This was the first Tekton tool I purchased. I didn’t know what to expect given negative experiences in the past with sloppy tolerances of torx and allen bits. The Tekton Tech Rescue kit lived up to all of my expectations.

After owning it for a couple of years now, I can’t think of anyone who wouldn’t benefit at some point from having one of these kits in their home or apartment. This set includes just about all but the most proprietary of bits that you would need to fix most electronic devices and much more.

With this set, I have taken apart and cleaned and/or repaired a PS4 console and controllers, my Oakleys, a Lexmark laser printer, a scope for one of my AR15s, an HO scale locomotive, and my ATV’s carburetor. If that’s not a diverse range of applications, I don’t know what is.

I think most experienced tinkerers would be shocked when they see the relatively low price tag after given the opportunity to experience and appreciate the craftsmanship of each and every piece in this set. The first thing you’ll notice is how precisely the bits fit. There is no sloppiness that leads to stripped fasteners.

I’ve been impressed with the fit and finish of all the Tekton tools that I have purchased in the past couple of years since I discovered this brand. The knurled aluminum handle is very finely-crafted and feels great in my hands. It’s even magnetized to hold those tiny screws so that you don’t lose them. The S2 tool steel for the bits is far superior to the chrome vanadium or chrome moly that is usually found in kits like these. The latter two materials are soft and are infamous for deforming after very little use.

Tekton really though of everything when they made this kit. The inclusion of the three-inch bits as well as the most common tamper-resistant bits sets this kit apart from many others that cost just as much. The tweezers are ESD-rated to protect sensitive electronics. Owners of Apple products will be pleased to see that there are pentalobe bits for Apple’s tiny security screw of choice.

This company seems to pay special attention to ensuring that the cases will last for many years– an afterthought to all but the highest-tier brands these days. I appreciate having a specialty tool kit that fits neatly in a chest or bag. The soft, pocket-sized zipper case of this kit is no exception.

Yes, this kit is made in Taiwan, however it is not in the same league as the majority of tools that are manufactured there. While I would love to see something like this produced in America, I wouldn’t hold the country of origin against it given my positive past experiences with their products.

I purchased this phone holder after using Weathertech’s CupFone, which I reviewed here. Its design is remarkably similar, relying on the same strong and durable adjustment knobs. I had always just laid my phone face up on my desk, but it’s so much easier to quickly read texts and see who’s calling with this device. I like to listen to music stations on Pandora while I’m working with my seedlings on my workbench in the garage. This holder lifts my phone up off the table enough to help the sound travel better.

This device would be handy for videoconferencing, although please note that it can only hold your phone vertically. Also, while I haven’t used it in this manner yet, I imagine that it would be perfect for using in the kitchen to easily read recipes while you cook.

The DeskFone looks stylish on any desk, but is equally functional. The tripod stand has a small footprint, yet it provides a stable foundation without any wobbling or sliding thanks to the anti-skid coating on the feet. There is a notch in the bottom of the phone cradle that accommodates a cord to allow you to charge it while it’s in the stand. The head tilts, so you can adjust it for better visibility based on your seating height and glare from overhead or outside lights.

Weathertech states that the DeskFone will fit regular-sized phones regardless of case size or oversized phones with slim cases. It holds my iPhone 11 Pro with a standard Otterbox case perfectly.

All of Weathertech’s products are incredible and this one is no exception. Even better, everything they make is 100% designed, engineered, and manufactured in the United States. I look forward to seeing this company’s future product developments based on my positive experience with my floormats, CupFone, and DeskFone.

If you would have asked me a year ago if I ever would have spent $250 on a set of headphones, I would have looked at you like you were crazy. My wife received a set of these from her parents for a birthday gift and told me that I had to try them out. Let’s just say that the only reason she got them back is because I ordered a set for myself! Read on to see why I could never go back to wired headphones.

Between my mowing business, my market garden, and all the work that I do around our country acreage, I spend a lot of time outside. I’m usually listening to podcasts, audio books on my Libby app, and occasionally even music. Accidentally yanking out my wired earbuds while using a tool or getting the cords caught on some brush ranks up there with snagging the pocket of your shorts on the pull handle of a kitchen cabinet for me. Each time this would happen, I would have to remove my gloves and ear muffs (which I always wear when using outdoor power equipment), reconnect the cable to the jack on my phone, and then restart my audio.

My litmus test for headphones is simple – they have to stay in without me having to constantly adjust them while I exercise. The AirPods Pro pass this test with flying colors. These stay in place without moving around whatsoever while I run, which is a huge improvement over the wired earbuds I had been using. I can lift weights (including decline presses) and count on them staying put.

The noise cancellation – the key feature between Apple’s standard AirPods and the AirPods Pro – is incredible for how small these are. It was a little hard to get used to not hearing some of the ambient noises when I first started using these. I caught myself pulling the recoil starter back another time after my handheld leaf blower had already started because I didn’t hear it start. I fortunately do not have to use public transportation for my commute (I treasure this “quiet time”), but these would be a godsend for drowning out noise on a crowded bus or train.

It’s easy to turn off the noise cancellation feature if you want to still be able to hear background noises while you listen to your audio. You can even switch modes without having to remove your AirPods, which is incredibly convenient and could be a safer option in certain situations when you still need to be able to passively hear what’s going on around you. Just press and hold the “stalk” off the AirPod to switch modes. You can also change the modes – noise cancelling, transparency, and off – in the settings menu on your phone.

