The more hazardous the environment is, the higher the risk of injury! This is, especially, true with feet, which not only carry the highest risk of injury from falling objects but, can also cause other injuries when slipping, tripping and falling because of inadequate footwear.
Safety footwear such as the Magnum Strike Force 6.0 provide roll-cage type protection for the feet, as well as anti-slip resistance, which is important since soles are in constant contact with the ground.
The high top area of the Magnum Strike Force 6.0 integrates armor shells to protect the ankles against blunt force trauma caused by high velocity side impacts. The ankle area of the Strike Force 6.0 boots is also padded, which should help prevent twisting and/or spraining an ankle as a result of a slip or trip on uneven ground.
The honeycomb armor shells are positioned alongside the fibula bone and have a gel-like rugged rubber construction. The armor shells measure 7cm long by 5cm wide.
The Strike Force 6.0 boots have fairly high tops, measuring 16cm high approximately, which provides plenty of coverage protection of the bones of the ankle joint, including the tibia (shin bone) and the small fibula bone (calf bone) located on the outside of the foot. The bottom section of the high top is also heavily reinforced.
The Strike Force 6.0 padded collar has a recessed backside design, which allows the foot to be inserted easily inside the boot. The backside of the high top also integrates a large leather pull tab to help push the foot inside the boot.
The outsoles of the Strike Force 6.0 are made of grippy Michelin rubber that provides good traction in smooth surfaces (wet and oily). The Strike Force 6.0 are SRC rated, which means the boots have past the SR safety footwear standard for slip resistance on soapy wet ceramic tile and glycerol oil spillages on metal flooring.
The SRC rating is the highest rating certification that can be obtained for safety footwear under the EN ISO 20345:2011 standard, followed by SRA and SRB. The SRC rating combines the slip resistance of SRA and SRB, which means the Strike Force 6.0 boots are equipped with the best safety footwear slip rating for the workplace.
Thanks to the waterproofing exterior, the Magnum Strike Force 6.0 boots are perfect for work and non-work related activities on all-weather conditions, thanks to the durable waterproof leather upper of the boots, which also integrate durable and breathable mesh on the sides and tongue to minimize sweaty feet.
The tongue extends all the up to the top of the boot and feature a stitched on rubber Magnum logo. The punch of the shoelaces are reinforced with Magnum branded metal eyelets. The shoelaces are rounded and made of solid nylon fabric material.
There are a total of 14 eyelets per boot, 8 eyelets on the upper of the boot and 6 eyelets on the high top area of the boot.
If you do plan to use the Magnum Strike Force 6.0 boots in an outdoor setting, the SR rating won't always apply or be useful if your job or activity involves walking on mix surfaces such as smooth flooring, gritty or muddy type surfaces. This is because the outsole thread will be more prone to clogging up with loose particles, reducing and/or undermining the slip resistance against smooth surfaces. For gravel/muddy type surfaces, footwear with cleated soles provide better performance than slip resistance soles.
Having outsoles inspired by Michelin, which is one of the leading car tire manufacturers, certainly adds a touch of X factor to the Strike Force 6.0 boots.
As the ultimate footwear sole, nothing beats the long lasting hard wearing performance of heat-resistant HRO soles that can withstand +300 degree temperature, which is approximately the temperature that new tires get cured/vulcanized (365 degrees). This means, the Magnum Strike Force 6.0 soles are as good as having a pair of car tires under your feet!
The combine weight of the Magnum Strike Force 6.0 is 1200 grams (1.2kg), which means each boot weights about 600 grams. The Magnum Strike Force 6.0 boots are lighter in weight than the average safety work boots but, they don't look like the average safety work boots either, thanks to their understated design without the classic external cap toe.
The Strike Force 6.0 cap toe is internal and made of composite, which is lighter than steel cap toe work boots and non-metallic so, the Strike Force 6.0 boots don't conduct electricity. As far as protection, steel toe caps typically provide better protection than composite toe caps, which can be made of fibreglass, kevlar or carbon fibre.
The current European Standard EN ISO 20347:2012, regarding safety footwear at high risk workplaces, does require all safety footwear to integrate toe protection against a 200-joule impact.

Not all steel cap toe safety boots offer 200 joules of protection, whereas some composite toe boots such as the Strike Force 6.0 do offer toe protection so, these boots do conform to current legislation, which requires safety work boot toe caps to be able to withstand impacts up to 200 joules or a 20 kilogram impact from an object dropping on the toe caps from 1 metre of height. The Magnum Strike Force 6.0 boots are also tested and certified to withstand 15KN compression from a 1.5 tonne object resting on the toe area.
As well as having 200 joule composite toe caps, the Magnum Strike Force 6.0 boots also integrate a puncture-resistant internal plate to protect the feet from sharp and pointed objects on the ground.
As far as comfort, you will be pleasantly surprised by how comfortable the Magnum Strike Force 6.0 boots can be for a pair of boots. Not all safety boots (or footwear) are comfortable to wear for 8 hours, which is a problem if you work long shifts. The Magnum Strike Force 6.0 boots are made with people in mind that work on their feet all day, namely security personnel, factory workers, etc.
The Magnum Strike Force 6.0 safety boots are so comfortable to wear, thanks to the compressible midsole and the included shock absorbing insoles (Magnum's M-P.A.C.T. Response insole), which provide a nice cushiony bed for the feet, similarly to orthotic insoles.
The insoles are also perforated, allowing perspiration to pass-through the bottom of the insole and fresh air to circulate through the entire boot. The approximate width dimensions of the outsole are 9cm (heel), 8cm (mid-section) and 11cm (upper).

