Gadgethead 3.12

GADGETHEAD Issue 3.12

www.thegadgethead.com

Inspired By Your Success

EXPLORE. ENJOY.

G A D G E T H E A D

MAXIA 4

THE NEW GENERATION OF THE LEGEND GIVI’S most popular top case, totally redesigned.

Stylish as never before, versatile and as strong as ever.

• ABS cover with a new design • Internally strengthened outer edge • Double cover made from plastic and aluminium • New outer band • New optical reflectors with small reflector on the outer band • Capacity: 56 lt

Sponsor of the LCR Honda MotoGP Team.

Find more than 900 accessories at www.givimoto.com

Contents Gadgethead Gift Guide Page 12 Soft Tones Pillow Speaker • Ariat Coniston Pro GTX Insulated • The Cat’s Trapeze • WeeRide Safe Front Deluxe Baby Bike Seat

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 Lead Designer Alina Sandu studio@littlegatepublishing.com Publisher Stephen Warman stevewarman@littlegatepublishing.com

Page 20 AYO Light Therapy Glasses • Hape Medieval Quest • Giro Helmet Zone MIPS Page 30 Hammo TV Headphones • Master & Dynamic MH40 • Maui Jim Sand Island • Laser X 2 player • Nokia Thermo Page 40 Libratone Q-Adapt In-Ear • Magna-Tiles ICE 32 Piece Set • Urbanears Plattan 2 Bluetooth • Aedle VK-2 • Bagobago Page 50 Tobii Eye Tracker 4C • Orp Smart Horn and REMORP • Osprey Meridian 75 • Quad lock iPhone X Bike Kit with Poncho • Penclic B3 Mouse Page 60 Peli Protector Case 1615 Air Case (with Peli Trekpak) • RESPeRATE 2Breathe Sleep Inducer • Lenco L-85 • Sleep Shepherd • Rose and Rebellion, The Rebel Page 70 Shock Absorber Ultimate Fly Bra • Bowflex SelectTech 552i Dumbbells • Sound Oasis Stereo Bluetooth Sound Machine Model BST-400

G A D G E T H E A D

GADGETHEAD

Gift Guide

Batman Lego Movie Minifigure Clock

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Batman is the king of gadgets, he is also a massive narcissist, so it only makes sense that the Dark Knight would love something like this. The Lego Batman Alarm Clock from GenieGadgets.com is a Batman LEGO Movie Minifigure Clock that has moving legs, he can either chill and sit on your bedside table,

or stand ominously over you until you get up. Push his mask to light up the digital clock face or snooze (Batman would NEVER press snooze) and set the time/date/alarm on his back, under the cape. Batman is always prepared, so naturally he comes with batteries (2xAAA). RRP £23.95

https://www.geniegadgets.com/batman-lego-movie-minifigurealarm-clock.html Lego Boost Vernie The Robot Robots are the must have toy for 2017 so it comes as no surprise that LEGO Boost’s, Vernie The Robot, is such a popular choice. Build and customise Vernie, code its behaviour and complete activities with the included playmat.

Vernie will respond with facial expressions when you speak, he can move in all directions at variable speed on

large tracks, see objects and recognise colours, sense distance, grip and carry accessories, make hand gestures and even launch darts from its shoulder mounted shooter.

Vernie also senses and reacts to impacts and knows when you pick him up, he can also be rebuilt into the M.T.R.4 (Multi-Tooled Rover 4), Guitar4000, Frankie the Cat, or the

AutoBuilder, that can all be controlled via your tablet. Recommended for ages 7-12. RRP £149.99

https://www.lego.com/en-gb/boost/products/vernie-the-robot

FurReal Roarin’ Tyler the Playful Tiger I was obsessed with tigers when I was little and would have done anything to have a little tiger friend of my own, but due to logistical reasons and the risk of getting swallowed whole, my parents got me a Sylvania ice cream truck instead. We all have scars from childhood. The Roarin’ Tyler is a playful tiger pet that almost definitely won’t eat your children, his favourite way to play is to ROAR, if you

make noise he roars back.

Suitable for ages 4 and up (batteries not included), this little cub responds to sounds and touch with 100+ sound-and-motion combinations. If you pet his head, his eyes might close, pet him on his muzzle and he moves, rub him on the tummy and he shreds your arm…no, wait that was my cat. Tyler also comes with a little chicken toy that he reacts to when it squeaks. RRP £99.99

https://www.hasbro.com/en-gb/product/furrealroarin-tyler-the-playful-tiger:11D033D7-50569047-F5E1-50BD1D6E3CBE

LEGO Winter Holiday Train

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Trains and Christmas go together like Rudolph and carrots, don’t ask me why, I don’t make the rules!

So with that in mind, the LEGO Winter Holiday Train. This sweet little model features a full circle of track, boarding platform with bench and lamp post, a Power Functions upgradable train engine with brick-

built smoke bellowing from its stack, coal tender, flatbed wagon with a rotating holiday tree, toys and gifts, and a red caboose (yes, we said caboose) with a detailed interior and table. The train engine has large and small red-coloured locomotive wheels and is decorated with green wreathes, string lights and white tree

elements. You can’t have a station without train operators, so thankfully this set comes with five mini figures, a locomotive driver, ticket collector, grandmother, boy and a girl, to keep things running smoother than the Southern Train company (well it wouldn’t be hard).

