Hedgehog umbrella review

REVIEWS – When you live in southern Indiana, you just never know what the weather is going to be like. It’s February but we’ve had lots of rain and even thundersnow. Yes, that’s really a thing here. This week I’ve been testing the stormproof and unbreakable Hedgehog Umbrella. Let’s check it out.

What is it?

The Hedgehog Umbrella is a compact umbrella designed in Canada to withstand winds of up to 70MPH without turning inside out. That’s hurricane category 1 wind speeds.

Design and features

They sent me a Gen 2 in Sky Blue. The canopy is made of a 210 thread-count Water Repellent Pongee fabric that’s thin, but strong. You can choose from a variety of colors and you can even buy replacement canopies to easily switch out. Even better is the fact that they are going to soon offer a service where you can design your own canopy by uploading an image.

The umbrella ships with a slipcover which you’ll probably toss and promptly lose after the first time you use it.

When it’s collapsed and wrapped for storage, the umbrella measures 13 inches long and it weighs close to a pound. I consider this a medium sized umbrella that is small enough to fit in a backpack. I’ve seen and used umbrellas that are much smaller and easier to carry around, but this is the perfect size if you want true coverage and protection from rain. The ultra small ones really aren’t that useful in a storm.

The Hedgehog has a comfortable soft touch handle with a thick elastic cord. You might think that you can deploy the umbrella by pressing the button on the handle. You would be wrong. Unfortunately, there’s nothing automatic about the Hedgehog. This is a fully manual umbrella which is a bit disappointing given the price but I can understand that the automatic mechanisms are probably the weakest point of an umbrella the designers of the Hedgehog decided to bypass any issues by not including that feature.

So to open the Hedgehog, you just hold the handle in one hand and use your other hand to push the carbon fiber frame up the handle to the locking point at the top.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a robust frame as the one on the Hedgehog umbrella. It’s very sturdy and they claim that it is unbreakable.

When fully deployed, the umbrella is very roomy and large enough to that a friend can share with you.

When it’s time to collapse the umbrella, you just press the button on the center frame mechanism and it will unlock it so it can fold and slide back down the center handle.

The Hedgehog umbrella is perfectly balanced so it’s comfortable to walk with and I found that the canopy was large enough that I remained completely dry in all but sideways downpours.

What I like

  • Extremely well made
  • Withstands up to 70MPH winds
  • Ability to switch out the canopy
  • Ability to design your own canopy – coming soon
  • Lifetime warranty

What needs to be improved

  • It takes two hands to deploy it due to the lack of an automatic push button mechanism
  • Pricey

Final thoughts

The Hedgehog umbrella is very well made. I have no doubt that it’s been designed to last for years and the ability to switch out the canopy if there’s ever damage or if you just want a new color is great. The only issue I have with the umbrella other than the high price is that it takes two hands to open and close it. I don’t like wrestling with an umbrella when I’m going into and out of buildings and cars. I just want to hold it out in front of me, press a button and start walking. With the Hedgehog you can’t do that. If that’s not a deal breaker for you and you also live in a very windy/rainy area, this is definitely an umbrella to have in your bag.

Price: $79.00 – $99.00
Where to buy: Hedgehog Umbrella
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Hedgehog Umbrella.

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Hedgehog umbrella review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 22, 2019 at 11:00 am.

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Skinners combine the freedom of socks with the protection of shoes

NEWS – Who doesn’t like walking around in just their socks? They’re comfy, lightweight, and easy to put on, but they’re not very practical for walking around outside. That is until now. Skinners Barefoot Sock Shoes offer the comfort and freedom of socks with the protection of shoes.

Skinners pull-on design features both comfort and stability. The uppers are made of a stretchy, moisture-wicking, silver-infused antibacterial yarn. The yarn keeps your feet feeling good and helps to keep odors at bay.

The flexible, grippy shoe-like soles are made of durable, anti-abrasive Swedish polymer, perfect for outdoor activities like running, hiking, and even water sports. Or you can wear them indoors at the gym.

Their compact size makes them perfect for traveling.

Skinners are machine washable, and one pair can last up to hundreds of miles.

The Sock Shoes are available in a range of sizes from X-Small to XX-Large. And they come in a variety of colors to match any style.

