Tony Carrick

writer | editor

As seen in...

Leaf Blowers are Versatile All Year, No Leaves Needed.

While leaf blowers may see the most use in the fall, these handy yard machines aren’t just for clearing autumn's glory off your lawn. I regularly use a leaf blower in spring and summer to blow grass clippings off my walkways and driveway after each mowing. A leaf blower is also my go to tool for cleaning debris off my garage floor. I even use one in the winter to clean powdery snow off cars and walkways.Handheld leaf blowers are ideal for small to moderate leaf clearing efforts and convenient fo...

The best camping stoves for cooking like a pro outdoors

If you’re planning an upcoming car camping trip, then you’ll need one of the best camping stoves to cook your backwoods vittles. These portable cooking devices have two burners and fold up into a small metal box that’s about the size of a suitcase for easy transport. They’re powered by small one-pound propane canisters that are powerful enough to boil a large pot of water in as little as four minutes. Make sure you've also got a solid camp cookware set to go with it. We tested four of the top ca...

Cleaning Up After Winter Storms is Easier With the Right Chainsaw

In recent years, the once-cavernous divide in power between electric and gas chainsaws has narrowed dramatically, to the point where you can expect similar performance from both options in all but the largest saws. As a result, most homeowners who need a chainsaw for only occasional branch or log breakdown should start by looking at electric saws.Electric chainsaws offer similar cutting speeds, are far easier to start, run more quietly, and don’t produce exhaust. They also produce less vibration...

These LED Lanterns Are Bright Ideas for Camping Trips & Emergency Prep

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More › If you don’t want to risk being left in the dark during a power outage, after a severe weather event, or while on an outdoor adventure, it’s smart to have an LED lantern at the ready. Even if you have a flashlight under your sink or in your car, it might be better to have a light that allows you to use both hands for cooking, changing a flat, or gathering essentials.


Choosing an LE...

We Tested the Best LED Lanterns, Our Favorite Lasts Up to 12 Hours on One Charge

If you don’t want to risk being left in the dark during a power outage, after a severe weather event, or while on an outdoor adventure, it’s smart to have an LED lantern at the ready. Even if you have a flashlight under your sink or in your car, it might be better to have a light that allows you to use both hands for cooking, changing a flat, or gathering essentials.


Still, choosing an LED lantern fit for such a variety of potential uses isn’t as simple as it sounds. To help you determine whi...

Skil Jobsite Table Saw Review: It Came, It Sawed, It Conquered

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More › Adding a table saw to your workshop can be a pretty significant investment—unless you’re willing to compromise performance and build quality. But with the Skil 10-inch job site table saw, no such compromise is needed. It’s about half the price of a premium table saw, yet it has enough cutting power and durability to make it onto a pro jobsite. It’s portable enough for one person to lo...

The Best Roofing Nailers for DIYers and Pros

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More › While replacing or repairing a roof can save you hundreds in labor costs, attempting a complete roofing job with a hammer isn’t efficient, especially when you consider that most roofs require at least four nails per shingle. There are generally about 240 shingles for every 100 square feet, which means that there are hundreds of nails in an average home’s roof.


Roofing nailers make...

This Sun Joe Pressure Washer Blasted Away Six Months Worth of Dirt Off My Truck With Ease

Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. Why Trust Us?If you do your own car detailing like I do, then you know how time consuming it is to wash a car by hand. That's why I was so excited to try out Sun Joe’s brand new SPX3000-QW2 pressure washer: I went in specifically looking hoping for a way to cut down my car washing time.This small electric pressure washer has all the makings of a car-washing machine, with features like a foam cann...

Pros Swear By Using One Cordless Tool Platform. But Is There a Brand That's Right for Everyone?

Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. Why Trust Us?Outfitting your workshop with a set of cordless power tools that can handle all the projects on your to-do list is a pretty big investment. One way to make that endeavor more affordable is to stick with a single brand. Lithium-ion batteries, which aren’t interchangeable between tool brands, make up a big chunk of the cost, so having one that works with a variety of bare tools is a s...

Our Favorite Power Station for Home Backup is $1,000 Off as We Enter the Thick of Hurricane Season

We’re in the midst of hurricane season, folks, and though none of the storms so far have technically been hurricanes, that’s about to change. Earlier this week, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) updated its forecast, and the New York Times reported that we’re about to enter the busiest time for hurricanes making landfall.So if you’re prepping for potential power outages and looking for a reliable source of backup power, there’s one option we recommend among the dozens we...

I Switched to Solar Power for My RV. Here's How EcoFlow's Portable Solar Panels Won Me Over.

Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. Why Trust Us?When my wife and I decided to expand our horizons beyond campgrounds with full electrical hook-ups to experience dry camping, we didn’t want to go entirely without certain creature comforts, like lights, a coffee maker, and a working refrigerator. That said, camping is about communing with nature, so we didn’t like the idea of using a noisy, fume-spewing gas generator to meet our pow...

For Perfectly Trimmed Bushes and Shrubs, You Need a Sharp Hedge Trimmer: Here’s How to Keep it That Way

Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. Why Trust Us?Your hedge trimmer is an important tool if your lawn includes bushes, shrubs, and other landscaping features to tame and maintain. Here’s the thing, though: You can only get the kind of tight, manicured hedges that will impress the neighbors if you take care of your trimmer and keep it sharp. If you don’t, you may find that your landscaping will start to look a little rough thanks to...

