Massages are a great way to alleviate pain. Whether you have chronic pain or just got a message for the first time, you may be wondering what to expect. Massages can help relieve tension in the muscles and improve blood circulation. They can also help improve your range of motion and flexibility. If you’re experiencing pain, massages can offer relief.

Unfortunately, a lot of people who suffer from chronic pain cannot afford the time or money it takes to get regular massages. That means they end up having to rely on home remedies for their ailments. Fortunately, there there is a device called a fascia massage gun and it can be used to help massage your muscles.

Fascia is a type of connective tissue that surrounds and supports muscles and organs. Massaging the fascia with a fascia massage gun can help relieve pain by breaking up adhesions, or knots, in the tissue. The gun produces short, powerful bursts of air that help to loosen the fascia and improve blood flow. This can help to reduce inflammation and pain in the surrounding muscles and joints.

The use of a fascia massage gun is hypothesized to relieve pain by decreasing inflammation and increasing blood flow. The gun uses compressed air to deliver a series of pulses to the fascia, which is believed to help break up scar tissue, increase elasticity, and improve drainage. While there is limited evidence to support these claims, many people find relief from using a fascia massage gun.

One of my favorite gaming chair manufacturers, EWIN Gaming, recently started offering a Fascia Massage Gun and while I thought it was a little odd that a chair manufacturer was selling a massage gun, it ended up making perfect sense when I realized how much my back aches after sitting at my desk all day.

DETAILS

The E-WIN Racing Fascia Massage Gun is a pain relief device that helps to massage the fascia and muscles in the body. This massage gun is perfect for anyone who wants to relieve pain in the muscles or fascia, whether it’s from an injury or just from everyday stress and tension. The massage gun is a pain relief device that has been growing in popularity in recent years and it has the ability to deeply penetrate the tissue and provide pain relief. The gun can be used on any area of the body and is especially beneficial for targeting areas with chronic pain.

Main Features

• Quiet and powerful
• Includes E-WIN PRIME’s AI chip for a personalized routine
• 8-hour long battery life
• LED Screen with Force Meter
• Commercial-grade brushless motor
• QuietForce Technology delivers up to 60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.6 in x 7.6 in x3 in
• Weight: 2.2 lbs

Included in the Box

• E-WIN PRIME Fascia Gun
• Protective Carrying Case
• 8 Attachments with Travel Pouch
  • Standard Ball Attachment
  • Cone Attachment
  • Supersoft Attachment
  • U-Shaped Attachment
  • Air Cushioning Soft Attachment
  • Dampener Attachment
  • Wedge Attachment
  • Thumb Attachment
• Lithium-ion Battery Charger

USER EXPERIENCE

I’ve been struggling with chronic back pain ever since high school (more than 20 years now) and my fiancé has chronic leg pain. He had a double ACL reconstruction on his left knee around the same time I started experiencing back pain. We’re quite the pair! We’ve also both tried various types of pain relief over the years. While we have medications that help take the edge off, we hate taking medications if we can help it.

One of the only things that truly helps my fiancé is deep tissue massage and unfortunately, my hands can’t handle that for any length of time. Massage guns like this one from E-WIN Racing help quite a bit but one of the things that made this particular gun stand out was the amount of attachments that come along with it. There are EIGHT attachments and the most I think I’ve ever gotten with a massager is three.

Even though the massager should only be used on soft tissue, each of these attachments has very different uses.

• Dampener head – a soft ball-shaped massage head suitable for vibration therapy. Can be used all over the body but is mostly meant for sensitive areas
• Standard ball – the most commonly used head; suitable for post-workout recovery and relaxation
• Cone Head – used for trigger-point therapy
• Air-cushioning Soft Head – cushioned for sensitive areas
• Thumb head – designed to mimic the thumb of a massage therapist
• U-shaped attachment – good for neck, spine, and shoulders
• Wedge head – great for large muscle groups
• Super soft attachment – meant for sensitive areas

While the basic operation of the massager is self-explanatory, the manual does not outline what any of the codes are on the LED screen. I turned the gun on and then tapped the area that looks like a fingerprint. This started the gun with its massaging function. I was able to cycle through different levels of intensity, but I discovered that there is a P, H, and F option on the gear performance screen. Therefore, I don’t know what each option is designed for.

The massager is very, very quiet. I mentioned that I’ve used the Theragun, which ends up sounding like a jackhammer – especially on higher settings. The E-WIN massager is whisper quiet by comparison. You can hear it, but it sounds more like a small air compressor than a percussion massager.

I used this on my fiancé so that we could compare this to the other percussion massaging guns we have (Theragun and Hypervolt). He said it was successful at providing pain relief and the different settings are helpful depending on his level of pain. Sometimes it gets quite intense and more power behind the massager helps

CONCLUSION

The E-WIN Fascia Massage Gun is a budget-friendly, effective way to alleviate pain. It is easy to use and comes with lots of different attachments. I highly recommend giving it a try if you are struggling with pain since it works just as well as its competitors but doesn’t cost nearly as much. It is a great investment for anyone who suffers from chronic pain. Use code “macsources” on checkout.

For more information, visit ewinracing.com, Facebook, and Twitter.

Smartmi Air Purifier 2 Cleans Larger Spaces With Advanced Technology

In a world where allergies are on the rise, it is important to find ways to keep those around you healthy. One way to do this is by using an air purifier. At its foundation, an air purifier is designed to remove pollutants and other contaminants from the air in your home. These pollutants can include harmful gases, dust, smoke, and, of course, allergens. Air purifiers come in a variety of shapes and sizes and can be used in either residential or commercial settings.

Even though our family doesn’t suffer from asthma, we try to utilize air purifiers throughout our home to ensure that we don’t develop any respiratory issues. One of the most versatile purifiers we have is the Smartmi P1 Air Purifier.

The unit is designed for compact smaller spaces and features advanced technologies such as a dual-purpose laser particle sensor that monitors indoor air quality as well as a True HEPA filter that removes 99.98% of particles down to 80nm. So, when Smartmi launched the Smartmi Air Purifier 2, we decided to check it out.

About Smartmi Air Purifier 2

The Smartmi Air Purifier 2 follows the design success of the Smartmi P1 Air Purifier and it’s one of the first air purifiers to receive TÜV Rheinland “Allergy Care” Certification. The device is sleek and minimalistic. It is rated for cleaning up to 484 square feet per hour. It can effectively remove airborne particles 0.08 micrometers in size.

Smartmi suggests that it’s good for bedrooms, nurseries, studies, living rooms, and offices. The purifier only consumes 40W of energy and operates at noise levels between 30dB to 64dB. There are three modes – Auto, Favorite, and Sleep – that allow users to customize the operation of the purifier based on their lifestyle.

Main Features

• 100m3/h TVOC CADR
• Built-in UV light
• Real-time TVOC monitoring for volatile organic compounds
• Pollen indicator serves as your everyday allergy reminder
• OLED touch-screen
• PM10 Pollen Indicator
• PM2.5 Numerical Display
• TVOC Display
• Temperature
• Laser particle sensor
• Homekit/Google/Alexa/Smartmi Link for smart commands

User Experience

The Smartmi Air Purifier 2 comes in a large box with several images of the product on all sides. There are some details included on the box including the icons that indicate the device is compatible with smart home technologies. The purifier is a self-contained unit and no assembly is required. The only step you have to take for setup is to remove the plastic from the filter. Once you replace the filter back into the purifier, you are ready to plug it into power.

The Air Purifier powers up relatively quickly and it’s ready to pair to your app. Smartmi is one of the easiest smart device ecosystems I’ve ever worked with. The app gives users the option to add a device. The Air Purifier is immediately found and you put in your WiFi credentials. Then, after you agree to their privacy policy and user agreement, the purifier is ready to use. In less than 5 minutes, you are ready to start cleaning your air.

After I got the purifier connected, it was stating that the filter had 0% life left. I knew this had to be a glitch because it was a brand new filter. I removed the filter and reset it in its housing then the app recognized that the filter was at 100%.

The app is very easy to use and it gives you a decent amount of information, but I do wish the air quality graphs could provide more information. The PM2.5 graph shows increases and decreases in the air quality but doesn’t point out why. It actually doesn’t even show the exact measurements of the air quality. I would love to see additional views for the data that is collected in the app. I love what the app already does, but would like to see it move up to the next level.

Pros:

• Easy set-up; no assembly
• Quick connection to app and Wi-Fi
• Automatic mode is great for users to ‘set and forget’ the purifier

Cons:

• Limited information available in the app about the air quality
• More expensive than competitors

Conclusion

The Smartmi Air Purifier 2 is a great air purifier for larger spaces. It is easy to use and cleans the air quickly and effectively. The purifier is available through Amazon and has a suggested retail price of $259.99. The purchase price is about 20% higher than some of its competitors, but given its incredibly easy setup and user modes, I would say that it’s worth the investment. I would definitely recommend this air purifier to anyone who is looking for an easy-to-use and effective air purifier.

For more information, visit smartmiglobal.com, Facebook, and Twitter.

When I was younger, I enjoyed listening to music at the highest volume possible. I also used to play guitar and enjoyed shooting firearms recreationally. All of these activities contributed to the hearing loss I now have as has the natural aging process. I am no stranger to hearing aids. My great-grandmother had them and I’ve always been amazed at how physically large they were.

Hearing technology has certainly come a long way since those days and some of it is so cool that when you see it you think, “Man, I wanna play with that.” The ultimate goal, of course, is to never have to use a hearing assistance device, but if you have to use one, ReSound has some great products to offer.

A few years ago, I looked into getting some hearing aids and found that ReSound had a great option for me – the LiNX 3D. They were app-connected and very easy to get acclimated to. Unfortunately, I ran into some technical issues with them recently and that led me to the ReSound ONE hearing aids.

How do I know if I need hearing aids?

One of the major contributing factors to me getting hearing aids was my fiancé. After she and I met, I found out just how bad my hearing loss had gotten. She made comments about the volume of the TV and I realized that over time I had just been turning the TV louder and louder. I never noticed it as a sign of hearing loss because no one else pointed out that it was loud to them.

According to the National Institute on Aging, some of the more common signs of hearing loss include:

• Have trouble hearing over the telephone
• Find it hard to follow conversations when two or more people are talking
• Often ask people to repeat what they are saying
• Need to turn up the TV volume so loud that others complain
• Have a problem hearing because of background noise
• Think that others seem to mumble
• Can’t understand when women and children speak to you

One of the first things I did was talk to my doctor and have them check to make sure my ears looked visible ok. Nothing was obstructing my ear canals (sometimes a build-up of earwax can cause hearing issues) so I decided to visit an audiologist. They tested my hearing and said that my hearing loss was classified as ‘profound’ and that almost all my high-end hearing range was gone. They thought I would be a prime candidate for hearing aids, but at the time, I didn’t have a good option to pay for them.

Hearing aids as medical devices are a lot like dentures. Insurance simply does not pay for them. I hope this changes in the future because hearing loss has been linked to so many other health issues such as depression and cognitive development. Fortunately for me, I met representatives at ReSound during a technology conference (CES). This led to me being invited to review the ReSound LiNX 3D.

Why ReSound?

Four years ago, when I first started using my LiNX 3D Hearing Aids from ReSound, I was thrilled to find out they are a sister brand of Jabra. Both companies are part of the GN Group, which is headquartered in Ballerup, Denmark.

Jabra is one of the first companies we reviewed products for in 2012 and they’ve been a wonderful partner ever since. Jabra even has hearing enhancement earbuds available in their product line as well as a retail-level hearing aid (available through Costco).

ReSound and Jabra engineers collaborate to ensure the products they are developing help transform people’s lives through the power of sound. So, I felt confident that ReSound’s products would help me with my hearing impairment and that the technology would be well-developed.

What makes the ReSound ONE hearing aids special?

In late 2020, ReSound launched the ReSound ONE hearing aids. They called them “an entirely new class of hearing aids” and they are. As is to be expected, the technology has changed dramatically in the four years since I got the LiNX 3D and as amazing as those hearing aids were when I first got them, the ReSound ONE hearing aids are that much better.

Part of what makes them so much better technology-wise is that they are designed with a microphone directly inside the ear canal so that users get a more personalized sound profile with an open-fit device. My previous hearing aid model is what is referred to as ‘receiver-in-ear’, which captures sound from microphones that sit behind the ear (behind-the-ear hearing aids do the same type of sound profiling). With models that utilize this method of sound reproduction, the brain has to work harder to achieve its natural localization and noise-canceling function. This means users have more trouble hearing in noisier environments and easily get confused about where sounds come from.

