Aidonger Unisex Vintage Canvas and Leather Casual Backpack

I teach in a large, urban high school. Every day, I see the value of a spacious, durable backpack as my students lag a big pile of books, a laptop, a binder, notebooks and more from classroom to classroom because they never get a chance to go to their lockers during the day.

This backpack is made of heavy duty canvas with a liner on the inside. There are two large pockets on the inside - the main pocket and a spacious padded computer sleeve. You can stuff a lot into this backpack. There are also two small pockets sewn into the lining.

The backpack does not have a zipper, instead it is cinched shut and covered by a flap. Not having a zipper isn't necessarily a bad thing. Every year I see kids ruin a lot of nice backpacks by simply stuffing too many things into the backpack and ruining the zipper. 

The flap has faux buckles on leather straps. Rather than actually buckling shut, the straps use magnets to keep it closed There are also three exterior pockets - two on the sides and one in the back. All are closed by the same type of magnets that hold the flap in place. At first i was not impressed by the magnets but they are actually a whole lot stronger than they look. 

The straps can be lengthened out quite very far. Usually, I have to let a backpack's straps all of the way and then make minor adjustments to tighten things up. This backpack required a lot of tightening (easy to do - just pull the strap) and would be a great backpack for people with big shoulders. 

The straps are very comfortable and there is a loop to hang the backpack on a hook or as an alternative way to carry it. 

We've used this backpack at our house all summer because it has been sitting out to be tested. We love it.

The backpack comes in five colors: coffee, black, army green, grey and khaki.

I rate this backpack 5 stars out of 5.

Note: I received a free or heavily discounted backpack in exchange for an honest review. This really is a great backpack.

As of the time of this review, this backpack cost $32.98 on Amazon.com. Check here for current pricing: Aidonger Vintage canvas and leather backpack.

Caden K1 Triangle Shoulder Camera Bag (Khaki) by Mystery

This is a very good camera bag. It has four pockets on the outside and a cavernous interior. The interior can be rearranged as needed with three velcro panels or walls that stick to the interior and each other. There are also two pockets that could hold SD cards, two pockets that could hold batteries or a small notebook and a pencil holder.

Each pocket is protected by a big parachute clip so it would be pretty hard for enterprising pickpockets to get into your bag in an airport or amusement park line.

The padding is thick, the velcro pads are super sticky. I would not be afraid to stick my camera in this bag and toss it in the back of my car. I wouldn't throw it off a cliff, but this bag is more than enough for normal wear and tear on a camera.

There is a shoulder strap that adjusts easily and can go from hand bag length to full purse length. There is also a waist or chest strap. The waist/chest strap could also be used to slide over a luggage handle. 

Lastly, the bag has a little raincoat to cover the area that would be exposed if you were wearing the camera bag during a rainstorm. It is kept on with elastic and a little strap that clips around the shoulder strap so you don't lose the little raincoat.

This bag does not need to be restricted to cameras. On a long trip, this would be a great bag to put your phone, your passport and anything else you want to be kept near you.

I rate this camera bag 5 stars out of 5.

Note: I received a free camera bag so that I could write an honest review.

As of the time of this review this bag cost $22.85 on Amazon.com. Click here for current pricing: Caden K1 Triangle Shoulder Camera Bag by Mystery.

Multi Port 26W 5V/5.1A compact triple 3 Port USB Car Charger with smart multiple output by JAWEKE

It's a car charger! (Yawn)

Yeah, I know - car chargers are everywhere and everyone has one. Or two. Or three.

What's so special about this one?

1) There are three plugs. I don't know about your family, but this charger is actually not enough to charge all of my kids' devices at one time. But, it's a good place to start.

