GADGETHEAD Issue 4.08
UK
£4.95
www.thegadgethead.com
Inspired By Your Success
Contents IQOS Heets • On Running Cloudace • Pluto Trigger Release
GADGETHEAD Senior Writer Emma Hilling emmahilling@littlegatepublishing.com Sales Director Alex Smith alexsmith@littlegatepublishing.com Junior Copy Editor Alice Instone-Brewer alice@littlegatepublishing.com Junior Copy Editor James Lapping james@littlegatepublishing.com Junior Copy Editor Will Girling willgirling@littlegatepublishing.com Lead Designer Alina Sandu studio@littlegatepublishing.com Publisher Stephen Warman stevewarman@littlegatepublishing.com
Page 10 QuickZip Zip Bed Sheets • GP PowerBank 15000mAh • Sea To Summit Ultralight Hammock Single XL with Suspension Straps • Smoothskin Muse • Clearblue Advanced Fertility Monitor Page 20 Stadler Form Jasmine • GP Charge AnyWay • STIHL HSA 56 • Under Armour HOVR Sonic Running Shoes Page 30 Zoopa Q900 Phoenix • MAM 2in1 Single Breast Pump • Under Armours Vanish High Sports Bra • Amok Draumr 3.0 Hammock with Fjøl LW Inflatable Insulated Pad and Draumr 3.0 Tarp • Braun ActivScan 9 Page 40 MEEM • Women’s UA Vanish Mid Sports Bra • Wagner Universal Spray System W 590 FLEXiO and Wagner Universal Masking Kit Premium • Kasina MindPlace Page 50 iStorage diskAshur² SSD • Colman Pinto Mountain • Weber Pulse 2000 Grill with Cart • Ion8 Leak Proof Water Bottle • Anysharp 5-in-1 Smart Scissors • Handroid MKIII Motorcycle Gloves Page 60 Coleman Spruce Falls • Coral Performance Pasting Machine • Mixfader ProLink • Olight I3T EOS • Bissell SpinWave
IQOS Heets IQOS (https://uk.iqos.com) is a revolutionary postcigarette age device created by the company Philip Morris International. You may have seen vapers out and about, creating thick clouds of smoke that have the odour of apple pie or bubble gum, these people are using liquid vapes in e-cigarettes. This is where the IQOS differs. What makes IQOS unique in comparison to standard e-cigarettes, is that it’s actually very similar to a traditional cigarette. Why? It uses tobacco. This is not burnt, but heated to a temperature of 350 Celsius through the sophisticated technology of the IQOS device. The recognisable flavour of tobacco and nicotine is still apparent when you take a drag, this may please a lot of you who are discontent with the draw from e-liquids as the flavour just isn’t the same! Even though it is still tobacco and nicotine that you are inhaling from the IQOS, because it is
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vapor and not smoke, this decreases the dangerous chemicals that are inhaled when smoking a traditional cigarette. We were sent a sample to try and were offered the navy IQOS which we thought was very sleek. We were also provided with a pocket charger, and a packet of Menthol Heets (20 deck, please note that these cost £8.00 a pack so are on par with the RRP for normal cigarettes), we had everything to get started. IQOS is very easy to use. You press the button on the IQOS and the green light flashes. Next you
insert a Heet stick into the hole on one end, these look very much like a cigarette but a little stubbier, once the green light has stopped flashing you’re ready to inhale. You drag from the end of the Heet – this is stylised like a filter end, so it is a familiar feel to smoking. After we gave this a go, it was very apparent that you get a lovely hit from the IQOS, it was very easy to use, and though it tasted and felt like smoking a cigarette there was no smoke at all, just vapor. The Menthol Heets that we were provided with gave off a taste similar to sweetcorn, this wasn’t a bad taste, but my one qualm was that the taste seems to linger for a bit too long. The aftertaste of cigarettes lasts for about 5-10 minutes, whereas the aftertaste
for the IQOS lasted up to half an hour for us. I wasn’t a fan, but I suppose this was a case of personal preference. Overall, I believe that the IQOS is a wonderful product for smokers who want to cut down on fags and transition over to a smoke free future. The familiarity of a cigarette is apparent with this product, but it just wasn’t for me. I loved the draw that you got, but I wasn’t a fan of the Menthol flavour of the Heets I had. But there are other flavours (Yellow and Amber), so I may have preferred these and will be trying.
https://amzn.to/2OsU40X Pros Good hit Easy to use Sleek design
Cons Prolonged aftertaste Heets are expensive Still inhaling harmful tobacco and nicotine
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On Running Cloudace Fresh out the factory the new Cloudace couldn’t have landed on my desk at a better time. With my old trainers slowing falling apart with every step, not to mention the distinct swampy smell after a recent mud run, it is time for an upgrade. 95% of my runs are road runs so I naturally look for a trainer with cushioning to help reduce the risk of impact related injuries and for a more comfortable, springy run. The new Cloudace from On Running comes with a serious amount of cushioning, with the clear objective of creating the ultimate cushioning sensation without compromising your speed. They have created the most advanced application of CloudTec to date, the rear Zero-Gravity Clouds provide a bouncy push-off with help from the rubber landing zone in the forefoot, ideal for conquering the urban
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jungle. I’ll start with a quick overview of the specs, the Cloudace has a heel-toe offset of 7mm, weight 267g (US W 7), and fall in the category of cushion and support. They come in two colours Ivy/Sage and Shadow/Rust in men’s and Ruby/Lava and Shadow/Rock in the women’s range (as always, On Running get bonus points from me for avoiding the gender stereotype when it comes to choosing colours for women), half sizes are also available. The Cloudace uses an injected TPU heel counter and moulded 3D heel pads, they help keep your feet securely in place but are stiff straight
out of the box, I found it rubbed on my right ankle bone, to the point I had to remove the laces from the top too eyelets and tied lower down, even with this it dug in if I leant over to the right, taking a tight corner for example. The liquid-injected Speedboard has an extra-wide design that directs your foot through each phase of the rolling motion and finishes off by returning the energy with a propelling pushoff and there is also plenty of ventilation with large amount of breathable mesh. After a 2.5k warm up run I took these out on a 10k to see how they fared, as a heel strike runner I appreciated those big cushiony clouds absorbing the impact from each step, the spring of the push off felt natural
and not over the top. The laces remained secure the entirety of the run and there was no pressure on the tops of my feet, at the end of the run my socks were sweat patch free which was enough evidence for me that the ventilation works well. There is plenty of room around the toes even as my feet became warmer and fatter, I did receive a blister on the back of my right heal but I think I was spoilt with some extra soft cushioning in my old trainers that allowed me to run in my trainer socks, if I was wearing full length ankle socks I don’t think this would have been a issue. All things considered, the Cloudace is an excellent choice if you are looking for a super cushioned shoe for road running, fingers crossed that stiff ankle will soften up over time, other than that it is supportive, supple, provides a good energy return and has great ventilation - oh and they look awesome.
https://amzn.to/2AmWkUj Pros CloudTec sole Zero-Gravity Clouds Simple lace system Cool design Support Ventilation mesh Perfect for road running Super cushioned
Cons Stiff ankle rubbed on my right ankle bone
Gadgethead Magazine
Pluto Trigger Release The Pluto Trigger Release is a wireless, smart trigger that is packed with useful functions to help you create beautiful images, with the help of a smartphone app the Pluto Trigger has even more features and is much easier to use than an old shutter release remote. The Pluto is compatible with all major brands including Canon, Nikon, Sony, Minolta, Panasonic, Olympus, Pentax and there are 13 types of cables to support more than 300 camera models. Here is a quick break down of all the modes, the Shutter Release lets you release the shutter wirelessly from your phone with seven release modes Single, Focus, Hold, Lock, Bulb, Burst and Timed. The Time lapse lets you set the duration, number of shots, interval, and start delay, take hundreds of images and then use computer software to make a time-lapse video. HDR (High Dynamic Range photography) 8
captures up to 19 images with autoexposure bracketing, these images are then later merged into a single, perfect HDR image (Fastest shutter speed is limited to 1/20). Startrail lets you set the number of shots, exposure time, interval and start delay producing beautiful star trail photos, Video lets you record without the 30 minute limit, the Timer takes a photo at the same time each day, ideal for making time-lapse of construction or plants growing for example. The Laser feature sets your camera off when something breaking a laser beam aimed at the Pluto Trigger (not working in daylight), this is
cool for capturing animals at night, the Sound enables your camera to do highspeed photography triggered by sound. Light takes photos only when it is bright or dark, Lightning detects lightning strikes and trigger your shutter instantly, the PIR detects human or animals’ body heat, the Droplet captures water droplets colliding in mid-air (Droplet Valve required), the Aux lets you make your own sensors to trigger your camera in creative ways. The Fusion lets you combine multiple sensors for specific scenarios (e.g. triggering your camera by sound when it is bright enough), Sound makes the microphone on your smartphone to trigger your camera, Vibrate triggers but vibrations or shaking your phone, Motion makes any moving object trigger on your
phone camera trigger the DSLR camera, Distance triggers based the distance you have travelled by using the GPS on your phone, Voice lets you say “Pluto” to fire off your camera, Smile mode lets your smile to trigger the shutter, DOF calculates the depth of field and hyper-focal distance based on the aperture, focal length and image sensor size of your camera for sharper landscape photos. The Solar Calculator calculates sunrise and sunset times based on your local coordinates and time, so you never miss the golden hour, ND Filter Calculator works out the shutter speed when neutral density filter is used and lastly (phew) the Rule 500 calculates the possible slowest shutter speed when shooting night skies to avoid star trails. Wow, that’s a lot of features, the Pluto has built-in laser, light, sound and infrared sensors which that allows you to take all the awesome images. The Pluto Trigger is lovely and compact at only 2.36” x 1.57” x 0.74” and weighs
just 37g, it has a Bluetooth range of 10 to 20m and infrared range of 3 to 7mm, from one single charge you get about 20 hours play time and 40 without Bluetooth enables and it only takes 1-2 hours to receive a full charge. I fell in love with this little gadget, it opened up a whole new world of creativity and encourage playing with time to create awesome images and provided confidence but removing the complicated calculations and hours of sitting patiently to get that perfect shot, it will take practice getting to grips with all the controls but it’s a lot of fun.
