Ozeri 360 Oscillation Tower Fan

We’ve tried a few fans from Ozeri, because let’s face it, in California, it’s not actually “cold” all that often. And this Ozeri 360 Oscillation fan is just phenomenal in almost every regard, and might even be my favorite.

To start, this fan is whisper-quiet at it’s lowest setting, much more so than the other two Ozeri fans I have tried. There are a ton of functions controlled by either the on-fan control panel or the included IR remote control, like an 8-hour timer and 3 different pre-programmed airflow patterns. There’s almost too many choices! The remote is markedly improved over the last generation, with quick responses to the lightest touch from any angle. The 360 Oscillation Tower Fan from Ozeri also uses cylindrical motion technology with over 200 staggered micro-blades, making the operation quieter than traditional fan blades, and usually reserved for much more expensive brands. The oscillation is (of course) up to 360 degrees, with options for 60, 90, and 120 degrees as well. It’s slim and the oscillation is smooth and quiet as well, so the form factor and obtrusiveness is minimal and not attention-getting.

However, it’s not all wine and roses. The base is flimsy, and can be terribly unsteady on carpeted floors. It also lacks non-skid or non-marking feet on the base, which can be a concern with softer natural tiles. This is really something that, at $90.79, should absolutely be included. The base needs to be upgraded immediately, because I’d hate for a fan as nice as this to be damaged by toppling over due to a poorly-designed base. Unusual, because the other 2 fans I’ve tested from Ozeri had rock-solid bases. At any rate, the value is undeniable and the operation is smooth. Assuming you can live with or work around the issues with the base of the fan, you’ve got another excellent Ozeri product.

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I received the above product(s) free of charge from Moderna Housewares/Ozeri.  I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion.  I received no other compensation in exchange for my review. My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.

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Last Man Survival Gear’s LED “Opti-Flood” Flashlight Set

So, It’s been a while since I last reviewed a LED flashlight, mostly because after the OxyLED MD50 I reviewed here set the bar pretty high for overall quality and value, I was pretty well set. But the offer from Last Man Survival Gear was one I couldn’t refuse, and seemed tailor-made for mine and Hubby’s needs. And while there are some shortcomings, I can say with confidence that this set seems to be a decent value for the money!

Let’s just get this out of the way right here, though: Last Man brazenly claims their Opti-Flood lamp puts out 1200 lumens. Unless they somehow hooked it up to a car battery, I don’t see how it’s possible, because the included 18650 lithium ion cell ran the lamp  just a shade brighter than the OxyLED M50 that claimed 500 lumens, and just slightly dimmer than Hubby’s Coast HP7 rated for 360 lumens. So, as long as you understand and accept that this Opti-Flood lamp will run at just under 360 lumens, you’ll be okay. The run time on a single charge is decent, and takes some time to notice any real dimming of the output. The color of the light is not the harsh, blue/purple color of the cheaper CREE knockoff LED’s, and is almost going into the “soft white” color range, even more so than the MD50. The focus is smooth and quick, but still goes into the square shape of the diode like so many of the budget lamps out there. Not a dealbreaker by any means. The throw is pretty good, with very minimal haloing or spill from the reflector. The Last Man Opti-Flood does tend to get a little warm fairly quickly, so I wouldn’t run it for very long periods of time. It will tail-stand easily, but lacks any deep knurling that would make the surface super grippy, and I would have liked something to keep the lamp from rolling when placed on it’s side, because it rolls quickly and easily. Lastly, there’s just off and on with the tail cap clicker, and while some might see that as a negative, I prefer it to the 3, 4, or 5 function lamps that require you to cycle through each setting every time.

As for the value, Last Man Survival Gear included a bonus lamp, the LT30, which is small and light, suitable for a purse, pocket, or key ring, and has a similar output to a single AA flashlight, only in a much larger, heavier package. It’s a nice addition, but I feel the 3.7v 18650 lithium ion battery is wasted here, not allowing either piece to shine (no pun intended) to it’s full potential. The included charger is also a nice bonus, but if you’re going to start investing in quality lithium ion rechargeable cells, you might want to consider a more, shall we say, robust, charger. This one is fine to get you started, and the LED indicator light on it changes from red, to yellow to green to let you know a charge cycle is complete. Last Man Survival Gear includes two of the aforementioned 3.7V 1800 mAh protected circuit batteries, as well as a AAA battery adapter, and a pretty decent hard plastic carry/storage case. Both lamps have water-resistant O-rings, which should provide some measure of light water resistance, as well as carry lanyards (but I’d expect to replace those shortly). All in all you get a fair amount of value for around the $35 they were charging when I ordered my set, although at the current $45.99, I’d say it’s a bit overpriced. It’s not quite the value of the venerable OxyLED MD50, but uses the same emitter setup, reflector and LED. So it’s up to you if this Last Man Survival Gear’s value added set is truly the LED flashlight for you.

