The Gerber Iris Flashlight

The Gerber Iris Flashlight. I got this light in a package deal with the previously reviewed Gerber Crucial. I had been looking for a good EDC light and couldn't decide which one I wanted until I saw the Crucial Iris combo on Amazon. You can purchase the Gerber Iris on Amazon Click here anywhere from $13-$50 yes that's a huge range and I have no clue why that is. If you are going to spend $30 on this guy you might as well Click here and get the Gerber Crucial and Iris package for about $30. The length for the Iris runs just over 6" weights almost 5oz, and runs on two AA batteries, and runs for eight hours. The AA batteries are not only convenient, but also cheaper than other batteries you see other lights running. At 60 lumens, the Iris is not the brightest of lights, but it will get you by. The body or casing of the Iris is glass filled nylon, and you can run the light on steady, or momentary on, also spot light mode, or flood light. The Iris is waterproof up to 3 meters, impact resistant, has a textured handle for better grip, and the on/off button is recessed to eliminate accidental turn on if your carrying in your pocket. There is a lanyard hole and mine came with a small amount of cord. If your looking for a small EDC light, maybe with a pocket clip, you should keep looking. If you need an emergency weather light, or to find stuff around the house, maybe go camping, fishing, or perform a simple task in the dark, I would recommend this one. This is a great light and I use it often but it stays home. It feels nice in your hand, also the color of the light produced is a nice neutral color, no yellow or "warmth" to it. That's about all I have on the Gerber Iris, hope this helps!

Here is the package 

And the Light up close.

I'm back with the Gerber Crucial

Sorry everyone, me and the family just got back from vacation in California. So the Gerber Crucial, I have been carrying the Gerber crucial for a while now and got some words I would like to share about it. I was hoping to do a video review on it and I still might just to give a hands on view of how this thing works. First off, the crucial comes in black, and green, and either comes with a carabiner or a strap cutter. That is the only two differences. The Crucial is 5.5 inches when opened, 3.6 inches closed. It weights only 5.0 oz and is stainless steel. When opened you have a nice set of needle nose pliers, a wider part considered regular pliars, not sure if it could really be used as regular pliers. The handle is pretty ergonomical, kinda. I say that because I hold them differently I think than most. All in all its ergonomical. The pliers are not spring loaded so you kinda have to use your pinkie to open them. The crucial has a wire cutter like most multi tool pliers, but also wire strippers below the cutter. When you shut the crucial, there is on one side a blade about 2 3/8" long, with half serration. On the same side, there is a flat head, and cross tip screwdriver. On the opposite side of the crucial, a pocket clip, and there is depending on your version, a carabiner, or my favorite a strap cutter. Whew lots of features on this guy, and I'm still not done! When you open the knife, screwdrivers, or strap cutter/carabiner, there is a liner lock. When I found out there was liner locks on ALL the tools on the crucial I was very impressed. The locks are really nice to have a secure (warm fuzzy) feeling when using it. I have used the screwdrivers on a couple "jobs" around the house. This is where I would have rather done a video review. You can leave the crucial closed and open the cross tip screwdriver and use it like that but I like to open the tool half way just to give 1. More torque and 2. More to hold on to. You unfortunately cannot use the flat tip the same way but it's still useful. Online at Gerbergear.com it says the crucial has a bottle opener and I don't really agree. Maybe the finger grab is considered a bottle opener but I'm not sure. The black color is rubbing off on mine, but I carry mine everyday. There is a little play when the pliers are shut down at the part that opens which is no big deal because they still work fine. On the strap cutter when it's closed, there is play but I think it's so you can open the strap cutter quickly in time of emergency because it is easy to open. I did have one day where somehow I was pulling it out of my pocket and the strap cutter was coming open. Only once, and will it happen again? I have no clue. The pocket clip cannot be moved to other mount points so it's pretty much a right handed carry. You can open and close the knife one handed with your right hand and the strap cutter with your left. So there it is the Berber crucial.

