As Seen on TV Products for the Kitchen

The Slap Chop

The claim: Chop, dice, and mince in seconds without switching blades.

The reviews: Nearly all of the customer reviews mention that the vegetables get stuck on the blade rather than actually getting chopped. With a 1.4 average rating, this product appears to be a dud. One Slap Chop review says, “my dull false teeth could do better“. Ouch.

Bottom line: You’re better off using a knife or putting your $20 towards a food processor.

Always Fresh Containers

The claim: They keep food fresh up to 50 days longer than other containers.

The reviews: The Always Fresh Containers get mixed reviews. While eleven people give it a five star rating, nearly as many give them only one star. Fans say they save money by keeping food fresh much longer. One reviewer says, “broccoli and celery rotted in record time in these containers. i had much better luck using a zip lock freezer bag.”

Bottom line: Try at your own risk.

The Magic Bullet

The claim: This all purpose tool can do most kitchen jobs in 10 seconds or less.

The reviews: Most of the Magic Bullet reviews were positive. One reviewer makes everything from smoothies to scrambled eggs and says, “It takes the place of several larger appliances and really saves lots of space on the kitchen counter. ” However, many reviewers note problems with the durability.

Bottom line: Versatile tool, but don’t get too attached.

As Seen on TV Fitness Equipment

The Perfect Pushup

The claim: Supercharge your workout…maximizing strength and definition while minimizing the risks of joint strain and injury.

The reviews: The Perfect Pushup gets almost perfect marks in the product reviews for quality & results. Users also love that they can work their upper bodies without wrist pain, and some started to see results in as little as three weeks.

The bottom line: A quality home gym product for improving upper body strength without wrist pain.

The Ab Rocket

The claim: Ab Rocket gives you the abs you’ve always wanted in 5 minutes a day.

The reviews: With an average star rating of 3.7, the Emson Ab Rocket works for some, but not all. The main complaint is that the machine doesn’t provide enough resistance to produce results.  Ab Rocket enthusiasts give it good reviews as a great alternative to sit-ups.

The bottom line: If you hate sit-ups, this might be a good alternative, but don’t expect washboard abs.

The Iron Gym Pull Up Bar

The claim: Get strong. Get ripped. Quick! Attaches & removes from door frame in seconds!

The reviews: Most reviewers are very impressed with the easy installation process for Iron Gym. They find it “sturdy” and high quality. Some who try to use the bar for sit-ups find it less than stellar, but otherwise satisfactory.

Bottom line: If you’re looking for an easy to install pull-up bar, this one will do the job.

As Seen on TV Electronics

The Clapper

The claim: Turn your lights on and off automatically with a clap of your hands!

The reviews: Users says it’s good for lights that are hard to get to, and a fun novelty item. Most note that is also finicky & takes a bit of practice to get right.

Bottom line: Not quite perfect, but it has its uses.

The MagicJack

The claim: make and receive calls to anywhere in the United States and Canada for free using your high-speed Internet connection.

The reviews: Many find hassles with the product from poor sound quality to inadequate customer service and documentation. Though the device requires your computer to be running to work, lots of people are excited about the cost savings.

Bottom line: A good backup to your home phone, but stick with a real VoIP provider if you want quality.

Sonic Earz

The claim: Amplifies sound from 60 feet away.

The reviews: The average rating for this product is just 2.2. While some users write that it improved their hearing range, others complain about the poor sound quality, interference, and short battery life.

Bottom line: Set the volume high & your expectations low.

So if you haven’t winterized your bike commute yet, Buzzillions is here to help find the right cycling clothing & gear. We have product reviews on over 3000 cycling accessories from big retailers like Bike Nashbar and Performance bike as well as from your local cycle shop. If you’re not sure what to get, here are some user reviews of their favorite products for winter cycling…..

BIKE LIGHT REVIEWS

These are a must for riding in non-ideal conditions.  They aren’t always legally required and I’ll admit I’ve occasionally cycled home at night without any.  A lot of commuters use just small blinky lights, which may be fine on a clear night but in bad conditions you need real lights.  Our users (including me) love the duo of the Planet Bike Super Flash Taillight & the Planet Bike Blaze 1w Bicycle Light.  They’re small yet very bright.  The miracles they’ve wrought with LED lights these days!

Planet Bike Super Flash Taillight

The best tailight.  Period. Use It!

I was recommended this taillight by a friend and when I saw it on sale for [$] I was sold. All I can say is WOW. I would never trust my safety to any other light. This thing is bar-none the best and brightest tail flasher I have ever seen. I put all three of my red flashers on as a test and this one was by far the brightest …” Mr. Wizard of San Diego, CA

Read Full Review »

Planet Bike Blaze 1W LED Bicycle Light

Fantastic light!!

this light was recommended to me by 2 rei sales people, and i’m not disappointed at all. in fact i’m absolutely geeked that i got such a great light without spending hundreds of dollars. this light has three settings and the highest is really bright, and i have not had to change the battery yet. ……” John Rambo of Earth

Read Full Product Review »

FENDER REVIEWS

You’ve already got enough to deal with with all the rain and snow, why make it worse by splashing up all that muck from the road? I know a lot of people don’t believe in fenders. But I have seen cycling clothes after a couple of months of no fender protection, and believe me, that black stain up the middle of the back from all the road grime is never going to wash out. So protect yourself and your clothes by getting some real fenders. Planet Bike makes some of the most popular fenders (and highest rated), and for good reason.