ReSound ONE hearing aids use a Microphone & Receiver-in-Ear (M&RIE) design that uses the unique shape of every individual’s ear to collect sound. According to ReSound, “By picking up sound directly inside the ear, ReSound ONE gives the brain everything it needs to tune in to individual voices, as well as significantly reducing background noise. Clinical studies show that all hearing aid users benefit from listening to sounds collected with their own ears, with 90% of users preferring the sound quality of ReSound ONE with M&RIE instead of only the microphone behind the ear.”

The M&RIE design is meant to produce the most natural sound quality for a user possible. This technology also makes it possible for sound profiles to be more personal to the user.

Benefits

• Hear with your own ears: M&RIE combines the two traditional microphones with a third that sits in the ear canal to help people hear with more direction and depth.
• Greater hearing in any environment: All Access Directionality automatically adjusts directional microphone patterns to put your patients in the best position to hear what matters.
• Focus in on speech in front: Users can activate Ultra Focus for a powerful combined directional pattern from both hearing aids to focus on the speech in front.
• Remote, at-home hearing care: Get help from your hearing care professional via ReSound Assist Live video calls (if available through your hearing care professional).
• Connect to what connects you: Hearing aids connect to phones and tablets and can provide hands-free calling as a wireless headset. ReSound ONE hands-free calls are compatible with iPhone 11 or later, iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th generation), iPad Pro 11-inch (3rd generation), iPad Air (4th generation), and iPad mini (6th generation), with software updates iOS 15.3 and iPadOS 15.3 or later.
• Rechargeable: Utilizes Lithium-ion rechargeable batteries and has the option for an amazing premium charger that has an internal rechargeable battery that can power the hearing aids even when disconnected from a power source. ReSound ONE has industry-leading rechargeability with up to 30 hours of power (up to 25 hours with unlimited streaming) with a single 3-hour charge. These figures are dependent on use of wireless accessories, hearing loss of user, device age, and sound environment.
• C6 Chip Platform: This is a brand new sound processing chipset that delivers 50% more processing power and 220% more memory than the previous chipset

What Comes in the Box

Depending on the options you select when your hearing aid is ordered, you might have different items included in your kit. I selected the Rechargeable ReSound ONE Receiver-in-Ear (RIE) design in graphite with a Premium Charger. This is what was included in my kit.

• ReSound ONE Receiver-in-Ear hearing aids (left and right ears)
• ReSound ONE Premium Charger
• ReSound ONE User Guide
• ReSound Smart 3D and Smart Apps Guide
• Warranty Card (four years – repair & loss/damage)
• ReSound Premium Charger User Guide
• ReSound ONE 61 Rechargeable RIE Quick Guide
• An informational card about the SureFit 3 receiver removal tool (not require to remove the M&RIE receivers; optional tool)
• A cleaning kit that includes a brush and cleaning cloth for the hearing aids
• A travel pouch for the hearing aids
• Two (2) ReSound Wax Traps (my audiologist added these)

Color Options

• Sparkling Silver
• Bronze
• Espresso
• Champagne
• Warm Grey
• Graphite
• Deep Black
• Gold

My Experience

Before I had ReSound Hearing Aids, I felt isolated. I would see people talking, but not really understand what was being said. I can read lips pretty well, but most of the time I just smile and react the way other people are reacting to conversations. After I got my first set of hearing aids, I felt like I could rejoin conversations and enjoy interacting with people again.

If you’ve ever felt that kind of isolation, then you will understand how disheartening it was for me when the batteries in my LiNX 3D started failing. When I reached out to ReSound about the battery problem, they offered to have me review the ReSound ONEs and see how they compared to the LiNX 3D. I was grateful to be given the option to get the ReSound ONE hearing aids as a replacement for the older model.

It is possible to get hearing aids without a prescription, but those devices aren’t true hearing aids. They are amplification devices that are preset based on average hearing levels. Medical-grade hearing aids are provided by medical professionals and in order to be able to purchase them, you must first have a hearing test done with an audiologist. I’ve had several hearing tests done throughout the years, but it had been a while so my audiologist wanted to do another one before setting up my ReSound ONE hearing aids.

If you’ve never had a hearing test done, it’s actually very simple. You sit in a soundproof room and the audiologist plays a series of tones. They mark when you indicate that you can hear the tone and from those results, they can tell what pitches you can and cannot hear. Once the hearing test is done, the audiologist can help program the hearing aids with your personal sound profile. This will boost the tones you need the most help with and even out sounds that you can’t hear very well.

My audiologist programmed my hearing aids and then fit them into my ears. After that, she made some minor adjustments based on the feedback I was giving her. I asked her to boost the volume a little more than normal because I felt like it was making it easier for me to understand sounds.

I was instantly impressed with how well the ReSound ONE hearing aids worked. The ReSound ONEs were such a big jump for me technology-wise that it was almost like going from no hearing aids to having hearing aids again. The ReSound ONEs are comfortable to wear. They are lightweight and honestly, you can’t even notice that you are wearing them. In addition to that, I’ve never had anyone say that they have seen me wearing them. They are virtually invisible.

Shortly after I received the hearing aids, I went on a trip to Disney with some friends. It ended up being the perfect opportunity to test out the ReSound ONEs. Even though the hearing aids help me hear sounds in every environment, certain places are quite a bit more noticeable than others. I’ve outlined my experiences in different surroundings.

Restaurant

This is one of the places that are always a little tougher for me with hearing aids. Because my hearing loss is mostly in the high-end pitches, sounds like plates, glasses, and silverware clinking together are very harsh and jarring to me with the hearing aids active. The ReSound ONEs enhance that sound even more, but fortunately, part of the app control that users get is based on environments.

That means if you select the restaurant setting, the app will dull down some of the harsher tones so that they aren’t so unsettling. I have used this mode many times and it helps me be able to tolerate the environment despite those harder sounds. The M&RIE technology assists with making a restaurant experience more comfortable.

Movie Theater

One of the listening experiences I often have trouble with is viewing TV and movies. Even though those media types have enhanced soundtracks, dialogue is almost always impossible for me to hear clearly. NCIS is one of the TV shows I have the worst trouble with and movie theaters are problematic as well because of the sound mixes.

Since I’ve had the ReSound ONEs, I’ve been to two movie showings in theaters and they have helped me be able to enjoy the movies more than without hearing aids. There are times that some sounds are more intense than others, but the more you wear the hearing aids the more your brain learns how to interpret different sounds and the less jarring those sounds are to you.

Driving in the Car

Part of the trip I mentioned was a 900-mile road trip. There were six of us in the rented minivan and as the driver, I was isolated quite a bit from the rest of the vehicle. I concentrated on the road and found myself virtually ignoring the other things going on in the car because the road noise drowned out people talking. My fiancé was in the passenger seat and she tapped me quite a bit when someone would ask a question or want to make a pit stop.

After a couple of hours, I popped the hearing aids in and it made a world of difference for me. I could hear everyone – even the people in the very back of the van. This was an incredible transformation for me because what I was hearing was behind me and not directly in front of me. I’m used to ignoring the sounds behind me because I can never understand them. It was nice to be able to communicate and make jokes with everyone in the car rather than remain silent for the 13-hour long drive. The Ultra Focus feature of the ReSound ONEs is responsible for making speech as clear as possible – even when it’s behind you.

Theme Parks

The main reason for the trip was to visit Disney theme parks. For me, this meant that I would be navigating through crowds of people with my brain trying to decipher millions of sound signals in order to pick out voices from my group. The ReSound ONE hearing aids cleared those signals up for me. I never once had to ask, “What?” when we were getting instructions about rides or attractions. This is another area where Ultra Focus is assisting. It helps users to maintain spatial cues around them.

The one thing that is always amazing to me is hearing birds. That is one sound that I have missed the most and I’m always surprised when I have the opportunity to hear them again. Inside Disney’s Animal Kingdom, there is an African aviary located on the Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail and inside there are free-roaming birds that y ou can interact with to a certain extent. There were dozens of different bird calls happening – many of them were much too high-pitched for me to hear without my hearing aids. With them, however, I could hear everything. It was a wonderful experience that I’m glad I didn’t have to miss out on.

Outdoors

One of the other places I’ve always had trouble with hearing aids is outdoors. Even though the sound quality is enhanced, natural environmental events like wind end up causing a lot of interference with conversations. The ReSound ONE hearing aids enable better speech understanding in windy conditions with one of the settings on the app and the help of M&RIE.

Final Thoughts

ReSound creates great products for individuals with hearing impairments. I asked my audiologist why she liked ReSound products and she said that she really likes their app integration, the premium charging case (because many companies don’t offer cases like that), and the attention that ReSound puts into ensuring that speech is as clear as it can be. She said she gets lots of feedback from patients that appreciate how crisp and clear speech sounds to them. And, that’s something she doesn’t hear about other hearing aid manufacturers.

Hearing aids are remarkable devices that can help people live their best lives. Without hearing aids, I become more withdrawn and depressed because I can’t interact with people like I want to. The ReSound ONE hearing aids have renewed my ability to be social. They are like an extra special magic spell that has been performed on me so that I can hear again.

For more details, visit ReSound, Facebook, and Twitter.

Sanitize and enjoy a cleaner workspace with some HOCL Covid-B-Gone

As we learned more about COVID-19, we adapted previous cleansing methods to the new illness.  Hypochlorous acid is an all-natural substance created and used by our bodies’ digestive organelles and immune cells.  Scientists adapted this technology into a potent sanitizer that could be used for foods, skin, hard surfaces, etc.

Once the hypochlorous chemical (HOCL) contacts a virus, it changes/alters the outer surface, causes it to clump, and decreases the ability to spread/infect.  Similarly, the chemical damages bacterial cell walls and leads to their demise.  Luckily, this chemical is listed as non-toxic, non-corrosive, and inexpensive.  I encourage you to read a fantastic article titled “Hypochlorous Acid: A Review” by Michael S. Block DMD and Brian G. Rowan DMD to learn more about the chemical. 

Additionally, you can learn more about the pros/cons, and the effect on COVID-19 and other potential pathogens like the stomach bug noroviruses often encountered on cruise vessels. Sanitize your home, your food, your office, your car.  Pair HOCL with a nebulizer like that from Scosche, and you have a fantastic method to keep your area sanitized.

The Scosche MagicFOGGER arrived in a 10 1/8 inches wide by 11 1/16 inches tall by 2 1/4 inches thick tan cardboard box with overlapping geometric “Scosche-S” logo and lightning bolts.  Other than the small white sticker along the lower right aspect of the front panel, there were no other identifying characteristics present upon the outer packaging. 

I appreciated that the design wrapped around each panel but would have preferred a bit more information about the product.  Luckily, the sticker gave a little insight into the nature of the portable, mesh-nebulizer system. 

To paraphrase, the tech was designed to cleanse/disinfect/sanitize your immediate environment using the included 2 oz bottle of cleanser and 2 oz spray bottle of disinfectant.  By electrolyzing water (HOCL) into a fine mist and applying the mist to various surfaces (vehicle, home, office, airplanes, public transportation), perhaps we can decrease the chances of getting sick. 

I cut the tape along the front of the panel, lifted the front lid, and found a quaint note addressed “Hello Friend!”  The note described the product’s purpose, information about the powerful cleansing ability of the BrioTech HOCL Electrolyzed Water (Hypochlorous acid), the product contents, and the safety of the product around plants, animals, and food. 

Within the box, you will find a white cardboard flap with a large image of the MAGICFOGGER device and a large company/product name along the top left.  Just beneath the product name, I found two images depicting the MagicFoggers Briotech cleansing and the sanitizer/disinfectant spray.  The imagery successfully showcased the device and provided a nested view of the features.  I loved that the smaller images were displayed within the mist of the larger fogger image; the panel proved to be quite visually appealing. 

I removed the internal cardboard dividers, the small bottle of 2 fl oz Biotech surface + air cleanser, a small 6-panel instruction guide, a 22 inches long USB-A to USB-C cable, a 7-inches long wrist lanyard, and a medium 2-oz bottle of sanitizer/disinfectant spray. The user manual started with a labeled diagram of the product contents and migrated to a labeled overview of the MagicFogger.  The manual labeled the reservoir, the front power slider (off up and on down), battery level indicator, nebulizers, and the lower USB-C input plus USB-A output port. 

Section B demonstrated the method to fill the magic fogger: 1. Turn off the device. 2. Invert the fogger and remove the cap. 3. Fill the cap with the fluid without overfilling. 4. Reattach the cap and then turn the device over.  To use the device, slide the slider down a single click to uncover a single nebulizer or fully down to uncover both nebulizers.  

If needed, you can first use the spot disinfectant spray to sanitize smaller areas.  Lastly, Section C  demonstrated how to charge the device: 1. Remove the tail cap. 2. Connect the USB-C cable to the device and USB-A end into a standard 5v/1A output charging block.   The last panel provided a QR code for a quick how-to video. 

