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Trayvax Contour wallet review


I became a fan of Trayvax after reviewing their Summit minimalist wallet. It remains one of my all-time favorite wallets because it has a simple design, it’s well made, and it only holds the essentials. But if you’re looking for a minimalist wallet that has a little more pizzazz to its rugged good looks, you need look no further than the Trayvax Contour wallet. I shouldn’t give away the ending at the beginning of the review, but this wallet has no problems earning my stamp of approval. 

What is it?

The Trayvax Contour wallet is rugged minimalist expandable wallet made of stainless steel and leather that has been designed and made in the USA.

Design and features

As I mentioned above, the frame of the Trayvax Contour wallet is made of CNC machined stainless steel. But Trayvax didn’t stop there, they also added a Titanium aluminum nitride (TiAlN) coating which gives the wallet a really cool look.

The purpose of the frame is to keep everything aligned and to hold the leather strap which is sandwiched between the 2-piece frame.

The top-grain oil stained leather strap is available in a variety of colors and two sizes. I was sent the Canyon Red original sized strap preinstalled.

It’s easy to replace or adjust the strap by using the included Torx wrench.

The frame also has a built-in bottle cap lifter which some people might consider a survival tool.

To load the wallet, you simply “unsnap” the leather strap from the adjustable clasp pin and slide in the stack of cards.

Using the original leather strap, the wallet can hold up to 8 cards and 10 bills.
Using the extended leather strap the wallet can hold up to 13 cards and 10 bills.
As shipped, my sample wallet could hold 6 cards and still easily slide the top card out of the wallet. You don’t want to stuff too many cards in the Contour wallet or you’ll struggle to quickly remove a card when you need it.



The wallet’s open frame allows you to see the top card, making that spot perfect for an ID card.

Most minimalist wallets can only hold cards. But the Trayvax Contour wallet isn’t like most minimalist wallets. The leather strap unfolds to reveal a cash pocket that can hold up to 10 folded bills.


Friction from the raw side of the leather helps to hold the folded stack of bills in place even when the leather strap is unsecured.

This wallet obviously is not going to be as slim as some card only style wallets, but it still works well as a front pocket wallet.

Extra bonus

The Trayvax Contour’s stainless steel frame does more than just look good, it also provides a good level of RFID protection.

Final thoughts

I’ve yet to see a Trayvax wallet that isn’t well made and the Contour doesn’t change that. This wallet is expensive at $159.99, but it’s one of those things that you’ll only need to buy once. It’s not going to fall apart. It’s built to last for decades and it’s only going to look and work better as it ages.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by Trayvax. Please visit their site for more info and you can also check Amazon.

 

Product Information

Price: $159.99
Manufacturer: Trayvax
Retailer: Amazon
Pros:
  • Great looks
  • Easy to use
  • Expandable
  • Will last FOREVER
Cons:
  • Expensive

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Trayvax Contour wallet review originally appeared on on June 11, 2017 at 9:30 am.

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Carved Acoustic Acorn Bluetooth speaker review


As good as the speakers are on some smartphones and tablets may be, there are times you want more depth to the sound. Bluetooth speakers bring this sound to you, but sometimes there are tradeoffs – the speakers are too large, too twiddly, or run out of power too quickly. In an effort to try and correct these shortcomings as well as add their own handcrafted, natural wood beauty to your listening experience, the folks at Carved have introduced the Acoustic Acorn. It is a single speaker with a single button, a single LED, and a single port for charging. I was sent this singular speaker in Walnut to review.

Note: Photos may be tapped or clicked for a larger image.

Overall, the Acorn looks very much like it’s autumnal namesake, turned out of bamboo or walnut. There is a rubberized oval to keep it from rolling around on your work surface, and a black lacquered metal grille over the opening. The opening is 3″ in diameter, and the Acorn is 2.5″ deep. When it’s set on a level surface, the oval holds the face of the speaker ~40º from the surface, which directs it toward your face, if it’s near your keyboard. Inside the oval, there is a single button for on/off/pairing. From the off setting, hold it until the LED blinks blue and red, and the Acorn is in pairing mode. Press it once again and it turns off. Nearby is a reset pinhole. There is a “Carved” logo cut into the edge, just under the center by the rubber oval, so that it doesn’t show.


