While we’re a gaming-first website, I love discovering and testing a wide variety of items that go beyond consoles and computers. With that in mind, this monthly roundup highlights some of my favorite products I’ve had a chance to test over the past 30 days. Food, tech, decor, toys — if you can name it, I’m probably ready to analyze it.
Disclaimer: Between items I’ve purchased and samples sent to me, I sometimes test a dozen random items in any given month — but this list only includes the ones I truly think deserve a shout. Additionally, there are never any affiliate links or anything else that would cause a conflict of interest. If it’s not something I feel is worth sharing simply because it’s cool, you won’t find it here.
With all of that said — from the basics to the bizarre, here’s what I enjoyed checking out in October 2026.
FlexiSpot MotionX Ultra Auto Incline Walking Treadmill
Price: $320
I really need more exercise. That’s why I’ve built a gym upstairs in my house and immediately added the FlexiSpot MotionX Ultra Auto Incline Walking Treadmill to it. It offers 9 levels of auto incline and a 12% max angle, and I’ve loved being able to see a constant estimate of how many calories I’m burning.
It’s rad that it comes with a wireless remote for easy stopping and starting, and I’m a big fan of its small form factor, which means I could easily store it away under a couch or in a closet should the need ever arise.
If you’re so inclined, there’s even built-in Bluetooth so you can play your workout jams through the onboard speaker, though I’ve still been opting for something with a bit more oomph, personally. This thing is the bee’s knees, and I’m really glad I’ve added it to my gym.
Youtooz Captain Astro Plushie
Price: $30
I’m a sucker for platformers and cute mascots, so Astro Bot stole my heart from the moment he came onto the scene way back in 2013’s pre-installed PS4 game, The Playroom. So, needless to say, I was thrilled to get ahold of a 9-inch Captain Astro plushie from Youtooz.
With his oversized head and adorable expression, this little dude is pretty much everything a fan could want. He’s soft enough for cuddling if you have a rough day, but he’s also firm enough to be able to be displayed in his sitting position if you just want to add him to a collection.
Now if only this version of Captain Astro could fill me in on when I’m going to get another Astro Bot game…
Fire TV Stick 4K Max
Price: $85
The Fire TV Stick 4K Max is Amazon’s latest and greatest streaming stick, offering Ultra HD viewing for all of your favorite apps. It comes out of the gate swinging with Wi-Fi 6E and 16GB of storage to ensure you’ve got all of your bases covered.
As someone who is sick of dealing with onboard Smart TV UIs that lag, drop connections, and just become all-around dreadful to use after a few years, I’ve fallen in love with Fire TV’s snappy and easy-to-use UI. If you’re looking for an upper-end streaming device, it’s gonna be hard to do better.
That’s all I checked out this month, but be sure to take a look at what I was digging back in September, too.
