The Pocket Shot Hammer Full Kit Slingshot review


The Pocket Shot Slingshot is an innovative, modern take on the classic slingshot design. With the addition of the Pocket Hammer handle and Arrow Cap, this reimagining of the classic Y-shaped slingshot, a circular design which replaces strong rubber bands with an elastic pouch, is incredibly effective and so much fun to use.

The original Pocket Shot and Pocket Shot Arrow Cap was previously reviewed by fellow Gadgeteer contributor Larry Geisz. You can read those expertly conducted reviews here and here. I’ll be focusing on the Pocket Hammer Full Kit, which includes the Pocket Hammer handle and wrist brace.

The Pocket Hammer Full Kit comes with a standard Pocket Shot circular slingshot, a black Standard pouch, a blue Pro pouch, a Red Arrow pouch, the Arrow Cap, 100 5/16″ steel balls, four arrow nock caps, and the Pocket Hammer handle with wrist brace.

The Pocket Shot is super simple to assemble. The included circular rings and caps screw together, nesting whichever pouch you choose in between for a strong and secure fit.

According to the manufacturer, the material used to make the Pocket Shot is a durable, high impact polycarbonate composite.

Once assembled and held properly, wrapping your index finger and thumb around the circular notch of the Pocket Shot and pulling back the end of the pouch with your dominant hand, the unit feels natural and easy to handle.

The Pocket Shot can shoot a number of different types of ammo, including paintballs, marbles, smooth stones, and some airsoft pellets. The Pocket Hammer Kit comes with ammo in the form of 100 5/16″ steel ball bearings.

Most conveniently, you can use the Pocket Shot pouch to store your ammo as well as other pouches.

In use, the Pocket Shot measures about five inches long, but when closed it packs up into a very portable 2.3 by 1.3 inches.

The three different latex colored pouches, Standard (black), Pro (blue) and Arrow (red), provide different FPS rates when shooting and in the case of the Arrow pouch, when coupled with the Arrow Cap, allows you to shoot full sized arrows and crossbow bolts.

For more power and stability when shooting, the kit comes with the Pocket Hammer handle and wrist brace. The Hammer was designed by SimpleShot to provide a more traditional slingshot feel to the Pocket Shot while providing extra leverage and power.

The Hammer has a honeycomb, textured grip that was easy to maintain control of even with sweaty hands or in wet conditions.

The bottom of the Pocket Hammer has a standard rail mount attachment for adding accessories like flashlights or lasers for easier target acquisition.

The upper part of the Pocket Hammer has a metal tension clip that is secured by two screws at the base of the handle. By moving this tension clip outwards, you can break down the Hammer for storage or cleaning.

When fully extended and adjusted properly, the Hammer’s wrist brace stabilizes the slingshot and helps you get a deeper pull which translates into higher FPS when shooting.

The wrist brace itself is removable and the Hammer can be used with or without it.

You can attach any pouch to the Hammer just as easily as you would swap them out in the standard Pocket Shot configuration.

After attaching the red Arrow pouch to the Hammer, you’ll need to attach the Arrow Cap to be able to safely shoot arrows from the Pocket Shot.

The Arrow Cap consists off a standard looking archery whisker biscuit modified to fit on the Pocket Shot and Hammer. A whisker biscuit is an arrow holder with synthetic bristles that encircles and holds the arrow shaft in place and allows the feathers or vanes to pass through easily.

Once the Arrow Cap is securely attached to the Pocket Hammer you’re fully equipped to use the Pocket Shot to shoot full-sized arrows and crossbow bolts.

Now for the fun part! For the field test of the Pocket Hammer I needed an expert. Someone who’s logged hundreds of hours shooting and testing all types of equipment and weaponry. A fearless, rugged individual whose opinion I could trust.

So, naturally, I recruited my number one outdoorsman, my ten-year-old nephew, Enzo.

Enzo lives in the wilds of the Pacific Northwest with his mom and dad, his sister Carmela and his trusty canine sidekick, Ernie. Despite his young age, Enzo is an accomplished archer and marksman as well as a budding bladesmith. He’s tried out everything from Nerf guns to Daisy air rifles to high-powered drones and remote controlled cars.

We take safety very seriously, so all testing was done under the close supervision of Enzo’s dad and safety glasses were worn by all involved.

Our first priority was to try out the Standard Pocket Shot using the Pocket Hammer. We used the included steel ball bearings as ammo.

Enzo was pleasantly surprised with how easy the Pocket Shot and Hammer were to assemble and shoot. The wrist brace was a little uncomfortable for him at first, but he quickly became accustomed to it, hitting target after target with ease.

