Modern laptop with USB-C ports have the benefit of data speeds up to 5,10, or even 20Gbps. But to conserve space, many laptop and tablet makers also use the USB-C port as its charging port. This can be an issue when you want to charge and use multiple USB peripherals at the same time.
Some Thunderbolt 3/4 compatible USB hubs which also offer PD (Power Delivery) power passthrough can cost $30 or up to $200 for some “docking stations”. I use a laptop to conserve space and for portability, so finding a USB hub with a small footprint was also a primary criteria. Unfortunately many inexpensive hubs lack PD passtrough, are USB 3.0 or slower, or have HDMI or other peripheral connections I don’t need.
Fortunately, I found a Getatek USB hub on Amazon for under $18 (at the time of purchase, there was a 15% Prime discount). The Getatek hub has a mix of 2x USB-A and 2x USB-C ports that are USB 3.1 Gen 2 ports with data rates of up to 10Gbps. In addition, it has third USB-C port that allows for PD passthrough power. All in all, an ideal mix of USB ports and features.
In my testing, I was able to confirm that the PD port allowed a pass through approaching its claimed 100W capacity (my test charger is an older 90W Apple adpater). In my data testing using a SSD drive, I was able to get data transfer speeds over 8.5Gbps, which is close enough to its claimed 10Gbps max speed. I experienced some power drops initially but discovered this was caused by a poor connection in my testing cable and not the hub itself.
If you’re looking for one of the least expensive USB hubs with a mix of both old school USB-A ports and new USB-C ports, fast USB 3.1 speeds, and power passthrough, the Getatek may be an ideal choice. Or whatever brand this hub may be found under as it’s likely Getatek is yet another random OEM keymash brand.
Sunwayfoto sent me a T2830CS carbon fiber shooting tripod. This is the little brother to their T3240CS, which I reviewed not long ago as the “lightest hunting tripod”. Well I stand corrected because the T2830CS is a half pound lighter still. This shooting tripod weighs only 2.9lbs.
Lighter than the T3240CS while only slightly shorter (3 leg sections instead of 4) and retaining the same low profile ball head. The lighter weight makes the T2330CS a much more appealing tripod for hunters who have to trek or ride into back country. The direct from Asia model I was sent, is both Arca-Swiss and direct Picatinny compatible.
Like it’s big brother, the 2830 sports sturdy yet light carbon fiber legs with broad rubberized pads for a firm grip on hard surfaces; but which can be swapped for spikes in the wild terrain. The 36mm diameter ball head can tilt up to 35º of angle while keeping my +10lb rifle and scope combo rock solid. The legs can splay out to nearly 90º offering exceptional stability when shot from a seated or semi-prone.
The carbon fiber legs are not only lighter weight than traditional aluminum tripods, but they soak up vibration from recoil. With my 5.56mm AR, I was able to maintain a similar group on target, shooting with the T2380CS from both standing and sitting positions; which was comparable to shooting bipod off a bench.
I had never heard of the Rockville brand before purchasing the ZR10 party speaker. It’s Specs were impressive though probably a little inflated: 1000Watts of peak power and 200Watt RMS; and internal runtime of up to 14.5hrs of battery power. From what I could see it had positive aspects like twin 10″ woofers, 2x mic jacks, and a separate guitar input and gian. I took a risk and ordered it.
The unit looked legit. It was over 3 feet tall and weighed over 28lbs. With speakers the old-school rules were, that heavier = better as heavier magnets and power supply means louder. Though with portable speakers, that can also mean bigger batteries.
The user manual was pretty useless. Fortunately pairing the speaker with my phone via Bluetooth was easy enough. The unit can also pair via TWS to another ZR10 or similar unit to provide stereo sound. The unit also comes with an auto-pairing wireless microphone.
Maxing out the volume, the speaker proved sufficiently loud to fill a 60’x30′ banquet hall with audio. In my music testing, the speaker favored mid-ranges and Rock music. The unit has a ported subwoofer channel in the housing but the overall bass response was underwhelming.
As a guitar amp, it sounded as loud as a 80-100Watt amp. can’t confirm that it had a 200Watt RMS output, but I suspect that number is inflated. The ZR10 is as expensive a 40Watt guitar amp which sounds better. But when you factor in ZR10’s portable self-power capabilities, it may be a far more capable option.
A few years ago, I bought an OLIGHT PL-2 Valkyrie because it offered the best value in terms of price to lumen output. I liked the physical design of the Valkyrie and the PL-2 was one of the few +600 lumen lights priced under $150. When OLIGHT contacted me to review their soon to be released PL-Turbo Valkyrie I was eager to see how this new light compared to mine.
