Product review: MEIKAN Mens Merino Thin Wool Socks

Meikan socks are a very nice quality thin wool socks.  The seams are flat and comfortable.  The socks are shipped held together by a clip, they are not pierced through the sock. I hate when manufacturers use a plastic staple as it often snags a thread it causes holes. I was very happy to see that Meikan does not use the plastic staples.



The sizing of the socks is a little tricky.  I got a pair of socks in Medium and Large. The medium size is equivalent to lady US regular 9-11 size, which fits US shoe size 7 to 9.  If you have a small foot size and wear shoe size 5 or 6, the heel will be a bit too large. I wear shoe size 7 and the medium size is acceptable. I think after several washings the fit will be perfect as wool socks tend to shrink a little.



The large size fits my husband foot, he wears size 8.5D shoe.  He has a comfortable fit, and it looks like it accommodate a larger foot as well.



Here are the sock measurements from toe to heel (unstretched):

Medium toe to heel: 8" long

Medium cuff: 4 3/4"

Large toe to heel: 9.5" long

Large cuff: 4 7/8"



Overall, excellent quality, good fit.



   



You can find it on Amazon by following this link.





Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: MEIKAN Womens Thin Merino Wool Socks

Meikan socks are a very nice quality thin wool socks.  The seams are flat and comfortable.  The socks are shipped held together by a clip, they are not pierced through the sock. I hate when manufacturers use a plastic staple as it often snags a thread it causes holes. I was very happy to see that Meikan does not use the plastic staples.



The sizing of the socks is a little tricky.  I got a pair of socks in Medium and Large. The medium size is equivalent to lady US regular 9-11 size, which fits US shoe size 7 to 9.  If you have a small foot size and wear shoe size 5 or 6, the heel will be a bit too large. I wear shoe size 7 and the medium size is acceptable. I think after several washings the fit will be perfect as wool socks tend to shrink a little.



The large size fits my husband foot, he wears size 8.5D shoe.  He has a comfortable fit, and it looks like it accommodate a larger foot as well.



Here are the sock measurements from toe to heel (unstretched):

Medium toe to heel: 8" long

Medium cuff: 4 3/4"

Large toe to heel: 9.5" long

Large cuff: 4 7/8"



Overall, excellent quality, good fit.   



You can find it on Amazon by following this link.





Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Clpp'li Mens Slip On Slippers

These slippers are made out of all men made materials - both the top and the bottom are synthetic. The top is pseudo suede and faux fur, the bottom is synthetic rubber. The sole has some shape and thickness to it (it is NOT one of those totally flat thin soles). The slippers are fairly comfortable, although arch support is very slight.



Instructions say that these slippers can be washed in a washing machine and dried flat (not in a dryer).



These slippers were made in China for Chinese Market place and I received a free pair to test the fit for American market. Getting a free product does not influence what I say, if you are skeptical about that examine my record to see a long history of critical reviews. My husbands likes the slippers and finds them comfortable. He wears them in the morning while getting ready for the day and they work quite well for that.



You can find it on Amazon by following this link.







Ali Julia review ★★★★☆

Product review: lethmik Infinity Scarf Rex Rabbit Hair Knit Scarves Winter Warm Neck Scarfs Multicolor

This scarf is woven out if rabbit hair.  Rabbit hair is combined with wool to form "hairy" wool.  This is not a skin of the animal, just like a scarf woven out of plain wool it is not solid and has small holes in the weave.  The hair is pretty dense so unless you look at it through the light you do not see the holes. I wondered if such construction would shed, but it does not shed. It looks pretty full, until you touch it you can't tell is woven. It feels very soft on top, and knobby from the knitting if you press down.

The scarf is an infinity scarf and is 56" long. This length allows me either wear it long as is or wrap it around twice, which then puts it right against my chin. The soft and silky fur feels very nice against my neck and it looks good. The only negative I can say that it has a bit of a scent. It is not a moldy smell, probably some sort of anti-moth scent used for storage. After airing it out for 2 weeks the scent is gone. I looked up tips for scent removal for fur and used this method: use a vinyl garment bag and fresh coffee grounds. Hang the fur scarf in the vinyl garment bag, put a container with fresh coffee grounds in the bottom of the bag. Zip the garment bag closed, and leave the scarf in the bag until the scent goes away. Every now and then the coffee grounds should be stirred. In about a week the scent was gone. The scarf did smell like coffee but after airing out in a well-ventilated area the coffee smell dissipated and the other scent did not return.



