Monday, October 9, 2017

Walkera 110 Rodeo + Firefly Q6 Action Camera Test

Check out the Walkera 110 Rode. Thanks to Gearbest, I got to try out this zippy racing drone. It's amazing!


To make it even more exciting, I added the Firefly Q6 action camera to it. 


It flew just fine! I maybe lost 1-2 minutes of flight time, but in exchange I got awesome aerial footage. Totally worth it!


You can watch the video of my Firefly Q6 flights here with the Walekra 110 Rodeo:






Buy Walkera Rodeo 110 online: http://bit.ly/2kvngtj Buy Firefly Q6 Action Camera online: http://bit.ly/2gl659m


Monday, June 5, 2017

TIANQU XS809W Foldable RC Quadcopter: Can it Carry a GoPro




The Tianqu XS809W is a unique quadcopter - it looks very similar to the popular DJI Mavic, but it only costs $50. The low price is for a reason - it lacks GPS, a good camera, stabilization, long range, and pretty much all the cool features of the Mavic. However, it DOES feature a really compact, folding design, a punchy set of brushed motors (I know, I know), and WiFi FPV views. It's a fun quad to fly, and while it doesn't quite carry a GoPro (as seen in the video), it has great battery life and handles flips without a problem. Check it out at Gearbest here: http://bit.ly/2rDiXMe

New Gearbest Summer Sale: http://bit.ly/2s0J9ke

Sunday, June 4, 2017

Furibee VR01 Budget FPV Goggles Review


Remember my budget FPV setup with a smart phone plus EasyCap? How about a dedicated FPV headset for only $50? Gearbest let me try out the Furibee VR01 FPV Goggles and I am pretty impressed. I flew it with my Hubsan H501S, my XK X251, and my MJX Bugs drones, all with great success. The goggles provided a clear signal, and easily found the FPV output signals from the drones (or the onboard video transmitter setuo). A extra battery is required to power the drone, thankfully a 7.4v 2S lipo does the job fine (see video link for battery). Overall, quality is very similar to my FPV smartphone setup, and this is a little easier to setup, saving time and letting me fly more. 
Furibee FPV VR01 Headset: http://bit.ly/2qSfibx


Free Soldier Camping Stove Review


Ever wanted a mini camping stove that you could throw into your backpack, then assemble at the end of your hike? The Free Soldier Camping Stove aims to be just that-its a 4-sided metal (supposedly stainless steel) with a base. It comes with a neat little carrying case, with durable design and straps for attaching it to a backpack. The stove takes a little practice to snap together (Watch out for the sharp edges--it doubles as multi-tool device), but once it's done it works quite well. Simply place your tinder/fuel inside the stove, and place your cookware ontop. Voila! Overall, it gets the job done, although some may find it easier to just use a campsite fireplace that's already present. Check your local fire/burn regulations as well before using this stove. 
Free Soldier Camping Stove: http://bit.ly/2qWgquB
Sample provided via Gearbest

Monday, April 10, 2017

ODRVM 4K Ultra HD Action Camera Review + Kit: Worth it?


Photo from ODRVM Action Camera

I recently was sent an action camera from ODRVM that boasts of filming in 4K, and I took it through its paces to see how it’d do in the NorCal backcountry. The ODRVM Action Camera and its low-cost piqued my interest to see how it would hold up.


Video review:

Overview:
The ODRVM 4K Action Camera is remarkably affordable ($55.99 - $79.99 [with attachments]) and is loaded with features uncommon to similar action cameras. I’ll go more into detail down below in the Features section, but know right away that its Settings Menu is one of the most customizable menus I’ve seen.