Suitable for ages 12 and up. RRP £74.99

https://www.lego.com/en-gb/creatorexpert/products/winterholiday-train-10254

Meccano Robot M.A.X This adorable 12” robot friend is unlike anything else Meccano has released before, M.A.X. combines Artificial Intelligence with customisable programming perfect for young creators and future engineers. Once M.A.X is built it can then be controlled via voice commands, the buttons on the MeccaBrain and the free app. Then it’s little face will express how it’s feeling. M.A.X also uses a S.T.E.M robotics platform to engage children in intellectually stimulating play, and encourage their interest in science, technology, engineering and maths. Don’t worry, they won’t even realise they are learning. With a

ton of features, M.A.X will entertain the kids long after the other Christmas presents have been retired to the toy chest. RRP £149.99 http://www.meccano. com/product/p21251/ meccano-erector%E2%80%93-m.a.xrobotic-interactive-toywith-artificial-intelligence Nerf Modulus Regulator We are big fans of the Nerf products in the Gadgethead office, a refusal to make the coffee’s will quickly degrade into an all-out, foam version of The Hunger Games.

I have been informed however that children also enjoy Nerf toys. The Nerf Modulus Regulator is suitable for ages 8 and

up, this fully motorised blaster with a choice of three firing modes, single-fire one dart per trigger pull, blast several darts per trigger pull, or just continuously fire the darts. It has a capacity to load darts into both 12-dart clips, insert 1 into the blaster and store the other 1 in the storage stock. It can be customised with the swivel handle to stabilise shots and the 2 barrel-scopes that can be used as barrel extensions or targeting scopes. An awesome present idea, just remember to move the breakables before you hand them the batteries.

RRP £39.99

https://nerf.hasbro.com/en-gb/product/nerf-modulus-regulator:CA8D1D015056-9047-F50E-E1FD2B9D15B3

SIXPAD Abs Fit

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The six pack has long since been the crowning jewel of a fit body, show me a male model without a six pack and I’ll show you a man who signs on every Thursday.

The SIXPAD Abs Fit has been designed to easily fit into your fitness routine no matter where you are, the unobtrusively design means you can easily wear it under

your clothes. Simple to use, the SIXPAD Abs Fit sticks to your body via gel pads and the EMS (Electrical Muscle Stimulation) technology uses electrical signals to directly stimulate and exercise the muscles. The perfect gift to help the body conscious get back in shape after an over indulgent Christmas.

RRP ÂŁ149.99

http://www.sixpad.uk/en/buy-now-page/ abs-fit

Grimm’s Counterrotating Stepped Spiral The Grimm’s Counterrotating Stepped Spiral (catchy name) is a great addition to other Grimm’s building block sets. Create spiral staircases to the top of a castle, bridge towers together, and make

colourful arches. The set comes with 56 building blocks and a wooden base plate, constructed from lime wood, this soft wood makes them lightweight and quiet during the inevitable demolitions, they are brightly decorated

in non-toxic water based colour stain with a nontoxic plant based oil finish. Each block is nice and chunky, with a 4cm thickness, lengths ranging up to 15cm, perfect for little hands. RRP £119.95

https://www.grimms.eu/en/products/building-blocks/4x4cm-buildingsets/1875/counterrotating-stepped-spiral

Soft Tones Pillow Speaker

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Being a natural night-owl, I struggle to get to sleep.

I often go to bed wide awake and try to relax by either reading, or listening to audio books or music.

The problem is trying to get comfortable with either over-the-ear headphones or in-ear earbuds: the Pillow Speaker from Soft Tones aims to help combat this issue.

With no batteries required the Pillow Speaker works off an included 3.5mm audio jack (5 feet/1.5 meters in length), which is a bit of an inconvenience as it means you must be tethered to your device and there is potential for getting caught up in the lead at night.

Bluetooth would be a nice addition for more connection options. The two stereo speakers are embedded in ergonomically shaped memory foam that dips in the middle and raises at either end, creating an effective stereo sound and reducing the chance of noise disturbing a sleeping partner. It has

a low profile and has been designed to sit on top of your pillow - I was concerned that this would mean it would slip about, but the hypoallergenic fabric is surprisingly grippy and the pillow remained in place - and the outer pillow case can be removed and washed.

The pillow’s design is simple and attractive; I’m not entirely convinced about the colour black, as it doesn’t blend in to the bed spread but maybe that’s the point.

The sound quality is good but not amazing: the bass is quite flat, which could be a deliberate design to avoid over stimulation

whilst relaxing in bed, but I suspect not. The pillow is quite firm (which I prefer) and provides comfortable support to your head and neck. It is best suited for when you are laying on your back. However, if you are anything like me and prefer sleeping on your side, the ergonomic shape doesn’t work quite as well, but it is certainly manageable and still more comfortable than earbuds digging into your ears.

Overall the Soft Tones Pillow Speaker is a simple but well executed idea that allows you to enjoy music and audio-books, listen to white noise or even guided meditation in a comfortable way that won’t disturb anyone else. RRP $49.95

 http://www.resperate.com/product/soft-tones Pros Comfortable Washable case Ergonomic shape Surround sound effect No charging/batteries required Cons No Bluetooth options Less comfortable for side sleepers Cable tethers you and can get in the way

Ariat Coniston Pro GTX Insulated The Coniston Pro GTX Insulated is riding boot that is as beautiful as it is practical. Sold as versatile enough for all year round wear, it is fashionable, functional, and comfortable.

