1. “EAGLE EYES” HEADLAMPS – 1A AUTO

I’ve been driving a 8th generation Honda Civic for a few years now. I’m currently on my second one and it’s an incredibly satisfying vehicle overall. However, it’s not perfect. One of its flaws are the headlamps which become incredibly foggy and can greatly distort and lessen the amount of light dispersed from the lamp. This is an ongoing and common problem within this generation and no model is excluded. Like, seeing is a really beautiful and very much crucial thing when the sun goes down. So, did this make me want to go out and buy a different vehicle? No! Did it make me want to address the issue and figure out a solution? Yes! Now, the internet is a beautiful thing and you can obtain several different variations of this product at various price points. However, within this luxury comes mixed results. I found a couple different options on Ebay and Amazon that appeared to offer me the solution I was looking for at prices much less than 1A Auto. But, after reading reviews, I wasn’t sold on either of these less costly options.  After deciding the 1A Auto option was the best fit for me, I’m here to tell you that I believe I made the right choice. These are made in Taiwan and appear in every way to match the craftsmanship and overall quality of the original Honda part for a fraction of the cost. Installation was easy and without troubles or inconveniences and the fitment was absolutely perfect. In case you weren’t aware of 1A Auto, they came into the scene in 1999,  are based out of Westford, MA, and provide their own line of replacement car parts for various car makers.  They also have dozens of “how to” and repair videos specific to various makes and models scattered throughout the internet.  Ok, back to the headlamps…my closing statement is this…after having these in my vehicle that I use every single day and exposing them to every element of nature for nearly half a year, they have remained in great condition and there isn’t a single negative thing I can say. If anything is to change within this statement, I’ll let it be known. Until then, money well spent.

2. CAPRI 3/8″ LOW PROFILE FLEX-HEAD RATCHET(CP12300FX)

This ratchet replaced my Craftsman 3/8 flex-head, which I had worn the teeth out of over years of use. I loved the Craftsman version and would have bought the same thing again, except it’s no longer available. There are a couple different options, but I liked this version by Capri for its long, circular and sleek handle and neither of the versions offered by Craftsman(offered through various stores that still warranty them) don’t offer such a thing. Plus, the Capri’s price point and testimonials were very attractive. I watch a lot of Youtube and enjoy learning about tools and tool companies. Capri is a newer brand to the game, but they’ve done a really great job of getting their tools into the hands of others that know how to properly use and review them.  After coming across multiple videos from several people that really had nothing bad to say about the company, I decided to give them a shot. I am not a professional mechanic, I’m barely an amateur, but I do practice the craft whenever I’m able to and I do recognize a quality product when I use it. Now, the Craftsman 3/8 flex-head I had before was a fine and dandy tool, but it may be a blessing in disguise that the same tool was no longer available and here’s why. Although both ratchets come in at nearly the exact same length and do the same exact thing, the Capri has a couple great advantages in my eye. #1. The handle…it’s a circular design and conforms much nicer to the hand than the Craftsman’s rectangular one. No sharp edges and or alterations in the finish, just straight chrome from start to finish. Part of me is being particular, but say what you will, this is a pretty important factor when choosing the right tool. One feels better in the hand than the other and it’s not the Craftsman. I also prefer the overall design of the directional switch on the ratchet head. #2. Better Customer Service…Even though Craftsman remains in existence today, I believe their glory days are far behind them. Many of their hand and power tools are made overseas now and have been for several years. A few of their tool boxes are still made in America, but the majority of their lineup is not. There were certain things that made the Craftsman brand desirable and that was the fact that they were made in the USA, they were affordable, a lot of their tools came with a lifetime warranty and they were available and abundant in many places. Finally, their warranty process was a breeze. Today, the only thing that Craftsman maintains is their lifetime warranty on select tools. However, good luck trying to warranty anything you have when the closest Sears is 300 miles away. Capri is sold at Lowes (I got mine off Amazon) and a couple other stores. If you do purchase from Amazon or other authorized online sellers, you would consult directly with Capri(www.capritools.com) if you were to have any problems, failures or issues. Like Craftsman, Capri has lifetime warranties on several of their tools. Unlike Craftsman, Capri has a greater, much more alive and much more responsive level of customer service.  All politics aside, the bottom line is the Capri 3/8” flex-head is a refined version of the Craftsman and just better in every single way. Finally, this product has a stellar 4.6 out of 5 stars score on Amazon. If you’re in the market for a new 3/8 ratchet of any type, I highly recommend you give this product from Capri Tools a try.

