Home Reviews

NITECORE TUP 1000 lumen EDC flashlight review

REVIEW – Do you love EDC flashlights but hate feeding them batteries? If so, then I have a flashlight you’ll want to check out. It’s the NITECORE TUP and it packs some nice features into a very pocket-friendly package. Let’s check it out.

What is it?

The NITECORE TUP is a 1000 lumen USB rechargeable flashlight that is the perfect size for EDC/pocket carry.

Specs

LED: CREE XP-L HD V6
Maximum Brightness: 1000 lumens
Peak Beam Distance: 197 yards
Peak Beam Intensity: 8130 cd
IP Rating: IP54
Impact Resistance: 1 m
Battery: 1200 mAh lithium-ion battery
Dimensions: 2.76″L x 1.16″W x 1.16″H
Weight: 1.87oz

What’s in the box?

  • NITECORE TUP flashlight
  • Keyring
  • micro USB charging cable
  • Instructions

Design and features

The NITECORE TUP doesn’t really look like a flashlight when you first take a look at it. First of all, it’s small at not even 3 inches long. Then it has a square shaped aluminum case which isn’t typical of most flashlights. And finally, it has two control buttons and a built-in OLED display that shows you the lumen setting and time left at that setting before the battery needs to be recharged.


The NITECORE TUP flashlight has a strong clip that you can use to clip the NITECORE TUP to your belt, pocket, or even the brim of your cap. If clips aren’t your thing, you can attach the included keyring and use that instead.

The left side of the TUP has a micro USB charging port that is protected by a rubber seal. The flashlight has an intelligent charging system that includes overcharge protection and indicators that alert you when the 4.2V battery needs to be recharged.

While charging, the power and mode buttons will blink Blue. When the battery is fully charged (it can take 3.5hrs to fully recharge), the status LEDs will stop blinking and will glow steadily.

The TUP has 5 brightness modes that you can cycle through with the mode button when the light is powered on. Info about the mode will show up on the display for a couple of seconds.

The display shows the current lumen setting and runtime remaining in that setting. If you press the mode button while the flashlight is off, the TUP’s display will show the real-time voltage level so you can get an idea of how much longer the flashlight will continue providing light or how long it needs to charge if it’s recharging.

Performance

Using the NITECORE TUP is easy. Just make sure it’s fully charged and then press the power button to turn it on and the mode button to cycle through ultralow, low, mid, and high settings which go from 1 lumen up to 200 lumens. The flashlight will remember the brightness setting last used and will use that setting the next time that you power it on.

Here’s a table that gives you an idea of how long you can expect to use the NITECORE TUP before the batteries need to be recharged and how far the beam will shine at that setting and the intensity.

But how do you use the 1000 lumen turbo mode you’re wondering? With the flashlight on or off, just hold down the mode button for a couple of seconds and the flashlight will turn on in turbo/1000 lumen mode for as long as you’re holding down the button. You can’t lock the flashlight on in that mode since it uses a lot of power and the flashlight can overheat in turbo mode.

Here are some images that show the brightness levels in my Gadgeteer HQ office at night with all the lights off.






The room was completely dark with just LEDs from my monitor and some other gadget glowing on the desk. I had my smartphone on a tripod about 10 ft away. Indoors, I find that the 65-lumen setting works fine for most things.

This flashlight works great but the only small issue I had was that it’s a little too easy to toggle on the half lockout mode. The NITECORE TUP has two lockout modes. The half lockout mode just locks the power button and the full lockout mode locks out both the power and mode buttons so that pressing them has no effect. These modes are there to prevent the flashlight from turning on while in a bag or pocket if you run into that issue.

The half lockout mode is turned on by holding down the power button for more than a few seconds while the light is on. I have a habit accidentally of pressing and holding that button instead of the mode button when I want to use the turbo/1000 lumens mode. Luckily turning off the half lockout mode is just a quick press of the power button followed by a longer press. But I do wish that the buttons on the flashlight were reversed so that the power button was on top instead of the other way around.