https://plutotrigger.com/products/pluto-trigger Pros Packed with features Compact Long battery life Fun Great for those looking to play with time in photography
Cons Bit complicated to learn
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QuickZip Zip Bed Sheets Sometimes, something comes along that makes you wonder why it hasn’t been done before, I know it might not be up there with real world problems, but equally changing the bed becomes an issue in our house because neither of us want to take on the challenge or battling with the sheets. I had never considered how awkward it is until the QuickZip arrived at work, the bed in our master bedroom has a lip around the edge of the base which means I regularly bruise my knuckles lifting up the
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corners to attach the fitted sheet, the spare bed is even more difficult as it is pressed up against the wall on one side. I tend to lift the entire side of the mattress and squeeze myself between the
wall and mattress whilst balancing on the slats on the base of the bed, probably not the safest option. QuickZip have taken convenience to the next level by creating the patented base that fits securely around the mattress and stays there, the top of the sheet can then simply and quickly be zipped on and off meaning you don’t have to lift the mattress at all, mattresses can be
very heavy and there are plenty of people out there who will benefit from not having to lift it on a regular basis. With a variety of sizes available you can find a sheet to fit for Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Cal King, Twin XL Dorm and RV Queen and for mattresses measuring 75”X39” and up to 11” deep, as well as a range for cots and cribs, they are percale, or poly mink, and come in a variety of colours/prints with a 400 thread count and 100% cotton sateen for a soft finish – they also have new prints and colours coming out this year. You can purchase them individually or get starter packs, we received the King Size 2 piece sheet (Basic starter pack) and will be looking at the adult size collection in more detail, sadly there are currently only two colours to currently choose from, White or Warm Grey but the good news is new fabrics are coming this year. The elasticated corners on the base piece reach far underneath the mattress and hold the
https://quickzipsheet.com/ Pros Once fitted you don’t have to lift the mattress again
Provides a tight fit
Innovative idea
Washes well (machine washable)
Easy to use Good for bad backs Can be folded
Good quality, 400TC Cotton
Lots of sizes available
Cons Limited colours and material available
Pricey
entire sheet firmly in place, there is a strip of fabric that covers the zip keeping it out of sight and preventing it coming into contact with your skin if you are still on the edge of the bed. The zip is attached at the corner so you can easily locate where to begin, there is a large pull ribbon for easy handling, the cotton is pre shrunk and the zip is plastic which means it is safe to machine wash, and because the zip-on sheet doesn’t have elasticated corners it makes them easy to fold and hang on the line to dry - this gets me more excited than it should but I’m ok with that. The QuickZip set up is an excellent idea, it makes changing the bed a breeze, however you will be committed to only purchasing QuickZip sheets and the limited range and high price tag may put some people off, however I will definitely consider using these, maybe just in the spare room for now. However, to tempt you lovely people they offer a standing discount for international orders of 20% if you use the code world20.
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GP PowerBank 15000mAh With the summer upon us there is no excuse not to peel your backside of the sofa, switch off the games console and step out into the sun. God it’s bright out there, but the hair loss from lack of vitamin D just isn’t worth it! Don’t forget to smother your pasty skin in sun cream if it’s the first time you have been out this year. So, now you are out in the big bad world, what are you meant to do with yourself? Fear not, man’s second greatest invention after the Xbox, the Smartphone, has all your entertainment needs in the palm of your hand, and you don’t have to waste your time looking at nature, friends or family (yawn). But now a new horror: 3% battery and you are a good 30-minutes from the safety of home and a charger! Enter the GP PowerBank, superhero cape flapping in the wind, with 15000mAh of power ready to save the day. The battery capacity
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roughly translates into how many times it can recharge your device. The iPhone X has a battery capacity of 2,716mAh and a Samsung Galaxy S9 has a 3,000mAh battery. This means the GP PowerBank can hold enough juice to fully recharge both devices up to 5 times before it needs to be recharged itself. This is a theoretical estimate and depends on several variables, for example whether you are using the phone at the same time whilst charging. For larger devices, tablets for example, a good rule of thumb is to ensure the capacity of your device doesn’t
exceed 70p of the charger’s capacity. The GP PowerBank comes with a USB-C and Micro-USB 2-1 charging cable, it is compatible with iOS devices, but you will need to use your own cable. It is a compact little device: 125.5L x 70W x 18Hmm, which fits comfortably in your hand, but it is a bit of a lump at 320g. It requires either MicroUSB or USB-C as an input for charging, and it will take roughly 6.5 hours to receive a full charge off a standard charger. It can charge up to three devices at once with two USB-A ports and a USB-C port. In test it took 2hours 6mins to fully recharge my phone (Samsung S8) 0-100% and the pack is still showing full charge. There is a button you can press to activate the battery level indicator, each
light representing 25%. The included cable is short so if you want to continue using your phone with the charger tucked away in a pocket or bag, you will need to bring a cable. There is no carry or storage case included. The GP Powerbank 15000mAh is a good companion to have at hand that lets you to get a good dose of vitamin D, whilst also allowing you to play Pokemon Go and ignore potential human interaction – excellent! RRP £34.99
http://uk.gpbatteries.com/uk_en/gp-powerbank/ m-series/mp15ma Pro Compact 15000mAh capacity Charges up to 3 devices at one time USB-C and Mirco USB inputs 2-1 cable
Cons Heavy No carry case included Short cable
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Sea To Summit Ultralight Hammock Single XL with Suspension Straps When me and my friends go camping we tend to bring everything but the kitchen sink, but some people like to travel a little lighter. Whilst I choose to sleep on the large blow up bed with sheet, duvet and pillows this isn’t always an option when people are travelling for long periods of time and trekking deep into the wilderness. I shouldn’t have to say this, but you will obviously need trees to set it up, but if you can think outside the box anything that is appropriate distance apart and stable enough could work, the website shows them using a car (if you have a car though wouldn’t you sleep in the car? Or at least drive to a B&B? as you can tell I am not a natural adventurer). To save the rest of your pack for important things like cakes and the Xbox (or whatever these explorer types consider important),
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Sea To Summit have created the Ultralight Hammock Single XL with measures up at 3.0m x 1.5m (also available in regular 2.6 x1.2m). Although XL sounds spacious it only equates to 6ft of body space (the regular is 5’10”) and it weighs an insanely light 205g (155g regular), constructed from 20D Nylon monofilament fabric, you can see through it, it is that fine, but don’t let the delicate look deceive you as this hammock can actually take up to 135kg in weight. One
of the other joys of using a monofilament fabric is that it is highly compressible which means you can smash it down into a tiny pack size roughly the size of a can of fizz. You won’t get far without the compression straps, sold separately and these will add another 40mm when compressed (there is room in the hammock sack to accommodate the straps), they measure up at 15 mm x 3 m (2 pack) and will add an extra 170g to you pack. The buckles are made from high strength, lightweight aluminium 6061 to shave off those extra grams, and the webbing loop is triple bar tacked to the hammock to ensure long term durability.
https://amzn. to/2mRZd6f Pros Super light Compact Just like the hammock the suspension straps are one of the lightest and most compact suspension straps on the market, made from 3 meters of non-stretch webbing. It is easy to set up simply wrap the strap around a tree or anchor point and insert into the hammock buckle, the length of the strap can then be easily fine-tuned to achieve a 30degree hang. The Ultralight Hammock proved easy to set up and pack down, it is, as promised, very light although the straps will add some extra grams, it is also extremely breathable which makes it great in the summer time, however in the colder months you will need to make sure you have the appropriate insulated sleeping gear.
