Month: June 2024

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The CJRB Hectare Does Everything the Most Famous EDC Outdoor Knife Can, for $100+ Less

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Proven performance: The CJRB Hectare knife vs. rope and cardboard; (photo/Nick LeFort)

There are so many folding knives aimed at the outdoors these days that there’s bound to be some overlap. In some cases, that overlap might even be intentional — so intentional, in fact, that when you Google one knife and another one comes up in the results, you can confirm you’re not crazy. This is really happening.

For years, the Benchmade Bugout has been a dream come true for those folks who want a durable, reliable, medium-duty folding pocket knife without the heft. At 1.85 ounces, Benchmade aced the weight challenge. It also hit a home run with the choice to go with S30V blade steel, a wicked popular stainless steel. And the cherry on top, the knife carried Benchmade’s Axis lock. For less than $200, the Bugout became a no-brainer in the world of EDC knives.

This year, CJRB Cutlery reached out to see if I wanted to test out its newest outdoor-focused knife, the Hectare. CJRB deemed it the brand’s “first EDC-focused knife featuring a fast and reliable crossbar lock.”

Looking at the pictures and reading the specifics, I couldn’t ignore the similarities it drew to the Bugout: roughly the same size, sub-3-ounce weight, and a very similar, albeit less refined, design. It fits well in the “Hiking and Backpacking” knife category.

Accepting the offer to test and review the Hectare was a no-brainer.

In short: The CJRB Hectare proves that you can get more bang for your buck. By taking cues from one of the most desired hiking and backpacking EDC knives on the market, CJRB created a $50 knife that questions the need for a $200 one. If you don’t want to spend a lot on a knife but want to experience the hype surrounding the Benchmade Bugout, the Hectare will get you there.


CJRB Hectare Knife

Specs

  • OAL
    7.35"
  • Blade length
    3.15"
  • Blade steel
    AR-RPM9
  • Blade shape
    Drop point
  • Grind
    Flat
  • Hardness
    59-61 HRC
  • Lock type
    Crossbar lock
  • Carry
    Deep, left or right hand, tip-up
  • Weight
    2.69 oz.
  • Price
    $67 (but seemingly always on sale for $47)

Pros

  • G10 handle scales

  • Overall performance of the steel

  • Crossbar lock

  • Price

Cons

  • The roughness of the crossbar lock buttons

  • Initial crossbar lock resistance

CJRB Hectare Knife Review

Design & Features

a close-up photo of cjrb hectare pocket clip
CJRB Hectare pocket clip; (photo/Nick LeFort)

The CJRB Hectare is a lightweight, durable, reliable backpacking knife. It features a skeletonized steel frame and G10 handle scales, and deep-carry pocket clip. For a lock, the Hectare relies on a crossbar-style lock. The Hectare has an overall length of 7.35 inches, 3.15 of which make up the AR-RPM9 drop-point blade.

Additionally, the Hectare comes in at a trim and lean 2.69 ounces — a shoo-in for backpacking and EDC requirements.

Last month, Knife Steel Nerds, which I consider to be the authority on knife steel, claimed that Artisan, the parent company of CJRB, made false claims about its AR-RPM9 steel. Dr. Larrin Thomas, the brainpower behind Knife Steel Nerds and inventor of MagnaCut steel, claimed that AR-RPM9 steel was not a powdered steel as Artisan had claimed.

In the end, Artisan apologized for the mistake; however, it seems like the future of AR-RPM9 hangs in the balance. It may need to be reevaluated and renamed. The “P” stands for “Powdered” and the “9” stands for the number of elements in the steel, but there are only 7.

Still, it is nearly identical to 9Cr18MoV, a Chinese high-carbon stainless steel known to excel in edge retention, toughness, abrasion resistance, and corrosion resistance. So politics aside, 9Cr18MoV stands as an excellent budget steel.

First Impressions

cjrb hectare knife details close up
(Photo/Nick LeFort)

I take no issue with a company like CJRB making a knife so similar to a popular knife made by a premium brand. I was eager to see how a knife that costs more than $100 less compares to the knife that inspired it. While I didn’t expect this knife to behave like the Bugout, when it arrived, I was pleasantly surprised.

