Lifestyle

I used the Amazfit T-Rex 3 for my first ultra trail marathon

Endurance tested, mountains conquered

Published

January 7, 2025

MJ Jucutan

I’ve always been an outdoor junkie. Picture this: skinny little me, standing on my ‘mother mountain,’ as strong winds turned me into a literal paper doll swaying at its peak.

That moment lit a fire in me, realizing there’s something about the trail that gets me. From then on, mountains became my love language.

Over the years, I’ve trekked, hiked, and run through the Philippines’ breathtaking landscapes: volcanoes, ridges, mountain ranges — you name it. But 2024? Oh honey, that year had me doing the unthinkable.

First, I joined a major hike on a last-minute invite — like, a 30-minute heads-up kind of last minute — to conquer six mountains in a day. (We did it under 14 hours.)

We didn’t just hike; we ran the ridges like maniacs, ending up with only 350ml of water left for the final 10K. (Hydration? Who is she?)

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But wait, there’s more. I capped off the year with my first ultra-trail marathon at the Cordillera Mountain Ultra. It was a brutal 45KM race through the Cordillera Mountain Range that gave me grit, drama, and some questionable life choices.

I brought along the Amazfit T-Rex 3, and let me tell you, this rugged smartwatch stayed strapped to my wrist like a loyal bestie who wasn’t about to let me quit.

Skeptic to believer

Okay, confession time. When I first got the Amazfit T-Rex 3, I had major trust issues. I mean, I’m a Garmin loyalist through and through, and this was my A-race. I wasn’t just running; I was creating content, people.

My beau needed to see my Strava upload hit 26+ miles, preferably with a side of “Look at me; I’m conquering mountains!”

But here’s the plot twist: I’ve known Amazfit for years through my gig as a lifestyle journalist.

We’ve reviewed them, featured them in GadgetMatch lists, and even had our former writer rave about their models. Yet, I’d never actually tried one myself.

I’ve always been curious about it, especially seeing Spartan athletes crush races with their trusty Amazfit smartwatches.

Even my friend and three-time podium finisher, Spen Manlangit, swore by his experience training with the device, especially for his races won in Malaysia and Indonesia.

So, in a leap of faith, I strapped on the T-Rex 3 and hoped for the best.

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Looking tough, looking good

Let’s be honest: outdoor smartwatches often sacrifice style for durability. Not this one, though. The Amazfit T-Rex strikes the balance between being ruggedness and refinement.

Its stainless-steel bezel screams tough, yet the liquid silicone strap wrapped comfortably around my wrist without that icky, itchy feeling.

Also, its 1.5-inch AMOLED display was a chef’s kiss. Its 2,000 nits of peak brightness lit up the trail when we arrived at Itogon past midnight.

Forget my headlamp and the watch’s built-in flashlight, its display was my guiding light.

Making it to the first cutoff

Fast forward to race day: I was wearing the Amazfit T-Rex 3 on my right wrist and my trusted Garmin epix Pro (Gen 2) on my left. Yes, double-wristing it like a fitness tech psycho.

When you’re running 45KM in the mountains, you want backups for your backups.

By 3:30 a.m., adrenaline had replaced the smartwatch’s noticeable heft, and I was off — descending from Itogon, Benguet to make my way towards Mt. Ugo.

The first 10 kilometers felt like a dream. My legs were fresh even when the air was cold, and the T-Rex 3 was busy logging my every step.

The first intermediate cutoff for the Cordillera Mountain Ultra loomed at KM15, with a strict five-hour limit.

By KM13, I had already stumbled — literally — after a bad misstep on a steep downhill.

The strain on my knee was starting to catch up as I ascended to Mt. Ugo, and by KM14, I hit the runner’s wall.

Maintaining an impressive 7:00 min/km pace on the punishing terrain left me no time to refuel properly.

My pace tanked, and my knees screamed in protest. Three grueling hours of running the trails had taken their toll. The realization that I still had 32 kilometers to go hit me like a truck.

Yet somehow, I reached the first cutoff in four hours, taking a moment to refuel and reassess after the fall that had strained my knees.