Accessories
The ODRVM 4K Action Camera is loaded with accessories, and the waterproof case is compatible with GoPro accessories as well. Inside the handy foam-padded case that the camera arrives in are the following accessories: a waterproof case similar to most other action camera designs with large buttons, an open non-waterproof backing to allow sound in, an extra 3.7V Li-ion 1050mAh battery, Wireless Remote with wrist strap, 2x mounts with adhesive backings, handlebar clip, screw mounts, 90 degrees mount, USB cable, selfie-stick mount, a lens wipe, multiple straps, multiple zipties, adhesive pads, and a wire tether. Overall, they didn’t skimp out on accessories with this camera! 

Features:
The ODRVM 4K Action Camera reportedly uses a 20 MP Sony sensor (although the manual says it’s only a 12 MP Sony sensor) and a Novatek Chipset. A bit of further research (since it’s not found in the manual or on the Amazon page) showed me that for the image properties, the Camera Maker is listed as Cosuo and Camera Model is CS96. Thus it looks like the ODRVM 4K Action Camera actually uses a 12 MP IMX 078 Camera sensor and Novatek NTK96660. I'm not sure if this allows for true 4K, or just interpolated imaged. 
All photos files are in .JPG and all video files are in .MP4. It connects to the wireless remote via a WiFi signal, and according to the manual, it can “be synced to a mobile device by downloading the ZSANYCAM app on the app store,” although that specific app is wasn't reliable for me.

- Video Resolution: 4K 24fps; 2K 30fps; 1080P 60fps; 720p 120 fps; 720p 60 fps

(I recommend sticking with 1080P for this camera as the higher resolutions are not very clean)
- Image Resolution: 20M, 16M, 12M, 10M, 8M, 5M, 2M , VGA selectable 
- Lens: 170°/140°/110°/70° selectable

- Gyro (built-in)
- Photo Mode: Single Shot, Burst, Self-timer (2s / 5s / 10s / Double)
- Time-lapse Record: 100ms / 200ms / 500ms / 1Sec / 5 Sec (note: it is not an actual time-lapse)
- Loop Recording Supported (it will auto-overwrite files when this option is on)
- Voice Prompt Supported (meaning that the camera will say “Video Start” when you begin taking a video – it does not mean that you can speak to it and have it start recording!)

- 5x Digital Zoom – simply press the up/down arrows on the side of the camera. 
- Motion Detection Supported (although it seemed rather buggy when I tried to use it, with no amount of movement triggering the camera) 
- Frequency: 50Hz/60Hz
- USB Interface: micro USB 2.0, micro HDMI
- Power Source Interface: 5V/1A
- Battery Capacity: 3.7V Li-ion Battery 1050 mAh (Two Batteries Included )
- Recording Time per battery: 40 minutes/ UHD 24 fps, 60 minutes/1080P 30fps , 70 minutes/720p 120fps (my average was about 45 minutes for 1080P at 60 fps)

- Storage capability: Up to 64 GB according to the manual, 128 GB according to their online specifications 
-Waterproof case: up to 30 meters

-Weight: 2.2 ounces






Sample photos:

Performance:
I took the ODRVM 4K Action Camera up to a cabin in the Klamath Mountains of Northern California and spent a week hiking through the backcountry, past thickets of tan oak and up above the snow line. I explored a creek and tested out its waterproof case in it. The battery seemed to die quickly after only a few shots and clips. I later found that the cause was because it wasn’t turning off when I pressed the Power button – this was due to the waterproof case with the waterproof backing having a bit too much rubber on the seal, thereby not sealing fully (there was a gap between the plastic case and the plastic backing) which created space for the camera to not be in contact with the Power button. I replaced the waterproof backing with the non-waterproof, sound-enabled backing and it worked much better.
While video quality was on par with most other budget Action Cameras, I particularly liked the built-in Gyro that enabled me to get fairly smooth recordings. Having a gyro is a HUGE plus and really helps offer better quality footage. The photos were decent but occasionally had some blueish-pinkish discoloration in the top portions (depending on lighting). I couldn’t seem to nail down the cause, but my guess is that it had to do with the various color options (Auto White Balance, 0 Exposure, WRD enabled). Audio quality was superb with no weird crackling sounds or anything of that sort. Overall, it worked pretty well and left me pleased. 

