AMAZON BEST SELLERS - PRODUCT REVIEWS

Top 10 Bluetooth In-car Kit, Bluetooth Handsfree Speakerphone.

2014-12-08T14:40:00.002-05:00

Top 10 Bluetooth Speakerphone Review Introduction

When we look for our Amazon bestsellers we often try to look for product categories that are not only popular among consumers and become best sellers but also can bring value and enrich lives of our readers. In our opinion Amazon bestselling Bluetooth handsfree kits are fully qualified by those criteria. While almost all of drivers on the road today have a smartphone and they expect to be "reachable" at all times, driving and using your phone, especially texting, is not only very unsafe but also very illegal in most places today. Hands free Bluetooth headsets or in-car Bluetooth speakerphones (aka Bluetooth car kits) are a great solution that can enable us to communicate while driving and make us all safer at the same time. They provide an excellent way to carry our phone conversations in a safe manner while driving but also can be used in all other situations that our hands are otherwise occupied. Distracted drivers are dangerous not only to themselves but also to other people on a road and before we become the "Distracted Driver" we should armed ourselves with a Bluetooth handsfree assistant that will help us stay focused and keep everybody safe. Bluetooth technology is now better than ever with improved performance, battery life and ergonomics. In just a few years our Bluetooth little helpers matured and now they perform their main functions with ease and predictability that was not possible even a few years back. The units that we tested for our Bluetooth handsfree speakerphone review also featured some impressive features as far as noise and echo reduction that bring the conversation quality to a whole new level. We hope that our review will help you to find a hands free Bluetooth device that at least meets your expectations and requirements. We also hope that our comprehensive feature and option list will help you to better understand the importance of various aspects of the Bluetooth technology used by your next handsfree Bluetooth car kit and make a better buying decision since in most cases you can't really take the unit for a "test drive". Before we continue with our Top 10 Bluetooth Handsfree Speakerphone review we would like to mention that because of our testing process we decided to modify our review format and instead listing devices with a specific feature we reverted to individual review for each tested Bluetooth Device.

What To Look For When Buying A Bluetooth In-Car Kit

When you are looking to buy a Bluetooth handsfree speakerphone for your car you should consider some of the aspects of your intended use. The most important part of a Bluetooth speakerphone that you plan to purchase is the compatibility with your phone so before you buy, Always check the compatibility of the chosen handsfree speakerphone and devices that you are planning to connect with it. Among other things to consider are: The target user - Is the selected speakerphone intended for a driver only, for both front seat occupants or maybe for any passenger in the car. Are you going to use the hands free speakerphone in only one car or take it with you to other cars that you drive? Are you going to use is as a “stand alone” or integrate it with car’s existing audio equipment? What connectivity to the existing car's audio equipment is optimal in your situation? You also might consider using your speakerphone in other places than your car. For example a bike or a motorcycle. All those considerations and how well each candidate will meet your expectations will affect your final choice and your satisfaction level. In our Top 10 Amazon Bestseller list review we tried to evaluate each unit and consider all options that they provide. Features that we looked for were:

Speaker/Microphone Performance
Noise And Echo Cancelation
Multipoint Feature
Ease Of Installation
Battery Life
Texting Support
Auxilary Audio Port
FM Transmitter
Media/Music Playback Support

Full Bluetooth Speakerphone Review coming soon ...

Top 10 Amazon Bestsellers in Cell Phone Portable Battery Chargers

2014-12-07T23:25:00.001-05:00

WHAT ARE THEY AND WHY DO I NEED AN EXTERNAL BATTERY CHARGER.