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The Coniston features Ariat’s ATS Pro technology, to help keep your feet comfortable whilst working on them all day and helping to reduce foot fatigue whether you are on the horse or cleaning the yard. Constructed from a premium, waterproof full-grain leather and a waterproof, breathable GORE-TEX membrane, these two materials keep water out of the boot whilst allowing the foot to breath and moisture to escape helping to regulate temperature and keep the foot dry. There are plenty of features to get the most out of these boots, starting with the Duratread outsole that

has rider tested traction zones to give you the best grip on the horse and a steady footing off the house. Entry is quick and simple due to the full length YKK zip on the back, and there is a small piece of fabric under the heel that can be used like a shoe horn to guide the foot in place. The front lace system allows for calf adjustability as well as featuring the 3M Thinsulate Insulation, this keeps your feet lovely and warm. Although it is suggested they can be worn all year round, I think the insulation would be too much for hot days and even with the breathability, they will get too warm.

The stirrup friendly design means they are very stable (horse pun) on the horse but feel just as comfortable as regular boots whilst walking around. The Coniston boot has a calf height of 17” and with a heel height of 0.75”, designed for an average height, this might be too high for shorter women.

You can’t go wrong with these boots, they look amazing, all the while being flexible, comfortable, strong and protective from the elements. RRP £359.99

 http://www.ariat.com/gb/en/CONISTON_PRO_ GTX_W_FOO.html?dwvar_CONISTON__PRO__ GTX__W__FOO_color=EBONY#q=coniston&start=1 Pros Gorgeous design Quick to pull on and get off Warm Comfortable Lace adjustment Full length zip and shoe horn style entry Waterproof

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The Cat’s Trapeze Anyone who owns a cat knows they are not like the cat-food adverts portray. They are, in fact, furry little gits who enjoy nothing more than destroying your possessions.

As a matter of fact, only yesterday did one of my litter-kickers decide to wake me by knocking over an entire pint glass of squash on my bedside table, sending an orange tsunami over my books and phone. Designer Esther van der Wurff also owns hairy little devils, which led her to design the Cat’s Trapeze when her kittens refused to stop using her curtains as a climbing frame.

Available with either two or three pillows, the Cat’s Trapeze is

essentially a hanging tower of cushions with a detachable hammock on the bottom, with the idea that your cats will hang off this instead of your custom-made drapes (or Argos basics). The Cat’s Trapeze is made of natural cotton or jute, both open-weave materials with a natural smell that has been specifically selected to withstand even the most boisterous scratchy cat attacks.

The pillow cases are machine washable and can be stuffed

with your own old pillows or shredded newspaper for more options. It comes with a long length of sisal rope (like what you find wrapped around scratching posts) to hang the Trapeze. For maximum movement and cat challenges it is recommend that the Cat’s Trapeze is suspended from the ceiling, attached to the wall or even hung on a door with a hook (note: hooks are not included in the package). The rope is long enough to have it swinging from the ceiling, just resting on the floor and anything in between.

The Trapeze can hold up to 25kg, but you

will need to take into consideration the strength of the hook.

After trying the Cat’s Trapeze in a variety of locations, at different heights, with cat nip and toys attached, I concluded that this wasn’t going to work for my two. In a typical fickle feline way, they seemed curious when I first set it up but then proceeded to look straight through it thereon after.

This isn’t necessarily a comment on the product, but I wonder if the pillows were spaced further apart or if it could be adjusted, my lanky lads might have shown more interest.

Either way it looks like my curtains will continue to resemble grass skirts for the time being! RRP €64.95

 http://www.catstrapeze.com/en/2p-trapezeunbleached-cotton.html Pros Washable covers Detachable hammock Natural, durable material Two colours available Two or three pillow configurations

Cons Narrow space between pillows Our cats didn’t use it

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WeeRide Safe Front Deluxe Baby Bike Seat This baby seat aims to provide a safe and balanced ride for both adult and child, with a centre mounted seat to help distribute the weight evenly and put the child between your arm, where you can easily talk and keep an eye on them, unlike rear mounted seats.

The new design has higher sides for increased childstability, an added strap underneath the bar for further stability,

a two-movement thumbscrew, a twomovement buckle release, additional straps on the foot cups, and also features an

increased seat size.

The seat is recommended for ages from 1-4 years (weight limit up to 18kg), although it can be used as soon as the child’s neck muscles are strong enough, which could be as soon as 6-9 months. The child will certainly get a better

view of the world other than just your back! It took us about 25 minutes to attach it to the bike and can be quickly removed in a few seconds for solo riding. It comes with a softtextured, padded headrest for baby to sleep or cling onto whilst you are on the move, and those fidgety feet can be kept out of the way with the moveable footrests. It will fit most bikes if they have between 49 and 60cm from seat post to headset, including men’s and women’s, plus bikes with full suspension of 16” and oversized head tubes. However, it isn’t recommended with drop handle bar styles, as the riding position will be compromised.

The Safe Front Deluxe uses a 5-point safety strap and comes with extra bars for multi-bike use, as well as all the tools you will need to install it. Like all front mounted child seats, it does change your position when riding

and mounting the bike.

Therefore, you will need to swing your leg over the rear of the bike rather than step over the cross bar - you can put your child in the seat by either mounting the bike first or leaning it against the wall.

It takes a little practice, but it gets easier with time. Despite it claiming that the seat is suitable up to the age of four it is quite small, so I doubt you would get much past 2-2.5 years old.

The change in riding position will also be enough to put people off, and it’s made even worse if you have a wiggly child as they can easily bat you in the face (there was a reason the seats were originally positioned at the back). However, if forward mounting is the way you want to go, this is a sturdy and comfortable choice for the little one. RRP £119.99

 http://www.weerideuk.co.uk/Weeride_Safefront_ deluxe.asp Pros Strong and secure 5-point harness Foot cups Washable seat and head-rest pad Fits most bikes

Cons Takes a lot of time to install Small seat

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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.

