Sunday's Best Deals: Mentos Gum, Ticket to Ride, USB Camp Stove, and More

PublishedAugust 6, 2017

A camp stove that can charge your phone, 35% off Mentos gum, and Ticket To Ride lead off Sunday’s best deals from around the web.

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Top Tech Deals

It’s impossible to describe the BioLite CampStove without sounding like a lunatic, but you can actually find some sticks just laying on the ground, toss them into the stove and light them on fire at the push of a button, and then charge your phone with a USB port that’s powered by the heat of the flame. It’s completely insane, and yet it works.

Of course, this also works as a regular old camp stove, and at full power it can boil a liter of water in under five minutes. It also weighs two pounds, and is about the size of a large water bottle, so it won’t take up too much space in your camping bag. Get it for an all-time low $79 with promo code GOODFIRE, for a limited time.

Shane looked at the CampStove 2 for Gear, and while that model includes a built-in battery pack, a camp light, and a few other enhancements, I don’t think any of them are worth the price premium during this promotion.

If you still listen to music, or any sounds really, through your computer’s built-in speakers, it’s time for an intervention. The Logitech Z623 speaker set was one of Lifehacker readers’ five favorite computer audio systems , and down to one of the best prices ever today on Newegg’s eBay storefront.

Want to add Alexa control and other automation features to your built-in light fixtures? TP-Link’s Wi-Fi light switch is down to $33 right now on Amazon. That’s not an all-time low, but it’s a solid discount from its usual $40.

Range extenders aren’t a cure-all for your home network, but if you have one or two spots in the house that just doesn’t get good reception, they’re an inexpensive way to fill in the gaps. This model from TP-Link has great reviews, and at $34 (after clipping the $10 coupon), it’s never been cheaper.

Anker’s SoundBuds have long been our readers’ favorite affordable Bluetooth headphones, and if you prefer neckbuds, the new SoundBuds Lite are down to their lowest price today on Amazon, no promo code required.

You’ve almost definitely seen headphones like this before, and by now you probably know whether they’re a good fit for your lifestyle. In exchange for a somwhat unorthodox design, the main advantages you’ll enjoy are great battery life and smaller earbuds, hence the “Lite” name. The SoundBuds Lite are rated for 10 hours of music streaming, compared to roughly six or seven on most Bluetooth earbuds that include the batteries and antennas inside the ear pieces. And since all of those heavy components live reside in the flexible neck band, the earbuds themselves are tiny, and the included tips and wings ensure that you’ll find a perfect fit.

I had never tried neckbuds before these, but found the “collar” to be light, comfortable, and very flexible. Other than the ends of the band, the entire thing is made of a soft-touch rubber, so it should fit comfortably around any neck. Plus, the buds themselves stick together magnetically when not in use, so they won’t flop around too badly when they’re out of your ears.

Your favorite USB car charger just happens to be the smallest one you can buy, and you can grab it on Amazon for $7 today with code AUKEYCC3. This is Kinja Deals’ top-selling product of all time, and if it’s been on your wish list, this is the best price we’ve seen in about a year.

We see Bluetooth earbud deals just about every day, but even by our standards, $10 is cheap. At that price, you might as well buy an extra set to keep in your gym bag or luggage, in case you forget your main pair.

VPNs are in the news these days, and with good reason. So if you’re curious to sign up and start protecting your browsing history and personal data (or, you know, getting around websites’ geoblocks), NordVPN charges less per month than a typical trip to Starbucks.

NordVPN has long been one of the most popular and reliable VPN providers out there, and if you sign up for a one-year membership, promo code VIP70 will drop your annual price from $69 to $48. If you’re sure you want to commit, use this link instead to get a special two year plan for $79 with code 2YSpecial2017. Lifehacker has recommended Nord in some previous guides, but if you have any firsthand experience with the service, sound off in the comments!

Top Home Deals

I bought an absurd amount of Mentos gum on Amazon a few months ago, not because I had any particular affinity for it, but because I just like to have gum in my car, and I had just run out. It turns out it was one of the best Amazon purchases I’ve ever made.

The hard Mentos shell is insanely satisfying to bite through, and the center of the gum gives you a blast of mint strong enough to open up your sinuses. It’s not the longest lasting chewing gum out there, but that’s okay, because it gives me an excuse to chase the dopamine kick from chomping into another piece.

Anyway! A whole bunch of Mentos gum, mints and candies are 35% off on Amazon right now, so you can try it out for yourself. Just go find your favorite flavor, and note that you won’t see the discount until checkout.

