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LapLite Bamboo Workstation review

Every evening between 6 pm to 9 pm and later on the weekends, I turn from a mild-mannered Gadgeteer into a couch potato. If Jeanne and I are not watching our favorite TV shows and movies, we’re surfing on our MacBook Pros. Jeanne uses a larger version of the Lapinator laptop desk that I reviewed many years ago with her MacBook Pro, but I’ve always just used MacBook without a lap desk. That changed recently when I was sent a LapLite Bamboo Workstation to review.

What is it?

The LapLite Bamboo Workstation is a lap desk made of bamboo and featuring a mouse pad and a slot for a phone or tablet.

Design and features

The LapLite lap desk looks and feels like just like wood, but it’s actually made of bamboo. Bamboo is a fast-growing fibrous grass that has been pressed together to create a wood-like eco-friendly material.

Overall, the LapLite is 22 x 11 x .5 inches. The laptop area has oval cutouts to help keep the laptop and your lap cool. It can accommodate up to a 17″ laptop.

Next to the laptop area is a 7 x 9.5-inch aluminum mouse pad with a 7.5-inch slot for your phone or tablet above it.  The slot has a pass thru cutout that will allow a charging cable to pass through the lap desk.

The sides and edges of the LapLite are rounded and smooth. I didn’t find any splinters or rough edges.

Using the LapLite

After using the LapLite for a few days, I noticed that it kept my lap cooler than when I put my MacBook Pro directly on my lap.

The LapLite weighs 3 pounds by itself which sounds heavy when you add the laptop and mouse, but I really didn’t notice the extra weight on my lap.

With a width of 22 inches, the LapLite Bamboo Workstation is pretty wide. But when you need to use a mouse on the couch it’s great having that extra space for the built-in mouse pad. The only problem with using a mouse and the LapLite is that my lap isn’t completely flat and whenever I’d let go of the mouse, it would slide down and off the mouse pad.

Speaking of the mouse pad, it’s important to note that the LapLite is designed for right handed users because the phone / tablet slot is above the mouse pad on the right side of the lap desk. I’m left handed, but I use the mouse with my right hand, so this was a non-issue.

For people who use a mouse with their left hand, they can flip the LapLite around and use it just fine… except for the device slot which will be below the mouse pad when it’s flipped around for left hand use.

Final thoughts

Although the LapLite is really nice, I don’t think I’m a lap desk type of user. I don’t like having extra “stuff” when I’m working and playing with my MacBook. If I need to do serious work, I take the MacBook to my office and sit at a desk with a mouse and a larger monitor. So the LapLite is overkill for me. I think Jeanne might like it though since she’s already a lap desk user and she might enjoy using a mouse with her MacBook because she’s always having trouble when she needs to do a right mouse click with the touch pad.

The LapLite Bamboo Workstation is the nicest lap desk that I’ve used and reviewed. It’s well made, looks nice and has extra features (mouse pad and device slot) that set it apart from other lap desks that I’ve seen and tried.  If you don’t mind the size and price, it’s sure to not disappoint.

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

 

Product Information

Price: $57.49
Manufacturer: LapLite
Retailer: Amazon
Pros:
  • Holds up to a 17" laptop
  • Slot for phone or tablet
  • Built-in mouse pad
Cons:
  • No left-hand version
  • Mouse will slide off the mouse pad if lap desk isn't on a flat surface

Filed in categories: Laptops and Gear, Reviews

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LapLite Bamboo Workstation review originally appeared on on March 27, 2017 at 6:04 pm.

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Cover-Up MacBook and iPhone stone cases review

“That’s the coolest MacBook cover I have ever seen! Is that real stone?” This was the comment I received in my first meeting after setting up my new Cover-Up laptop Stone Skin. Yes, it is cool. And yes, it’s real stone. Cover-up sent me two covers for this evaluation, they are unlike anything I have seen before. They are real, all natural stone cases that have been crafted for your iPhone and MacBook. But how do they hold up to practical use? Let’s dig deeper into these beauties…

First Impressions

Cover-Up is a company based out of South Wales, UK that produces elegant covers and skins for mobile phones, laptops, and tablets. All covers are made from natural materials such as wood, stone and wool felt. Hand cut and finished, each cover is a unique product that highlights the natural grains & textures of the material. I received a MacBook skin and an iPhone 6s cover from the Stone collection, in different color schemes that use natural slate as the base.

