Dart board by Ohuhu

I'm writing this review from the perspective of someone who only plays darts VERY casually(example: our scoring consists of who gets the most bulls-eyes per 3 darts thrown) and has only ever used electronic boards before these. That said, I've found this one to work just as well as I'd expect and has been a lot of fun.

I've heard talk about this board not being a "bristly board" but as I just use it to throw sharp things at I don't know if it is or even care. The darts stick and with it being used every few days over the past few weeks I've yet to see a dart fall due to hitting an already open hole. They seem to close up decently after removing the tip so it seems to operate as designed no matter the material. The best way I can describe it is between cork and a hardwood but more toward the wood side of things. I was wondering how well a dart would go into it but that fear quickly passed. The surface is "flocked" which in the end just means it feels like felt but isn't as soft.

My OCD gets tripped as the numbers go around when they get past horizontal they start tacking the "1"s upside down. I'm sure it's for rigidity and it looks like all boards do it but... it irks me. I think the only downside I've noticed is that the ring is just stapled on. Not in a cheap looking way but it means you can't easily rotate it to distribute the wear.

My family has had fun with it and the darts stick so I see no reason to not recommend to anyone. It's one of the cheapest out there while still making me happy so I'd say give it a try. I received this product at a discount in exchange for nothing more than my honest opinion.

Multicolor LED mesh with 96 lights

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We have a pergola that we like to sit in on warm nights but the little solar lights we have in there don't do much. I tried hanging these in the back an they give a nice little flair while providing decent light to see by. They have the advantage of being LEDs so you can have low power and even leave them outside all the time. The only problem is the control box; it isn't weatherproof at all so you'll need to find a way to keep it protected if you're leaving it out. Also make sure to have the mesh securely fastened to something so it doesn't blow around too much. The wires are pretty thin so if they catch on something and the wind gets a hold of it you could break something.

The multiple patterns it has are nice but you're always choosing between flashing and eye-catching or something my calm like we use. The slow fade is our favorite. Now, if you have it in a kids room as a night light they would probably take advantage of the more fun modes when friends are overAt the very least it's nice to have options.

The amount of light it gives off doesn't feel dim or under-powered but it's not nearly as bright as your average roll of LED strip. Also keep in mind that if you're looking at the pictures on the Amazon this is not nearly as long as the ones shown, just 1.5 meters. In any case it makes a fun, simple addition many places around the house be it outside, a kids room, or even a man-cave. I received this product at a discount in exchange for nothing more than my honest opinion.

Lock pick set and training lock

Practice on your own from Amazon

Admit it, you've always wanted to be able to pick a lock like they do in the movies. First don't do that; you'll get in trouble. Second it's never that simple but it certainly can be done. This is a great place to start. After playing with the training lock for a couple hours I was able to move to a deadbolt in our house so it must work.

Build- There are two main components: The lock and the pick set. The lock is great. The part that makes it a training one is the face that the main body is cast in transparent acrylic which exposes all the internals of a lock. I'm a firm believer that the more you can see and understand how something works the better you can be at using it. Every important part is easy to see exactly how it works with the other to make a lock. It seems to be well made too. My daughter has got a hold of it a couple times with no issues. The picks however are so-so. I like the convenience of having them all in an easy-to-contain pocket-knife type set but I can never keep the other picks I'm not using at the moment from flopping out and getting in the way. It is great however that the tension bar stores nicely in it. If you for some reason want to keep the set with you there's even a hole already drilled so you can put them on a key ring.

Function- I already had a working knowledge of how locks work so I didn't need much in a way of instructions. If you need a starting point though they do advertise an e-book that they emailed me and you will find no shortage of explanations on Youtube. In short though, you need to get all the upper/lower pin combinations lined up perfectly along the shear line of the barrel so that it can rotate. What you are doing with a pick set is taking advantage of the minute amount of slop in how everything fits together. When you get the right pin lined up the tension bar moves just a tiny amount to catch the pin on it's lip so you can find the next pin. Every lock will be a little different but eventually you'll be able to feel when you get a pin. Here though it's all right out in the open so you can see how your actions affect the lock. You get several different pick geometries to allow for different locks and different styles of use. Some may want start out just applying tension and raking the pins. I prefer the one with the round end and a little angle to it. The round allows it to bounce past things and the angle allows me to use it like a little lever and rotate it instead of lifting.

I like to try a bit of everything so it's nice to have a set like this to be able to learn basic lock picking and check it off my list. Plus, if I ever do have a lock I need to get in to(and I'm SUPPOSED to get into) I hopefully can put to use what I learned to save me from calling a locksmith. It's fun but certainly not a stretch to call it educational too. I received this product free in exchange for nothing more than my honest opinion.

Ceramic Magnets by X-bet

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Lets be honest; there's nothing horribly exciting about 100 disc magnets. That being said there are an infinite number of uses from crafts to actual useful things so it's nice to know what a quality set is. They arrived with none broken and no chips which speaks to either their durability or good packaging. As they came in a basic small cardboard box I have to conclude they're just made well.