You can find it on Amazon by following this link.





Ali Julia review ★★★★☆

Product review: Heat Holder Women's Original Thermal Heat Holders Socks

My feet always get very cold in the winter. I even purchased electric booties to warm up my feet when they get painfully cold. Since I purchased Heat Holders I have not had to resort to the electric booties. These sock's warmth exceeded my expectations. On outside they look like regular socks, on the inside they have a very thick plush pile. In attached video I show the outside and the inside of a sock.



✔ The socks material content is 91% Acrylic, 5% Nyln, 3% Polyester, 1% Elastane.

✔ The socks are fairly color fast. I did the first wash by hand to see if they will bleed indigo blue, but they did not. The discoloration of water was minimal.

✔ The socks are fairly thick, so they may not fit into tight slippers/shoes/boots.

✔ The sizes run large. My shoe size is 7. I purchased Women 5-9. By the end of the day the sock stretches out and the sock heel is no longer in the right place. But they are so warm that I don't care where the heel is, I bought several more pairs.



The only thing I do not like about the socks is that they are shipped stapled through the sock with a plastic staple which can cause damage to the sock, which is what happened to the first pair of the socks I received..  When I attempted to issue an Amazon return for the first pair, it was marked as non-returnable item. However a chat with Amazon representative and the fact that the socks were still in original packaging got me a return label. If the Amazon return does not work for some reason, another option is to contact customer service directly at Heat Holders web site, the web site name is included on the back of the packaging.



My feet are very happy in these socks. Since my original purchase I ordered 2 more pairs. I now own black, grey, and blue. Also note that all three colors are color fast.



You can find it on Amazon by following this link.





Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: La Cle LA-033 Cow Leather Handbag - foldable

There are a couple of things about this bag that I really like.  First, as you see it has rather striking coloring.  I often gets comments on how this bag looks.  Second, this bag folds to be be flat.  This is very handy when travelling, I can fold it flat in the luggage and carry a large carry on bag. Once I arrive to my destination I can take out my nice cute bag.  The third thing that I liked that it came with two shoulder straps.  Not sure if it is a packing mistake or if it is designed to be this way but the two straps give me an option to carry this bag behind my back (like a back pack). If my hands are busy carrying groceries or something else, I use this bag as a backpack and don't have to worry about it slipping off my shoulder.

On the inside it has one large open compartment, and three pockets: one zipped and two open.



It is made out of leather. What allows it to fold is that it is made out of panel of leather connected by  canvas.  The only down side of this design is that the bag is not water proof.  The water can get in through the fabric channels between the leather panels.  Cleaning recommendations are to clean it with a dry cloth.  This bag does not like water!





Overall, cute, has a couple of unique features, but keep it packed away during rain.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.



Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Fantastic Deals Black Fleece Hooded Balaclava Face Mask

This balaclava is a great fit for me. I am a female with a relatively average size head. I wear hats sized small. It is made out acrylic fleece. This is a super warm balaclava.  The shape of the opening and the overall fit can be adjusted using elastic with locks.  The hood is 9" deep which is just right for me.  It fits me better than balaclavas that are deeper because if they are too deep they tend to slide forward and minimize side vision.



The balaclava is 12"from the top to the bottom edge (at the shoulder) and 9" from the front edge to the center seam in the back.



As any balaclava it can be worn many ways - with the face cover, the face cover pushed under the chin, with the hood pushed backed to wear it as  scarf, or totally rolled up to make it fit like a cap.



The construction quality is good, the finish is neat. My photos show it inside out as well as the right side out.  When the balaclava first arrived it had a bit of scent  from the manufacturing process.  The scent was gone after I washed it.  This balaclava is colorfast.  I washed it by hand to test for colorfastness.  The first time the water was slightly muddy, the second time it was totally clear. 