Opposite, on the back, there is a hole for the LED to show through, and a hole for the charging cable. That’s about it. You can listen while it’s charging if you’d like, but I found the battery life to be quite long. I never had a problem listening to several podcasts while cooking dinner, watching a movie streamed to my iPad, or letting Spotify or iTunes run rampant through the eternal shuffle of my music collection.
The sound is really mellow for such a small speaker. It’s not a heavy thumping bass, but the full vocal range of speaking and most acoustic music is covered adequately. I never noticed any lessening of the highs, but then, I’m not hearing them as well as I did 20 years ago. 😉


Carved, the company, is no stranger to this site. They are one of my favorite companies. It’s all US-based, they celebrate every step of the job as something that should be done to perfection, from design to packaging, and they use high-quality woods. Each piece has a card signed by the artisan that made it, and they take customer service to an obsessive level.

I do have a few quibbles. There is no speakerphone mic. Not really an issue, if you just want to pick up the phone and talk through the mic on it. (Please don’t hold it like you’re talking to a pizza slice!) But depending on how far away you are from your speaker or phone, it may be difficult to pick up in time. Also, since it’s not going to happen frequently, there is a certain confusion that happens when you get a call while the speaker is active.

The biggest issue I have with the Acorn is the charging cable. It is a USB to propriety center-pin charging tip. I have other speakers that use this type tip, (I actually reviewed one here a few years ago) and none of them are compatible with each other. So, should I mix up or lose those cables, I’m not going to be able to use the device. Why not just use a miniUSB or microUSB plug, so it will be compatible with the most common cables you can find? Having a “special” cable mars the experience of having the device, worrying that you’re going to push the cable in at the wrong angle, bend the little pin in the jack, leave the cable behind at a hotel, or forget to take it along on a long trip.

In spite of the charging cable thing, I’d still recommend the Acorn. Carved is gonna be around a while, and they are good folks, so I’m sure there is a way to get a replacement cable, should you need one.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by Carved. Please visit their site for more info and Amazon to order.

 

Product Information

Price: $59 – $65
Manufacturer: Carved
Retailer: Amazon
Requirements:
  • Bluetooth sound source, USB power source
Pros:
  • Beautiful wood exterior
  • Focused, well-balanced sound
  • Pleasing shape and feel
Cons:
  • Proprietary charging cable

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Carved Acoustic Acorn Bluetooth speaker review originally appeared on on June 10, 2017 at 9:15 am.

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weBoost Drive 4G-X mobile cellphone signal booste review


If you live or commute in an area where cellphone signals are weak, the weBoost Drive 4G-X mobile cellphone signal booster may be the device you’ve been wishing for. At $479.99 it’s definitely a big purchase, but this booster provides a significant increase to any existing signal and it’s a breeze to install.

The weBoost Drive comes in a sturdy box and the unit is set in a tray above the included accessories.

In the box

  • weBoost Drive 4G-X
  • Mounting Cradle
  • Vehicle Power Supply
  • Velcro-mount SMA Interior Antenna
  • 4″ Magnetic-mount SMA Exterior Antenna
  • Quick Start Guide

The unit itself has nice clean, stealthy lines, a textured aluminum black surface and has a certain “this is expensive tech” heft to it.

Out of the box, the Drive comes attached to its vehicle mounting cradle.

The Drive snaps easily in and out of the cradle and there are several different screw holes on the cradle for mounting it a number of different ways.

The cradle itself is made of strong, flexible black plastic.

On the top of the weBoost Drive, right under the device name is a single indicator light.

If the unit is receiving power and functioning properly the light will be solid green. If the light is blinking red and then solid green, the Drive has shut off some frequencies to prevent feedback. According to the manual, this is a safety feature to prevent harmful interference with a nearby cell towers. If the indicator light is solid red, then the Drive has shut off all frequencies to prevent feedback. In my testing, I never experienced any indicator except for solid green.

On the underside of the weBoost Drive is a warning to register the device with your cell phone provider. I found the links to register in the online manual:

The weBoost Drive has antenna inputs on both sides of the unit. The inside velcro-mounted SMA antenna connects on the top and the outside magnet-mounted SMA antenna connects on the bottom. The power connection is next to the outside antenna connector.

Power is supplied via your car’s cigarette lighter or 12V DC power port. The weBoost’s power connector has a convenient on/off switch indicating with a red light if the unit is powered on.

The exterior 4″ magnet-mount antenna is very sturdy and stays securely in place once mounted properly in the center of your car’s rooftop. I found in my testing that placement of the exterior antenna is vital to getting the unit to function properly.

According to the instructions, the exterior antenna should be mounted near the center of the vehicle’s roof, at least 12 inches from any other antennas, free of obstructions, at least six inches from any windows (including sunroofs) and at least eight inches from any people.