Once the 2550 mAh battery was fully charged (about two hours), I noted that all four of the LEDs illuminated.  As each of the LEDs represented 25% of the total power, I was able to use the front-facing row of LEDs to evaluate how much power remained. I plugged a Klein Tools Multimeter into the lower USB-A output and a USB-A to lightning port into my phone to test the power output. 

It was convenient to have an emergency power source for my 4352 mAh iPhone 13 Pro max, but the 2550 mAh battery of the Scosche device will only provide ~40-50% power to your phone or about ~2000mAh.  The multimeter displayed 4.94V/0.99A, which was on the lower end of the output needed for modern smartphones.  I started with 32% power at 10:45 pm and noted that the phone increased to 33% by 10:48, 35% by 10:54, and 38% by 11:02 PM.  By 11:10, the power was at 40%, and the first LED extinguished. The power was at 54% by 11:46 and two lights extinguished.

The top reservoir will hold about half of the bottle of the included surface and air sanitizer.  With the top lid nearly full, I reattached the main body and locked it into place.  The “1st Step Cleanser” is listed to be gentle on the skin, face, hands, and safe for all surfaces.  Additionally, the packaging noted that the product was 100% natural, and contained 0% alcohol, bleach, endotoxins, and artificial ingredients.  I slid the toggle downward and activated the top nebulizer.  I slid the toggle downward again, and both of the nebulizer ports activated. 

The instructions recommended allowing the nebulizer to contact the desired surface until visibly moistened and then to allow it to remain in place for 60 seconds.  I sprayed my computer keyboard, mouse, and desk surface from about 3.5”, which was the recommended height. I sprayed my car dashboard, steering wheel, and shifter, and noted the swimming-pool-like chlorinated odor. 

Interestingly, the odor within the car lightened, and the air felt smoother, crisper, and less musky.  I then stepped out of the car and allowed the single nebulizer to spray for about 2 minutes with my closed car with the circulating fan running.  The air coming out of the vents seemed to be much cleaner. 

Due to Covid limitations, I could not use my local lab to test before/after specimens.  However, there are numerous web sources that can attest to the quality/benefits of the HOCL.  The MagicFogger device was easy to carry/pocket and easy to charge.  The included battery was a bit on the smaller end to serve as a portable battery, but in a pinch, it can give you another ~1/2 charge for a smartphone.

After a total of about four minutes of continuous spraying, I found 1/2 of the cap volume had been consumed.  With another 1/2 bottle remaining, I suspect that the MagicFogger would keep a desk sanitized daily for about a month.  Larger surfaces may be covered for a week or two.   When needed, you can navigate to the website to purchase more cleansing solutions, recharge the MagicFogger, and cleanse the area again.  

Learn more about the MagicFogger Device, Facebook, and Twitter.

I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes as a child. I am no stranger to medical alert bracelets, tags, jewelry, or anything that essentially advertises that I have a medical condition in bright red, capitalized letters. Growing up, I always felt like I was wearing a neon sign that alerted the world that I was sick. All I wanted was to be treated like a normal kid.

The bracelets and necklaces were always too big. They were bulky, difficult to wear, intrusive, and gaudy. I loathed wearing it, but my mom felt it was an absolute necessity. The medical information was custom engraved onto the tag, and it was ridiculously expensive to replace as your medical information changed. Not to mention, the price increased based on the number of letters or words being engraved. It just wasn’t a feasible option to keep up to date when I was younger.

Fortunately, technology has changed which has made life with TID easier. For the last few years, I have used my Apple Watch and phone in combination with a Dexcom Continuous Glucose Monitor. My phone and watch work together with Dexcom to monitor my blood sugar in real-time and send alerts to my phone or watch. Adding something like a LIFEID tag to my watch band just made sense. I was excited to give this a try.

DETAILS

The LIFEID Medical ID is designed to provide an easy option for people to access vital information when someone may not be able to communicate it for themselves. The Apple Sleeve Medical ID Tag is a small, durable tag that is made from lightweight medical-grade silicone and stainless steel. It’s sweat-resistant and waterproof. The tag is compatible with Series 1-6 Apple Watch bands (38mm, 40mm, 42mm, and 44mm).

While they are most easily used with the Apple Sport bands, they can fit onto other designs as well. LIFEID Medical IDs come with a free user profile dashboard. Users determine the information they want to include and an emergency contact receives a GPS text when the tag is scanned. LIFEID never sells or gives away any user information. The QR code does work anywhere in the world, too.

USER EXPERIENCE

Setting up the LIFE ID was very simple. I went to the website and registered as a new user. The enrollment process is simple and allows you to register your LIFE ID tag. Once you are enrolled, you log in and enter your personal information and your medical history. You have the option to upload a photo. I struggled with this a bit due to the size restrictions on the photo. The file limit is 1024 KB.

Fortunately, I still had a copy of my passport mugshot that happened to be the right size. My favorite thing about this process is that each medication, allergy, or health condition had space for you to add notes. You can also enter your blood type, health insurance information, height, weight, and multiple emergency contacts.

The LIFE ID tag sits nicely on my watchband, and it isn’t bulky. The tag did not slide down my watch when I took my watch off to charge. My only complaint is that the size of the tag is larger than I would prefer.

If I had a custom watch band, the tag would hide the design. However, that is most definitely a “me issue” and I can live with it. The size of the tag does not take away from the product. Out of curiosity, I decided to scan my tag to see how my information was displayed and how quickly it appeared. I was very pleased with the results.

CONCLUSION

Overall, this product seems to be very well thought out. It is functional and very easy to set up. I love that it provides a valuable service to people with health concerns. That’s really the best part of technology. For more information, visit lifeid.health, Facebook, and Twitter.

Air purifier helps to clean the air in your home.

Living in southern Indiana, I have had allergies all my life. Throw in a couple of cats and dogs to the mix, and the allergies are a bit worse. Air purifiers are a must in my home, so I was excited to try out the Lago. 

Operational and Technical Specifications

• High-grade CADR particles 205 CFM*
• Rated Voltage 120 V~
• Rated Frequency 60 H7
• Rated Power 35 W
• Noise <55dB
• Dimensions (W x H x D) 14.17 x7.87x 21.81 in.
• Weight 13.67 lbs.

*The applicable area is calculated as (0.07-0.12) x CADR particulate matter. Different environments, outdoor pollution, or other factors affect the applicable area. 

USER EXPERIENCE

It was a little awkward getting the air purifier out of the box due to the size and weight of the device. The air purifier is much larger than the other brands I have purchased. One of my favorite things about the packaging was the large sticker above the control panel. The control panel graphics and tidbits of information were a nice touch. The sticker was very easy to remove and did not leave any sticky residue on the display screen.

Despite my struggle to easily remove the air purifier from the box, installing the filter was very simple. The set-up manual was very easy to read, follow and understand. The diagrams for installation were easy to follow as well. I wish more user guides were this easy to understand.

Since my living room is a high-traffic area, I felt that would be the best place to try out the air purifier. The air purifier has three speeds for airflow and the speed changes with a press of a button. Speed 1 is very quiet, and I cannot hear it in the living room. Speed 2 is a little louder but super easy to ignore. Speed 3 is much louder than I expected, and I can hear it in my bedroom with the door shut. Fortunately, the user guide recommends the highest speed if the air quality is poor and the number in the PM2.5 Number Display is >150 for the fastest air purification. 

I have always been curious about the air quality in my home, and I found the PM2.5 Number Display to be very interesting. The color on the display panel correlates to the air quality and will change colors based on improving or worsening air quality conditions. According to the user guide, the particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) levels illuminate and indicates the current air quality level. 

The quality range is:

• 0-75 = Clean (the screen will be blue)
• 75-150 = Fair (the screen changes to green)
• >150 = Poor (the screen changes to red)

Surprisingly, the air quality in my home stayed around 19-25. I truly expected this to be worse.

The display panel is nice and has some great features. The child lock feature is super easy to use. Using this feature is just as simple as pressing and holding the button for 3 seconds to activate or deactivate this feature. The child lock feature would have been a dream come true when my kids were younger. I also liked the “Auto Mode Button” as this feature, when in use, allows the air purifier to automatically adjust the speed of airflow based on the air quality. 

Overall, I do like this air purifier and its features. 

For many years now, we’ve been trying to keep the air quality in our home at safe levels. Our family has had breathing-related health issues in the past so we thought by adding an air purifier to our most-used rooms we could do our part to ensure we had the best possible air quality in the house. It has made a difference, some of the purifiers are large, noisy, and high-maintenance. With that in mind, we decided to add the Sensibo Pure to our house for a better overall experience. 

DETAILS

The Sensibo Pure is the ‘world’s most advanced smart air purifier.’ It’s designed to keep you healthy and energized. The purifier is powered by Pure Boost, a smart sensing technology that makes air quality better. It features smart protection against viruses thanks to its integrated HEPA & Carbon filters. Particles as small as 0.1µm can be removed from your air and this helps to protect users against viruses, bacteria, dust, smoke, and bad odors. Pure Boost kicks in when you leave your home so that when you come back the air is cleansed and safe for you to breathe. The unit is designed to be ‘always on’ and it measures your indoor air quality 24/7. It will turn on and off autonomously. The Sensibo Pure has a ‘set and forget’ design so you don’t have to adjust its settings or placement to ensure you are getting the most from it. The purifier works with its app and can connect to smart assistants such as Google Assistant, Alexa, and Apple HomeKit. 

SPECS

• Pollutants: Viruses, Bacteria, Mold Spores,PM1, PM2.5, PM10, Pollens, Smoke & Odors, Dust Airborne particles down to 0.1um
• Room Size Coverage: 173 ft²  (16 m²); With Pure Boost* up to 294ft² (27 m²)
• Dimensions (WxLxH): 7.68” x 7.68” x 15.28” (195mm x 195mm x 388mm) 
• Sounds levels: 53 dB
• Apps: iOS, Android, HTML5
• Radio: WiFi 2.4GHz and Bluetooth Low Energy 4.0
• Weight: 4.28 lbs (1.94 Kg)
• Warranty: 1 year limited warranty
• Filters: 3 phases filtration system: Pre-Filter, HEPA Filter and Active Carbon Filter
• Filter Life: 6 months in typical conditions and usage
• Electric Input: 100-240V 50/60Hz
• Voice Assistants: Amazon Echo Alexa, Google Home/Assistant, Siri Shortcuts
• Cord Length: 6′ (183 cm)

USER EXPERIENCE

The Sensibo Pure comes in a stylish retail package. The box is well marked with the Sensibo branding, product name, and lifestyle image of the device. Even though the packaging is nice, I do wish the image of the actual product was larger rather than being hidden inside a lifestyle image. One of the things I like about this air purifier is that there is no physical assembly required. You simply lift it out of the box and then unwrap the filter from its packaging. After that, you plug the filter into a power source and then connect it to the app. That’s it! It’s a very simple setup process, which I was grateful for. 

Because the air purifier is a ‘smart’ device, it does connect to WiFi, its app, and to a smart assistant. We chose to connect the Sensibo Pure to HomeKit so that it works in conjunction with all our other smart devices. Both the app and the Apple Home app recognized the purifier right away and connected it quickly. The Sensibo Pure is running in a smaller bedroom (approximately 90 sqft in size) that is used as a home office. I work from home and so most of my day is spent in that office space. That is why I decided to include the purifier in that space. 

The fan on the purifier is pretty quiet. I’ve been keeping it at a low speed so the noise sort of just fades into the background while I’m working. It is never distracting to me. It does get progressively louder when the speed is increased, but it just sounds like a fan. It’s not an annoying noise at all. I really like that it has a light on it that can be turned on and off. I often use that as a nightlight and find it very useful. Again, the light is not annoying or distracting. The size of the Sensibo Pure was a little bit of a concern at first since I’m using it in a smaller room, but I ended up finding a corner that I could tuck it away in. I have had it running for more than two months at this point and have never had any issues with it. When the purifier senses a chance in the air toxicity (for example, when I extinguish a candle in the room), it kicks into a higher power until the contaminant is dealt with. Then, it settles back into its programmed setting. This is another feature I really like – automated air quality detection. The app has been easy to use and the integration to HomeKit has worked really well. I’ve noticed that the air in my office does seem to be less stale than before I was using the purifier and I’m grateful for that. 

CONCLUSION

The Sensibo Pure is a solid air purifier that is very low maintenance. It’s easy to set up and it is very little you have to do with it until you need to change the filter. There are advanced monitoring options through the app, but they are just that – optional. So, with the initial investment when you buy the purifier, you have a complete purification system for your space. This is a quality product with a positive user experience. I can recommend it to anyone looking to ensure their air quality is the best it can be.

For more information, visit sensibo.com, Facebook, and Twitter.