Planet Bike Freddy Fenders (Hybrid/Touring)

pretty sexy.

i just had these installed on my new marin fairfax, and they look awesome. based on reviews of these fenders, i knew they would be great, but i looked at a few others just to make sure i wasn’t missing out. i’m glad i settled on the freddies because these shiny black fenders look so much more …” nannylu of Atlanta

Read Full Product Review »

GLOVE REVIEWS

Unless you live where it’s sunny and warm all year round, you’ll want to get a pair of cold weather gloves. If you live in a mild climate like we do here in San Francisco you can probably get away with some full length cycling gloves. If you live somewhere colder you’ll probably want something with more insulation. A member of the Buzzillions team from Eugene, OR recommends getting a pair of cross country ski gloves – they’re light, sporty and warm. Of course, if it gets really cold you should probably look for a pair of ski/snowboard gloves. Here’s what one reviewer had to say:

Outdoor Research Gripper Gloves

Nice Product

Purchased for winter cycling road and mountain down to 32 degrees. Nice glove, nice windblockking material. Although sizing is generous, will shrink very slightly first time in dryer so purchase size up if between sizes. Recommend glove down to freezing temps. Happy with purchase. …” Rugbydog of Pennsylvania

Read Full Product Review »

CYCLING JACKET REVIEWS

Ditto with the jackets. You don’t have to wear a cycling jacket. However, most cycling jackets are windproof and that goes a long way towards keeping you warm. They’re also breathable so you don’t show up all sweaty. Of course, if it gets really cold you might want to just wear a ski/snowboard jacket as long as you don’t get too warm while cycling.

Gore Men

Worth EVERY penny, Incredible, versatile

I *love* this jacket. Body temp doesn’t change going into the wind or with the wind. Windproof AND breathes. Tonight (starting temp was 65 and ended at 55) I wore silkweight capilene base and this jacket and was very nice and warm, but NOT overheated. Thank you for gr8 vents. In the Minnesota winter …” SunMan of Wells, MN

Read Full Product Review »

Dude, seriously?

Fast forward three months & I found myself shelling out a month’s rent on a brand new road bike.  Ironically, what brought me to this hypocritical juncture was my love of running. My self-diagnosed achilles tendonitis had been hampering me since well before the Wildflower race thanks to up to 50 miles of running a week. With a marathon closing in a few short months, something had to change.  Not quite ready to hang up the racing shoes altogether, I decided to focus on my training on quality, not quantity, with liberal amounts of cross training. I started prepping for my October marathon using the FIRST training program – three days of running and two or three days of cross training every week. The theory goes that cross training allows for better recovery between running sessions & prevents injury. Perfect.

Being a miserable swimmer, I chose biking as my cross training method. After checking reviews & taking the Specialized Allez & the Trek 1.2 WSD for a test ride, I bought the latter at my local bike store in exchange for my minimalist-runner soul & a good chunk of cash. A few days in & my achilles seems a little bit better. Hopefully, this will all pay off come race day. As for triathlons, I don’t see one in my future, but I know better than to say never.

Check out these categories for the best product reviews from The Finish Line and others:

Sporting goods product reviews

Running & fitness product reviews

Running shoe product reviews

• Two great brands
• Over 10,000 new products
• More than 100,000 new product reviews

A little video about New Balance’s Skowhegan, Maine factory:

The Serious Carnivore – Wild Boar Bacon

It’s not overly gamey, but it tastes slightly sweet with an almost bourbon flavor to the meat. I fried my eggs in the leftover fat afterwards…

Astronaut/ Disaster Preparedness Enthusiast – Mountain House Precooked Bacon & Eggs

I suppose the MSG could be partly to blame for how great this bizarre substance tastes, but there is more to it than just that, and it can only be understood by those who understand.

Vegetarian – Bacon & Eggs Costume

Most fun ever

Whether you prefer an Ecamper or a traditional tent, we have all the camping gear product reviews you could possibly need here (don’t forget the portable hot tub). If your car needs a tune-up before you hit the road, check out the car part reviews from JC Whitney, our newest Buzzillions partner.

In the spirit of the greatest sporting event on the calendar (sorry Super Bowl, World Cup, and Olympics – summer and winter), we’ve put together a list of NCAA team apparel reviewed by consumers (like you!) on Buzzillions.  So without further ado, here’s our special Buzzillions Sweet 16 for all you die-hard basketball fans and bracketologists:

Danny’s Buzzillion Dollar Picks