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Nekteck NK-S1 Bluetooth speaker review


Everybody, their brother, and their brother’s next-door neighbor makes a Bluetooth speaker these days, or so it seems. Some are merely OK and some are just downright awful. Very few are actually worth your hard-earned money. Where does the Nekteck NK-S1 fit on this scale? Read on to find out…

I have been looking for a good and affordable Bluetooth speaker to replace an aging Logitech model. We love to stream music (think Sunday night kitchen dance parties while cooking for the next week) or news or comedy as an antidote for the news. Our qualifications for a speaker are pretty basic: it has to sound good, it has to be portable and battery powered (so we can use it while grilling in the backyard), and it has to be so simple to operate that we can start it up and promptly forget about managing it. Oh, and it has to be reasonably priced.

Let’s get the least subjective qualifications out of the way: at about 7.5 inches long, 3 inches high and 3 inches deep, it is a small speaker on par size-wise with speakers like the Jabra Solemate Mini or the Cambridge SoundWorks Angle. And at 1.5 pounds, it is a little on the heavy side compared to most but certainly, will not break your back carrying it around. It has a bigger battery than most portables which probably accounts for the weight difference, and the practical upshot of that is that you get longer play time before you have to charge. In my book, that is a win for the Nekteck speaker.

Next, it has to be reasonably simple to operate. I want to plant the speaker near where I am doing something and then use my streaming device to control audio, etc. I am an Android guy, so the main drivers for the speaker are my Galaxy S8 Plus and my Galaxy Tab S2 tablet. Both support Bluetooth 4.x as does the Nekteck, so the speaker responds almost instantly to changes I make on the phone (like sound profile via PowerAmp’s built-in equalizer, track or volume changes, and even input switching when I want to head over to the news on the Sirius app). The connection range is on the high side – my previous Logitech speaker had to have a pretty clear line of sight to the streamer, but the Nekteck has maintained a clear connection with the speaker in the kitchen and my phone in the living room – and this in a 100-year-old house with lots of interesting electrical wiring (think interference) and lathe and plaster walls. I think that qualifies as easy to operate and goes a step further by giving me more freedom to move around.

In the end, though, you buy the speaker because it sounds good with your devices. And this is where the Nekteck excels above and beyond the rest of the pack. It just sounds great, period. Our Sunday night kitchen dance parties stream Reggaeton and Latino music courtesy of Daddy Yanqui, Enrique Iglesias, and Gente de Zona. Think bass with complex vocal lines. Most speakers will either muddy the bass or muffle the high notes, but on the Nekteck they come through clear and strong. Even at louder volumes that inevitably happen towards the end, there is no distortion or degradation of the music.

Personally, I prefer songs from the 60’s and 70’s, which no doubt showcases my age. Less about the drum, more about the guitar and bass together. Again, the Nekteck delivers great, clear sound worthy of a much more expensive speaker.

And given the events of the last few weeks, staying on top of what is happening in the world is a must. I have partial hearing loss, and while music comes through clearly for me, I often have trouble with normal conversation. Many speakers and Bluetooth headsets have a tendency to muffle or distort vocals. I don’t know if that is some sort of noise dampening algorithm in effect or just bad frequency response in the speaker. But honestly, listening to (and comprehending) the news through the Nekteck is much easier for me than through my much more expensive Bose Bluetooth headphones.

The speaker also comes with a cable to allow you to connect via old technology (aka the headphone jack), and that greatly increases the battery life. For me, the wireless connection gave me about 6.5 hours of playtime on a single charge, and the wired connection took me to almost 10 hours. As a result, I bought a phone dock for the kitchen with a wired audio out connection to keep the dance party going.

If you connect to a phone, the Nekteck can also connect via the handset profile and become a speaker phone. The microphone is OK, though – the few times I used this feature I felt like I had to yell when I was a few feet from the speaker in order to be heard. But, this is more above and beyond the mission I would buy the speaker for, so I am completely fine with the feature as-is.

