. Winter is on its way in NYC, so I will be on the lookout for photography opportunities. To be continued…

Price: $179.00 (Includes the required cable for your compatible camera)
Where to buy: MK Controls website
Source: The sample for this review was provided by MK Controls.

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MK Controls Lightning Bug review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 22, 2018 at 9:00 am.

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