MacBook skin in Burnt Copper, iPhone case in Aztec Gold.

The real stone finishes are stunning. This is not a composite material or some sort of synthetic. Running your hand across the surfaces reveals all the contours & textures of the natural stone. Turn them in your hands and you see the colors shift and shimmer, highlighting the unique grains and patterns in the material as the light plays across them. They are just delightful to look at, and definitely get attention. I just can’t figure out how they make them!

The MacBook Skin

When I pulled the skin out of the package, I was a bit surprised at how simple it is. It’s a single-cut piece of stone backed to a thin rubberized base layer that’s been precisely cut to the device specifications (I have a 13″ MacBook Air). There’s a peel-off plastic backing that you remove to reveal the 3M adhesive material to apply it to your device.

Top view of the skin in place. Shimmery!

The instructions state that you should run your MacBook for 10 minutes to ensure optimal adhesion. Application is pretty straightforward: peel off the plastic, line it up, and stick it on. The adhesive material is forgiving, so you can pull it up and reposition it if you feel like you are not aligned quite right. I found it took a couple of attempts to get it right where I wanted it.

Side view of the skin in place.

I found that the skin doesn’t quite align edge-to-edge with the MacBook, but I think this is intentional to allow for some tolerance in application. I don’t think anyone has noticed it but me. There is also a slit in each corner which I think is designed to accommodate the rounded corners of the MacBook, but I have not found that it detracts from the overall package once it’s in place. I did find that the edges took some buffing to get them to adhere tightly. Given that it’s real stone, it’s a pretty impressive piece of engineering.

Closeup of the Burnt Copper material.

This cover is called the Burnt Copper pattern and highlights oranges, greens, and browns with shimmering metallics. The textures are more pronounced than I expected, and I was concerned about possible chipping or flaking. After two weeks of work commuting and meeting jumping, however, I’ve seen no signs of wear & tear. It also provides a nice layer of protection for the computer, which is cool.

The edging and cornering could use some refinement.

A couple of minor issues did crop up during testing. First, the edges could be finished cleaner. The edging is rough (you’ll feel it if you run your hand across it), and the adhesive pulls up a bit. It should also be noted that this is a skin. I believe it will protect the MacBook from a direct hit but it doesn’t provide corner protection from accidental drops. It’s also a thick cover compared to some others that I have played with. Other than those minor points, it’s great. It provides a beautiful, distinctive look and presents a unique sense of style.

The iPhone Cover

iPhone 6s case in Aztec Gold.

The iPhone cover design is a pretty straightforward affair. It’s a snap-style cover that snugly fits my iPhone 6s, with the stone glued to an insert in the backing. Application is easy, and there’s no looseness to the cover once it’s on.

 

All port access and rocker buttons are precision cut.

Given the unique stone material that is the highlight, one of the nice surprises here is that Cover-Up didn’t skimp on the cover itself. It’s a well-engineered, rubberized material that provides bumper-style protection including a full rubberized backing under the stone. All the slots are cut precisely for your camera, audio jack, adapter port, ringer switch, etc. and don’t interfere with normal operation. The integrated button stud for the volume rocker & on/off switch work perfectly. There’s a nice ridged texture that runs up each side, which helps grip the phone but doesn’t cause the phone to get stuck in your pocket. Overall, it’s a good cover that matches the quality of the stone surface.

Closeup of the Aztec Gold pattern on the iPhone cover.

For the iPhone, I chose the Stone style called Aztec Gold. It sports a smoother texture than the Tempest MacBook skin. Colors are subtle, highlight greys and blacks with veins of gold running through the stone. It’s really classy and understated.

Overall, I really enjoy using the cover. It’s slim and unobtrusive, so you can comfortably slip it into your pants pocket. I’ve even dropped it once (maybe twice), and it does the job protecting the phone. Like the MacBook skin, I have not seen any signs of chipping or cracking of the stone finish after twin weeks of constant use.