“I really liked that I could change the pouches myself and it was really fun and easy to aim and SO accurate!” Enzo said enthusiastically.

After voicing his approval of the Standard Pocket Shot and Hammer, Enzo excitedly moved on to the second round of testing, the Pocket Hammer with the Arrow Cap and pouch.

We set up our archery target and got to work. We used standard full sized arrows and the provided arrow nock caps to make the arrows easier to grasp inside the pouch. Pocket Shot does carry their own arrows on their website. The Pocket Shot arrows are specifically designed for use with the Pocket Shot and Hammer.

The verdict on the Arrow set-up was just as positive. It was easy for Enzo to get a full draw on the arrows and to consistently hit his mark. Although he still loves his bow, Enzo raved about how powerful, accurate and portable the Pocket Shot Hammer is.

“I can pack the whole thing up and take it camping with us,” he said with a grin.

Overall, the Pocket Shot Hammer Full Kit is an affordable, well-built and effective tool for target shooting and hunting small game. At just $99 for the entire kit and accessories, it’s a great buy over purchasing everything separately. The Pocket Shot Hammer Kit would make a terrific addition to your hunting, bug-out or camping gear. Enzo and I highly recommend it.

Note: Some types of slingshots and wrist braces are illegal in certain areas. Check the legality of such devices in your area before purchasing,

Source: The sample for this review was provided by Pocket Shot. Please visit their website for more info and find them on Amazon too.

 

Product Information

Price: 99.00
Manufacturer: Pocket Shot LLC
Retailer: Amazon
Pros:
  • Affordable
  • Very portable
  • Uses different types of ammo
  • Easy to assemble
  • Very accurate
Cons:
  • Small learning curve
  • Wrist brace can be uncomfortable until adjusted properly

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged:

The Pocket Shot Hammer Full Kit Slingshot review originally appeared on on June 19, 2017 at 8:23 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.

Forget about counting sheep, use a Dreem sleep-enhancing headband instead


When it comes to sleep, the usual rule of thumb is that everyone needs 7-8 hours of sleep each night. But what if half or more of those hours are spent tossing and turning or staring at the ceiling wishing you were asleep. That’s where neurotech startup Rythm hopes to help with their Dreem sleep-enhancing wearable headband.

Dreem is a flexible fabric band work on the head that uses dry polymer EEG electrodes that measure brain activity. It then uses sound through bone-conduction technology to stimulate the brain to fall asleep faster and lengthen deep sleep cycles to improve the duration and quality of your sleep so that you wake up refreshed and well-rested.

The Dreem headband also uses a mobile app that keeps track of your sleep data to help you identify possible abnormal sleep patterns and then offer ways to increase your sleep quality.

Dreem is priced at $499/499€ and is now available for preorders at dreem.com. Those who order in the first 30 days will receive an early bird price of $399/€399 with shipping included until July 15. Dreem will ship this Fall.

Filed in categories: News

Tagged:

Forget about counting sheep, use a Dreem sleep-enhancing headband instead originally appeared on on June 19, 2017 at 7:00 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.

Cord Commander cord and charger organizer review


We all love our gadgets, but until the day comes when the can all recharge wirelessly, we need charging adapters and charging cables. Keeping the adapters and cables together and neatly organized isn’t an easy task unless you have help like the Cord Commander. Let’s check it out.

What is it?

The Cord Commander is a simple product that has been designed and made in the USA to help manage cable clutter for Apple and Samsung charging adapters.

What’s in the box?

Each box has one Cord Commander and a sheet of simple instructions.

Made of tough but flexible plastic, the Cord Commander is available in two versions. There’s a version that’s compatible with Apple iPhone and iPad style chargers and another version that works with Samsung phone and tablet chargers.

The folks at Cord Commander sent me one of each style. The Apple Cord Commander is shown above on the left and the Samsung version is on the right.

The Cord Commander has a “shelf” with slots in it for the prongs on the adapter and two “wings” on the back that are designed to wind excess cord.

It’s important to pay attention to the orientation of the power adapter when you insert it into the Cord Commander.

If it’s turned the wrong way, it won’t sit flat on the “shelf”.

But once inserted correctly and with the cable wrapped around the wings, the combo is neat and tidy, making it less of a mess in a drawer, gear bag, etc.

There are four cord catch notches on the top edge of the Cord Commander that are used to lock the loose end of the cable in place. Two of the cord catches are larger to accommodate larger diameter cords.

Note that even the larger cord catches might not allow extra thick cables to snap in place as is the case with a Choetech cable TYPE-C charging cable that I use with a Samsung adapter.