DriveSt

Direct Attac USB 3.0 4 wheels for urban use

silvercrossbaby.com

Trekking wheel for multi terrain use

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4-bay Direct Attached Storage •• SuperSpeed connectivity with USB 3.0

fully populated with WD Red™ hard drives with 8, 12, 16, or 24TB capacities • RAID-enabled for performance and reliability - Supports RAID 0/1/5/10/Spanning/JBOD • Perfect for ™Server, PC, and/or Database Backup - Also includes 10 free licenses of NovaStor NovaBACKUP® Business Essentials • Power Saving – Auto Power feature turns on and off automatically with your computer ched Storage • SuperSpeed connectivity with USB 3.0 • 3 year warranty - Available • 3 year warranty

tation Quad

AYO Light Therapy Glasses The idea of wearing a pair of glasses that shine light into your eyes might not immediately sound like the most comfortable experience, but trust me when I say that this is a good idea. The AYO uses a similar principle to light therapy boxes, but comes built into a wearable set of glasses.

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AYO aims to help combat symptoms of S.A.D, Jet Lag, helping maintain healthier body rhythms and boost energy in winter months. AYO uses blue light technology as this type of light can play an important role in managing the bodies rhythm and help to quickly adapt changing seasons, time zones and sleep patterns.

Short exposure (as little as 20mins a day) to the gentle AYO blue light enhances energy levels and alertness.

This technology is built into a comfortable and lightweight pair of glasses, they are compact, ideal for travel, and comfortable to wear. The light is directed at an angle

from just above your eyes, so you can still see clearly, it’s like the sun is in the sky above your head. I like the design, they are as discreate as possible, but they will draw some strange looks if you are wearing them in public. They are controlled via the AYO app, by using this, you can control the light as well as create and monitor sleep, energy, and travel improvement programs, it will report back information to give you an insight into your current sleep/ energy habits and track your performance.

The app also uses proprietary algorithms, based on your flight itinerary and user profile, to calculate the

best time for you to use AYO and when to avoid or actively seek out light, helping you recover from jet lag. I enjoyed using the AYO glasses, they integrated into my morning ritual well, I was able to pop them on when I first woke up and have my session whilst I brushed my teeth and made my coffee, and rather than sit in front of a light box, I was able to continue with my normal routine.

These are some of the more expensive light therapy glasses on the market, but equally they are some of the most compact and discrete. I certainly felt an improvement from wearing them, especially during these cold and dark winter months, and the app helps you get the most out of your sessions.

RRP $299

 http://www.goayo.com Pros Compact Discrete Comfortable Good construction Companion app

Cons Expensive

Hape Medieval Quest Hape believe that toys don’t need to be made from plastic or powered with batteries to entertain.

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This expertly designed wooden marble run is a fastpaced medieval themed game, the marbles are placed at the tip of the rotary tower, twist the flag and watch them get released one by one onto this marble run.

With an angry Griffin threatening to attack the castle, the marbles are released to protect it with unique features, like a watermill, rotary tower and drawbridge. The castle is made from strong, child-safe materials, recommended from ages 4 and up. The Medieval Quest comes disassembled in 217 piece that are easy and entertaining it fit together, it builds into a castle with colourful wooden blocks that can be decorated with detailed stickers

featuring bricks, windows, torches and ivy. There are also small plastic accessories like the accelerators, watermill and thin raising pieces. Our little test subject enjoyed putting the castle together, the parts fit together easily and pull apart quickly, so they can be tidied away at night. There are a variety of ways to assemble the castle and it will take a bit of effort, the instructions are fairly clear but little ones might need assistance as the pictures are quite small.

Getting all the pieces in the right place is crucial to providing the marbles are clean path, it will either encourage problem solving and the child will enjoy working out how to make it work

properly or they will get frustrated that it’s not working and walk away.

Most of the edges are glossy and smooth however the edges on the spiral are rougher which slows the marble down to the point that it sometimes stops and if the marble drops too hard on the plastic, accelerators can pop out. The components rest together rather than firmly connect, it isn’t very stable, but we didn’t have any accidental demolitions, our test subject is a gentle player. I think many people could be put off by the high asking price for the Hape Medieval Quest but if you can get past this it is an entertaining toy that encourages creativity and problem solving. RRP £129.99

 https://www.hape.com/de/en/toy/medievalquest/e6018 Pros Entertaining Creative Problem solving Colourful Variety of set ups

Cons Expensive Delicate structures Instructional pictures could be clearer

Giro Helmet Zone MIPS

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I’ll let you into a secret, 75% of snowboarders only snowboard because it looks cool, the other 25% just couldn’t get their head round the coordination needed to control skis and poles.

Even though the accuracy of these stats might be slight embellished or completely made up, how you look on the slopes can be just as important as how you perform. The Giro Zone MIPS will not let you down, we received our sample in Matte Turbulence/Maroon, a trendy matte dark blue with maroon trim and black ear pads with light brown detailing. It looks s**t hot (the thesaurus recommend that as an adjective would you believe?) Not just a pretty package, the Zone MIPS is packed with useful features

to keep you safe and comfortable on the piste, starting with the MIPS (Multi-directional Impact Protection System) that consists of a foam lined interior, low friction liner and an elastomeric attachment system that links them together. This means that in the event of a crash, the helmet can move independently around the head, which redirects impact energy and provides more protection in angled impacts. The Zone MIPS is formed from a hybrid construction which combines a durable hard shell, ventilated upper, with a lightweight in-mould

lower & sidewalls, it also adopts an in form 2 fit system and an all round low-profile design. It doesn’t stop there however, there is a POV camera mount, XT2 anti-odour padding and it is fully compatible with both Aftermarket Giro Audio Systems by Outdoor Tech and of course all Giro goggles. One of my favourite things about this helmet is the Fidlock Magnetic Buckle closure system, this tactile little fastening means you can open and close the helmet with one hand quickly and without accidently pinching your skin, whilst the secure snap functionality ensures a high locking force.

