01GrillingUsed for almost a year
OXO Good Grips Bristle-Free Coiled Grill Brush
with replaceable head
Why I recommend it
“I’ve used this brush for almost a year and it still cleans really well. The head pops off, so cleanup is easy—I just rinse it in the sink and haven’t even needed the dishwasher. When it finally wears out, I can replace the head instead of buying a whole new brush. I haven’t needed a replacement yet.”
— Jim Bland
02Smart HomeInstalled three
SwitchBot Blind Tilt Smart Blinds Kit
with Hub Mini and solar panels
Why I recommend it
“These were even cheaper than the IKEA smart blinds I considered, and I didn’t have to replace the blinds I already had. The first one took me about 15 minutes; by the third, I had it down to around five. The motor noise isn’t bad, and the included solar panels are a really nice touch.”
— Jim Bland
03OutdoorsUsed almost daily
MISSION Cooling Vented Performance Hat
Alloy Heather
Why I recommend it
“I use this hat almost every day. I bought the Alloy Heather color, and it doesn’t soak up the sun’s heat the way a darker hat would. I’ve tried the water-activated cooling once and it really did feel cooler, though I haven’t tested that feature enough yet to judge it fully.”
— Jim Bland
04Travel & OutdoorsRange tested
VOOPON T20 Rechargeable Walkie-Talkies
22-channel FRS two-pack
Why I recommend it
“These are great when cell service is spotty and you only need to send a quick message. They’re also handy on road trips when you have two cars traveling together. I tested them at around half a mile and they worked well. The listing says they can go farther, but even that real-world range is plenty useful for me.”
— Jim Bland
05GamingUsed on my gaming PC
Logitech G435 Wireless Gaming Headset
Black • renewed
Why I recommend it
“This is a nice, lightweight, inexpensive headset that I use on my gaming machine. I’ve bought expensive headsets in the past, and this does what I need. I do wish it had a boom mic or a more obvious way to mute. The mute button is on the bottom, but it works well, and the different tones make it clear whether I’m muted or unmuted.”
— Jim Bland