3. FUN-DRIVING CABIN AIR FILTER (FD134)

I’m including this product on this list because it’s something many of us neglect, changing our cabin air filter. But, the cabin air filter plays a bigger part in the grand scheme of things than we realize. This filter is in charge of keeping contaminants, debris and other nuisances out of our spaces inside our vehicles. That alone should be reason enough for us to pay more attention to this part of your vehicle, but it gets better. The cabin air filter is also the lung for your vehicle’s HVAC system. When it’s dirty or compromised in any way, the blower motor is forced to work harder, no matter the fan speed setting. Even removing the filter and hitting it with some compressed air can be a lifesaver to your HVAC system. Your blower motor will thank you! Today, you can expect to pay anywhere from 200-600 dollars for a replacement blower motor. Typically, you can expect a blower motor to last the life of a car, but that statement only holds true if proper maintenance is performed. You aren’t really expected to do much except monitor and change the filter! In my car, I can access this filter in a matter of seconds and no tools are needed! Some makes and models are harder to access and your results may vary, but on most vehicles, this something you can do yourself. Use YouTube and other online resources to acquire the information needed to complete this task. I picked up this 3-pack of filters off Amazon for less than 20 dollars. It’s typically recommended you replace your cabin air filter once a year, but again, check your owners manual. Undoubtedly, this small fortune pays off big and will help optimize the performance of your vehicle’s HVAC system along with the air that you breathe while inside your vehicle.

4. MERRILL YOKOTO 2 TRAIL SHOE

Now, if you recall, I’ve been looking for a solid hiking shoe and boot for awhile now. I’ve explored and experienced several brands including Redwing, Columbia, Timberland and Irish Setter in the past. Although I was really never let down in a devastating way, none of these boots / shoes really left a lasting impression and made me say “I need these again.” In early spring of this year, I set out once again to seek and conquer this desire. I came across this pair of Merrill’s and my first thoughts were “this is it.” So, I bought them and began wearing them on my off time. Now, I speak of these subjects I write about hoping to help others, but also because I’ve used them for a certain length of time and I can honestly say they’re legit and worth the money, no matter the price tag. I expect a shoe of this caliber to last at least 3 or 4 years. So far, so good, but we haven’t reached that threshold yet. Here’s what I can say about them so far….They are comfortable, they fit my foot incredibly well and they have been exposed to numerous land types and temperatures throughout their time on my feet. I haven’t been able to say this about many shoes over the past decade! For this one to speak so much to me in such a small period of time I feel is really saying something and worth noting. The biggest thing I want to stress here is the comfort factor. Foot comfort is a real thing and something you should always take seriously. Assuming these shoes don’t deteriorate prematurely or cause incredible and unexpected pain, I believe I’ll hold true to everything I’ve stated here. This is a good shoe and if you’re in the market for something like this, consider these. I buy all my shoes from The Shoe Box in Black Earth, WI.

5. VSGO SENSOR CLEANING KIT SWABS + ECLIPSE SOLUTION

Ok, I’m cheating a little bit here, but hear me out. For starters, I’ve actually been using this combination of two different products for a couple years now, but I did place another order for the exact same products earlier this summer. Since I am connected with so many photographers, I figured this would be fitting for this list. I would also like to try and lessen the fear of cleaning your own camera sensor. It’s intimidating, it’s scary as hell, it’s something shops and companies charge good money for, but I’ve found it’s not as difficult as it seems. Within these complex machines, you’ll find deep inside the shutter and sensor, pretty much the heart and soul of these devices we call our cameras today. I lived with the fear of completing this task myself for a long time. But, after having a shop perform this action and being unsatisfied with results, it became clear that this was going to be something I had to learn on my own. So, I started asking around and talking to other photographers about the matter. The Eclipse solution was highly recommended by various people that actually do this themselves. The swabs on the other hand were kind of all over the board. After reading reviews, I decided to give VSGO a try and I found it to be a strong winner. Their product is consistent, has no flaws and seems to pair incredibly well with the Eclipse solution. I have 7 cameras, both full frame and crop sensor, all that I guard, protect and care for like they’re my own children. This is super serious business for me and this is what I use to clean and maintain my cameras. I’ve used this combo for 2+ years now on all my rigs entirely trouble free.