What I like

  • Bright
  • Small
  • Rechargeable battery
  • The display shows the battery charge level

What needs to be improved

  • Put the power button on top of the mode button instead of the other way around for better ergonomics

Final thoughts

I’ve really enjoyed using the NITECORE TUP. I like the small size and easy user interface. Although I rarely need more than 65 or 200 lumens, I like that I can use 1000 lumens if I need to.

Price: $64.95
Where to buy: Nitecorestore.com
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Nitecore Store.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: ,

NITECORE TUP 1000 lumen EDC flashlight review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 19, 2019 at 9:00 am.

Note: If you are subscribed to this feed through FeedBurner, please switch to our native feed URL http://the-gadgeteer.com/feed/ in order to ensure continuous delivery.

Purist Collective Mover thermal bottle review

REVIEW – I drink coffee every morning on the way to work and while I’m at work. Given this, it’s important to me that a thermal bottle do two things well: maintain temperature and not leak. The Purist Collective Mover, 18-ounce bottle does both of these things well quite well.

What is it?

The Mover is one of three bottles available from the Purist Collective.  The other two, the Maker and the Founder, are smaller (10oz.) and larger (56oz.) respectively. Each bottle features a self-cleaning glass lined interior that’s designed to not retain odors. You can also choose from three muted colors such as gray, beige or, as in the case of the one that I received, black, or one that’s unfinished. No matter what bottle you chose a selection of three types of lids are available: one that allows for sipping coffee and other hot beverages, and another more suited to drinking water.

What’s in the box?

  • The Mover bottle
  • The Element Lid

Hardware specs

  • 18 oz capacity
  • 8″ H x 2.9″ W without lid
  • 8.56″ H x 2.9″ W with Element lid
  • 0.58 lbs without Element lid
  • 0.73 lbs with Element lid

Design and features

The Mover feels well built and has a nice heft to it. The outside coating is slightly textured and provides a good gripping surface when held. The lid screws on tightly and the integrated handle allows you to hook your fingers through it for carry or use a clip to hang it off your bag. The wide mouth and minimal threading make the Mover a great bottle to drink from directly. It’s as cup/mug-like as a thermal bottle could be.

The issue I have with the lid is that there is no way to drink from the bottle unless it is completely removed. As I like to drink on my way to work, this makes it all but impossible. The other lid designed for sipping would probably help with this, although it isn’t available as of this writing.

Performance

In order to see how well the Mover held temperature, I filled it with 204-degree water, screwed on the lid and then checked it every two hours over an 8 hour period to monitor the temperature drop. On average, the Mover lost 20 degrees per two-hour block. This was slow enough to keep the water (or coffee) pleasantly warm after eight hours.

I also carried the Mover to and from work every day for a week. I stored it inside my backpack and didn’t experience any leaking. The finish held up well after being knocked around with the rest of the stuff in my bag.

After a week I switched out coffee for water and used it around the house. No previous odors or taste from the coffee were detected. I would note, however, that the bottom of the lid is plastic and I could still smell a bit of coffee on it even after rinsing it in the sink. This did not impact the flavor of the water.

What I like

  • Easy to drink from
  • Good temperature stability with hot beverages
  • Well made and durable

What needs to be improved

  • Have to completely remove lid to drink
  • Expensive
  • Lid did retain some odor

Final thoughts

The Mover is a well-made bottle that feels solid and has good thermal retention properties. Having a lid that would allow you to drink directly from the Mover would be a great addition.

Price: $48.00
Where to buy: Purist Collective
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Purist Collective.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged:

Purist Collective Mover thermal bottle review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 18, 2019 at 11:00 am.

Note: If you are subscribed to this feed through FeedBurner, please switch to our native feed URL http://the-gadgeteer.com/feed/ in order to ensure continuous delivery.

SERK Duo-entry Drawstring Backpack review

REVIEW — Everyone’s seen those nylon drawstring bags that look like a modern replacement for a hobo’s bindlestiff. Usually they’re just cheap, single-compartment sacks used to tote a change of clothes, but Rever Brand offers an evolution on that design with their SERK Drawstring Backpack. Read on to see how it stacks up.

What is it?

