The Modular Product & System Database
A comprehensive resource for modular products and systems - helping consumers build adaptable, sustainable, and cost-effective product ecosystems with compatibility matrices, upgrade paths, and total cost of ownership analysis.
We Switched Half Our Smart Home to Thread. Here's What Broke (And What Didn't).
I spent $800 testing Thread vs. Zigbee across 23 devices for six months. The winner wasn't what the spec sheets promised, and three devices flat out broke.
I Measured Cushion Sag Weekly for 6 Months. One Sectional Failed by Month 4.
I tracked cushion sag on both sectionals weekly. The West Elm failed at month 4, but the price difference isn't why I'd pick the winner.
My Accountant Called It 'Financially Questionable'—I Bought Both Shelving Systems Anyway
I spent $6,400 testing USM Haller vs String shelving for six months. The winner wasn't the one I expected, and price wasn't the deciding factor.
I Spent 3 Months Testing MLI Track Spotlights in a Lab. The Specs Lied.
After 3 months of lab testing MLI track spotlights against Tech Lighting, Lightolier, and WAC, the spec sheets got it wrong. Here's what we actually measured.
I Bought Both the Floyd and Burrow Bed Frame. Here's Which One Survived 3 Moves.
After 3 moves and $2K spent, one frame developed noticeable play while the other stayed rock solid. The winner surprised me.
I'm Annoyingly Methodical About Furniture. Here's My 2-Year Burrow Review.
I tracked every scratch, compression mark, and patina shift on my Burrow Range for 24 months. Here's what the leather actually looks like after real use.
18 Months With My Tortuga Outbreaker: The Good, the Bad, and That Ryanair Gate Agent
47 flights, 23 countries, 18 months. Here's what actually wore out on my Tortuga Outbreaker, and why that Ryanair gate agent couldn't stop me.
The $150 Backpack I Chose Over Peak Design (6 Months Later)
Six months with a $150 Hex bag vs. my Peak Design. The divider test results genuinely caught me off guard, and I've changed what I recommend to clients.
I Sweated Over That Checkout Button for a Week. Was the USM Haller Worth It?
After 1,825 days with my USM Haller, I've got the wear data, cost-per-year breakdown, and resale numbers. Here's what actually surprised me.
I Put the Arktype Dashpack Through 12 Rain Events. Here's What My Humidity Sensors Found.
12 rain events, 40+ minutes of downpour, humidity sensors in every pocket. Internal moisture never topped 58%. Here's the full data breakdown.
We Bought $2,400 Worth of Acoustic Screens Nobody Uses
We spent $14K on Steelcase Flex furniture for our hybrid office. Six months later, $2,400 of it sits unused. Here's what we'd actually buy again.
This Backpack Survived 400 Days of My Chaotic Life. Mostly.
After 400 days of NYC commutes, hikes, and one coffee disaster, here's my honest verdict on whether the Errant Pack lives up to its modular promises.