Independent reviews
From everyday tech and home products to lifestyle and specialist gear, each review focuses on practical use, strengths, limitations, and who the product suits.
Art Supplies
The Jazza Pro Artist Series Illustrator Collection Box packs 24 hand-picked Spectrum Noir Illustrator dual tip brush markers, colored pencils, fine liners, marker paper, and coloring pages into one well-thought-out set. Here is what to expect.
Running Headphones
Two open-ear running headphone options compared on fit, sound, battery life, durability, and price to help you pick the right pair.
Portable Speakers
A closer look at the JBL Flip 6, its new tweeter, Bluetooth 5.1, and IP67 rating, and whether it justifies stepping up from the Flip 5.
Portable Speakers
The JBL Flip 7 keeps the Flip formula but adds Auracast, AI Sound Boost, lossless playback, IP68 waterproofing, and longer battery life. Here is what that means in practice.
Tech
JBL's updated micro portable speaker adds a longer battery life, app support, stereo pairing, and a grippy new base, while keeping the same compact body.
Portable Speakers
The JBL Go 5 brings Bluetooth 6.0, IP68 water resistance, AirTouch stereo pairing, and a 7-band EQ, but is it worth upgrading from the Go 4?
Fountain Pens
A distinctive French fountain pen with striking amber resin, a two-toned steel nib, and a few quirks worth knowing before you buy.
Indoor Cycling
At $399, the JetBlack Victory packs accuracy, Wi-Fi, virtual shifting and multi-bike compatibility into a direct drive trainer that usually costs far more.
Stationery
Fountain pens, planners, drawing tools, and one discontinued guitar: a curated list of favorite stationery and beyond picks worth a closer look.
Stationery
Ten Japanese stationery buys that earned their place on the desk this year, from cat-shaped clips to a beginner fountain pen that changed everything.
Stationery
Two of Japan's most popular low-viscosity ballpoint pens compared: writing feel, ink character, comfort, and price.
Indoor Cycling
The Momentum X1 rocker plate adds front-to-back, lateral, tilting, and rotational movement to indoor training. Here is how it performs and who it makes sense for.
Fountain Pens
An $8.49 pocket-sized acrylic fountain pen with speckled confetti details, a converter in the box, and a surprisingly pleasant medium nib.
Fountain Pens
A large, clear demonstrator with a number 8 nib and a 1.5 ml converter for around $12.50, with honest notes on quality control and writing performance.
Fountain Pens
The Jinhao 9019 is a huge acrylic fountain pen with a number 8 nib and a giant screw-in converter. Here is how it writes, who it suits, and what to check before buying.
Footwear
A hand-built stitch-down work boot in 4mm bison leather with a comfort-first insole system, tested through three months of daily wear.
Coloring & Crafts
A closer look at Johanna Basford's 30 Days of Creativity, a prompt-driven coloring and drawing book designed around short daily creative sessions rather than finished masterpieces.
Stationery
Five practical ways to keep a journaling habit alive without spending hours writing, featuring Midori, Kokuyo, and Nakabayashi supplies.
Fountain Pens
An Italian piston-filling fountain pen in a distinctive cappuccino-toned material, priced fairly with a few small caveats around the nib and posted cap.
Fountain Pens
An oversized Chinese piston-filler fountain pen with a number 9 nib, generous ink window, and a price under $60. Here is what impressed us and what did not.
Fountain Pens
Two oversized fountain pens go head to head: the Junailine 930 with its rare number 9 nib and the budget-friendly Jinhao 9019 with a number 8 nib.
Fountain Pens
A handcrafted resin fountain pen with interchangeable finials, a Mr Cypress steel nib, and a price of $255.
Trail Running Shoes
A close look at the Kailas Fuga DU Monster trail running shoe, from its dual-lug Vibram outsole and cord lacing system to how it handled a full test run on mixed terrain.
Everyday Carry Knives
A hands-on look at the Kaiser Retro, Little Grand, Drop Bear Utility, Drop Bear, and Drop Bear 2, with clear buying advice for each.
Knives
A bolster-lock titanium folder in Rex 45 and an aluminum-handled front flipper in CPM 3V take two opposite approaches to blade performance.
Stationery
Released just four months after the original Orvo, the Orvo 2 refines the automatic lead extension system and keeps the light, student-friendly design intact.
Running Shoes
A deeply cushioned neutral daily trainer from Finnish brand Karhu, built to soak up weekly training miles with stability and efficiency to spare.
Art Supplies
A hands-on comparison of Karin's new brush-tip Pigment DecoBrush paint markers against the ever-popular Posca range, covering paint quality, nibs, blending and value.
Travel Bags
A full-featured travel duffel with an external laptop compartment, stowable backpack straps, and a surprisingly comfortable carry, at the cost of some interior depth.
Fountain Pens
A compact aluminum piston filler with a well-tuned steel nib, elegant navy finish, and a price tag that deserves some thought before buying.