Category: Everyday Goods

Tumblers: Contigo vs Built NY vs ICONIQ

k.chen99 Comments

Plastic water bottles are wasteful and bad for the environment but water is a necessity for daily life. So how do we stay hydrated and eco-friendly at the same time? How bout using a tumbler? This handy little carrier can carry any liquid as even regulate the temperature for awhile. Keeps drinks colder or hotter for longer! Lets check out 3 that are all under $15!

Contigo AUTOSEAL West Loop:

Price: $14.82 (original $20.99)

Capacity: 16oz

Material: Stainless Steel

SA: 8/10

Great product for the price and has very useful features. It can keep drinks hot for 5 hours and cold for 12. It also auto locks when not in use which prevents spilling. It requires you to push a button to drink which may be annoying for some but not a deal breaker for me. Unfortunately the body is not dish washer safe.

Built NY Double Wall:

Price: $14.20

Capacity: 20oz

Material: Stainless Steel

SA: 9/10

Very useful for people who drink more liquids. It can keep drinks hot for 6 hours and cold for 24 which is a big step up compared to the Contigo. Can slide the lid from right to left to open and drink. Easier to use than the Contigo.

ICONIQ Insulated Tumbler:

Price: $14.95

Capacity: 20oz

Material: Stainless Steel

SA: 6/10

A little bulky, wider than I would typically like my bottles. Keeps drinks hot for 4 hours and cold for 12. The lid can slide up or down to open and close the sip hole. May have potential to leak if tossed in a bag. Some complaints says that it leaks and does not keep drinks cold for as long as it claims.

Reccomendations: Out of the 3 tumblers, the best is the Built NY Double wall. For the price and capacity, it is useful for anyone on the go. Less refills necessary compared to the 16oz Contigo and can keep your drinks at desired temperature for longer than its competitors. I recommend this product for everyone who wants to stay hydrated and wants to help the environment.

Slow Cookers: Hamilton Beach vs Chefman vs Gourmia

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Imagine if you could just come home and there is food waiting for you just like when you were a kid. Wouldn’t that be amazing? Well, let me introduce you to slow cookers! These bad boys allow you to prep delicious ingredients in the morning and slowly cooks the food throughout the day which will be ready for you at night. Sounds expensive, right? Well, not all are expensive and I found a few that are actually wallet friendly so let get to it.

Hamilton Beach 33461:

Price: $24.00 (original $34.99)

Capacity: 6 quarts

Settings: 3 (High, Low and Keep Warm)

Material: Stainless Steel

SA: 6/10

A very basic slow cooker perfect for new buyers to try and experience slow cooked food. For $24, this model does everything you need it to do and produces great results. However, it does seem that the glass that this particular brand uses can break after a certain amount of uses so definitely not a long term slow cooker.

Chefman Slow Cooke:

Price: $19.99 (original $33.63)

Capacity: 5 Quarts

Settings: 3 (Low, High, Warm)

Material: Stoneware

SA: 9/10

A very versatile slow cooker. This pot can actually detach from the actual slow cooker and be used in the oven or stove top! It is also naturally non-stick so you never have to worry about anything sticking or cleaning it up after. It also uses less lead than most other similar product which will resonate well with health conscious users. However, use with caution since the material used get extremely hot after use.

Gourmia PC710:

Price: $24.99

Capacity: 7 Quarts

Settings: 3 (High, Low, Auto)

Material: Stainless Steel

SA: 9/10

This product is larger than the other two and cheaper than Chefman. The great feature about this product is the Auto setting which will shift from cooking to keep warm after it is done cooking. Although I am unclear about how they can actually determine that, the reviews seem like it works which makes this product much easier to use for first timers and forgetful people.

Recommendations: I would recommend the Gourmia PC710 over the other 3 because of its size, price and settings. The auto setting is honestly the feature that makes this product so worth it. You will never have to worry about your food overcooking or monitoring it to ensure that it is at the right temperature. This product will set the temperature until it is done cooking and then keep the food warm until you are ready to eat it! Great for families or people living alone. Easily prepare food for yourself way in advance.

 

 

 

Toilet Paper: Charmin Ultra vs Scott vs Presto

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An essential commodity for any living space is toilet paper. However, with so many brands out there that claim to do different things but are all doing the same job, it can be confusing. Picking the right toilet paper shouldn’t make you break your bank. So lets talk about 3 types of toilet paper that come in bulk (24 packs)

Charmin Ultra Soft Toilet – Cushiony Touch:

Price: $28.49 (original $29.99)

Softness: 2-ply

Sheets: 363 per roll

SA: 8/10

Charmin is known for being pricer than its competitors but the quality speaks for itself. Its super soft and extra absorbent. You will end up using less sheets than any other brand of toilet paper which pay end up saving you money in the long run. They claim it is equal to about 5 regular sheets which maybe a bit of an exaggeration but it definitely will last longer. A great splurge buy but not necessary.