Summary:
The ODRVM action camera offers a affordable action camera price that can record decent HD footage with a Gyro stabilization and take fairly good photos. The 4K footage isn't as as exciting as I had hoped, but the 1080p footage is sharp and crisp. Photos are fairly good too, and I like the protective carrying case it comes with. Check it out at here on Amazon.


Wednesday, April 5, 2017

Best Solar Headlamp Review

I've been looking for a affordable, simple solar headlamp for a long time. Several years ago, I even saw several on Alibaba, but none were currently available. Fast forward to 2017 and I finally found one! It's dirt cheap (~$10), comfortable, and bright!

There are several variations of this model, but all seem to have the same modes: 3 different light settings (one is just a flashing light), a solar panel on the front of the headlamp for optimal charging, and a LED light with roughly a reported 6 hours of use. I've gotten several hours of use with non-stop light use, but haven't pushed it till it's completely empty. It also comes with a wired charger, in case you dont have a sunny day or need a quicker charge up.


Overall, I'm very excited about this solar headlight. It is exactly what I was looking and I will be using it a lot, on hiking trips (planning to hang this solar headlamp from my backpack to charge while hiking), and late-night fishing trips. You can buy this sun--powered light here: https://tinyurl.com/solarheadlamp or on Amazon here: http://amzn.to/2nMlDoa

Sunday, April 2, 2017

MJX BUGS Quadcopter: Cheap FPV Drone for Budget Flyers






The MJX Bugs drone (https://tinyurl.com/mg8v6p3) is a very reasonably-priced, budget-friendly drone. It is also a brushless drone, packing powerful motors with a durable, well-designed frame. I'm not sure why they named it "Bugs", but it looks fast and no-nonsense. I really like the included action camera mount. I made it a little more snug by inserting a small piece of foam in it, helping hold my camera tighter. Range on the drone is quite good, although a little less than the XK X251. However, it carries a camera much better than my XK X251 does! Gearbest hooked me up with a review sample of the MJX Bugs, and I love it!


I have taken the Bugs drone and turned it into a great budget FPV drone. Using the simple EasyCap adapter setup, I can now fly FPV style, thanks to my Android smartphone, a pair of cheap VR goggles, a free app, an action camera with video out-recording feature (I use the GitUp1, but the SJ4000 and many others also have this capability), a cheap video transmitter/receiver combo, and the EasyCap adapter. Here's my complete list of gear for this rather bulky but very cheap and quite nice quality FPV setup:

VR headset (VR Box): http://amzn.to/2o0KMyp (You can usually most any VR headset that is comfortble and fits your phone. Needs to have enough space for your EasyCap cable to stick out of)
EasyCap Adapter: http://amzn.to/2nuuw4T
EasyCap USB cable: http://amzn.to/2o0LGLv
FPV App (my favorite): https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=labsp.android.viewer
(Alternative) EasyCap FPV app (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.easycap.viewer)
Video Transmitter and Video Receiver Combo: https://tinyurl.com/l9zlta3
Battery for video receiver (You can probably find cheaper elsewhere, this is just what I use): https://tinyurl.com/mb5thed
Video Out cable for GitUp: https://tinyurl.com/mcopxbh
(Alternative) Video Out cable for GoPro: https://tinyurl.com/lh4hf32
(Optional) Cloverleaf antennas: https://tinyurl.com/me3yljv
How-to Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEQ_yAvfGCc
(Alternative) FPV receiver: https://tinyurl.com/lv75jcg (I haven't tried this, but it look much more compact)

Not counting the cost of a phone and action camera, this FPV setup costs just over $50. Dirt cheap for getting into a very fun hobby! Make sure your phone is OTG USB compatible before jumping into this setup. There is a tiny amount of latency, but not enough to impact my flying. As you can see from the video below, this little setup packs a punch! Sure, you probably wouldn't want to rely on it for competitive FPV racing, but it does a great job for fun hobby FPV flying. As always, make sure to have a spotter when flying FPV style, as I do.