You can find it on Amazon by following this link.



Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: GRASEP Extremely Large Nylon Webbing Tactical Duty Belt

I got this belt in size XXL with F buckle.  The belt is 1.5" wide and 56.5" in length (end to end).  The belt is heavy but not totally stiff so it is comfortable. The stitching is reinforced and the edges are well finished.  The buckle is easy to adjust but locks in well and does not move on its own. The tongue of the belt is held in place by Velcro.  This keeps it totally flat against the belt.







I also got a belt with an A buckle and I like this A buckle better. The main reason I like the A buckle better is that F style buckle has two metal pieces that make a bit of a clanking noise when the touch each other (this happens only when you adjust the belt).  It does not happen when you wear it but if you need to take a bathroom break...  My husband wears this belt when we are doing wild life photography so even a tiny noise could spook the animals.  If the noise is important to you the A buckle is one piece and makes no noise.





You can find it on Amazon by following this link.



Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: SCOTTeVEST Revolution Travel Clothing

Learning all the features of this jacket is like going on a treasure hunt! I kept finding little things I did not expect.  It does has one thing that I wish was different.  I will try to cover all the pluses and minuses below.



Major features:



1. I like the overall look and finish. It feels well made, the seams are fnished neatly, there are a lot of thoughtful touches.



2. Lots and lots of pockets. A total of 26 pockets.  This is the main reason I was interested in this jacket. My husband absolutely hates to carry a bag of any sort. If it does not fit into his pockets it either does not travel with us or *I* have to carry it. And that does not make me happy!



3. The jacket repels water and has a hood (which can be hidden in the collar).



4. It feels light, but the keeps the wind and cold out. However, this is not a winter jacket for real cold weather (at least not in New England weather) - it has no fleece or heavy lining.



5. It has zippers that work smoothly.  Now we come to the thing I wish was different. The front zipper is not a double zipper. I.e. you cannot unzip a little bit from the bottom and little bit from the top.  You can only  unzip the top, or totally unzip it. There is only one snap - at the very bottom of the jacket. What I prefer is a double zipper.  This is the only minus in the construction of the entire jacket.  It is not a deal breaker but I thought the jacket would be more versatile with a double zipper.



6. The jacket can be machine washed. However it should not be dried in the dryer.

Cleaning instructions: Machine wash cold, delicate cycle. Hang to Dry, do not dry clean, do not tumble dry. 



Minor features:



1. I really like the channels and loops that hold wires in place and keep them from getting caught on things. These channels are placed on both left and right side so you choose the most comfortable position whether you are righty or lefty.



2. I like that the pockets that are meant for the phone and other small electronic devices. They are transparent so you can quickly see what is happening on the phone without having to take it out.



3. The side pockets are HUGE. They easily fit a water bottle and more.  If you choose to carry a water bottle in the pocket, it has a a large elastic loop to keep the bottle upright.



4. In addition to large pockets, the jacket also has small pockets so small items do not get lost, like pens or ear buds.



5. The pockets have loops and holders for keys are other items that you might want to attach so they don't get lost or stolen.

The packaging include a medical warning: the jacket uses magnets to keep pockets closed.  This means people who use medical devices such as pacemakers may have interference from magnets with their devices.



Overall, my husband is stoked about the jacket - it feels comfortable and having so many pockets is great.  The size of the jacket is true to size.





You can find it on Amazon by following this link.



Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: GRASEP Nylon Webbing Tactical Duty Belt - A buckle style

I got the XXXL size of the nylon belt with the A buckle.  The belt is 1.5" wide and 56.5" in length (end to end).  The belt is heavy but not totally stiff so it is comfortable. The stitching is reinforced and the edges are well finished.  The buckle is easy to adjust but locks in well and does not move on its own. The tongue of the belt is held in place by a loop.  The loop is loose and one need to take care not to loose it as it can fall off the belt.