2) It is a little known fact that iPhones and just about all tablets of every kind (even Android-based tablets) need a more powerful charge (2.4 Amp) than Android phones and devices like Bluetooth headphones do. I have a Kindle that charges pretty quickly when given the correct charge but it tops out at about 60% when placed on the lower level of charge. This charger has a port that is designed for those devices that need the 2.4 Amp charge. It is encircled with a label that states it is "2.4A" and, more importantly, it's internal parts are a different color (blue) than the other ports (white) so it is super easy to identify.

You have to provide your own cords, but you probably have a ton of those around the house.

I rate this charger 5 stars out of 5. 

Note: I received a free sample of this charger so that I would be able to write an honest review. My kids have been using it in the back of my mini-van and they like it a lot.

At the time of this review, this car charger cost $10.99 on Amazon.com. Click here to check current pricing: Multi Port 26W 5V/5.1A compact triple 3 Port USB Car Charger with smart multiple output by JAWEKE.

Atalanta® 3.5mm Audio Stereo Y Splitter Cable

Audio splitters are amazingly useful if you are traveling with another person and watching video or listening to audio. You might think you can get by with a simple pair of earbuds shared between two people, but an audio splitter gives you both the ability to immerse yourself in the movie or song with both ear.

I plan on using it in my classroom when my students work in stations and listen to audio activities or watch a short online video.

Not only does it look sharp, it works perfectly. 

I rate this device 5 stars out of 5.

As of the time of this review, this splitter was being sold on Amazon.com for $6.99. Click here for current pricing: Atalanta Splitter Cable.

Note: I received a discounted sample in order to write an honest review.

Fabric Braided Micro USB Cable (1 meter/3 feet) by Pvendor

Micro USB cables. 5 years ago I had one just one cable - it charged my 2nd generation Kindle. Now, I am charging all sorts of stuff all over the place with them. They have gone from a curiosity to a necessity.

Sadly, the ones provided by the manufacturers to charge Bluetooth headsets or portable speakers are often very flimsy and in my household we have had a half dozen or more fail in the last two or three months. Plus, the cords provided by the manufacturers are not very long and sometimes they don't even allow you to transfer data to your phone or tablet - they just charge and then they die an early death.

These 5 1 meter / 3 foot long cords by Pvendor are an excellent choice to replace your dead cords. They are not only long enough to let you use your device while it is plugged in (try to have a passenger use her smart phone to consult Google maps in the car while it is charging on one of those little cords!) but they also transfer data. The bright colors and the thread wrapping are a fun plus. I have also noticed that the micro USB head makes a very snug and very secure fit into my phones and tablet - you don't have to worry about it bouncing loose as you are driving.

They come in 5 different colors: green, blue, pink, orange and grey/silver.

I rate this product 5 stars out of 5.

Note: I received a free set of these cords so that I could evaluate them in order to write a review. For the last month I have used them in two different cars, two different indoor chargers and on one desktop computer and have been very happy with them

As of the time of this review this multi-pack set cost $9.99 on Amazon. Click here to check current pricing: Micro USB Cable, Pvendor 1M 3FT 5 Pack 5 Colors Premium High-speed USB Fabric Braided 2.0 A Male to Micro B Sync/Charging Cables for Android, Samsung, HTC, LG, Sony, Nokia, Nexus and More Devices.

Parasheet Beach Blanket / Picnic Blanket by Gecko Active

Maybe this idea as been around for a while and I just haven't seen it. But, if this is a new idea, it is so simple yet so clever at the same time you would think that it would have been invented long before now.

Here's the deal. Most people go to the beach and they lay their towels out on the sand, go play in the water, come back and rub a sandy towel all over their wet body. Plus, the towel is rarely big enough for a grown person to lay on anyway.

This parasheet blanket (made out of nylon, like a parachute) is designed to go straight down to the ground first and then you put the towel (and everything else) on top of it. It is 7 feet and 6 and 1/2 feet wide. And, if that isn't big enough, you can snap several of them together in a row. 

The blanket has little pouches in each corner to put sand in to serve as anchors and, if that is not strong enough, you can even use the corner loops and put stakes down.