Conclusion

Cover-Up has done a nice job of fulfilling their mission with the Stone Skin MacBook skin and iPhone case. Not only do they add unique style to your gear, but they are beautifully crafted pieces. You should know that they are not inexpensive: prices range between $50 and $60 for the iPhone cases and $60 and $100 for the MacBook skins depending on the size of your device. After playing with them for a few weeks, however, I think the materials and quality are in alignment with the premium pricing. They offer a range of stone styles, each one with its own distinctive personality. If you’re looking to invest in a truly unique look for your gadgets with natural materials, check out cover-up.com for more information!

Source: The sample for this review was provided by cover-up. For more info visit their site and you can check their Amazon store as well.

 

Product Information

Price: $49 – $99 for the MacBook skin, $15 – $55 for the iPhone cases
Manufacturer: Cover Up
Retailer: Amazon
Pros:
  • Adds a beautiful, unique look to your iPhone or MacBook.
  • High-quality craftsmanship.
  • The real stone actually works as a protective surface for your devices.
  • iPhone cover doesn't sacrifice looks for solid build and functionality.
Cons:
  • Premium pricing.
  • MacBook cover could use some more refinement around the edges.

Filed in categories: iOS, Laptops and Gear, Reviews

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Cover-Up MacBook and iPhone stone cases review originally appeared on on March 27, 2017 at 12:06 pm.

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CARLOCK advanced real time car tracker & alert system review

Aside from a house, a vehicle may be one of the priciest purchases a person will make. That being the case, most people want to make sure they protect their investment. One of the easiest ways to protect that investment is to know where the vehicle is at all times.

Carlock is a small device that fits into your vehicle’s On-board Diagnostic port (OBD) and tracks your vehicle by GPS. It can send alerts if your engine is started, someone’s tampering with the car, or the vehicle is moved while you’re away from it.

Design

Carlock is a very simple device.




It’s a small, square device, with a 16 pin plug. It has branding on one end of the device; other than that it’s an extremely plain device.

The entire device is about the same length and width as a debit/credit/gift card.

There isn’t much to the design of the Carlock. It’s a very plain device, but that doesn’t matter much because it will be tucked away under the dashboard and won’t be seen.

Setup

Of all the devices I’ve reviewed for the Gadgeteer, this has to be one of the easiest installations I’ve ever encountered.



First, you’re going to locate your vehicle’s OBD port. It’s going to be located somewhere under the driver-side dashboard.

If you’re having trouble locating it, you can use this OBD locator site.

Once you’ve located the OBD port, you plug the Carlock device into it.

That’s all there is to physically installing the device.

Once the device is physically installed, you download the app and create an account with Carlock.

This is also a simple process.




First, you enter the activation code and serial number that came with your device. Then you enter some biographical information and the make/model of your vehicle.

Once that is complete, you’re ready to use the device.

Use

The first time you open the app, it will instruct you to drive for a bit before it can detect your location.


After about 5 minutes, the app should find your location. Your location is updated approximately every 30 seconds while driving, and every 30 minutes while stationary.

For most people, the most important aspect of the Carlock is its security features.

In the picture above, the vehicle is “disarmed”. You can drive the vehicle and you won’t receive any movement alerts.

As you can see in the diagram above, arming your vehicle is simple.

If your vehicle is moved while armed, an alarm on your phone will go off and the app will show your vehicle’s current location and path it took to get there.

Along with notifying you when your vehicle moves, Carlock can also alert you when the engine is started, if the vehicle vibrates excessively, and if Carlock is removed from the OBD port.

Most of us probably wouldn’t remember to always arm and disarm our vehicle; fortunately, the app has an “AutoLock Scheduler” that allows you to set the times you want the vehicle to be monitored.

Perhaps you’re not concerned with security, but rather the safety of those driving the vehicle.

Carlock is also able to monitor speeding, fast acceleration, sudden braking, and harsh cornering. If Carlock detects any of the above, it can send an alert to your phone.