The PL-Turbo is an improvement on the Turbo Valkyrie offering a bump up from 250 lumens to a more blinding 800 lumens in the PL-Turbo, while sacrificing only a slightly shorter yet still impressive 515m throw. The other noticeable changes is a screw mount, an adjustable position mounting system, and surprisingly: a 60% drop in retail price.
Compared to my 1200 lumen PL-2, the PL-Tubo is 1/4″ longer and has a more matte black coated surface. Both are powered by a pair of C123A or rechargeable RCR123A batteries. Both share identical control button/panels which are some of the best in the category.
In my lumen testing I discovered that the PL-2 output 50% more than its specified 800 lumens. Many budget brand and knock-off weaponlights outrageously inflate their lumen numbers. It is laudable in that OLIGHT understated the PL-Turbo’s performance numbers.
The PL-Turbo retains the Turbo’s tight beam pattern; a product of its laser powered LEP illumination. Inside the narrow beam is an extremely bright and small hot spot. At 10ft, it appears as a 1ft wide circle that can function as an aim point. While the beam is narrower than OLIGHT’s other Valkerie or Baldr lights but its intensity offers sufficient bounce light to illuminate a residential room.
I don’t claim that any OLIGHT is as durable or as reliable as military tested weapon lights from US built brands. But this OLIGHT is more than sufficient to meet my average-civilian needs. With all of the PL-Turbo’s improvements to the older Valkyrie Turbo and at a lower price, its a no-brainer that the PL-Turbo is a good value.
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When Feyachi offered to send me their newest 9mm in-bore laser bore sighter I wasn’t all that interested. Until I saw it’s newest feature, an off switch. It’s such a simple yet vital feature missing in this category until now.
Prior to this new version, the only way to turn on or off an in-bore laser bore sighter was to remove the battery. The hassle of this often lead to simply leaving the unit on while adjusting sights or reticles. Thus, leading to extra drain on the already tiny and anemic battery life from the tiny hearing-aid button batteries used to power the units.
The package comes with 3 battery packs. Each pack is a stacked set of L41 button batteries held together by tape. The packs slid easily into the laser and with a press of the button the unit was on.
The addition of a simple button switch in the approximate position of a primer in a cartridge turns the laser unit on. The position can be a bit awkward to get your finger inside the ejector port. But with a practice, pen, or other probe, you can reach the button.
Feyachi currently only has the 9mm and a .223/5.56mm version of this laser. It seems like a no-brainer to extend this feature to all of their bore sighters.
For a limited time, use Coupon Code: BTDN8948 to get 50% Off this laser bore sighter on Amazon.
Temu is the fastest grown shopping app on the Apple Store and Android Play. Based in China it blew up on social media in the last two years, offering crazy cheap deals. They gamify your online experience letting you “spin to win” coupons like $10 off or 20% off orders that are time limited (you must order within the hour).
This has driven a viral trend of people posting deals they’ve gotten on Temu. Some customers and influencers have reported short-term Hot deals like Baofang radios for $2 or Nintendo Switches for $80. While there is always a risk of buying counterfeit products, it appears the majority of items sold on Temu are brand-less OEMs or knock offs. On Amazon you’d get the same products but with key mash names like “Hihhy”, “VCELINK” or “Aukey”.
Temu can offer products cheaply because they sell products direct from manufacturers in China, cutting out middle men distributors and retailers. AliExpress and Wish also have a similar business model which often make them cheaper than Amazon. AliExpress has a larger selection of sellers than Temu. Wish.com has lower prices and many items but of also lower quality.
Temu, AliExpress, and Wish all offer “free shipping” on many of their items. Temu offers free shipping on all of their products with a minimum order amount. Temu really blew up a year ago when they started offering “free expedited delivery” via air freight. AliExpress and Wish charge extra for air fright.
My Temu order took 8 days to arrive and some users have reported delivery times of 2-3 days. “Free shipping” from AliExpress and Wish via ship cargo, takes about 30 days. This puts Temu closer to Amazon’s 2-7 day delivery expectation.
Temu can offer “Free Air Express” because they worked out a deal with an Asian air cargo company, who offered them a huge discount on their air freight rates. This deal is temporary (likely 6 months to 1 year at most) but Temu is leveraging this opportunity by pumping huge amounts of money into marketing, including a Super Bowl commercial.
As to my order, the items were mostly clothing and accessories picked out by my wife and daughter from Temu’s Hot Deals. The quality was about the same quality of fashionable budget clothing found at Target or H&M. The electronics I ordered were USB cables and chargers which all worked.
Overall, our experience with Temu has bas been positive. So much so that I’ve been confident enough to begun placing additional small $25-$50 orders in the days since. I do find myself succumbing to the gamified coupons and spending way too much time and effort to search for some additional item that I may or may not really need to get that slightly higher discount.
I did find one disappointing and one defective item amongst my orders thus far. I’ll follow up in a few days with my experience with Temu’s “Free Return” policy. Be sure to check back for that video soon.