We’ve seen dozens of deals on cheap kitchen scales over the years, but I think this might be the best looking one yet. The stainless steel measuring bowl is removable (but appreciated), and the base can even double as a digital cooking timer.

Yi, the manufacturer of your favorite budget action cam, also makes a well-reviewed dash cam, and you can mount it to your windshield for an all-time low $42 today with promo code MDTNISY3. 1080/60 recording (which gives you twice as many frames to get a clear view of a license plate) and Wi-Fi are both basically unheard of at this price point.

This $11 lunch bag has two insulated compartments for for your food and drinks, and probably costs less than your average lunch out during the work week.

These highly rated food containers basically look like OXO Pops, but significantly less expensive. They’re perfect for storing grains and pasta, and they’ll keep chips and cookies fresher than their original packaging once you open them.

It’s easy to see why Cuisinart’s DBM-8 electric burr coffee grinder is Amazon’s top seller in the category. It’s affordable, it’s dead simple to use, it includes 18 coarseness settings, and it looks great. Today’s $40 price tag is roughly $5-$10 less than usual, so perk up, and lock in your order before it sells out.

Blacklight flashlights are great if you want to spot hidden stains on train seats, hotel sheets, or (gasp) even in your own house...if that’s something you want to do.

It may seem silly, but if you find even one stain in a hotel room and complain to management, I guarantee that this thing will pay for itself several times over. We’ve seen less expensive lights before, but this one has a whopping 100 LED bulbs, while most of those had 20 or fewer.

You might not need to use a Dremel all that often, but it’s one of those things everyone should keep in their tool box, if only for sanding wood and carving jack-o-lanterns. Hell, my wife just used ours to turn an iPhone 6 case into an iPhone 7 case.

There are two different tool kits on sale today, a Dremel 3000 and a Dremel 8220. Functionally, they’re basically identical, but the more expensive 8220 runs off a battery, while the 3000 has to be plugged in.

While it’s not as simple to use as a Nespresso, this Mr. Coffee espresso machine is affordable at an all-time low $105 (especially considering it includes a milk frother), and doesn’t require expensive pods to use. Plus, its 15 bars of pressure are more than sufficient for a great shot of espresso.

We post a lot of deals on solar-powered motion-sensing outdoor spotlights, but this Mr. Beams model trades in the solar panel for a sleeker look and the ability to mount operate in permanently shaded areas.

Three D batteries will power them for 1800 on/off cycles, and their built-in photocells ensure they won’t come on and waste power when it’s still light out. $12's the best price Amazon’s ever offered on this model, so lock in your order before the lights go out on this deal.

Aeration is an important part of any healthy lawn, and these strap-on shoe spikes make it easy (and cheap). Also great for combat!

Premium travel products like high quality luggage, airport lounge access, or TSA Pre✔︎ seem like unnecessary extravagances when you’re considering purchasing them from the comfort of your own home. But if you travel with any regularity, you know full well that the small conveniences they provide really add up during a stressful day of travel.

The same is true of your toiletry bag, still an afterthought for many an otherwise experiened traveler. Most people tend to stuff everything in a ziploc bag, or even (gasp) loose in the outside pocket of their suitcase. And most bags that do exist are way bigger than they should be, while still offering only a paltry few organizational tools.

Gravel may just be the answer. A Kickstarter project that’s already shot past its goal, they sent me a demo unit, and it’s as well-built as they claim. The bag is far smaller than my own toiletry bag, which I sometimes can’t squeeze into a carry-on if I’m packing for more than a few days. But inside, you’ve got a ton of pockets that are purpose-built for holding all the essentials, including a long and skinny waterproof pocket for your toothbrush (even a Sonicare!), and a larger one for liquids that could explode during your trip.

On the outside of the case, another zippered pocket hides a buckle strap which you can use to hang the bag from a towel rack (handy in small hotels with insufficient counter space), plus another large pouch that’s big enough for a passport.

Gravel isn’t slated to ship until December, but if you order now, you can get one for $39, or two for $69 (nice), down from its expected $49 MSRP. I wouldn’t post it if I hadn’t tried it myself, and it really is a well done product.

We see a lot of deals on IR thermometers, but the Etekcity Lasergrip has been one of the most popular through the yaers. These things are perfect for everything from cooking to finding air conditioning leaks in your house, but most importantly, they’re just a ton of fun to mess around with.

GORUCK’s military-inspired GR1 dominated our Co-Op for the best everyday backpack, and they’re rewarding our readers with an extremely rare 15% discount with promo code KINJAGORUCK15.