Scott Tube-Free Toilet Paper:

Price: $13.29 (original $13.99)

Softness: 1-ply

Sheets: 275 per roll

SA: 7/10

Much cheaper than the Charmin Ultra but much lower quality. It only uses 1-ply which maybe require more sheets per use. In addition, it also comes with less sheets per roll but it is very eco-friendly. Without the tube in the middle, they cut the cost and lower the carbon footprint of the user. However, compared to Charmin, these sheets only claim be equal to 2 regular rolls of toilet paper. Some critiques of this product stems from the tubeless factor. Towards the end of the roll, it gets hard to pull. It also runs out fairly quick.

Presto! Ultra-Soft Toilet Paper:

Price: $20.45

Softness: 2-Ply

Sheets: 308 per roll

SA: 9/10

This is Amazon’s own brand of Toilet Paper and it is surprisingly very good. Costs less compared to Charmin Ultra but has does lack in the quality department. Each roll is claim to last as long as 4 regular rolls and leaves less lint behind than other brands. The reviews claim that you cant really tell the difference between these and the Charmin brand.

Recommendation:  The Amazon brand of Toilet Paper beat my expectations by a long shot. For a product from a company that never made toilet paper before, this particular product was pretty good. It soft like the leading brands and last just as long. The best part, it is cheaper too! So if you want to save on toilet paper, buy the Presto!

 

Tissues: Kleenex vs Puffs vs Off-brand

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Hello Readers,

Spring in coming and with that comes allergies. So for my first on Seeking Alternatives, I will be reviewing the popular Tissue pack brand, Kleenex and comparing it to its biggest competitor, Puffs, and the underdog, Coghlan’s.

Kimberly-clark Corp 11975 Kleenex White Facial Tissue (Pack of 16):

Price: $7:10 ($0.44 each)

Quantity per pack: 10 sheets

Softness: 3-Ply

SA Rating: 5/10

Decent product with a decent price, however, this is not the more cost effective product as $0.44 per pack.

Kleenex Facial Tissues, On-The-Go Pack (Pack of 8)

Price: $2.29 ($0.29 each)

Quantity per pack: 10 Sheets

Softness: 3-Ply

SA Rating:7/10

Decent product but great value! This is the most cost effective product offered by Kleenex for the quantity. Perfect for any one person, best value if not planning on sharing.

Kleenex Slim Pack Facial Tissue (Pack of 12)

Price: $11.81 ($0.98 each)

Quantity per pack: 10 Sheets

Softness: 3-Ply

SA Rating: 2/10

Compared to the other products offered by Kleenex, the Slim pack is the least cost effective. Sitting at $0.98 per pack with no extra features makes this specific product too expensive to justify for its small packaging. Avoid unless space is of importance.

Puffs Plus Lotion Facial Tissues, (Pack of 10)

Price: $8.99 ($0.89 each)

Quantity per pack: 10 Sheets

Softness: 2-Ply

SA Rating: 6/10

Great product at a decent price for its benefits. Much softer than Kleenex and offers soothing properties. I would recommend this product for anyone who has allergies or is feeling under the weather. Will help reduce dryness and redness associated with high tissue usage. Even greater value for kids and adults who have sensitive skin.

Coghlan’s Tissue On The Go (Pack of 2)

Price: $6.32 ($3.16 each)

Quantity per pack: 65 Sheets

Softness: 2-Ply

SA Rating: 5/10

Unique product since it is very compact and packaged like a roll of toilet paper. I would not recommend getting this product for everyday use since its price is rather high for the benefits its offers. However, for anyone who is traveling, consider investing in this product. It will help save space because of its compact size and will not require you to replace it often because of its high sheet count per package.

Reflection: The best product from this review for everyday use is the “Kleenex Facial Tissues, On-The-Go Pack (Pack of 8),” based on its price. It is super affordable, soft and gets the job done. Also, unless you are someone who uses a lot of tissues, the 8 pack can last about a month which is a great investment considering it will only cost you $2.29. However, if you have severe allergies, consider splurging a little on the “Puffs Plus Lotion Facial Tissues, (Pack of 10).” Your nose will thank you.