When you are done, shake the sand or dirt free , fold it up, stick it in the little bag, clip it to your backpack and you are gone. 

I rate this blanket 5 stars out of 5.

Note: I reviewed a free sample in order to evaluate it so that I could write an honest review.

Kinzd® Waterproof Cell Phone Carrying Pouch with Detachable Lanyard

    You Can Keep on Texting in the Shower!

Cell phones, as a group, are not compatible with water. But, so many people do things around the water that it is just not feasible to never take the phone near water.

This waterproof pouch is a great solution to these problems: 

1) You can see through it so you can check to see who's calling while you are out fishing and screen that call from your spouse telling you it's time to come back in and have lunch with your brother-in-law!

2) You can actually interact with your smartphone through the plastic - touch buttons, etc. so you can keep on texting while you are in the shower!

3) It is truly waterproof. I put a tissue in mine and stuck it in the sink (held down by a bottle) for more than 3 hours and it was perfectly dry - so yes, you can go tubin' and still check your e-mail!

4) The plastic is clear so you can watch online kitten videos all night long and Bluetooth the sound out to a nearby speaker while you are soaking in the hot tub with that special someone!

5) It has a detachable lanyard just in case you like to take selfie videos of while you are water-skiing! Wrap it around your wrist a few times and you can get the perfect video of you wiping out and still not lose your phone!

Seriously, though, it works great. Plus, you can store other stuff in there as well - watches, hearing aids, a Fit Bit or anything else you just don't want to get wet, muddy, dirty, filled with sand or whatever.

I rate this pouch 5 stars out of 5.

Note: I received a free sample for testing purposes. I took it all over Florida on a trip (theme parks, the beach, etc.) and I like it a lot.

As of the time of this review this pouch cost $9.99 on Amazon. Click here to check on current pricing: Kinzd® Waterproof Cell Phone Pouch

SUNYOO® 20L Lightweight Laptop Backpack-style Water Resistant Travel Daypack

  Tested at Disney World - Comes Through with Flying Colors!

I got this backpack-style daypack to take to Disney World on our summer vacation. But, once I tried it on I realized that it was just too small for me - it felt like I was wearing a little kid's backpack. But, I have a nine-year-old and I let her use it and it fit her perfectly (there is a bigger version that is a little more than 1/3 larger available for $5 more). She carried the little essentials at Disney World - a small umbrella, a map and, of course, a little notebook to get autographs from all of the Disney Princesses and sometimes a water bottle.

This daypack can fold up into a small pouch for easy storage in a car or wherever. When you unfold it, the pouch is in the backpack and serves as an internal pocket. This backpack is water-resistant but not waterproof. While we were at Epcot we were caught in a thunderstorm and the backpack protected what was inside. 

This would not be a heavy-duty backpack like kids would use for school and they do not claim to be. But, this was great on our trip. My daughter had no complaints, except that the straps hurt when she overloaded it, which is to be expected. 

The daypack comes in 7 different colors (black, blue, green, orange, gray, purple and red) and two different sizes (20 L and 35 L).

Note: I received a free daypack in for testing purposes in exchange for an honest review.

As of the time of this review, this daypack cost $16.99 on Amazon. The larger size cost $21.99. Click here to check current pricing: SUNYOO® 20L/35L Large Lightweight Backpack-style Water Resistant Travel Daypack

Flatworld® Manual Open & Close Light Vinyl Umbrella

Small, convenient umbrellas come in all sorts of sizes and weights. This umbrella is built to be as lightweight as possible. We took it to the four Disney World kingdoms with us over the course of a week because the weather reports forecast rain every afternoon. My nine-year-old carried a small, lightweight backpack and we tucked this inside of the backpack for her precisely because this umbrella is so lightweight. While we were at Epcot we got nailed by a very strong thunderstorm and this umbrella performed quite well for her.

