Articles about Hobbies

Whether you are a seasoned globetrotter, a backpacker or just a casual weekend-traveler, you could benefit from a travel backpack. Many, especially weekenders, choose to go with a suitcase on wheels. And while there is nothing wrong with that, any seasoned traveler can tell you that a proper backpack will beat a suitcase in most situations - including uneven pavement, sand and snow. Despite what you might be thinking, you can easily pack whatever you need and a couple of souvenirs inside a decent-sized travel backpack. By taking the time and finding the right one for you, you won't be hurting your back in the process. 

We’ve searched the internet high and low to find the dirty details on garden kneelers. In our research, we found that the best garden kneelers are comfortable yet durable, adequately sized, and sometimes come with helpful extra features like storage and handles.Whether you’re looking for a stabilizing kneeler with handrails that doubles as a bench or just want a simple foam pad, your joints will thank you for looking into our favorite garden kneelers available online.

If you’re just getting into gardening, you’ll probably need to pick up a few different tools, and the easiest way to do so is by finding a garden tool set. That’s why we searched the internet and pored over reviews to figure out what makes a great set.We found that the best sets include every piece you need, are built for comfort and longevity, and come with a case for storing or carrying. Most sets include shovels, rakes, and shears, and many have several other useful tools as well. Keeping these things in mind, we’ve picked out some of our favorite garden tool sets available online.

We scoured the internet and pored through reviews to find the best 3D puzzles for adults. We looked at puzzles in wood, crystal, and foam; they were shaped as castles, pirate ships, and dragons. Along the way, we found that the best match what you’re looking for in terms of design, complexity, and size.Generally speaking, the hardest puzzles have more pieces, include moving parts, and come with detailed instructions. Keeping all these things in mind, we hand-picked a few that could double as works of art or feats of engineering.

Choose your own adventure books (CYOAB) might seem like a relic of the 80s and 90s, but they’re definitely still around and better than ever.We’ve scoured the internet and pored through reviews to come up with a few of the best CYOABs out there–for kids and adults. While books are subjective by nature, we’ve found that a good CYOAB is written in your favorite genre, has a good balance between story length and number of endings, and, for convenience, comes in an eBook format.

The best dollhouses for adults appeal to individuals’ aesthetic tastes but also take practicalities into account.On top of appearances, there are wide range of factors, each appealing to a different sort of dollhouse enthusiast. You can get a dwelling that’s big or miniature, plastic or wooden, Victorian or modern, unfinished or a set packed with furniture. We kept all of this in mind as we hand-picked some of the best dollhouses for adults available online.

Karaoke is always a welcome addition to any party. The only problem is that it can sometimes be difficult to get the right tools to where you need them, especially since traditional karaoke machines require a TV or bulky equipment. Luckily, there are quite a few options for portable karaoke machines now that allow you to take the fun anywhere.But picking the right one can make or break your party, so it’s important to get it right. In this guide, we’ll go over the things you should consider when deciding on a portable karaoke machine. At the end, we’ve also got a list of our favorites to help you get started on your search.

In today’s fast-paced world, things can get kind of stressful, and we don’t always have the time to step back and sort out our emotions. Instead, for the most part, we’re expected to just keep going whether we’re comfortable or not. Luckily, there are stress relief toys made specifically to help you dispel stress and cope with your emotions on the go.But there are a lot of different kinds, and which one is right for you really depends on your own situation. In this guide, we’ll go over the factors you should consider when deciding which of stress toy is right for you. At the end, if you’re still having a hard time going through the options, we’ve also got a list of our 10 favorites to help you get started.

Thickening at the slightest application of pressure, but also able to come to a fine point. Shifting easily from dark to light and back again. Calligraphy (or brush) pens are invaluable tools not just for calligraphy or the writing of Chinese characters or illustrating wall scrolls, but also for a wide variety of Western and fusion art as well. And quality matters.Japan is known for calligraphy, for ink art, and for stationery, so wouldn’t it make sense that some of the best calligraphy pens come from this island country? In order to introduce you to a few, we ordered the 15 most popular brush pens from Japan’s e-commerce giants (such as Amazon, Rakuten, and kakaku.com) and tested for the following:1. How Well It Writes2. How the Ink Transfers and Its Depth of Color3. How Thick It isThis is how we tested and found the most exceptional Japanese calligraphy and brush pens.