Now, even with the code, this is still a $250 backpack. I’m not blind to the fact that that’s a lot of money. But every GR1 is hand-built over the course of four hours in the USA, is covered by a lifetime warranty, and by basically all accounts is just incredibly well-made. There’s a very real chance that this will be the last backpack you ever have to buy.

Own one? Let us know what you think in the comments.

Top Lifestyle Deals

If the start of the EPL season has you in the mood to go kick some soccer balls around, Amazon’s running a deal on all the gear you need from Adidas. Inside, you’ll find gloves, shin guards, apparel, and of course, balls. Just note that like all Gold Box deals, these prices are only available today, so get your orders in before the final whistle.

Bar none, Sport-Brella is the ultimate beach umbrella, and Amazon’s discounting the blue XL model for just $43 today, within $3 of the best price we’ve ever seen.

Unlike a regular umbrella, Sport-Brella leans backwards and attaches to the sand with stakes, creating a kind of semi-private cocoon with enough space for a couple of chairs and a cooler. Best of all, it sets up in about five minutes (once you know what you’re doing), and can provide a full day’s worth of privacy and sun protection.

We’ve seen several deals recently on the standard model, but fewer on the XL, so if you could use the extra foot of space, this deal is only available today, and will probably sell out early.

Before you head out on your next hike, be sure to pick up this 3L hydration backpack for just $16. That’s one of the best prices we’ve ever seen on any of these things, so pick this one up before the deal runs dry.

Sometimes, I’m jealous of our pre-digital age ancestors who didn’t have to worry about all of their stuff getting wet when they were paddling canoes or whatever. But I guess when you can get a 10L dry bag for $11, modernity isn’t so bad.

An extra $5 off your choice of Crest 3D Whitestrips packs should put a smile on your face. A few boxes are only available via Prime Pantry, but most are eligible for standard Prime shipping.

Note: Discount shown at checkout.

If you’ve never checked out Nordstrom’s Anniversary Sale, what are you even doing on Kinja Deals? The retailer puts thousands of fall and winter styles, plus Nordstrom Beauty Exclusives, on sale way before they go into the stores. Once the sale is over, you’ll only be able to get them for full price, so you’d better get on it. The sale ends tomorrow.

Let us know what you bought in the comments!

When it comes to having a corner on the market, nothing really compares to Nike. And right now, use the code SAVE20 and take an extra 20% off their sale styles for both men and women. Everything you could need for a good workout wardrobe is included, from apparel, to sneakers, to gear.

I’m devastated to report that OXA has changed this product’s Amazon description, but for posterity’s sake, here’s what it used to say:

ARE YOU A HAIRY APE?
No problem. Guys feel confident shirtless after using OXA Back Shaver. So, if you have “patchy” or “spotty” patches of hair on your back or body or if you are so hairy that you are often mistaken for being a “hairy ape” there is no job too great for the OXA Back Shaver.

I don’t think back hair is why most men feel uncomfortable shirtless, but I digress.

This product looks very similar to the BaKlade, which we’ve written about before. It doesn’t have many reviews to go off of, but it’s less than 1/3 the price of the name brand with promo code VYKDXUWL so it might be worth checking out if you’re a HAIRY APE.

Another Gizmodo Media Group staff member (who shall remain nameless, but speculate away) bought this awhile back, and reports that it “does the job.”

Top Media Deals

Need some extra beach reads to finish out the summer? Dozens of top-selling Kindle books are on sale for just a few bucks each, today only.

Top Gaming Deals

After Catan, Ticket to Ride is probably the most popular “good” board game out right now, and you can grab a copy for $22 on Amazon today, which is an absolute no-brainer.

Note: $22 is from a third party seller, so I suspect it’ll sell out pretty quickly. Amazon’s own listing though is for $28, which is also a very good price, historically.

Before you go out and spend hundreds of dollars on a DJI Phantom, you can learn the basics of flying a quadcopter with this $18 toy drone from Aukey. Trust me, if you can fly this thing, you can fly a GPS-equipped, gyro-stabilized camera rig. And if not, well, it’s not like crashing it will be that big a deal.

Just a day after releasing an ebook bundle for aspiring game developers, Humble just unveiled a bundle with the software you need to actually start creating games yourself.

The bundle includes a number of GameMaker: Studio modules (Studio Pro, HTML5, iOS, Android, and Windows), which cost anywhere from $150 to $800 each at retail, plus several games that include source code or UWP modules for you to tear apart, modify, and learn from. As always, you can pay what you want, but options are spread across three different price tiers, the most expensive of which unlocks at $15.