I’m a man that’s not easily annoyed. Screaming kids jumping on me and demanding to watch YouTube videos while I’m trying to work? Doesn’t phase me. The mom who uses their 3 year-old as a placeholder in line at the grocery store while she runs and grabs 10 additional items? Probably not the best parenting move, but I’m cool with it. The neighbor who thinks he’s a pyrotechnics expert and decides to host an annual 4th of July party in which he shoots off an hour’s worth of fireworks over my house while my kids are sleeping, despite the obvious drought conditions and strong possibility of my lawn bursting into flames? A little sketchy, but I allow it.
In short, I’m probably one of the most laid back guys you’ll ever meet.
But one thing that for me has always been a perpetual pet peeve is electrical cords. They drive me nuts. They’re constantly in your way, they’re always tangled and they take forever to put away. Unless you’re Amish, you know exactly what I’m talking about.
My wife knows my frustration. She hears it anytime I work around the house, which is quite often.
I love classic architecture, and as such, one of the hobbies I’ve taken up is finish carpentry – a hobby that’s led me to amass a ridiculous collection of tools. A miter saw, a table saw, jigsaws, routers, joiners, the list goes on and on. And other than a few drills, virtually all of them use electrical cords.
This presents me with two options while I work: run numerous extension cords around the garage, or use fewer extension cords and constantly unplug tools.
Both options are terrible.
I usually opt for fewer extension cords, just to keep things a little neater, but it takes forever to plug/unplug tools anytime I need to switch, and even if there’s only a couple extension laying around, I still manage to trip on them.
After years of whining about how much I hate extension cords, my wife, being the fantastic woman that she is, decided to fix the problem. A month ago, she gave me an early Father’s Day gift, and one of the most enduring annoyances I have ever experienced has officially been alleviated.
That gift, my friends, was the RoboReel Cord Reel.
RoboReel Cord Reel Operation
What’s the RoboReel Cord Reel you ask? In a word, it’s genius. It’s a way to eliminate virtually all of the annoyances experienced with traditional extension cords.
At its core, the RoboReel Cord Reel is an automatic extension cord winder. But unlike other extension cord winders that utilize some form of spring mechanism, the RoboReel Cord Reel boasts an electric design. Simply hit the retract button on either the end of the extension cord or the base, and the extension cord electronically retracts into the base.
From there, the RoboReel gets even better.
Not only is it electric, it’s intelligent, giving it several key advantages over other cord reels.
First and foremost, there’s the winding process, which is two-stage and super smooth throughout the wind. The cord starts in a higher speed mode for the main portion of the wind, and as the cord nears the base, the RoboReel automatically switches to the slower speed. This two-speed winding process eliminates any whipping action as the cord nears the base, and it’s programmable, allowing you to choose precisely when the cord slows.
Secondly, the intelligent design knows when the extension cord is in use. So let’s say you’re using a jigsaw to freehand cope a piece of crown molding when your son decides to come into the garage and retract the cord (as happened to me not long after setting up the RoboReel). Whereas other cord winders would have retracted, taking the jigsaw and possibly my finger with them, the RoboReel’s intelligent design knew not to retract the cord. The result: I saved myself a trip the ER to have my finger surgically reattached. Needless to say, it’s one of my favorite features.
Last but not least, the final piece of ingenuity is that in the event of a blockage, the RoboReel will automatically stop winding. Not only does it save wear and tear on the motor, it makes it easy to eliminate slack in the cord – simply hit the retract button, hold the cord at the precise distance you want it, and the slack is gone.
RoboReel Cord Reel Design
Unlike other cord winders that are basically plastic spools with an extension cord wrapped around them, RoboReel’s designers did a fantastic job envisioning what an extension cord winder should be. They forsook the traditional spool, and instead created a unique orb-like design capable of rotating a full 360 degrees. The three outlet, 50 foot 12-gauge extension cord is housed inside the sphere (which measures approximately 10 inches in diameter), and the top half rotates freely, allowing you move the cord any direction necessary. It looks awesome, and it works exactly the way you want it to, as I’ve yet to have it not wind correctly.