The SERK is an upgrade to the iconic drawstring backpack design, utilizing durable materials, waterproof insulation and a unique duo-entry design that isolates wet and dry items.

What’s in the box?

  • just the backpack itself

Hardware specs

  • Duo-entry design to separate dry and wet or dirty items
  • Waterproof oxford canvas exterior construction
  • Tear-resistant ripstop nylon
  • 1/4″ diamond braided nylon ropes
  • Weather-sealed coated zippers
  • RFID protective storage compartments
  • Leather accents
  • 14 liters capacity

Design and features

The SERK drawstring backpack looks a lot like a premium drawstring gym bag, but hides a pleasant surprise. While other bags offer one single large chamber for toting around clothes and shoes, the SERK proves a separate, waterproof compartment accessed from the bottom of the bag. This allows an isolated area for storing wet or dirty items or shoes while keeping the rest of your stuff clean.

The rear view side that lies against your back.

Additionally, the SERK has several internal pockets and two small RFID protected external pockets that can be accessed by weather-sealed zippers, perfect for storing your phone, wallet and other items that need to be quickly accessed.

The side pockets, while easily accessed wearing the pack, are indeed fairly small. I had a hard time fitting my entire hand inside to fish smaller items out. Phones and wallets should be a snap to get out, but anything that may find its way into the very back of the pocket like a pen or pack of gum may be hard to nab quickly.

Smallish side RFID protected pockets for your phone, wallet, earbuds or whatever will fit.

This bottom entry compartment is separated from the main compartment with a zipper in the bottom of the bag, allowing it to be rolled up and stored until needed. That was a clever touch to keep that part out of the way when using the bag in the conventional way.

There’s the hidden bottom compartment on the underside of the bag.

I would say this bottom compartment works well in keeping wet stuff from spreading to other clothes/material in the main chamber. It’s a great place to store damp towels, dirty shoes, even food or cold bottles that would collect condensation. This compartment, when expanded into the main chamber, will place the items within it alongside your belongings in the main space, so some adjusting and moving things around is necessary to keep the bag from feeling too “thick.”

And here’s the zipper that allows the bottom compartment to expand into the main chamber.

The SERK’s outer material is a thick, slightly stiff, waterproof canvas. It’s much more durable than a typical gym bag, though I found it does take some adjusting to conform to the curve of your back and shoulders. It’s not uncomfortable, but I never got to the point where I didn’t feel like I had something on my back, if that makes sense… I was aware of that material, stretching and moving around with it on my back, and it made me wonder if I’d get annoyed with it after wearing the bag all day, or if I’d eventually get used to it.

The top opening, when fully expanded, is very large.

It’s worth noting that the bag itself isn’t totally waterproof, as in you couldn’t drop it into a lake and have everything be all right, seeing as there is obviously a big hole at the top of the pack where the drawstrings pull it closed. I couldn’t get it to close any tighter than the circumference of a small egg. I think that’s good enough for most, just don’t get caught in a downpour.

For something that is made to be slung quickly on one’s back, I managed to accidentally pull the knotted nylon ropes through the d-rings a couple of times. That could easily be remedied with another (or thicker) knot at the end of the ropes, but the default size of that double-knot can be pulled through without much strength.

Speaking of those straps, they’re definitely not as comfortable as most typical backpacks I’ve used. It is recommended that the content weight not exceed 4kg (about 9lbs). That doesn’t seem like a lot of weight for such a heavy-duty pack. While the diamond-braided ropes can withstand 700lbs, I think the weight limit recommendation is there for comfort’s sake. It takes some fine-tuning to get the dual straps to rest on your shoulder with equal distribution.

You probably won’t want to overstuff this bag.

Funny thing about those ropes, I remember reading on the original Kickstarter page for this product that they could be removed from the bag and unraveled like paracord in an emergency situation, because of their high tensile strength. I suppose this is true, provided you were later able to feed a new cord back into the bag! That’s just a fun extra feature worth noting.

Here is the expanded bottom compartment inside the main chamber.

