In today’s video, I tested four totally different gadgets that each claim to solve a different everyday problem: boredom, slippery rugs, salads on the go, and freezing cold offices. Here’s the blog version with my takeaways on each one.
Where to Purchase
Below you can find links to the four items found in this review.
4 Gadgets Reviewed
Glowscape by Bolderglow
I paid $37.50 direct from the official website plus $8 shipping (I didn’t see it on Amazon, but I did see it advertised on Facebook). The idea is simple: you “draw with light” on a large glow surface, the drawing fades over time, and there’s no ink or mess.
It was actually pretty fun, and it definitely works. In my testing, the glow faded significantly after a few minutes, but some remnants could still linger depending on how I drew and how much light had hit the surface. The included stencils worked, and there’s also a character light (the frog) that was surprisingly bright and easy to use. One thing I noticed is that if the surface is mounted on a textured wall, you can feel that texture while drawing. I’d recommend putting something between the surface and the wall if you plan to mount it on a textured wall.
Alien Rug Grips
I paid about $20 for a pack of 12 (4×4) tiles on Amazon. These are double-sided pads meant to keep rugs from sliding while claiming to leave no residue behind.
My first test on an older indoor rug was mixed, and the “kick test” didn’t go great. But in real-world use on two rugs in high-traffic spots (with me and the dogs traversing them regularly), they held up better than expected. I also removed a couple of tiles to check for residue and didn’t find any. The big downside is that 12 tiles doesn’t go very far if you’re dealing with larger rugs.
Prepara Salad Pod
I paid $25 on Amazon for this interesting salad container. It’s a layered, leak-proof salad container with a removable dressing capsule, designed so you can shake/toss your salad and then eat out of it.
It didn’t look huge at first, but it held about the amount of salad I normally eat once I started layering everything in. I tested it after several hours in the fridge, added dressing, shook it up in the car, and ate right out of it. Overall, it worked well and was genuinely convenient. I also ran it through the dishwasher afterward and it held up fine (no warping, no leaks).
The Original Chair Blanket by Snuggleback
I paid $55 on Amazon. This is a sherpa/faux fur blanket that straps onto an office chair to create a warm “cocoon,” with flaps for arms and legs.
It installed quickly and did exactly what it is claimed to do: it kept me warm and was easy enough to get in and out of once I got used to it. The arm-flap part can be a little awkward to reach, and the biggest downside is that when you’re not using it, it’s kind of bulky and looks a little goofy sitting on the chair. But if you work in a freezing office (or blast the AC in summer), it can definitely do the trick.