There are some quirks, though. You knew there had to be, right? The first seems to be a trend in consumer electronics these days. The speaker comes with an 18 inch USB mini cable to charge but no wall plug. I generally don’t charge my speaker on my laptop since I use it more with mobile devices. This means I have to go looking for a wall plug whenever I want to charge it. Yes, I know there are other solutions out there (like the AluPlug I recently reviewed) – but, to me, the point is that I shouldn’t HAVE to go looking for one. Minor fail, and one I can’t lay entirely at the feet of Nekteck – but they could buck the trend.

Also, when you move out of connection range, the speaker gently tells you in a female voice with an English accent that “connection lost”. She will continue to do this even when you move back into range. In fact, the only thing that will get her to stop telling you this is to either power cycle the speaker or go into the Bluetooth settings on your device and reconnect from there. It just doesn’t want to reconnect consistently.

Finally, there is an equalizer button on the top of the speaker. I believe the settings are Off, Classical and Party. To me and everyone I show this to, Off sounds like the volume lowers a little while the other two settings raise the volume a touch. The actual sound profile doesn’t change.

If you are on the market for a great all-around Bluetooth speaker that will play a variety of entertainment well, the Nekteck NK-S1 needs to be on your short list. It is a great all-around streaming speaker and the price to feature ratio can’t be beat.

The speaker reviewed was provided by Nekteck.  For more info visit their site or visit Amazon to purchase.

 

Product Information

Price: $59.99
Manufacturer: Nekteck
Retailer: Amazon
Pros:
  • Great sound
  • Long battery life
  • Easy to control with your device
Cons:
  • No wall charger (just a USB cable)

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Nekteck NK-S1 Bluetooth speaker review originally appeared on on June 13, 2017 at 4:19 pm.

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Saddleback Leather Mountainback Front Pocket Gear Bag review


Saddleback Leather has built a reputation based on distinctive, durable leather bags and accessories that invoke the spirit of adventure. Saddleback has steadily introduced new styles and designs since their inception, but 2016 brought us a new material choice in the Mountainback product line: waxed canvas. I’ve spent a month testing the Mountainback Front Pocket Gear Bag, one of the newer designs in the lineup. It’s a completely new thing, yet still distinctively Saddleback. Ready to find out more? Let’s go adventuring!

Materials & Construction

Saddleback Leather claims that they sourced the finest materials available to build the Mountainback waxed canvas line, and it shows. The primary material in the Front Pocket Gear Bag is 24 oz. olive/green waxed canvas imported from Scotland. It’s thick and supple to the touch, water repellant, and develops its own unique character over time as it collects marks and scars from your daily adventures. You’ll find ridiculously thick 1/8″ “old bull” leather used in the trim, handles, and reinforcement points throughout the bag. All the hardware is custom made from beefy, surgical-grade, rust-proof 316 steel. It’s an impressive roster of materials that give the whole bag a substantial, rugged feel.

    

Materials are only as good as the construction that keeps them together, and the build on this bag is equally impressive. All the waxed canvas edges on the bag are trimmed off with marine-grade polyester stitching in dark brown to match the leather, with extra reinforcement at every corner. All major use points are reinforced with the old bull leather on both sides of the canvas which has been both stitched and secured with hand-pounded copper rivets. The back and the base of the bag both have massive pieces of thick leather for added protection and additional bag structure. After a month of extensive testing, I’ve yet to find a stress point that isn’t overbuilt to take years of sustained abuse.

It is important that to note that all of the quality materials come with a cost in overall weight. The Front Pocket Gear Bag comes in at 5 pounds unloaded. It’s lighter than some of Saddleback’s all-leather offerings in a similar size but still pretty substantial for day-to-day carry.

Saddleback Leather’s president, Dave Munson, has stated that he took a lot of queues for the Mountainback line from sail construction to ensure that the waxed canvas build would be as tough and durable as the leather products he is known for. I think he’s succeeded in that goal. There’s a ton of careful attention to detail here to ensure that the build quality matches the material choices.

Design and Function

The basic form factor of the Front Pocket Gear Bag is that of a flap-over messenger, with some clever innovations that add functionality and usability. We’ll work our way from the inside to the outside of the bag in this review, looking at the details as we go.