Our phones become evermore powerful and essential in our lives. We use them now not only as communication devices but they become our mini offices and personal assistants that we take with us everywhere. Their screens grew bigger and number of applications available for them is growing every day. As a result we relay on them to be charged and ready for use at all times. Manufacturer's "stand-by time" per battery charge lost its meaning because we hardly ever have our phones in the stand-by mode. It is not uncommon to charge our phone a few times a day and as long as we have a power outlet handy we learned to accept this as a part of our daily routine. But many times we find ourselves in a situation when we don't have access to a power outlet or we can't afford to be "tied-down" with our cell phone charger cable. But there is a solution that can solve those problems and it is called portable battery charger. Those devices are build specifically to help us keep our phones charged. They not only provide an emergency energy source for our phones or tablets but can also relatively quickly charge the phone's battery. In simple terms they are portable power outlet and charger rolled in one. In most cases they are small enough to fit in our pocked or a purse and we can take them with us anywhere we go.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN BUYING AN EXTERNAL BATTERY CHARGER FOR YOUR PHONE.

We based our Top 10 chargers selection on multiple factors and device characteristics. In our decision making process we looked at a product's user reviews and ratings, Amazon bestseller status and also weighted in our staff's expert opinion. Many of our choices match consumers' preferences that made a product an Amazon Bestseller, but there are also those that are not best sellers on Amazon and yet we found their quality and value compelling enough to include them in our list. Our own evaluation was primarily based on the following characteristics:

Total Capacity - expressed in milliamp hours or mAh
Amperage Rating - expressed in amps or A
Portability
Durability
Design And Extra Features

BATTERY TOTAL CAPACITY.

Battery capacity indicates how much electricity it can store. When you consider buying an external battery charger you need to consider your needs. When you plan to use it only for emergency charges for your phone the range of 3,000 - 5,000 mAh should be enough to provide you with 1-2 full charges for your phone, depending on your phone battery capacity. However if you plan to use it for more than one phone or maybe a tablet you might consider an external battery pack with capacity >10,000 mAh. Just keep in mind that the higher the capacity the bigger the overall battery size. All of our picks feature at least 3,000 mAh for the compact models and 10,000 mAh and up for more bulkier multi-phone or tablet models. The highest capacity among our picks belongs to Anker® Astro E7 Ultra-High Capacity Compact External Battery Chargerits whopping 25,600 mAh should be enough for multiple charges for your phone and tablet.

AMPERAGE RATING.
Amperage rating tells us how fast the electricity is going through a USB port and into our phone's internal battery. Which by the way is true as much for external battery chargers as it is for wall chargers. When picking an external battery make sure that the USB port amperage rating is 1A or greater. If you ever tried to charge your tablet or even a phone from your laptop USB port, chances are you saw that the external power source was connected but the battery was either charging very slow or not at all. The reason for this is that standard laptop USB ports are only 0.5A and charging any device from such a port takes a long time in the best case scenario. All batteries in our review are at least 1A rated and many feature ports rated at 2A or higher.

PORTABILITY.
When choosing a battery charger we should ask ourselves: How am I going to carry it? If you plan to carry it in your purse or a pocket and the only device you plan to charge with it is your phone you should pick a smallest compact model and some of them are not much bigger then a lipstick. All chargers included in our review, even the smallest models, should provide you with about two full charges for your phone.

DURABILITY.
All our picks feature modern Lithium-Ion technology (they are not susceptible to Memory Effect that was common with older battery types) and they can last up to 500 charge cycles, so even with a daily use they should last for about 2 years.

EXTRAS.
In some cases you might consider some extra features that will meet your particular needs. Among our picks there are some models that feature:

Waterproof/Shockproof design (SadoTech 10400 mAh Portable Charger)
Flash Light ( SadoTech 10400 mAh Portable Charger Acuvar Power Bank Portable Backup Battery Charger Intocircuit® 2nd Gen Ultra-Compact External Battery Power Bank KMAX-806 External Travel Battery Pack)
Multiple USB Ports (All High Capacity Models (except KMAX-806 External Travel Battery Pack))
Solar Panel Recharge (LevinTM Solstar Solar Panel Charger) edit 1/9/15

We also collected a few wall/car charger recommendations for you. After all the external batteries are useless unless they are charged.