Is there anything more American than baseball?  Even though many credit Abner Doubleday as the founder of the game, history.com and NBC Sports (https://mlb.nbcsports.com/2020/04/02/today-in-baseball-history-a-lie-about-how-baseball-was-invented-is-born/) provided a more accurate origin story for the American pastime.  It was thought to have originated from a merger of children’s game called Rounders, and the very British game of Cricket, which were played throughout schoolyards and college campuses until the Knickerbocker Baseball Club played the first official game in 1846.  The rest is history.  However fascinating the game history may be, the evolution of the ball merits discussion as well.

An article from the Smithsonian detailed the origins of the clean white ball with vibrant red stitching that we know today (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/a-brief-history-of-the-baseball-3685086/).  I was unaware that early pitchers made their own version of baseballs, that cobblers lined them with broken rubber from shoes and wound them with yarn, or that some chose to use sturgeon eyes. With all of the variations, it wasn’t easy to compare location to location. Interestingly, there was variability and strategy in ball selection at that time.  To standardize the sport, the 5.5-6 ounces by 9-9.25 inches diameter ball with 108 stitches (MLB rule 1.09) originated in the 1870s, and has changed little since that time. The final version of the ball was selected in 1934 after the National and American Leagues agreed upon a standardized construction.  

Of course, with the “smart” tech revolution, everything has become interconnected, monitored, evaluated, and App linked.  From appliances, to cars, to communication devices, to entire homes, Bluetooth/App-enabled features have led to new ideas and uses for devices.  So, why not tech-up a baseball?  The Backyard League Gaming Baseball arrived in a 2 15/16 inches wide by 2 15//6 inches thick by 3 11/16 inches tall cardboard box.  The front cover provided the Backyard League name along the top left in an attractive cursive script.  I liked the added touch of the baseball along the lower flourish of the cursive letter B.  You will find five grey icons along the bottom of the panel: 70h play, Water Resistant, Bluetooth 4.2, IOS & Android, Play OS Inside.  The main focus of the panel was the beautiful baseball and the colorful iPhone App.  

The right side panel provided a colorful field background and a youthful child jumping for the home run steal.  With the classy Backyard League logo atop the panel, the company did a great job of overlaying digital data upon the blue of the sky and the green of the field.  You will find a QR code along the bottom left with links to the Apple/Google play store.  You will see the ball/App along the bottom right, and a quaint statement by Alex Guifford about the heightened fun of the game just beneath the jumping child.  The opposite panel proved to be a bit busier.  The panel provided five multi-lingual icons about the ball/game: 1. Play Catch, Have fun, and become a better baseball player. 2. Live sound and commentary for immersive in-game experience. 3. 8+ Games that build core throw and catch mechanics. 4. Play against yourself, challenge friends, or compete against the world.  5. Earn and Win Badges, climbing the ranks in Backyard League.  The black-colored rear panel listed the product name along the top of the panel, company address, an exploded image of the ball, product manufacturing labels, and an SKU barcode.  

I lifted the top flap with the Backyard League logo, removed the cardboard topper, removed the baseball from the box, and then the accessory bag/instruction manual.  The six-panel instruction manual provided an eleven language, 4-step getting started guide. For the first step, search for the “Backyard League” App (iOS and Google).  Next, install the included battery pack, then insert the activity tracker into the baseball.  Lastly, follow the setup instructions within the App.  The reverse side of the instruction manual provided information about mounting the CR2032 battery and the tracker within the baseball.  Once I inserted the tracker, added the included screw (with the included screwdriver), I navigated to the App Store and downloaded the Backyard League App.  When you open the App, a baseball announcer’s voice will welcome you to the App and welcome you to get started.  I tapped the orange-colored “Get Started” along the bottom panel, 

The second panel of the app will take the user to a sound panel.  Slide the ball along the orange slider, and the announcer will vocalize one of the following selections “Can you hear me? Do you hear me now?, Hello?”  My children thought it was hilarious and played with the slider for nearly ten minutes.  Once the desired sound level was selected (about 3/4 along the slider), the App guided me through the ball setup process.  I inserted the battery, inserted the tracker, then screwed the lid down (as above).  The App then vocalized, “enable Bluetooth to allow connection to the ball.”  The ingenious step-by-step process proved to be quite elementary.  Activate the ball by pressing the orange button.  If you experience issues, select the “HELP” option to navigate to another “Problems” screen.  The screen will review a few troubleshooting steps. I was unable to connect the ball to the App on the first try.  I thus removed the included battery, added another CR2032, and the ball connected without issue. 

The goal of the App linked ball was to improve pitch and catch.  With the App installed, swipe from the left to the right to find a beneficial how-to video, Game List (Fast Throw, Pop Fly, Longer and Longer, Bullseye, Higher and Higher), and Challenges. If you tap one of the games within the Game List, the App will provide a short video and then teach you how to play the game (objectives, how to earn points, duration).  The main App page provided three horizontal lines along the top left, a baseball player avatar along the top right, the player name along the top, the number of throws (today and all-time), today’s rank, and the number of throws.  Along the bottom of the page, you can find the speed (last and average), height (last and average), and transition time (last and average).  If desired, you can tap restart to reset the data.  When you swipe right to left again, it will take you to a profile screen.  You can tap the little pencil to change the name.  I found the “Smelly Raven” base name to be a bit comical.  In fact, my ten-year-old refused to change the name. Tap the flag icon below your avatar to change the country, select the avatar to change the color/hair to one of your likings. Next, you can choose the magnifying glass to select players to follow. Lastly, you can review the legal/regulatory options and use the music slider to adjust the music/effects/voice volume. 

To preserve the battery, the company included a sleep mode when not activated.  To reactivate the ball, simply give it a little shake. I was impressed with the sensitivity of the tracker and with the App tracking metrics.  I loved the included videos, and my kids specifically liked the Pop fly game:  throw a pop fly, then throw a low ball to gain points based on the height difference.  Their second favorite game was the Longer and Longer game. The App will give you strikes if subsequent throws are shorter, or if you drop the ball.  The goal was to build strength and accuracy.   Both games encouraged the user to gain points by extending the distance but discouraged drops and wild throws.  If the ball hit the ground, the App subtracted points.  The App encouraged team play and working with the partner to prevent drops.

The game ball was not intended for batting and was only meant for pitch/catch activities.  Thus, if your goal is to improve hitting, this device will not meet your need.   For the kids who may be considered iPad Zombies (mine included), the added App may serve as a means to get them to go outside to play.  I think the only negative was the need for a partner to play.  I was able to get my ten-year-old outside, but my twelve-year-old did not want to play.  Additionally, when he saw us having fun and asked to join in, I could not find a method to add a second avatar/account for him.  They had to take turns as the player/coach and had to remember who had the better score.  Unfortunately, they wanted to see who was better and had the highest score.  They also wanted to try to work on keeping their own progress of throws/scores.  If there were an App version 2.0, I would like for there to be an option to keep track of the data across a few accounts. Overall, the App/ball added a significant amount of fun to pitch and catch.  The games were fun and repayable, and the announcer was hilarious.  If you messed up during the game, he announced a few comical jabs at the players like the following: “Did you even watch the videos?”  

If you are looking for the perfect gift for your young ball enthusiast, look to the Backyard League ball.  Even though older kids (12+) may initially find the ball/app a bit juvenile, I suspect that they will not want to miss out on the fun when they see it.  I found the game ball to be more enticing than I had initially thought/expected.  I found myself throwing higher to get more points in the pop fly and higher and higher games.  I found myself trying to be a bit riskier to get extra points.  Dropped balls had more meaning than when simply playing pitch/catch, and my kids reduced the urge to throw the ball beyond me or at some random tangent.  Honestly, this device provided a great deal of recreational enjoyment, and I found little to critique.  The well-crafted ball combined well with the quality packaging and App design.  Definitely consider picking up one of these devices as a gift this holiday season.    

Learn more about the Backyard League Gaming Baseball
Follow Backyard League on Facebook

Ensure your family’s is breathing healthy air on road trips with this air purifier.

My family and I are getting ready to go on vacation and that vacation involves a very long car ride. As you might imagine, the air in the cabin of the car can get pretty stale after 14 hours in the car. We’ve made this trip a few times in the past, but this time, we are going to have an additional accessory with us – the FrescheAir Pro portable HEPA Air Purifier. It’s a deodorizer/purifier that is designed to fit directly in your car’s cup holder. So it’s perfect for road trips. 

DETAILS 

The FrescheAir Pro is designed to keep your vehicle smelling fresh. It eliminates odors such as food, smoke, and pets and it reduces allergens in the air. The air purifier is controlled with motion sensors and gives you the option of low, medium, or high fan speeds. There is a display on the top of the canister that shows the fan speed, air quality, temperature, and humidity. The high-performance HEPA filter in the canister collects 99.5% of all small particles, dust, and pollen. The fan pulls air into the filter area in the bottom of the canister and then filtered fresh air is released from the top. The purifier measures 2.6” x 6.9” and it’s round so it fits in most car cup holders. Based on its slim design, it can also be used on a desk or in a bedroom as well. The purifier is powered by a USB cable and it comes with a dual 12V charger. The FrescheAir Pro meets the California ozone emissions limit and is CARB certified. 

USER EXPERIENCE

So I have to admit that when I first heard about this product I thought, “Do we really need this?” My thinking was that if we needed fresh air, we could just open a window. But, the more I thought about it, the more I realized that outdoor air isn’t always the freshest either. In our area of the Midwest, we have insane amounts of pollen in the atmosphere and our vacation destination might have red tide in the area when we arrive. This naturally occurring disturbance causes quite a bit of air pollution and because of that, the natural air quality is not clean. For these reasons, having the FrescheAir Pro air purifier in our car makes a lot of sense. 

The purifier is very easy to set up. It’s ready to operate out of the box. You simply place it in your car (or on your desk if you decide to use it inside) and plug it in. Then you just wave your hand over the top to turn the fan on. The rest of the operation process – the figures on the display, air intake/output, etc. – is automatic. Once the purifier is turned on, you can adjust the fan speed, but that’s it. 

So far, we have only used it on short trips, but I have noticed a difference in the air quality in the cabin of the car. It seems cleaner and less odors filtering through the car. I don’t have a way to test the cleanliness of the air other than to say that it seems easier to breathe. I also really like the easy-to-read display on the top of the canister. I love that it shows the humidity and the temperature because we have to monitor that type of stuff pretty closely for my grandmother’s condition. It’s a very handy appliance to have available.  

CONCLUSION

I really like the very simple operation of this air purifier and how it is designed for smaller spaces. I do wish it has a slightly shorter profile, but other than that I think this is a really worthy investment. 

For more information, visit scosche.com, Facebook, and Twitter.

The best at-home shave ever.

I’ve always tried to keep myself clean-shaven but have always found myself having an issue where standard razors are just too harsh on my skin. I end up with rashes and cuts that are just uncomfortable and frankly, embarrassing. I think I have tried every single brand and style of razor and electric shaver available and I’ve just never found ‘the one’ that works best for me. I’ve even tried straight razors. I finally came across the Heated Razor from Gillette and finally found a winner. 

DETAILS

The Heated Razor Starter Kit by GilletteLabs is designed to provide the feeling of a hot towel shave without needing to go to a barber. The razor was designed in Germany and is meant to achieve an optimal level of comfort for users. The kit includes a Heated Razor, 2x GilletteLabs blades, and the charging station. 

The Heated Razor features a stainless steel warming bar that has four intelligent heat sensors. The handle is aesthetically designed for easy handling and is made with premium-grade aluminum zinc. It heats up in less than a second and distributes heat evenly. The heat is actually adjustable and has two levels of heat (109º and 122º) that the user can select with a push of a button. The blades have 5 razor blades combined with the Flex Disc technology, which helps to maintain skin contact to give a smoother shave than other razor blades. The razor is waterproof so that people can use it in the shower or at the sink. The razor is rechargeable and features wireless magnetic charging. Users should be able to get up to 6 shaves from a single charge. 

You have the option to subscribe to Gillette’s blade subscription service. The razor is compatible with GilletteLabs blade cartridges only. 

USER EXPERIENCE

When I discovered this Heated Razor, I was thrilled. I’ve had an official hot towel shave from a barber before and at the time, it was the best shave I’d ever had.  That was simply because my skin was less irritated after that shave than with any razor or shaver I’ve used at home. I actually didn’t think I would find an ‘at-home’ shaving option like that — until I got the Gillette Heated Razor. When it arrived, I couldn’t wait to get it out of the box. 

The set-up was very quick. The charging stand is small and doesn’t take up too much space on a countertop. This made me very happy because I hate clutter. After I got the stand plugged in and the razor charged, I completed my first shave. The razor heated up and I started shaving. It was a very easy, comfortable process. I didn’t have any issues with the blades pulling or cutting me as other razors have in the past. And the Heated Razor has honestly given me the best shave I’ve ever had. I’ve been using it for a few months now and each time, I haven’t had any issues with cuts or razor burn. The razor has given me a close shave and the heat is soothing and refreshing for my skin. I do typically use shaving cream when I shave, but I haven’t changed that and it’s a brand I’ve used with other razors so I know that the Gillette Heated Razor is the reason for the close, comfortable shave. 