My friend Tony works in maintenance for the MTA (New York City’s Subway system), a job where a flashlight is vital to inspect trains, tracks, and just check under seats and dark spaces. He uses the a Mini-One flashlight as a backup at work and swears by it for its small size, affordability, and reliability. He sent me a Jetbeam Mini-One as a gift and while not to seem ungrateful, I still thoroughly tested as I do with any other flashlight.
Keychain flashlights are not a new. I fondly remember owning a AA powered Disneyland keychain light that ran a small incandescent bulb. But today’s rechargeable LED powered flashlights are brighter than some AA powered tactical lights from a dozen years ago.
I’ve been reviewing more compact keychain EDC lights recently, but Mini-One stands out for its stainless steel construction. The Mini-One’s polished metal surface gives the flashlight a higher perceived value than the comparably priced OLIGHT I1R (and with twice as brightness). The unit recharges via USB-C port kept water-tight with a silicone plug cover.
A single tap on the silicone button activates the main CREE illuminator and a double tap activates the body panel lights. This is where I find fault in the design. A single tap could accidentally occur in your pocket when attached to your keychain. On one occasion, I pulled out my keys and found the light was on; who knows for how long. I would have preferred that the main CREE activate with a double tap and the side light with a triple tap to avoid this potential problem.
Another disappointment was in the light output. The packaging claims 500 lumens max. In my testing, my flashlight managed approximately 300 lumens. Jetbeam should have lead with that number, which is twice the output of an OLIGHT I1R but instead seems to have opted for inflating numbers like many budget light brands.
If you can get past the controls and the middling light output and controls, I can say that the light is well built. It survived my IPX-8 water immersion test and had a run time in excess of 1.5hrs. For a light smaller than my pinky, that was laudable.
This is the first product I can’t recommend due to dangerous construction. This little flashlight sliced open my thumb while testing it. This EDC is unusual in that the head of the tube has a 45º cut which allows the head to swivel into a 90º position. Unfortunately, the edges of that 45º cut were left razor sharp by the factory.
I really wanted to like this budget EDC flashlight. It has is USB-C rechargeable with set of side LED lights for signaling and use as a table top lamp. In addition, it has a magnetic clickey tail allowing it to be wall or overhang mounted as a work light. In my testing it met the 500 lumen output it claimed and had a runtime just over 100 minutes on high mode.
The factory just didn’t take into consideration that the tube cuts need to be ground down. Perhaps they were kept sharp for aesthetic reasons but they are a safety hazard. I contacted the original Amazon seller NGOKPYD. If you’ve been injured by this product let me know. I don’t plan a class-action lawsuit, I’m just curious. This EDC is stil available elswehere online under the brand name BORUIT.
In the contest to make the smallest, brightest, EDC flashlight, the Fenix E03R isn’t the smallest or the brightest but this keychain sized flashlight offers a bit of both while being perhaps the most durable. This all-metal bodied flashlight looks like it feel straight out of the Star Wars universe. It is about the size of a car alarm remote fob (actually smaller than mine).
The light activates by pressing the activation button for about 1 second and immediately release upon activation. While on, tapping the button changes the brightness mode (4 levels). Pressing the button for longer than 1 second activates the red LED which has a constant and blinking submode. Tapping the button once shows you the battery charge level by the color of the illuminated ring around the button.
Tapping the button twice causes the battery illumination ring to slowly pulse; tapping in this mode switches colors from red, green, and cycling between both. The amount of light cast by the ring is very dim (less than 1 candela). It looks only bright enough to help locate the light in the dark, I’m not convinced this lighting mode has much utility in the real world?
In my lumen test, I recorded an output of 440 lumens on highest brightness which is well within the margin of error of the 500 lumens Fenix lists for the E03R. Fenix claims the light is IPX6 water resistance which I tested and confirmed. Fenix also claims the light has a runtime of 1hr and 20minutes on high; in my test it exceeded that mark by 18 minutes.
The light met all of its specifications and felt so solid in my hand, that I decided to give it a rare durability test out of curiosity. I ran it over with my SUV, twice. The flashlight survived without a dent (well more like a bunch of small scratches) but somehow the pressure activated the flashlights ‘lockout’ mode where the light doesn’t turn on when the button is pressed. The activate or deactivate lockout mode, simply keep the button pressed for 3+ seconds.
The E03R’s main drawbacks are in its controls. I don’t like having to turn on the unit in white light before it switches to red light mode which could spoil your eye’s natural nigh-vision. And the units 1/2 second press activation seems insufficient in preventing accidental activation in your pocket.
But overall I like this light a lot based on performance with those small caveats with the controls (which I have nitpicks with Fenix other lights). This is the Version 2 of this light and perhaps they can address this in a future Version 3.