Additionally, the app scores how the vehicle was driven over the previous month and keeps a log of trips and notifications.


This is an excellent way to keep tabs on younger drivers you may have in your household.

Cost

The device itself costs $59.94. That’s not a bad price for a security device with so many features; however, there is also a subscription that must be purchased in order to take advantage of the device’s abilities.

You have two options for the subscription service. You can pay $113 upfront for an entire year of service, or you can pay $9.60 a month.

In my opinion, neither price is too prohibitive; although, the savings for the yearly plan is negligible at $2.20.

Depending on your car insurance company’s policies, you may be able to get a discount for using Carlock.

Conclusion

Carlock packs a lot of punch for being in such a small package.

It’s incredibly easy to install and doesn’t require any upkeep, yet still manages to monitor your vehicle’s security and the driving habits of those using your vehicle.

Whether or not it’s a sound purchase depends on the user.

Is your neighborhood safe, do you have young drivers in your home, or are you looking for an inexpensive way to lower your insurance rates? These are all questions you need to ask before purchasing Carlock. Depending on the answer, Carlock may be for you.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by Protectus Technologies, Inc. Please visit their site for more information and Amazon to order.

 

Product Information

Price: $59.94
Manufacturer: Protectus Technologies, Inc.
Retailer: Amazon
Requirements:
  • Compatible vehicle with an OBD diagnostic port
  • Check vehicle compatibility here:
  • https://www.carlock.co/features-device/#will-it-work-in-my-car
Pros:
  • Easy install
  • Generally affordable
  • Great way to monitor young drivers
  • Insurance discount?
Cons:
  • None

Filed in categories: Car Gear, Reviews

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CARLOCK advanced real time car tracker & alert system review originally appeared on on March 27, 2017 at 8:10 am.

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FlexiSpot M4B Corner Standing Desk review

Standing desks have been gaining in popularity for years since various studies were released warning of the dangers of prolonged sitting. There are now tons of standing desk options to fit every type of home or office environment. The FlexiSpot M4B Corner Standing Desk is a great, affordable choice for people who have an existing standard desk that they would like to use as a standing desk. The Flexispot desk is constructed of fiberboard and steel and once assembled is very sturdy and balanced. This particular model comes with an optional keyboard platform and is designed to be used in a regular or corner desk configuration.

The Flexispot desk comes delivered in a rather large box that weighs about 53lbs. Make sure you have help when lifting it.

It is very difficult to lift the desk out of the box from the top. The best way to extract the desk is to lay the box flat, cut open the sides, and open the box by lifting the front cardboard flap up.

The desk comes partially assembled. All that is required is to attach the optional keyboard platform and two protective caps that go over the main cross joints.

The included protective caps snap easily over the left and right cross joints.

Flexispot includes four cord organizers to route cords out of the way of hinges and joints. There is also a provided bolt for an ergonomic monitor mount which is sold separately.

The Flexispot desk can be used with or without the included keyboard platform. Assembling the keyboard platform is very simple. The two keyboard brackets fit perfectly into two indentations on the underside of the main platform.

The only tool required for assembly is a standard Phillips screwdriver. Learn from my mistakes and be sure to consult the instructions first because the brackets can fit on to the platform upside down. Once configured correctly, the keyboard platform brackets attach securely with eight wood screws. Be careful not to over-tighten the screws though, because it is very easy to strip right through the fiberboard.

The assembled keyboard platform then hooks in under the main workspace. The platform is secured in place by left and right pre-installed knobs. Simply loosen the knobs, hook the platform into place and then hand-tighten the knobs.

You’re not required to secure the Flexispot desk to your existing desk in anyway, it just sits on top of it. Once in place it’s very easy to adjust the height of the Flexispot desk. There are adjustment levers conveniently placed on either side of the main platform. Squeeze these levers simultaneously while holding on to the sides of the platform and you can lift or lower the desk into any height you like. Flexispot indicates that there are 12 adjustment levels, but I didn’t find that the desk “clicked” or settled into any particular spots.

The Flexispot has a “gas spring hovering system” which allows you to adjust the desk smoothly when fully loaded. Keep in mind that the workspace and spring system have a maximum indicated weight limit of 33lbs.