The only thing I don’t really like about the razor is the fact that I will need to order the razor blades when I need refills. In the past, I’ve been able to go to the drugstore and pick up what I needed at a moment’s notice. But these blades are so specialized that it looks as though I’ll need to order them directly from Gillette or other retailers. I did check to see if Walgreens (my drugstore of choice) carries them and while they do, they are only available online and not in-store. This is something that I can deal with since it’s the best shave I’ve ever had, but it would be nice if purchasing blade replacements locally was an option. 

CONCLUSION

Even though the initial investment in the Heated Razor kit is around $200 (at the time of publishing) I think it’s worth it. I think I finally found ‘the razor’ and can stop investing in inferior products. 

For more information, visit gillette.com, Facebook, and Twitter.

Easy-to-use blood pressure monitor helps to keep the Silent Killer from sneaking up on you.

Technology has improved the ability of patients and doctors to optimize health. Patients can connect with apps like My Fitness Pal, Lose It, and monitor energy/food/intake. They can connect with various sensors for glucose control, oxygen, blood pressure, weight, and other biometrics. Some of these sensors have been embedded into clothing, while others into shoes, into gloves, into large exercise machines, rings/pillows, etc. Despite the technology, many still lack control of their diet and live sedentary, smoke-filled, gluttonous lifestyles. With an overabundance of salts, fats, and calories, our population has become obese. According to the CDC, 42.4% of Americans were obese in the year 2018. With the obesity pandemic, our people experience increased risks for heart attacks, strokes, high blood pressure, organ disease, diabetes, certain cancers, and possibly early death. Maybe it’s time we put our sensors and tech to work! With devices like the iHealth Track BP monitor, you can be the Author of your Own Health. It’s time to get off of your keester and move for a better you.

The iHealth Track Connected Pressure Monitor arrived in a clean appearing 6 1/4 inches wide by 6 3/8 inches tall by 3 5/8 inches thick retail case.  Like many Apple accessories, the company utilized colorful imagery atop a sterile white background.  The cover panel listed the “iHealth Track” name along the top of the cover panel, followed by a generic “Connected Blood Pressure Monitor” name, an image of an iPad/iPhone along the bottom left, and a Clinically Validated icon along the bottom right.  Despite the emergency cone orange title, the main focus remained the obliquely angled image of the iHealth Track monitor.  I loved the green LCD, the crisp number display, the grey font, the contrast between the white monitor and the white background color, the lower shadowing, and the little Bluetooth icon.  Intelligently, the company continued the same vibrant color scheme throughout the other panels.  The top panel provided a trilingual description of the simple three-step instruction process.  Simply measure your blood pressure, see and sync the result, and then share with your doctor.  The panel’s lower edge provided a QR code, Apple App Store/Google Play Store icons, and instructions to scan to install the iHealth App.  Like the cover, the top panel’s midsection displayed attractive imagery of the monitor/BP cuff and phone using the App.   The bottom panel provided a trilingual list of the packaging contents (1BP Track Blood Pressure monitor, 1 cuff, 1 user guide, 4AAA batteries), trademark information, and local/international addresses. The rear panel listed the orange/grey title across the top. It then provided an around the world description of the product specifications (package contents, KN-550BT model number, standard and XL cuff sizing, 4 x 1.5V AAA batteries, SBP range 60-260 mmHg, DBP range 40-199 mmHg. Pulse rate 40-180 bpm, BP accuracy + 3 mmHg, Pulse accuracy + 5%, operating temp 50F-104F/10C-40C,  

To access the 8.2-ounce iHealth machine, remove the slipcover, lift the cardboard tab, and then pull it out of the cardboard caddy. The 3 13/16 inches square by 1 13/16 inches tall clean-white device displayed the iHealth logo along the top of the cover panel. I liked the discrete color scheme and felt that it added to the overall presentation of the machine. Along the left side of the 1 7/8 inches wide by 2 3./8 inches tall green LCD screen, you will find the words “Systolic” and “Diastolic” in the same grey font as the title. You will find PULSE/min along the lower right corner of the LCD screen as well. Located adjacent to the LCD screen, you will find two 3/4 inches wide by 3/4 inches tall function buttons. The upper button had a grey “M” and cloud icon, and the lower button had a START/STOP button. The front panel provided the BP cuff insertion port, the back panel had a small QR code, and the left/right panels had stickers detailing some of the device’s features. Next to the edge of the LCD screen, the panel provided information about the model number, 4AAA 1.5V batteries, manufacturing labels, FCC information, and the company address. The opposite side provided information about FCC rules. The lower panel provided a battery access port for the 4AAA batteries and two parallel 2 3/8 inches long by 3/16 inches wide by ~1/16 inches tall raised feet. I removed the main device, the upper cardboard caddy, and then pulled out the BP cuff, the instruction manual, and the iHEALTH thank you card. The sky-blue colored blood pressure cuff measured 22 3/4 inches long by 5 1/2 inches wide. The device had an 18 3/4 inches long velcro strip, “Artery Mark” in white font along the top (just adjacent to the plug, metallic buckle strap, and white ruler markings to show the appropriateness of the cuff size (more on this below). Located near the “Artery Mark” sign, you will find a 24 inches long grey air tube Jutting out from the BP cuff. The rear side of the 4.6-ounce BP cuff displayed left arm, 1-2c racial artery, Large Adult cuff, 22-42 cm, 8-21/32 -16-17/32-inch size.

Although the BP cuff installation seemed intuitive, I decided to peruse the manual before testing the product. The manual’s first page detailed the product contents and a ten-step “Few of the Basics:” 1. Relax for 5 minutes before taking your BP. 2. Sit comfortably at a table when measuring your BP. 3. The cuff should be placed at the same level as your heart. 4. DO not talk or move during the measurement. 5. Use the same arm every time. 6. Remove the batteries if storing the device. 7. Adults only. 8. Do not use if you have a severe rhythm issue of the heart. 9. Do not use any other cuffs with this machine. 10. Relax. The second page demonstrated the indicator LCD, the buttons and provided a nice paragraph about why you should connect this device to the free online App. I liked that you could use the device sans App, but I did not like that you could not change the date without pairing the device to the App. Before using the device, make sure that you have #4 AAA batteries installed into the lower compartment. As noted above, the company provided the Large Adult cuff (8.6″-16.5″ or 22cm-42cm). However, if you need a larger size, the XL cuff (16.5″-18.9″ 42-48cm) cuff is available for purchase as well. Starting with your left arm, orient the BP cuff so that the grey air tube is over the center of your bicep ~1 finger width above the crack in your elbow (antecubital fossa). Tighten the cuff until you can slide a single finger between the cuff and the bicep. With your feet planted firmly on the ground, not talking, nothing crossed, place your palm face-up upon a table, insert the airtime into the lower port on the device and then press the start button. If desired, you can take a reading while lying on your back (supine), or you can choose to use the device in your right arm. Excitedly, this process was as simple as it sounded.

If desired, you can use this device without the companion 3* IHealth My Vitals App or enhance the utility with the App. I navigated to the iOS App Store, downloaded the App, turned on all categories within Health, and then approved Bluetooth/Notifications. The App will then walk you through a series of screens before asking that you input information to log in. Add a photo (if desired), your first/last name (mandatory), and then enter a gender. The only options included male and female, which may offend some. The subsequent panel requested that I enter my birth date, height, weight, and country before setting up the App. Once you are logged into the App, select from amongst the list: Blood Pressure Monitors, Scales, Activity Trackers, or Thermometers. I chose the Blood Pressure Monitors, and then selected the iHealth Track from the list, pressed the M/Cloud button, and connected the device. The app’s main panel displayed My Vitals along the top of the panel and allowed you to view a graph of recent, week, month, and year vitals. If you tap the three horizontal bars along the top left of the panel, you can access My Vitals, Set UP my Devices, Blood pressure, Weight, Activity and Sleep, Pulse Oximeter, Thermometer, shop, support, Settings, and Contact US. If you have various iHealth devices, you can link the data within their respective sections on this App. When I tapped Settings, the App took me to another page with Goals, Units, Reminder, HealthKit, My Diary, Partner Services, and About. You can adjust a target weight, target blood pressure, step goal, adjust units between mmHg and kPa, kg/lb/st, km/miles, cm/feet, degrees C/F. The My Diary section provided a simple food diary/energy budget panel. In summary, the App was easy to set up, the pairing process was straightforward, and it was easy to navigate.

With my feet planted squarely on the floor and the BP cuff at heart level, I checked my BP in my left arm and then right arm. I repeated the process for my wife and then checked our readings in the supine position. After pressing the start button, the machine will display your BP in large numbers. Additionally, the screen will change from green to yellow to red based on the value observed. If your numbers were in the optimal to normal range, 91-129/61-84, the screen background would glow green. If you had a high normal BP (130-139/85-89), the screen would glow yellow. If you had grade 1 hypertension, 140-159/90-99, the screen would flash yellow. If you had grade 2 hypertension, 160-179/100-109, the screen would glow red, and if you had grade 3 hypertension, >180/>110, the screen would flash red. Once you have amassed data, you can visualize the numbers and trends; you can select the share button to send the data via Mail, Twitter, Facebook. My BP read on the higher side of normal after coffee and physical activity but normalized after the requested 5-minutes resting cycle. I compared the reading to my doctor’s clinic’s manual blood pressure cuff and found that the readings were within 5mmhg of the readings. I was pleased with the accuracy and precision of the readings. Additionally, I was pleased with the speed by which the device was able to check the BP and that it did not inflate beyond the point of comfort.

To summarize my experience, the clinically validated, FDA-approved, iHealth Track device arrived in an attractive yet useful outer package. The contents were well arranged, well packaged, and the setup process was elementary. I loved that they included the batteries, well thought out instructions, and provided the large cuff (Adult size). I absolutely loved the light-up LCD screen and the quick-view color-coded normal, moderate, high blood pressure color-gauge. Lastly, the App seemed easy to navigate and felt more polished than the 3* iOS App Store rating suggested. Despite all of the positives, I felt that they missed the mark by not including a carry case. My pulse ox, my IR thermometer, my manual sphygmomanometer, and most of the pharmacies’ devices had a case. Unfortunately, I could not understand why this device arrived sans case. I wanted to throw this into my backpack/overnight bag and was worried that the LCD would get scratched. A simple nylon bag or a faux-leather zip-up bag would have added the final touch to an amazing piece of personal health tech.

Learn more about the iHealth Track
Follow iHealth on Facebook and Twitter.

Lights are 6 times more powerful than other LED sanitizers.

If there is one thing the last year had taught us all it’s that you can’t be too careful. I think we’ve all learned a lot about keeping our belongings clean and the best ways to ward off harmful microorganisms. UV-C light has been proven to eliminate 99.9% of viruses and bacteria on surfaces. It’s a method that’s been widely used by hospitals to disinfect rooms and equipment. In the last year, there have been many different consumer-level products that utilize UV-C light to help clean products at home. Coral UV 2 is one of those products. 

DETAILS

The Coral UV 2 is the world’s first UV multitask device. It sanitizes, filtrates, and smart-dries all in one product. The device has been completely redesigned with eco-friendly UV-C LED technology that provides a safer way to sanitize your belongings. The sanitizer was designed in Canada and has been lab-tested. The Coral UV 2 kills harmful germs within just 10 minutes thanks to its 12mw LED lights which are six times more powerful than other LED sanitizers. The unit is equipped with commercial-grade HEPA filtration that captures 99% of airborne contaminants like dirt, dust, and vapor.

In addition to the filtration and LED technology, the Coral UV 2 also features a temperature-controlled drying function. This helps to destroy excess moisture, which is a breeding ground for bacteria. The dryer maintains a safe drying temperature of up to 140F/60C so that it dries without damaging your belongings. Coral UV 2’s size is designed to fit all purposes. It can be used for sanitizing wallets, keys, phones, masks, baby accessories, utensils, cosmetic tools, shakers, and more. The product is safe and eco-friendly. The Coral UV 2 is mercury-free, odor-free, ozone-free, and chemical-free so that it is a much greener alternative to other sanitizers. It has a reported lifespan of up to 10 years and features free replacements (with the lifetime product warranty).

USER EXPERIENCE

Just like its predecessor, the Coral UV 2 has an exceptionally easy set-up process. You plug it in and press start. There is no complicated assembly process involved. I did have to remove some plastic wrap from inside the container and place the wire basket inside, but other than that, it’s pretty much ready to go. There is some scheduled maintenance that should be performed regularly. Those steps include wiping out the chamber and replacing the HEPA filter every 3 months. It is noted in the manual that users should not attempt to replace the UV-C bulbs. There is apparently an extended warranty that users can purchase, which will replace the unit once it’s at the end of its lifespan.