Gerber Artifact

First thoughts of the Gerber Artifact were do I really need it? I see all these pocket dumps, everyday carry pictures, and many of them had a small pry bar. I don't know about everyone else but I can't recall a time where I'm like man I could really use a pry bar. I decided to give it a go and got one. I have been carrying this little guy for about two or three weeks, Ill give you some specs, then tell you more on what I think. It has a #11 "Hobby" blade, just a little razor blade and comes with three refills. The Artifact has a cross tip screw driver, small and medium flat tip screw driver. On the side of the artifact is a bottle opener, wire stripper in the corner on the pry bar, and a lanyard "hole" its triangle shaped. At 4.8" long over all when the blade is opened, and closed at 3.5" long, its pretty small but decent enough to get your hand on it comfortably, also small enough to fit on your keychain.

 The Artifact is made of stainless steel, only weighing 1.5 oz so it won't be weighing down your everyday carry. The blade is a really sharp razor, perfect for any really small job, crafts, or shaving the calluses off your hands. There is a frame lock for the razor, its not the most sturdy but keeps the blade from closing on you. If you try to cut too hard, it will hyper extend past the locking point, as I have a couple times, no harm done. When opened fully, you will hear it click, but you have to give it a little more push to get the lock to "lock." I have used the philips or "cross tip" screw driver on a couple small projects and it did well, there isn't much leverage, but I don't think you would be putting a big project together using the Artifact. As far as the wire strippers, flat tip screw driver, and pry bar, I haven't really used them much so when I do I will update with more info. would I recommend you getting one, or would I get one for a family member or friend? Yes, absolutely

More to come

I have a couple products coming up for review, should be done with one within a week. The Gerber Crucial multi tool, iris flashlight, and artifact. Really excited to try a video review and see how you guys like it. Thanks for the patience.

Finally! The Giro Hex MTB helmet

After loosing my information on my iPad that I used to write this review, I got sick! I'm good now and here it is. When you think of a good mountain bike helmet, what do you think of? I think of the Giro Hex MTB helmet. I bought mine around five months or so ago. I had been using a cheap road bike helmet that was bulky, heavy, and the fit was horrible, so when I received my new helmet I was really excited to see the difference. First off, the color was exactly what I wanted. Bright fluorescent green. Of course  the Giro hex comes in many other colors as well. The Giro hex is lightweight at just over 300 grams. It has 21 vent holes which creates a much cooler ride especially here in Tucson Az. I went on a trail here that I had ridden before my new helmet and definitely a temperature difference (for the better of course). The Giro helmet features the Roc Loc 5 fitting system which is top notch. This particular fitting system creates a very secure, and safe feel that completely surrounds your head, while still keeping a low profile and adding Little weight. There is also three notches to adjust the height that the helmet sits on your head. Of all the good I can say about this extraordinary helmet, there is something I want to bring out. The chin straps. The chin straps are sturdy and all but they don't conform to your cheek/chin very well. It's a little uncomfortable when riding buy when on a trail you don't notice. It was a great purchase and I still love using it today.

A slight delay

so I locked out my iPad and had to delete my info including my review of the Giro mtb helmet. So there is a delay in my next post.

Almost ready for the next post

Info on this MTB helmet will be up soon

Diamondback Overdrive Sport 29er (My Favorite Toy)

I am fairly new to the fun, exciting, mildly dangerous but joyful world of mountain biking. I first started out on a poor excuse for a mountain bike and was almost turned off completely. Only after receiving my brand new Diamondback Overdrive Sport 29er mountain bike did I try the trails again, and the enjoyment was out of this world.                      
                                     
 My Diamondback is the overdrive sport, 29er. The bike's frame is aluminum, has Shimano hydraulic disc brakes, 160mm rear disc, 180mm front disc (show here in the picture) for maximum stopping power.

