Product Reviews

Product Reviews

My Ten Year Gear: 2023 Edition

The goal of this blog post is to celebrate possessions I’ve had in my service for at least ten years. I believe that reflecting on these items will help me learn a few things about reducing waste, being efficient with my money and designing good products. These are all valuable to me. For something to last ten years in my service in needs to have a few important attributes. It needs to: be useful or beautiful – otherwise I would have gotten to a point where I didn’t need it and donated, sold or tossed it be durable and/or repairable – otherwise it would likely be broken and discarded (unless I didn’t use it, in which case, see above) I must have not outgrown it – the item would likely be passed on if I changed my preferences, body size, skill level, or hobbies away from its use case not

Product Reviews

My Ten Year Gear: 2022 Edition

The goal of this blog post is to celebrate possessions I’ve had in my service for at least ten years. I believe that reflecting on these items will help me learn a few things about reducing waste, being efficient with my money and designing good products. These are all valuable to me, thus this blog post. For something to last ten years in my service in needs to have a few important attributes. It needs to: be useful or beautiful – otherwise I would have gotten to a point where I didn’t need it and donated, sold or tossed it be durable and/or repairable – otherwise it would likely be broken and discarded (unless I didn’t use it, in which case, see above) I must have not outgrown it – the item would likely be passed on if I changed my preferences, body size, skill level, or hobbies away from

Product Reviews

My Ten Year Gear: 2021 Edition

The goal of this blog post is to celebrate possessions I’ve had in my service for at least ten years. I believe that reflecting on these items will help me learn a few things about reducing waste, being efficient with my money and designing good products. These are all valuable to me, thus this blog post. For something to last ten years in my service in needs to have a few important attributes. It needs to: be useful or beautiful – otherwise I would have gotten to a point where I didn’t need it and donated, sold or tossed it be durable and/or repairable – otherwise it would likely be broken and discarded (unless I didn’t use it, in which case, see above) I must have not outgrown it – the item would likely be passed on if I changed my preferences, body size, skill level, or hobbies away from

Product Reviews

Ting Mobile Review (2023) – Nine Years of Loving Ting’s Cell Phone Service!

UPDATE: Ting recently sent me a coupon to share with my readers that will save you $25 off your first bill. If you’re interested in switching, here it is: http://www.gregkroleski.com/click/ting It is now 2022 – I first signed up for Ting in March 2014 – that means I’ve been a happy Ting customer for nine years now! 9 years! During that time we’ve used the iPhones from the 5 to 13 and a few Apple Watches. I thought I’d share a Ting review to shine more light on why I switched to them in the first place and why I’m still happy. I also have experience with Verizon, Sprint and Google Fi, which I can compare the service to. The Switch from Verizon I had long been a happy Verizon customer when in 2014 I opened a bill to find I owed over $200 for our three phones. That was above my

Product Reviews

Product Review: Groove Life Silicone Wedding Rings

Todays post is a product review. I periodically provide unbiased product reviews for companies that ask for my feedback. As someone that builds products for a living, I find this really interesting and it also serves the benefit of helping my readers find good products and manufacturers improve what they have created. Today I’ll be taking a look at Groove Life silicone rings. An alternative to metal wedding bands that works well for active individuals. There are a number of companies that make these, but this particular brand has a few unique features that make it stand out. For some background, I am pretty a pretty active & outdoorsy individual: surfer, bike commuter, marathoner, backpacker, certified stand up paddle instructor, Ironman, & rock climber. I never wore any jewelry or a watch before getting married, and so since tying the knot, wearing a ring has been troublesome for me. In my first years of

Product Reviews

COR 40L Waterproof Dry Bag Backpack

Todays post is a product review. I provide unbiased product reviews in exchange for discounted products with the goal of helping people find good products and manufacturers improve what they create. — My bike commute lately has taken a turn for the wetter. I moved to Seattle last fall and attempted to bike through what has been the rainiest winter on record. A typical day would look something like this. Lots of water on the ground, some big puddles and a steady trickle of Seattle’s famous light rain. During my commute, my backpack is usually stuffed with a laptop, smart phone, battery backup, cables and my change of dry clothes. Nothing I want to get wet. Even with a water resistant backpack and rain cover, I was always a bit worried and would quickly check when I got home. This is where the COR backpack comes in. It is essentially a hybrid between a really sturdy

Product Reviews

Product Review: Love is Bold Silicone Wedding Band

Todays post is a product review. I provide unbiased product reviews in exchange for discounted products with the goal of helping people find good products and manufacturers improve what they create. — Love is Bold Silicone Wedding Band I am pretty a pretty active individual (surfing, bike commuting, Ironman, backpacking & such) and ever since I got married, wearing a ring has been troublesome for me. I take it off for most activities for a number of reasons: I found the weight and firmness annoying it would place my fingers weird or cut off circulation during activities where my hands were holding something like bike handlebars or hiking poles I sometimes get swollen fingers while running while working with wood or fixing surfboards my ring has nicked a piece and damaged it before during swimming and surfing where I’m in cold water, my finger shrink and I worry the ring will slide off