If you wanted to use the SERK as your daily commuter bag, as I did, once you get a laptop and a few other items in there, you might not have room for too much more before going beyond that weight limit and causing some discomfort on your shoulders. It definitely can be used as a work bag, the design even encourages it with pockets for a laptop, notebook and tablet, and padding on the bottom of the bag itself. I’d just caution against too much weight so that the straps don’t dig in to your shoulders.

Best for light loads, I would say. And tough, to boot.

What I like

  • Isolated compartment keeps dirty, wet items separated
  • Much more durable than typical nylon gym bags
  • Can be used as a commuter bag as well

What needs to be improved

  • Rope knots can come loose
  • Bag material can be a bit stiff
  • Side pockets are quite narrow, hard to fit hands inside

Final thoughts

The SERK backpack stacks up to be a great replacement for that nylon gym bag, and could be an excellent day bag for hitting the beach or park. But you might find it a little lacking for the serious work commuter.

Price: $40.95 in gray or $44.95 in black
Where to buy: The SERK drawstring bag can be purchased directly from Rever Brand’s website.
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Rever Brand.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: ,

SERK Duo-entry Drawstring Backpack review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 18, 2019 at 9:00 am.

Note: If you are subscribed to this feed through FeedBurner, please switch to our native feed URL http://the-gadgeteer.com/feed/ in order to ensure continuous delivery.

Mobile Edge Alienware Vindicator 2.0 Backpack and Neoprene Sleeve review

REVIEW – Buying a new laptop is a big deal for me, as it is for most people. I spend months doing research, reading reviews, and trying out laptops in stores. Once I finally settle on my choice, it’s a good bet that I’ve spent a lot of time AND money on that pick, so my next purchases usually consist of various items designed to protect and preserve my expensive new investment. I recently bought a Razer Blade 15″ laptop so, despite the brand discrepancy, I jumped at the chance to review the Alienware Vindicator 2.0 Backpack 15″ and Neoprene Sleeve 15″. The $74.99 Vindicator 2.0 is a cavernous, well-designed backpack great for carting my laptop and its various accessories around. Coupled with the $28.71 Alienware Neoprene Sleeve, I feel confident that no harm will come to my beloved new tech. I reviewed the 15″ laptop versions of these two products, Alienware makes 13″ and 17″ versions as well.

What is it?

The Alienware Vindicator 2.0 Backpack (15) is a very durable three-sectioned backpack specifically designed to hold and protect 15″ laptops and other electronic accessories like tablets and power supplies.

The Alienware Neoprene Sleeve (15) is a small case/sleeve that will hold and protect your 15″ laptop. It has an integrated handle and zippered pouch and can be used alone, or dropped into the Vindicator 2.0 for added protection.

Design and features

The first thing I did when I received my Vindicator 2.0 and Neoprene Sleeve was to make sure that they play nice together.

Turns out they work perfectly as a team to protect my laptop in transit. A laptop secured in the Sleeve fits fine in the laptop section of the Vindicator 2.0.

The Vindicator 2.0, like most Alienware products, has a nice high-tech futuristic look to it.

The lines are sleek and the outer shell is made of a textured high-density nylon. The Vindicator 2.0 is all black with bright teal highlights and a teal and grey interior.

Embossed in the high center of the pack is a glossy metallic version of that very recognizable Alienware head logo.

There’s a bit more branding on the back panel, rubberized letters spelling out Alienware. I like that the branding isn’t overpowering on the Vindicator 2.0.

The shoulder straps on the Vindicator 2.0 are padded and comfortable and include a chest strap.

The Vindicator 2.0 has adjustable upper shoulder straps as well, which isn’t common on all backpacks and they’re great for adjusting to a comfortable fit.

Some of the extra design features I love about the Vindicator 2.0 include the small zippered pockets integrated into the sides of the straps on the backpack.

I also love this ingeniously hidden water bottle pouch.

The mesh pouch is there when you need it and tucks up into its own zippered pocket when you don’t.

The Vindicator 2.0 has three main sections, the back-most section is for storing your 15″ laptop. This laptop section has a nice textured fabric to protect your laptop from scratches as well as a separate pouch for holding a tablet or phone.

The tablet pouch has a faux fur-lined interior to protect vulnerable screens and glossy plastic or metal exteriors.

