Honest Product Reviews at Common Sense Homesteading

Everything You Need to Know About the 18650 Battery

November 10, 2018 by August Neverman 4 Comments

What is a 18650?

18650s are in more and more electronics. This post will tell you everything you need to know about 18650 batteries. An 18650 is a lithium ion rechargeable battery. Their proper name is “18650 cell”. The 18650 cell has voltage of 3.7v and has between 1800mAh and 3500mAh (mili-amp-hours). There are two types; protected and unprotected. We absolutely recommend protected 18650 batteries. The average 18650 battery charge time is about 4 hours. Charge time can vary with amperage and voltage of the charger and the battery type.

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The 4 Layers of Cold Weather Clothing Everyone Should Know

November 27, 2017 by Laurie Neverman 29 Comments

In this post, I'm going to quickly review the best cold weather clothing tips for extreme weather, adapted from the Field Manual for the U.S. Antarctic Program. Then we'll get into some of our favorite gear for general cold weather wear. Finally, I'll wrap up with a Fortress Clothing review. Look things through, and decide which clothes are a worthwhile investment for your cold weather safety and comfort. [Read more…]

Prairie Pin Pouch Handmade Clothespin Bag – Made for Heavy Use

May 24, 2017 by Laurie Neverman 100 Comments

The Return of the Classic Clothespin Bag

The Prairie Pin Pouch is a modern rendition of a classic clothespin bag. I found these handmade laundry helpers in a somewhat unusual fashion. Some friends were visiting from out of town one afternoon when the phone rang. On the line was Julie Pruett, creator of the Prairie Pin Pouch.

As it turns out, Julie read a review I wrote several years ago on Amazon.com about a clothespin bag that didn't stand up well to our high winds. The flimsy thing kept blowing off the clothesline, which dumped my pins 12 feet below. (Our clothesline is on our raised deck.) It was very frustrating.

Julie saved that review, contacted me about her handmade clothespin bags, and sent me a sample. [Read more…]

Kevin’s Quality Clothespins -The Best Clothespins You’ve Ever Used

March 28, 2017 by Laurie Neverman 161 Comments

I love the smell of laundry fresh off the line – but I don't love having cheap, flimsy clothespins launch themselves off the line in pieces or finding heavy, wet items dropped on the ground below the line. Since our laundry line is on our elevated deck, when laundry drops, it really drops, falling over ten feet down. I was hanging clothes recently and thinking, “It sure would be nice if someone started making heavy duty clothespins again.”

Ask and ye shall receive, because the next time I checked my inbox, there was a message from Hilary of Kevin's Quality Clothespins, letting me know about their heavy duty, American made clothespins. I received a sample set of 10 for review. [Read more…]

LuminAID Solar Powered Lights – Compact, Waterproof & Long Lasting

September 16, 2016 by Laurie Neverman 3 Comments

LuminAID solar powered lights are unique, lightweight, durable, IPX7 waterproof, inflatable lights. Ever since I saw them on Shark Tank back in 2015, I thought the company was on to a good idea. I received two great little LuminAID solar powered lights for review – the cube-shaped Packlite 12 and the pillow-shaped Packlite 16. [Read more…]