Breathable Easy to use Tree friendly
Cons Straps and bug net sold separately No storage pockets Gets chilly in low temperatures
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Smoothskin Muse From the people that brought you the Bare, the Muse from Smoothskin is larger and more powerful IPL (intense pulsed light) hair remover, created to help break the hair cycle and prevent regrowth, and resulting in permanent hair reduction. It is currently the most powerful home IPL hair removal device on the market, it comes with the SmoothSkin Muse, quick start sleeve, support programme invitation, storage bag, mains cable and power supply and it is suitable for legs, bikini line, underarms and face. It works with most skin tones and hair colours but is not recommended for very dark skin, or white, grey, very blonde or red body hair, so check with the website before purchasing. The IPL works by sending light energy into the melanin in the hair shaft, this is then converted into heat energy which disables the follicle
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preventing further growth. The treated hairs naturally fall out between a few days to two weeks, you will still need to use your regular hair removal treatment during this time if you want a smooth hair free finish. The Muse is easy to use, it scans your skin before each flash and automatically selects the right light intensity for your skin tone, you can choose between Stamp mode, placing the Muse on the skin for each treatment, or Glide mode where you can slide the Muse between treatments, unlike the Bare there is also a Gentle mode for treating sensitive areas and the built-in UV filter prevents skin
damage. Unlike some IPL machines the Muse has unlimited flashes and also offers a 90day money back guarantee if you aren’t completely satisfied, a full body treatment takes just 20 minutes, it doesn’t use chemicals or gels and it quite painless, you will feel a prickling sensation similar to pins and needles. For the best results it is recommended to use the Muse every week for 12 weeks to ensure all hair follicles are treated then after the initial 12 treatments, to maintain results you simply top-up as required, usually once every 4 to 8 weeks. You can go for longer between treatments than the Bare due to the 6J/cm2 power rather than Bares 3 J/ cm², the flashes are slower with only 50 shots per minute instead of 100. After a
few weeks of treatment there were already signs of reduced hair growth, the hair was fine, looked light and took longer to fill out, the aim is as time goes on, you will be able to completely replace your shaving routine. If you have to have patience, time, and the ideal skin conditions for a hair free result, there is a long list of dos and don’ts - moles and tattoos are an issue so do your research before coughing up £299
https://amzn.to/2OuaCpx Pros Most powerful home IPL device Lasts longer between treatments Easy to use Stamp Glide and Gentle modes Unlimited flashes Strongly built device
Cons Expensive Takes time and dedication Not suitable on a variety of hair and skin issues
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Clearblue Advanced Fertility Monitor The theory behind getting pregnant is relatively simple but, as many people can confirm, putting it into practise isn’t always that straightforward! Contrary to popular belief, you cannot get pregnant at anytime of the month - you will need to be ovulating to conceive and tracking down when in your cycle that happens can be a stressful combination of apps, thermometers and trying to decipher pee-soaked strips of paper. The Clearblue Advanced Fertility Monitor aims to take away the guessing game by giving you clear information on when you reach your most fertile days. The website describes the monitor as having a discrete and feminine design - as many couples chose to keep their attempts of trying to conceive on the down low, discretion is necessary (you don’t want friends and family adding to the pressure by quizzing you at every event or worse endeavouring to give you advice!) The device has ‘Clearblue’ embossed across the front and the test strips also have ‘Clearblue’ stamped all over them, so even my guy mates would be able to guess what they are for. As for feminine design I would disagree, but if it was pink and covered in flowers I would be even less happy…there is no pleasing some. The Monitor is the only monitor that tracks and stores fertility and pregnancy information - it tests for the levels of two key fertility hormones: oestrogen and luteinising hormone. It comes with a long instruction manual with a load of do’s and don’ts, which can be really daunting at first; I was so worried about not setting up the cycle on the right day and having to wait until the following cycle. Basically, you have to set you a new cycle on the first day of your period. You then have a short 18
window of time where you can amend the settings - you will be asked to select a sixhour window to do the test and this will start day six of your cycle. It needs to be the first wee of the day (you can set an alarm on the monitor as a reminder), you then pop the test strip in the monitor and it will read your results before displaying it clearly on the screen. Your results will tell you if your chances of conception are either Low, High or Peak, then after the dreaded two weeks wait you can test for pregnancy as early as three days before your predicted period. The monitor has a touch screen which isn’t that sensitive. You can input some very basic information, like when you are on your period and if you have had sex (the apps out there let you add much more data) - you can look at the last six months of your data but no more.
I tested out the Clearblue Advanced Fertility Monitor and here is a quick break down of my thoughts: the instruction manual could be clearer (it almost fills you with apprehension), the monitor’s display could be more responsive, the menus and options are easy to use and intuitive but dated and basic, with limited options to input your own data. Taking the tests is easy. Although trying to open one of those packets when you are busting for a wee can be quite stressful, I eventually found it easier to take a sample and dip the stick in rather than pee directly on it, as you can use your phone to time 15secs without the fear of dropping your phone down the loo. I use a FitBit app and a free app to track my cycles and the Clearblue detected that
I had peaked two days after the other apps predicted it. This information would be vitally important if I was trying to conceive, because if I followed the apps chances are we wouldn’t attempt to try on my peak day, as I would be under the impression it was too late. Once you get to grips with all the rules and timings this fertility monitor is straightforward to use, and it takes away all the guesswork from reading the cheaper paper tests or tracking temperatures. My biggest gripe is the expense: the unit itself is between £70-£80, which is forgivable, but the replacement sticks are just shy of £30 for a box of twenty! If you ovulate later in your cycle you can easily use the entire box, as the machine will ask for test in sets of 10 even after you have peaked, which is a waste of tests and money. There is also a rule about only using 10 sticks in a row with the same batch code, suggesting that if you have less than 10 left over in the box they are useless. This all means that with couples taking between one and two years to conceive, you have to potentially shell out £800! If you have bags of cash and don’t find the process of analysing your cycle adds pressure, this could simplify tracking and testing and potentially increase your odds of conception. RRP £79.95
https://amzn.to/2LZHHHU Pros Straight forward use Clear display of results
Can help improve chances of conception
Accurate results
Tracks data for 6 months
Cons Can become very expensive Lots of dos and don’ts Limited personal data input options
Outdated display Branding on sticks and machine could be more discrete
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Stadler Form Jasmine We have all seen the advert from that well known odour neutraliser spray…we will call it Fab-knees… and they have given us house proud types something else to worry about, the idea that you are so used to living in the stench of your own filth that you can’t smell it anymore, there you are believing your house smells like a bed of roses when your house guests are choking back the urge to vomit over the smell of locker room with a hint of cat litter trays, altogether a clever bit of advertising. The downside is if you cover your house in Fab-Knees you still won’t know if it has worked as it is odour less, so why not opt for replacing your own nasty smells with something more pleasant? The Jasmine aroma diffuser from Stadler Form will provide you with up to 21 hours run time from one filling, choose between Black, White, Berry or Lime designs, they have a tactile, soft touch coating and attractive simple bowl shape, if I’m going to be hypercritical (and
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I will as it’s a pricey product) the lid and base aren’t flush just above where the buttons are, but you wouldn’t know without touching it. The box contains the power lead (I would love to see a battery option in the future to increase positioning options), the diffuser and instruction manual, no starter oils are included, which is a bit tight, so once you have got your oil (not compatible with alcohol-based scents) you can fill the Jasmine to the Max level indicator with
water then add as little or as much of your favourite essential oil. Then simply plug in and press the on/off button, you will see the LED light up to indicate its ready to go, you can then press the other button to choose between Continuous mode (this is the “oh god we had a massive party last night and my parents are coming over soon” mode) this will last for seven hours or press the other button to activate continuous mode which will release the scent every 20 mins and switch off between use, this will last for 21 hours (this is the “my mates are coming over for the footy but I don’t want to look like I’ve tried too hard mode”), it will automatically shut off when empty on both modes. The ultrasonic technology
transforms the water blended with essential oil into an extra fine mist, you don’t even have to mix it together just drop the oil into the bowl. The Jasmine is a simple device that does exactly what it promises and does it well, you can play with different scents and just let it works its magic in a discreet way (no distracting “spritz” sounds, it is silent), transforming your stinky dwellings into an elegant and relaxing place to be.
https://amzn.to/2OtKYkC Pros Beautiful design 4 colours to choose from Straightforward to use Automatic shut off Continuous or Interval mode Silent Very fine mist
Cons No battery options Slightly on the large side (13 x 9 x 13cm) No oil included to get you started
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Sur f 3 Inspired by mountain bike technology Why choose between a four-wheel urban pushchair or a three-wheel trekking pushchair. With Surf 3 you can have both, uniquely adaptable it can switch between city and trekking modes with ease. Whether you’re in the town or country the unique suspension ensures a smooth ride.
4 wheels for urban use
silvercrossbaby.com
Trekking wheel for multi terrain use
ENTER THE WORLD OF ZWIFT.
© ZWIFT 2017.
An immersive digital cycling experience, Zwift makes indoor riding, training or racing, fun and rewarding.
Available on Try for free at
PC/ Mac
iPad iPhone
ZWIFT.COM
GP Charge AnyWay With so many power-banks on the market now it’s easy to forget that not everything runs off a built-in rechargeable, like the ones we have in our phones and tablets. The GP Charge AnyWay is here to revive those devices that take AA or AAA batteries: games consoles controllers, remotes, external camera flashes or the computer mouse for example. The GP Charge AnyWay works as a USB battery charger and instant PowerBank that can power up AA or AAA NiMH rechargeable batteries (it comes with four AA rechargeable batteries) and mobile devices. The included batteries are Lithium-free ReCyko+ Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) batteries, this means you can pack them in your carryon luggage as well as your check-in bag without the worry of getting told off by some scary security guard. You don’t have to stick to your four included batteries as it is also compatible with
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alkaline and single-use batteries, this means in an emergency you can throw in four single use batteries and charge your phone from the device. The charge held by the included batteries is only 2600mAh, that’s why I suggest using it in emergencies. It will fully charge an iPhone 7 but isn’t powerful enough to fully charge the iPhone 8 or X or the Samsung S8 or S9, but it will get you between 50%-80%. There are four individual charging channels with their own dual colour (red charging/green full) LED display. It will take six hours to fully charge
the batteries due to the low mAh, which is a long time! With so many horror stories of chargers catching fire it’s good to know the GP Charge AnyWay has both overheat and overload protection, as well as short circuit protection and safety timer protection which is triggered after a specified time regardless of the charging status. The GP Charge AnyWay fills a very specific need but is limited in its abilities and power. Probably best suited for prolific gamers. RRP £19.99
http://uk.gpbatteries.com/uk_en/gp-powerbank/ charge-anyway/x411 Pros Will charge phones in emergency’s Compatible with single use batteries Airline friendly LED indicators
Cons Takes 6 hours to charge Only 2600mAh of power Limited functions
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STIHL HSA 56 When it comes to gardening I have very little to maintain, the back garden is more of a quarry with a few raspberry canes and a handful of tulips for one month of the year, I pretty much leave it to do its own thing, the front garden however has a large hedge on the boundary (don’t ask me what kind, its green and seems to grow at the same rate as bamboo). I normally tackle this hedge by hacking away at it with a pair of sheers until I it looks half dead, or I get bored, whichever comes first. I was excited to see the HSA 56 from STIHL arrive for review and immediately began envisioning the perfectly shaped hedge. The HSA 56 has been created for pruning shrubs or tackling hedge wrapped up in a light and simple package with a convenient cordless design making quick work of even the unruliest gardens. The HSA 56 has a compact lithium-ion AK10
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battery with a voltage of 36V and a capacity of 118 Wh, the battery life depends on the what you are hacking up but on average you get about 40mins run time with just one hour to fully charge the battery again, there is a handy charge level indicator (LED) to let you know when it’s time to recharge and the removeable battery means you could always get a spare ready to take over. As I’ve only ever used the sheers before the only sounds I’m used to is my own swearing, and I was surprised but how quiet the HSA
56 was, don’t get me wrong it makes noise, but you don’t need ear protection or anything crazy. For safety when travelling you can place the battery in position but without connecting it to the contacts so there is no way it can be accidently operated, the blade also comes with a scabbard for extra protection. The blade tip protector means you can get near the ground or walls easier without making contact and the double-sided blades work both vertically and horizontally. The hanging eye allows you to hang the trimmer up when not in use, you can even wall mount the charger alongside it, it only weighs 3.7kg with the battery which is a comfortable weight to carry up ladders and lift above your head. You
will need both hands to pull separate triggers to activate the blades for safety and there is also a locking switch to ensure you don’t accidently set it off. The STIHL HSA 56 was a pleasure to use, it made short work of my hedge and gave me a lovely clean finish, it was easy to manoeuvre, I felt in always in control with all the safety feature and the cordless design means I didn’t have to faff about with cables, extension cords, all in all an excellent bit of kit.