Each is a little smaller than a nickel and around the thickness of a standard USB plug. I wasn't blown away by the strength but I didn't feel they were weak either. Sometimes they they're too strong you'll have issues getting them apart or pinch fingers. You'll find that they are just strong enough that you almost think you can't get them apart by pulling directly apart but then they do.

I like that the set comes with so many which lets you always have enough for whatever you're doing. My wife has made some fridge magnets by forming some thermoplastic (also found on Amazon) around them into shapes like stars and trees. We have a front load washer as well where you don't want to keep the door shut but then it  swings all the way open. We hot glued two of these to a thick ribbon and now we can hold the door mostly shut with no issues. What else do you want out of a magnet; it holds up and it sticks to things. I received this product free in exchange for nothing more than my honest opinion.

Poly Plastics Moldable Plastic

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These are very similar to another moldable plastic I've tried(Thermomorph) and I found them to be basically the same though the pellets are a little smaller. I was looking for something to replace a failed plastic piece on my Ninja Blender but I've since been able to make a replacement oil catcher cap, aided in a custom headphone adapter, and created a quick easy connection between a small electric motor and a shaft. While you'll see most reviews focusing on the craft uses, there is so much more to help with repairs of household items along with creating impromptu solutions to occasional problems.

The five stars are easy for this one. These pellets are so easy to work with but are still pretty strong when cooled. They become soft and clear in very short time once placed in hot water. I'd recommend pulling the resulting glob out with a spoon and giving it a few seconds to cool before touching. The plastic stays pliable for a surprising amount of time while cooling down and if you don't have enough time you can just throw it back in the same water which is usually still warm enough and things will quickly soften up again. Try to form your rough shapes first so when re-melting you only need to wait for the outer layer to get squishy. 

If you have any art projects or home fixes to do I'd recommend these. My wife even made a couple cookie cutter shapes and our daughter loves chewing on them. I received this product free in exchange for nothing more than my honest opinion.

The colors work pretty good though in a very unscientific opinion I think they don't quite color as solidly as the Instamorph ones. You just need to add a few more to get them nice and dark.

Action Camera Kit round 2

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If you don't have the attachments, an action camera doesn't really do you much good. The problem is figuring out which ones to buy but this set lets you try them all without breaking the bank. I was impressed with the sheer range of things you get and their quality as well. This is the second of similar sets that I've tried and while much of it is the same(a few of the included parts are the same item) I actually think this one is a better value due to a few choices I'll outline. Side note: if you have a crawling baby around, you'll get great footage to share if you put your camera on the headband and put it upside down on them diaper style and facing forward. FPV baby crawling!

Build- Having used another set for a while I've found that this plastic holds up fine for what it's used for. All the elastic straps are really wide so they stay in place better and the headband even has a rubbery texture on the inside to keep it from slipping off with movement. The only minor-est of things that I wish was a little different is that the wrist strap is just a piece of velcro and I can imagine it chafing after a little while. My last note build wise is that the selfie stick is built like a tank. I'm serious that thing could be a weapon so if you're the sort of person who likes selfie sticks, this one will hold up well.

Function- Again, there's a ton of stuff here. You've got the basic parts that allow you to orient the camera any way you need but those are expected. The real gems are the main mounts. I'd been wanting a head mount for a while now and this one was my favorite. It adjusts well and stays in place great. The chest mount lets you have a solid placement while knowing it will never fall off. I tried the wrist mount and while it works well, having the large camera sticking off made it a little unwieldy. If you're going to be around water you have a floating grip that lets you set it down around water, but still not worry about it sinking. Really three main things set this group apart for me 1. The included mini tripod is larger and the legs hold their shape much better 2. The suction mount is something I've seen missing in some other sets and 3. An included memory card. Many Go Pros and their clones don't include a card so it's nice that this set really does give you everything you need.


Beyond those you've got your helmet mounts(flat and curved) and other little add-on doodads that are just nice to have. That being said it doesn't include things just to say there is more than competitors. You have everything you need but nothing more. This isn't a name brand set but I think for the most part things will hold up fine for average use. If you do happen break something it's not like you paid 100 bucks for the set and it can be had for even less that less impressive sets. I received this product free in exchange for nothing more than my honest opinion.

Mini LED Strobe Light by JS Lighting

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When I was younger I collected party lights so I've had a couple strobe lights. I think this one is something that would be best considered a novelty and used in a man-cave, child's room, or home party. It has some advantages over some higher priced models but it wouldn't ever be used in a professional setting.

Build- Everything is plastic on the casing to the mounting bracket. I like to see stronger materials most of the time but in this case it works as a plus. It's so small that it's enough to protect it from a drop and it keeps the entire package light. You have a clear panel on the front to protect the LEDs; something that may not be needed but there less chance of them being crunched in a bump. The single control is in the back along with the power cord.

Function- There is no power switch on this model. It keeps costs down on this bare minimum amount of electronics but I'd like to see one so you don't have to plug it in every time you use it in a more permanent setting. Once it's on though you just turn the knob on the back to adjust the speed of the flashes from fairly slow to a quick pace but not as fast as others I've seen. Brightness is ok too but again, nothing that will blow you away. The last thing I noticed is that the cord coming out the back has a strain relief clamp to prevent it from coming out but it's not tight enough so the cord slides in and out anyway.