Have any questions about this setup or the MJX Bugs drone? Let me know below, or on YouTube. Check out this bargain-priced brushless drone on Gearbest: https://tinyurl.com/mg8v6p3
Other Gearbest Drones: https://tinyurl.com/lkqldzo

Sunday, March 12, 2017

ThiEye T5E Action Camera Review: True 4K at Bargain Price Point

 ThiEye T5E
For budget action cameras, 4K video resolution has traditionally been out of reach. For the < $150 range, most cameras really only do 1080p, and occasionally offer subpar 4K (often either unusably low FPS rates, and/or “fake” 4K resolution with interpolation tricks). The closest bet so far for a “affordable” action camera is the Yi 4K, which I absolutely love, priced around $200. After that, you are looking at $400 for the GoPro Hero 5 Black, which is certainly not a bargain.

Enter the ThiEye T5E (https://tinyurl.com/thieyecam). Not only does this camera feature true 4K resolution at 30fps, it also comes in at a stunningly low price, a little over $100. When I first heard about the camera, I was fairly skeptical, given the poor track record of bargain cameras offering high-quality 4K footage. Thanks to Gearbest, I was hooked up with a review sample of the ThiEye T5E and put it through its paces. Fortunately, I was pleasantly surprised with its performance and I think you will be too!

Features
Not only can the ThiEye T5E shoot 4k at 30FPS, it also offers 1080p at 60 fps AND 120 FPS, in addition to several other resolutions. It offers a viewing LCD on the back, WiFi connectivity with a dedicated app for remote control, and 12MP photos. The image sensor is the IMX117, a powerful sensor that is the same as the latest SJCam (7) model and is capable of true 4K. Here is a complete list of the specification for ThiEye T5E:

Specification

General
Brand: ThiEYE
Model: T5e
Type: Sports Camera
Type of Camera: 4K
Chipset Name: Ambarella
Chipset: Ambarella A12LS75
Sensor: CMOS
Sensor size (inch): 1/2.3
Function: WiFi,Time Lapse,Waterproof
Application: Extreme Sports,Underwater,Ski
Storage
Max External Card Supported: SDHC 64G (not included)
Display
Screen: With Screen
Screen size: 2.0inch
Screen type: TFT
Screen resolution: 320x240
Power
Battery Type: External
Battery Capacity (mAh): 1100mAh
Charge way: USB charge by PC
Working Time: 80min at 4K / 30fps, 100min at 1080P
Standby time: 4h
Charging Time: 2h
Primary Info.
Wide Angle: 170 degree wide angle
Camera Pixel : 12MP
Lens Diameter: 2.8mm
Video/Image/Audio
Video format: MP4
Video Resolution: 1080P (100fps),1080P(30fps),
1080P(60fps),1440P (30fps),1440P (60fps),4K (30fps),720P(200fps)
Video Frame Rate: 100fps,200fps,30FPS,60FPS
Image Format : JPEG
Audio System: Monophony
Exposure Compensation: +2EV,-2EV
White Balance Mode: Auto,Cloudy,Daylight,Incandescent
Microphone: Built-in
Functions
WIFI: Yes
WiFi Function: Image Transmission,Remote Control,Sync and Sharing Albums
WiFi Distance : 10m
Waterproof: Yes
Waterproof Rating : IP68 ( 60m, with waterproof case )
Loop-cycle Recording : Yes
Loop-cycle Recording Time: 1min,2min,3min,5min
Night vision : No
Remote Control: Yes
Camera Timer: Yes
Time lapse: Yes
Auto Focusing: Yes
Anti-shake: Yes
Aerial Photography: Yes
Interface Type: HDMI,USB 2.0
Language: Arabic,Dutch,French,German,
Indonesian,Italian,Japanese,Korean,Polski,Portuguese,
Russian,Simplified Chinese,Spanish,Swedish,Traditional Chinese
Dimension/Weight
Product weight: 0.0580 kg
Package weight: 0.4210 kg
Product size (L x W x H): 6.00 x 4.00 x 3.00 cm / 2.36 x 1.57 x 1.18 inches
Package size (L x W x H): 17.00 x 11.00 x 6.00 cm / 6.69 x 4.33 x 2.36 inches
Package Contents
Package Contents: 1 x T5e Action Camera,
1 x Multi-language User Manual, 1 x Wiper, 2 x 1100mAh Battery,
1 x USB Cable, 1 x Pack of Accessories, 1 x Waterproof Case