Meeting my first angel

Buoyed by being ahead of schedule, I set off for the grueling 7KM ascent toward the West Summit of Mount Ugo via Tinongdan.

Temperatures dropped to a biting 5°C as I climbed. The sun offered little comfort against the icy winds.

The Amazfit T-Rex 3, however, stayed unbothered, feeding me live altitude updates and heart rate readings as I pressed through the relentless climb.

At KM18, the strain in my kneecap intensified. Still, I pressed on, telling myself I’d rest properly at the summit.

That was when I met Mike Mendoza, a fellow trail runner who seemed to be my guardian angel. Seeing my struggles, he waited for me, constantly checking so that I didn’t veer off the trail, which was a bad habit of mine. I guess I’ve always taken “the road less traveled” too seriously.

After two and a half hours of continuous climbing, we finally reached the KM21 marker at the summit. He was fine, but I was breathless and in pain.

The moment that might’ve ended it all

As we began the descent from the summit, I asked Mike to go ahead without me.

My knees were screaming with every step. The steep, rocky terrain demanded precision, but my legs were unsteady, sliding on loose soil and gravel.

Adding to the challenge was the brutal transition from freezing temperatures at the summit to blistering heat on the open trail.

The ridges offered a breathtaking view of the Cordillera Mountain Range, but the relentless descents left me dehydrated and vulnerable. My pace slowed to a cautious crawl to protect my knees.

Meanwhile, the Amazfit T-Rex 3 soldiered on, its battery barely dented even after hours of constant GPS tracking.

Its promised 42-hour battery life in GPS Accurate Mode felt like my one reliable companion.

Then came KM23 — the moment that almost ended it all. A herd of cows (yes, cows) decided that the single-track trail was their runway, and charged at me. In a panic, I veered off the path, slipped, and found myself clinging to my pole near a cliff’s edge.

My trekking pole saved me, while my knees bore my weight. For a moment, I wondered if a dramatic mountain death might actually be better than becoming a cow kebab. Somehow, I survived.

And if you’re asking, no. The T-Rex 3 didn’t record the tumble. But honestly? It’s probably for the best. It securely strapped to my wrist, even as I stumbled through one of the most terrifying moments of my life.

With no cellular reception and no working SOS signal, I was on my own.

I whistled for help for what felt like an eternity until four runners from the summit came to my aid.

Words (and hearts) of gold

April Mae, one of the trail runners who came to my aid, taped my injury. They helped me navigate past the herd of cows (who were still out for blood).

As we approach the second summit at KM3o, I told April that I was ready for a DNF (Did Not Finish). But April encouraged me to keep going, reminding me how much I had already conquered — what was the point of quitting?

Together with Mickey, we summited Mt. Ugo once more to hit the next cutoff at KM30. We reached it with an hour to spare, despite my knee screaming with every step.

Descending Mt. Ugo was pure agony. The pain was so severe that tears streamed down my face as I hobbled through the trail. April and Mickey left to rush to the medics so they can prepare everything I might need. (They were like my angels, I swear.)

Alone again, I relied on the T-Rex 3’s heart rate updates to ground me. “As long as I’m breathing well, I’ll be fine,” I told myself.

By the time I reached the medics at KM 31, both of my knees were in shambles that they had to urge me to stop and call it quits. I refused, remembering April’s words.

Literally gave my blood, sweat, and tears for this

From KM31 to KM40, I fought through the pain, tears streaming down my face as the mountains punished me with relentless descents.

The T-Rex 3, meanwhile, remained my rock: tracking my heart rate, my altitude, and, most importantly, my will to keep going.

At KM43, I met a veteran trail runner who was cruising at his own pace. He saw my struggle and shared words that stayed with me: “You’ve already won. Finishing this is just the cherry on top.”

At 13 hours and 42 minutes, with a total elevation gain of 3,500 meters, I crossed the finish line.

Emotions overwhelmed me as my fellow runners greeted me with hugs and cheers. Their pride in me shattered whatever composure I had left, and I let the tears flow freely knowing I’d earned them.