The overall measurements of the Front Pocket Gear Bag sit right in the “just right” sweet spot for a work/casual bag at 12-1/2″ tall by 15″ wide by 3-3/4″ deep. The main compartment is 11-1/2″ by 14″ by 3-3/4″, allowing there’s plenty of room to load a 15″ Thinkpad, a tablet, a notebook, and still leave room for extras. There’s a pocket on the back wall of the interior that will accommodate a 13″ MacBook or iPad Pro (you can even add a notebook), but bigger laptops will ride in the main area. The unstructured nature of the waxed canvas is really accommodating, allowing you to overstuff or pack an assortment of oddly-shaped items. Got lunch and a light jacket to throw in with your laptop? No problem. Need to haul a six-pack and tools to the campfire? Done.

(Side note: the six pack in the picture is Kona Brewing Company’s, Koko Brown. It’s a nut brown ale with hints of toasted coconut. Smooth, nutty and highly recommended!)

You have 6 pockets to organize your stuff, starting with the two side pockets. These pockets are tall and narrow, measuring 6-1/2″ by 3-1/4″ by 3/4″ each. They will take a an iPhone 6s in a case, but it’s a tight squeeze. I feel that these pockets are better suited for longer, thinner items like pens, knives, or a multitool. A cigar case would fit nicely in these as well.

Under the flap you will find the pockets that give the bag its name, and they are my favorite part of this particular design. Each pocket is 11″ by 6-1/2″ wide and 2-1/2″ deep, big enough to take larger water bottles. You can fit a bunch of smaller stuff in these like power bricks, iPhone chargers, sunglasses cases, etc. without compromising the space in the main compartment. There’s no closure mechanism for these pockets, but the top 3″ can be folded over and secured when the bag’s flap is locked in place. These pockets are attached to the bag on three sides, giving you a pair of bonus stash pockets behind them for quick access items like a phone, a wallet, your passport, and the like. It’s a great setup that gives you lots of organization options.

(Side note #2: that’s a Tervis 24 ounce mug in the picture, and its fits quite well in the front pocket. And yes, that’s my Star Wars mug… not my kid’s!)

The messenger-style flap on the bag also sports some clever tricks. A flap that is wider than the opening keeps the elements from getting into your bag, and the heavy-duty leather grab handle uses a sliding design that sits flat when not in use. The closure mechanism is something new to Saddleback designs, and is taken from old-style military bags. First you’ll find a steel d-ring secured to each front pocket. A pair of leather straps on the flap can be hooked into these rings by slots cut into the straps, and then secured with an additional leather strips (including a pair of leather pull-tabs) that slide through the rings. It’s an ingenious setup that enables you to quickly open the bag without fumbling with clips or buckles. As with the rest of the bag, every detail on the flap and closure has been considered for reinforcement at key wear points and quality construction.

  

This attention to detail continues with the shoulder strap. The strap material is primarily waxed canvas that looks to be doubled over then heavily reinforced with extra stitching. The clips are chunky, stainless steel monsters with heavy-duty spring clips. The attachment points on the bag itself use heavy-duty 1″ grommets, reinforced with leather and additional canvas strips on the inside and the outside of the bag. The strap is adjustable with another stainless steel sliding clip that does not slide about when secured. Finally, the strap pad is a thick, 9″ piece of the old bull leather that stays put where you set it. The whole strap design is ridiculously overbuilt, and could probably be used to tow a small boat in a pinch.

Rounding out the design, we have two thick leather pads that provide additional structure and protection to the bag. The pad on the base not only provides protection when you put the bag down, but it also enables the bag to stand on its own without tipping over. The back pad is marvelous, adding comfort and preventing the bag’s contents from poking you while moving about. The combination of these two elements give the bag some structure, but don’t take away from the floppy flexibility the waxed canvas provides to adapt to your packed goods. The back pad is also open at the top, so you can stash a tablet or notebook in there if you like… just don’t stash small items in there, as there are gaps between the rivets that would enable those items to fall out if you are on the run.

The Bag In Use

There’s something alluring about Saddleback’s rugged, go-anywhere brand image that I appreciate. But image isn’t everything…a good bag has to provide strong functional usability if you’re going to living with it every day. After a month of testing, I believe that the Mountainback Front Pocket Gear Bag is an excellent performer in the day-to-day grind (as well as the occasional wild adventure). It also has a ton of personality.