Easy to adjust, the helmet has a quickfit Vertical Tuning

adjustment system for precise and comfortable helmet positioning. To keep you feeling cool, as well as looking cool, there is Thermostat Control adjustable venting and Giro’s Stack Ventilation incorporated into the helmet. This was the only element I thought could use improvement, I found the low-profile vent button/ slide quite stiff and it was difficult to open with thick gloves on. Did I mention that the Zone MIPS is also wonderfully comfortable?

The ear and chin strap are super soft and the reduction in bulk means it feels light on your head all day long. I fell in love with this helmet, it has the best style, comfort and protection. What more could you ask for? RRP £179.99

 http://www.giro.com/eu_en/snow/mens/snowhelmets/zone.html Pros Looks awesome MIPS Fidlock Magnetic Buckle Closure Hybrid Construction POV camera mount Stack Vents Soft strap and ear pads

Cons Vent button sticky

Secure Your Data Hardware Encrypted (AES 256-bit) USB 3.0 External Hard Drive

G A D G E T H E A D

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G A D G E T H E A D

Hammo TV Headphones The tagline for these headphones is, “Be Entertained While Showing Courtesy to Others”, or translated it means, “Yes Dad, I know you don’t want to listen to Mum and I gossiping but that doesn’t mean you can whack the volume up on the TV every time I come around.”

More specifically they have been designed to allow you to hear the dialogue during a movie without the sound effects and moments of action

waking up the entire house or aggravating your neighbours, they also allow you to watch something with colourful language without making

the ears on young children bleed. These headphones have been specially designed to be used with your television, and feature low-latency, wireless connection, they feature high definition digital wireless technology which provides resistance to RF interference, no need for frequency

adjustment and very little perceived static. They come with an inoffensive docking station which not only provides a tidy little home for them, but provides a dedicated interface for charging, each full charge will then provide you with roughly 50 hours battery life.

These headphones take an initial set up that is easy to accomplish, the design isn’t particularly attractive or cutting edge, but they are comfortable to wear, light weight with cotton ear cups and can be used within 10m from the tv, any further and you probably can’t see the tv screen anyway. You do not need to be isolated with these headphones as a second set can be paired from the same docking station, they connect and disconnect automatically when in range or removed

from the docking station making it easy to grab and go. The sound quality is clear and sharp, the headphones are simple to use with an excellent battery life, can make the world of difference for people with who are hard of hearing and their family/ neighbours. RRP £119.99

 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01N4KUXJW Pros Easy to use Good sound 50 hour battery life Pair two headphones to one device Docking station charger Connects/disconnects automatically

Master & Dynamic MH40 The MH40’s are first and foremost, absolute show stoppers, even if you never use them it is a pleasure just to ogle them and hold them.

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These over-ear headphones are made with heavy grain premium cowhide headband, exterior surface and ear cup insets, with a soft lambskin on the headband, interior, and ear pads. The lambskin ear pads feature memory foam inside them for extra comfort, making them very soft against your skin, they also mould to your ears and are breathable to help prevent hot ears. They are fully removable, so they can be cleaned or replaced.

In the box you get the headphones, 3.5/6.3mm gold-plated adapter, 1.25m cable with remote & mic (iPod, iPad, & iPhone compatible), 2.00m standard woven cable with oxygen-free

copper for the best possible sound, canvas headphone case, and a leather cable box.

The ear cups are easily adjustable and swivel out to lay flat against your body if you where them around your neck, they are quite heavy at 360g for the pair, I didn’t really notice the weight whilst wearing them but when I took them off after an hour it felt like a relief. The 45mm neodymium drivers provide a good sound, they get nice and loud, provide clean and even tones, the bass is good, but it won’t blow you away. You may find you become a hated figure on the commute if you’re likely to listen to your music at full volume, as these headphones

will happily let it leak out and annoy all your fellow passengers. The Bluetooth connectivity is strong and stable, and we were getting about 16 hours of playtime per charge.

The MH40 uses one button to control a variety of functions which keeps the design uncluttered but when you quickly want to change the volume it is too much of a hassle and I would rather see a dedicated volume button. If you are looking for luxurious headphones, look no further, they are striking because your money is going mainly into the design rather than the sound quality.

Although the sound is good, don’t let that expensive price tag fool you into thinking they will satisfy a true audiophile. RRP £369

 https://www.masterdynamic.co.uk/products/ mh40-over-ear-headphones Pros Gorgeous Robust High end materials Strong connectivity

Cons Button system fiddly Heavy Sound good but not mind blowing Expensive

Maui Jim Sand Island Perhaps it’s hard to imagine at this time of year that you will ever see the sun again, let alone need sunglasses, but I have heard rumours that it will return next year and what better way to prepare than treating yourself to a new pair of sunglasses.