https://www.stihl.co.uk/STIHL-Chainsaws-LawnMowers-Leaf-Blowers-And-More/Hedge-Trimmersand-Long-Reach-Hedge-Trimmers/Cordless-Li-Ionhedge-trimmers/273182-1549/HSA-56-set.aspx Pros Cordless Loads of safety features Easy to use Quick Lightweight Removeable battery Quiet Battery indicator
Gadgethead Magazine
Under Armour HOVR Sonic Running Shoes With a 10k, two 5ks and 9 ¾ mile coming up (yes, that last one is a Harry Potter run), I seem to spend most of my work outs running. Sadly, following a Tough Mudder and another mud run that made the Tough Mudder look like a spar day, my old reliable shoes not only stink but have a whole in the mesh that is increasing in size with every outing. The Under Armour (UA) HOVR Sonic Running Shoes arrived just in the nick of time! My first reaction was concern over the colour, as we are currently trying to survive a heatwave, black might not be my ideal choice as the relentless sunshine is sending temperatures up to 33˚C, however all the mesh looks inviting, so I hoped the HOVR Sonic wouldn’t turn my feet into a hot, liquid mess. Starting with the overall look (because let’s be honest it matters) it comes in a very simple, White or Black in the men’s range and Black, Grey,
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White and Blue in the Women’s range. The Black style we received has a cool marble design on the white sole and flashes of red accenting the heel and outside of the sole, I think they look smart, you could even wear them as street wear as well as sportswear and I appreciate there isn’t a hint of baby pink, pastel blue or purple to be seen in the women’s range. Moving on to the technical features the UA HOVR technology aims to provide a ‘zero gravity feel’ to prevent a drain on energy, encourage energy return and eliminate impact step
after step. The external TPU heel counter provides additional support and structure around the heel without causing discomfort or restricting movement. There is blown rubber under the forefoot for a lightweight and responsive feel with each step and the high-abrasion resistant rubber that is placed under the heel to help absorb ground contact for heel strikers and reduce the risk of impact related injuries. As it turns out my fears about the black material increasing the temperature inside of the shoe were unwarranted, the upper breaths wonderfully, and in the event of running through a puddle (It been so long since we have seen one) it dries fast and wicks moisture away, whilst the ventilated
midfoot panel adds additional breathability. The HOVR Sonic offers a compression style fit that delivers a lightweight directional strength and consistent comfort straight out of the box until your final mile, the Compression Mesh Energy Web contains and moulds UA HOVR foam to return the energy you put in. The tongue and ankle construction are very comfortable, the tongue is attached to the footbed by stretchable support wings which hugs the foot and doesn’t create pressure points or move around during the run. Other features include the removable, anti-microbial Ortholite sockliner which moulds to the foot for customised fit, the heeltoe offset is 8mm and the shoe weighs 225g per shoe. After testing these out over three runs, a six mile road run, a one mile treadmill and a two mile off road run where I even managed to find some wet terrain by a lake, I can say with confidence these will become my new running shoes for most
https://amzn.to/2LL6bYI Pros Smart design Super comfortable straight out of the box ‘zero gravity feel’ Compression mesh Energy Web and UA HOVR foam
Breathable fast drying uppers Ventilated midfoot panel Removable, anti-microbial Ortholite sockliner Responsive Lightweight
Cons Lacks grip on some wet/muddy surfaces
conditions. The only time they slipped up (literally) was on that wet surface, although the soles look like they will provide good traction the struggled a little over light muddy surfaces (that means they are safe from the next Tough Mudder) apart from that I couldn’t fault them, as the majority of my runs involve road running, all the cushioning, compression and springy energy return worked wonders for me (I even achieved a PB on my 10K) not forgetting the extreme comfort and lightweight feel. These are an excellent choice for those looking for fair weather, urban, neutral runners that perform well and look awesome.
Gadgethead Magazine
Zoopa Q900 Phoenix The Drone craze has been and gone, and there is no fear of receiving one of those cheap and impossible to control little buzzy bots in our stockings this year, what has been left is a variety of decent drones for the people might have the dedication to take the drone out more than once and learn how to control it properly. If you are looking to try your hand at aerial video and photography but still can’t bring yourself to stump up the cash for a top of the range model that you might instantly lose on its maiden flight, then the Zoopa Q900 Phoenix might be you ideal starting point. The 720p HD camera isn’t going to blow you away but it will certainly do for a starter kit, it has automatic take off and landing features helping you skip out the tricky bits as well as the Auto Return feature forces your drone back to you (ACCIO DRONE!) when you it gets away from you. It also has
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Steady Control and 2-axis gimbal stabilizer that acts like stabilisers, in the air all these features allow you to focus on getting used to steering and allow you capture some clean and sharp images. You will get up to 18mins of flight time, which is the around average life span of this kind of entry level drone, other specs include, 2.4 GHz technology 4+2 channel, 1000ft/300m range and the remote needs 4 1.5 AA batteries that are not included. The handset is well made, with strong and responsive controls, it also has a dedicated slot that you can
store you phone and receive a first-person viewing experience. Also included in the kit are a T charger and charging adapter, eight propellers (four needed for the flight and four spares), there is also a 4G SD card included as well as a card reader for uploading your images and videos. So, what’s the verdict? The Zoopa Q900 Phoenix is good choice for a lower budget beginner drone that will help you learn to ropes and provide with good pictures, long battery life and ease of handling when compared to other beginner drones and with the solid build quality and handy features you might never feel the need to upgrade.
https://myzoopa.com/q900/ Pros Good build quality Clear images 18min battery life Take off and land assist Auto return First person view from phone Good value for money
Gadgethead Magazine
MAM 2in1 Single Breast Pump The MAM 2in1 Single Pump provides mum with a flexible solution for expressing their milk. Covering all bases, you can use it for both electric or manual pumping - the electric pump has two modes: Stimulation, simulating the natural suckling behaviour until the milk has dropped and Expression, which pumps the milk into the bottle. Both modes come with nine different strengths which can be quickly and easily changed via the +/- buttons on the main unit, this lets you find the most comfortable and productive setting. You can switch between the two modes via on button - it will automatically be in Stimulation mode when turned on and the mode is clearly displayed on the screen
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alongside the battery level, strength setting and timer. The display is large and clear green digits on black which aren’t too bright if using in low light or the dark. The unit can be used when plugged into the wall but will also hold up to five hours charge depending on the settings, freeing you up to express anywhere in the house, in the car (as a passenger only please) at work or out and about. The screen is quite sensitive which can be both a blessing and a curse: it allows you to easily change the settings but also means it can be accidently adjusted. Thankfully there is a manual on/off switch on the back to prevent
it being switched on whilst in transit. The pump is reasonably quiet, but I would love to have the option of muting the buttons as it beeps with every press. If you choose to manually pump you just need to swap the top of the pump unit. The manual pump takes longer but can still get the same results as the electric pump - with a bit of effort - and it is comfortable to use. It can also be stood up when empty, ensuring the inlay stays sterile whilst you set up. The inlay is a soft, one-sizefits-all funnel which comes with a cover to hygienically protect against dirt; it can be used without the inlay. Like most breast pumps the MAM 2in1 comes with loads of components that will
need to be kept together and regularly cleaned. It’s easy enough to keep them in the box but a carry case or more durable box would be appreciated. It also needs two hands to set up, which you probably won’t have available most of the time, but with a bit of practise you will get used to all the bits. The pack includes: breast pump 2in1, electric top including funnel cover, rechargeable motor unit, breast pump 2in1 adapter, breast pump 2in1 manual top/pump handle, two Easy Start bottles with sealing disc (1x 130ml/4.5 oz x 160ml/5.5 oz) and two storage solutions. The MAM 2in1 Breast Pump is a wonderfully versatile breast pump that covers all options and it is portable & easy to use with both electric and manual options available.RRP £130.00
https://amzn. to/2Oq7QS9 Pros Electric or manual Rechargeable unit One size fits all, soft inlay Portable Reasonably quiet Clear display with timer Protective funnel cap Bottle free stands with manual pump attached
Cons Every button beeps Buttons can be accidently pressed due to sensitivity No storage/ transport case
Gadgethead Magazine
Under Armours Vanish High Sports Bra There have been a couple of occasions where I have believed the hype and bought a high intensity sports bra only to find myself bouncing around during a tennis match or on one memorable occasion, bursting out of it during a cardio class. I was happy to see a high intensity sports bra arrive on my desk from a brand I already trust to produce high quality products. The Vanish High from Under Armour (UA) is the brands fastest drying base layer, helping you to remain, cool, dry and comfortable. Available in either Black on Black, or Blue with navy body with light blue straps, it comes in standard bra sizes (unlike the Mid Sports Bra) from 32A-38DD, and has been created for high-impact activities like running, tennis, squash, football,
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aerobic and cardio classes. Featuring UA “Next-to-skin without the squeeze” and can be set up in either the standard shoulder strap or criss-cross style, both are comfortable, but I found the standard shoulder strap gave me more of a fat bulge (still a minimal bulge) near the armpit than the criss-cross configuration, the crisscross also felt slightly more supportive than the other option. There is a dual Hook and Eye fastening on the back strap with three size options, two hook attachments for the straps and the
length adjustment on the straps, like so many bras the straps can’t be adjusted whilst wearing, but they remain in place whilst putting it on, unlike some over the head versions and this is due to the strap fastenings. The fixed performance foam pads provide extra coverage and support while maintaining breathability, the pads are integrated into the material and don’t leave visible outlines. The waist band is smooth against your skin and provides sweatwicking performance, in fact the entire bra, cups and straps are gentle against the skin with a silky feel, stretchy enough to be comfortable without
sacrificing support. Constructed from 59% Elasterell and 41% Polyester it uses the UA Microthread technology to dry faster, prevent clinging, chafing and losing shape. I found the straps slipped ever so slightly after a week of testing that included, running, a cardio class and boxing but not enough to cause too much trouble and it was easy enough to tighten them again. Overall I found the Vanish High, comfortable and supportive, it moulded perfectly against my body, it feels like it has been made just for me, it provides plenty of support, without the need of an uncomfortable underwire.