SHOP AT AMAZON FOR TOP 10 EXTERNAL BATTERIES

Top 10 Stainless Steel Water Bottles

2014-12-07T21:53:00.000-05:00

WHY SHOULD WE USE A REUSABLE WATER BOTTLE INSTEAD OF STORE-BOUGHT PREPACKAGED KIND

There are many reasons that over the years have changed our attitude towards bottled water. In my personal experience I noticed that while about seven years back when I started to play Sunday morning soccer pickup games, nearly everybody that came to our games had a few store-bought bottles of water. Fast forward to 2014 and the same people hardly ever bring anything else but a reusable bottle filled with filtered tap water. Public took notice of the fact that to produce those disposable bottles we need to process 32 - 54 million of barrels of oil a year and after a single use many of used plastic water bottles end up in a landfill. This had no doubt a lasting impact on our habits. If we add on the fact that nearly half of the bottled water is no different than the water we get from our tap with a water filter, choosing a reusable water bottle over the store-bought starts to make a lot of sense. When we are reading results of various studies that are finding chemicals like BPA, BPS and other leaching into the water content when a water bottle is exposed to ultraviolet, heat or both, even from the BPA free plastics, we are being given another compelling reason to stay away from plastics as much as possible for everyday use. Eliminating all plastics that get in contact with our food might not be possible but replacing our water bottle with one that is safe seems easy enough and there are some great choices among
stainless steel water bottles for both single walled and insulated versions.

*BPA FREE
In general the following plastic groups are considered bpa free, they are:high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene and polypropylene,
recycling codes #2, #4, #5 respectively. All other plastics may not be bpa free.

WHY OUR WATER BOTTLE REVIEW DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY PLASTIC REUSABLE BOTTLES (NOT EVEN BPA FREE)

Soon after we decided to feature reusable water bottle Top 10 Amazon Bestseller list we found out that none of our editors would recommend any plastic reusable water bottle. As a result we even had to change the name of our list to Top 10 Stainless Steel Amazon Bestseller Water Bottles. The general consensus among our editors was that the plastic reusable water bottle suffer from some of the same flaws as the store-bought prepackaged type: they still require crude oil to make, they don't last very long, and they may be hazardous to our health (most of them are labeled as 100% bpa free but scientists keep finding other chemicals that under certain conditions can leach into the content - see These Popular Plastic Bottles May Be Messing With Your Hormones and/or Fox News: Is BPA-free plastic safe? ). They are also susceptible to some problems of their own: they are harder to clean, they are not mold and bacteria resistant and in general they are less durable than their stainless steel cousins. Our editors' negative attitude toward plastics was so strong that even the stainless steel models would get their score lowered if they didn't include or offer a stainless steel cap. Therefore after much deliberation we decided to include only stainless steel bottles in our stainless steel water bottle review.

WHAT CRITERIA GO THE BOTTLES ON OUR TOP 10 BEST SELLER LIST (OTHER THAN BPA FREE MATERIAL)

Our primary item source was the list of Amazon bestsellers in the water bottles category as this is a general public vote for any product in the market place. Unfortunately number of stainless steel bottles was significantly lower than their plastic brothers'. As usually we did not designate a place on our list for any of our top 10 finalists. Instead we tried to create a list with products that have some unique features that would add value and create a wider diversified list accommodating a broader range of needs of our readers. For example we included a value pack of four bottles (a family pack if you will), a biker bottle with a sip cap etc. After we completed the selection process we noticed that all editors agreed on one more "required feature", not a single one of the final top 10 stainless steel bestsellers was a narrow mouth models. When we looked at the narrow mouth bottles we realized that they all have a few "fatal flaws". They are: plastic caps (even if they are bpa free, they still are plastic), they are harder to clean than the medium or wide mouth ones and there is no way to throw in a few ice cubes to keep the content cool. To further diversify our list we also included a few insulated models as well and we made sure that we also have some high capacity models.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN BUYING A STAINLESS STEEL WATER BOTTLE
When you decide to buy a stainless steel bottle you should consider your needs and intended use first and then narrow your choice by factors like esthetics and price. Even the best looking bottle is not going to work for you if it doesn't have the features that you need or require (too big, too small, wrong cap etc.). As far as the price is concerned, all our finalists last for a long time (my old H20 Zone bottles are still fine after more than 6 years of abuse on the soccer field at least twice a week at my weekend pickup games) and spending a few dollars more for the right water bottle can be easily justified and pay dividends for years to come. As an example of intended use lets consider that you need a water bottle to use around your home or office, in that case you should consider an insulated model or one that can be paired with an insulation sleeve to avoid any condensation on the stainless steel surface. On the other hand if you take your bottle to a gym, park, sport field or biking, the most important feature might be the water bottle capacity and an ease of use (short cap thread, sip cap etc.). Another criteria could be the ability to put ice cubes into your stainless steel water bottle, this will provide an extra cooling to keep your beverage cold for a longer time, it applies to both: insulated and non insulated models. In our evaluation we considered the following characteristics:

Capacity
Durability
Value
Design
Plastic elements (bpa free only)
Extra features

CAPACITY
In our stainless steel water bottle review and selection process we tried to provide a wide range size options of stainless steel water bottles for both insulated and non-insulated versions. For non-insulated bottles the size range vary from 27 oz. Klean Kanteen 27 -Ounce, Bamboo Cap, Mirrored Stainless Steel Water Bottle - 100% BPA Free all the way to a whopping 64 oz. for Klean Kanteen Wide Mouth with Stainless Loop Cap this model is also the most versatile, it features 27 oz., 40 oz. and 64 oz. version. The remaining non-insulated two bottles come in just one size of 40 oz. In the insulated bottles category the most versatile two bottles are Klean Kanteen with their Wide Mouth Insulated Bottle (Stainless Loop Cap) - Brushed Stainless model that features 12 oz., 16 oz. and 20 oz. and Treksos insulated stainless steel water bottle double wall vacuum wide mouth bpa free with a stainless steel lid it features 12 oz., 17 oz., 20 oz. and 26 oz. sizes (although our favorite Treksos sub model - Brushed Silver - comes only in 12 oz. and 26 oz. and Mirror Silver comes in 12 oz., 17 oz., 26 oz. size options).

DURABILITY
In general all featured water bottles are very durable and with proper care should last for a very long time. The single wall non-insulated models have a little stronger outer walls and are a slightly more resistant to dents. All bottles included in our stainless steel water bottle review are constructed with a rounded bottom edge and that in turn protects your water bottle from damage when you drop your filled-up water bottle. The one thing that you want to avoid if possible is putting your stainless steel bottle in a freezer, water turned into ice expands and that will most likely permanently damage your bottle. It was hard to impossible to simulate long time wear and tear on our test subjects but they all handle our tests very well with not much visible damage except for some scratch marks and minor dents. If it could be any indication of their longevity, my old H2O Zone twin stainless steel water bottles (not available anymore) that are very similar in construction and material to some of the bottles featured in our stainless steel water bottle review are still in perfect shape after seven years of extensive use.

VALUE
When we created our final list we also kept in mind. If this was the only criteria then in non-insulated category we would list only Together Bottle: 40 Oz Stainless Steel - bpa free for $9.49, it is a "bare bones" one size bottle. That model comes also in a family multi-pack Stainless Steel Water Bottle Canteens Family 4 Pack 40 oz. - 4 Color Variety which offers even greater value. There are other bottles on our list that while a little more expensive give you some extra options like a little more practical size Klean Kanteen Reflect Stainless Steel 27 Ounce Water Bottle with Bamboo Cap, extra wide mouth opening Klean Kanteen Wide Mouth with Stainless Loop Cap or a carrying strap New Wave Enviro 40 oz. Stainless Steel Water Bottle with Strap. In the insulated bottle category the most value award goes to the MIRA Stainless Steel Vacuum Insulated Bottle, Wide Mouth - Cold/Hot - 20 oz. bpa free the only drawback is the limited choices - only two colors available. While overall insulated bottles are more expensive, they keep their content at an optimal temperature for significantly longer time, they are more pleasant to touch (more important for hot liquids) and they don't suffer from "sweating" effect from condensation caused by the cold content in elevated humidity conditions.