No, I didn’t land a podium finish. I didn’t even have a medal to bite and wear. But I won something far greater: the knowledge that I am relentless, that I can face unimaginable pain and still rise, and that the trail running community is one of the most supportive I’ve ever known.

And more importantly, I had proven to myself that no amount of pain or bad luck could stop me from finishing what I started.

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A trusty companion

The Amazfit T-Rex 3 didn’t just survive this ultra-trail marathon with me. It thrived. Its GPS, heart rate monitoring, and rugged build handled every challenge the trail threw at us. And after 13+ hours, the battery still had plenty of juice left. (Still on half battery, like, for real?)

It recorded the most important race yet in my life, while my Garmin’s activity was corrupted. Thankfully, I had the Amazfit T-Rex 3.

At that moment, it wasn’t just a piece of gear; it was a partner in adventure. It was a witness to every tear, fall, and moment of triumph.

So if you’re still looking for a smartwatch that’s built to endure — just like you — then look no more. The Amazfit T-Rex 3 is ready for you and the trails.

Health

Spring reset: Growing more at home with Auk Mini

From kitchen counter experiment to everyday habit

Published

May 21, 2026

Chay Lazaro

Spring and summer rolling around almost always makes me want to reset something in my routine.

A few years ago, it was growing broccoli sprouts in a jar. Getting the Auk Mini over Christmas felt like the natural next step.

From sprouts to something more

Starting with sprouts was easy. After having them at a family gathering, it clicked that I could actually grow something, even in our small apartment. Anyone, including my husband can do it on the kitchen counter, and upkeep takes less than a minute a day. Watching something grow and actually eating it made me realize how nice it is to have fresh greens around all the time.

The Auk Mini builds on that. Instead of just one thing in a jar, now I have herbs growing consistently at home.

Getting started was easy

This was the part I was most unsure about, but it ended up being very straightforward. Setup took a few minutes, the instructions were clear, and nothing felt overly technical. The kit comes with everything you need to start: Auk Mini itself, seeds for planting, coco fiber, and nutrients that you add to the water to support both growth and flavor.

Once it’s up and running, it mostly takes care of itself. The lighting system handles what the plants need throughout the day, and the watering system keeps everything consistent. I have been away on trips, and I still come home to herbs that are healthy and fresh, waiting to be trimmed and added to my food.

It fits real life and small spaces

Fresh herbs growing beside my microwave

Living in a New York apartment, space is limited. While there are community gardens I could participate in, it’s not as convenient as having access to your own, especially when you’re in the middle of a snowstorm or a heatwave.

The Auk Mini sits beside my microwave, on a table that used to be my desk. It doesn’t feel like I added a new project to my life – it just blends in. I have the black and walnut version, which works well with the rest of my space, but it also comes in white, with oak or cork as other finishes, if you want something lighter.

Watching and competing

My husband and I set it up together and turned it into a challenge: who would harvest first?

Our kit came with basil and parsley. He planted basil, which sprouted first. I took on parsley, which grew much slower and wasn’t ready for harvest until a little over six weeks later. The competition was a small thing, but it made the whole process more fun. We started paying attention to growth day by day, and it’s satisfying when you finally get to use what you grew.

One thing we learned pretty quickly is that different plants grow at different speeds, which can make lighting placement a little tricky in a shared setup like the Auk Mini. Since the basil grew faster and taller, we had to angle the light unevenly so it wouldn’t burn the basil while still giving the parsley enough exposure to catch up.

It changed how I use herbs

Basil and parsley used to be something I added as garnish. Now I’m using them all the time because they’re right within arm’s reach.

Learned to be creative and made pasta from scratch, made better with fresh herbs

I’ve been making sauces, marinades, pesto, even building meals and cocktails around them. It’s expanded the flavors we use in home cooking, and forced me to experiment instead of defaulting to our go-to recipes inspired by East Asian cooking. In fact, the biggest hurdle I’ve encountered is not having enough recipes in my repertoire that use herbs.

Even when a dish doesn’t call for it, I’ll cut some and add it anyway. Every time I did, it made the dish better. When something is always available and always fresh, you naturally start using more of it. And if you trim it properly, it just keeps growing back. It doesn’t go bad or get forgotten in the fridge.