The Flexispot desk can adjust from low height of 5.9″ to a high setting of 19.7″. Whereas some similar standing desks extend out as well as up, the Flexispot desk moves straight up and down within its own footprint.

We use the Flexispot desk for our PC Virtual Reality/Edit workstation. This PC is used mainly for video editing and rendering as well as for testing our 360° videos and VR apps. It’s great to have the option to lower the desk into a traditional sitting position for long editing sessions and then be able to raise the desk for VR and 360° video demos.

I was initially concerned that the lowest setting of the desk would be too high to work at while seated. I soon found though that the low-height setting was actually perfectly designed to afford optimal keyboard and monitor placement while working in a seated position.

Even though the desk is designed for a corner space, the workspace is large enough to hold our 24″ Eizo monitor and all of the Oculus accessories with plenty of room to spare. If needed, we could definitely fit a second monitor as well.

The keyboard shelf is roomy enough for a full-sized PC keyboard and mouse. The mouse area is too small to place a regular mouse pad, but our basic Logitech mouse works fine on the shelf surface.

There is also a slot built into the front of the workspace for tablet or phone placement. I find this location for the slot a little odd though, and don’t use it to hold my tablet or phone.

At $349.99 I feel that the FlexiSpot M4B Corner Standing Desk is a great buy. The easy assembly, well-thought out design and sturdy construction makes it a standout among all of the current standing desk offerings. Although the manufacturer states that the desk is available in black or white, the only selectable item on both the Flexispot website and Amazon was black.

Specifications:
Product weight: 53 lbs.
Max. Loading Weight Limit: 33 lbs
Dimensions (Weighted Base): 23″(W) x 22.3″(D)
Dimensions (Flat): 5.9″(H) x 41″(W) x 23″(D)
Dimensions (Extended): 19.7″(H) x 41″(W) x 23″(D)
Extension Height: 19.7″ (Footprint Surface) & 14.2 ” (Keyboard Tray)
Work surface measures: 41″(W) x 31.5″(D) (Display Surface & Keyboard Tray)
Keyboard tray measures: 34″(W) x 11.8″(D) (Middle) & 7.9″ (D) (Both wings)

The sample for this review was provided by Flexispot. Please visit their website or Amazon to order.

 

Product Information

Price: $349.99
Manufacturer: FlexiSpot
Retailer: Amazon
Requirements:
  • • Existing standard desk
  • • Phillips screwdriver for assembly
Pros:
  • • Quick and easy setup
  • • Made to fit in corners
  • • Very simple to adjust
  • • Perfect height for sitting or standing
  • • Works with existing standard desk
Cons:
  • • No tilt adjustment
  • • Non-adjustable keyboard shelf
  • • Non-powered height adjustment

Filed in categories: Reviews

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FlexiSpot M4B Corner Standing Desk review originally appeared on on March 26, 2017 at 8:39 am.

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iClever BoostRun BTH07 Bluetooth Sport Headphones review

If you’ve been a patron of The Gadgeteer for some time, you may likely surmise that I’ve been on a quest to identify a pair of Bluetooth wireless headphones that will perform well for me in a variety of situations, but mainly for use during heavy exercise. After evaluating a variety of similar products, all of which basically fell out while working out, I realized that I hadn’t yet tried any of the style that “hook” over the ears, which I thought might be a helpful feature for someone with cavernous ear canals (like me). When I had the opportunity to evaluate a pair of iClever BoostRun BTH07 Bluetooth Sport Headphones, I thought they might fit the bill. Let’s see how they worked out. Gadget on!

Packaging

The BoostRun BTH07’s packaging was a simple cardboard box with the iClever logo in metallic red centered on the top of the lid.  If you’ve read my reviews, you know that my preference is that product packaging include some type of window or other transparent feature that allows the prospective buyer to see the actual product inside before purchasing it.  Of course, this is most useful for retail produce packaging, but not so useful for products that are only sold online, which I suspect the BTH07 might be.