The umbrella and the odd case. The umbrella comes with a purely
decorative, whimsical cloth flower sewn to it. Right after I took this picture
 I cut the flower off with a knife. I am not that whimsical.

When I say that this umbrella is lightweight, I mean that it weighs less than any umbrella that I have ever used. It is not intended to be an everyday umbrella so if you live in London or Seattle this would not be your best option. I carry it in my car and would not hesitate to toss it in a backpack if I were going out and rain was likely.

The umbrella comes with an odd case that I like like the longer I have it. Many umbrellas have a sleeve that you slide on it to protect it. But, if you use the umbrella and then slide the sleeve on it the sleeve gets all wet and it's hard to put the umbrella away because everything around it gets wet. This case feels like it is made out of the carpet that you find in automobile trunks. After the rains at Epcot we just shook off the umbrella and stuck it back in the case and nothing got wet in her backpack.

This umbrella is pricey when compared to other small travel umbrellas but, rest assured, it does work and is ultra-lightweight. The umbrella comes in two colors: pink and black.

This umbrella cost $29.99 on Amazon at the time of this review. Click here to check for current pricing: Flatworld® 3 Folding Manual Open & Close Umbrella.


Note: I received a free umbrella in exchange for an honest review.

Jadaol® Small Waterproof Portable Bluetooth Speaker (camo) byJadaol

  A Lot of Noise in a Small Package.

If you are looking for a room-filling speaker, the kind of speaker that rocks out a large space, this is not your speaker. But, if space is a premium, for whatever reason,  and you are in the market for a very small speaker that makes a comparatively large amount of noise this may be your speaker. 

This little cube measures about 1.6 inches on each side, comes with a little carabiner so that you can clip it to a backpack and listen as you hike. It also comes with a mini-USB cable to charge it.

The manufacturer claims it is waterproof (and show pictures of it in water). I will take their word for it. Four sides are covered with a rubberized material. The hole to charge the speaker has a little rubberized door that I have a hard time sealing shut (although my daughter does not - there must be a trick that I do not understand).

This speaker comes in four colors: black, blue, pink and camo. Mine is camo and sometimes the pattern makes the buttons a little hard to see. Not impossible, but tricky.

The same goes with pairing with my Samsung Galaxy 3. It does pair, but not as fast as other devices do. It usually takes more than one try and can take several. 

For the money, there are bigger speakers out there but if you travel a lot and just want a little music in the tent or the hotel room than this may be worth the loss of some volume for gain in space in your suitcase.

I rate this speaker 4 stars out of 5. I took off a point for the issues with seeing the buttons and pairing with my phone.

As of the time of the writing of this review this Bluetooth speaker cost $31.88 on Amazon. Click here to check on current pricing: Jadaol®small Waterproof Portable Bluetooth Speaker (camo).

Note: I received a speaker in exchange for an honest review.

Zoom Power Bank Z-6000 and Zoom Power Bank Z-12000

Extra battery power is almost a must nowadays. So much more is accessible on tablets and phones but the batteries on most phones don't have enough juice to make it to the end of the day. 

Both of these Power Banks fix that problem, it's just a matter of how much extra power you want to bring with you. I am reviewing both of these because they operate the same in every way except that one is twice as powerful and twice as large as the other.

Both units have a simple interface that tells you how "charged up" it is. Zero lights = no charge, one light = 25% charged on up to 4 lights = fully charged. 

Both chargers with a pen for the purposes of size
comparison. 

The Z-6000, the smaller of the two chargers (it is about the size of a typical smart phone), can recharge your cell phone 4 times before it is exhausted. This would be perfect for that long flight when you have to do a lot on your phone and you don't have access to a wall plug.

The Z-12000, the larger of the two chargers (it is about the size of a battery for a small laptop), can recharge your cell phone 8 times (!) before it is emptied. We use this on vacations. It is too big to carry around in your pocket but if you travel with a backpack you can easily carry the Z-12000 around with you.