Though all crossbar lock mechanisms look and perform in a specific way, there are a lot of different versions of it on the market. Out of the box, the crossbar lock on the Hectare was a little resistant to being activated. That’s due to some differences in machined tolerances and the use of heavier springs.

CJRB’s choice to go with caged ball bearings around the pivot complements the axis lock nicely, allowing the blade to swing open smoothly and lock up tight like a tiger.

I like CJRB’s decision to use G10 handle scales. They’re durable and provide an excellent grip. On the Hectare, CJRB machined them to allow the knife’s steel frame to nest into them. This increases the overall foundation of the knife without impacting its size. And it keeps the weight under 3 ounces.

But even with this full frame embedded into the handle, the Hectare still exhibits the known flex that the Bugout has when you squeeze its handle with the blade open. This is a clear indication that this is a light- to medium-duty pocket knife.

In the Field

cjrb hectare knife review
(Photo/Nick LeFort)

Out in the world, the Hectare performed really well for a $50 knife. Heck, its overall performance was on par with a $200 alternative. I had some concerns it wouldn’t hold up to use and abuse at the level I treat the knives I test. But those all washed away within the first few uses.

I never thought it would fall apart on me, but $50 sits on the low end of the spectrum for what I consider a reliable knife. So, while I’m not shocked that the Hectare made it through a few months of living with me, I am surprised at how well it held up overall.

I hate to be the guy who says he spent a lot of time cutting rope and cardboard with his knives, but I actually did with the Hectare. Both rope and cardboard (along with meat) can dull a knife edge quickly. I’m happy to say that wasn’t the case here. After 4 months, the blade needed to be honed to return to its factory sharpness, but it was far from dull.

After opening and closing the knife via the crossbar lock several times, I decided to rub it down with a Scotch Brite pad. The machined-in tapers on the buttons were a little annoying and got caught on my thumb, irritating my skin. It’s either a process CJRB missed or didn’t think was necessary. It’s by no means a deal-breaker, though, and is easy to fix.

the cjrb hectare knife and flowers
(Photo/Nick LeFort)

Like all of the knives I test, the Hectare spent plenty of time in the elements and dirt getting wet and gritty. At no point did it falter. Even now, the knife doesn’t show any signs of wear or tear.

But I will say that the pocket clip on the Hectare is a little sensitive. At some point, the clip pulled away from the surface of the handle scales. It’s not a lot to cause any issues in carrying, but it should be noted.

Ergonomically, I had no issues using the Hectare in demanding situations. It still has the flex that’s associated with the Benchmade Bugout, but I’ll chalk that up to being the nature of the beast. Though it’s noted and noticeable on both knives, it does not impact performance.

In Conclusion

It’s key to keep in mind that any lightweight knives, from any brand, are medium-duty at best. You can’t baton the spine to split kindling or pry with them. They are designed to prep a tinder bundle and food for the fire, or open boxes from Amazon — stuff like that.

AR-RPM9 steel sign on cjrb hectare knife
(Photo/Nick LeFort)

Though the form and finish of the Hectare might be missing some of the geometry that make the Bugout look more refined, it’s hard to ignore the fact that both knives function the same. That includes the AR-RPM9 steel.

No, I am not saying that AR-RPM9 is as good as S30V in the long run, but it’s good enough for the day-to-day use the average person doles out. It may turn into sand after 20 years of abuse, whereas S30V will still be riding high. Maybe I’ll swing back around and write a long-term review about it then.

All in all, the Hectare serves as another indicator that budget knives have their place in the viable EDC knife market. Brands like CJRB, CIVIVI, and SENCUT prove you can get a quality knife at a lower price.

The steel may not have a buzz-worthy name, but that won’t impact the way it performs. In the case of the Hectare, you won’t find any issues unless you want to. This knife exceeded my expectations, sore thumb and all. Expect to see the Hectare in the next update of the Best Knives for Hiking & Backpacking.

The post The CJRB Hectare Does Everything the Most Famous EDC Outdoor Knife Can, for $100+ Less appeared first on GearJunkie.