So, you love fishing; it’s in your blood. Your whole family fishes and you’ve been fishing since you could walk. But nobody in your family wears gloves, at least not that you can remember. You keep hearing your friends talk about their cool, new fishing gloves, and let’s face it: your hands have been freezing the last few times you went fishing, not to mention the line’s always plunging into your casting finger. Gosh, that hurts!Gloves haven’t always been the norm in fishing, but they’re certainly full of benefits, no matter what kind of fishing you’re into. We’re going to walk you through the different kinds of fishing gloves and teach you how to choose the right one for you. Or perhaps, a perfect gift for your best fishing buddy.

A long time ago, people donned costumes on Halloween so all the ghouls and ghosts and creepy things would mistake them as fellow spirits–and so not abduct them. Now that the supernatural’s disappeared from our everyday lives, Halloween’s become another excuse to dress up–whether in something creepy, or something flat out awesome. Enter the Halloween cosplay.Cosplay’s really been starting to catch on in America. A bunch of shops catering to the US of A have popped up–but how are you supposed to know which sell quality cosplays, and which sell rags? And before we even start talking about quality, how do you decide who, from millions of characters, you want to cosplay? Let a fellow geek walk you through everything.

Sometimes, life feels like a game of whack-a-mole. You finish one thing, and something else pops up. You finish that thing, and then something else pops up. It’s a frustrating, dizzying, tear-inducing game, and you need to stop. Relax. Gaze upon a mini Zen garden.There’s something about ripples–maybe the way they seem to just flow on forever, freely–that’s supremely calming. This, all Zen gardens have in common. But–and here, we return to the practical side of things–every kit has its own features: from the kind of sand and rocks used to what little statues are included. Only once you know what’s out there (and know yourself) can you find the garden that speaks most directly to you.

There are a bunch of reasons you may want a robot pet. Maybe you’re tired of coming home to an empty, silent apartment, tired of sitting down at the dinner table with no one by your side or at your feet. Or maybe you’re looking for a Christmas present for your kid, something to keep them occupied so they’ll stop bugging you all the time. And so on.Well, depending on who or what the pet is for, the form your robot is going to take will differ. So we’ll talk about some factors to consider when going shopping, before introducing you to ten sweethearts you’re going to want to take home.

You’ve seen those GIFs, right? They flash through about 30 anime characters at an astounding speed, and then, you realize–they’ve all got the same face. In the 2D world, identity is contained in hair. That why wigs are integral to cosplay.But wigs are feisty things. They get tangled, burn when you curl them, or look ridiculous when you try to sweep them back. But how a wig acts is predetermined by a number of factors: how thick it is, for example, or if the hair’s sewn onto the base in wefts. Let’s break it down.

Have you seen the work of Marco Mazzoni? The arabesques of color balanced on darkness, the fleshiness, the decay and the longing–if anyone has pushed colored pencil to its limits, it’s him. Not to mention his sublime technique.An artist is not defined by his or her tools, but they help. You could be an art student, a dilettante, or an artistic genius; working with colored pencils that you like can only give you more pleasure. And those pencils could be from Arteza, from Faber-Castell, or from Prismacolor. And they’re all good brands–each is simply suited for a different kind of person and different kind of artist. So, which is best suited for you?

You’re at a concert and, as always, the band is a series of impressionist blurs on stage. You need opera glasses. After all, sporting events, concerts, plays, and the opera are all more exciting when you can actually see what’s going on.Opera glasses aren’t limited to those dainty lorgnettes you see in movies, exclusive to Victorian era ladies up in their boxes. There’s actually a diversity of types and features. So let’s talk about what opera glasses are and how to find one that’ll work for you, in the 21st century.