These are both powerful chargers - they carry a lot of power and can take up to 12 hours to completely charge. If you are using these on a trip, make sure you plug these guys in as soon as you get back to your room. 

Both chargers come with a three-headed USB cord. One is for the older style iPhone plug, one for the new iPhone plug and one is a mini-USB like androids and kindles use. There are two USB ports on each Power Bank. One for iPhones and tablets, one for androids.

Both chargers are sharp-looking but if you are like me you value actual battery power over how good it looks. These are the real deal.

I rate these Power Banks 5 stars out of 5. 

As of the time of the writing of this review the Z-6000 cost $24.77 on Amazon.com. Check here for current pricing: Z-6000(Electric Blue)

As of the time of the writing of this review the Z-12000 cost $44.77 on Amazon.com. Check here for current pricing: Z-12000

Note: I received a free sample of both power banks in exchange for an honest review. 

Pack of Two DE 14500 Li-ion Button Top Rechargeable Batteries with Charger in Retail Packaging - 750mAh, 3.7V by DE

  Momentarily confused, but I figured it out.

When I first opened this battery charger I was confused. There is no cord. But, on the side I found a micro-USB jack and realized that you were expected to provide your own. If you are like me, you are awash in micro-USB cords of all sorts of different sizes and colors, so finding a cord was not a problem. I am used to chargers that plug directly into a wall outlet and I think that this is a superior plan. Most computers have multiple USB ports and there are so many multi-port chargers out there that this certainly beats tying up an entire wall outlet with just one wall charger. Plus, you can charge them from you car, which could be helpful if you are traveling.


Secondly, I had a heck of a time getting the batteries placed in the charger to charge. The charger is designed to accommodate AA and AAA batteries and, as I have recently discovered, not all rechargeable batteries are the same size - they vary in length and width just a bit (the ones included with this device are just a tad long) so this charger's spring loaded "bottom" takes care of those differences. All of this ability to be slightly flexible means that it takes a little time and attention to get those batteries into place to charge. 

While it is charging there is a red indicator light. When it is charged it turns green. The charger is pretty fast, although I must admit I have not put it to a timed test. 

The batteries work well. The manufacturer suggests that these batteries be used with devices such as laser pointers, flashlights and other devices "that require lots of power in a short period of time." Be prepared that these particular batteries may not fit well in your device (like my daughter's digital camera) but fit fine in other devices (like my flashlight) because they are larger than a AA. But, the charger can accommodate other sizes of batteries.

At the time of this review, Amazon sold this charger for $19.99. Click here for current pricing: Pack of Two DE 14500 Li-ion Button Top Rechargeable Batteries with Charger in Retail Packaging - 750mAh, 3.7V

Note: I received a sample copy for review purposes in exchange for an honest review.

I rate this charger 4 stars out of 5. 

DE 6 Port USB Charging Station and Surge Protector Strip by DE

             A Necessity!

The concept of a multiple USB wall charger is great for travelers since it is certainly hard to find enough outlets to plug in chargers for GPS systems, phones, kindles, travel batteries and Bluetooth headsets in a hotel room, especially if you are sharing your room.

But, if you are like me than you are quickly discovering that your house and your office were not built to charge up all of the rechargeable devices that you have accumulated over the last couple of years. There just are not enough outlets in convenient places to charge up everything. The multi-port charger has quickly become an indispensable part of my daily tech life.

This particular charger is not really designed for travel since the cord is not removable and it is fairly bulky. But, if I had extra room in a bag, this charger would be great for travel because it is designed like a traditional surge protector and its casing is physically tough so it can be bounced around in a bag without fear of it coming apart.

When this review was written, this charger cost $29.99 on Amazon. Click here to check on current pricing:  DE 6 Port USB Charging Station and Surge Protector Strip.

I rate this multi-port charger 5 stars out of 5.