The middle section of the Vindicator 2.0 has an open folder pocket section as well as a huge zippered mesh pocket.

The zippered mesh pockets, which are also found in the front section of the backpack, stretch to accommodate all kinds of random gear you may need to stow.

The folder pockets are great for magazines or school binders and expand for extra storage.

Additionally, a great added feature is found at the bottom of the middle section.

The entire folder and mesh partition can be unzipped and removed from the Vindicator 2.0 entirely.

The zipper surrounds the section and once undone, the whole section panel can be removed.

Once removed, the interior of the Vindicator 2.0 becomes absolutely massive. If you frequently carry lots of bigger items, this a great option to have.

To reinsert the panel, simply locate the zipper at the bottom of the section and zip the panel back into place.

The front-most section of the Vindicator 2.0 has a bunch of smaller mesh pockets, a section for credit or business cards, pen holders, and two great little slots for holding USB sticks.

Another great feature of this section is an elastic loop and tie, useful for securing keys or headphones or any other oddly shaped items.

Of all the features of the Vindicator 2.0 though, my favorite is the included power supply bag.

The bag is included with every size Vindicator 2.0 and is made for storing all those unwieldy power cables and bricks that come with every laptop.

The bag has a stylish little Alienware logo and boasts a rubberized breathable mesh interior.

This great little bag is spacious enough to hold even the biggest power brick and has an attached carrying strap attached as well. I love that this bonus bag is included with the backpack.

The Alienware Neoprene Sleeve is just as sturdy and useful as the Vindicator 2.0 Backpack.

The Sleeve is adorned with the same glossy metallic Alienware logo.

And the backside of the Sleeve has rubberized type spelling out Alienware.

The zippers are sturdy and have bright teal highlights matching the Vindicator 2.0. I would’ve preferred if the zipper pulls on the Sleeve and Vindicator 2.0 were a bit larger, but it’s not a deal breaker.

The handle attached to the Sleeve seems very well stitched and increases the functionality of the Sleeve from just a sleeve to a mini carrying case as well.

The interior of the Sleeve can fit any 15″ laptop with plenty of room to spare and the fabric is thick enough to assuage any fears of an expensive laptop getting damaged while inside.

A great feature of this Sleeve is the exterior zippered pouch. It’s big enough to hold a mouse or a smaller power supply if needed.

What I like

  • Sturdy construction on both the Vindicator 2.0 and Neoprene Sleeve
  • Included Vindicator 2.0 power supply bag is a great addition
  • Massive storage in both the Vindicator 2.0 and Sleeve
  • Love the zippered pouch and handle on the Neoprene Sleeve

What needs to be improved

  • Would’ve been nice to have bigger zipper pulls on both
  • A few long time users reported stitching failure, but only time will tell

Final thoughts

I really like both the Alienware Vindicator 2.0 Backpack (15) and the Neoprene Sleeve (15). The Vindicator 2.0 has a lot of great design features, like its included power supply bag, and this backpack is absolutely massive on the inside. For the price of $74.99, the Vindicator 2.0 stands out compared to other similarly featured computer backpacks. I also totally dig the features of the Alienware Neoprene Sleeve. I like that the Sleeve is of sturdy construction, will protect my laptop, and can work with the Vindicator 2.0 or on its own. The integrated handle and zippered pouch make the affordable price of $28.71 even more attractive.

Price: $74.99 / $28.71
Where to buy: Mobile Edge and Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Mobile Edge.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: ,

Mobile Edge Alienware Vindicator 2.0 Backpack and Neoprene Sleeve review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 17, 2019 at 11:00 am.

Note: If you are subscribed to this feed through FeedBurner, please switch to our native feed URL http://the-gadgeteer.com/feed/ in order to ensure continuous delivery.

Schon DSGN Classic Machined pen review

REVIEW – In today’s world of our nonstop keyboard clicking, the written note is definitely the anomaly versus the standard anymore. Even our signatures are digital these days, involving a smart-chip, fingerprint, special code, etc. But the ballpoint pen endures…I would guess most of those reading this review have a nice writing instrument in their EDC bag right now. I am always looking to improve my EDC gear, tweaking it and trying new items in my quest for tech-Zen. In this case, Schon DSGN sent me one of their Classic Machined Pens, in brass to review. Let’s see if it is worthy enough to make it into my EDC lineup.