You can purchase a pair of Skinners for $59.95 from The Grommet.

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Skinners combine the freedom of socks with the protection of shoes originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 22, 2019 at 10:00 am.

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Blue Ember XLR Studio Microphone Review

REVIEW – Blue is an audio company known best for making many different types of microphones for podcasts, streamers, musicians, and audio professionals. Many podcast and Youtube content creators feature their products in their videos and shows, and I’ve always wanted to try one for myself since I wanted to start streaming on Twitch, as well as use it for online gaming chat. I got the chance to review the new Blue Ember XLR Studio microphone, so let’s take a look!

What is it?

The Blue Ember microphone is a studio microphone for recording, podcasting, and live-streaming. The XLR connection means that it delivers more crisp, clear sound rather than a USB connection and also reduces background noise.

Hardware specs

  • Transducer Type: Condenser capsule
  • Polar Pattern: Cardioid
  • Frequency Response: 38 Hz-20 kHz
  • Sensitivity: 12 mV/PA
  • Output Impedance: 40 ohms
  • Rate Load Impedance: 1k ohm
  • Maximum SPL: 132 dB SPL
  • Power Requirements: +48V DC Phantom Power
  • Weight: 0.84 lbs
  • Dimensions: 8.62″ x  1.5″ x 1.26″

What’s in the box?

  • Blue Ember microphone
  • stand mount
  • stand adapter
  • user manual

Design and features

The Blue Ember XLR Studio microphone is heavyweight, sleek and features a metallic blue-grey body with a black capsule. The thin body of the design makes it easy to position in smaller spaces, such as a computer desk or small music studio. It doesn’t take up a lot of real estate if you’re using it on camera, due to the fact that you speak into the side of the capsule rather than the front like a traditional microphone. It’s important to note that an audio mixer is that supports an XLR input is needed. You will also need a microphone stand or a desktop boom arm to hold the microphone. Blue supplies a small stand mount and stand adapter so that you can connect the mic to the stand.

Setup

Setup was a bit more complicated for me due to the nature of the Blue Ember having an XLR connection rather than a native USB connection. If you’re using it on a PC like I am, you will need an audio mixer that support an XLR input which then connects to a computer via USB. I was fortunate to have my brother lend me an XLR cable and a Behringer XENYX Q1202 audio mixer, but there are plenty of other options out there smaller/inexpensive mixers.

Performance

Compared to an old microphone I used to use, the Blue Ember mic’s sound blew me away. The crisp clear audio that I got was a huge improvement from the background noise I was used to getting with a microphone with USB connection. This makes sense since XLR connections are traditionally used for professional audio.

For this first sample, I just spoke a couple of sentences, in as quiet of a room as I could, with the audio mixer settings that I found appropriate for a speaking voice. I’m not an audiophile, but I liked how these settings worked for me chatting through discord for gaming, or if I do a Twitch broadcast.

For this sample, I read the intro paragraph off of Blue’s website:

If you’d like to hear more examples of the Blue Ember with musical instruments or singing, head over to their website or SoundCloud for better samples!

What I like

  • Wonderful, crisp sound
  • Thin design for out-of-the-way placement on camera
  • Solid weight and good feel in hand

What needs to be improved

  • Extra equipment needed to connect to a PC, such as an audio mixer, cables and mic stand

Final thoughts

For the value, the Blue Ember microphone is definitely recommended if you want some awesome quality audio for a podcast, stream, or video recording. It’s a wonderful upgrade to anyone looking to sound more professional, but note you will also need extra equipment for a full setup.

Price: $99.99
Where to buy:  Bluedesigns.com and BHPhoto
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Blue Microphones

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Blue Ember XLR Studio Microphone Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 22, 2019 at 9:00 am.

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The Trayvax Trek Field Knife is an elegant knife for a more civilized age

NEWS – Trayvax, a purveyor of extraordinary wallets, belts, and other accessories, has recently opened a Kickstarter project for their newest creation, the Trek Field Knife. The Trek Field Knife is a unusual beast in that it is CNC milled from a high-quality stainless steel blank rather than being stamped, cut, or forged from raw stock.The Trek is a minimalist design with a skeletonized frame. The knife has a 3.5 inch blade with a 40º leading tip and a swept main edge. The overall length of the Trek is 7.9 inches. The blade’s spine has thumb jimping (I had to look that one up) to help with knife control when needed. The spine is strong enough that the knife may be used as a froe when splitting kindling (also known as batoning).  This stainless steel knife has a bead blasted finish to complement the minimalist design and has a 3/4 flat bevel grind to provide predictable cutting.

