GearFlogger

PopSockets Smartphone Grips

It pains me somewhat to write this. I'll admit, I've made more than my share of fun at the expense of people blinging out their phones with questionable cases and accessories. So let me eat a little crow.

The PopSocket is everywhere seemingly. I finally got one to try and having done so, I humbly join the herd. I have it on a silicone case, and it's useful for one-handed gripping to take pictures, and as a stand to watch content.

But what really sold me was a simple accessory, the PopSocket mount. I stuck it on my Jeep console and it functions as a nice mount for a phone with the PopSocket grip collapsed; like Whitesnake sings, just slide it in. I'm pretty sure they were talking about smartphone mounts...

It's a lot less expensive than some other mounting solutions, and seems to work just as well. Our biggest concern was the added bulk to the phone case, but we really haven't noticed it day in and day out of pocket. So yeah, we're sheeple now, but hey, at least the up-front investment was low!

PopSocket $6.82 at Amazon
PopSocket Mount $9.89 at Amazon

RESQME Car Escape Tool

You remember that whole "ounce of prevention" thing? Well, here it is in a three-pack. The RESQME keychain car escape tool should find a home on your keychain or attached somewhere handy in your car where it won't fly into a crevice during a rollover or high-impact situation.

It's pretty simple: three colorful tools small enough to fit on a keychain, each capable of cutting a seatbelt or breaking a window with the spring-loaded glass breaker. The cutter definitely works, and the glass breaker does too but with sometimes a few tries.

The three-pack includes a visor clip, although you might want a more reliable mount in case of impact. The RESQME is not just for you; it could help if you come upon a vehicle in distress as well. We've attached one to the car seat of our seven year old, to hopefully begin instilling a sense of self-sufficiency and preparedness in him. We'll deal with the incidental paranoia later in therapy.

Seriously though, it's a cheap bit of kit for peace of mind on the road. At less than $9 apiece put one in you and your significant other's cars and give the third to a friend or relative.

$26.95 at Amazon

Zoom F1 Field Recorder

Sound quality can make or break a production, whether it's a safety video, a product review or just keepsake recordings of special occasions. Recording in the field presents its own unique set of challenges for gear, including portability, battery life and other features. If you want to step up from your iPhone for recording, check out the Zoom F1-LP field recorder.

The Zoom F1-LP hits all the right notes. It's compact - smaller than a pack of cigarettes and running on just two AAAs, good for about 10 hours - and has versatile mounting options, and it comes with a high-quality lavalier mic with windscreens. You can mount using the belt slides built in to the unit, use the included clip or get the optional shock mount (not tested) for the hot shoe on your camera. The F1 has a great display, easily readable in direct sunlight, and a good but not overwhelming selection of features like filters, limiters and lockouts.

The F1 is a tough little unit, able to easily resist the inevitable bumps and drops. It records in WAV or MP3 on a micro SD card (not included), and its modularity means it can grow with your needs with a variety of microphones and other accessories. Sound quality is great, and it connects with good ole USB for use across most hardware platforms. Overall we found the Zoom F1 to be the most competitive field recorder for prosumer use, with room to grow along with your aspirations, whether its podcasts, vlogs or films.

$199.99 at Amazon

UV Skinz UPF Clothing

UV Skinz is one of those focused companies: they do UPF 50+ clothing and that is that. It also happens that they do it really well, with fun, functional clothing for a fair price.

We tried out a couple of pieces, starting with their signature men's Retro Board Shorts. They're available in a great selection of solids and patterns so you're sure to find something to your taste. The sizing is true, the material has just the right amount of stretch and the 12 inch inseam is perfect for most of us.

There's a fly, tie and zipped back pocket with drain grommet to round things out, but what you'll love about them is how they wear comfortably no matter what you're doing, and how they dry fast and look good enough to keep on all day and into the evening.

Speaking of good looking, be sure to check out their women's styles which are beautiful. In particular we loved the women's Halter Swim Tankini, but it's hard to choose with such great styles as their Active Swim Shorts and their Long Sleeve Half Zip suits. Tres stylish and they'll keep you safe in the sun, what more can you ask for?

From $46.95 at UV Skinz