The controls are touch-sensitive and are located on the lid of the device. It’s pretty self-explanatory and there are only three options: SANITIZE + DRY, SANITIZE ONLY, and 24-HOUR STORAGE. A description of each option is included below. 

• SANITIZE + DRY: Sanitizes within the first 10 minutes, followed by a drying cycle for a specific time (40-70 minutes)
• SANITIZE ONLY: This setting runs with UV lights only. It is recommended for items that cannot be washed nor need to dry. (10-20 minutes)
• 24-HOUR STORAGE: This setting rung a 50 minute SANITIZE + DRY cycle, followed by a 2 minute SANITIZE ONLY cycle every 2 hours for 24 hours. 

The instructions do request that you use a damp cloth to wipe out the inside and then dry it off before running its first cycle. The first cycle should be a ‘SANITIZE + DRY’ for 70 minutes and the sanitizer should be empty while it runs. With this cycle, the sanitizer will run for the first 10 minutes and then a drying cycle for the remaining time. The sanitize cycle was completely silent. This makes a certain amount of sense considering that only the UV lights were on during this portion of the cycle. The fan kicked on exactly 10 minutes after the sanitizing cycle was complete. It’s a very gentle fan sound – only about as loud as a laptop fan. 

The chamber is very large and can fit nearly anything you need to sanitize. I was able to fit an 11-inch iPad Pro, Apple AirPods Max, Apple TV remote, Nintendo Switch, and my glasses into the main chamber and the basket. Even though you can fit many items inside the chamber it’s important to note that electronics should not be used with the drying cycle. This was something that we learned when reviewing the original Coral UV and it still holds true with this version. 

To test the operation of the Coral UV 2, I placed a cup inside that had recently been washed. I completed a similar testing process with the original Coral UV and found it to be successful on testing out how well the drying process works. Even though the cup had recently been washed, I wanted to make sure it was 100% sterilized since I used it every day for ice water. The container was still a little wet so I placed the main container, the lid, and the inner spout into the chamber and basket respectively. I set the Coral UV 2 to SANITIZE + DRY for 40 minutes and when the cycle was finished the cup was dry. 

I’ve been fortunate enough to work with several different types of UV sanitizers in the past including the original Coral UV. The operation of all of them is fairly simple in that you place your belongings inside and start the cleaning cycle. The same is true of the Coral UV 2. It’s size is really the best selling point because of the sheer amount of items you can fit inside its chamber. Unfortunately, I don’t have access to a lab so that I can test out how well this particular UV-C sanitizer works, I can say that UV-C light does have a profound effect on bacteria and other microorganisms. 

CONCLUSION 

The Coral UV 2 is a strong device that has the ability to sanitize many items at one time. I didn’t have any issues with its operation or set-up. It’s price is incredibly reasonable especially with the Kickstarter discount ($129 at the time of publishing). The Coral UV 2 is very low-maintenance and is great for cleaning up household objects.

For more information, visit coraluv.com, Facebook, and Twitter.

One year ago this week, the COVID-19 outbreak that was first observed in China was labeled a global pandemic. For the past year, our entire world has been covered quite literally with face masks, hand sanitizer, and other personal protective equipment. Even though the pandemic has re-written our sense of normalcy, it’s also been a harbinger for creation and innovation. It’s amazing to look back on the past 52 weeks and realize all the incredible things we, as humans, have developed and brought to fruition from nothing. Even though we can all see the light at the end of the tunnel with the emergence of viable vaccines that will undoubtedly help to curb the spread of the virus, people must remain vigilant and make use of the resources they have at their disposal. Face masks have been a constant need in our pandemic-driven world and while many of us have made use of disposable ones, there are some available that can be reused. The är Face Mask is one of those reusable options that not only protects you from germs but is also a technology-driven pandemic-born invention. 

DETAILS

The är Face Mask is designed to provide a stylish, comfortable piece of personal protection from viruses and other germs. The goal of the face mask was to give users a comfortable option for a face mask no matter what they were doing. The masks are made with materials sourced within the European Union and selected for the technical characteristics that are provided. Some of the main features that the masks have included a self-cleaning treatment that was developed in Sweden, Eco Acqua Zero water-repellant technology, and nanofilters that are produced with three laters of advanced materials. Each product is tested numerous times to ensure that they provide the highest quality to consumers.

There are six different technologies used to make up the face mask:

• ViralOff Technology: A treatment from the Swedish company Polygiene that is applied to textiles. The ViralOff chemical is a biocide: Silver Chloride. 
• Eco Acqua Zero: A fluoride-free water repellent technology makes the mask water-repellant and it also helps remove water from inside the mask. 
• Exhalation Valve: Allows users to breathe out more easily. The valve ensures that all the air that passes through the filter exits the mask through that valve. 
• Nose-fitting Piece: The nanofilter is equipped with an aluminum strip for shape adjustment. 
• Nanofilter: Each är Nanofilter contains three layers of nanotechnology. The nanofibers average in thickness between 100 nm and 500 nm. Filters are replaceable. 
• Adjustable: The mask features small buckles on each ear loop strap. This allows users to adjust the length of the strap for a snug fit. 

The är Gloves are labeled as “self-cleaning” gloves because they feature many of the same technologies as the face masks. The gloves are touchscreen-friendly and include the same ViralOff and Eco Acqua Zero treatments as the face masks. The main purpose of the gloves is to keep a user’s hands from touching germ-ridden surfaces. 

UNBOXING – USER EXPERIENCE

Since I had the opportunity to try both the gloves and the face mask, I will be commenting on both experiences here. I love the material they are both made out of. It makes the gloves and the face mask very soft and comfortable to wear. The gloves were a perfect fit for both my fiancé and myself (XL). They are easy to slip on and off and even though it definitely feels like you are wearing gloves, I could see wearing them for longer periods of time when necessary simply because of how comfortable they are. 

As much as we both love the gloves, I ended up having some issues with the face mask. After I got the mask out of its package, I pulled the filter out of its package as well. The filter is designed to simply Velcro into the body of the face mask. The assembly is easy enough and when I was done I lifted the mask up to my face and was immediately met with a very strong chemical smell. It was strong enough to make me gasp for air, cough, and it even caused a headache for a short time. At first, I wasn’t sure if the smell was coming from the filter or the mask itself. So I removed the filter from the mask and smelled each separately. The filter was definitely the culprit. 

So, I set it aside to air out overnight. The next day, the smell was still present, but it was very faint. After letting it air out, I was able to wear it normally without it causing discomfort or breathing issues. Unfortunately, though, I ended up having fitting issues. The filter – even when it’s attached to the mask – tends to bunch up quite a bit. This is not conducive for a smooth, even fit, which is essential to an effective mask. In addition to the filter bunching problem, the outer mask was very loose around my nose – even with the ear loop cinched up. The filter has a metal pinch on the nose as surgical masks do, but it feels very loose all the way around to me. The masks do come in different sizes and after measuring my face as suggested by the sizing guide, my mask size should be a medium or a large since my face measures 4.5 inches. There is even a note that says to pick a bigger size if you are on a borderline. This approach didn’t end up working too well for me. 

CONCLUSION

Even though the mask is very comfortable – especially around the ears – I don’t fully trust it for me since it isn’t a good fit for my face. I do love the design of it and the gloves are amazing. But, I have concerns about how effective it may or may not be due to the fitting issues I experienced. 

For more details, visit ÄR, Facebook, and Instagram.

Assess your mold risk with the Wave Mini.

Given that we live in a pandemic-laden world, air quality is top of mind for most people these days. Even though mask-wearing is part of our daily lives, it’s still a good idea to monitor the air particulates where you work, live, and spend your free time. There are a lot of options out there for air quality monitors, but one of the best options I’ve found is the Wave Mini from AirThings. Almost a year ago, MacSources writer, Jon Walters, completed a thorough review of the AirThings Wave Mini and its main functionality. So, this review is going to focus on Wave Mini’s mold risk indication, which is a new feature that was released after Jon completed his review. 

DETAILS

The Wave Mini is an air quality monitor that measures a variety of elements in a room including airborne chemicals (VOCs), temperature, humidity, and mold risk. It has a visual indicator included that allows the user to see with just a wave of the hand what the air quality is in a room (green—good, yellow—fair, and red—poor). The Wave Mini is battery-operated with three AA batteries that are supposed to have a 2-year lifetime. The device does work with Google Assistant and users can create custom alerts using it or IFTTT. The sensors in the Wave Mini are designed to provide you with an understanding of the air quality in your home so that you can make small changes to everyday habits that will optimize your air quality. The Mold Risk indication is a new feature that works with a created algorithm based on the ASHRAE mold index and uses the humidity and temperature sensors in the Wave Mini to assess growth risk in the location where you place the device. 

USER EXPERIENCE

The Wave Mini is very easy to set-up. The device comes with three AA batteries installed. To get started, you pull the tab so that the batteries are powering the device. After that, you use the app to finish the set-up. Once you finish the in-app instructions, the device will start collecting data and you can place it where you like. It comes with a stand, but you also have the option to drill a hole through the center of the backplate so you can hang it on a wall. It takes 7 days to fully calibrate the sensors and 48 hours to process enough data to provide a mold risk assessment. 

AirThings provides a lot of information about the Mold Risk Indicator on their website and one of the things the site suggests is where to place the sensor. The site reads, “For the most accurate readings, the device should be placed where mold is most likely to grow. The most vulnerable areas are often the coldest and the least ventilated.” Some of the areas that are suggested are next to a wall or windowsill, underneath or behind furniture, towards the floor on external walls, next to underground external walls, and small enclosures. Some of the rooms that most commonly have mold problems include rooms with external walls and/or poor insulation, rooms with poor ventilation, basements, attics, bathrooms, garages, sheds, and crawl spaces. 

After completing the set-up of the Wave Mini, I placed it in my office. My office is a small bedroom in the center of our house. Across the hall is our main bathroom and the room is usually closed off from the rest of the house. Even when I’m working, I keep the door closed. There is only one window in the room and since it’s the middle of winter, that window has remained shut and locked. I’ve noticed in the mornings – after the room has been vacant for several hours and closed off from the house – that it’s a lot cooler than other parts of the house. I’ve kept the sensor right next to a wall and allowed it to collect data. The mold risk in my office has stayed a reading of 0. The risk levels are indicated on a scale of 0-10 and described as good (0-3), fair (4-5), and poor (5-10). Since the relative humidity in my office has remained at an average of 30% for the past week, the risk of mold in the room is going to be very low. Fortunately, that risk has remained the same for the last 7 days. 

CONCLUSION

The Wave Mini is a really great device to have in your home or your office to monitor your air quality. I love the Mold Risk indicator because our house is a little older and we’ve had water/moisture problems in the past. So, it’s a welcome addition to our home. It’s easy to use and affordable. I can recommend this to anyone who wants to protect their environment from harmful air pollutants. 

For more information, visit airthings.com, Facebook and Twitter.

I spend a lot of time sitting behind a computer. If I’m not writing a review, I’m editing photographs. With all that sitting comes a lot of stiffness. I suffer with some chronic pain issues already and sitting for long periods of time doesn’t usually help the issue. I was grateful when Apple released the feature on Apple Watches that encourages you to stand every hour. I try to follow that as much as I can, but just standing behind my desk comes with its own set of problems. I find my lower back aching more and my knees, which are plagued with arthritis are stiffer than usual after I stand for a while. So what should a person in my predicament do? I recently heard about the FluidStance Balance Board and thought it sounded like something I could easily add into my daily routine. 

DETAILS

The Balance Board is designed for someone to use while working at a standing desk. The board is omnidirectional and designed to tilt from side to side and front to back. It’s just enough of a wobble to keep your burning calories but not so much that it’s distracting while you work. The science behind the board helps users burn calories, expand their range of motion, and raises their heart rates to increase their overall health. There are a few different versions of the FluidStance balance board — the Level, the Original, and the Plane Cloud. The Level is the version I was able to test out. It’s made in the U.S.A. It’s created from die-cast, military-grade aluminum that is powder coated for durability. The ‘board’ is a half-inch thick piece of bamboo or maple. The board is usually referred to as a ‘deck’ by FluidStance and it measures 26.5” long x 12.2” wide x 2.5” tall — about the size of a skateboard. It weighs approximately 7 lbs 12 oz and is recommended for users under 300 pounds. 