I've Tested a Lot of Cordless Drills But Never Used One With This Much Power and Precision

Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. Why Trust Us?Flex has a reputation for manufacturing 24-volt cordless power tools that put out a tremendous amount of power, and its flagship cordless hammer drill is a great example of that. It reaches a maximum speed of 2,500 RPM, making it one of the fastest performing cordless drills out there. It also produces 1,400 inch-pounds of torque and gives you options for dialing that power down so y...

Our Favorite Mid-Sized Portable Power Station Is $800 Off on Amazon Right Now

Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. Why Trust Us?Portable power stations are a foundational mobile power source that we love to review because they have so many different techy applications. I use them for things like charging various electronics, powering RVs and van conversions, and as an emergency backup when the lights go out.One power station that has emerged as a favorite during testing over the past year is the Bluetti Elite...

I Tested the Weber Smoque Pellet Smoker—and It Deserves a Spot on Your Patio. Here's Why.

Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. Why Trust Us?Weber has been making grills for nearly 75 years, but it's relatively new to pellet smokers. Following last year's debuted of the Searwood line, it released the Smoque earlier this year, a more affordable alternative. Having tested and owned many Weber products, I was excited to see just how well the brand performed in this niche space with its latest pellet smoker.The Smoque comes i...

I Spent Hours Testing Cordless Ratchets. Here's Why This Milwaukee Model Is the One to Buy.

Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. Why Trust Us?If you want to become a more skilled and efficient home mechanic, consider adding a cordless ratchet to your tool set. Unlike a manual ratchet that you work with your arm, cordless ratchets have a motor and battery which work to automatically turn the ratchet’s drive.These tools run off of 12- or 18-volt batteries and produce enough power to remove the most stubborn fasteners. They a...

The Best Grill Accessories Just in Time for Barbecue Season

Spring is finally here, and we're on the cusp of one of the most exciting times of the year—barbecue season. If you’re already thinking about getting your grill primed and ready for steaks, veggies, burgers, and hot dogs all season long, it might be time to take a look at overhauling your full outdoor cooking kit. The grill is the centerpiece, of course, but grill accessories can be just as important if you really want to throw down this barbecue season.We’re talking about everything from the es...

The Anker Solix F3800 Plus is One of The Biggest Power Stations We've Tested: Here's How It Ranks as a Backup Power Solution

In these days of extreme weather, power outages are becoming an all too frequent issue in many parts of the country, making backup power a home necessity. Historically speaking, Gas-powered portable generators have been the primary solution for folks who want an affordable way to keep the fridge cold, the lights on, and the TV running when the power goes out. Portable Power Stations have been in the mix for awhile, but only a scant few can store enough power to serve as backup power at home.That...

This Electric Husqvarna Chainsaw Is Powerful, Fast, User-Friendly, (Yes) Expensive, and Just the Best

The Husqvarna PowerAxe 350i is an example of how advancements in lithium-ion battery technology have redefined what an electric chainsaw is. It used to be that they were really only good for pruning limbs. If you wanted to cut anything thicker than a few inches, let alone bring down a tree or carve up fallen ones into firewood, you needed to invest in a gas chainsaw.That’s no longer the case. Cordless electric chainsaws like the PowerAxe lead the pack of a new line of powerful battery-powered ma...

I Worked in the Middle of Nowhere with the Bluetti Handsfree 2 Backpack Power Station

Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. Why Trust Us?There’s working remotely, and then there’s working remotely, as in places where there’s no power source for potentially miles. Bluetti’s Handsfree 2 Backpack Power Station is designed for the latter.I’ve used and tested a variety of lightweight power stations, but none (until now) comes with a means of transport more convenient than a handle on the unit or a set of wheels. These desi...

DeWalt Has Some of the Best Drills in the Game. These Are My Favorites.

Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. Why Trust Us?The core of any home workshop is the cordless drill. Whether building a deck, mounting a TV, or installing shelving, you’ll need a good drill for the job. And few brands’ drills are more sought after by DIYers and professionals than DeWalt’s.The yellow and black brand’s stable of cordless drills includes a range of standard drill/drivers and hammer drills that are tiered to meet the...

These Rugged Work Gloves Will Stop a Chainsaw Blade In Its Tracks

Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. Why Trust Us?A chainsaw is one of the most dangerous power tools in your shed, especially if you’re someone who regularly conducts chainsaw maintenance b, which is why equipping yourself with the proper protective gear is so important. Chainsaw gloves look similar to work gloves but are manufactured to stop a chainsaw blade in the event it comes into contact with your non-dominant hand while you...

Not Sure Which Size Portable Power Station You Need? Here's How to Figure it Out.

Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. Why Trust Us?Portable power stations are a quiet and clean alternative to the noisy, exhaust-spewing, gas-powered generators out there. These power stations use banks of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries to provide enough juice to charge up personal electronics, run small appliances, and even power a refrigerator for hours or even days.I use a large portable power station to power my travel trai...
Load More