https://amzn.to/2Oq9qDz Pros Comfortable Supportive during high impact sports Two strap configurations Wicking sweat band Hook and eye entrance High quality construction Soft against skin
Cons Can’t adjust straps whilst wearing Only two colours to choose from Straps slipped slightly from original position after a few sessions
Gadgethead Magazine
Amok Draumr 3.0 Hammock with Fjøl LW Inflatable Insulated Pad and Draumr 3.0 Tarp If when exploring the great outdoors you prefer to keep things simple, disturb your surroundings as little as possible or perhaps just like to try something new, then a hammock might be a more suitable place to lay your head down at night than a traditional tent. It is more compact and light-weight, but you will need to consider your terrain - this isn’t going to work on the beach or at a music festival, you need trees or some super conveniently placed telegraph poles. The Draumr 3.0 (which is Old Norse for the word ‘dream’) from Amok (which is Danny Dyer for the word ‘hammock’), unlike regular hammocks that lay with your head and toes pointing towards the trees, has you lay perpendicular to the trees (not 100% that’s the right word but I’m standing by it!) It comes with a bug net and a suspension system, and it’s worth getting the Tarp 3.0 for weather protection and an inflatable insulated pad, but we will have a look at those in a bit.
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Like all Amok equipment, the Draumr was created by enthusiastic Norwegian outdoor engineers. It allows you to lay in your favourite sleeping position: flat, on your side, back or front, and if you just want to enjoy your surroundings and take a load off your feet for a while, you can adjust the straps to turn the hammock upright like a chair. The integrated bug net has a YKK zip, the suspension straps have 10 kN carabiners and tree huggers are included. It is easy to
get the hang of and soon putting it up will be a breeze. On the inside you will find a bottle holder and storage pockets for all your gear, and for a stress-free packdown there is a large pack-sack (no need for time-wasting when wrestling it back into the bag.) There is also a handle and backpack attachment points for easy transportation. It is made from 70D Ripstop Nylon and weighs 1.3kg with both the bug net and suspension kit - it can take a max weight of up to 150kg and is suitable for people up to 6’2”, but if you need longer you can order the XL. There are also two different sized pockets for the pad - 77 x 25 x 4 inches or 72 x 20 x 2,7 inches - and there is a list of suitable pads on their website.
https://amzn.to/2K8UJBj The Amok Fjøl LW Inflatable Insulated Pad is a suitable sleeping pad is inflatable with a synthetic insulation. Suitable for three seasons, it has a thick, long and wide tubular design which is lovely and comfortable. It can be inflated very quickly with an included pump bag whilst preventing humidity from your breath affecting the insulation and causing it to deflate slightly as the air cools. This too comes with its own spacious pack-sack and repair kit - it will add another 1kg to your pack weight and another 4.3L. The Tarp 3.0 will provide you with protection from the elements - it can be set up using two trekking poles or attached between two trees. It has cord adjusters and guylines that are attached. Constructed from 40D Ripstop Nylon, it weighs 596g, including six lightweight stakes and will add another 1.15L to your gear. The Draumr 3.0 with pad and tarp isn’t going to save you much more weight or space than
Pros Flat lay on your side, back and stomach
straps
Chair mode
Waterproof tarp with stakes
Integrated bug net Bottle holder and storage pockets
Available in 3 colours
Sleeping padfast inflation with pump bag
Easy to set up Quick adjustable
one-man tent, however let’s not forget that it doubles up as a seat and also reduces the impact you leave on your surroundings. Plus, it is super comfy and let’s be honest rather fun! We found the entire kit easy to set up, adjust and pack down. It has a high level of construction; the bug netting is very useful and allows you to check your phone or use a reading light without immediately getting swamped by mozzies. A great hammock for those who are looking for something a little different whilst at the same time remaining practical and comfortable. RRP Draumr 3.0 Hammock (€279.00), Draumr 3.0 Tarp (€119.00), Fjøl LW Inflatable Insulated Pad (€99.00)
Gadgethead Magazine
Braun ActivScan 9 It is becoming ever easier to keep an eye on our health from the comfort of our own homes. With inhome devices and, of course, the endless number of apps, we track out calories, steps and sleep quality but what about our blood pressure? In the UK, high blood pressure is the third biggest risk factor for disease after tobacco smoking and poor diet. High blood pressure is the largest single known risk factor for cardiovascular disease and related disability, and causes an increased risk of heart failure, coronary artery disease, stroke, chronic kidney disease, peripheral arterial disease, and vascular dementia - so it is pretty important to keep an eye on it if your doctor has diagnosed high blood pressure. The ActivScan 9 allows you to track and monitor your blood pressure from home and identify triggers and patterns in your
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lifestyle that could be contributing to your high blood pressure. The ActivScan 9 works alongside your smart phone via the Braun Healthy Heart app simple and intuitive to use, it provides clear data on your blood pressure health, and it lets you input other events like exercise, diet and sleep to help you see how your day-to-day life effects your blood pressure. Thankfully for people like my dad who couldn’t tell the difference between a calculator and a smart phone, your results are displayed on the clear and bright screen, which is easy to interpret on a colour coded display: green,
amber and red. You can track your results over time with the calendar tool and you can access and share the data with your doctor or health care professional at any time. The arm band is compact and works with an almost clamplike action (don’t worry it isn’t painful) rather than wrestling with a long Velcro strip. It is much easier to use with one hand, the lining is smooth & soft against the skin and it gently inflates to a comfortable level. The ActivScan 9 also has an Irregular Heartbeat Detection function and memory for multiple users. A great choice for home testing, it is simple, comfortable and accurate; it could give you an invaluable insight into you heart’s health. RRP £149.99
https://www.braunbloodpressuremonitors. co.uk/braun-activscan-9-upperarm/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIuMyw8dW3AIV6LftCh1brQqiEAAYASAAEgJYDvD_BwE Pros Durable Clear, accurate results Easy to use One hand operation Braun Heart Health app
Gadgethead Magazine
MEEM If I lost or damaged my phone 15 years ago, the biggest inconvenience would be gathering up all my lost contacts off my mates and shelling out for a new Motorola Razr. These days, as much as I hate to admit it, my phone is my life, like an external brain. If I lost it, I would lose not just my contacts, but photos, videos, music, messages, documents and a calendar, essentially rendering me a functionless human being. Yes, we all know the magical wonder that is the cloud exists, but with people becoming increasingly concerned about the privacy of their data, the idea of all your photos floating around in space vulnerable for hacking is enough to keep you up at night. The MEEM is a clever little device that backs up contacts, calendar, photos, videos, music, and messages on to an external storage device. You can choose between 32, 64, and 128GB, with the Archive mode allowing you to backup items to the
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MEEM and delete them from your device. Compatible with multiple iOS and Android devices (although you will need an approved adaptor if you have a USB C device), it not only backs up your data, but it charges your phone at the same time. The MEEM automatically backs up the personal data on your phone to the cable itself every time you charge, whether by power adaptor, car charger, PC port or power bank. The MEEM Desktop app allows you to view all your saved data on
your computer and create a secondary backup of your MEEM cable. As this is a selfcontained device it is totally secure; you can see everything you back up and it can back up any three devices on the cable - phones or tablets - and lets you easily restore data to a new phone in a single swipe. The cable is well made with the compact storage device attached. The cable is also a distinctive green to ensure you grab the correct one. This is a simple but effective device, designed for someone just like me who has lost/broken no less than six phones and would simply never remember to back up their phone otherwise. RRP £69.99 (32GB), £89.99 (64GB), £119.99 (128GB)
https://amzn.to/2M2CGP8 Pros High quality construction Very simple to use Available in 32, 64 and 128gb Compact Automatically backs up data Suitable for up to 3 devices, Android or iOS Works with power adaptor, car charger, PC port or power bank 1.2m cable
Cons Needs adaptor for USB C
Gadgethead Magazine
Women’s UA Vanish Mid Sports Bra Sports bras come in all shapes and sizes and finding the right one for the right exercise can be a real challenge, the UA (Under Amour) Vanish Mid Sports Bra has been created to provide support for medium impact activities like cycling, weight training and boxing. Available in a range of attractive colours, Black, Black with branding, Blue, Pink, Grey and my personal favourite Green, which is a two-toned design with a teal base and aqua detailing. It comes in a variety of sizes but just to confuse you, instead of the standard 32C style sizing it comes in XS, S, M, L and XL but not to worry there is a handy conversion table on the website so for example a 32B is a S, 34C will be M and a 36D is a L. There are no fastenings to deal with which is both a blessing and a curse, one bra I own has no less than six different fastenings, like a straight-jacket, the downside to this
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is that you must perform the sports bra contortion dance, made doubly difficult once covered in sweat and exhausted, but once on and all your parts are in the right place it is comfortable. Like most bras you can’t easily adjust it when wearing it (why is this still an issue in 2018), this means if the straps move whilst wrestling yourself into to, you may have to grab a friend to help tighten it up again or take it off and repeat the process. UA has described the fit as a Next-to-Skin without the squeeze and I couldn’t agree more, some bras when properly adjust create lumps in places you never new was
possible, the under armpit pudge and back fat isn’t a great look but the Vanish literally does what the names suggests, it hides underneath racer back style top and provides the support you need whilst giving you a smooth and attractive profile both with or without a top layer on. One issue I had was encountering the scratchiest clothes labels I have ever come across, however it has a tear away feature which means you can easily remove it, just ensure you remove it before working out or it will hurt. The cups are fitted with soft, fixed performance foam pads to provide extra coverage and support while at the same time still allow the body to breath, the keep the straps hidden under your top the open back has adjustable criss-cross strap, that
are soft against the skin, super stretchy and wide to prevent them digging in. Around the front the bra has a “feminine” V-neck line, not sure what makes a V-neck feminine other than showing off your feminine parts, but it looks nice, it probably wouldn’t work for me in my yoga classes as I would be too self-aware about how much skin I expose when bending over but this is just personal preference. Constructed from 59% Elasterell and 41% Polyester the Vanish Mid is lovely and soft against the skin and moulds to the body, it also dries faster than some of my other bras thanks to the UA Microthread technology which prevents you getting cold on your cool down, stops it from clinging to you, chafing or stretching. I found the bra nice and comfortable, it enabled me to get my sweat on without restrain or restriction and provided ample support throughout.