Brightech™ - SPIDER - Car Jump Starter and Battery Charger for Mobile Devices with Carrying Case

 

This battery charger has got a lot of things going for it. It can jump start your car battery and your phone and it is also a flashlight. 

I have been carrying this jump starter around for more than four months but I have not had need to jump start my car (and that's a good thing!). But, I can tell you that it held its charge the entire time even though it sat in the car and endured a range of temperatures in excess of 100 degrees during those 4 months. 

The set comes with its own cables, adapters so that you can charge an android device, an older iPhone or a newer iPhone. The built-in flashlight has two settings - regular and blinking. The device can be charged from a wall plug or from you car and the whole thing goes in a little cloth bag.

Hopefully, I will never need to try out this jump starter, but if I do I will certainly be glad that I am carrying this around.

Note: I was sent the SPIDER jump starter at no charge so that I could evaluate it for review purposes. My bottom line: having this in my car is much better than not having it.

As of the time of this review this jump starter cost $79.99 on Amazon.com. Check here for current pricing: 
Brightech™ - SPIDER - Car Jump Starter and Battery Charger for Mobile Devices with Carrying Cas
I rate this set 5 stars out of 5.

Swiss+Tech ST53130 Palm-Grip Micro-Max Xtreme Pocket Tool Kit by Swiss+Tech

    Not too excited by this multi-tool

As a general rule, I am a fan of multi-tools. They are useful in a car or in an office. I teach high school and I have one in my desk at school. This multi-tool set is different than any other kind that I have seen, though. Every multi-tool set has to be something at its heart and the other stuff is built around it. For example, the classic Swiss Army Knife is a folding pocket knife with extra stuff attached to it.

The Swiss+Tech ST53130 Palm-Grip Micro-Max Xtreme Pocket Tool Kit is a pair of pliers at its heart. The screwdrivers fold down and become the handles. It's not a half bad set of pliers except for the fact that the handles do wiggle around. This is why I recommend these sets for an office. Most situations that require a tool in an office are not ones that require top end tools. They require a a couple of twists with a screwdriver or a couple of easy pulls with a set of pliers. Not even MacGyver would try to use this set to do work on a car or a furnace - it is too bulky and too heavy.

This set really is heavy, especially for something that is labeled as a pocket tool. It weighs half of a pound and it is just too heavy to carry in a pocket or on a belt clip (you would have to buy that separately). If you carry a heavy duty backpack most of the time, you could find a nice interior pocket to tuck it into. 

But, because of its weight and bulk I am just not too excited by this multi-tool. If you were trying to work in a tight place the width would just get in the way. If you are looking for an office tool set or maybe something for the car that you can tuck in the trunk and forget about you should probably go a small tool set like this one instead:  Apollo Precision Tools DT9706 39-Piece General Tool Set. It comes with a little case, contains 39 different tools and costs less than $1 more than this multi-tool. Sure, it's a cheap set of tools, but at least they're specifically designed to do the job you asking for them to do.

I rate the Swiss+Tech ST53130 Palm-Grip Micro-Max Xtreme Pocket Tool Kit 3 stars out of 5. At the time of this review, the Swiss+Tech ST53130 Palm-Grip Micro-Max Xtreme Pocket Tool Kit cost $18.99 on Amazon. Check here for current pricing: Swiss+Tech ST53130 Palm-Grip Micro-Max Xtreme Pocket Tool Kit.

Note: I was sent a free multi-tool in exchange for an honest review through the Amazon Vine program.

Simply Simily 26 Ounce Stainless Steel Water Bottle - BPA Free - Classic Screw-on Cap

This water bottle is nothing fancy - it is just a well-made back-to-basics type of bottle and that is a good thing. It is simple and everything is done just right.

So, my family and I took this water bottle out for a real world workout and went for a hike in a state park. We stored this away in the backpack to see if it would leak. I attached a key ring (in the picture below) and a cheap caribiner. I attached it to a loop in the backpack to keep it upright just in case it leaked (I would hate to have lost a cell phone just because I was testing a water bottle. 