Accessories

ThiEye T5E comes with considerably less accoessires than many other action cameras. Just the basics, including a few adhesive pads, charging cable, microfiber cloth, mount bracket, and instruction manuel. Fortunately, it also comes with two nice goodies: a solid waterproof case, and not just one but two action camera batteries! This is the first action camera I’ve reviewed that offers a backup battery. It’s worth noting the batteries are not cross compatible with other action cameras such as the GitUp2 or SJCam (ThiEye T5E’s batteries are a little too large). Of note, the Yi 4K action camera DOES NOT come with its own waterproof case (strangely).
Performance

ThiEye T5E adventured with me on a variety of recent hiking, drone flying, and outdoor trips. Overall, it performed excellently, and helped me get superb footage under different conditions. The audio quality (something I don’t typically worry about as I almost always replace it with music) is also quite good., when recording outside of the case. I recorded at several different resolutions and found them all to look great, especially the 4K. In fact, in head to head comparisons between the ThiEye T5E and the Yi 4K camera, I seriously couldn’t see a major difference, certainly not one to justify the significant price difference. In some tests, the ThiEye T5E images looked a little bit sharper than the Yi 4k.This really impressed me, and speaks volumes of how nice this budget 4K camera is. I notice much image quality loss, even with uploading to YouTube. You’ll notice in my video review that it’s set to 1080p; I took all the 4K footage and rendered it down to 1080p for editing purposes, but you can certainly keep it at 4k if you wish.
A couple of critques I did note: On my very first trip with ThiEye T5E, I encountered a SD card formatting error, requiring me to reformat when I returned home. That was frustrating, but after reformatting the microSD, I haven’t had any issues.
The gyro stabilization is definitely less intense than the SJCam S6 Legend or GitUp2. I wouldn’t rely on ThiEye T5E as your primary drone camera if you are flying with a non-gimbal drone like the Hubsan H501s. On land, it does a decent job though. Just like the Yi 4k camera, the EIS gyro feature is only available at 1080p, 60 fps; not at 4K.
The menu on the ThiEye T5E is a weak point-it’s usable but otherwise uninspired and clunky. While several action cameras have recently offered innovative menu designs (Yi 4K, SJCam M20+, etc), the ThiEye T5E menu is a throwback to older, less easy to navigate menus. It’s simply listed under settings, with multiple “frames” to scroll through, requiring a lot of clicking to edit settings. It gets the job done, but isn’t fun to navigate through it.
Photos looked very sharp and crisp, capturing both dark and light environments well. Additionally, the WiFi dedicated app worked great. I didn’t have crashes or problems operating it on my Android smartphone. I was able to remotely operate the camera with ease and review playback videos without an issue.

Video Review
Audio for on/off recording is nicely audible even through the case. The camera boots up fairly fast, and I didn’t have issues with lost footage (thinking I was recording when I really wasn’t due to audio errors). The camera itself features a solid build, with a nice locking switch for the battery. The waterproof case and other accessories have nice design and feel high-quality. Overall, the accessories are solid, and the video quality is excellent.