https://amzn.to/2K706AV Pros Very comfortable when on supportive Soft Dries quickly Looks good on Attractive colours Line cups provide full cover without pad line
Cons Can’t adjust straps whilst wearing Scratchy label Can be difficult to squeeze into
Gadgethead Magazine
Wagner Universal Spray System W 590 FLEXiO and Wagner Universal Masking Kit Premium After being formed in 1947 Wagner produced its first ever paint spraying gun in 1953 and are still making them over 60 years later, the Universal Spray System W 590 FLEXiO is a flexible sprayer for
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interior and exterior use. Created for larger projects where you want to spray both internal walls and other surfaces, there are two spray attachments one for low viscosity materials and one for high, and it can be used
to paint walls, wood and metal. It features an X-Boost turbine that can be used to spray all conventional materials, undiluted, using the innovative I-Spray nozzle, you can adjust the amount of air and paint you are spraying.
https://www.wagner-group.com/uk/consumer/ product/universal-spray-system-w-590-flexio/ Pros Easy to set up and use
When it works it works well
Cons Difficult to clean
Tatty edges
Can get big blobs and splatter
The spray jet can be set to a horizontal and vertically position depending on the direction you are working with including a detailed jet for wood and metal paints it also come with a carry case, which proved rather difficult to close, you need to get the edges lined up perfectly and I can see me getting fed up and trying to smash it closed… especially if I am hungry at the time. Alongside the FLEXiO we received the Wagner Universal Extra Masking Kit Premium and this included one cover foil, 4 x 6m for the floor and furniture, one
Premium painter’s adhesive tape 20 m x 36 mm and one masking film with adhesive tape 20 m x 0.55m for the walls, which apparently adheres optimally to the object through electrostatic charging on the film’s strip. The masking kit is practical but nothing special, you may as well throw it in the only basket whilst getting the FLEXiO at the same time. The FLEXiO works well and is straightforward to use however the spray-system has some tatty edges and could do with a cleaner finish, but, if using waterbased paint, it is much easier to clean than a brush or roller & tray. It can initially be difficult to get the right consistency and spray ratios, meaning you might get some splatter marks that need to be rolled out for a clean finish. However, this problem might improve with practice (a few pieces of scrap cardboard should help improve your marksmanship). Also: the 800ml pot – recommended for wood & metal paints - is too small for larger projects, so you may want to use the larger 1300ml attachment instead, otherwise you will be refilling it - a lot. RRP £149.99
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With more than 300,000 designs created since 1932, there’s a Zippo lighter for every personality and style. For further information and to see the new 2018 collection visit www.zippo.co.uk PJ21508-GadgetHeadAd_v02.indd 1
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Kasina MindPlace If you had told me in my early twenties that I would be spending my early thirties practicing yoga and meditating, I would have never believed you. However, I have found that it has vastly improved my mental health as well as having a positive impact on my sleep. So, when the Kasina MindPlace landed in my hands, it seemed well up my street! Kasina gets its names from a Pali term that refers to an ancient system of meditation that uses visual objects to focus the mind. The Kasina MindPlace uses similar techniques to induce positive mood-shifting effects. Unlike the meditation apps and devices I have used in the past, the MindPlace engages both the audio and visual sense via headphones and the Ganzframes (or disco glasses as I like to think of them), you then select a session and the glasses will create a colour-light display that works in sync with the audio session.
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The range of sessions include: Meditate, Focus Energy, Night Voyage, Trance, and Mind-Art, which can provide a range of benefits included clearing extraneous thought, improving focus, breaking undesirable states like anger or stress, helping to facilitate accelerated learning, changing your mind and mood, and access altered states of consciousness. You also have the option of creating your own sessions, and copying your own music in MP3 or Wave - the MP3 player has preprogrammed sessions ready to use straight
out of the box and an included 8GB microSD card. The Ganzframes have six coloured LEDs per eye and produce 255 shades of colour. The MP3 player has a coloured LCD display, obviously designed to look similar to an iPod, it is bulky and charmless with a cheap finish. The protective case is about as useful as a chocolate teapot, in fact the build quality of all the components is really poor when you consider the asking price is just shy of ÂŁ300! The headphones look like something you would get handed on a plane, but the audio quality is acceptable and they are lightweight which makes them comfortable to wear for long sessions. If you attempt to create your own sessions,
you may find yourself undoing all the good work meditating has done for you: it is incredibly un-user friendly and you will need both patience and computer skills. I also found linking the glasses to your own music a bit hit and miss - some songs it paired beautifully with, while others were just disjointed, distracting flashes, but you have fun playing around with it. The pre-programmed sessions were wonderful, however, and it feels like this is what you are paying for; I found I brought a whole new level to my meditation I hadn’t experienced before. However, I feel like the dated design, poor build quality and cheap components have a long way to go before that price tag is justified. RRP £295.00
https://amzn.to/2K4xEQ5 Pros Pre-programmed sessions with glasses are wonderfully immersive Easy to use out of the box Glasses and headphones comfortable
Cons Expensive Bulky Unclean finish Dated display Creating your own sessions is difficult Hit and miss with own music “Protective” case cheap and nasty
Gadgethead Magazine
iStorage diskAshur² SSD Things don’t get much more secure than the iStorage diskAshur² SSD! It is a portable encrypted solid state drive hard drive available in 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1GB, 2GB and 4GB capacities, as well as in four separate colours: Racing Green, Fiery Red, Phantom Black and Ocean Blue. There are so many features in this little device it is hard to know where to begin. To start with, you will need to enter a personalised 7-15 digit pin before you can use it; it has realtime AES-XTS 256-bit hardware encryption, software free design and fast data transfer speeds. It will also happily work alongside all operating systems, including all versions of MS Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, Chrome, Thin Clients, Zero Clients and embedded systems. Basically, if it has a USB port it will work! One of the magic features of this hard
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solid state drive is the dedicated hardware-based secure microprocessor (Common Criteria EAL4+ ready), which uses built-in physical protection mechanisms that actively defend against external tampering, bypass attacks and more. The diskAshur² SSD will also protect your data from an automated attack by entering into a deadlock frozen state, which renders it completely useless - the device can only be restarted through a ‘Power On’ reset procedure. Here is a quick break down of the features: the AES-XTS 256-bit
hardware encryption seamlessly encrypts all data on the drive in real-time, keeping your data protected even if the hard drive is removed from its casing. The USB 3.1 provides an extremely fast data transfer speeds of 148 MBps (Read) and 140 MBps (Write), letting you access your data faster than before - it is also backwards compatible with USB 2.0 and 1.1 ports. The Brute Force Hack Defence Mechanism does as it says by protecting your data from anyone trying to physically force their way in; after five consecutive incorrect PIN attempts, the drive will freeze. You can unplug it and re-plug it to try again, but after 15 failed attempts, the diskAshur² SSD will delete the encryption
key and lock itself, and all the saved data will be lost…forever. The Self Destruct Feature lets you pre-program your own unique Self Destruct PIN which, when punched in it instantly deletes the encryption key, all PINs, data and then creates a new encryption key. The Drive Reset Feature again does as it says and clears all PINs and data, then randomly generates a new encryption key. When activated it will also automatically lock after a pre-determined amount of time. Lastly, the overall physical design has even been employed to protect your files: all components are covered by a layer of tough epoxy resin, which is virtually impossible to remove without causing permanent damage to the components, the keypad is wear resistant to avoid leaving any clues to your pin, it is water and dust resistant (IP56 certified),
https://istorage-uk. com/product/diskashur2-ssd/ Pros Common Criteria EAL4+ ready on-board secure microprocessor there is a desk lock slot and it is also immune to Bad USB. So, without it coming with its very own body guard, I don’t think there could be much more protection! It is compact, it is uncomplicated to use and super protective of all your files. Available in hard drive or solid state drive: HDD RRP various: 500GB (£159.00), 1TB (£219.00), 2TB (£289.00), 3TB (£329.00), 4TB (£389.00), 5TB (£449.00) SSD RRP various: 128GB (£139.00), 256GB (£219.00), 512GB (£379.00), 1TB (£539.00), 2TB (£999.00), 4TB (£1,899.00)
Real-time military grade AES-XTS 256-bit Full-Disk Hardware Encryption FIPS PUB 197 Validated Encryption Algorithm Encryption keys are always encrypted while at rest Brute Force Hack Defence Mechanism Water & Dust Resistant - IP56 certified Wear resistant keypad No software or drivers required Self-Destruct Feature Drive Reset Feature Auto-Lock feature
Gadgethead Magazine
Coleman Pinto Mountain This year we decided to upgrade our usual camping trip from a long weekend to a full 10 days of outdoor living. For this we wanted a very specific tent: something you can stand up in, as this makes getting changed and general moving about so much easier. We also wanted plenty of space in the sleeping area, as trying to share an airbed with my husband is similar to trying to take a nap on a bouncy castle at a 6-year old’s birthday party, so this year we want enough space for two single airbeds. The Pinto Mountain should give us all the space we need as this 5 plus tent has bags of room for all our gear, personal space and egos. Featuring Coleman’s BlackOut bedrooms that block out 99% of daylight, helping you get a lay in to sleep off the hangovers or allow kids to take a nap in the daytime without being disturbed. It also helps to regulate the temperature by storing the sun’s warmth in the fabric of the tent, which can keep the bedrooms up to 5 degrees cooler during the day, and up to 1 degree warmer during the night.