AirPods charge rapidly with Apple’s tried-and-true Lightning USB charger. You actually charge the case that the AirPods are stored in, which in turn charges the pods themselves. A full charge in the case charges them several times. This makes it very convenient to just take the case with you when you leave the house, as you’re essentially taking along several charging cycles with this power pack. I have been getting approximately four hours of listening time each time I plug my AirPods back into their case, and that’s with the noise cancellation feature turned on (which consumes more battery power.)

Another feature I really like is how easy it is to pause your audio when you need to talk to someone while you’re using them. Simply remove one of the AirPods or quickly squeeze and release the stalk. Whatever you were listening to will resume in exactly the same spot you left it when you either put the AirPod back in or press the button on the stalk. This is far more convenient than resuming the audio on the phone itself, especially when you’re wearing gloves.

You can also make and receive phone calls and use Siri with AirPods. I usually just use mine to listen to podcasts, books, and music, but I could see where these features would be helpful. I love how Siri will read my texts to me or respond to my command to turn up/down the volume or skip songs on Pandora without me having to touch my phone.

So, what’s not to like about these second-generation AirPods Pro? Understand that these use very small lithium ion batteries that cannot be replaced. Most users are reporting that they get about two years of regular use out of them before the battery life starts to significantly decline. Of course, much depends on how often you use them and how you take care of them, but this isn’t pocket change for a product that you’re only going to get several years of service out of. Regardless, I will buy another pair of these when these give up the ghost some day because of the sound quality and the frustration they have eliminated while I get work done or exercise.

Put this device in the category of “why didn’t I think of that?” It’s such a simple concept, but the utility and the build quality make this something that I think all cars should come equipped with from the factory. WeatherTech is known for their durable precision-fit floor mats and other accessories. Just like their other products, the CupFone is designed, engineered, and manufactured in America.

My mother-in-law had sent my wife one of these via Amazon as a surprise since she has a pretty long commute to her school. I thought it looked like something I would get a lot of use out of, so I asked her to look it up real quick to see how much it was. I have to admit that I was taken aback when she told me that it was $52, but she very generously told me to have it since her cup holders were for her Starbucks. There is no doubt that it’s a chunk of change for a plastic contraption that sits in your cup holder, but I can honestly say it’s worth every penny of that after using it for the past several months.

This is hands down my favorite automotive accessory due to how convenient it makes stowing my phone when I get in my vehicle. It’s become a habit to slide my phone in the holder as soon as I get in and grab it when I reach my destination. Because the phone is securely held in place by gravity, you don’t need to loosen any fasteners when you need to access it. I also don’t even bother plugging in the aux cable anymore because the CupFone elevates my phone and makes it much easier to hear my podcasts or audiobooks than when I used to just set it on the passenger seat.

Having my phone slide around on the seat or fall on the floor (or worse yet, fall in between and under the seats) is one of the most frustrating things that can happen to my while I’m driving. Don’t waste your time on the gel mats or the holders that attach to the air vents — they won’t secure your phone like this will.

The extension feature is especially useful for using voice commands and for when I need to safely take a quick look at the GPS because I can set it at the optimal height and angle. The extension –as well as the adjustment wheels for the bracket that holds the phone itself, the tilt, and the rotation — stay exactly in the position that you set them indefinitely. This is where off-brand accessories similar to the WeatherTech CupFone and cell phone mounts and tripods fail.

The CupFone uses multiple sized tapered friction cups that can be changed to fit the cup holder. There are enough of these cups to provide what feels like a factory fit in any of our vehicles’ cupholders, including in my John Deere Gator. The bracket itself adjusts to fit any smartphone and gently secures it in a dense cushioned slot. The bracket’s design allows you to keep your phone plugged in for charging while it’s in the holder. You can even remove your phone from the holder or replace it with one hand without ever having to disconnect your charging cord.

You will never have to worry about whether someone will use your gift if you give them one of these. I can’t think of anyone whose commute you couldn’t make a little easier by buying them a CupFone.

More bloggers and vloggers use this tripod than any other, and for good reason.

The GorillaPod Pro 2’s compact size and light weight make it ideal for bringing it along when you travel. While it’s two or three times the cost of most other tripods, image stability isn’t an area you want to compromise in if you’re serious about taking the highest quality photos and video with your smartphone. I’ve only had mine for several months, but it feels like a product that will last for a long time if you take care of it.

This unit is versatile as a tripod for shooting high-quality still photos as well as video. If fact, I much prefer holding my phone in this tripod rather than holding the phone directly in my hands when I am shooting video that requires me to move with the camera. I have never felt that the phone would come loose and fall when using this product, which is something you don’t want to have to worry about with the cost of today’s top-tier smartphones.

The flexible legs will tightly wrap around a variety of objects and surfaces – a handrail, stairs banister, and even a tree branch. This flexibility is the key to getting the right angle for your videos because it gives you options that you wouldn’t have with a traditional fixed-leg tripod.

The removable cold shoe mount (included) lets you easily add a light or external microphone. You can also remove the cold shoe mount to attach any 1/4″ x 20-based accessory.

It is very simple to tilt your phone and switch it from landscape to portrait mode. As long as the object that it’s wrapped around or rested on isn’t moving, your tripod isn’t going to move either. This is where most cheaper units fail miserably.

I use this tripod with my iPhone 11 Pro, but it will accommodate all but the largest modern smartphones. The GorillaPod grips the smooth acrylic of my Otterbox case on my phone very securely – a testament to the design thinking that went into this tripod.