But there was no reason to worry. I let the bottle roll around in the back of my car for more than two weeks and there were no leaks on the back seat.

Positives: 

-Large opening. Easy to fill, easy to pour out.

-I like the key ring hole at the top - for the reason I mentioned above.

-Fits perfectly in a cup holder.

-Won't crack or shatter like the hard plastic bottles can. Last week, I saw a student of mine drop a brand new hard plastic bottle on a table and crack the top so that it leaked every time she drank from it. 

A photo from the family hike. Photo by DWD.

Negatives:

-It has no "cool" factor. No one is going to be impressed by this bottle as a fancy new toy. No filters, no flip out straws. (but, then again, there is so much less to break with this bottle when compared to all of those other bottles...)

I rate this bottle 5 stars out of 5.

As of the time of this review, this water bottle cost $9.95 on Amazon. Check here for current pricing: Simply Simily Stainless Steel Water Bottle.

Note: I received a free water bottle so that I could write an honest review.

ZOOM 5 PORT USB "SMART" CHARGER

   This kind of device is almost a "must have" for the home or office nowadays. This one's a good one.

The multiple USB wall charger is great for travelers since it is certainly hard to find enough outlets to plug in chargers for GPS systems, phones, kindles, travel batteries and Bluetooth headsets in a hotel room if you are sharing your room.

But, if you are like me than you are quickly discovering that your house was not built to charge up all of the rechargeable devices that you have accumulated over the last couple of years. There just are not enough outlets in convenient places to charge up everything. This "travel" wall charger has quickly become an indispensable part of my daily tech life.

The charger with everything that comes with it.

The Zoom 5 Port USB "Smart" Charger takes care of this problem by being able to charge 5 different items at the same time. It is built to travel with a removable cord in the back so it will stow away in a smaller place.

I have used this charger for about three weeks now, charging a Kindle, a cell phone, various Bluetooth speakers and headsets. It charges things quickly and I have not experienced any kind of excessive heating with the device. A "smart" chip inside is supposed to detect the correct amount of charge that your device requires and make sure that it does not apply too much current and damage your device. 

This charger comes with two USB charger cords with three different heads - a mini-USB like Androids use and the iPhone 4 charger and the newest Apple charger tip. They are nice cords.

This kind of device is almost a "must have" for the home or office nowadays. This one's a good one.

As of the writing of this review this charger was $19.77 on Amazon. Click here to check for current pricing: ZOOM 5 PORT USB "SMART" CHARGER

Note: I received a free charger for review purposes in exchange for an honest review. 

Winkine Durable Vintage Casual Lightweight Canvas Backpack - Travel School College Shoulder Bag / Bookbag / Daypack by IBSound

    I Am Torn When It Comes to This Bag. 

I am torn when it comes to this bag. First off, let me tell you that I was offered a review copy of this bag from IBsound so I paid nothing for it in exchange for an honest review.

Second, I have to tell you that I actually received two copies of this bag. The first one I received came without two of the three magnetic belt cinch straps that are used to close the pockets. I was sent another one right away. I would not even have mentioned the problem with the first bag (mistakes happen and they fixed it right away) except that the second bad also had an issue. The loop handle at the top was not sewn correctly - there's no way that anyone would have purchased it at a store the way it was sewn. But, I just took the belt straps from the new bag and put them on the old bag and between the two of them I had one complete bag. But, I felt that I had to report that both copies that I was sent had problems.

My high school-aged daughter loved the bag on sight and she used it for 4 show choir events to keep her personal items in. These show choir events are literally all day events (18+ hours long) so she really got to know the bag well. She siad that she would rate it a B/B-, which I interpret as 4 stars on the 5 star scale that I use.