The Front Pocket Gear Bag is a deceptively simple, adaptable bag. It’s big enough to haul your work gear for the office commute, yet adaptable enough to be your go-to bag for day trips, travel, and weekend adventures. The pocket design gives you plenty of flexible organization options, including quick-access areas for regularly used items. The closure system is simple but secure, enabling quick access to your content when you need it. It will take the elements in stride if you wander off the beaten path, but still works great if you’re hopping on a train to go to a meeting in the city. It’s very easy bag to live with in all kinds of situations.

From a style perspective, this bag is all about that rugged adventure vibe. It’s a good looking travel companion, and wouldn’t look out of place paired with a fedora and a bullwhip (and perhaps a golden idol?). I’ve been using it as my daily work bag, and it looks great in office settings that lean towards business casual… I think pairing it with it with a suit for a formal meeting is a bit of a stretch. You’re good to go taking it anywhere else from the coffee shop to the beach to the flea market. Some additional color options would be nice to appeal to different tastes, but I think the green choice is a good all-around neutral color for most situations. It also looks fantastic paired with the dark brown leather.

If you know Saddleback products, you know that they tend to be heavy given the use of all of that thick leather. At 5 pounds this bag is not a lightweight, but it is definitely lighter than all-leather Saddleback products of similar size. I have found it to be surprisingly comfortable to carry. The shoulder strap is really excellent and does a great job distributing the weight. 5 pounds empty is still a heavy bag, however, and weight can add up quickly as you start loading up your stuff. You should consider your daily carry requirements if you’re considering this bag and weight is an issue for you.

The Mountainback Front Pocket Gear Bag has no buckles, snaps, or zippers to close the interior pockets. This means no additional hardware that could break, and enables quick access to all parts of the bag. This can be problematic on flap over-style bags like this, however, as you don’t have many options to secure your important doodads. I prefer to use organizer pouches for all of my little stuff, so I don’t have an issue with this. Sometimes on bags like these things tend to fall out when the bag is tipped over. I have not experienced this in a month of use, as the deep pockets tend to keep things from falling out… it is something to be aware of, however. I’ve seen no issues so far with the closure style on the flap, but some may wish for a more secure option (like buckles) as seen in the leather Saddleback lineup. It’s really a matter of personal preference, and the trade off for quick access to all of your things at any time.

As far as durability goes, it’s a beast. Waxed canvas builds up a patina as it gets used, and you can see from my pics that this bag has been through its paces in the first month. Other than these marks, I have not seen any sign of wear & tear in any stitching or key stress points. I am traveling several times over the summer for work & vacation, and I’ll update this report as I go.

Pricing and Value

It is important to consider pricing on this bag, as it ain’t cheap. At $440 the Mountainback Front Pocket Gear Bag is a significant investment. Given the price, I think it is important that we take a moment to discuss the relative value of this particular bag.

The market for waxed canvas products varies wildly, but there aren’t too many designers playing on the premium end of the business where I would put the Mountainback products.  Some smaller designer shops like Vermylea Pelle and Defy Bags come to mind, and Filson is legendary in this space. All of these brands build higher-end waxed canvas bags at price points that are similar than the Mountainback line (some offer less expensive options), but there is still a wide variety of design and materials choices that make a straightforward comparison difficult. Filson, in particular, has a

Its also important to consider that the $400-$500 price range puts this bag in the same category with a whole lot of premium competition. You’re stepping into a bracket that includes all kinds of leather options, luxury brands, and even custom bags from smaller design shops. I think that the Mountainback Front Pocket Gear Bag holds its own in this category based on the quality and craftsmanship in the design, but there are lots of options available for you to consider based on your style and personal preferences.

Saddleback also offers a range of bag designs in the Mountainback lineup including satchels, backpacks, and gear bags with prices starting at $150 (and some lower-priced accessory bags). Sizes and features differ from the Front Pocket Gear Bag, but you’ll get the same quality, materials, and construction you see here. Check out their site for more information.