Both antennas come with 12.5 feet of cable for discreetly wiring the mounts.

Finding proper placement for the interior antenna took a bit of work. I finally settled on a spot on the side of the dashboard and just to the right of where my cellphone holder is mounted. The antenna mounts via double-sided tape attached to a velcro strip. The suggested positioning for the interior antenna is “at least 18 inches but no more than 36 inches from where the cellular device will be used”. The interior antenna should also be mounted at the same angle as the cell phone when held in use to “maximize signal strength.”

The Drive is small enough to be mounted under your dash or a seat. The 12.5 feet of antenna cables are more than enough to install both antennas without unsightly dangling wires. I would prefer the option to hardwire the unit to my car’s battery, but that can be remedied easily with some third-party products and a little ingenuity.

The weBoost Drive works by receiving a cellphone signal, amplifying it, and then serving as 
a relay between your phone and the 
nearest cell tower. I tested the Drive 4G-X with my Nexus 5X on Google’s Project Fi 4G LTE network.

In my testing, the Drive provided an impressive average boost of 20-30dBm to existing signals. It is important to note though that in areas where there is no signal at all, the Drive will not be any help. The unit can boost existing signals, but cannot create signals where none exist.

The weBoost Drive 4G-X performed exceptionally well in my tests and if low cellphone signals are plaguing your commute or you drive across large distances, it’s a very good investment.

Specifications

  • Frequencies:
    Band 12/17 700 MHz
    Band 13 700 MHz
    Band 5 850 MHz
    Band 4 1700/2100 MHz
    Band 2 1900 MHz
  • Max Gain: 50 dB
  • Power: 6V DC vehicle power supply
  • Antenna Connectors: SMA-Female
  • Dimensions: 4.375 x 6.375 x 1.375 in
  • Weight: 1.16 lbs

Source: The sample for this review was provided by RepeaterStore. Please visit their website for more info.

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weBoost Drive 4G-X mobile cellphone signal booste review originally appeared on on June 9, 2017 at 8:00 am.

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ModernBagel Pokemon Pokeball fidget spinner review


If you aren’t sick of hearing about and seeing fidget spinners yet, I have a couple interesting types of spinners from ModernBagel that have been designed for Pokemon fans and fidget toy collectors. Let’s take them for a spin (sorry).

What is it?

ModernBagel fidget spinners are handmade, designed, and printed here in the US (Orlando, Florida). That’s right, they are printed using a 3D printer.

If you’ve been living under a rock for the past year and don’t know what a fidget spinner is, it’s a small spinning toy made for people who have anxiety, ADHD or just like to fiddle with something.

ModernBagel makes fidget spinners in several shapes and colors, but this review is mainly going to focus on their Pokemon Pokeball Spinners. They are actually the originator of Pokeball style spinners on Etsy.

I’m not a Pokemon aficionado, so I don’t know much about Pokeballs when it comes to the colors that come in. I thought they only came in the red, black and white style shown above but apparently, there are more because ModernBagel’s Pokemon Pokeball spinners are available in quite a few colors. They sent me three different styles, but you can find others by visiting ModernBagel’s ETSY shop (linked at the bottom of the review).

Most fidget spinner fanatics look for spinners that are high-speed and have a long spin duration. It’s important to note that while ModernBagel spinners are considered high spin, they are not long spin fidget spinners because they are constructed of PLA plastic which is lightweight when compared to spinners constructed of metal or ones that have a counter weight.

Since these spinners are made with a 3D printer, they have a homemade look and feel due to the way 3D printers print layers of material. With the Pokeball and Mickey Mouse spinners that ModernBagel sent me, I can see and feel the ridges.

How well do they spin?

The Pokeball spinners that were sent to me spin relatively smoothly, but the Mickey Mouse spinners are a little wobbly due to the fact that the spinner itself isn’t perfectly centered.

The shape and size of both spinners make it difficult (at least for me) to use my index finger to flick the edge of the spinners to set them in motion like I would with a regular 3-prong style spinner.

Final thoughts

After playing with the ModernBagel Pokemon Pokeball fidget spinners for a few days, I will say that they probably will not please someone who actually wants to play with a fidget spinner because they don’t spin as smoothly or as long as other spinners I’ve tried. That said, these spinners are unique and would make a fun addition to any fidget toy collection.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by ModernBagel. Please visit their Etsy site for more info.