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The Sand Island from Maui Jim combine a Matte Black frame and Neutral Grey Lens made from Maui Jim’s Maui Evolution material, they are also available in Gloss Dark Brown. Starting with the frame they feature an 63mm eye width, 46mm eye height and 15mm bridge length with a temple length of 120mm. They are constructed from a monel metal, which is an extremely strong, corrosion-resistant alloy, with injected temple tips. The hinges are made from an anti-corrosive spring that provides flexibility whilst at the same time offering a secure, comfortable fit for various face shapes

and sizes, this is all finished with a matte coating on frame front and high-gloss on temples. Adjustable silicone nose pads on the bridge aim to help the glasses rest comfortably on the face, the shape of the frame is a modified aviator teardrop frame with a double bridge, which produces a classic, dear I say, vintage style. The lenses are made from Maui Evolution which is a light weight, scratch, and shatter resistance polycarbonate. The Neutral Grey colour is best suited for bright and direct sunlight and provides rich colour with sharp contrast.

The Sand Island comes with the usual brightly

coloured cloth case that doubles as a lens wipe and the large hard case.

I had the issue that the hard case is too big for my glove compartment, but I understand not everyone owns a crummy little car.

These frames are not as comfortable as some of the other models we have tried, mainly due to their weight which creates a sense of quality and durability, but feels heavy on the face and they became uncomfortable after a long period of wear, especially on the nose.

The lenses provide beautiful optics, so it was disappointing to not be able to wear them longer, however, every face is different, and others may succeed where we failed. At this price, it is definitely worth trying them on before you buy. RRP ÂŁ299

 https://uk.mauijim.com/en/shop/sunglasses/ aviators/sand-island?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI04Px1aj j1wIVrrftCh0MuQmGEAAYASAAEgLXxvD_BwE Pros Crisp optics Classic design Flexible but solid construction Hard and soft case

Cons Heavy

Laser X 2 player

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When we were kids there was no cooler place to have a birthday party than at the local Laser Quest.

If I concentrate hard, I can still smell the unique combination of sweat, feet, and pizza, so imagine my utter joy when I was asked to play with review the Laser X. This version came with two Laser X Blasters, both requiring 3 AAA batteries, I immediately raided all the TV remotes to get the Blasters working.

I hopped from foot to foot until my husband got out of the shower and then yelled the instructions at him over my shoulder as I ran upstairs and hid.

The Laser X comprises of two components: the chest harness with the receiver piece and the laser X blaster.

The receiver piece is on an elasticated harness that is easy to slip on, one size fits all, this is the target your opponent will aim for, and the Laser X

Blaster is attached to it via a cable. To turn the unit on there is a small switch on top of the receiver vest that needs to be set to either Red team, Blue team or Red/Blue team, this last option means you can be shot by everyone, ideal for parents or your least favourite friend. The rules are simple, 10 shots and you are out, every minute you are not shot you gain a life back, hold the trigger for 2 secs, quickly point the barrel of the Blaster to the ground and back up to reload. I had selected Red team and was hiding under the bed, what ensued was a fifteen-minute

battle that involved way more swearing than necessary and came to an end when my husband ‘accidently’ smacked me on the hand with the Blaster.

So, what’s the best and worst about the Laser X? Starting with the worst, the noises will blow any attempt at stealth, there is an option to plug in headphones, but it still beeps outside the headphone which is annoying. A mute button could make things more exciting.

The build quality isn’t great, the trigger could have a larger movement and thin plastic materials make me wonder how much of a bashing the Blasters could take, and during frantic game play, it’s inevitable.

Reloading the gun is a bit hit and miss and can result in lots of flapping

the gun up and down in a panic. Lastly the accuracy is as questionable as the range. The box claims it “works up to 60 meters away with pinpoint accuracy,” not quite convinced about this one but who knows, maybe we were just rubbish?

That brings me around to the best bit, you can play it indoors or outdoors (outdoors is probably best), day or night. The Blaster lights up your team colour, so you can easily recognise your enemies, and the receiver piece moves from green through to red as you lose your lives. As much as I found fault in the Laser X, it is still a lot of fun. Its simple game play is part of its charm and the inaccuracy and tricky reloading weirdly added to the excitement, but you are going to need more than two players to enjoy the true Laser tag experience.

RRP £49.99

 https://www.smythstoys.com/uk/en-gb/toys/ construction-and-cars/other-guns/laser-x-doublepack/p/159703 Pros Fun Physical Easy to operate Lights, sound and audio responses

Cons Hard to reload Build quality could be better Accuracy not great You will need more than

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Nokia Thermo The Thermo by Nokia is Smart Temporal Thermometer that connects via an app (because if it doesn’t come with an app these days it doesn’t really exist), and uses an infrared sensor to get an accurate reading in a non-invasive way.

It all comes in a rather stylish package and the thermometer itself has a tactile feeling about it, and comfortably fits the hand making it ideal for grabbing and using

in low lights without the fear of dropping it on your patient’s face.

There is a silicone material over the end which protects the sensor further up inside the thermometer,

this is a nice touch because if you decided to place the device against the skin, it is soft and at room temperature unlike the cold traditional glass thermometers. Setting up the Thermo was a bit of a hassle, you have to give so much personal information to link it to the app, the idea behind this

is to provide you with a medical history but it feels slightly intrusive, and it is unfortunate that there isn’t an option to use the thermometer without signing up to the app. Once signed up, connected and updated, the Thermo is easy to use. Press the button and immediately scan the device across the forehead towards the temple, 16 infrared sensors take over 4,000 measurements to find the hottest point, the reading then pops

up in a large clear LED along with a colour-coded fever indicator to help you understand what the temperature means. It will then automatically sync to the app which allows you to track temperature readings, get reminders, and input related symptoms/ medications. You can sync up to 8 members on one app and it vibrates when it has successfully taken a reading which makes it easy to use it on yourself.