For mounting, you’ve got two options. There’s a ceiling mounted RoboReel, which comes with a self-leveling ball joint equipped mount, and there’s a portable cord reel with floor stand that you can also mount on a wall (with an optional attachment). If you’re going to be using the cord reel in a garage or work area the ceiling mount would be great, but I personally have the portable model. I have it centrally mounted on a wall in my garage for easy access whenever I need it, and I’ve also moved it into the house numerous times for various projects. If you plan on doing projects around the house that need extension cords, I’d recommend the portable model.
RoboReel Cord Reel Safety and Durability
Anytime you’re dealing with extension cords, safety is paramount, and the RoboReel has a host of safety elements built in. I already noted the winding safety features – it has two-speed winding so there’s no whipping motion, it won’t wind while in use, and it stops winding in the event of an obstruction. In the event the extension cord is severed, power is shut off in less than a second. There are redundant thermostats and an automatic shutoff to prevent overheating and a potential fire hazard. And there’s a circuit breaker built in.
If you’re looking for an extension cord manager, it’s as safe as you’re going to get.
From a durability standpoint, I’ve yet to find fault with my RoboReel. It winds consistently every time as advertised; it’s made from high impact plastics that are oil, gas and chemical resistant; and it has UV additives to resist color fading. In the event something does go wrong, the RoboReel comes with an all encompassing 4-year or 4,000 wind warranty (whichever comes first). And in the event you sever the cord, it’s user replaceable, accomplished simply by turning a few screws (no disassembly required).
RoboReel Cord Reel Conclusion
The RoboReel Cord Reel is awesome, and it’s awesome because it’s solved one of my most enduring annoyances. I hate dealing with extension cords, and the RoboReel is the first thing I’ve used that actually manages them well. No more tripping over extension cords, no more untangling extension cords, and no more extension cords getting in the way of my work. The RoboReel fixed all three, and for that I love it dearly. For anyone that uses extension cords on even a semi-regular basis, it will be a much welcomed addition to your garage/workshop – I guarantee it.
Which means it’s now time to tackle my next annoyance – the always kinking, always tangled garden hose. I’ve got RoboReel’s Hose Reel on order, but that’s for another article…
To learn more about the RoboReel Cord Reel or to purchase your own, head over to the official RoboReel website for the full details and online store. Pricing is $329 for the portable cord reel and $349 for the ceiling mounted cord reel, although the latter is currently out of stock. You can also see more of the RoboReel in the photo gallery below.
With Father’s Day upon us, we felt it was fitting to wrap up our Father’s Day gift suggestions with a gift so perfect it could very well be considered the Holy Grail of Father’s Day presents. The gift to which I’m referring is the Weber One-Touch Gold 26.75″ Grill – a gorgeous, porcelain enameled monument to the fine art that is charcoal grilling.
Before I go any further, let me be frank. In the world of charcoal grilling, there are many contenders, but there can only be one that reigns supreme over all others. That one is Weber. When selecting a charcoal grill, it’s not a case of which brand to buy, it’s a case of which Weber to buy. And truth be told, you can’t go wrong with any. Webers come in a variety of different configurations, and the fact is, they all deliver superb results. Instead, it’s more about size and convenience – you can opt for a smaller, basic Weber charcoal grill, or you can opt for a larger variant with more features. All, however, are excellent, and all will give you fantastic, mouth watering results.
What makes Weber grills so great? A major factor in the dominance of Weber is the ingenuity of their design. They’re remarkably simple, yet they work remarkably well, and because they all share a similar construction, you get the same rugged durability in any size you choose. They’re made from U.S. steel, coated with a porcelain enamel finish that makes them exceptionally impervious to varying weather conditions – so much so that my neighbor is proud to boast that his Weber has withstood over 20 years of non-covered use and is still going strong. It’s an attribute carried over to virtually all parts of a Weber grill. Vents are made from aluminum so they won’t rust. Handles are made from glass-reinforced nylon so they won’t break. Wheels are high quality plastic so they won’t crack. Webers are brilliantly designed and built to provide years of trouble free use, and they do exactly that.
As for the Weber One-Touch Gold 26.75″ grill, it’s the pinnacle of the traditional Weber charcoal grill lineup. In addition to the aforementioned basic construction features, the One-Touch Gold 26.75″ features a tuck-away lid holder, offering ample support for its oversized lid; a built in thermometer, ensuring perfect grilling temperatures for your various meats, seafoods, etc.; and heavy duty grill grates, offering a solid foundation for numerous grilled items. As is the case with all Weber One-Touch grills, the One-Touch Gold 26.75″ also features Weber’s brilliant aluminum ash catcher, meaning cleanup is as simple as emptying the lower ash container when it’s full. Inside, ashes are automatically swept into the ash container every time you open and close the lower vents. In the world of charcoal grilling, it’s about as clean as you can get.
