Gifts for Grandpa

It holds 2.3 kg (5.1 lb) of seed over six ports, with a Cardinal Ring for bigger birds to perch on. The weight that closes the shroud can be adjusted, so heavier birds can be kept off too. At 71 cm (28 in) from base to hanger, it hangs from a sturdy hook, or sits on a pole with an adaptor sold separately.

• Squirrel-proof
• Holds 2.3 kg (5.1 lb)
• Six feeding ports

What owners say: Owners say it beats the squirrels, feels built to last and holds plenty of seed, and they enjoy watching it; the price is where they part ways.

Each has a clear 100 mL (3.4 fl oz) cup that shows when it needs filling, and seven settings run from fine to coarse on a ceramic core. FORLIM rates the motor at under 68 dB. Covers fit over the grinding ends between meals, and a brush in the box clears any salt that clogs.

• 100 mL per mill
• 7 grind settings
• Motor rated under 68 dB

What owners say: Owners say it works right out of the box, is easy to fill and use, and holds its charge so long that some haven’t recharged it yet; they’re pleased with what it costs.

Heads up: Only one USB-C cable comes in the box, to share between the two mills.

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The 8x view is wide and easy to hold steady, with 20.2 mm of eye relief. The body is waterproof to 1 m (3.3 ft) for 10 minutes and filled with nitrogen so the lenses don’t fog inside, and the glass is lead- and arsenic-free. It focuses as close as 3 m (9.8 ft) and comes with a case, strap and lens caps.

• 8x magnification, 42 mm lenses
• Glasses-friendly 20.2 mm eye relief
• Lead- and arsenic-free glass

What owners say: Owners rate the quality and the clear view highly, some putting it level with Nikon’s higher-end P7, and find the weight just right: light enough to carry, heavy enough to hold steady. Verdicts on long-term durability vary.

The table has cup holders, a mesh pocket holds a phone, and the seat sits at about the height of a dining chair, with a full back for a meal or a hand of cards. It holds up to 136 kg (300 lb), weighs 4.3 kg (9.5 lb) and folds flat to about 87 x 53 x 17 cm (34.3 x 20.9 x 6.7 in) for the trunk.

• Side table and cooler bag
• Holds up to 136 kg (300 lb)
• Folds flat for the trunk

What owners say: Owners rate its comfort and support highly, call it sturdy and stable, and say the cooler keeps beer cold; it folds away easily, though its weight gets a mixed response.

Heads up: It comes without a carry bag; folded, it carries by a handle built into the frame.

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A calendar linked in the Frameo app can fill the screen for the next four days, a week or a month, or sit beside the photos. 32GB holds the pictures, with a microSD slot for more, and it sits on its back stand or hangs on a wall. Videos of up to 15 seconds send free; Frameo’s optional plan allows two minutes.

• No account needed to send
• 32GB plus microSD slot
• Shows your calendar

What owners say: Owners report setup and everyday use go smoothly, and they’re satisfied with the frame overall.

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Laurentian Chief has made moccasins in Quebec since 1945, and this one is cut from genuine cowhide that stays light and breathable on warmer days. The leather sole is for indoor floors rather than the driveway, so keep shoes by the door for a step outside. Men’s sizes run 6 to 13.

• Cowhide leather, soft lining
• Soft leather sole, indoors
• Handmade in Canada

What owners say: Owners praise the craftsmanship and the soft, supple leather, find them long-wearing and like that they’re made in Canada.

It has no speakers of its own: the built-in preamp lets it plug straight into powered speakers or a stereo. Before the first record, set the counterweight to the 2 grams the cartridge is made for. The platter stops itself at the end of a side, it plays 33⅓ and 45 rpm records under a hinged lid, and the warranty runs two years.

• Switchable preamp built in
• Auto-stop at a side’s end
• Heavy base on isolation feet

What owners say: Owners single out the sound, find it easy, even fun, to put together and are pleased with the build and the built-in preamp. Some like its heft and some don’t.

Heads up: There’s no Bluetooth, so it can’t send a record to a wireless speaker or headphones: everything goes by cable.

The 2 L bottle is odourless PVC, and BICAREE says it holds its heat for up to eight hours; filled with cold water, it works as an ice pack. Press out the air, screw the stopper down tight and turn it over the sink to check for leaks before bed. It isn’t for the microwave.

• 2 L PVC bottle
• Soft cover included
• Wide mouth for easier filling

What owners say: Owners find it works better than a heating pad and holds its warmth, and they rate how well it lasts; the seal is the one point they disagree on.

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The four-sided bar reads 10 to 160 PSI on two sides and kPa on the other two, so turn it to whichever scale the door sticker uses before reading. There’s no battery to run down. Kept in the cab, it’s ready for a walk-around check at every fuel stop, and the loop on the end hangs it on a hook in the garage.

• Dual-head stick gauge
• Scale in PSI and kPa
• Reaches inner dual-wheel valves

What owners say: A heavy-duty gauge that checks tire pressures well and should last for years, owners say; a few find it bigger than they expected.

Heads up: It reads in 2 PSI steps, coarser than a digital gauge, which matters more on a car than on a truck.

Three of the eight modes use the sensor, which works within 15 cm, and a long press on the button dims the light when full power is more than the job needs. Each lamp has a spot and a flood that can run together, with a beam of 150 m (500 ft), and the head tilts 45°. They’re rated IPX5 against water and weigh 86 g (3 oz) each.

• Two rechargeable headlamps
• Beam 150 m (500 ft)
• Wave-to-switch sensor

What owners say: Super bright with a wide spread of light, owners say, and a pair that charge rather than eat batteries. The wave sensor is where opinions split.

Heads up: Expect 3.5 hours a charge with both beams on, or 5 with one, as Blukar’s own listing says, so charge it the night before a long outing.

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