Costing just a fraction of the price of mainstream true wireless earbuds, the Mpow M20 are a no-brainer purchase, especially with the super long battery life and their ability to charge external devices just like a power bank!
The Mpow M20 charging case integrates a massive 2600mAh rechargeable battery that can hold 100 hours worth of extra charge. The internal battery inside the earbuds can hold 3 hours worth of charge so, a total of 6 hours between the two earbuds. This means, the Mpow M20 charging case can charge the M20 earbuds 16 times over.
The Mpow M20 TWS earbuds integrate a Bluetooth 5.0 chip that supports aptX, which means you are able to stream better audio resolution without lag (audio/video latency) on an Android device.
The Mpow M20 TWS earbuds do not support the AAC codec, which improves the audio/video latency on iOS devices. This means, you may notice some lag on an iOS device when watching streaming videos through mobile apps such as YouTube app and Netflix. The aptX high definition (aptX HD) version is the second best codec alternative to use if AAC isn't supported. The Mpow M20 bluetooth chip-set doesn't support aptX HD though.

Most bluetooth earphones use a chip antenna or PCB trace antenna traced on the actual circuit board. The Mpow M20, in the other hand, use an LDS antenna that is etched on the walls of the housing, which seems to help signal connection stability within the rated range, which is 10 meters.
The Mpow M20 also integrate a CVC8.0 noise cancelling microphone on each earbud, which does a good job of minimizing background noise and uplifting your voice so, you can be heard clearly without having to raise your voice. The call quality is natural sounding and non-robotic.
Compared to the charging case of most true wireless earbuds, the Mpow M20 charging case has a larger frame and weight, weighing 104 grams and measuring 8cm long, 6cm wide and 3cm tall. That said, with the larger charging case design the Mpow M20 is able to integrate a larger battery capacity, which turns the Mpow M20 charging case into a useful power bank that can effectively top of your phone battery in a pinch.
The external charging port is located on the side of the charging case and consists of a USB-A port and button to activate it when charging external devices. The charging port for charging the internal battery is located on the rear side and consists of a micro USB port that accepts a maximum 5V/1A charge. Total charge of the charging case is 4 hours. The earbuds also take 4 hours to fully charge but there is "quick charge" support, which means the M20 earbuds can hold 2 hours worth of charge from a 10 minute re-charge.
The front side of the Mpow M20 charging dock features four battery led indicators and a long indent for prying open the lid. The charging dock area has a spacious and clean internal layout with magnetized docks for the earbuds to sit in securely.
The Mpow M20 charging dock has a smooth pebble design with a flat base that is finished in a different black color gradient to the upper section. The overall finish is smooth with a matte coating applied to it that doesn't retain fingerprint smudges.
The Mpow M20 earbuds have a similar color scheme and finish to the charging dock. On par with the charging dock, the M20 earbuds are also bulkier than most true wireless earbuds but, with the larger size comes a more harmonic reproduction of sound frequencies, specially the bass, which is deep and responsive. The volume sound is also very loud and without distortions even at max volume. You won't need to turn up the volume to the max though. From just 50% volume, you can get up to 6 hours of playtime.
As far as fit, the Mpow M20 earbuds are designed to fit inside the concha of the ear and without protruding, thanks to the short neck nozzles. Depending on the shape of your ears, the M20 earbuds will feel more or less secure. The M20 earbuds do have a smooth finish and only weigh 5 grams each, which makes them very comfortable to wear for long periods.
For activities such as commuting to work, walking the dog and light jogging in the rain, the M20 earbuds should stay on the ears without falling out and will have no issues with rain/moisture, thanks to their IPX7 rating.
The front side of the Mpow M20 earbuds has a high gloss touch control panel similar to the capacitive touch of a smartphone screen. This mans, you can not operate the M20 earbuds with gloves on. Some earbuds can be operated with gloves but these type of earbuds use accelerometer sensor buttons that only require taps with a finger to operate.
The touch sensitive buttons are very responsive and control all major functions, including full audio playback (volume and skipping), voice assistant and calls. The M20 earbuds cannot be used independently of each other since the left earbud cannot be used without the right earbud. This means, you cannot pair them separately with separate devices so, you can only use the right earbud for mono audio.
Once both earbuds are connected to a device, they will automatically reconnect. The connection between the earbuds is quick and seamless too as there is only 1 second delay from mono to stereo switching.
As far as accessories, the Mpow M20 true wireless earbuds come with different size silicone ear tips, a long micro USB cable and 18 months warranty.

