Category: Gear & Gadget Reviews

Gear Review: Hull & Stern Dry Bag

Did you know that the best way to dry wet gadgets is to dunk them in a bag of uncooked rice? I learned this the hard way a couple of years ago, when my SLR camera and mobile phones fell in a river (along with me) on the way to visit a waterfall. While my ancient Nokia survived, my other smartphone’s touchscreen was irreparable, and I had to pay a visit to Hidalgo in Quiapo to get my SLR and lens serviced.

hull & stern dry bag boat shades cebu

Nowadays, I usually have a couple of garbage bags in my all-around convertible belt bag during weekend trips in case it rains. But it really makes sense to have a dedicated waterproof bag since a lot of the activities I like to do – like island hopping, snorkeling, kayaking, chasing waterfalls and canyoning – involve bodies of water. Continue reading “Gear Review: Hull & Stern Dry Bag”

Gear Review: Lakhambini Shoes

One of the things that I look out for when I travel around the Philippines are items made from native weaves or indigenous textiles. Underneath the motifs and patterns are beautiful stories of culture and heritage from different tribes and the skillful artists who weave them.

lakhambini shoes philippines banig yakan textile basket tote bag itsmorefuninthephilippines
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Ride Review: Kymco Agility 125

The Kymco Agility 125 is a utilitarian scooter in the lower displacement market. Just like its name, this scooter is a nimble machine that’s suitable for urban commuting as well as leisure touring.

kymco agility 125 marilaqueI recently got to use and test it out for a review in Motorcycle World Magazine (which came out in the July 2015 issue). I usually write about travel destinations you can reach by motorcycle, rider’s profile interviews and restaurants that bikers might be interested in. This was my first time to do a motorcycle review and I hope it won’t be the last. Here’s a quick look at the scooter’s main features.

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OtterBox releases Lifestyle Series for Smartphones

For outdoor enthusiasts, OtterBox is best known for their line of water-resistant boxes and device-specific cases that protect gadgets when doing water sports. Since they started in 1998, OtterBox has evolved into leading global brand that continues to adapt to the needs of the consumers. These days, they provide protective solutions for flagship smartphones and tablet devices, with cases that offer drop protection, dust protection, scratch protection, shock absorption and waterproof technologies.

otterbox biker smartphone case display

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Gear Review: Nyfti Folding Bike

Anyone who’s had to endure EDSA during rush hour knows that traffic really sucks in the metro. I always dread taking public transportation because it involves either: a) waiting in line and getting crushed like a human sardine in the MRT, b) multiple transfers on tricycles, jeeps or standing in the aisle for most of the trip in buses, or c) overpriced cabs. Biking is really one of the most sustainable forms of transportation and sometimes the fastest way to get to your destination.

nyfti folding bike mural by cyrcle BGC

The Nyfti folding bicycle was born out of the necessity of living in the metro and frustration over traffic. What’s great is that these folding bikes are proudly made in the Philippines! Nyfti is the brainchild of Pinoy bike enthusiasts and entrepreneurs Carl Mamawal, Isidro Marfori and Miguel Marfori, who designed and built their prototype bike through funding from Philippine-based incubator IdeaSpace Foundation Inc. While some parts and components are imported from all over the world, the team behind Nyfti assures that the final product is made and assembled here. (Read more about how Nyfti started here)

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Gear Review: Merrell Capra Sport Hiking Shoes

For adventure getaways, I like to pack light. Along with a pair of slippers, I usually just have one pair of all-around shoes I can use for different kinds of activities like hiking or biking. When it comes to outdoor footwear, Merrell is among my preferred shoe brands. Known for their comfortable, durable and stylish kicks, Merrell offers a wide range of performance shoes that encourages people to get active outdoors.

merrell capra ambuklao dam getaway to adventure
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Vaude Hiking and Biking Backpacks in Manila

There are so many considerations when it comes to choosing a backpack these days. Three of the most important factors would probably be trip length, personal style of backpacking and body type. For weekend warriors and long-term travelers, a good backpack is a must for different kinds of adventures.

Vaude backpacks on wall tripologie eastwood

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Gear Review: Deuter Spider 22L Backpack

Lightweight, sporty and functional. The Deuter Spider 22L Backpack is exactly the backpack I need for my trips. German brand Deuter is known for producing quality backpacks for all types of outdoor adventures, including hiking, biking, trekking and mountain climbing. And while very compact, the backpack does not disappoint.

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Deuter SL Backpacks for Women

One of my frustrations when shopping is that most top-performing outdoor gear (ex. convertible dri-fit pants, trekking shoes, or backpacks) seem to have been designed for men. Tall men at that. Unless I shop in the kid’s section or luck out with (frequently out of stock) S or XS items, my height makes it difficult to find good gear that fits properly.

01. deuter backpacks concept store MOA

Another thing that annoys me about travel gear is that most items for women almost always come in extremely girly designs of bright pink and purple (just look at the running shoe section of most stores. No offense, but not all girls like pink and purple, although Hit-Girl looks really cool and badass in violet.

Anyway, it’s great to know that some brands like Deuter have gone the extra mile and have designed women-specific backpacks that are just as tough as those made for men, and don’t look like they came from a Mattel catalogue.

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Gadget Review: Oppo N1 Android Smartphone

Traveling with a smartphone is a must these days. While the bulky SLR is still great for hi-resolution landscape shots and pretty food shots, speed is the name of the game, and smartphones are a way to keep social media channels like Instagram and Facebook updated while on the road.

But smartphones do have their shortcomings. Aside from low picture quality, another drawback is the relatively quick battery life compared to traditional cameras. Regular usage for checking mail and browsing also has a tendency to suck the battery life of a smartphone long before the day ends. Battery problems become more pronounced when you’re traveling as you tend to use your smartphone to play games or browse the web while waiting at airports and bus stations.

Enter the Oppo N1, a sleek Android smartphone from Chinese manufacturer Oppo, that seems to be the answer to tech-savvy traveler’s prayers.

01. oppo n1 smartphone o-click

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