Reviews

Honest reviews of products I bought and used myself — the downsides as plainly as the upsides.

45 posts

Owala FreeSip 24oz — My Switch From Stanley to a One-Touch Straw Bottle (Real-World Review)
I actually used it
daily

Owala FreeSip 24oz — My Switch From Stanley to a One-Touch Straw Bottle (Real-World Review)

Sip through the straw or tip back and gulp — the Owala FreeSip 24oz opens and locks with one touch. A real-world review after switching from Stanley and loving it

Owala
4.7

roughly $30-40 (based on the official US price of $27.99, worth double-checking)

CORSAIR Novablade Pro — A Half-Year with a Wireless Leverless Fight Stick (Tested on Tekken)
I actually used it
tech

CORSAIR Novablade Pro — A Half-Year with a Wireless Leverless Fight Stick (Tested on Tekken)

CORSAIR's leverless fighting game controller pairs Hall Effect magnetic switches with tri-mode wireless. A half-year hands-on review from actual Tekken play

CORSAIR
4.6

around $250 (based on the official price of $249.99, needs confirmation)

Montblanc Meisterstück 145 — My First Fountain Pen, 10 Years Together
I actually used it
edcdaily

Montblanc Meisterstück 145 — My First Fountain Pen, 10 Years Together

A hands-on review of the Montblanc Meisterstück 145 classic fountain pen, a college graduation gift I've used for 10 years

Montblanc
4.7

around $470–500 (varies by trim and retailer)

Rhodia dotPad No.16 - The Orange Notepad That's Perfect for Fountain Pens
I actually used it
daily

Rhodia dotPad No.16 - The Orange Notepad That's Perfect for Fountain Pens

A hands-on review of the Rhodia orange dot-grid notepad, featuring paper with no fountain pen bleed-through and the convenience of tear-off sheets

Rhodia
4.4

From about $6~ (varies by size)

Zippo 1941 Replica — Enjoying a Vintage Lighter for the Feel of It
I actually used it
edc

Zippo 1941 Replica — Enjoying a Vintage Lighter for the Feel of It

A hands-on review of the Zippo 1941 Replica, a faithful recreation of the 1941 original, carried as an EDC piece for its classic charm

Zippo
4.1

around $22

Branden Safe Cross Wallet Bag — Anti-Theft Passport Wallet for Travelers
I actually used it
edctravel

Branden Safe Cross Wallet Bag — Anti-Theft Passport Wallet for Travelers

The Branden Safe Cross Wallet Bag protects your belongings abroad with RFID blocking and a slash-resistant strap

BRANDEN
4.5

$27.99

Toraysee Cleaning Cloth — The Hermès of Eyeglass Cloths
I actually used it
dailyedc

Toraysee Cleaning Cloth — The Hermès of Eyeglass Cloths

Ten times the price of a regular eyeglass cloth, but once you try Toraysee's ultra-microfiber cloth, there's no going back

Toray
5

₩7,800

Victorinox Dual-Knife Sharpener - Pen-Sized Portable Knife Sharpener
I actually used it
edctool

Victorinox Dual-Knife Sharpener - Pen-Sized Portable Knife Sharpener

A pen-sized Victorinox portable sharpener that packs ceramic and stone dual sharpening into a compact body

Victorinox
4.5

$21

2 Years with the Sea to Summit Pocket Towel - Ultralight Microfiber Towel Review
I actually used it
edcoutdoor

2 Years with the Sea to Summit Pocket Towel - Ultralight Microfiber Towel Review

A real 2-year review of the Sea to Summit Pocket Towel. An honest look at the absorbency, drying speed, and portability of this ultralight microfiber towel

Sea to Summit
4.5

$14

Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Umbrella 2-Year Review — Honest Take on an Ultralight Travel Umbrella
I actually used it
edcoutdoor

Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Umbrella 2-Year Review — Honest Take on an Ultralight Travel Umbrella

A 2-year real-world review of the Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Umbrella. An honest breakdown of the weight, water resistance, and durability of this ultralight travel umbrella

Sea to Summit
3.5

₩81,000

Secrid Cardprotector 5-Year Review — Minimalist RFID-Blocking Wallet
I actually used it
edcdaily

Secrid Cardprotector 5-Year Review — Minimalist RFID-Blocking Wallet

5 years of real-world use with the Secrid Cardprotector. An honest review of this Dutch RFID-blocking aluminum wallet's durability, capacity, and quirks

Secrid
5

$71

Victorinox Huntsman 1-Year Review - 15-Function Swiss Multi-Tool
I actually used it
edcoutdoor

Victorinox Huntsman 1-Year Review - 15-Function Swiss Multi-Tool

A 1-year hands-on review of the Victorinox Huntsman. An honest look at the tool quality, portability, and versatility of this 15-function Swiss multi-tool, pros and cons included

