Category Archives: Gadgets

Gadgets, Product Reviews

Maven B.3 6×30 Compact Binoculars

https://youtu.be/EFFqttX-Zww

The Maven B.3 series of compact binoculars are designed for those who want high performance in a small package. Despite its size, it offers a generous exit pupil for a big image. Its 30mm object Japanese ED glass offers extremely bright and clear image with a wide depth of field and field of view.

The body is covered in a rubberized grey armor with stylish color accents that can be customized on Maven’s website. It comes with retained lens covers and a neck strap. It has integral, rotate to extend eye-cups and a buttery smooth focus dial.

Maven is the most premium-looking American-made optics. They also offer the most customizable products of any optics maker. When purchased from the website, you can upgrade to a custom package which allows you to change or customize the color of its components and skin.

Maven is known for making some of the most luxurious-looking optics in the market, with stylish external design, colors, and user customization. They also produce some excellent performing pocket-sized binoculars in the B.3 series. I reviewed their 8×30 binoculars a year ago. This season I test its 6x model offering a wider field of view in an identical footprint.

The 6×30 produced a crisp, bright, and color-accurate image. It is lightweight and small enough to fit into a wide coat pocket. While this performance and style comes at a premium price, its performance is worth every penny.

SHOP

Amazon https://amzn.to/4jz2tPt

SPECS

Magnification: 6x
Objective Lens: 30mm
Glass Type: ED (Extra-low Dispersion) Glass
Lens Coating: Fully Multi-Coated (Scratch & Oil Resistant)
Prism Type: Schmidt-Pechan, with Phase Correction & Dielectric Coatings
FOV @ 1000 yrds: 8.5° (446 ft)
Exit Pupil: 5mm
Eye Relief: 18.3mm
Weight: ~16.1 oz (457g)
Width: ~4.7 in
Height: 4.6 in
Depth: 1.6 in
Close focus: 8.2 ft (2.5m)
Waterproof: IPX7

Gadgets

OLight imini 2

The Olight iMini 2, a keychain flashlight that only claims to pump out 50 lumens. But this pocket-sized powerhouse illuminates like it’s compensating for something. Probably its size. It’s not because its cold, this compact flashlight makes your Chapstick look like the flashlight she told you not to worry about.

The iMini 2’s design is delightfully simple: two magnetic halves that snap together. The front half houses the LED bult, while the back half terminates in a bare USB-A jack. To activate, simply pull the two halves apart. The light stays on until you reunite the halves, in a snap.

The most surprising feature was its run time. OLight claims a one-hour runtime, but I got considerably more. After an hour, it dimmed like your enthusiasm on Monday morning, then gradually faded over two hours. By the three-hour mark, it was so faint that in daylight, I thought it had given up the ghost. But I discovered it was still on with a faint glow; maybe just 1 lumen? I left it on my desk where it ran for another 12 hours before I gave up on testing it because I had to recharge it for filming more testing the next day.

At around $20, this diminutive dynamo costs less than a movie ticket and outlasts most celebrity marriages.

SHOP

Amazon https://www.amazon.com/OLIGHT-Rechargeable-Keychain-Flashlight-Emergencies/dp/B0C54ZH8WW/?maas=maas_adg_D8D0CBB4F9CF49F010E2D1F22F47E4F8_afap_abs&ref_=aa_maas&tag=maas

SPECS

Max Lumens: 50 

Throw: 68 ft (21 m)

Length: 2.17 in  (55 mm)

Diameter: 0.59 in (15.1 mm)

Weight: 0.69 oz (19.5 g)

Battery Capacity: 80mAh

Connection: USB-A

Waterproof: IPX6

Gadgets

Miady Clip on Lamp

https://youtu.be/Te2XpodfhSY

The Miady Clip-On Lamp set comes with 2 lamps. Each lamp offers the option to run it wirelessly using its built in Lion battery. Or you can remove the internal 18650 battery and use it as a USB-C us it as a normal plug-in lamp.

They do not recommend leaving the battery in the base while using it as a plug-in lamp because it probably does not have a strong cut-off circuit to prevent over-charging the battery. The lamp has a touch-activated button on the clip-on base. Each touch changes the brightness mode. With a price under $20 for a pair of them including the battery, this makes for a compelling value.

BUY

Amazon https://amzn.to/3TUK4k2

Gadgets

Nitecore EDC17 flashlight

Modern, flat/rectangular flashlights with analog switch controls blew up in the EDC market with the introduction of the OLight Arklight flashlights. These flat flashlights fit far more comfortably in back pockets, like EDC knives and multi-tools. Nitecore leans hard into this aesthetic with the EDC17.

At SHOT Show 2026, I got a look at Nitecore’s newest flashlights and the ED17 was a standout. At first, I thought Nightcore was releasing a folding knife, but as it turned out, it was a flashlight.