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I received the above product(s) free of charge from Last Man Survival Gear.  I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion.  My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.

 

Liansing Ultra-Light Wireless Bluetooth 4.0 Headset

 

We’ve all been there. Needing to take or make a call while on the road. And we’ve all wrestled with just how much of a necessity it is because let’s face it: Not only is it illegal out here to be using your phone while driving, It’s dangerous and stupid too. So, while I’d had one of the first bluetooth headsets back when the Motoroloa RAZR was new (Don’t judge me), I’d quickly decided that those big, awkward, unusual things were not for me, because speakerphone. But, fumbling with your touch-screen device without looking at it is not good either. So when I got a chance to try this Liansing Ultra-Light Bluetooth Headset, I was game.

Well, set and match! This thing works like gangbusters, and isn’t huge, obnoxious, or heavy on the ear! Getting the unit to pair with our devices took a little help from Liansing, as the printed instructions are incorrect about the amount of time to hold down the main button to make the device discoverable (about 7-10 seconds). Once that was out of the way, every device we have paired quickly and easily. The sound is adequate, not spectacular, and the microphone easily picks up my voice while filtering out low ambient noise. Not the HD voice I’ve been used to with my 4G service and device, but not distorted or robot-like, so it’ll do nicely. It comes with a variety of soft silicone rubber earbud covers that can be turned and set for a more customized fit, a removable ear hook to secure it, a short USB 2.0 charging cable, and in a nice touch, a second wired earbud that can make your handsfree headset into a true stereo bluetooth headset as well. Well played, Liansing.

It’s not all wine and roses, though. The aforementioned issues with pairing should be noted immediately on the Amazon info page. Liansing said they are working with the supplier to get the instructions amended, but until then they need to be a little more proactive, as I was about to return mine as defective. Next, and most glaringly, is the (what I assume to be Chinese or Mandarin) foreign language that it uses to notify you of an incoming call. Quite unexpected and somewhat startling. There is no way that I’ve found to turn this off, and while it isn’t a dealbreaker for me, there’s really no reason to have this and not make it toggleable, as some might find it bad enough to say “No, Thanks”. All in all, for around $12 (at the time of my order) shipped you get quite a bit of value and while it’s not perfect by any means, it is perfectly adequate for my and many other’s simple needs of being safer on the road when you absolutely must take or make a call. Most of the functions necessary to make or end a call, as well as adjust the volume (or even control your music!) are right there on the headset, too! It seems to be made well enough for light to occasional use, it holds a charge for quite some time and does the job it’s designed for admirably.

I received the above product(s) free of charge from Liansing. I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion. My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.

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I received the above product(s) free of charge from Liansing. I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion. My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.

Ozeri Ultra 42″ Adjustable Oscillating Tower Fan

We are no strangers to Ozeri in this house. In fact, we’re huge fans, no pun intended. They make some very high quality products that are priced very competitively with competitors, and stand behind their products 100%. So it should come as no shock that their latest offering to us is also a slam dunk, the Ozeri Ultra 42″ Tower Fan.

Not our first Ozeri fan, but quickly becoming our favorite. We had an opportunity to really try this fan out before the weather in SoCal took a turn and the temps dropped all on their own, and we came away impressed. Much like our last Ozeri fan, this one really moves a lot of air and cools down a space quick. It has a very quiet but powerful motor, and it’s adjustable height and oscillation means you can customize it to any space. It’s also got a slim, slender profile, so it’s not taking up a bunch of space in a small room, and blends seamlessly and stylishly into the background in a large room. It looks as fancy as it functions, and it functions so well too! The included remote control is, in my opinion, much better than than the included slim remote included with the Ozeri 3X, and is more substantial. Where one had to be closer and almost directly in front of the fan to get the 3X remote to function, the Ozeri Ultra’s remote works from anywhere and at any angle. The base is wide and sturdy and means your fan wont be tipping over, even when put of high pile carpet like ours. There’s cord storage in the base so you don’t have to worry about a long unsightly cord on the floor to trip over. # speed settings, 90 degree oscillation, quiet almost noiseless function, wireless remote, and a big, bright LCD screen that even tells you what the ambient room temperature is! You can even assemble it without a single tool! There’s just so much to love with this new Ozeri Ultra 42″ fan that I might send the 3X Tower fan to Hubby’s workout room from here on out!