I removed the lid and the BoostRun BTH07 headphones were presented neatly inside, encased within a white foam tray, as seen above.  The foam tray had cutouts to hold the headphones snug and to protect them during shipping and handling.  The foam tray pulled out easily and BTH07’s cord and other accessories (see below) were located below.

Contents

Inside the box were all of the items show above, which included:

  • BoostRun BTH07 Bluetooth Stereo Headset Sport Headphones
  • 3 pairs of silicon earbud tips in small, medium and large sizes (the medium size was attached to the headphones initally)
  • USB to micro USB charging cable
  • User Manual
  • Warranty Card

Specs

Below are some of the technical specifications of the BoostRun BTH07 headphones per the iClever site:

  • Model number: IC-BTH07
  • Bluetooth version: Bluetooth 4.1
  • Bluetooth profile: HFP, A2DP, HSP, AVRCP
  • Working time: up to 7 hours
  • Standby time: up to 160 hours
  • Charging time: about 2 hours
  • Weight: 19 g/0.67 oz
  • Waterproof rating: IPX4

Features, Functions and Performance

My initial impression of the BoostRun BTH07 headphones was that they seemed…well, a bit clunky.  But I was willing to give them the benefit of the doubt because I hadn’t yet tried any headphones with these over-the-ear hooks.  Plus I was immediately a fan of their black-and-neon green color scheme.

Like most earbuds today, the BoostRun BTH07 headphones feature silicone ear tips that fit into your ears canals. I planned to swap the medium-sized tips, which had been installed from the factory, with the large-sized tips, because I know from past experience that the medium-sized tips would fall out of my larger-than-average-sized ear canals immediately.  In fact, I tried the factory-installed mediums, and they did fall out, so on went the larges.

One of the main features of interest to me with the BoostRun BTH07 headphones was their over-the-ear “hooks” that were intended to help stabilize the headphones and help keep them on your ears during strenuous exercise.  More on these below.

In the photo above, you can see the + and – buttons that are located on the underside of the BoostRun BTH07’s right headphone.  These buttons are very tactile and produce a definitively “clicky” feel, but without being difficult to depress.  I found them very easy to operate once I memorized which was + and which was -.  These two buttons function as volume up/down (short press) as well as music forward/rewind (long press).  Also visible in the photo above is the tiny microphone hole used when making phone calls.

On the outside of the right headphone is also a single long, green button that is the Multi-Function Button (MFB), so named because it serves multiple purposes.  First, it is used to power on/off the headphones—depressing it for 2 seconds powers on the device and a British-accented, female voice prompt alerts you, “Power on.”  Initial pairing is then accomplished by going to your phone’s Bluetooth settings and selecting “IC-BTH07” from the list of devices.  The BTH07 then indicates “Device connected.”  It was just that simple, and the headphones paired automatically and immediately after powering them on every single time—I never once had to manually re-pair them.  A 2-second press of the MFB also powers the headphones off, with power-down confirmed by the voice prompt, “Power off.”  Additionally, the MFB pausing music, accepts or hangs up a phone call, and so forth, with all of its functions detailed in the included manual.

In the photo above, the BoostRun BTH07’s micro USB charging port cover can be seen on the rear of the left headphone.  This cover is made from a hard rubber material and fits very securely down into the charging port, but also includes a small protrusion that is easy to get a fingernail underneath to remove it, so that the charging cable can be inserted (see below).  Additionally, a tiny LED is located in the left headphone that indicates the device is charging when it is lit red and fully charged when lit blue.

Above, you can see that I’ve popped open the USB port cover.  I like the material that iClever used for this little cover.  It is flexible so it moves out of the way easily to access the USB port, but still fairly rigid, so there is less risk of it getting torn off like the USB port covers on many of the other devices I’ve tried.

Above, the included 20-inch long, micro-USB to USB charging cable has been plugged into the BoostRun BTH07 headphones for charging.  With the battery fully drained, the BTH07 headphones took between 1.5 and 2 hours to completely charge back up to full capacity and provided enough charge for about 4 to 6 workouts, or about 6-7 hours of life.  When the battery approaches the end of its charge, that familiar female voice prompt indicates, “Battery low,” so you know it is time to think about recharging the headphones.