 

Product Information

Price: $12.95 – $13.95 each
Manufacturer: ModernBagel
Retailer: Etsy
Pros:
  • Unique fidget spinner designs
  • Made in the US
Cons:
  • Homemade look and feel
  • Not long spinning

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ModernBagel Pokemon Pokeball fidget spinner review originally appeared on on June 8, 2017 at 9:00 am.

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DynaTrap DT2000XL Insect Trap review


According to DynaTrap, size matters. DynaTrap engineers produce pesticide free mosquitoes killers of various shapes and sizes. The DT2000XL is the biggest, baddest insect trap in their lineup. The DynaTrap DT2000XL Insect Trap attracts and kills mosquitoes and other flying insects across 1 acre. And while here in Washington State, we do not get mosquitoes like they do in Alaska or Australia we do get our fair share of the flying pests. Now that spring is here, I am looking forward to seeing if this bad boy gets the job done… 

Note: Images can be clicked to view a larger size.

As I mentioned above, the DynaTrap DT2000XL is engineered to be a simple, chemical free insect trap capable of policing up to an acre of land from flying pests, specifically mosquitoes. A few years ago, I reviewed the Mosquito Magnet Commander which worked well enough but it was anything but simple. Not only did it require recharging the battery, propane and a chemical attractant, but integration into your wireless network as well. Other than needing to clean the trap occasionally, the DT2000XL is meant to be a plug and walk away bug-killing solution.

Specifications:

  • In the box: Trap, cleaning brush, and screwdriver
  • 7 ft. cord – 110V~
  • Size diameter 13” x 20”
  • Weight 7 lbs.
  • UV Bulb rated for 3,000 hrs
 Features:

  • Protects up to 1 Acre.
  • Durable, all-weather construction.
  • Pesticide and odor free.
  • Whisper quiet operation.
  • No zapping or buzzing. No expensive attractant or propane required.
  • Model #: DT2000XL

The DT2000XL insect trap is engineered for “3-way protection”. The way it works is a UV fluorescent bulb generates a warm light that attracts the insects. Then a second attractant, a Ti02 titanium dioxide-coated surface produces CO2 that further gets the mosquitoes’ attention. Finally, a “powerful, yet whisper-quiet vacuum fan” sucks the insects into the trap’s retaining cage where they dehydrate and die.

The UV Bulb is rated for 3,000 hrs of use. The DT2000XL has a durable, all-weather enclosure engineered to protect it from the elements. The power button is weather-hardened, with a rubber covering to protect the insect trap’s electronics. There is also a built-in fuse that protects the device from power surges.

We live on approximately 10 acres of forested land. And while the DT2000XL will not protect our whole place, it will cover where we spend many of our evenings outside. Our house is set above a ravine with a creek running thru it, with a pretty thick tree canopy covering the entire area. Prime breading ground for mosquitoes during our warm, wet spring and summer here in the Great Pacific Northwest. I setup the DT2000XL about 30 feet from where we barbecue and eat outside on the far side of a big cedar tree. Other than the extension cord, you can’t even tell it is there.

For my initial test run, I ran the DT2000XL three days over the Memorial Day weekend. The picture you see above is the result of how effective the trap was at capturing and killing flying insects during this span of time. Once attracted and captured, the bugs simply died from dehydration. When cleaning the cage, you do notice the trap does capture a wide variety of flying bugs from moths, to flies, to its true intended target: mosquitoes. I know this is not a very scientific study, but during the course of my review/operation of the DynaTrap the flying bug population in our backyard does seem to be greatly reduced and (more importantly) we’re seeing far fewer mosquitoes.

My initial impression of the DynaTrap DT2000XL Insect Trap is overall positive. It has been very effective in trapping and killing flying bugs during its first week of use. It’s simple setup and operation requiring only shoreline power make for a truly hassle-free experience. Add in the fact it requires no propane or attractant makes for an ideal way to reduce bugs and bites while enjoying hanging out outside during warm, summer nights 😀 .

Source: The sample for this review was provided by DynaTrap. Please visit their site for more info and Amazon to order.

 

Product Information

Price: $199.00
Manufacturer: DynaTrap
Retailer: Amazon
Requirements:
  • Electrical power
Pros:
  • Well made
  • Weather-resistant
  • Pesticide & odor free
  • Silent operation/No zapping or buzzing
  • No attractant or propane required
Cons:
  • None

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DynaTrap DT2000XL Insect Trap review originally appeared on on June 8, 2017 at 8:09 am.

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