Trayvax is offering the Trek in either 440C (standard) or CPM S35VN (premium) stainless steel. For those, like me, who are not metallurgists (I forward those questions to my father, who has a doctorate specializing in ferrous metallurgy), 440C is a high carbon stainless steel with 16-18% chromium added for corrosion resistance. It is an industry-standard alloy that is used wherever precisely hardened steel with good corrosion resistance is needed. 440C steel can be found everywhere from high-end knives to industrial valves. S35VN steel is a premium alloy that was developed by Crucible Industries and knife maker Chris Reeve specifically for knife making. S35VN alloy steel is used almost exclusively in premium knives. Trayvax performs all of their milling in-house to maintain the highest levels of quality control and to minimize waste.

A Kickstarter pledge will get you a knife (or multiples if you choose) in your choice of stainless steels and your choice of a traditional, vertical carry holster (upper) or a combo (horizontal or vertical) carry holster (lower). Pledges for the 440C knives start at $90 for early bird supporters and the S35Vn knives start at $120.

Trayvax has mentioned the possibility of stretch goals to add scales or paracord wrapping to the handle, but have not announced anything official on the campaign page. You are of course free to modify your knife once it is in your possession.

You may find more details about the Trek Field Knife and make a pledge on Kickstarter. Those of you of a nervous disposition or who have an aversion to the intentional destruction of fine tools may wish to skip some of the testing videos.

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The Trayvax Trek Field Knife is an elegant knife for a more civilized age originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 22, 2019 at 8:00 am.

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Julie’s gadget diary – I’m finally upgrading to a new phone

ARTICLE – My track record for upgrading phones has been bad the past year and half but that’s finally going to change. Really, I promise this time guys!

First some background… I bought the Pixel 2 XL back in the fall of 2017 which feels like forever ago, but I’ve been using that phone since the day I bought it and even though I’ve tried to upgrade multiple times, I always ended up returning the Pixel for some reason or another.


First I bought the Essential Phone PH-1. There was a lot to like about the Essential phone like the amazing price! But my dislikes outweighed the likes. Mainly the fingerprint sensor which wasn’t compatible with my alien fingertips. I also found it to be smaller than what I’d become used to after using the Pixel 2 XL. So I boxed it up and shipped it back for a refund.

Then I got all excited about the iPhone XS Max and ordered one only to send it back within a few weeks. It was nice enough, but every time I try an iPhone, I end up missing the Android OS.

Let’s see… then there was the Pixel 3 XL which I thought for sure I’d keep, but…. nope. Sent it back because it felt identical to my Pixel 2 XL.

In between those phones which I bought on my own dime, I reviewed other phones like the Samsung Galaxy S9, LG V40, and Sony Xperia XZ2. None of them made me want to part with the cash to update. But now I’m ready to literally say goodbye to my Pixel 2 XL because I’m trading it for a $300 credit towards the Samsung Galaxy S10+ which I pre-ordered this morning. I opted for a blue S10+ with 128GB. Why the S10+? I figured bigger is better and the overall dimensions are actually ever so slightly smaller than the Pixel 2 XL.

I’m pretty jazzed to finally upgrade to a new phone and I am looking forward to having wireless charging again, a microSD card slot, and screen mirroring. I’m also excited to try DEX again because I’m always thinking about turning my phone into my only computer. Yeah, I know it probably won’t work, but it’s always fun to give it a shot and let all of you know my thoughts about trying.

The Samsung Galaxy S10+ might not be as new tech drool worthy as the Samsung Fold (which I want to try when it becomes available) but it has enough features to make me finally upgrade – at least until this fall with the Pixel 4 XL comes out! Just kidding… Ok, probably not kidding. But we’ll just have to wait and see. Head over to Samsung.com to read about the S10e, S10, and S10+.

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Julie’s gadget diary – I’m finally upgrading to a new phone originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 21, 2019 at 12:55 pm.

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