 The bike also features Shimano Altus trigger shifters and an Acera rear derailleur shifters. With the Suntour front suspension you get 100 mm of front travel. For a front suspension bike, it really handles well on the downhill trails. I have a few things I want point out. The Diamondback overdrive sport is considered an entry level bike, but a well rounded bike for many types of riding. The front suspension isn't top of the line like rock shox or fox shocks. With that being said you still have the 100mm of travel which still makes for a smooth ride on the rougher trails.

Here is a picture of the front suspension.

The drivetrain is shimano, but not top of the line Shimano, so you have the quality of the really well known brand, just not as quick and light as the top of the line shifters that Shimano offers. The tires are great, wolverine tires on double walled alloy wheels. The tires are 29" and 2.25" wide making cutting through sand, or over big rocks a breeze. Now, the wheels are double alloy, making them sturdy but on one of my more intense rides on a downhill trail called bug springs in Tucson Az I warped my rear wheel to the point of no repair. As I was riding, there was a portion of the trail that was bouncing me around and off my bike. Just as I stopped saw behind me that one of my riding buddies were about to crash so I threw my hand out and caught him on his front tire, but slowly he fell on his side. In the event my bike fell sideways and what I think happen was rear my tire got caught between two rocks and twisted my wheel because I started back down the trail after the crash and my wheel was so out of true that the tire was rubbing on one side of the frame, then the other. The wheel didn't hold up to the torsion so had to buy a new one, which im not sure how well other wheels would have done so that will have to be your judgment call. If you are going to be riding super crazy downhill trail, I wouldn't suggest this bike. However, if your doing easy to intermediate trails, riding on the road, or just a joy ride here and there, the diamondback overdrive sport will be a great investment for many rides ahead of you. I got mine at performance bike on sale for around $600 regular was $800 so pretty great bike for the money.

More to come

It has been a couple days since the last post, however I am working on a review right now and should be finished soon. I'm trying to contact more people and companies to broaden my circle of viewers as well as products featured here in A Man's View.

Bose sound link color speaker

I got my Bose soundlink color speaker from my mom about six months ago, and since then I have used my speaker at least six days sometimes seven days a week. I know that seems a bit over exaggerated but I'm serious. What do I use my Bose speaker for? Well besides loving to use my speaker for music I use it to skype my family, watch videos on you tube or anything that makes sound. Why do I use my speaker so much? First of all, when you think of a speaker, you might think that a little 5.3x5.0 inch speaker that is 2.1 inches deep couldn't possibly make deep, rich and if you want, LOUD sound so pleasing to the ears, it's like you have a personal bubble of sound. Besides great sound, the Bose speaker is very durable. I have a daughter who is 14 months old, she loves my Bose speaker almost as much as I do. She picks it up carries it around and sometimes drops it, knocks it off of the couch or my tv stand, but the tough speaker keeps on playing great sound. Being so small yet powerful, the speaker is very portable making it perfect to travel with, go camping with, or just use it around the garage as you work or just tinker around. I have so many good things to say about this little guy, the quality sound, toughness, it's Bluetooth compatible, aux input compatible(for the devices not Bluetooth capable), portability,  and the battery life is pretty extensive also. I might have to charge it once a week or even less just depends how long you use it in a day. To charge, and update the speakers software, you use I believe a micro USB port. On the top of the speaker is the power button, Bluetooth button, auxiliary button, pause/play button, and volume up and down buttons. Press the play/pause button twice to skip the track, three times to restart the song. The Bose soundlink comes in a variety of colors such as black, blue, a teal color, red, and white. The only thing I can say that is close to negative about my Bose soundlink color speaker is that I connect my iPad via Bluetooth and it works perfectly until I take my iPad to the bathroom, leaving my speaker in the living room 30-35 feet away and it starts to cut out. Other than being on the other side of the house, the Bluetooth works effortlessly. After connecting a up to four devices at a time, the speaker connects automatically as long as your device's Bluetooth is turned on. All in all, 129 dollars for this little guy is a great investment for great sound and portability.