Conclusion



ThiEye T5E action camera is a relatively unknown camera on the action camera scene, but I think you are going to see a LOT about it soon. Once word gets out about how nice it is, for such an affordable price, you can bet you’ll see it in YouTube videos frequently. It reminds me of the excitement around the GitUp2, still a solid camera, from a newcomer on the camera scene, that absolutely took off once everyone found it. ThiEye T5E’s high quality true 4K footage, plus perfect price point, almost guarantees it will be a success. This isn’t the only ThiEye model, expect to see more innovative cameras from these folks soon! Let me know if you have any questions about the ThiEye T5E camera, either through my YouTube review, or below. You can buy ThiEye T5E through Gearbest here: https://tinyurl.com/thieyecam

Monday, December 26, 2016

Hubsan H501S Drone Review: Advanced Version






Hubsan has established itself as a reputed name in the drone industry, with a myriad of interesting drones available. One of my first quads was a Hubsan X4, and I had an absolute blast learning to fly it. Fast forward several years and Hubsan has released an affordable GPS drone with Follow Me, Return to Home, Altitude Hold, onboard 1080p camera, and a FPV screen on the transmitter, all in the H501S (https://tinyurl.com/ju39hre). 


Courtesy of Gearbest, I tried out the Advanced version of the H501S. It's a stellar drone, with a ton of potential, in terms of range and power. Check out my full video review here:



I spent a lot of time trying out different action cameras mounted onto the H501s. For this, a simple credit card mount with velcro was sufficient, although a GoPro-style bracket mount also worked well. You can see just sample footage from the H501S using GitUp2 and Firefly 7S, along with the stock camera, here:





Likes:
- Drone design is fluid, awesome lines and sleek appearance. Fairly compact too, easy to fit in a hiking backpack.
- Controller is powerful, yet not overwhelming. Instruction manual is pretty good at walking you through the first flight, and the switches are labeled fairly logically. FPV screen on the controller is awesome!
- Stable flight under GPS control, and return home seems to work quite well, very accurate
- Onboard camera, while not as good as action camera, is actually pretty decent!
- Very reasonable price for a powerful, GPS quadcopter with advanced options like Follow Me



Dislikes:
- Intermittent range issues. Horizontal range at times limited compared to vertical range. From my discussion with other users online, this is a known issue in a few of the models, fixed with an antenna correction. Refer to this thread on RCGroups
- Lack of image stabilization. This isn't too hard to correct using post-processing (YouTube stabilization, or Sony Vegas Pro stabilization)

Links: 
Purchase Hubsan H501S online: https://tinyurl.com/ju39hre


Tuesday, November 8, 2016

XK x251 Drone Review: Affordable Brushless Drone!


The XK 251 is one of the fastest and most fun quadcopters I've owned. I recently picked up courtesy of Gearbest, and it's been a blast to fly. It's incredibly just how powerful and yet how affordable this < $100 quadcopter is! Read on for my full review of the XK 251 drone!



Features:
The XK 251 is a brushless quadcopter, meaning it's motors do not need little brushed gears that tend to wear out rather quickly. It's also much quieter, making it much less intrusive during a hike. Range is roughly 300m from some reports I've seen online; I've pushed it far but not that far yet. It has an enormous transmitter/controller, with a host of options. Some reports indicate the latest versions of the controller have disabled the "Acro" mode, thus forcing it fly more conservatively. I think mine is similar to these, unfortunately, but it's incredibly fast and maneuverable. The controller requires 6 AA batteries, and the quad uses a 950mAH battery with a JST connector. The battery rack doesn't fit "normal" Tarantula X6 batteries, but a little modifying could probably work to get them in without a problem. There's also a set of spares props included with the XK 251, a welcome addition in the box.



Performance:

I flew the XK 251 both in the foothills and the mountains, with little wind, and moderate wind. It performed well in both situations, nimble, fast, and exceptionally powerful. There's a slight recovery time in between switching directions while flying, but this isn't unusual with the speeds such a quad travels at. I didn't have any signal losses, even while doing a few rough distance tests-this small quad will be out of your site most likely before you exceed controller range. 



