Moto Z Force

As Lifestyle Bloggers for Verizon Wireless, we get to try out some pretty cool technological gear. Right now I am sporting the Moto Z Force by Verizon Wireless. It is simply the coolest smartphone I’ve ever owned. What I love about this phone is that several “mods” are available that take the phone to a whole new level. The JBL Speaker mod can really pump up the volume and get the party going at a backyard BBQ. The Tumi Power Pack mod can add about 22hrs of battery life to the phone without adding any bulk. The Moto Insta-Share Projector mod can project photos and videos on a wall or a projector screen. And the Hasselblad True Zoom Camera mod gives the phone’s already awesome 21 Megapixel camera a true optical zoom feature that makes a big, big difference. Check out my Photo album from a Day in Dallas, Texas to see the comparison of optical vs. digital zoom.

The only way I could possibly love this smartphone more would be for it to have a BACON DISPENSER mod.

Fitbit Charge 2

I’ve been a Fitbit user for several years now. When my old Fitbit finally bit the dust, I upgraded to a new Fitbit Charge 2. It monitors my steps, tracks my sleep, measures my heart rate, and connects to the GPS on my smartphone so I can see a map of where I’ve been. That comes in particularly handy for a middle aged traveler who likes to explore on foot and is prone to occasionally get lost. I can sync it with the Fitbit app and measure my progress over time. But  perhaps the most useful feature is that it reminds me to move when I’ve been sitting on my butt too long as I tend to do when editing video, formatting photographs, and writing articles.

GoPro Hero 5 Session

I’ve been a GoPro user for years. In fact, I still have an original, first generation GoPro. The GoPro Hero 5 Session is small, lightweight, waterproof, and POWERFUL – shooting 4K video and 10MP photos! Best of all, it’s super easy to use – just one push of the button to begin recording. Hold the button down for three seconds, and it begins shooting time lapse video. You can monitor the output and adjust the settings of the Hero 5 Session with your smartphone using the GoPro app. And you can quickly edit and share video using GoPro’s Quik app.

Tenba

Several years ago I purchased a Tenba camera bag large enough to carry my 17” Macbook Pro and all of my camera gear I take with me on most trips. Tenba recently sent me a smaller GoPro camera bag that turned out to be a back saver for all the hiking I did in the Galapagos Islands. The bag was small, yet still able to hold my DSLR, a zoom lens, my two GoPros, water bottles, sunscreen, tripod and accessories.

House of Jerky

Anybody who follows our adventures knows that I consider jerky to be the ultimate road trip food because it’s not messy, it’s a great source of protein, and it is delicious. My favorite jerky comes from House of Jerky. They make jerky from a wide variety of a wide variety of critters including beef, turkey, elk, buffalo, elk, wild boar, venison, alligator, KANGAROO and more! Additionally  their jerky is available in a range of flavors including natural, hot, black pepper, sweet & spicy, and teriyaki.

Intensity Academy

I have been a fan of Intensity Academy for years. As a self-proclaimed Hot Sauce Sommelier, I love heat. I like it when I bite into something and it bites me back. I was recently sent a bottle of Intensity Academy’s newest product – Must Thai Hot Mustard. I had just returned from a trip when it arrived. Anxious to try it and not having any real food in the house, I pour it over a bowl of popcorn. It was incredible – something I would definitely do again. I have since had it on a corned beef brisket and I’ve used it as a salad dressing. I can see myself drinking hot mustard shots with what is now officially my favorite mustard.