It might not seem like the weather is optimal now for a tower fan, but trust me when I tell you it’s better to grab the products you don’t need now (but will later!) today than be the one left wanting in a few months when the temperatures start to rise and you’re left scrambling to get a product you could have had on hand already! And you know that with Ozeri products, they put customer satisfaction number one, and do anything and everything they can to make you a happy camper! Get your Ozeri Ultra fan today and beat the Spring rush!

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I received the above product(s) free of charge from Moderna Housewares.  I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion.  My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.

 

Motion Sensor Light Pro’s Socket and LED Bulb Set

I try to stay up on the latest tech and innovations int he home goods department. Sometimes, I see a product that screams “Why didn’t anyone think of this before?!” and sometimes, ones that just make you scratch your head and wonder what the manufacturer was thinking. This one falls somewhere in between.

I get the point of motion sensor lights, and I very much like them. I like the idea of LED lights, and the real-world savings is undeniable. Combining the two would appear to be a no-brainer, and yet the realization left much to be desired. For starters, it’s large size made it unwieldy in the one place I thought it would work the very best: The bathroom as a nightlight. Alas, our wall socket is too close to the medicine cabinet, making this an impossibility. But, for the few moments it was there, it worked just liked I imagined it would. Be careful to tune the sensitivity/range of the motion sensor, lest it be set off every time someone passes by the door. Other than that, I can’t imagine any other wall socket that isn’t at ankle height and that makes it fairly useless for me. I did like that the controls are such that you can fine tune the length of time it’s on, the distance at which it “picks up” movement, or just for “dawn to dusk”.

The problems I had with it are the overall usability (I don’t know many people with wall sockets at a height that would make this useful) and the lack of a polarized plug. The LED light it self is a bright, harsh blue-ish almost fluorescent light, and I did switch that out for a soft white LED, which immediately improved the quality of the light. But the included light came on almost instantly, didn’t flicker and was plenty bright.

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I received the above product(s) free of charge from MSL Pro.  I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion.  My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.

OxyLED’s MH20 LED Headlamp w/ Motion Sensor

Hubby, as we have established, is a flashlight nut. Little did I know, though, that this would extend to headlamps, too. However, there are few things as helpful and handy as a good, well made headlamp. And while OxyLED has made some real quality (and handy) products, for us, this one is just a little lacking, and I’ll go over why right here.

To start, it seems almost every smaller company fudges a little when it comes to reported lumen counts. Without professional equipment, you simply cannot accurately get an idea of how many lumens a particular light is. For instance, my husband’s 1st generation SureFire LED flashlight puts out about 80 lumens. SureFire is a pretty reliable brand, and their lumen outputs are also reliable. So it was a little surprising, then, that pointing both the SureFire and this OxyLED “200 lumen” headlamp at a bare wall, and finding the SureFire almost as bright. Now, to be fair, a great many things affect how much actual light is put out by an LED lamp. Quality of lens (this one is plastic, which doesn’t lend itself to longevity), quality of reflector (Again, more plastic), and quality of battery powering it (Alkaline batteries vs. lithium ion). So while the LED emitter in the headlamp might be rated for 200 lumens, it’s doubtful the output would be anywhere close to that. The throw of light is decent, and goes for about 120 feet before dissipating and becoming too diffuse to be useful. The beam isn’t that tight, either, and the headband mine came with had some little jagged bits that scratched Hubby’s head. The three AAA batteries used to power the headlamp are mounted in the rear, and the rubber-ish plastic case cover for the battery barely closes well and will do little to keep out serious rain or moisture. But, the upside is that it’s very affordable, light, and for the price puts out a decent amount of light that is useful in small, spaces, like a garage, or attic. It has a high, low, and strobe setting (ug, that strobe setting will make you nauseous after a while, too.). It doesn’t have any memory, so you must cycle through the settings with each use. It also has a motion sensing feature that turns the lamp on if it detects motion. I’m not sure how useful this feature would be to others, but for us, while being kind of neat, was also kind of useless.

Overall, while it could be useful, and is a great low-cost option for occasional use, there are better options out there that will last you longer and perform better, albeit for more money. While I liked the OxyLEd MH20 LED headlamp, I feel there’s some real drawbacks to it, enough so that if you plan on using it often or relying on it, you’re better served with another brand. However, keep in mind that OxyLED offers a 30-Day Money Back Guarantee, a 12 Month Replacement Warranty, as well as their Lifetime Support Guarantee.