DESIGN

For an every day item as water bottle you might think that design should not play a significant role in the selection process, but every now and then there comes an item that the beauty of its design just cannot be ignored. The Klean Kanteen Reflect Stainless Steel 27 Ounce Water Bottle with Bamboo Cap is just such a rare beauty. While at about $25 (depending on the finish option) it is relatively more expensive then other of our finalists, all of our editors instantly fell in love with this bottle and they all just "had to have it". The fact that it is constructed entirely without use of any paint, coating, plastic or glue is not hurting its eco friendly image either.

The close second place had been awarded to the Treksos Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle Wide Mouth Vacuum Double Wall BPA Free in the product selection use 26 oz. with brushed silver or mirror silver finish options. The simplicity and lack of plastic elements are very appealing and give them clean, modern look that makes them stand out among other models. And the fact that one of them is a larger non-insulated and the other is an insulated model makes them a perfect choice for customers that don't mind to pay a little extra for this contemporary appearance in either category.

PLASTIC ELEMENTS (BPA FREE ONLY)
As we mentioned in the opening to this stainless steel water bottle review our editors tried to pick only true stainless steel models for this list and in our opinion we have done so without limiting choices for our readers. There was however one bottle selection that we

needed to find a compromise between a maximum functionality and our "no plastic" philosophy. The aspect of functionality that we were looking for was: one hand operation, this is usually very important for bikers and runners that they can rehydrate without interrupting their pace. We think that we have found a perfect candidate hat fits the the bill Convertible Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle 22 oz. -100% BPA Free. This model provides a safe stainless steel screw cap for transport, storage and two hand operation activity but when needed you can get an extra one hand sip cap made with a bpa free material. All remaining finalists featured on our list have no plastic parts that come in contact with a bottle's content and by doing so they prevent chemical leaching of harmful substances into the consumed liquid. Selected models not only do not have plastic caps but we made sure that they are inside liner free. The clear plastic liner on the inner surface of metal water bottle could be even more harmful than a bottle made entirely with a good quality bpa free plastic.

EXTRA FEATURES
Our editors also looked for and rewarded any extra features that a bottle would offer. The most popular among them is a loop cap that allows users to clip a bottle for easy carrying or storage. All but two our selected bottles feature a loop cap, the two Hydro Flasks that do not come with a loop cap provide a JugLug - Handle for Hydro Flask Type Bottles that can be purchased separately. Another extra feature that got our editors' vote is an wide mouth bottle opening, it provides an easy, no mess way to drop ice cubes into your bottle to keep your beverage of choice chilled. All bottles on our list are wide enough to get standard ice cubes into the bottle but there are a few that make the operation super easy. Non-insulated bottle featuring wide mouth opening is: Klean Kanteen Wide Mouth Bottle with Stainless Loop Cap. In the insulated bottle category the wide mouth bottles are: Klean Kanteen Wide Mouth Insulated Water Bottle with Loop Cap, MIRA Stainless Steel Insulated Wide Mouth Bottle, Hydro Flask Insulated Wide Mouth Stainless Steel 32 oz. Water Bottle and Hydro Flask Insulated Stainless Steel Wide Mouth 64 oz. Water Bottle and Beer Growler. One of our bottles features a carrying strap (New Wave Enviro 40 oz. Stainless Steel Water Bottle with Strap) that could be very useful if you plan to use your bottle for hiking or walking. The last but not least extra feature is one hand operation that is featured on Pakgaroo bottle Convertible Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle 22 oz. -100% BPA Free.

ACCESSORIES
If you are looking for accessories for your bottle, like extra caps, insulation sleeves, carrying cases or loop cap clips, please visit Accessories Selection of our Stainless Steel Bottle store front.