Using the Weber One-Touch Gold 26.75″, you’ll immediately discover the benefit of using a larger charcoal grill. Quite simply, bigger equals better. If you’re new to grilling, you’ll learn that are two methods for grilling: direct, and indirect. Direct grilling is cooking directly over the coals, and is ideal for steaks, burgers, or anything else requiring quick heating (i.e., cook time in minutes). Indirect grilling involves placing the charcoal on the outer edges of the grill, and cooking your foods in the center of the grill, usually with a drip tray underneath to collect fat and prevent flare-ups. This is ideal for tougher meats that take longer to cook including ribs, briskets, whole turkeys, etc. As for why the larger Weber 26.75″ grill is better, when you have more space, you can better control the heating environment. When indirectly cooking, there’s more room away from the coals to cook your food; when cooking directly, you have more surface area to grill over the coals, and you also have the option to have both a hot area and medium area, etc. The better you can control your grills heating, the happier you’ll be with the results, especially when you start grilling more complex foods. Aside from the beautifully monstrous Weber Ranch Kettle (which offers 1104 sq. inches of cooking area), the Weber One-Touch Gold 26.75″ Grill offers the largest charcoal grilling area available by Weber (508 sq. inches), all for a mere $300. In the world of cooking (and just the world, for that matter), Weber grills may very well offer the best value for your money of any product available – they really are that fantastic.
For Father’s Day, and any day for that matter, Weber grills are truly magical creatures. They offer such a unique blend of cost and performance, and they above virtually anything else demonstrate American ingenuity at its finest. If you’ve never tried charcoal or a Weber charcoal grill, you’re missing out on one of the greatest culinary experiences on the face of the earth. Buy one; buy one of Weber’s chimney starters to go with it ($20), and you’ll be on your way to grilling euphoria in no time.
For those of you new to fatherhood who may be thinking becoming a dad means giving up an active lifestyle, nothing could be further from the truth. The secret to staying active after kids is finding gear that can withstand the rigors of whatever it is you want to do, all while keeping your child comfortable and protected while you do it. For the avid backpacker/hiker, the new Kelty FC 3.0 child carrier exemplifies this ideal perfectly.
As Kelty’s top of the line child carrier, the FC 3.0 takes comfort during long hikes to an entirely new level. And trust me, as anyone that’s used a child carrier knows, comfort is the key consideration when you have an extra 30+ pounds strapped to your back. Making the FC 3.0 so comfortable, Kelty has introduced a new waistbelt torso length adjustment geared towards a variety of users. The result is a drastically more comfortable, contoured fit, regardless of body type, and one that’s exceptionally comfortable to use on long hikes. The new torso length adjustment also allows your child to ride lower – this serves to create a lower center of gravity, increasing balance while further aiding in your comfort (remember, comfort is key… your back and shoulders will thank you). Another highly welcomed feature of the FC 3.0: the patented auto-deploy kickstand. By engaging as soon as the pack is taken off, the auto kickstand makes loading and unloading a far less arduous task, as you can simply slide it off your shoulders and onto the ground (and vice versa). Storage wise, the Kelty FC 3.0 boasts a total of 1150 cubic inches of storage space divided between under the seat and rear compartments – an ample amount for whatever adventures you undertake.
Of course, it doesn’t matter how comfortable you are if you child isn’t enjoying his or her self, as there’s nothing worse than an unhappy son/daughter five miles into the woods. To ensure your kids comfortable transport, Kelty FC 3.0 boasts a fully padded, ventilated cockpit and five-point adjustable harness, designed to keep your child comfortable and secure. In addition, the FC 3.0 also features a removable sun/rain hood along with a changing pad, offering even more protection and convenience during long treks, regardless of the weather conditions.