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I received the above product(s) free of charge from Hisgadget and OxyLED.  I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion.  My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.

OxyLED T-02s Rechargeable Motion Sensing LED Light Stick

On the surface, this seemed like one of those products that has so many applications, you weren’t even sure where to start trying it. And then, slowly but surely, you found that each and every place you thought about presented problems that made using in that location no longer feasible. So while I think the product is made fairly well and gives off a bunch of light, for me at least, this OxyLED T-02S Motion Sensing Light missed the mark.

I first thought it would make a wonderful under-cabinet light. Except that when the lights are even slightly on (we have them on dimmers), the LED Stick won’t come on. The proximity sensor seems a little wonky, too, because while 95% of the time it senses when there’s motion within about 5 feet, the other times we have to “tap-tap” the sensor for the light to come on. Then we tried it in a closet. Again, the ambient light in the room made whether the OxyLEd T02S came on a 50-50 proposition. Okay, so we then tired it in the pantry. Again, our old friend ambient light rained on my parade. But, the odds of the OxyLED t-02S lighting went to about 80-20. In the end we put it on the linen cabinet counter in the hall, and instead of turning on the lights to walk down it, the OxyLED Motion Sensing Light usually switches on and gives plenty of light. It has a solidly built brushed aluminum body that feels sleek but is also surprisingly light. It has 20 bright white LED’s and an On/Off toggle switch on the side.

This seems like a product that, while well built and very bright, is not quite ready for prime time. There also seems to be some real quality control issues, but I can’t say I experienced any of them, as the T-02S I received functioned fairly well, except for a moody motion sensor. It’s rechargeable, needs no batteries, and the charge lasts a loooong time. It would be nice for a traditional plug instead of a microUSB one to charge it, but I don’t feel that’s a deal breaker. I would recommend that instead of peeling off the backing and using the included adhesive strip right from jump street, do what we did and tape it up with blue or green masking tape first and insure that it works to your liking in your chosen space. At $22.99, it feels pricey, and I would like to see it come in at under $20 to be a real value. From OxyLED’s Amazon page, “Reliable and friendly customer service: ready to respond within 24 hours, 30-day money back guarantee, 12 month replacement warranty and lifetime support guarantee”. So there’s that to fall back on should the light falter. I liked the OxyLED T-02S Motion Sensing Light, not loved it, and feel there’s room to improve, but could be incredibly useful once they iron out the kinks.

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I received the above product(s) free of charge from Hisgadget and OxyLED.  I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion.  My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.

OxyLED 12 LED Pet “Stain” UV BlackLight

We recently had a minor issue with our little dog of 13 years, and she had to have surgery. Pets being the way pets are, we also kept her indoors and under constant supervision, because she refuse to wear the “cone of shame”. Which meant we had to make sure she didn’t lick and infect her incision. Which also mean it was of paramount importance that her bedding was clean. And as luck would have it, that’s exactly when OxyLED offered us their 12 LED pet stain “detector” light. I was thrilled and was eager to try it, with my past experience OxyLED’s stellar product line.

And while this was a solid product was like every other one I’ve tried from them, it was a little lacking. It worked well on non-porous surfaces like the toilet bowl, or walls that were sink-adjacent. Water (and other) stains showed up perfectly. But, on fabric, we didn’t have as much luck. In fact, even when we saw a little yellow stain on her bed pillow, the OxyLED handheld lamp didn’t show it any differently that the surrounding fabric. Powered by 3 AAA batteries (Thankfully, included. I love that, I really do!), the light up to about 3-4 feet away is perfectly adequate, ambient lighting conditions being optimal. That’s one of the limitations of a multiple LED emitter, is that the light throw is usually very short. But, the aircraft-grade aluminum body is engineered well, with a deep enough knurl around the body to insure a no-slip grip, along with the body mounted on/off switch, as opposed to the now pretty standard tailcap clicker. And with a 50,000 hour lifetime rating, this OxyLED Lamp should last a very, very long time.

In the end, this is a solid product with some limitations but should do everything you need it to do, and for just $8.99 you could do much, much worse. And OxyLED offers a 30-day money back guarantee, a one year replacement warranty, and pretty decent customer service, to boot. What have you got to lose?

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I received the above product(s) free of charge from Hisgadget and OxyLED.  I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion.  My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.

OxyLED MD50 500 Lumen 5-Mode Flashlight Kit (battery & charger included)

Hubby is a flashlight junkie. Has been for years. We’ve bought and tossed more cheap little flashlights than I’d care to mention. I even once broke down and bought him a nice SureFire LED flashlight. We’ve had MagLite, Ultrafire, Steamlight and Coast come through here. But still he collects all manner of flashlights from a variety of makers. So when Hisgadget offered us their OxyLED branded MD50, boasting 500 lumens, I knew I had to say yes.