When it comes to taking pictures of yourself, by yourself, the selfie stick is a really useful tool that provides extra reach and aerial support when needed in a pinch!
Most selfie sticks have in common the integration of a telescopic handle and wireless connectivity, normally bluetooth or ultrasonic, which doesn't drain the phone's battery because it doesn't use bluetooth connectivity; hence you can use ultrasonic selfie sticks without a Bluetooth enabled phone.
Very few selfie sticks use ultrasonic sensing technology and the Pictar Smart Stick is one of them, allowing the Smart Stick to be connected instantly.
As well as having a telescoping handle that lets you adjust the distance of the phone, the Pictar Smart Stick also integrates a motorized phone cradle, as well as brightness and zoom in/out buttons right on the rubberized handle.
Being non-bluetooth, the Pictar Smart Stick requires the use of a mobile app, the Pictar app, which is the same app used by the Pictar One Camera Grip to connect.
The Pictar app, essentially, takes over your phone's default camera app, rearranging the camera settings (i.e. flash, aspect ratio and timer) and, making them more easily available to you.
The Pictar app also adds some useful features that phones don't typically have, including DSLR features such as Horizon Indicator and Histogram to let you know if the camera exposure is exposing correctly so, you can have an evenly exposed image in-camera.
The Pictar app supports clip-on lenses (i.e. telephoto, wide angle, macro), as well as an external phone light, all of which you can enable within the Pictar app.
Pictar Smart Stick makes capturing images easier as it allows you to make adjustments and control key functions such as exposure, shutter speed, white balance, ISO and zoom right from the stick without having to physically touch the phone.
After downloading the Pictar app, you have to scan (or manually enter) the barcode located on the bottom of the packaging. It's a good idea, storing the packaging safely or making a note of the barcode number since you will need it if you want to use the Pictar Smart Stick with different phones.
The Pictar app is easy to use, thanks to the on-screen prompts and variety of shooting modes to choose from, including Pro, Family, Traveller or Social shoots. Each of these shooting modes is specifically optimized so, you get different settings.
For instance, the Pro shooting mode gives you full control of all the camera settings, including selfie mode, video mode, macro mode, automatic camera settings and manual camera settings where you get to control the ISO, aperture, etc. The other shooting modes (i.e. Traveller, Family, etc) also let you record video but feature fewer camera settings.
The Pictar Smart Stick comes with a total of five chiclet style buttons and a small, clickable joystick type controller that lets you easily navigate through the Pictar app settings, as well as change cameras (i.e. rear, selfie) and adjust the zoom. The Smart Stick's telescopic handle isn't controlled automatically so, you have to manually extend it and retract it.
The Pictar Smart Stick weighs 180 grams and can be extended up to 78cm and retracted down to 29cm. The Pictar Smart Stick cradle holds, as well as grips the phone securely inside via very grippy rubberized teeth.
The largest button is the shutter button, which also controls the focusing of the lens. The other smaller buttons control the camera's brightness, as well as rotate the phone cradle up and down (up to 270 degrees).
On the base of the Pictar Smart Stick, there is a micro USB charging port and a tripod thread for attaching the Smart Stick to your own tripod, which is handy although not as convenient as having tripod legs built-in to the selfie stick.
The Smart Stick control panel is not detachable so, while it is mounted on a tripod, you will need to use the timer function, which is not as convenient as having a detachable control panel to remotely actuate the shutter release.
The Pictar app is very comprehensive and full of features, many of which you may not know how to use so, there is a learning curve. That said, there are tutorials and user guides readily available within the app, as well as support from the Pictar developers who can help and guide you.
One of the nice features about the Pictar app is the user interface, specifically the scrolling wheel menu that appears on the left side for each icon, which makes selecting and adjusting settings super convenient.
The Camera icon menu contains a total of 11 settings, including the mentioned Histogram, Horizon, Grid, Aspect Ratio, Filters and Face Detection. The Horizon feature is also found in DSLR cameras and it's very useful for capturing landscapes photographs. When selecting Horizon, a horizon line and degree count appears on-screen, helping you get a straight horizontal line.
The camera screen view is also nicely laid out in three sections of the screen, the left side, right side and top of the screen. The settings (i.e. clip-on lens, external light, selfie mode, self timer) are positioned vertically on the left side, while the shutter release button and Mode is located on the right side.
The shutter lets you take photos and start video capture, while Mode lets you control the shutter speed, aperture, exposure compensation ( from E.C -4 to +4 stops) and ISO.
The Pictar Smart Selfie Stick motorized phone cradle can accommodate just about any phone between 5.5cm and 7cm wide. The cradle grippy teeth can securely accommodate thick phones or phones with protective cases up to 1.5cm thick.

There is also a "light" version of this selfie stick, called Pictar Smart-Light Selfie Stick that will be launched on Kickstarter in the upcoming weeks.