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The Crazy Useful Wi-Fi Tip Everyone Should Know

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Stop wracking your brain for passwords and network IDs. This under-the-radar tip lets visitors hop on your home Wi-Fi in a flash without revealing your password.

eero home mesh wifi system​eero

Sharing your Wi-Fi network details with friends and family while visiting your place doesn’t require dictating awkward network IDs or passwords out loud. It also doesn’t require writing down sensitive information anywhere. 

Instead, you can pass someone a printed QR code or show them the code on your phone. 

Once guests scan the code with their phone’s camera app, which many people are now familiar with as a consequence of the pandemic, a pop-up message will ask if they’d like to join your network. After hitting “join,” they’ll be automatically signed on without selecting a network name or typing in a password. The QR code will never expire as long as your network details remain the same. This QR code-based login ability was one of the most significant benefits of the Wi-Fi Easy Connect Standard, launched and announced a few years back. 

There are several ways to generate a QR code for your Wi-Fi network. Below, you’ll find several methods we recommend.

THE EASIEST WAY TO CREATE A WI-FI NETWORK QR CODE

Screen shot of QR-Code-Generator.com showing the form fields users need to fill in to generate a QR code for their Wifi. Ben Bowers for Gear Patrol

This free website (and others like it) are the easiest way to generate a QR code for your Wi-Fi network. Visit the link, enter your Wi-Fi network name and password, and hit “generate QR Code.” You can even make the code look nicer by choosing different frame designs. 

The catch is that you share your Wi-Fi network details with a third party. So, if you’re conscious of your network security or are concerned about sharing private information online, the other methods below are better bets.

How to Create a WI-FI NETWORK QR Code on ios

Creating a QR code for your Wi-Fi network on an iOS device is a bit more tedious than on Android, though it’s still generally easy. The best part about this method is that you aren’t sharing your Wi-Fi network details with outside parties, so it’s very secure. Here’s what you need to do

STEP 1:

  • Open the shortcuts app on your iPhone or iPad.
  • Tap the gallery icon at the bottom of the app screen.
  • Tap on “Shortcuts for Accessibility” at the top of the screen.
An iPhone screenshot of the iOS shortcuts app showing the area marked shortcuts for accessibility. Ben Bowers for Gear Patrol

STEP 2:

  • Tap “See All” to the right of access tools
  • Scroll down the list of shortcuts shown on the next screen until you see “QR Your Shortcuts.”
  • Tap the small plus sign in the corner of the QR Your Shortcuts colored block. This will add the shortcut to your list of shortcuts.
  • Now, go to your list of added shortcuts. To do this, tap on the shortcuts icon at the bottom of the shortcuts app screen on the far left. Then tap the “All Shortcuts” folder at the top.
An iPhone screenshot of the iOS shortcuts app showing the area marked access tools. Ben Bowers for Gear Patrol

STEP 3:

  • Tap the small plus sign in the corner of the “QR Your Shortcuts” colored block. This will add the shortcut to your list of shortcuts.
  • Now, go to your list of added shortcuts. To do this, tap on the shortcuts icon at the bottom of the shortcuts app screen on the far left. Then tap the “All Shortcuts” folder at the top.
An iPhone screenshot of the iOS shortcuts app showing the QR Your Wi-Fi shortcut block.Ben Bowers for Gear Patrol

STEP 4:

  • Tap the rounded square icon on your list of added shortcuts labeled “QR Your Wi-Fi”
  • This will cause a pop-up to appear asking you first to input your Network name. Type in the name and hit done.
  • Next, another pop-up will appear asking you to input your password. Once you’ve added in your password, hit done.
An iPhone screenshot of the iOS shortcuts app showing the pop-up that appears when users input their Wi-Fi network name and password to create a Wi-Fi QR code.Ben Bowers for Gear Patrol

STEP 5:

  • A QR Code should appear after completing step 4.
  • Clicking done will complete the process.
  • You can then tap the QR Code image to pull up a variety of options like saving the QR code to your photos or files.
  • Once the code is saved in your photos or files, you can easily print out a physical copy to have people scan.
An iPhone screenshot of the iOS shortcuts app showing the Wi-Fi network QR code the Apple shortcut creates. Ben Bowers for Gear Patrol

How to Create a WI-FI NETWORK QR Code on AN ANDROID DEVICE

Since the launch of Android 10, creating a Wi-Fi network QR code on Android just takes a few taps. Here are the quick steps to follow.