Spending some time with the Kelty FC 3.0, I can attest that it is supremely comfortable on longer hikes. I can easily venture out comfortably 2-3 hours into the woods with my wife and son – an impressive feat considering my son’s typical attention span registers right around the 30 second mark. There’s just something about getting outside that mesmerizes him – every time we go for a hike it’s like it’s his first time seeing the outdoors. He’s captivated by everything. And that’s the beauty of the Kelty FC 3.0. You can take your child outside and show them things that without it, it would be impossible for them see. It’s the perfect way to blend your love of the outdoors with family time, which makes it one of our top picks for Father’s Day.
The Kelty FC 3.0 child carrier is priced at $249.95. For more info, you can check out the full details of the Kelty FC 3.0 at the Kelty website.
With Father’s Day less than a week away, your time to find the perfect gift for dad is quickly nearing an end. Between now and then, we’re going to be bringing you some fantastic products we know dad is going to love, starting with this, the Flip SlideHD. What is the Flip SlideHD, you ask? Simply put, it’s one of the sleekest, simplest HD video camcorders in existence, and it makes the perfect gift for both die-hard tech aficionados as well as dads that just dabble in the art of electronics.
There’s a saying in the world of photography: the best camera is the one you have with you. It doesn’t matter if you have a $10,000 camera sitting at home, when the decisive moment of a photograph hits and all you have with you is your cell phone camera, that’s the camera that’s going to capture the great shot. The same can be said about video. It doesn’t matter how much you spend on a camcorder, the best camcorder is the one you have with you at the precise moment you need one. And that’s the beauty of the Flip SlideHD. At a hair over four inches tall by two inches wide, the Flip SlideHD can go anywhere – vacations, auto shows, parties– you literally throw it in your pocket, briefcase, etc. and go. It’s that simple. And the best part? With the press of a button, it shoots fantastic 1280 x 720 video.
Delving into its technical aspects, the SlideHD is Flip’s most versatile digital camcorder to date. It builds on the MinoHD (another one of Flip’s fantastic pocket digital camcorders) by introducing a new slide design, playback options, and double the memory. To record, a single press of the SlideHD’s touch screen is all that’s necessary to start capturing video in all its HD glory. Focus is completely automatic and exposure is adjusted automatically thanks to the SlideHD’s automatic light detection system and automatic exposure control, while its f/2.4 aperture offers applaudable performance even in poor lighting conditions. There’s also a smooth 2x multi-step zoom, offering additional zoom capabilities for when the need arises. All of this adds up to a camcorder that’s virtually error-proof to use.
As for video quality, as noted previously, the Flip SlideHD offers 1280 x 720 resolution at 30 frames per second thanks to its 1/4.5 inch, 1.6 megapixel CMOS sensor – a size that’s perfect for capturing those video worthy moments while still being manageable if you decide to do a bit of video editing. It also boasts an average bitrate of 8.8 Megabits on average, H.264 video compression, AAC audio compression and MP4 files format. If you’re new to video and don’t know what any of that means, not to worry – you don’t need to know the technical terms to use the SlideHD. The most important thing to note is that it’s fully compatible with both Windows and Mac operating systems, and both transferring videos to your computer and editing them is a breeze.
Design wise, the SlideHD utilizes… as the name implies… a sliding design. To shoot video, the SlideHD is held in traditional Flip format – vertically, with the top sliding portion closed. Playing back videos, however, is where the SlideHD comes into its own, as its upper portion slides to a roughly 45 degree angle, allowing use in a landscape orientation and offering significantly more screen real estate to watch your newly recorded movies. Compared to other Flip camcorders, it’s far easier to review a freshly shot movie with the SlideHD than any of its predecessors. Another beautiful aspect of the SlideHD’s design is its self-contained nature. Other than an HDMI-out cable to connect the SlideHD to your television, everything else is contained directly on the unit. There’s a built-in USB port for transferring and/or playing the SlideHD videos on your computer, there’s an internal lithium-ion rechargeable battery, and recharging is handled directly through the USB port when it’s connected to your computer (there’s a power adapter as well). It’s one of those rare gadgets you can buy and use without being forced to add an army of extra accessories to take advantage of its full range of functionality.
Ultimately, the Flip SlideHD is well worth its $279 price tag. I guarantee you’ll get more use out of it than any other camcorder you own, based simply on its sheer portability factor. Add in the fact it shoots great HD video and is virtually error-proof to use, and you’ve got a gift that dad (or anyone else for that matter) will love.