But, when I told her he price of this bag she was troubled. At the time of this review the asking price for this bag is $28.99. (Check here for current pricing:Winkine Durable Vintage Casual Lightweight Canvas Backpack).  She said that she would pay no more than $15 for this bag, especially when compared the $45.58 price tag of her heavy duty school backpack that gets a real workout every day (she goes to a large high school and does not have the chance to go to her locker between classes so she carries everything in it) and looks as good as the day she got it.

The bag is made of a lightweight canvas. The straps, buckles and loop at the top are all made of a plastic leather-like material (I call it "pleather"). This pleather is better than the pleather of the past but is not fooling anyone within 5 feet of it. The main pocket has a cinch top. Inside, there is a additional zipper pocket to hold something small like a wallet or some change. My daughter put her battery to re-charge her cell phone in it. The leather straps are meant to look like they cinch shut but the buckles are merely decorative and the pockets are actually held shut by a magnet. If you do not overfill them, they will stay shut.

This is a lightweight bag. Don't try to use it as a heavy duty bag to carry a bunch of textbooks - it was not designed for it and it will not hold up. 

Considering everything, I have to rate this bag 3 stars out of 5.

DANCEOUT BLUETOOTH SPEAKER by Brightech.

                              Fantastic!

I hope that I can express how impressed I am with this speaker. I've had several mini-speakers, wired and Bluetooth and this one is hands down the best. It has the best sound, one of the easiest to use and the most versatile speakers that I have owned.

The back of the DanceOut speaker with my Bic pen for
size comparison.

Positives:

1) Great sound (I am toying with using it as a sound bar for a small TV with so-so sound).

2) Very loud for its size.

3) The Bluetooth hooks up very easily. 

4) It is not just a Bluetooth device - you can also hook it with with a wire (provided).

5) You can charge and play at the same time.

6) It can also be a rechargeable portable battery. It is a heck of a battery, too. Much quicker than my little battery that I have to re-charge my phone in a pinch.

7) It has an old-fashioned on/off switch. I am officially tired of holding on to switches that blink on and off because my fingers are always blocking the indicator lights.

8) The rubberized shell keeps it from sliding around and probably provides a tiny amount of protection in case it get dropped.

The DanceOut speaker with its case, the charger cord and
aux in cable.

9) The speaker has a Bluetooth phone feature. The phone sounds very good - good enough to use as a speaker phone.

Negatives:

none (yes, I am that happy with this product)

At the time of this review, this product was $29.95 at Amazon.com. For current pricing check here: Brightech - DanceOut Portable Wireless Bluetooth 4.0 Speaker

Note: I received a sample speaker so that I could write a proper review in exchange for an honest review.

SOLO Urban Universal Tablet Sling

A very well made, basic laptop bag.

My job has provided me with an 11.6 inch Chromebook and I was just sliding it in a cloth satchel I have and protecting it with the papers I carry home to grade. But, that never seemed to be a smart choice. So, when I was offered a chance to test this computer bag I was glad to actually carry my Chromebook properly.

Positives:

-This bag is well-constructed. The stitching seems strong, the zippers feel solid. 

-The bag is padded but not overly so - it does not feel like it would take a fall from a tall building but it has enough padding that you can plop the bag down on a desktop and not worry about cracking open your laptop.

-It is sized for the smaller laptop, which is good if you have one - small laptops just slide around in the bigger bags and scrunch up your papers.

-The shoulder strap adjusts easily but does not move on its own.

-The two smaller outer pockets are generous enough to hold my wireless mouse, my cell phone, my kindle and the charger cord for the Chromebook.

Negatives:

-The bag does not have a lot of extra space for anything besides the laptop in the main pocket. You can bring a legal pad and a folder or two but not much else.

Bottom line, this is a very well made, basic laptop bag.

Note: I received a free bag through the Amazon Vine Program in exchange for an honest review. 

At the time this review was written, this bag was $29.99 on Amazon.com. Click here for current pricing: SOLO Urban Universal Tablet Sling, Grey (UBN210-10)

I rate this bag 4 stars out of 5.