Unlike traditional methods,

there is no need to undress the baby or even touch them when getting a reading, it is also readable at night and features a lights-off measurement so as not to disturb the child whilst they sleep. Other than the initial hassle of setting up the Thermo I was generally impressed by this thermometer, it is speedy, accurate and sanitary, though in a protective travel case and it might be perfect. RRP £89.95

 https://health.nokia.com/uk/en/thermo Pros Highly accurate results Sanitary Touch free readings Not cold to the touch Clear results with fever indicator

Cons No travel case Can’t use without the app

Libratone Q-Adapt In-Ear The Libratone Q-Adapt In-Ear Headphones are available in four attractive colours: Stormy Black, Cloudy White, Elegant Nude and Rose Pink.

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They come with a matching braided cable, four-button remote access for play, pause, volume, calls and noise cancelling adjustment, three different sizes of ear buds and builtin microphone. The Q-Adapt features adjustable noise cancellation (ANC) which allows you to precisely select how much of the world you want to be able to hear along side your audio, continue to hear traffic, public announcements and two-faced coworkers or simply drown the world out completely. The noise cancellation worked well however like so many NC products it does damage the sound quality and the Q-Adapt are no exception.

The sound becomes

flatter but unlike other NC devices there is minimal hissing. There are four levels of NC CityMix level 1-4, level 1 allows you to hear 80% external noise, level 2 60%, level 3 30% and level 4 <10%.

The four-button remote provides access to the CityMix and activate the play, pause, phone calls, and volume functions, I have tiny hands and I still found the controls fiddly. The Q-Adapt comes with a sweet little travel case that has a magnetic closure, unfortunately it is bit too small which means that it doesn’t quite close fully, which isn’t ideal for keeping dirt out. The biggest issue I had with these headphones however was that I found them uncomfortable, no

matter which earbuds I tried to use, they just felt too large and kept popping out when I was walking, there is no way I would attempt to work out with them in as they would drive me crazy. The sound quality is good, rich with clear layers all the way from the bass to the top note that allows you to distinguish individual instruments and vocals, it also keeps the music in your ears without leaking out and annoying the people around you. So, if you have large ears and long finger nails (there’s an attractive image) these could be ideal, but I think they need work before I would be willing to shell out the asking price. RRP £159 (Current offer £89)

 https://www.libratone.com/uk/products/q-adaptin-ear/q-adapt-in-ear-earphones Pros Good sound quality Premium construction Noise cancellation works reasonably well 4 colours available

Cons Large, uncomfortable earbuds Buttons small and fiddley Travel case didn’t close properly

Magna-Tiles ICE 32 Piece Set Like all the best toys, Magna-Tiles were invented to educate children through the act of playtime, these were specifically made to teach about shapes.

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Each tile has magnets built into the shape along itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s edges, they will connect with each other even when flipped, and they always stay together. They have been designed to be the perfect size and weight for little hands.

Younger children can use the tiles to create 2D patterns and shapes on the floor, as they learn and develop their motor skills they can progress into stacking, creating basic 3D structures and then more complex ones. Magna-Tiles aims to build critical developmental skills, encourage imaginative play, and inspire creativity. They provide right-side brain training

through simple and fun construction, it also manages to sneak in some maths skills and spatial awareness through creative building. The MagnaTile Ice kit, unlike the usual brightly coloured tiles, come with 32 clear and colourless shapes including, 14 small squares, 2 large squares, 8 equilateral triangles, 4 right triangles and 4 isosceles triangles. The clear and simple design somehow makes them look more sophisticated when constructed and this could appeal to a slightly older age. The ICE set can be added to any other MagnaTile collection or can be used on their own, these inviting tiles

just beg to played with, they are tactile, pleasing to connect with one another and produce structures that are strong enough to stand on their own but still require a degree of gentle handling which is a great skill to practise. All the pieces are EN71, ASTM, and CPSIA approved and do not contain any BPA, phthalates, PVC, latex or toxic materials.

They are suitable from ages 3 and up. We were a big fan of the ICE collection MagnaTiles, they produce beautiful structures, evoke the imagination and creativity and most important of all they are fun. RRP ÂŁ39.99

 http://www.magnatiles.uk/ http://www.magnatiles.uk/products/magna-tilesice/ Pros 32 clear piece set Compatible with other collections Educational Strong and impressive structures Perfect size and weight for little hands

Urbanears Plattan 2 Bluetooth

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The Urbanears Plattan 2 Bluetooth are quite beautiful to behold - available in 5 stylish colours: True White, Tomato, Dark Grey, Black and Indigo (by far my favourite colour and the sample we received), this minimalist design isn’t just a pretty package but also comes with 30+ hours of wireless playtime from a single charge. The on-ear cups are the perfect size to fit the ear comfortably without feeling bulky or leaving you looking like an air traffic controller (they only weigh 145g and we didn’t experience any fatigue or pressure points whilst wearing them for long periods of time).

The Urbanears Plattan 2 Bluetooth feature a collapsible design that allows the ear cups to fold into

the headband, making them both compact and portable. Even the box they arrived in is tiny!

Sadly the headphones don’t come with a carry bag or travel case.

They are compatible with all devices and connect via Bluetooth, which produces strong connectivity up to 10meters in range. I had to resort to the instructions to work out how to connect them - there is a tiny light indicator that lets you know what mode it’s in, which would be clearer even if it was only slightly bigger.