The audience for a strobe light like this is someone who just wants to add a little fun to a room or maybe even a wedding dance floor. Enough to add effect but no one will go blind. The plus with this over more powerful ones is that LED panel should last indefinitely. No need to ever hunt around or have to shop online for a replacement bulb. This strobe light has a basic set of features but could just use a little improvement. I received this product free in exchange for nothing more than my honest opinion.

Sound Intone I68 folding headphones with microphone

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These days headphones can be a dime a dozen and separating out the ones for you can be quite a chore. After trying these I was impressed by a most of the elements but over all it falls short on some important points.

Build- Nothing feels cheap on these; even when everything is made of plastic. None of the surfaces are a glossy finish but instead varying levels of a soft-touch feel. On the ear cups you'll find the usual artificial leather covering a decently soft foam which still keeps and returns to it's shape after removing pressure. Those cups pivot up and down to adjust to the wearers head when expanding the head band. Speaking of the headband, I like the look. I opted for the green color which is nice and vibrant while being well complemented by the outer black. The shape is minimalist with it coming down flat on the sides and nothing gaudy sticking off. On the inside at the top is a piece of rubber covering the plastic which feels nice and provides grip to your head but you'll soon discover it has no padding underneath. This could lead to discomfort after long periods of use. The cord has a very strong but flexible "shoelace" type covering that should hold up to and amount of bending or pulling it's likely to encounter. With headphone cables being made of such small wire it's nice to see this reinforcement and is one of my favorite elements.

Function- Alright, but how do they sound? Ok. That's the best I can say. I hear nice low frequencies which is what a lot of people are looking for these days but I really want clarity across the whole spectrum. I'm not an audiophile but I can tell when something is missing and highs just sound muffled. I was able to clean it up a little with an equalizer but even then it wasn't perfect. Besides that, I like the rest. The inline controls work as expected letting you choose volume and play/pause without issues. The folding ability is nice as well. You won't gain a ton of space but what it really gets you is compactness. With everything close together there is less of a chance of anything breaking during transport.

If you go into it with these expectations they're an acceptable choice. I've found others that fit my tastes better but if you find these for a good price and want to look good in them, give them a try. I received this product free in exchange for nothing more than my honest opinion.

Bluetooth Speaker with LED Lights by iDap Tech

Grab your own on Amazon or check out the bottom for a giveaway if you stop by soon enough!

Bluetooth speakers give you the freedom to take your music with you anywhere. Think of them as the modern boombox. This offering my iDap Tech is the perfect option for sharing music with everyone and adding a little flair in the process.

Build- In the box is your speaker, a set of instructions, and a multiuse cable. The speaker is about as big as you'd want anything that would be carried around in a hand. It is all plastic except for the speaker grille. Unlike a lot of plastics though this one doesn't look cheaper due to the soft-touch texture almost like rubber. Overall you get a minimalist design that has subtle design elements like the small bevels and the red corner that still allow it to not look boring. Up top you have 4 buttons that do all the control. These are a little counter-intuitive as the minus button points up when viewing from the front and the plus button points up. This hasn't created any issues for me as your eyes focus on the symbols first. It's not unreasonable to think the plus is instead pointing to the front to say "MOAR SOUND!". Besides those you have the mode button that also doubles as the lights control and the play/pause button. In the back you'll find a few things other bluetooth devices are missing. The full size USB port allows you to plug a flash drive in and play off of that as well as the microSD card slot. This means you don't always have to have another device around. You then get the on/off switch and microUSB port.

Function- Pairing was a breeze; I didn't even have to put in a code. From there I was playing music at good volumes for a medium size room. Nothing that would drown out conversation but enough to listen to easily. Sound quality is something bluetooth speakers have a problem with. I found this one to be capable so the size of speakers you're working with. It doesn't shake the room, that's what 12" subs are for, but I found it was able to reproduce a decent frequency. I recommend getting an equalizer app if you're sending music from your phone. It just means you can tailor the available sound to your tastes. Operation is pretty straight forward. The mode button cycles through the play modes and a long press can stop the lights. This can be handy if you want to play some music in a baby's room without too much stimulation as we do. Something that takes little getting used to is the volume buttons that double as the forward and back seek. You need to hold them to control volume so don't be surprised when the first few times you try you end up going to the next song. The added bonus besides the input options is the lights on the front. They add another dimension that can brighten up a room and is a perk other devices don't offer. When not playing music they will blink in various patterns but once you start playing they flash in step with the tunes. Lastly don't forget that cord that came with it. It allows you to charge the devices well as as provide an AUX in. Nice little thing to have.

This is a great little device to have for when you need something portable. All the little things thrown in set it apart from what you'd find other places and it manages to do it for a very comparable price. It's something that you can leave sitting in a main room of your house and the basic styling makes it fit in with anything. I'd recommend this one to my friends. I received this product free in exchange for nothing more than my honest opinion.

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