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Designed as a family tent and not just for drunken idiots, it has a tunnel style construction with strong and lightweight fibreglass poles, and provides full head height throughout the tent, plus the extended living area is made bright and airy by its large windows. You can easily fit a family-sized table and chairs in the living area, as well as space for all your food, games and cooking gear. Even though the weather is generally unpredictable, you can still have a comfortable time inside the tent if things take a turn for the worse. Speaking
of weather, the Pinto has a 4,500mm hydrostatic head rating on the flysheet and a strong, waterproof PE groundsheet to keep you dry, whilst the strong structure proved effective against strong wind and the porch over the door also gives you shelter while you unzip your tent door. If the weather is nice the UVGuard treated fabric provides an SPF50 protection from the sun’s ultraviolet rays and the tent’s fabric is also fire retardant. Some handy, family-friendly features include: the full-height door with dropdown floor section, ideal for pushchairs, wheelchairs, scooters, bikes and clumsy people. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve tripped in and out of my tent. There are also the Zipper Stoppers on the tent doors, this means
the zips are always in the same place, within easy reach for the whole family in the event of an emergency. Other features include the Pitchin-One system, which means your bedrooms are pre-attached, and the colour coded poles make pitching a breeze (best done with two people). The bedrooms can be split in two with a removable divider, the ground-sheet is PE, welded and fully integrated, and there is No-see-Um mesh for privacy (we will leave it you to interpret what the “um” might be). The whole tent packs down to 70 x 32 x 30 cm and weighs 16.8 kg, so it isn’t suitable for hiking trips but great for holidays with the family or friends. We loved the Pinto Mountain and think it will remain as our go-to tent for the foreseeable future: loads of space, those lovely BlackOut bedrooms and an airy living space make it a great home from home! RRP £429.00
https://amzn.to/2K6OaPC Pros BlackOut Bedrooms UV Guard Sleeps up to 5 with bedroom divider 4,500mm hydrostatic head Easy to erect Colour coded poles Storage pockets Large living space Full height front entrance with drop down floor Zipper Stoppers
Gadgethead Magazine
Weber Pulse 2000 Grill with Cart Yes! it is BBQ season, time to burn both your dinner and your skin whilst getting steadily more drunk in your back garden, pure bliss. The Pulse 2000 Grill from Weber takes some of the stress out of dining alfresco by using electric to grill without the hassle of lighting the flames, choking your friends and family with smoke for 15mins before trying to accurate place your food over the hot parts of the charcoal. Best suited for urban environments like small gardens, balcony’s or
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patios in built up areas, you won’t upset your neighbours by sending
plumes of smoke all over their washing, its also good for impulsive dinner (ideal with our unpredictable weather) due to its quick start up time and zero risk of running out of fuel. The Pulse 2000 comes with the option of including a cart, making it portable with its all-weather wheels
as well as providing some extra storage with three utensil hooks and an open storage rack. The features of the Pulse 2000 include a clear LED display that shows you an accurate temperature, there are two grill heating elements that can be individually controlled via the temperature knobs (low, medium or high) and will both produce up to 2200 watts of power dual heating elements, which lets you toast a burger bun on one sides whilst searing a steak on the other. Everything comes with an app these days and the Pulse is no different with the integrated iGrill digital thermometer, you will need an iGrill probe (sold separately) to take advantage of this function, this means you can monitor your food temperature (use up to four iGrill probes at one time) and spend more time with your friends instead of hovering over
https://www.weber.com/GB/en/barbecues/ electric-barbecues/pulse-series/82010074.html Pros Porcelainenamelled, cast iron cooking grates Integrated iGrill technology Dual Zone Grilling Grease Management System
Electronic temperature control Digital Thermometer with LED display Removable stainless steel side table Pre heating indicator
Easy to clean
the grill. The Pulse 2000 has porcelain enamelled cast iron cooking grates that heat quickly, retain and evenly distribute the heat whilst leaving those beautiful BBQ streaks on the food. There is a pre-heating indicator which lets you know when its ready to use with a tone, whilst the Grease Management System prevents flare ups from dripping fat by funnelling them away into a drip tray. Other features include a tall lid, easily removable components for straightforward cleaning, a 49 x 39cm grilling area, that’s roughly 9 burgers, a side table, glass-reinforced nylon handles and integrated clip for safe routing of cord. The Pulse 2000 Grill is an excellent summer companion, don’t let the jump from coal to electric put you off as the flavours were simply fantastic, as well as being, quicker, cleaner and more reliable I don’t think I will ever go back to coal again.
Gadgethead Magazine
Ion8 Leak Proof Water Bottle We know that drinking water is good for you especially in the hot spell we are enjoying currently, however if you are like me, you don’t drink nearly enough. Having a bottle on your desk or with you is a great step towards hydration, sounds obvious, but it really makes a difference. The Ion8 is a leak proof water bottle that looks and feels nice. It has a soft feel and a carry
strap and flips open with one hand and will even lock shut. It is vented so your drink flows smooth and fast. It will fit into most cycle water bottle cages. What I really like is that it is dishwasher proof so can be well
https://amzn.to/2OrZGsn
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cleaned. Most inferior water bottles get smelly as you can’t give them a really good deep clean, not so with the Ion8. There is not a lot to say about a water bottle other than this one looks and feels good, doesn’t leak and does the job really well. RRP £12.99
Anysharp 5-in-1 Smart Scissors We take for granted scissors and when we just pick them up we simply expect them to cut. However there is a lot of development in producing reliable scissors and none more so than the AnySharp 5-in-1 smart scissors. The curved blades are super sharp and cleverly the curve means that the cut part is angled away from your hand. They can cut most things from paper to bone! They work equally well for both right
https://amzn.to/2K70n6V
and left handed users offering a nice comfortable grip. Also, they are not just scissors as they have a built in bottle opener, nutcracker, garlic tool and wire stripper.