The Schon DSGN Classic Machined pen began as a Kickstarter project back in 2017. It was successfully launched by 741 backers who ultimately pledged $58,548 to bring this project to life. Schon DSGN was founded by Ian Schon with “the idea of creating objects without compromises”.

What is it?

The Schon DSGN Classic pen is a small compact ballpoint pen machined from a single piece of metal. Each pen is turned from solid barstock and finished to give each specific material a distinct look.  SchonDSGN pens are 100% made in the USA.

Design and features

Schon DSGN writing instruments are simple, dependable, high quality ball point pens. Each pen comes with a matching screw-on cap with threads on both sides of the pen, hopefully making the cap less losable. The machining and finish are excellent. Overall, the pen feels very substantial, great to hold and write with.

Specifications:

The Classic Machined pen is ½ an inch in diameter and 4” long when capped.

The threads are well done and the cap screws on and off the pen easily. Though once screwed onto either end, the cap stays attached and in place.

When the cap is screwed on the back, the pen is 5-3/4” long giving it a nice grippable length for writing.

The Classic Machined pen has a set screw on its tail end for accessing/changing the ink cartridge.

The clip is made from stainless steel and is robust yet not too thick. The length of the clip is optimized for a visually balanced look while also being able to hold a 1″ length of material inside of it.

Each pen comes with a PR4 Medium Black Fisher Space pen ink cartridge, easily replaced through the set screw in the back of the pen.

The Schon DSGN Classic Pen travels extremely well in the coin pocket of your jeans or pants. The stainless steel clip is strong and does a great job keeping the Schon DSGN pen securely in place. I have been using this pen for about a month and typically keep/carry it just like you see in this picture…where I do not always have my Navigator bag with me but still want a writing instrument by my side.

What I like

  • Excellent material and build quality
  • Smooth writing
  • Nice weight and feel
  • Cap screws onto each end
  • Made from a variety of metals
  • Available in multiple weights

What needs to be improved

  • None

The Classic Machined pen is available in a multitude of metals from titanium to copper, each with its individual weights and characteristics.

Black Anodized Aluminum ($80) – 1oz – 1.1oz (w/clip)
Polished Aluminum Pen ($78)- 1oz – 1.1oz (w/clip)
Polished Titanium ($188) -1.8oz – 1.9oz (w/clip)
Tumbled Stainless ($108) – 2.8oz – 2.9oz (w/clip)
Polished Copper ($158) – 3.2oz -3.3oz (w/clip)
Polished Brass Pen ($138) – 3 oz -3.1oz (w/clip)

As I mentioned above, all Schon DSGN pens are 100% made in the USA, specifically Massachusetts.

According to his website, Ian has…

always had a fascination with heirloom objects or objects built so solidly that they could potentially outlast the user. I hope you enjoy this pen, forever.

As an interesting (@least for the watch-guy I am) side note, Ian also creates handmade watches @Schon Horology, a new division of Schon DSGN.

Final thoughts

I initially considered the stainless steel and titanium options but ultimately requested the brass version of the Classic Machine pen. And I am glad I did…I love the hefty weight and feel the pen has. I have many aluminum and titanium pens but none are this substantial. Add in the fact, the brass has already started to patina nicely and will continue to do so as it ages. I totally envision myself continuing to carry this pen with me in my coin pocket. The build, material, and design quality is meant to last a lifetime and agree this pen could easily be passed on when you’re gone 😉 .

Price: Brass – $138 ($70 – $288)
Where to buy: The Classic Machine Pen is available at Schon DSGN.
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Schon DSGN.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: ,

Schon DSGN Classic Machined pen review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 17, 2019 at 9:00 am.

Note: If you are subscribed to this feed through FeedBurner, please switch to our native feed URL http://the-gadgeteer.com/feed/ in order to ensure continuous delivery.