The BoostRun BTH07 headphones feature a neon-green, 22-inch long, flat, ribbon-type cable that both virtually eliminates tangling and aids in visibility in case you lose it at the bottom of your gym bag or EDC pack (like I did a few times).

It also has a pre-installed cable connector that can be adjusted by sliding it up and down to tighten the slack in the cable.  The cable connector can be easily removed completely or reattached if desired.

One of the features that I really came to appreciate about the BTH07 headphones was that there is no in-line control unit as with several of the other Bluetooth headphones I have reviewed.  All of the controls are located in the right headphone, so the cable connecting the right and left sides is just that—a cable.  I’ve found that with the headphones I’ve tried in the past that included an in-line control unit, the headphone on the side with the control unit tends to fall out more often due to the weight of the control unit pulling on that side, especially while exercising.  The BTH07 does not have this issue.

Another feature of the BTH07 headphones that I came to appreciate was that its earpieces are actually angled 15 degrees from the main body of each headphone, which can be seen in the above image and is demonstrated in the image below.

Although I had initially thought that the BTH07 headphones looked bulky, the reality is that they really are not all that bulky when wearing them.  In the image above, you can see that, at least partially due to the 15-degree angled ear tips, they do hug the ear fairly well and don’t protrude excessively like I thought they would.

How did they sound?  They sounded good, especially with them pushed snugly into my ears, which reduced ambient sound and helped concentrate the sound from the headphones.  The overall dynamic range is decent, for music, which is what I often use the BTH07’s for, and I also used them while watching a movie or two, and they gave good sound for explosions and the like.

The BTH07 headphones felt comfortable to wear.  For the most part, they did stay on my ears even during exercise.  However, as with every other Bluetooth headset I’ve tried, eventually, as my sweat production increased along with my workout intensity, the left headphone actually fell off of my ear.  Even with the ear hooks.  I supposed that being a heavy sweater with large ear canals and doing loads of burpees and other similar movements was too much even for the BTH07 and its ear hooks.  However, for everyday, less strenuous use, and I would even say for most types of exercise, I think the BTH07 headphones perform quite well just fine.

iClever claims the BTH07 to be “Sweatproof Sport Headphones,” so I feel I should mention their moisture resistance. The iClever site claims an IPX4 rating, which generally means that they can be splashed fairly heavily with water and still remain undamaged.  The Amazon retail site claims an IPX5 rating, which means an even stronger resistance, so there is some discrepancy between these two reported ratings.  In any case, as mentioned above, I sweat quite heavily and work out quite strenuously, but never did this seem to affect the BTH07 headphones.  What’s more, one day I was caught out in a thundershower, a heavy downpour in fact, for about 20 minutes, and it didn’t even phase these headphones.  It was impressive.

Conclusion

Although my initial impression of the iClever BoostRun BTH07 Bluetooth Sport Headphones was that they looked a bit clunky, I was happy to find out that I was wrong.  Their 15-degree angled ear tips helped them feel comfortable on my ears, and their ear hooks did help keep them on my ears during exercise, although my combination of profuse sweat in my giant ear canals during strenuous exercise meant that they did fall off of me on occasion.  Functionally, they performed well.  Their sound is good and their combination of Multi-Function Button and + / – buttons are simple and easy to use.  Charging and usage time were very serviceable, but its water-resistance was downright impressive.  Especially for their cost, I would recommend giving the BTH07 headphones a look, and a listen.

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

 

Product Information

Price: $21.99
Manufacturer: iClever
Retailer: Amazon
Requirements:
  • A device with Bluetooth connectivity
  • USB charging
Pros:
  • Hooks help it stay secure in the ear, even during strenuous exercise
  • No in-line control unit to throw it off balance
  • Impressive moisture resistant
  • Comfortable to wear
  • Affordable price
Cons:
  • Very secure, but still managed to fall out of my ear on occasion

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV, Reviews

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iClever BoostRun BTH07 Bluetooth Sport Headphones review originally appeared on on March 25, 2017 at 8:31 am.

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