About Michael Taft

Why I Started Products For Our Lives

Products For Our Lives started as something simple: a place to document the products my son and I actually use. Whether it’s outdoor gear for hunting, fishing, hiking, and camping, tech we use at home, or tools that solved a real problem we ran into, we’ve always done the same thing before spending money—test, research, compare, and only then buy.

After a while, I realized I was doing the work anyway: reading manuals, digging through reviews, checking specs, and putting products through real use. So I built this site to share what I learn—what’s worth it, what’s not, and what to watch out for—so other families can make confident decisions without wasting time or money.

The site has evolved from my original design, but the mission hasn’t changed. Every guide here exists because of something we needed, used, or got into because of circumstances—then I documented the process so you can benefit from it too.

Technical Background

I earned a B.S. in Computer Engineering Technology from DeVry University and built a foundation in electronics, signals, microprocessors, and physics. That matters because many of the products I review live at the intersection of power, radio, sensing, and software.

• Circuits & power: inverter behavior, surge handling, charging, and why output quality matters for sensitive electronics.
• Signals & processing: how radios deal with interference, why “range” claims are usually optimistic, and how sensors filter noise.
• Microprocessors & systems: what specs mean in practice for gaming PCs, VR headsets, and embedded smart devices.
• Physics: fundamentals behind RF propagation, optics, and how signals behave in real environments.

I also worked as an electrician, which gave me hands-on experience with electrical safety and real-world power systems—useful when evaluating power stations, charging setups, and smart home hardware.

Today, I’m a Director of Software Engineering. Leading technical teams taught me to evaluate products systematically and explain tradeoffs in plain English.

Outdoor Experience

I completed Ohio Hunter Education at age 10 and have been hunting, fishing, hiking, and camping for decades. I test outdoor gear where it’s actually used: in woods, on water, and in weather—not just in a parking lot.

In high school, I spent two weeks in the field with the Bureau of Land Management in California’s Owens Valley (between the Sierra Nevada and White Mountains). That time shaped how I think about reliability when you’re far from help.

Coaching & Family

I’ve coached youth travel baseball, basketball, and soccer, and I’m serious about safety. I carry a current CPR card and completed the Coaches Tool Chest curriculum (concussion awareness, emergency action planning, heat/cold risks, athlete mental health, and more).

I also previously held ISSA Certified Personal Trainer and SilverSneakers Instructor certifications, which helps when evaluating performance-oriented or fitness-adjacent products.

And yes—the baby essentials guides come from real-life parenting research, the kind that happens at 3 a.m. when you’re trying to make something work and you just want honest answers.

How I Review

1. Real-world usefulness: setup, reliability, and limitations in everyday conditions.
2. Value: what you get for the money compared to alternatives that actually compete.
3. Family standard: would I use it, recommend it, or hand it to a friend or family member?

I don’t accept payment for rankings. Affiliate commissions support the site, but they don’t buy recommendations. If something underperforms, I say so.

Credentials At a Glance

Note: Coaching safety training supports recognition and response planning—not medical diagnosis or treatment.

Get In Touch

Have a question about a review, or want to suggest a product category? I read every email.

productsforourlives@gmail.com.com