USER EXPERIENCE

The FluidStance Level Balance Board comes in a fairly nondescript cardboard box. It’s plain, but it does have “FluidStance” printed on it. It’s a larger box and because the board weighs close to 8 pounds, it can be a little awkward to carry around. I don’t plan on keeping the box to store the board in and thankfully FluidStance sends a canvas drawstring bag along with it for transporting the board around. Since I work from home 100% of the time, transportation of the board isn’t that big of an issue to me, but I could see some users wanting something more than the drawstring bag to carry it. Therefore, having something like a duffle bag style case might be a little easier to carry around. 

There is no assembly or set-up required to use the board. You simply take it out of the box and step on it. This is one of the things I like so much about the Level board. It’s a simple product. There are so many ‘smart’ products out there today that it’s nice to just have a physical product that helps with a standard problem and you don’t have to connect an app to it or make sure it’s charged before you use it. For me, I simply slid my desk chair away from my desk, raised the desk up, and then stepped on the board. I was able to balance quite easily with my hands resting on the desk/keyboard and I’ve noticed that there are certain parts of my body that don’t hurt as much at the end of the day. I use the board whenever my Apple Watch tells me to stand up. So, I’m using it for approximately 10 minutes each hour. 

After I started seeing some benefits of the Level board, I had my fiance try it out, too. She was using it on a carpet and I had been using it on a plastic chair mat. She said she noticed right away how comfortable it was to stand on the board versus just standing on the flat ground. She also has an electric standing desk and periodically throughout the day, she stands for a few minutes at a time just to get the stiffness worked out in her legs. She loves how easy it was to stand on the balance board and how it didn’t really affect her work productivity. She was still able to work while using the board and at the end of the day she felt better than when she sits all day. In addition to trying it on the carpet, I had her try the board on my chair mat. She said that it definitely felt different to her, but it was still easy to use. 

CONCLUSION

The Level balance board from FluidStance might be my favorite non-electric thing in our house now. It’s really helped both my fiance and I feel better than we were when we weren’t using it and it’s such an easy thing to incorporate into your daily routine. The only drawback to the board is its price. The Level starts at $249 and the Original is $439. These boards are built with premium materials and they definitely feel exclusive and sturdy, but I could see the price being a roadblock for some people when there are other balance boards (of lesser quality) available. I would recommend making the investment in the Level Balance Board. It’s a great product. 

For more information, visit fluidstance.com, Facebook, and Twitter.

Technology that makes health reporting easier. 

The past few years have been quite stressful for me. In that time, I completed a 2-year masters degree, helped with raising a teenager, cared for an elderly family member, kept a household moving, written reviews at night, and helped my fiancé with ongoing health issues including physical therapy after surgery. It’s been a lot and at the height of that stress I noticed that I was having heart flutters and dizzy spells. At this point in time, I know that it was stress-induced high blood pressure, but at the time, it was definitely concerning. Even though I could take better care of myself, I’ve always generally been a healthy person. So, having that abnormality take hold in my life was jarring to say the least. One of the things I did to help myself during that time was to keep track of my blood pressure using the iHealth Ease Wireless Blood Pressure monitor. Because it’s wireless, it’s easy to use in a moment’s notice and the data is stored right on my iPhone so that it’s easy to share with my family or doctor. 

DETAILS

The iHealth Ease Wireless Blood Pressure Monitor provides users with technology that helps you monitor your health at a fair price. With this device, you can turn your smartphone into a US & European Society of Hypertension approved blood pressure monitor. Readings are stored and charged in the app, which also helps to detect irregularities. The monitor communicates to the app on your smartphone of choice through Bluetooth. To use the blood pressure cuff, you just put the cuff on your arm the way it’s shown on the illustration of the cuff and then press start on the app. The Ease monitor is rechargeable and it is compatible with Apple Health. The monitor has been clinically tested for accuracy. The app is available for both iOS and Android devices. 

USER EXPERIENCE

The Ease BP Monitor comes in a white and orange iHealth branded box. The front of the box features an image of the device in use. The back of it has some of the main features included as well as a list of what is included in the box (1 dock, 1 cable, 1 cuff, 1 user guide, 1 quick start guide). Downloading the app is the first step in the process. It’s free and available for both iOS and Android devices. Once the app is downloaded, you can connect to the monitor via Bluetooth and from that point on, the app will automatically detect the device when it’s on and in range. 

To use the monitor, you simply place the cuff on the subject’s arm, connect it to the monitor, and then press start on the app. The cuff will inflate like a standard blood pressure monitor/machine and deflate in the same manner. Then the reading will appear on the screen of the app. One of the things I really like about this monitor is that it’s so simple. As I described above, I started using this monitor because of my own health concerns, but as it turns out, it’s been good for the whole family. My fiance’s grandmother lives with us and as she gets older, she has certain ailments that we monitor closely. One of the ways we do that is by frequently checking her blood pressure. The fact that this devicee gives us the opportunity to easily share her readings with her doctor is great. 

The information provided by iHealth states that the monitor is clinically tested. So, it should be trustworthy. I decided to run my own series of tests. In the span of about 5 minutes, I took my blood pressure three times. The first time the reading was very high. My resting blood pressure is usually a standard normal and right around 120/80. The initial reading was 142/82. Because I thought it was abnormal for me – especially since I wasn’t under any undue stress when I took the reading – I placed the cuff around my wrist, which is still an acceptable place to take a reading. That time, it was much lower at 118/57. Finally, I took a third reading on my upper arm again and got a reading of 138/82. While that still wasn’t ‘normal’ it was much lower than the first reading. I let a few minutes pass and took my blood pressure again. This time, I used a wrist monitor just so I could get a second opinion. The reading was 138/90. Since this was fairly close to the last reading I took, I am accepting the accuracy of the iHealth Ease monitor’s reading. One of the things that might have driven my blood pressure up was the fact that I’ve been fighting a sinus infection as well as the fact that the cuff is a little too small for my arm. 

CONCLUSION

I believe it’s incredibly important to keep personal medical devices like this handy at home. iHealth makes some wonderful connected health devices and the Ease monitor is a great one for any home. It’s very easy to use and incredibly affordable. iHealth has a lot of options for blood pressure monitoring, but this one seems to be one of the best ones because of how easy it is to understand. 

For more details, visit iHealth, Facebook, and Twitter.

Keep a sanitizing option with you on the go.

In the past year, we’ve all learned to be more conscientious about cleanliness and keeping our personal items sanitized. One of the germiest things we carry around with us is our smartphone. It’s a literal magnet for all the things we touch throughout the day. And, while wiping it down with sanitizing cloths can be helpful, perhaps the easiest way to keep our phones (and other items as well) sanitized is by using a personal UV-C Sanitizer. There are several different styles of this device in the market today, but I’ve only seen one that is designed specifically to be used in the car — the Utilimedic In-Car Phone Sanitizer. 

DETAILS 

The UTILIMEDIC In-Car Phone Sanitizer is specifically designed for in-car use. It’s a UV-C sanitizing case with a 10W wireless charger built into the lid. The UV-C sanitizer features eight UV-C LED lights that produce 5mW per LED and provide 170 degrees of light coverage for your phone. Within five minutes, 99.9% of bacteria and viruses will be cleaned off the surface of your phone with complete 360-degree sanitizing power. The inside of the compartment has bumpers that a phone can rest inside. This prevents the phone from sliding from side to side while the car is in motion – but it can still move back and forth. The case comes with a silicone pad for it to rest inside so that while the car is in motion, it’s remaining in a designated location. The bottom of the silicone pad is designed to stick to smooth surfaces. A 3M adhesive pad does come with the kit in case you have a location for the sanitizer where it needs a bit more help adhering to the surface. In addition to the wireless charger on the top of the sanitizer, users also have the option of running a cable into the main compartment of the sanitizer to charge your phone with a wired connection while it’s being cleaned. The sanitizer comes with a USB-C to USB-A cable and a 12V car plug. The dimensions are 9.3” x 2.3” x 5.7” and it weighs 1.3 lbs. Even though the sanitizer is designed to hold a phone, if an item can fit inside, the device can clean it. 

USER EXPERIENCE

The sanitizer comes in a well-branded box with an image of the product on the front. There are quite a few details about the product on the back of the box, too. While the design is a little busy, if I saw the box on a shelf in a store, I would be able to learn a lot about the product before buying it. The sanitizer comes with an owner’s manual that outlines the basic operation of the device. Even though this sanitizer is designed for in-car use, it can be used in the home as well. One of the things I noticed right off the bat was that its form and function are not very different from other sanitizers I’ve used. The biggest differentiator between the ‘standard’ phone sanitizers and this one is the fact that this one comes with a kit that helps keep the device stationary while it’s in the car. We’ve taken other sanitizers with us on road trips before and they work in the car just like this one does, but since they aren’t specifically designed for motion, phones and other devices that are being sanitized will slide around inside the body of the device. 

Another thing I noticed was that the In-Car Sanitizer does not have an on-board power bank. Therefore, it has to be plugged into a power source (wall outlet or car outlet) in order to operate. While a wired connection ensures the strongest charge, I don’t like having a lot of wires strewn around the inside of my car. They are distracting to me and I would love to see a rechargeable version of this device at some point in the future. I do like that while one device is charging another one can be inside the case being cleansed. I also like that there is an option to have a phone connected to a wired connection while it’s being cleaned. The cable passthrough is lined with silicone, which closes around the cable so that no UV-C light escapes from inside. Another safety measure that Utilimedic designed into the device was a magnetic switch on the inside of the lid that prevents the unit from turning on when the lid is open. This is important because even though UV-C light is great for cleaning products, it’s harmful to humans. 

I don’t have a lab to be able to test the efficiency of the sanitizer, and normally one of our writers Jon who is a full-time doctor can run this type of test for us but with COVID he didn’t have the extra time. So without doing a lab test all I can say is that its operation is very similar to other UV-C sanitizers I’ve used and a colleague has been able to test those devices cleaning efficiency in a lab. So, I can say from past experiences that these types of devices get the job done. I did place my phone inside to clean it and when I pressed the power button, it turned red indicating that the sanitizer was operating. The process did only take about 5 minutes. 

I was able to test the wireless charging efficiency of the product and found that it has a charging rate of 0.43% per minute, which seems to be a standard charging rate for the iPhone 12 Pro on a wireless charger. The charging starts automatically when you place the phone on the charging pad and the power button illuminates with a blue color to let the user know it’s in operation. When I tested the charging efficiency of the wireless charging pad, I did so without a case on my phone. That said, I did put a standard size case on my phone to see if it would charge, which it did successfully. 

CONCLUSION

I think the Utilimedic In-Car Phone Sanitizer is a great option for keeping your devices clean while on the go. While there are other sanitizers like this available, it makes sense to invest in this model for your car since it comes with a kit specifically designed for car use. It’s also designed to withstand temperatures from -4º F to 158º F so it can be left in the car unless the temperatures are in an extreme range. While I do wish that the device had an internal power bank so that it could be 100% wireless, I am glad that the kit comes with its own car charger. These sanitizers are definitely worth the investment and do a great job keeping items germ-free.

For more information, visit utilimedic.com, Facebook, or Twitter. 

Attractive UV-C LED Generating pen, with a convenient carry case but questionable cleansing power.

2020 has certainly been a crazy year, and I suspect that most hope for a less stressful 2021.  With a lack of toilet paper, food/cleaning product scarcities, and limited deliveries, we have made several adjustments.  To reduce the risks of infection, I have followed the CDC’s recommendations to socially distance, not gather, wear masks, and increase the frequency of hand/surface cleansing.  One technology that I have explored has been UV-C sanitizers. With the power of the germicidal, DNA-damaging 254nm-280nm wavelength light, I hoped to reduce the contaminants/growths on those surfaces that I touch most frequently.

The CASEWASH UV-C Sanitizing pen arrived in a sterile-white 3 1/8 inches wide by 6 3/4 inches tall by 1 1/2 inches thick retail package.  The product title was clearly visible along the top, printed in an attractive grey and shimmering-silver font.  Along the left side of the panel, you will find a grey icon detailing the 99.9% germ-killing “in as little as 10 seconds” and a secondary icon detailing the built-in battery (4 hours before recharging).  The cover’s main focal point was the 4 3/8 inches tall by 2 inches wide front/rear view of the sanitizing pen.  I loved how they presented the case, demonstrated the light cleansing properties, and the overall layout of the screen.  Both informational and attractive, they did a great job of not overpowering the panel.  The right side panel listed the CASEWASH name and Facebook/Instagram logos.  The left side panel provided three icons: 1. 99.9% Germ UV-C Light Rapid killing properties. 2. Quick Clean: With as little as 10 seconds of UV-C light can rid items of germs. 3. Portable: Pocket-Sized and convenient travel pouch included. The rear panel provided a useful image of the UV-C pen and several devices with a purple glowing halo representing the cleansing properties of the device.  The same shimmering UV-C Sanitizing pen was placed below the image.  Along the middle of the panel, you will find information about the touch panel button, the auto-off feature, the product contents (UV_C pen, USB-C cable 1MORE/3.3 foot, carrying pouch, instruction manual), and product specifications: CWUVCPENWHT model number, 5V/1A input, 15-18mW output, 800mAh battery, 10-30 sec sanitizing time, 40 min charging time, 4 hour operation time, 10,000-hour bulb lifespan, 1-2 inch distance, 128x31x10.3mm dimensions, 2.12 oz weight.  For more information about the product, you can scan the QR code along the bottom of the panel (www.casewash.com), and you can read the UV-C cautionary warning.