Its analog control switch runs along the thin side, like a box cutter. Next to it is a mode button that switches the light between white beam, green laser pointer, and UV bulb. Both the white and UV beam have low-medium-high output settings. The EDC17 maxes out at 1500 lumens and in my testing exceeded 1600 lumens.

During my waterproof testing, my flashlight turned itself off after a minute. After drying and testing it, I was surprised to find it met its IPX7 rating and kept water out of the housing.

I recharged it and found it functioned normally. In my runtime test, it slightly exceeded its 105 minutes in high-mode, and stayed at high light output for 99% of its runtime. I still don’t know why it turned itself off during the IPX7 test?

SHOP

Amazon https://amzn.to/47Ggsho

SPECS

EDC17

LED: UHi 25 

Max Output: 1500 lumens

Peak Distance: 251 yards

Peak Intensity: 12400 cd

IP Rating: X7

Impact Resistance: 2 m

Length: 4.84″

Width:1.26″

Height: 0.63″

Weight: 3.74 oz

Gadgets

SHOT2026 Nite Ize

Nite Ize brought practical, high-utility new gear to SHOT Show 2026. Nite Ize has a reputation for clever everyday solutions, producing innovative gadgets to outdoor and climbing; they invented the S-shaped carabiner.

For outdoor enthusiasts, the RunOff Waterproof Phone Case Plus offers complete protection for larger smartphones in wet or rugged environments, while the G‑Series Mini Lanyard 2 Pack provides a simple tethering solution for small essentials using stainless steel dual‑chamber carabiners.

Nite Ize earned a SHOT Show new product awared for their new Orange Screw, a large plastic anchor designed for securing tents and pop‑ups in soft ground. My favorite product is their wire twist ties.

Gadgets

Wuben G5 flashlight

The G5 is an unusual, flat EDC flashlight that is about the size and form factor of a zippo lighter. But that isn’t what makes it unique. This flashlight has a pivoting emitter head that can rotate 180º and a pocket clip that can also rotate 180º. This allows a lot of flexibility in how this flashlight can be mounted, stored, and used as a work light or head lamp.

The controls are primarily analog. Sliding the lockout switch one click allows the primary button to function and sliding it all the way up, reveals a USB-C port. Under to the activation/mode button is a rotary dial which is a stepless brightness adjustment and when pressed into the RGB allows you to change the color of the light. A double-tap switches the flashlight into a colored emergency beacon.

I found the flashlight to be more than bright, exceeding 400 lumens in high mode. The G5 is IPX68 rated, which means it is supposed to survive underwater immersion, but when I tested it with a power washer, water got into the unit (probably through the analog switch or dial). After a few hours, the flashlight turned on by itself in blue light mode and wouldn’t turn off until the battery died. It would not recharge.

I contacted Wuben’s customer service. They have up to a 5-year warranty if you register your product with Wuben. My unit was a testing sample, so I did not have a receipt or order number so they couldn’t replace my unit. I had to contact my marketing contact at Wuben to get a replacement. So if you are buying a G5 be sure to keep your receipt or if giving it as a gift, include a gift receipt so that your recipient can register the product.

SHOP

Save 20%, $24.99 → $19.99
Wuben G5: https://www.wubenlight.com/products/wuben-g5-edc-light?ref=wjotytoc
Amazon:https://amzn.to/47qwjzR

Amazon (green) https://amzn.to/4piN5rr
Amazon (black) https://amzn.to/4aAdFcb
Amazon (white) https://amzn.to/3LnUTdH

SPECS

G5

Max Brightness: 400 lumens 

Max Throw: 82m

Modes: Low, Medium, High, Moonlight, 

               RGB, Beacon, & SOS

Battery: 3.7V LiPo (450mAh)

Charging: USB-C 

Runtime: Up to 65 hours (low)

Waterproof: IP68

Material: Aluminum

Dimensions: 3.7cm x 1.5cm x 6.2cm

Weight: 52g (1.84 oz)

Gadgets, Shooting Sports

ProHear EM030 2.0 BT Earmuffs

I visited the ProHear booth at SHOT Show 2025 and asked which model offered the best sound quality when connected to a phone or device. One of the deciding factors of Ear Pro (hearing protection) for me is the quality of the sound you hear through electronic earmuffs. The sound quality of music through electronic EarPro is a good indication of a headphone’s ability to recreate a realistic representation of the sounds and environment around you.

Ear Pro at a gun range or just mowing your lawn is important because any damage to your hearing is permanent. Electronic Ear Pro has become the standard for hearing protection, amplifying normal sounds while blocking out loud gunfire and noises. Better quality electronic Ear Pro can simulate or even improve upon what you could hear with your naked ears.