As an avid outdoorsman, I am always on the lookout for a quadcopter that I can carry in my backpack and will carry an action camera to film my adventures. Early reports of the XK 251 indicated it might be able to carry a GoPro. 

I placed a credit card mount onto the bottom of the XK 251, strapped it in place with velcro, and secured a GitUp 2 action camera onto it. It needed a little more throttle to get it going, but otherwise flew like a champ. I was able to get some fantastic footage with it; take a look before:



Now, keep in mind it's not designed to be a camera quad, and putting too much weight on it will likely stress the motors prematurely. However, it still does a good job of carrying my action cameras, and I'll definitely be using this on future trips. It fits into my smaller hiking backpack without a problem, yet it still has enough power to carry the cameras-awesome!


Conclusion
I've flown many different quadcopters and hexacopters; including models from Hubsan, JJRC, Yizhan and more to name a few. This XK 251 is a true winner: it's a very affordable brushless quadcopter, with high quality performance. I don't feel the company scarified design or performance in their quest to keep it an affordable quadcopter. It's a little too powerful for someone brand new to flying drones; however if you have only been flying brushed quads and would like to upgrade to the next step with a brushless quadcopter, take a look at XK 251--it's a winner! Check it out here: http://bit.ly/2olpHQl 

Questions about the XK 251? Post 'em here, on my YouTube channel, or take a look at this excellent RCGroups forum threat: https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2630741

Tuesday, October 11, 2016

Freeknight Backpack Review



Hasn't been a lot of fishing videos lately as I've been focusing on the recently opened Spiny Lobster season here in California. These critters are a exciting challenge to go after, especially as the water temperatures cool off. I've been using this handy backpack, called the Freeknight Backpack, courtesy of Gearbest to haul my snorkeling gear and it has done a superb job.

In addition, it holds several micro and mini drones, like my Mould King Super S without a problem, and is perfect for taking them along on a short hike. It has an emergency whistle, hip straps, water-resistant (not waterproof) fabric, and a purported 40L carrying capacity with multiple compartments. It's fairly comfortable as well. You can find this backpack online here

Thursday, August 25, 2016

Bijia Monocular Review



Check out this monocular from Gearbest: It's compact, well-designed, and offers high-quality visuals while out on the trail. I see myself primarily using it for checking out distant creek channels and ridgelines. Very impressed with this sample provided courtesy of Gearbest! http://goo.gl/A5wIby

Who needs a LuminAid: Solar Camping Lantern





I've used the LuminAid camping lanterns quite a bit recently and found them very helpful for the few hours of light I need before going to sleep in my tent. However, they cost a pretty penny-and now I've found an alternative. Check out this affordable solar lantern from Gearbest, who kindly provided me with a review sample. It's easy to use, can be placed just about anywhere in your campsite, and offers 3 modes of light. The first two (strong, dim) are great, don't see a need for the flashing one at the end, unless an emergency occurs. Check it out here: http://goo.gl/GwIdPs




Started doing a lot of camping recently, and was using a somewhat expensive, but compact hammock. Folded down into a built-in pouch on the side of the hammock, and the ropes tucked into ontop. Enjoyed it, but had a hard time recommending it due to the cost. Fortunately, GearBest has release a very affordable hammock alternative and provided me with a sample. The only different is the ropes aren't pre-knotted, which I do somewhat miss. Check out my review of the Gearbest nylon camping hammock in the video above. Buy it online here: http://goo.gl/cpbqTo

Monday, July 4, 2016

Lazy Bag Product Review: Inflatable Camping Chair

Got to love this inflatable bag/chair courtesy of Gearbest! It comes in a compact package, then quickly inflates using only wind. Once enough air is inside, simply turn the bag handles shut (wrapping it down, similar to a dry bag system). Tighten it down, then snap it closed with the plastic locking system (note the quick release system when re-opening it). That's it! Check out my video demonstrating how do chill out with the Lazy Bag below, and grab it from Geabest here: http://tinyurl.com/lazybag and their other products for camping/outdoors here: http://tinyurl.com/jrwqfj9