Conclusion

I’m a fan of quality bag design, and I think that Saddleback Leather has made a great product in the Mountainback Front Pocket Gear Bag. While its a completely new design and material choice, it’s still got that adventurous vibe that Saddleback is known for. Attention to craftsmanship is apparent in every aspect of this bag from the hardware & material choices to the rock-solid construction. It’s a great multifunctional bag with excellent usability that works well as a work bag, a travel bag, or a general-use day bag. It’s a significant investment at $440, however, so you’ll want to be sure to consider all of your options before you dive in. Saddleback does offer a variety of styles in the Mountainback lineup at their website in addition to the Front Pocket Gear Bag, with pricing ranging from

I’ll be sure to update you on my adventures with this bag as I continue to use it. Thank you for reading!

Source:  The sample for this review was provided by Saddleback Leather Company. Visit their site for more info and you can also find this bag on Amazon.

 

Product Information

Price: $440.00
Manufacturer: Saddleback Leather Company
Retailer: Amazon
Pros:
  • Excellent functional usability
  • Outstanding materials, hardware and construction
  • Adventurous personality & style
Cons:
  • Pricey at $440
  • Heavy at 5 pounds empty
  • May not work in business-formal environments

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged:

Saddleback Leather Mountainback Front Pocket Gear Bag review originally appeared on on June 13, 2017 at 7:02 am.

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PageFlip Firefly Bluetooth/USB page turner review


When I played the piano growing up, I remembered the days when I needed an extra person to turn the pages in my sheet music so that I could play uninterrupted.  Nowadays, sheet music can be displayed on tablets giving rise to an accessory device that can signal a page turn using your feet.  The PageFlip Firefly is a newer electronic page turner iteration from a company that has produced these type of devices since 2004.   We will be reviewing the Firefly in my usage scenario of playing the violin and piano.

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

The PageFlip Firefly is an electronic music page turner intended for anyone that displays sheet music with a tablet.  When one depresses a foot pedal on the Firefly, it sends a defined keyboard keystroke via USB/Bluetooth into your music software to signal a page turn.  It is compatible with Windows, Android, macOS, iOS and Linux.

REVIEW HARDWARE

The Firefly was reviewed with a Windows 10 tablet PC using Bluetooth connectivity. I used a music score PDF display program called MobileSheets which could accept a variety of keyboard keystrokes to turn pages.

UNBOXING AND SPECIFICATIONS

Boxed in cardboard and housed in a plastic tray, the Firefly includes a six foot long micro USB cable and quick start guides in multiple languages.

The Firefly is primarily composed of two pedals forming an upside down heart shape.  The pedal surface is slightly ribbed with a small LED near the bottom.  I was initially surprised by the surprisingly short amount of travel for the pedal to actuate.

The top of the unit features various sliding switches for “power”, “light”, and “repeat”.
There are 5 “mode” pushbuttons each with an individual “mode LED” to indicate selection. The “mode” determines which type of key press is sent to your tablet. Out of the box, the default modes are: page up/down, left/right cursor, up/down cursor, left/right mouse click, return/backspace.

At the back of the unit are two 3.5mm ports to plug in 2 extra external pedals or switches (not included) that can send additional keystrokes.
There is a micro USB port to connect to a tablet and also receive power.
Finally, 2 small depressed pushbutton switches can reset the “modes” to a default setting and also activate Bluetooth discovery.

At the bottom of the device is a small sliding door for 2 AA batteries (not included).

Overall, the Firefly feels like a solid sturdy device weighing in at nearly one pound.

SETUP

The Firefly requires two AA batteries. Additionally, you can use the micro USB port to draw power from a tablet, PC, or 5V (cell phone) wall charger.

Set up was extremely easy with the Firefly. After pressing the “Bluetooth Reset” switch, the 5 mode lights blinked in sequential order to indicate a discovery status. I simply went into Windows to “Add Bluetooth Device” where the Firefly immediately appeared as a device called “Premium Pedal”. The option to “pair” was presented, and once you clicked it, a status bar quickly completed and indicated a connection. It was nice that there was no need to type anything like a unique identifying passcode. Apparently, this was all supplied in the background. And while I could not test this aspect, you could reportedly have multiple Fireflys in proximity near fellow musicians without concerns over crosstalk or interference.


USAGE

Once the Firefly is set up via Bluetooth, you slide the power switch to “on” where the Firefly connects to your tablet.