  • First, go to the settings page.
  • Select network & internet from the list.
  • Select your Wi-Fi network’s name and then tap the small gear to the right. This will reveal your network details.
  • Tap the share button shown on the right hand side, towards the top of the screen.
  • Depending on your device, you may be asked to verify your identity by inputting your phone’s security code or scanning your fingerprint. Once you’ve done that, a QR code should appear.
  • The best way to prevent having to do this over and over again is to take a screenshot of the QR code on your device. Next, crop the screenshot to only show the QR code and save it to your photos or files to pull up later. You can also print out a physical copy.

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A Compilation of 1950s Factory Films

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A Compilation of 1950s Factory Films

We love watching how factories make things. Archive film company British Pathé compiled this reel of vintage factory footage dating back to the 1950s. Along the way, you’ll see how they made jukeboxes, candies, model aircrafts, and more. It would be interesting to compare modern manufacturing processes to these to see how much they have changed.

The Awesomer

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★ A growing list of profitable businesses built on Laravel

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In a post I made earlier this year, I mentioned a couple of businesses that are well known for using Laravel. Some reactions to that post have centered around the limited set of examples, but that wasn’t the point of the post.

Laravel continues to grow, so new apps and businesses using it are popping up all the time. But finding truly profitable businesses that are built on Laravel—not just ones that use Laravel somewhere in the mix with a ton of other tools, but ones where Laravel is the breadwinner, with teams that are keen to continue with Laravel.

I think this is whole other level of example.

So back in March, I tweeted asking who was running a profitable business on Laravel and I got a really awesome response.

I intend to keep this list up to date as time goes by, so if you know of any others, please let me know! And if you’re on here already and want to get more of your products listed, just say – my DMs are always open on Twitter.

Heads up! Some of these links are tracked for affiliate earnings, meaning I may earn something when you buy.

Here goes, in no particular order:

More to come!

And of course, this isn’t even counting the thousands of indie developers and small businesses (like me 👋🏼) who are building and running Laravel applications that are profitable—even if they’re not quite enough to employ anyone full-time yet.

Are you running a profitable business on Laravel? Please consider using Laradir to find great Laravel engineers and to promote your business in the community! Prices for access to the directory just went down and there are great things coming.

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The 6 Best Free Ringtone Apps and Websites for iPhone

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Tired of hearing the monotonous Marimba ringtone every time you get a phone call? Fortunately, there are several apps and websites where you can find a variety of new ringtones for your iPhone without needing to purchase them.

1 Ringtones for iPhone: Music

If you’re looking for an app that only features free ringtones, the Ringtones for iPhone: Music app, developed by Jerome Melis, is your best bet! While the app being completely free to use is certainly impressive, it features more than eight hundred popular ringtones and has an incredibly easy-to-use interface.

Upon launching the app, you’ll see ringtones classified as Most Popular. When you dig deeper, you’ll find ringtones divided into various categories like Funny Ringtones, Summer Selection, Christmas, Old phone ringtones, and much more. Unfortunately, to access these ringtones, you need to watch an ad or rate the app on the App Store, but it’s certainly better than paying money!

Once you find a ringtone you like, the app allows you to install it using GarageBand or iTunes (for which you’ll need a computer). If you find a ringtone that you like that you’d like to save to view later, simply tap the Heart icon next to it to save it to your favorites.

Download:Ringtones for iPhone: Music (Free)

2 Tuunes

With over ten thousand licensed ringtones to choose from, the Tuunes app, developed by WhitePoint GmbH, is a worthwhile option. The app sorts available ringtones into various categories, like Latest Chart Remixes, Around The World, and TikTok Classics.

You can also view ringtones and alarms sorted into genres by tapping the Genre button below the search bar. You’ll now see different genres, like Alternative, Blues, Children’s Music, Comedy, and more. Similarly, if you’d like to view free ringtones, tap the Free button below the search bar.

Tuunes allows you to create ringtones without needing iTunes or your computer. Once you download a ringtone, all you need to do now is follow the on-screen instructions to set it as your iPhone’s ringtone using GarageBand. If you’d like to recognize who’s calling simply by hearing the ringtone, the app also lets you assign unique ringtones to each of your contacts.