I also got a belt with an F buckle and I like this A buckle better. The main reason I like this buckle better is that F style buckle has two metal pieces that make a bit of a clanking noise when the touch each other when you adjust the belt.  It does not happen when you wear it but if you need to take a bathroom break...  My husband wears this belt when we are doing wild life photography so even a tiny noise could spook the animals.  If the noise is important to you the A buckle is one piece and makes no noise.





You can find it on Amazon by following this link.





Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: SCOTTeVEST Men’s Qzip - Travel Clothing

This shirt was a present to my husband.  Sizing could be tricky when shopping on line, but this shirt was true to size and fit as expected. The sleeves are slightly long but that is better than being slightly too short.  The shirt is made out of moisture-wicking fabric and I noticed that it does  not stink after sweating.  In my experience some polyester fabrics are worse than others in terms of handling sweat and this one seems to be the stink-less kind.

The pockets are well designed.  Each pocket has a backing fabric and the way pockets are sewn into the shirt prevents them from bunching up. The pockets have openings in the back through which one thread the wires for electronics, for example audio cable for the ear buds.  There are two pockets, both  have zipped closures: a chest pocket and a side pocket.  The side pocket is a double pocket. It is located on the left hand side seam.  The double pocket is quite large (8.5" by 7.5"), one side of the pocket extends to the front and the other side of the pocket extends to the back.  The way it is attached to the shirt keeps it from from flopping around or bunching up.

The shirt's seams are neat, flat and nicely finished.  The front zipper has a nice large overlap (not just a zipper connecting two sides of the fabric), so it absorbs sweat  and keep the zipper away from the body.  The collar has an interface lining so it has some shape and does not flop over.

Shell Material: 100% polyester
Cleaning instructions: Machine wash cold with like colors, delicate cycle. Dry flat, do not iron, do not machine dry.


Overall, I like the way it looks,  my hubby likes how comfortable it is.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.





Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Hawthorne Hand-Crafted Wood Earrings by Unkudu

This is my first set of earrings made out of wood and did not expect them to be as light as they are.  I was curious about what wood this earrings are made of and contacted the manufacturer for more information.  I was told that the wood belongs to Pala indigo plant (Wrightia tinctoria family).




The earrings are fairly long: including the hook the entire length of one of earrings 1 7/8" (just the wood part is 1.25").   The shape of the earring is nicely proportioned and is very attractive.  The colors are predominately green in color.



The metal hook is made out of brass. I can tell that nickel is not part of the alloy because my ears start itching within a few minutes if nickel is present.  These earrings I can wear all day without any problems.



The packaging of the earrings is very nice.  They come a pretty wood box which can be used to store the earrings or re-purposed to store any other small items.  It closes tightly and not only looks beautiful but is functional as storage.



Overall, attractive, lightweight, unique looking. I like them.





You can find it on Amazon by following this link.



Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Kora Spa Massage Shower Beach Slipper Sandal

These are plastic flip flops.  Their surface has texture and the texture combined with the hard finish feel like a massage to the soles of your feet.  The sole has through holes, so these slippers are particularly good around water they drain instantly.  These are not the kind of slippers I can wear all day, but they are good around the pool or on the beach.



You can find it on Amazon by following this link.



Ali Julia review ★★★★☆

Product review: Autumnwood Hand-Crafted Wood Earrings by Unkudu

This is my first set of earrings made out of wood and did not expect them to be as light as they are.  I was curious about what wood this earrings are made of and contacted the manufacturer for more information.  I was told that the wood belongs to Pala indigo plant (Wrightia tinctoria family).



The earrings are quite long: including the hook the entire length of one of earrings 2 5/8" (just the wood balls part is 2").   The shape of the earring is nicely proportioned and is very attractive.  The colors are of natural wood from dark brown to light brown.



The metal hook is made out of brass. I can tell that nickel is not part of the alloy because my ears start itching within a few minutes if nickel is present.  These earrings I can wear all day without any problems.



The packaging of the earrings is very nice.  They come a pretty wood box which can be used to store the earrings or re-purposed to store any other small items.  It closes tightly and not only looks beautiful but is functional as storage.



Overall, attractive, lightweight, unique looking. I like them.





You can find it on Amazon by following this link.



Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: ELUNLANY Beach Slippers Sandal Flipflops

These flip flops are very comfortable. They are made from synthetic rubber.  The sole material has some give so it feel very comfortable.



These flip flops are unisex, I ordered the small size and they are a pretty good fit for a woman's foot.  In attached photos you see how it fits my foot which is normally is 7.5 shoe size.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.



Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Spa Massage Foam Flip Flop

These are plastic flip flops.  Their surface has texture and the texture combined with the hard finish feel like a massage to the soles of your feet.  These are not the kind of slippers I can wear all day, but they are good around the pool or on the beach where I want something that can get wet or could be good for walking on uneven pebbles of a rocky beach.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.





Ali Julia review ★★★★☆

Product review: Velice Women's Touch Screen Winter Gloves

Velice Women's Touch Screen Winter Gloves 

These gloves are perfect fit for me. I normally wear small size gloves. The material is stretchy and will likely to work for medium size hand as ell. They have warm fuzzy material on the inside, and slick fabric on the thumb and second finger.  These are simple and casual gloves.  They are the type of gloves I like to wear during daily commute - thin, somewhat warm, but not for bitter cold.   They provide some warmth but not super warm to be outside in very cold  weather. They are made out of fabric (cotton and other fibers).

In the attached photos I show them on 1/2" grid. The middle finger is 3.125" in length and the palm (measured just above the thumb) is 3 3/8".

These gloves are provided by Velice to test the fit in American market. They are a good fit small hands.  If you wear large size you are likely to think they are too tight.





You can find it on Amazon by following this link.





Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: ProEtrade Women Soft Cute Animal Pattern Casual Socks

This is a set of really cute socks with the tops looking like animals.  The ears and the nose are textured, they look very cute.  The socks are made out of a blend of fibers: 70% Cotton, 21% Cotton Fibers, 6% Polyester,3% Spandex.  The socks themselves are thin.  I have small feet (7.5 shoe size) and these socks fit me very well - the heel is in the right place. The socks extend 5" above my ankle.



Looking at any garment inside out really tells you about the quality of the constructions. These socks look very neat, they low flat seams and no bulges at the toes. They feel comfortable.



The only negative comment I have has to do with packing.  The socks were stapled through the socks.  This weakens the socks fibers and can lead to holes and snags.  These socks were not damaged, but many times I had brand new socks damaged by the staples and I hope sellers will stop using this packaging.  Paper ring or clips at the toes are much better.



You can find it on Amazon by following this link.





Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: SHGS Flowers Silk Printed Womens Shawl Wrap Scarf Double-sided

What is not obvious from the photos that this silk scarf has two layers: the top silk layer with a flower design and the bottom layer which is a solid color.  The solid color material feels like fine wool rather than silk.  This makes the scarf warm yet silky feeling around my neck. It the type of scarf I would wear in the fall and winter.



This scarf comes with several designs and I got I got "dark red" color which i would describe as deep plum. The solid red color picks up the rusty red colors in the rose, so it is coordinated with the design but not identical to the top layer.  Its beautiful and the silk quality is very nice. Because the scarf is double-sided the edges are on the inside of the seam and the finish looks very neat.



The scarf is 67" long and is 43" in width. This length is enough to tie to wrap the ends around my neck and still have a good amount hanging down.



This is a beautiful dressy warm scarf.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.



Ali Julia review ★★★★

Product review: Leadtimes Women's Vintage Style Woolen Socks

This is a set of blend wool socks: 70% wool, 20% rabbit hair, 10% polyester fiber.  I would describe them as thin wool socks.  I have small feet (7.5 shoe size) and these socks fit me very well - the heel is in the right place. The socks extend 4.5" above my ankle with the cuff up, and 2" above my ankle with the cuff rolled down.



Looking at any garment inside out really tells you about the quality of the constructions. These socks look very neat, the sock has a double cuff, and no large bulges at the toes. They very comfortable and slightly coarse from the wool fibers.



I was happy to see that the socks were not stapled together for shipping. They are kept together just by a paper label. Perfect!



Nice subtle colors, good fit - I like these socks!





You can find these socks on Amazon by following this link.



Ali Julia review ★★★★☆