Final thoughts

The Cord Commander is more convenient to use than a twist tie or a rubber band because everything you need is right there without any separate parts.

If you have been looking for an easy way to keep your Apple or Samsung adapters and cables more organized, the Cord Commander is a good solution. It’s easy to use and requires no modification to the adapter or existing cable.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by Cord Commander. Please visit their site for more info and order through eBay.

 

Product Information

Price: $7.99
Manufacturer: Cord Commander
Retailer: eBay
Pros:
  • Easy to use
  • Keeps adapters and cords neat and together
Cons:
  • Some cables are too thick to snap into the cord catches

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: ,

Cord Commander cord and charger organizer review originally appeared on on June 18, 2017 at 5:42 pm.

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.

Cord Commander cord and charger organizer review


We all love our gadgets, but until the day comes when the can all recharge wirelessly, we need charging adapters and charging cables. Keeping the adapters and cables together and neatly organized isn’t an easy task unless you have help like the Cord Commander. Let’s check it out.

What is it?

The Cord Commander is a simple product that has been designed and made in the USA to help manage cable clutter for Apple and Samsung charging adapters.

What’s in the box?

Each box has one Cord Commander and a sheet of simple instructions.

Made of tough but flexible plastic, the Cord Commander is available in two versions. There’s a version that’s compatible with Apple iPhone and iPad style chargers and another version that works with Samsung phone and tablet chargers.

The folks at Cord Commander sent me one of each style. The Apple Cord Commander is shown above on the left and the Samsung version is on the right.

The Cord Commander has a “shelf” with slots in it for the prongs on the adapter and two “wings” on the back that are designed to wind excess cord.

It’s important to pay attention to the orientation of the power adapter when you insert it into the Cord Commander.

If it’s turned the wrong way, it won’t sit flat on the “shelf”.

But once inserted correctly and with the cable wrapped around the wings, the combo is neat and tidy, making it less of a mess in a drawer, gear bag, etc.

There are four cord catch notches on the top edge of the Cord Commander that are used to lock the loose end of the cable in place. Two of the cord catches are larger to accommodate larger diameter cords.

Note that even the larger cord catches might not allow extra thick cables to snap in place as is the case with a Choetech cable TYPE-C charging cable that I use with a Samsung adapter.

Final thoughts

The Cord Commander is more convenient to use than a twist tie or a rubber band because everything you need is right there without any separate parts.

If you have been looking for an easy way to keep your Apple or Samsung adapters and cables more organized, the Cord Commander is a good solution. It’s easy to use and requires no modification to the adapter or existing cable.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by Cord Commander. Please visit their site for more info and order through eBay.

 

Product Information

Price: $7.99
Manufacturer: Cord Commander
Retailer: eBay
Pros:
  • Easy to use
  • Keeps adapters and cords neat and together
Cons:
  • Some cables are too thick to snap into the cord catches

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: ,

Cord Commander cord and charger organizer review originally appeared on on June 18, 2017 at 5:42 pm.

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.

Master & Dynamic gets all black and blue with Bamford Watch Department


Headphones that sound as good as they look are rare. Master & Dynamic headphones are an exception. The MH40 headphones are classically designed, impeccably made and sound really good. I’m now testing their wireless MW50 headphones and am liking what I’m hearing. A full review is coming soon. That said, Master & Dynamic has taken a page from the Apple book and is teaming up with fashionable tech brands by releasing limited versions of headphones. Case in point: M&D have partnered with George Bamford and the Bamford Watch Department (BWD), a leading luxury watch personalization company, resulting in the Master & Dynamic for BWD MW60 wireless headphone. This follows on the heels of other limited edition MW60s with Leica Camera and YouTube. The limited edition MW60s feature the same specs as the MW60, but with different color schemes.

According to Master & Dynamic, “Upon being introduced to George Bamford, he and Master & Dynamic’s Founder and CEO Jonathan Levine  bonded over a love of materials, craftsmanship and their shared passion for Engineering excellence and innovation.” They went on to say, “Combining Master & Dynamic’s blend of form and function, the Master & Dynamic for Bamford Watch Department MW60 wireless over-ear headphones … feature a combination of black Saffiano leather and Bamford aqua blue Saffiano leather on the inner headband and mesh inside the ear cup.”

The Master & Dynamic for Bamford Watch Department MW60 wireless headphones (and all other MW60s as well) sell for $549 US. They are available from Master & DynamicBamford Watch Department, and you can find some versions on Amazon.

Filed in categories: News

Tagged: ,

Master & Dynamic gets all black and blue with Bamford Watch Department originally appeared on on June 18, 2017 at 3:37 pm.

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.