Victorinox
5

₩75,000

Borotalco Deodorant 4-Month Review - Italian Powder Scent
I actually used it
daily

Borotalco Deodorant 4-Month Review - Italian Powder Scent

4-month hands-on review of Borotalco deodorant. An honest look at the longevity and effectiveness of this 100-year-old Italian powder scent, pros and cons

Borotalco
4

₩10,100

Cocoon Gridit 2-Year Review – Bag Organizer for Everyday Carry
I actually used it
dailyedc

Cocoon Gridit 2-Year Review – Bag Organizer for Everyday Carry

A 2-year hands-on review of the Cocoon Gridit. An honest look at the size, durability, pros and cons of this organizer for cables and small items in your bag.

Cocoon Innovations
4.5

$18

L'Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream — 3-Month Review, Honest Take on Moisture
I actually used it
daily

L'Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream — 3-Month Review, Honest Take on Moisture

A 3-month hands-on review of L'Occitane's Shea Butter Hand Cream. An honest look at the texture, staying power, and trade-offs of this Provence moisturizing staple

L'Occitane
4.5

₩26,350

Mayday Emergency Blanket - One Year Review: Survival Thermal Blanket
I actually used it
campingoutdoor

Mayday Emergency Blanket - One Year Review: Survival Thermal Blanket

One year of real-world use with the Mayday emergency blanket. An honest review of portability, warmth, and durability for this survival/camping thermal blanket

Mayday Industries
4

$27.99

Stanley 2-in-1 Folding Truck: 8-Month Review — Convertible Hand Cart
I actually used it
tool

Stanley 2-in-1 Folding Truck: 8-Month Review — Convertible Hand Cart

An 8-month hands-on review of the Stanley 2-in-1 Folding Truck. An honest look at the convertible hand cart's transform feature, durability, and hauling capacity — the good and the not-so-good.

STANLEY
4.5

$65

Birdwell 311 Board Shorts: 2-Year Review — A Classic Surf Shorts Review
I actually used it
daily

Birdwell 311 Board Shorts: 2-Year Review — A Classic Surf Shorts Review

A 2-year hands-on review of the Birdwell 311 board shorts. An honest look at the durability, fit, and pros and cons of this classic California surf short

Birdwell Beach Britches
4.5

$85.00

iFixit Pro Tech Toolkit 1-Year Review — Electronics Repair Tool Kit
I actually used it
techtool

iFixit Pro Tech Toolkit 1-Year Review — Electronics Repair Tool Kit

A 1-year hands-on review of the iFixit Pro Tech Toolkit. An honest look at the contents, quality, and usability of this electronics teardown/repair tool set.

iFixit
4.5

$121

Kyobo Book Centre Room Spray 2-Month Review — Honest Take on the Book & Coffee Scent
I actually used it
daily

Kyobo Book Centre Room Spray 2-Month Review — Honest Take on the Book & Coffee Scent

A 2-month hands-on review of the Kyobo Book Centre room spray. An honest look at how well it recreates that book-and-coffee scent, its longevity, and how well it sets a mood in a space

Kyobo
4

₩35,900

AirPods Max 1-Year Review - An Honest Take on Apple's Premium Headphones
I actually used it
techaudio

AirPods Max 1-Year Review - An Honest Take on Apple's Premium Headphones

An honest review after 1 year and 3 months with the AirPods Max. The pros and cons of Apple's first over-ear wireless headphones - noise cancelling, sound quality, and comfort.

Apple
4

$599

DEWALT DCF850 Impact Driver — 2-Year Review of a Compact Power Tool
I actually used it
tool

DEWALT DCF850 Impact Driver — 2-Year Review of a Compact Power Tool

A 2-year hands-on review of the DEWALT DCF850 impact driver. An honest look at the torque, battery, and durability pros and cons of this compact power tool

DEWALT
4.5

$150

SOTO ST480C Torch Review After 10 Months - A Compact Japanese Torch
I actually used it
tool

SOTO ST480C Torch Review After 10 Months - A Compact Japanese Torch

A 10-month hands-on review of the SOTO ST480C torch. An honest look at the flame power, ignition reliability, and portability of this compact Japanese torch.

SOTO
4.5

₩26,000 (about $19)

Alpaka Zip Pouch 7-Month Review - Minimalist EDC Pouch Review
I actually used it
edc

Alpaka Zip Pouch 7-Month Review - Minimalist EDC Pouch Review

A 7-month hands-on review of the Alpaka Zip Pouch. An honest look at this minimalist EDC pouch's storage capacity, durability, and size pros and cons

Alpaka
4

$25.00