Monday, June 20, 2016

RM Mini 3 Smart Home Controller Review: Broadlink Universal WIFI / IR Remote Controller


While the Amazon Echo is a widely known as one of the most popular smart home devices in the United States, there are actually an array of smart home monitors worldwide. Xiaomi has one, as does Broadlink. The Broadlink RM Mini 3 controller (Broadlink Universal WIFI / IR Remote Controller), courtesy of Gearbest, reportedly allows the user to control the TV, AC, and more remotely. This is through both voice commands and pre-programmed settings using the Broadlink smart home app. The device connects to the app with ease, and it's very easy to program devices (such as a TV remote). However, the remote feature (and others) don't appear to be compatible with US-based equipment (in my case, the remote wouldn't turn on the TV, despite successful sync-up). furthermore, the voice command feature only works in Chinese, severely limiting its use outside of the People's Republic of China. While it's a near gadget, it isn't very useful at all in the USA. 

Sky Vampire Review: HeliCMax's Latest Quadcopter

One of the most popular quadcopter models is the Tarantula X6. I love flying it, with great range and reliability. However, it lacks several features, and at times can be cumbersome to work with. Recently, the HeliCMax Sky Vampire drone was released. This one is supposedly very similar to the Tarantula X6, but with some unique features setting it apart. I spent several weeks with the Sky Vampire courtesty of HeliCMax, filmed constantly with a mounted action camera (ELE Explorer Pro, EKEN H9, and SJ7000), in a variety of environments.



It's a very nice drone with great features that set it apart from the Tarantula X6 (altitude hold mode, beefier look, battery compartment door, and on/off switch), but suffered from drone board reliability issues as well as intermittent transmitter range difficulties. If these problems can be fixed, the Sky Vampire could replace the Tarantula X6 easily. Take a gander at my video review of the Sky Vampire drone above!

Check out HeliCMax here: http://www.helicmax.com

Also, here's another flight with the Sky Vampire. YouTube's stabilization feature was used.

Sunday, June 5, 2016

Can ELE Explorer Pro Beat GitUp2?

Mmmm, another action camera for a great price! The ELE Explorer was a very popular model I reviewed several months ago, and now the PRO version has been released. The ELE Explorer Pro is nice, compact, powerful action camera with excellent photo AND video quality. Check out the video review below:
Buy the ELE Explorer Pro Online here: https://goo.gl/lPIFTH


Tuesday, May 17, 2016

Forget GoPro, Best Action Camera Alternative: GitUp 2 Review


The GitUp 2 Action Camera is simply the best GoPro alternative I have tried out. It is more expensive than most of the budget action cameras I typically use, but it offers premium features such as gyroscopic stabilization for a fraction of the price of a GoPro. It's still a bargain and is compatible with GoPro accessories. The GitUp2 also has fantastic customer service, something of a rarity for companies based out of China. The footage is very smooth, video quality is sharp, and depth of color is very impressive. Get one! 


Most Affordable RC Plane to Learn How to Fly: FX 802 FlyBear Review

I really love RC aircraft, and my first RC plane was a Champ RTF. It cost $90 and provided me with a great introduction to outdoor RC flying. However, it was not very resilient and didn't fly all that well after several repairs to it. I have since moved on to RC quadcopters and drones, as they are extremely fun to fly, very affordable, and can easily lift small action cameras. However, I have always wanted to get back into flying RC planes as well.



Along came the Fly Bear 802. At $20, how could I pass it up? After watching a nice review of it on YouTube at Quadcopter101, I ordered it. It has not dissapointed. Sure, it's not Champ RTF, and it's basically the cheapest RC plane you can get, but it has great range, surprisingly durability, glides great, and has provided me with many enjoyable flights. It's not meant to carry a camera, so don't even try it--and watch out for any significant wind. Check out my video review of the Flybear 802 above. You can order it online through Banggood as well as many other websites.