I’m very glad I did. Amazon and eBay are chock-full of LED flashlights, and while some are quality, a lot are just junk. And it’s very hard to tell the wheat from the chaff because they all boast similar construction and specs. When it comes down to the nuts and bolts, someone has to be the canary in the mineshaft and see if these torches are the goods. And I’m please to say the this OxyLED lamp is, in fact, the goods. By far, it is the brightest flashlight Hubby owns. It eclipses his SureFire LED that cost him 3 times as much! It is easily adjustable by sliding the reflector housing forward or back. Even at it’s widest setting, the light is still ridiculously bright, with no dead spots I could see. There’s some slight haloing around the outside edge of the beam, but it’s hardly worth mentioning. It fits comfortably in the hand, be it mine or Hubby’s girthier paw. It has a lanyard at the tailcap, and a bright green clicker there to cycle through the modes. You have high, medium and low, plus strobe and SOS for (heaven forbid) any emergency situations. The tailcap clicker is crisp, and to switch modes on the fly one only needs to lightly press on the tailcap. A full press will turn the unit off or on. The only thing I feel it’s lacking are a rubber ring near the base for easier one handed operation, or a pocket clip for easier carrying. Neither are major issues and I wouldn’t take off points for either, they’re just personal preference. OxyLED even includes a sturdy foam padded carry case, and as a bonus includes the one 18650 rechargeable Li-ion battery and charger, as well as the AAA battery holder if you choose to use those types of batteries. But the included Li-ion cell has held a charge well, and seems to show no sign of slowing down at all. For $19.99, you’re getting a lot of quality for very little money.

There’s water resistant o-rings used in the assembly of this unit making it good for heavy rains, and the batteries reportedly have overcharge and over-discharge protection circuitry. It also boast a Cree XM-L2 diode, which is why it’s so bright and powerful. One complaint I did have is the flashlight gets quite warm in the hand after running it at full power for any significant time. I understand it’s putting out a lot of juice, so I’m willing to give it a pass, because it’s just been “warm” not uncomfortably so or even “hot”.

 

Overall, this is a real winner and like I mentioned, you get a lot of quality for very little money. I recommend it highly!

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I received the above product(s) free of charge from Hisgadget.  I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion.  My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.

Sunsella 100% Stainless Steel Collapsible Steamer Basket

There are things you take for granted you have in your kitchen and then when it fails you, are at a loss where to go to get a quality replacement. A rolling pin. A dough scraper. Cookie sheets. You know the brands, and the big box stores that sell them, but which one is good? Which one will last you? Which one won’t fail? Well, when my collapsible steamer went kaput, I’d had it for so long I didn’t know where to start. And like a knight in stainless steel shining armor, in rode Sunsella’s Stainless Steel Collapsible Vegetable Steamer. And let me tell you, it does so much more than steam vegetables.

See, these steamers are a staple in almost every kitchen, regardless of the background of the cook. It’s been used in this house to steam homemade tamales, to steam Asian-style pork buns and potstickers, to of course to steam veggies. It has a smooth action to open and close, a handy ring on the center post for easy grabbing, and little feet that are long enough to be able to put a good amount of water in your pot to keep the steam flowing. Have something big to steam? Just unscrew the center post and voilà, you’ve got all that real estate in your pot to fill. It takes up virtually no space in the cabinet but is absolutely indispensable in any kitchen. And the 100% stainless steel means it cleans like a dream and will last you for years and years. And while it says it’s dishwasher safe, I recommend cleaning by hand and air drying, as the harsh detergents in the dishwasher might cause it to tarnish and rust over time. I want my tools to last, and while my last steamer was over 2 decades old, I wanted him to last longer. And this Sunsella 100% Stainless Steel Vegetable Steamer might be there when I’m ready for Social Security. 

The one drawback I find myself hitting over and over and over lately is price. At $13.99 (at the time of this writing), this steamer is, in some cases, almost 50% more than others on Amazon with the same features and materials. I had to go to Williams Sonoma to find one with a comparable price, and we all know how “out there” Williams Sonoma is with prices. Most were around $8 or $9. I just don’t know how to justify the markup here, and I feel it’s an awesome product. I don’t know, but I know I wouldn’t pay that kind of markup for a product. I liked it, I just don’t know if I liked it 50% more than the rest.

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I received the above product(s) free of charge from Sunsella.  I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion.  My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.