Even though it was my first time using a device like the Firefly, it didn’t take long for me to get accustomed to the operation of a pedal based page turner.  In its default settings, the rightmost pedal will turn the page while the leftmost pedal will turn it back.  Typically I would depress the pedal with my left foot as my right foot was typically used for the sustain pedal on a piano.  Sitting down with a violin, I would use my left foot and it felt natural to use.  However, standing up with the violin, I felt a little more uncomfortable using the Firefly, as you can’t really constantly “hover” your foot over the device in this posture.  So this required a greater leg movement and a higher propensity to miss the pedal entirely when you’re not looking at the ground.   Also, it isn’t often that I will need to turn back a page, so I tended to clock the Firefly in an orientation so that the rightmost pedal is in-line with my foot. This arrangement completely prevents my foot from accidentally striking the leftmost pedal since sometimes I may move around a little bit when I play an instrument.

The pedal action, I think, is appropriate for it’s intended use as a music page turner. There is not a lot of travel required, as a light touch is all it takes to send its signal. Probably the most important aspect of the pedal design is that it is completely silent during its actuation. There is no sound of plastic clicking or colliding when you depress or allow it to rebound.

If you’re playing in the dark environment and want to be able to find the Firefly below you on the ground, you can turn the “Light” switch to “on”. Each pedal has a single white LED at the bottom of the pedal allowing you to easily find it in the dark. I found the light dim enough to not be a distraction.

Speaking of lights, there is a blinking red light that indicates the Firefly is on and active. I wish there was a way to turn it off. It’s small enough of a light to not cause a distraction to me, but I don’t know if others may find it annoying.  This light does indicate that the Firefly is on and active.  To preserve the batteries, the Firefly goes asleep after 30 minutes of inactivity.  A pedal tap wakes the device and it will re-establish the Bluetooth connection.  A new set of AA batteries will reportedly last you 400 continuous hours with the white LED lights off or 200 continuous hours with the white LED lights on.  The red LED will flash quickly to warn you if the battery is wearing out.

To this point, I had been mostly using it on a hardwood floor, but what about a less stable substrate? To test this, I tried using the Firefly on typical house carpeting and also on a thick shag rug. In both instances, I was still able to operate the pedals with no problem, as it doesn’t require much force for the pedal to register. Overall, the device will feel “mushy” as you’re pressing the pedal down as well as driving the device down into the carpet. Despite that environment, it will still work.

Selecting one of the mode switches will change the type of key press that the switch is assigned to.  Since MobileSheets can accept a variety of keypresses to indicate a page turn, it was able to use any mode except for the mouse click.

If your particular music software needs a keypress that isn’t one of the default modes on the Firefly, PageFlip supplies a Mac or Windows utility that allows you to change the mode settings. This utility is easy to use as well. While keeping the Firefly connected via Bluetooth, the utility will allow you to map a new key to any of the switches and modes.  If you want to restore the modes back to original settings, you can use the “Factory Setting” button in the utility or the hardware “Mode Reset” button in the back of the device.

Additionally, one could conceivably use the Firefly as an additional keyboard accessory.
In fact, just for fun, while typing up this review, I used the Firefly to scroll up and down the text window. This brings up a final switch to describe, the “repeat” switch. This toggles the Firefly to allow to repeatedly send the keypress signal while you keep the pedal depressed.

FINAL THOUGHTS

After using this electronic page turner for nearly a month, for my usage scenario, the PageFlip Firefly worked as advertised.  I didn’t experience any issues with reliability, connectivity, or operational inconsistency.  It has found a permanent place in my music bag.

Source: The sample for this review was supplied by PageFlip.  Please visit their site for further information and Amazon to order.

 

Product Information

Price: $109.95
Manufacturer: PageFlip
Retailer: Amazon
Pros:
  • Easy set up
  • Silent operation
  • Customizable mappings
Cons:
  • can not toggle off activity/connectivity light

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PageFlip Firefly Bluetooth/USB page turner review originally appeared on on June 12, 2017 at 8:35 am.

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Trayvax Contour wallet review


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

What is it?

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

Design and features

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

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

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

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

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

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

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



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

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


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

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

Extra bonus

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

Final thoughts

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

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

 

Product Information

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

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged:

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

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Carved Acoustic Acorn Bluetooth speaker review


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

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

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


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


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

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

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

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

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

 

Product Information

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

Filed in categories: Reviews

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

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