You can grow anything you want

One of my favorite things about Auk Mini is that it’s not a proprietary system. They do offer other kits like a chili and tomato set or an Italian cuisine mix, but you can also grow your own choices.

I joined a Facebook group of Auk growers, and it’s been inspiring to see how others are using and expanding their indoor gardens. It makes me excited to try things that are harder to find or expensive in the U.S., especially vegetables and herbs I grew up with, like pechay, moringa, lemongrass, pandan, and kangkong.

A small step toward something bigger

Constant fresh herbs within reach

Growing herbs indoors reminds me of something from years ago. In university, I did an immersion program in a low-income community. We recommended sustainable food systems for the stay-at-home moms we met — including hydroponics systems — both as a source of extra income and fresh food.

That experience stayed with me, but I never acted on it. This feels like a small, techie version of that idea: a hydroponic system that works in real life, in a small space, and is easy to keep up with.

Is the Auk Mini your GadgetMatch?

Starting with sprouts showed me I could easily grow something. The Auk Mini showed me I can keep going and expand it. Now I have fresh greens ready whenever I need them.

It starts at $239, which isn’t the cheapest way to get into hydroponics. If you don’t use herbs on the daily like I do, the cost is even harder to justify. But that’s also why I recommend it even more. It’s convenient, it’s fresh, and at the same time it challenges you to be more creative with food.

Basil and parsley keep growing in the Auk Mini after multiple harvests

Auk Mini’s ease of setup and maintenance, and flexibility make it worth it, especially if you don’t know where to start. It was a great hobby to start the year with, and an even better habit I’ve kept building on five months on. It’s given me confidence I can grow my own food for the rest of my life, one way or another.

Accessories

The UGREEN Nexode Air 65W is the only charger I travel with now

Why carry five chargers when one does everything?

Published

May 20, 2026

MJ Jucutan

Traveler guilt sets in the moment you open your carry-on and realize half of it is occupied by cables.

Not clothes. Not souvenirs. Cables. A brick for the laptop, an adapter for the tablet, a dongle for the country you’re visiting because you forgot it has different outlets, and a portable battery that is, somehow, the size of a hardcover novel.

I used to be that person. Then the UGREEN Nexode Air 65W happened, and I’ve been reformed.

The case for a single standard

This charger is roughly the size of a golf ball. It weighs 72.9 grams — lighter than most lipstick cases — and yet it pushes enough power to fast-charge a MacBook Air or an iPad Pro without breaking a sweat.

It measures 33 x 31 x 40.4 millimeters, which means it disappears into any bag with an almost smug confidence. In the best way.

For the outlet you didn’t plan for

You know that crowded café in an airport lounge where the only available outlet is suspiciously close to a stranger’s elbow? The Nexode Air is designed for exactly that scenario.

It runs on universal voltage — 100 to 240 volts — so whether you’re in Singapore or Santorini, it simply works. No adapter required. (And we all know the adapter is always the first thing we forget.)

ThermalGuard technology manages heat during the charging process, so your expensive devices are protected from voltage spikes and thermal stress even when you’re running on your third hour of a delayed flight.

The single USB-C port is a design philosophy in itself. One cable. One brick. That’s one less thing to think about.

Less bulk, same power

The bulky laptop brick that came in the box of your MacBook is retired.

The Nexode Air handles your laptop and tablet both, which means that space is now available for the things that actually matter — like that extra pair of shoes you were debating.

Travel isn’t about packing for every possible scenario. It’s about packing for the life you actually live. And this little charger, this impossibly compact overachiever, makes moving through the world feel a little more effortless.

The UGREEN Nexode Air 65W Charger retails for US$ 39.99 and now available in the United States through the UGREEN Official Store and Amazon.

Accessories

JBL marks 80th anniversary with AI-powered audio ecosystem

Entering a new era with real-time vocal removal technology and marathon battery life across its latest 2026 lineup.