Features: curved blades for safer use open bottles crush garlic, crack nuts, strip wire. . . hardened (tempered) steel large comfortable grip left or right handed RRP ÂŁ9.99
Gadgethead Magazine
Handroid MKIII Motorcycle Gloves The Knox Handroid Glove is a multi-award-winning glove with a unique design to help reduce some of the more common injuries caused by the natural reaction of putting your hands out in front of you when you fall. It is a fully CE certified sports glove with Certified to European CE Standard EN 13594 – 2012. The MKIII has a new design with a revised finger construction for an improve fit and a new Boa fastening. At first inspection it looks like a cross between a robot’s hand and a glove from a suit of armour. The patented Exo skeletal flexible spines cover the knuckles, fingers and thumb, and they link to the gel lined Metapod that covers the back of the hand. The palm features a Dual Compound Scaphoid Protection System that prevents the grab effect that occurs when a leather palm makes contact with the road, this then reduces the risk of hyper extension
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which can result in a broken scaphoid - that’s the bone in the heel of the palm that attaches the thumb and controls the power to grip (kind of important!) This is rather clever as it aims to ensure the majority of the contact with the road is connected with these built in sliders, rather than the leather which allows the hand to travel along the road until coming to a sharp stop and causing injury. Created from a strong and tear resistant Kangaroo leather on the inside palm and fingers, there is also a technical Knox Boa lacing system for quick and precise adjustment around
the whole cuff and a simple, instant release. Other features include the Amara Grip Pad with silicon print for improved control, Japanese race quality drum dyed Aniline leather and Japanese polyester high tenacity thread. When you first start wearing the MKIII they are very tight and stiff but stick with them as they will soften up once they are broken in. These are serious gloves designed for racing and might be a bit overkill for the daily commute, but the BOA makes things snug and simple, and that Scaphoid Protection System could save you mashing up your hands. RRP £199.99
https://amzn.to/2OoQmW2 Pros Scaphoid Protection System Comfortable once broken in BOA wrist fastening Cool design Knox gel metapod that covers the back of the hand Kangaroo leather palm Amara grip pad with silicon print
Cons Stiff and tight to begin with
Gadgethead Magazine
Coleman Spruce Falls The Spruce Falls is a classic four-man tent from Coleman with a few useful modern twists. It features the practical symmetrical design with a bedroom at either end and a living space in the middle. This division provides some much-needed privacy for families with older children or a group of mates. As with many of the Coleman tents the Spruce Falls has a fibreglass pole construction, a great material providing a strong and flexible framework that responds well to wind and storms whilst keeping the weight to a minimum for ease of transport. One of the most annoying things about camping in the summer is the abundance of daylight - the sun can rise as early as 4:45 and set as late as and 9:30; with only fabric as a barrier it can easily get very bright and very warm way before breakfast time, which can be a bit of a nightmare for getting kids to bed, keeping them asleep in the morning, not to mention adults with hangovers! However, the BlackOut Bedroom technology helps to
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prevent 99% of daylight from entering into the sleeping area, allowing you to get a longer and more comfortable sleep at any time of the day. If you use a torch or light inside the bedroom at night you cannot tell from the outside. The BlackOut tech also helps to regulate temperature, keeping the bedroom up to 5°C cooler during the day and up to 1°C warmer during the night by storing energy from the sun in the surface of the fabric. The Bedrooms have
an extra-large design. With more room than the average tent, it can house the larger Coleman double air bed with room to spare for essentials. The UV Guard Sun Protection also provides SPF50 protection from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. For defence against the elements the Spruce Falls has WeatherTec, which offers the waterproof properties of a hydrostatic head of 3000mm, this mean that a 3m column of water can be placed on its surface before any drops will show through the underside of the fabric (The Ministry of Defence in the UK classifies fabric with a hydrostatic head of 800mm+ as waterproof). Other features include the integrated bedroom groundsheets and a PE removable groundsheet
in the living area. There are taped seams, NoSee-Um mesh, fire retardant material, and an included carry case which compresses the tent down to 60 x 30 x 26 cm and weighs just 14.4 kg. Straightforward and intuitive to pitch if you follow the instructions, after testing it out on a particularly horrible night with both wind and rain there were a few small puddles in the living area, however the bedroom, pegs and guy-lines all performed well. The Blackout bedrooms work well against blocking light, ensuring a longer lay in, but we couldn’t feel a huge difference in the temperature - with two bodies sleeping in such a small space all night it is going to get warm. The Spruce Falls is a practical tent with a traditional configuration. There are limited features, but the Blackout bedrooms make it a great choice for short family trips or festivals. RRP £309.99
https://amzn.to/2vfeOk8 Pros Blackout bedrooms Easy to erect Compact and lightweight package 3000mm hydrostatic head UV Guard Standing room in the living area
Cons Limited features Small living space for four people
Gadgethead Magazine
Coral Performance Pasting Machine They say moving to a new house can be one of the most stressful things you can do, and you may be forgiven for thinking that once you are in your new house that’s where the stress ends, but, for a lot of people, the more arduous task is decorating the new place. The Coral Performance can’t help with the decision making, cost or cleaning involved in decorating, but it can
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help with the messy business of pasting your wallpaper. Suitable for roll widths of up to 55cm, it is constructed with a
metal chassis and ABS components. To preserve the life of this machine, do not clean with hot water. It has been created as a low budget entrylevel machine suitable for both home use or light professional use. It has a tablemounted design that allows you to attach
https://coral-tools.com/products/wallpapermachine-pasting-of-55cm-coral-easy-paste-61701 Pros Speeds up pasting process Adjustable paste application
Attaches to table Even distribution of paste Low cost
Cons Cheaply made
No cutter
Fiddly to adjust
the machine onto a paste table for a secure hold and doesn’t cause any lasting damage to the table. The Coral lets you achieve a consistent wallpaper paste application and comes with a roll-holder to make the process easier. You have control over the adhesive thickness and then all you need to do is pour the paste into the deep reservoir, pre-load the applicator roller and
pull the wall paper through to your preferred length this forms a faster and more consistent paste thickness than a brush. This machine does not come with a cutter, which would be handy for making it a more complete system, however, skipping out the messy and space consuming method of traditional pasting, this is still quite the time saver. After the initial issue of wrestling it out of the box the Coral proved straight forward to use. Some of the plastic components look unfinished and rather thin - it can be a bit fiddly to set up and I think professionals would turn their nose up at it, however if you are using it at home and have a little patience at the start it could become a handy tool, and with its low price you won’t feel guilty for not using it regularly. RRP £39.99
Gadgethead Magazine
Mixfader ProLink As vinyl continually elbows its way back into popularity, people have been beginning to unleash their inner DJ and play around with mixing and scratching. The Mixfader ProLink is a tiny batterypowered device that will allow you to explore the different ways to scratch on portable turntables, promising the sharpest cuts, ultra-precision and lossless audio quality. The Mixfader ProLink connects wirelessly to Mixfader and possesses two analogue inputs: one for connecting to the turn table and the other for connecting to smartphones, tablets or line level devices and the other for connecting to speakers, allowing you to scratch on the fly with any audio system. In the box you get your Prolink, three jack cables and one USB cable (for charging). The Prolink uses new patented technology
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and powerful audio algorithms to offer a level of scratch performance never reached before, and lets you experience the same scratch sensations you’d have with your preferred mixer. The Prolink connects wirelessly to Mixfader: simply turn it on and it will connect automatically through Bluetooth and the two analogue inputs can then be linked to any audio system. This provides an ultraprecise cut-in point.
This system offers, for the first time, a zero-latency level of accuracy on a setup that includes wireless connection and there are no additional cables needed. Constructed from an aluminium unibody, it has superadhesive rubber for a static hold and after taking one hour to get a full charge on the built-in rechargeable lithium-ion 200 mAh battery, you will receive 20hours worth of continuous play time. It is compatible with apps, including edjing Scratch and any DJ app that uses Mixfader SDK. It also works with any music creation software app that uses the MIDI standard and will work with Apple iPhone 4S, iPad (3rd gen.), iPod
Touch (5th gen.), iPad Mini, Mac, Google Android with devices equipped with Bluetooth 4.0 Low Energy or higher and Windows devices equipped with Windows 10. As portable scratching increases in popularity the Mixfader Prolink is a great choice: scratching on the go, compact, well made, easy to use, precise and high performing and a lot of fun! RRP $49.00
https://shop.themixfader.com/en/hardware/11mixfader-prolink-7787776503043.html
Pros Compact Long battery life Feels like a regular scratcher Precise control Zero lag Easy to connect
Gadgethead Magazine
Olight I3T EOS Whether you are taking the dog for a walk in the evening, attempting to find your car at night or stumbling through the campsite after dark, everything becomes easier if you have a torch to hand, but it isn’t always convenient to carry one around. The I3T EOS is a compact, slim torch with a tail switch that has the ability of kicking out 180 lumens, all from a single AAA battery. At 3.5 inches it fits in the palm of even my tiny hands. It has a diameter of 0.59 inches and weighs just 41g, and it has an LED with a TIR optic lens, which produces a soft and balanced light beam. There are two brightness levels to choose from: Level 1 produces 180 lumens, which is super bright for its tiny little body, but due to being powered but a single AAA battery you will only get about 21mins on this setting; Level
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2 uses only 5 lumens, which may not sound a lot compared to the 180, but it is more than enough for most activities without blinding you and the people around you in small spaces. In this mode you will get 16 hours of continuous run time. This torch will produce a 60-meter beam distance, this a big and defined wide hotspot. It is turned on via the integrated tail switch; you can half press it for a momentary light and this is how you switch between the two brightness levels. You then need to press the button
all the way in to hold your chosen level. It is equipped with a dual direction pocket clip that allows for multiple carrying options such as a pocket, backpack strap or hat. It also has a double helix body knurling for a comfortable, solid grip. The I3T EOS has limited features there is no strobe or SOS beacon - but it does have a strong body with an IPX8 waterproof rating, plus you can easily keep spare batteries on you to ensure you never run out of juice when you need it. RRP $19.99
https://amzn.to/2M18Kmp Pros Compact Bright, up to 180 lumens Lightweight Two levels Two-way clip 60m beam
Cons Short life on full power No strobe or sos
Gadgethead Magazine
Bissell SpinWave Cleaning the hard floors in our home is up there with ironing and weeding on the list of things we don’t want to do in our free time. It is often decided with a game of rock, paper, scissors. However, the moment we have a new gadget to help with a tedious chore, we end up battling over who gets to try it out first. The SpinWave from Bissell is an electric mop suitable for a variety of surfaces, including: sealed wood, tiles and stone, and it comes with a Spring Breeze scented cleaning formula that has been created to help restore shine and reduce drying time. It is surprisingly lighter than it looks at less than 5kg when empty, probably lighter than your average vacuum cleaner. It comes with two microfiber pads that swivel around for a gentle clean on delicate surfaces, as well as two scrubby pads for tougher/dried-on messes.
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It is straight forward to use: it takes a steady hand to line up the pads properly on the discs, and if it isn’t done right you will know instantly as the machine becomes more difficult to handle. Once the pads are attached you need to fill up the solution tank and click in place, plug in and away you go. To release the cleaning solution there is a trigger on the handle which allows you to precisely control the amount of liquid you require, unlike regular mops, which helps to avoid excess water and increase drying time. The cleaning pads twist
and turn in multiple directions, making it easy to steer through narrow gaps and under some taller pieces of furniture. However, due to the size of the unit, it won’t fit under lower pieces like dressers. The other issue we had was, due to the large discs and spinning action, it is difficult to get up close to the edges, against the walls or around the toilet, so you may still need to get on your hands and knees or grab the mop to ensure a deep clean on these areas. The Bissell SpinWave makes light work of large floor surfaces with minimal obstacles, but when it comes to smaller areas with lots of furniture, it becomes a bit harder. Controlling the liquid means you can use the minimum and the
https://amzn.to/2LwZc6g floor will dry quicker; on very dirty floors you can end up with circular mark once the floor has dried, but it can be easily buffed out or removed if you lightly go over it again. The biggest advantage to the SpinWave is the speed in which it cleans, as well as the minimal physical effort you will need to put in to refresh your surfaces, which is handy for people with bad backs. RRP £149.99
Pros Quick Suitable for delicate floors Lightweight Quiet Easy to use Multidirectional head Trigger spray
Cons Difficult to get up close to edges Can leave marks on the floor when dried
Gadgethead Magazine
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We are disclosing this as we like to be transparent about our reviews.
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