ProHear gave me a set of their EM030 “Machete” headphones. These are Bluetooth-capable, rechargeable headphones. They look like a boxier version of Howard Leight Impact Sports and have compatible earpads. Paired to my phone and playing a sound sample of music, their audio quality was better than Howard Leights or Walker Razors.

Testing them at the gun range, they quickly cut out gunshots while amplifying voices and environmental sounds. Unfortunately, the sound was omnidirectional without stereoscopic directionality or the distance of the sound source (the same complaint with Walker Razors). I could hear conversations a few tables away better than someone directly in front of me.

While the ambient performance was not better than my stereo-sound Howard Leight’s, the ProHear offers Bluetooth connectivity at the same price point. That may be the final determining factor between these two similar Ear Pro.

SHOP

Amazon https://amzn.to/4hESQNb

SPECS

EM030

Bluetooth 5.4 

NRR 22dB 

Omni-directional mic

USB-C port

0.5 ms reaction time

Weight: 0.63 Pounds

Dimensions: 4.52 x 3.54 x 4.92 inches

Gadgets

Klarus XT11GT Pro

The Klarus XT11GT Pro is a traditional tactical flashlight that is 5″ long with a 1″ tube. It uses a standard 18650 (or 2x CR123) Lipo battery to drive an emitter with an output of 3300 lumens. It has a USB-C port to allow direct recharging of the battery inside the flashlight.

Its bell is impressively thick and reinforced with ceramic glass-breaking beads embedded in 3 of its crown teeth. The base of the bell is flared, similar to a sword pomel, to help prevent your hand from slipping when striking with the flashlight to break glass.

It’s operated via a primary clicky button, which activates its turbo mode of 3300 lumens. Along the rim of the tail cap is its Auxiliary control switch, which activates the flashlight in low, medium, high, SOS, and strobe. This dual button system makes for easier control but the angled Aux button prevents the flashlight from tail standing.

iThe XT11GT Pro is an incremental but significant upgrade. For those who are used to and comfortable with a traditional tactical light that will fit into many standard holsters, this is a great choice.

SHOP

Amazon: https://bit.ly/4uqeFqv
Code(5%OFF): MOONDOG2
Valid until April 13

Klarustore: https://bit.ly/4i1to5B
Code(5%OFF): MoondogXT11GTPRO
Valid until April 13

Amazon https://amzn.to/3Mqk3sl

SPECS

XT11GT PRO

Max Output: 3300 LM

Max Throw: 450 yrds (410m)

LED: Luminus SST-70

Max Runtime Turbo: 1.8 hrs

Max Runtime Low: 120 hrs

Battery: 18650/2xCR123A

Charging: USB-C

Waterproof: IPX8

Length: 5.5″ (140mm) 

Diameter: 1.38″ (35mm) 

Weight: Approx. 4.3 oz (121g)

Gadgets

Hotligh 2000LM Worklight

I’d never heard of the Hotligh brand prior to them contacting me to ask if I would be interested in collaborating and testing out their flashlights. Their name was probably an attempt at the words “Hot Light”, dropping the last letter “T” to trademark the name, but its unfortunate that nobody noticed that “ligh” can sound like “lie”.

Name aside, their flashlight came in a black box without accessories, save for a USB-C charging cable. The body is made of sturdy aluminum with a sci-fi style that wouldn’t look out of place in a video game or movie. The flashlight has a flattened blade-style design with a primary spot at the one end, a magnetic tail on the opposite end, and a large flood light on its flat side. It’s a bit too big and heavy to be an appealing EDC light but the flat shape and belt clip, facilitate stowing it in a pocket.

Each of the LED emitters is controlled by its own rubberized button. One press turns on its spot emitter on low and additional taps goes to high mode and then off. The flood button adds an additional UV mode and a double-tap on the flood activates an RBG breatihng mode on the otherwise blue battery indicator strip of small LEDs. Neither button offers mode memory.

In my initial testing both the spot and flood lights output about 1600 lumens but in retesting with a new unit, I found that the output was over 2000 lumens, the HOTLigh wasn’t lying. I find the lack of mode memory the only disappointing aspect in an otherwise great-looking, high-performance modern flashlight.

SHOP

Amazon discount link: bit.ly/3LLuSor
Get 10% Off using code: moondog10

Amazon https://amzn.to/472cCiX

SPECS

ZF8313

Lumens High: 2000

Lumens Low: 120

Max  Throw: 144m

Max Runtime: 15hrs

Spot Modes: Low, High

Side Modes: Low, High, UV, Breath

Length: 4.53″

Width: 1.77”

Thickness: 0.63″

Weight: 5.9oz

Battery: Lithium-Ion

Power Input: USB-C