While Tuunes has a decent collection of ringtones that you may download for free, you’ll unfortunately need to collect coins to purchase the more popular ones. When you download the app initially, you’re granted 75 coins. You can win 15 coins daily by watching an ad and win 30 coins by playing a quiz. If you’d like more, you’ll unfortunately need to pay.

Download:Tuunes (Free, subscription available)

3 Ringtones

While Tuunes has an easy-to-use interface, the amount of free ringtones available is unfortunately limited. The Ringtones app is a great alternative if you’re looking for a wider selection of ringtones for free. Ringtones are categorized into various sections, like Christmas, ASMR, Alerts, Animals, Asian, and more.

The Ringtones app also shows the most popular ringtones in a separate section called Hottest Ringtones. The app also allows you to make and set a custom ringtone on your iPhone for free. You can do so by tapping the Editor tab at the bottom of the screen.

If you want to set an audio recording as your ringtone, simply tap Recorder. Otherwise, you can use the Ringtone Maker to import an audio file from iCloud, your device’s gallery, or the app’s list of ringtones. Once you import audio, you can tweak its pitch and tempo, use the app’s built-in equalizer to edit the audio, trim it, and more.

Once you’re satisfied, you can simply export it to GarageBand and set it as your ringtone. Like Ringtone Maker, you can also assign separate ringtones to individual contacts.

Download:Ringtones (Free, subscription available)

4 Zedge.net

You’ve probably heard of Zedge if you’ve searched the web for good ringtones. From Bollywood to Hip-Hop ringtones, finding a ringtone that you vibe with using the Zedge app is no difficult task.

While the app has a wide collection of free ringtones available for download, you may need to watch an ad to unlock some of them. Similarly, you may need to purchase Zedge Credits to download exclusive ringtones.

You can use the app to set any sound you like as your notification tone or a ringtone. Once you find a tone you like, you just need to tap the Download icon and choose Set on Device. You can then use GarageBand to set the tone as your ringtone.

If you don’t want to use the app, you can use Zedge’s web app in any browser. Similar to the app, you can download any tone you like by simply hitting the Download button. However, you’ll need to transfer the ringtone to your iPhone if you’re accessing the site on a computer.

Download:Zedge (Free, subscription available)

5 Melofania.club

MeloFania is another website with a great selection of trending songs you can use as ringtones for your iPhone. However, what makes the website stand out is that it lets you extract audio from YouTube besides uploading a song of your choice.

Unlike the sites and apps listed above, the ringtones on MeloFania aren’t sorted by categories. So, you’ll have to rely on the search bar and dig around to find a ringtone you like. If you want to download a ringtone from a certain artist, there’s also an option to browse artists by alphabet.

If you decide to create your own ringtone by uploading a tune or extracting one from a YouTube video, the platform allows you to clip the desired part, adjust the volume, and add fade-in or fade-out effects. Once you’re satisfied, you can download the ringtone as an M4R file.

6 Audiko.com

While Zedge and Melofania both have a great collection of ringtones, I noticed that neither website is updated as frequently as I’d like. As a result, I couldn’t find trending songs to set as my ringtone. If you’re someone who likes to have viral songs as your ringtone, Audiko will undeniably be your best friend. Like most other sites, Audiko categorizes its tunes into sections like Country, Pop, K Pop, Jazz, and more.

If you want a song by a particular artist, type the artist’s name in the search bar. To find trending songs, click the three horizontal lines and select Collections from the dropdown menu. Here, you’ll not only find trending songs but also various alterations of them to set as your ringtone. For instance, you may find the TikTok version of the original song, the sped-up version, etc.

While Audiko has an app on the Google Play Store, iPhone users need to rely on the website in Safari or any other popular iOS browser they prefer. Once you find your desired ringtone, you can download it to your computer as a M4R file and export it to your iPhone.

Whether you’re looking for a fun tune to set as a ringtone to make sure you never miss a call or are looking for more subtle ringtone options than what Apple offers, I’m sure you’ll be able to find your next ringtone easily using the apps and sites above!

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