Category: Seasonal

Tumblers: Contigo vs Built NY vs ICONIQ

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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.

Blenders: Black + Decker vs Hamilton Beach vs Oster

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Its almost summer, so you know what that means. Nothing beats a nice cold smoothie or milkshake when its hot out but buying them can be expensive. However, with your own blender, you could be mixing like a pro while saving on some dough. Browsing through Amazon, there are countless blenders from top of the line to basic blenders. However, summer is only 1 season, so no need to splurge on something you might put away after a few months. Black + Decker and Hamilton Beach offers low cost Blenders at a bargain for their basic models but are they really as good as the Oster for the price? Here’s how they stack up against each other!

BLACK+DECKER BL1500SG Counter Top Blender:

Price: $39.99

Capacity: 48 oz (6 cups)

Speeds: 10

Power: 700 Watts

SA: 6/10

The Black + Decker basic blender is decent but its functions does not justify the price. Although it has some features that sound impressive, the biggest deterrent for this product is the lack of a warranty. Usually products that require a lot of power to function are sold with a warranty because they should be built to last and stored. The fact that they do not offer one makes me skeptical on the life of this product. In addition, if you plan to store this product when it starts to get cold, keep in mind you may have trouble using it when summer comes around again.

Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher:

Price: $32.95 (Originally $38.99)

Capacity: 40 oz (5 cups)

Speeds: 14

Power: 700 Watts

SA: 7/10

The Hamilton Beach Wave crusher is a very decent buy for this price point. Since it is currently on sale, it is a great time to buy one. Although it has less capacity than the Black + Decker basic model, it has more speeds allowing you to create a better consistency for that cold summer drink. This product also comes with a 3 year warranty which is a bonus for a product like this. You will not have to worry about replacing this product or breaking it for 3 years, what a relief! It is also super durable (can blend 8,000 frozen drinks) and super easy to pour (has a pouring lid).

Oster 6812-001 Core:

Price: $36.99 ($49.99)

Capacity: 40 oz (5 cups)

Speeds: 16

Power: 700 Watts

SA: 8.5/10

The Oster is a currently on a huge sale, discounted at 26% from its original price and is the most notable product in this list. With 16 speeds, you’ll have the ability to make your frozen drink to your preference. Being able to effortless make anything from milkshakes to frozen margaritas, this product does it all! It comes with a 10 year warranty as well! That’s right, this investment of $36.99 can last you 10 years of making smoothies or shakes. However, be cautious when cleaning this product because there has been some complainants on removing the blade. The whole product is dish washer safe.

Recommendations: The Oster is hands down the best product at this price point and will be a worthy investment down the road. The pros heavily out weight the cons since the only problem that seem to arise is due to its old fashion base. If you’re a college student trying to throw a margarita party, this product is for you. Or if you’re a parent trying to provide your kids with a healthy smoothie, this product will meet your expectations as well.

Humidifiers: Vicks vs Everlasting Comfort vs Pure Enrichment

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Today I will be talking about an extremely useful device for any home. That’s right, I will be comparing a very popular brand in this department, Vicks, and two lesser known products by Everlasting Comfort and Pure Enrichment. These products can be found on Amazon for decent prices and feel free to browse others. However, I feel that these 3 brands are the most popular and has the most reviews to go through.

Everlasting Comfort Ultrasonic Humidifier:

Price: $59.95

Capacity: 6 Liters

Run Time: 50 hours

SA: 9/10

Amazing product for a very affordable price. If you are someone who is willing to spend a little bit extra on useful devices, this product is for you. Although it comes with a premium price tag, its features back up the price. I can run 50 straight hours (without overheating), ultra quiet, 360 degree of motion, and can fill up a room that 400 sq ft. No filter required however, like all humidifiers, when using tap water, minerals may be exposed to the air.

Vicks Ultrasonic Humidifier:

Price: $49.95 (59.95)

Capacity: 5.67 Liters

Run Time: 20 Hours

SA: 7/10

Decent product but overpriced for its performance. Only has 20 hours of run time for such a large tank and difficult to clean. It is quiet allowing use at night and recommends use of a filter. Although it is not required, not using one may lower the life of the product. Also, be careful of where the nozzle is pointed, it releases a lot of humidity quickly causing surfaces to become wet.

Pure Enrichment MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier:

Price: Currently $39.99 (Original $79.99)

Capacity: 1.5 Liters

Run Time: 16 Hours

SA: 8/10

The discount price for this product currently is a steal. It is 50% off on Amazon and has great features. 16 hour run time on a 1.5 liter tank. Lower output allowing the humidity to travel further. Ideal for people bedrooms and small offices. Not bulky like other products so does not take up too much space. Great product for anyone who lives alone.

Reflection: The best product in my opinion for families would be Everlasting Comfort due to their long run time and wide range. Great for living rooms and keeping the air from getting too dry which may irritate children. However, if you are single, the Pure Enrichment is definitely the best option if you are working with a budget. Its small body allows it to be easily moved even when full so any room you’re in will be dry free. The run time allows the user to not worry about it turning off when sleeping and it is very easy to refill unlike larger products. The Vicks is decent, but there are better options out there for the same price. The biggest deterrent about this specific Vicks product is the humidity output which can cause issues if in use for too long.

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.