Removing the product from the packaging proved to be a little more challenging than it initially appeared.  I tried grabbing the plastic hanging tab to pull upward, but the inner tray would not slide out.  I tried pushing downward and met the same resistance.  I looked to the cover and found two small slits with plastic wings jutting outward.  I tried pressing them in, I tried cutting them off, and I still could not easily remove the pen/contents.  Using the edge of a pair of scissors, I sliced the cardboard along one of the edges and then removed the inner tray.  I slid the 2 3/4 inches wide by 6 1/4 inches by 9/16 inches wide accessory box and plastic-wrapped pen UV-C Pen out of the tray.  Within the tray, I found a 1 3/4 inches wide by 5 3/8 inches tall leather carry case, 40 1/4 inches wide USB-A to USB-C cable, and 12-page instruction manual.  The manual was well written, well layer out, and easy to peruse.  The second page detailed the instruction for use (Tap on/off button twice to turn on the device, tap and hold the on/off button to turn off the device).  The third panel showed a front/back image of the UV-C pen, and the fourth page showed a hovering device 1-2 inches above the surface of a computer.  There was a panel about charging and other cautionary statements: 1. avoid looking into the light. 2. Do not use it on your skin.  The posterior panels showed other important safety information, disposal information and relisted the UV-C pen specs. 

Excited about the product, I removed the 2.12-ounce, 5 inches tall by 1 1/4 inches wide, UV-C pen.  The grey main panel had the CASEWASH name along the bottom, the UV-C LED Kills 99.9% of GERMS along the top, and a single 1/4 inch diameter touch-button.  The back panel had a 1 1/8 inches tall by 11/32 inches wide bank of three LEDs along the top, a red “Warning UV Light Don’t expose eyes or skin along the middle, and product specifications along the bottom.  Along the lower rim of the UV-C pen, you will find the USB-C charging port.  To test the product’s cleansing nature, I reached out to my local lab director and obtained four sterile swabs and four blood agar plates.  I swabbed my iPhone 12 Pro Max’s surface with one sterile swab and then swabbed the touchpad of my work laptop with another.  For the second step, I tapped the power button twice and activated the UV-C pen.  I visually divided my phone into fourths and bathed each section’s surface with UV-C for thirty seconds.  I made sure to sweep slightly over each of the four segments and kept the light closer than two inches.  I then re-swabbed the same sanitized surfaces with new swabs, labeled the agar plates pre/post, and incubated them at 98 degrees for forty-eight hours. 

I wish that I could say that the device lived up to the promised germ-killing expectations, but alas, it did not.  Both the phone and laptop surfaces showed a good amount of cleansing but nowhere near 99.9%.  This one test cannot disprove their assertion, but it was not as strong of a cleansing as I would have hoped, especially since the Homesoap and ADONIT NOTE-UVC showed nearly universal growth suppression.  I think the 10-30 second claim may be a bit below the needed threshold to eliminate the 99.9% of growth.  I made sure to follow the instructions, I made sure to use the UV-C filter at 1-2 inches from the surface, and I made sure to cleanse for at least 30 seconds.  I liked the auto-off safety feature, whereby the light turned off if flipped upward. This feature protected the eyes/face of the user and was greatly appreciated. It was easy to charge, the button combinations were well designed, easy to carry, and the accessory case was a nice bonus. I hated that I had to destroy the box to remove the pen and felt it might have been a bit of a design flaw. Despite the attractiveness of the device, I cannot recommend it as a safety/cleaning device. For now, I will continue to spray my microfiber and WOOSH cloths with 70% alcohol and will continue to wipe the surfaces.  Twice daily, I have been cleaning my phone with the HomeSoap device.  I had hoped to use this device to sterilize my phone screen and trackpad quickly.  However, at this time, I cannot trust the device to cleanse the surfaces thoroughly.

Learn more about the CASEWASH Device.
CASEWASH on INSTAGRAM

Enjoy clean air throughout your house.

In our household, we’ve always tried to be cautious about air pollutants because my fiancé’s grandmother lives with us and she has COPD. Even though clean air is in everyone’s best interest, we really try to keep the air in tip-top shape for her. While we’ve included air quality testers in the house to monitor the environment, the tool that is really needed for fixing ‘dirty’ air is an air purifier. There are a lot of options out there these days and we ultimately decided to work with the Air Mini+ from Molekule. 

Molekule was founded with one purpose in mind — to destroy indoor air pollution around the world. After 20 years of research, Molekule’s founders created a new purification technology called PECO. PECO stands for Photo Electrochemical Oxidation and it’s what powers all Molekule purifiers. Molekule provides several different styles of purifiers, but we decided the Air Mini+ would be the best for us. It works for spaces that are up to 250 square feet in size. 

We used the purifier in two main areas – our office and our kitchen/dining room. The office is approximately 180 square feet and the kitchen/dining room is between 250/300 square feet. We originally had it in the office but decided that the dining room area made more sense because the space was larger and because there was a greater chance of air pollutants being created there by virtue of the fact that cooking happens in the kitchen. 

The Air Mini+ has a particle sensor and has an Auto Protect Mode. That mode will automatically detect particles in the air thanks to the sensor and adjust the fan speed accordingly. You also have the option to change the fan speed manually through the app or by touching the top of the unit. Since we’ve had the purifier set up it’s been on Auto Protect mode. It’s worked really well for our family because we can set it and forget it until it’s time to change the filter. The Air Mini+ can do its job without any involvement from the user. I have noticed several times when I’ve been cooking – especially something that permeates the entire house like cooking bacon – that the fan on the purifier kicks into higher settings for a time until the air clears out.

The Air Mini+ is whisper-quiet (operates at 30 decibels). It’s designed to be able to work in any room – including bedrooms. So, it has to be quiet in order for it not to disturb someone sleeping. When the purifier arrived, we plugged it in and connected it immediately. I was surprised at how quiet it actually was. It creates a very gentle hum while the fan is on its lowest speed. It does get a bit louder at high speeds, but it’s no louder than a personal cooling fan. 

The purifier is also ozone-free and users have the option to have filters automatically shipped to them. Since the purifier connects to your home Wi-Fi, it can report back to Molekule when a new filter is required. One of the things the app provides you is an estimate of how much life the filter still has. From the screenshots I’ve included in this article, you can see that the filter is currently at 77% of its life. It will be a while before we have to replace it, but it’s good to have that visual reminder of where the filter is in its life cycle.

So, how does the purifier work? First, it takes in air from the bottom of the unit and as air flows through the high-efficiency filter layers, larger particles get trapped. You can actually see how well dirty air elements are collected on the outer filter layer by the photos included in this article. In the center of the filter is where the PECO process occurs. According to the Molekule website, “The nanocatalyst-coated filter layers react to light, destroying pollutants and leaving behind clean air.” Once the air makes its trip through the purifier, the clean air is expelled through the top of the purifier and back into the room. 

To set up the Air Mini+, you start by pairing it to your phone. You enter some information about the environment where the purifier is going to be installed and that’s it. You have the option to connect the purifier to HomeKit if you wish. Once the purifier is installed, you can view the current air quality rating in the Molekule app along with the PECO-filter’s status. While I feel that the air purifier has been doing a good job, it would also be nice if the sensor’s readings were recorded in the app for later review. For example, I have an air quaility monitor in one of the rooms of our house. The app for that device records data constantly and provides a chart for users to review to see how the air quality has changed over time in a given space. This is what I would love to see incorporated into the app. Right now, you get a current quality level, the ability to change your fan speed, the filter status, and device details and settings.

Overall, I really like the Air Mini+. I think it’s an easy way to keep the air in your house clean. Once the purifier is set up, you can just leave it alone to work until the filter needs to be changed. We have moved ours from room-to-room, which is actually recommended by Molekule, but there is nothing wrong with having it regulate the air in a single room. I think it’s a worthwhile investment because there are a lot of purifiers in the market, but not all of them are connected to WiFi or the Auto Protect mode. And for me, those are the main features that set the Air Mini+ apart from other purifiers.

In addition to being sold through Amazon.com, and molekule.com, you can also find the Air Mini+ on Apple.com and Apple Stores across North America.

For more information, visit molekule.com, Facebook, and Twitter.

A wearable mask that is flexible enough for working people.

When I imagined 2020, I never envisioned a world covered with face masks. I remember being a child and thinking that 2020 would be the year I turned 40. It was a simple thought, but something I always hung on to. I’ve looked forward to this year for as long as I can remember, but it has become one of those ‘make lemonade out of lemons’ situations. Now we sit on the cusp of medical innovation as vaccines are finally coming to market for global use. Even though inoculation is likely the best weapon we have against this invisible, silent, deadly opponent, medical professionals and scholars around the world are still recommending that people wear masks and continue to social distance themselves from others until the coronavirus (COVID-19) is on the downward slope. 

With that in mind, it’s important to find a mask that you can be comfortable in while it protects you. I think it’s safe to say that we’ve all likely run the gamut of mask-wearing in the past 10 months. I know I personally have worn basic surgical masks the most, then my N95 masks (we only have a couple of them), and finally, a polyester/spandex-based mask. Some are more comfortable than others and some protect better than others. Since this entire pandemic began, I’ve wanted a reusable mask that could be as protective as the basic surgical masks. Fortunately, I was recently introduced to Airpop, a reusable/washable mask designer. 

DETAILS

Airpop has a few different styles of face masks including the Airpop Light SE, which is the style I had the opportunity to try out. The mask is “engineered for long-wearing comfortable” according to airpophealth.com. It features a patented design that includes a cushioned TPU nose seal that provides anti-fogging properties for those who wear eyeglasses. The masks are ergonomically designed with adjustable earloops so that each mask has a custom fit for the user. The Airpop masks offer 99.3% filtration (PFE) and 99.9% bacterial filtration (BFE) as well as fluid resistance. The mask has a unique shape to it that is referred to as a “3D structure.” This shape keeps the mask directly off the face of the wearer so that they can breathe easier. 

Specs

USER EXPERIENCE

The Airpop Light SE Mask comes in a plastic resealable pouch. This packaging is similar to a lot of the reusable masks I’ve seen in stores. Inside, there are 4 of the Airpop masks. The front of the package shows an image of what the mask looks like along with some of the product’s details. The back of the package provides some additional details including the lifespan of the Light SE Mask. While Airpop has masks that are reusable, the Light SE Mask is still technically a disposable mask. They rate this mask with a lifespan of up to 40 hours with the 99% efficiency listed above. The masks are machine-washable, but it does reduce the filtration of them to 70%. Airpop also recommends that all their masks should be hand-washed with 70% alcohol/soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds and air-dried for at least 24 hours in order to keep them as effective as possible. 

So, one of the first things I noticed was that the Airpop Light SE Masks wear differently than other face masks. They have the nose seal that has to be adjusted to just the right spot in order for it to provide the correct closure for the mask. I had some trouble with this at first but finally figured out how to get the seal to make contact with both sides of the nose. The first real test I had was when we completed a photo shoot while wearing the masks. Nick and I both wore the Airpop Light SE Mask and while I thought they were fairly easy to breathe in, Nick has some troubles. The shoot was approximately 2 hours long and we were outdoors. I did notice that I sweated more with the Airpop mask than I did while wearing my N95. When I removed it, I noticed that there was condensation built-up beneath the TPU nose seal. And, even though the seal is meant to have anti-fogging properties, Nick noticed that he was still getting a build-up of fog on the viewfinder window of his camera.

Since the Airpop was more comfortable than other face masks I had with me, I decided to wear it in a grocery store. Once I was inside, I found that it was hard for me to take deep breaths of any kind. I tried to breathe with short, shallow breaths instead, but I still found it hard to catch any air at all. The feeling I had was similar to when you put on a pair of goggles for swimming and the seal suctions itself to your face. I was wearing the mask the same way I did when we were outdoors, but for some reason, this new feeling caused me to feel uneasy wearing the mask. 

CONCLUSION

The Airpop Light SE Mask is a nice alternative to other face masks available. It is easy to wear and I love the adjustable ear straps. I’m not a big fan of how the comfort-factor changes on a whim, but the mask is very durable and they are easier to work in than some other face masks available. One of the things I like a lot about these masks is that they don’t shift around a lot while you wear them. They seem to stay in place easily. 

For more information, visit airpophealth.com. Facebook Twitter