Published

May 20, 2026

MJ Jucutan

For 80 years, JBL hasn’t just been part of the music scene; they’ve been the heartbeat of it. From the massive stages of Woodstock to the speakers in your pocket, they’ve defined what “loud and clear” sounds like since 1946.

Marking its 80th year, the brand is entering a new chapter that isn’t about nostalgia, but about how sound fits into the messy, beautiful, and mobile way we live right now.

No more waiting for instrumentals

If there is one thing that defines a good gathering, it’s a spontaneous karaoke session.

JBL is leaning hard into this with their new EasySing ecosystem. The star of the show is the JBL EasySing Mic Mini Duo.

It’s pocket-sized, but it features real-time AI Vocal Removal, allowing you to strip the vocals by 25%, 50%, or completely from any streaming track with a single press.

You no longer have to wait for an official “karaoke version” of a new hit to drop on YouTube. You just press a button and start your solo.

These mics offer six hours of playtime, AI noise suppression, and a natural reverb that makes even shower singers sound like pros.

For those who want the full stage experience, the new PartyBox Encore 2 Plus and PartyBox On-The-Go 2 Plus have this AI tech built directly into the speakers, turning any living room into a concert hall.

Portable power from the shower to the shore

JBL’s portable lineup has received a serious glow-up designed to survive your next adventure.

The JBL Go 5 remains the king of “throw it in your bag” audio, but it now features AirTouch technology.

If you want a wider soundstage, you just tap two Go 5s together to pair them instantly. For those who need more muscle, the JBL Xtreme 5 delivers detailed sound with AI Sound Boost to prevent distortion at high volumes.

It even doubles as a power bank and lasts for 28 hours, which is longer than most of us can stay awake.

If you’re planning a full-scale bash, the PartyBox 130 introduces a sleek new hexagonal profile and 15 hours of battery life, ensuring the lights and bass keep going until the neighbors finally complain.

Your personal sound bubble

The personal audio side of the family has been completely redesigned with a lifestyle-first lens.

The JBL Live Series, including the Live 680NC and 780NC, features a more polished finish with metallic accents and soft-touch materials.

The Live 780NC is particularly impressive, offering a staggering 80 hours of battery life — enough to fly around the world twice without needing a charger.

For a more tailored fit, the Live 4 series comes in Buds, Beam, and Flex styles to suit your ear shape.

Meanwhile, the everyday Tune Series has been updated with the 680NC and 780NC models now featuring Adaptive Noise Cancelling and Spatial Sound, bringing premium features to the daily commute.

Leveling up your gameplay

Gamers haven’t been left out of the 80th-anniversary celebration.

The new Quantum 250, 650, and flagship 950 headsets are engineered for precise spatial audio, but the real win is the modularity.

JBL has designed these so that the microphone, ear cushions, and cables are easily replaceable. It’s a refreshing move toward longevity since you don’t have to toss the whole headset just because your gear has seen some heavy use.

With customizable software and a redesigned “hammock” headband, these are built for marathon sessions where comfort is just as important as the kill-death ratio.

Price, availability

Most of this new gear is available now, while a few highly anticipated items are just around the corner.

For the karaoke enthusiasts, the EasySing Mic Mini Duo is priced at PhP 12,999, the Mic Mini at PhP 8,999, and the standard EasySing Mic at PhP 10,999.

In the portable category, the Go 5 is an easy win at PhP 2,899, while the Xtreme 5 sits at PhP 21,299. Party-goers can grab the PartyBox 130 for PhP 23,999, the Encore 2 Plus for PhP 26,999, or the On-The-Go 2 Plus for PhP 24,999.

On the personal audio front, the Live 780NC is PhP 11,999 and the Live 680NC is PhP 7,999. The Live 4 series (Beam, Buds, and Flex) are all priced at PhP 12,499.

The Tune series ranges from the 530BT at PhP 3,499 up to the 780NC at PhP 7,999. Finally, for the gamers, the Quantum series starts at PhP 3,999 for the 250, PhP 9,199 for the 650, and PhP 21,999 for the flagship 950.

JBL is 80 years old, but by mixing AI innovation with rugged portability, they’ve ensured they will remain the loudest, coolest brand in the room for another eight decades.