Either that or it’s just my dodgy eyesight. The cables included with corded texture looks and feels high quality and durable as well as being colour matched to the headphones.

One issue I had with the design was

the headband: the padding doesn’t seem connected to the actual band and the two pieces move about inside the outer material. This might not be a major issue, but certainly reduces the impression of quality.

In keeping with the stripped-back design, the Plattan 2 has a control knob similar to the toggle controller you would find on an Xbox controller. This does take a little getting used to, but once you have learnt the directions it is quick, straight forward and responsive - you can even use it to answer your calls.

That brings me to the most important thing: the sounds quality. The Plattan 2 uses two 40mm handmade drivers and supplies an audio

sensitivity of 106dB SPL, creating a well-balanced sound. It’s not perfect - the top notes could have a better clarity and the bass could be punchier - but it is good enough for most types of music. There is an extra cool feature the Plattan 2 has to offer: the ZoundPlug. This little port allows your friends to plug into your headphones and share your music. If you all have Plattan 2 headphones you can even create a daisy chain of shared music…just remember that you are all attached before one of you tries to wander off!

Overall, I was impressed with the Urbanears Plattan 2 - they look beautiful, fold away into a compact piece and provide a good sound quality: the kind you would expect to find in this price range. RRP £85

 https://www.urbanears.com/ue_gb_en/plattan-2bluetooth Pros Stylish design Compact Foldable design Lightweight Comfortable Good sound quality

Cons No carry case Head band seems detached on the inside

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Aedle VK-2 When you are young, you desire certain items because all of your friends have them. I remember begging my Mum for those hideous sports trousers with the snaps all up the side of the legs, and when I got them, I hated how cold and uncomfortable they were.

As you get older the opposite happens, and you begin to crave the things nobody else has. Aedle VK2’s are beautifully handcrafted, limited

production headphones with only one hundred units being created each month. All units are numbered consequently, and each pair comes with an

metal ID card, including the serial number of your VK-2 and a unique code for registering for the two years warranty. The VK-2’s are handmade in Aedle’s Parisian workshop, Rue Campagne Première, from the CNC precision machined T6063 aluminium body, lambskin leather from south of France to the

titanium drivers. Each box comes with the VK-2 headphones, 2 detachable magnetic earpads, 1.2m cable with mic & remote control, 1.8m cables, 6.5mm adapter, airplane adapter, cleaning fabric, and a dapper travel bag with leather trim and magnetic closure that complements the headphones (no cheap draw string bags here).

These headphones have a minimalist design, the metal and leather combination (particularly in the brown) create a striking, high-end look.

The ear cups adjust in height by simply sliding up and down a rod and they rotate 90˚ so they can lay flat around your neck or in the storage bag.

Due to my small head, I wear the headphones on their smallest setting and they won’t fully rotate on this setting, which means I have to slightly adjust them to store them away.

The head band could do with a little more padding for my liking, just to make

it more comfortable for longer periods of wear, also inserting the cable isn’t the easiest thing as its difficult to see or feel the direction of the hole.

The VK-2’s use 40mm dynamic drivers made from titanium neodymium that create 32Ohms DCR, a 129Db sound pressure level and 20 Hz – 20 kHz frequency range. The sound is premium with crisp and clear tones with a comfortable level of bass, they do leak sound,

but hey, that just means more people will gaze at them in jealousy (at least that’s how you can interpret those dirty looks on public transport). One last draw back is that the VK-2 are wired only, no Bluetooth option available, which maybe a problem for some. Apart from that, these are top end headphones, stunningly crafted with excellent sound quality. RRP $420

 https://www.aedle.net/ Pros High quality materials Minimalist stylish design Premium accessories Excellent sound quality

Cons Wired only Leaks sound Ear cups don’t rotate fully when on the smallest size setting

Bagobago I have always struggled standing still for any length of time, I discovered this when I was 7 and a hairdresser asked me to stand still for the duration of the of the haircut, I passed out.

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I can walk and walk all day, dance at a gig all night, but ask me to simply stand and my body goes wrong. I’m like the soldier face-planting the tarmac during an official ceremony. I will happily sit anywhere to prevent this light headiness, I’m not fussy, but not everyone is comfortable sitting on the ground, or has the mobility to get up and down easily, plus you may get dirty. The Bagobago is a unique backpack that can transform into a handy stool, like Optimus Prime minus the alien weaponry. The chair is built into the interior of the backpack and unlike other portable stools you can use a full 22L of storage in the bag too. Produced

exclusively in the Czech Republic, the Bagobago is manufactured from high quality waterproof materials, the legs of the stool are hidden behind a removable, washable cover (the whole backpack is washable too), the bag is quite compact at 20.87“H x 13.78“W x 7.87“D, and is surprisingly light at just 1.6kg. It will take a weight load of up to 130kg or just over 20 stone. The Bagobago is available in five colours, Black, Gray, Green, Bordeaux and Turquoise. It wears reasonably comfortable on your back, the straps feature the most padding I have ever come across for shoulders and are super comfy, though some of it could be

redistributed around the tailbone just to prevent pressure points forming during longer journeys. The zips are a bit sticky every now and again which can be frustrating, there is also a removeable hip belt for extra support (as well as a fixed sternum strap) however it lacks any padding, so it isn’t the most comfortable.

The stool is easy to set-up but the seat is very hard, again, I think some of that padding in the shoulder straps could have gone into being kinder on the behind because sitting for any length of time gives you a numb bum.

All things considered, the Bagobago is a cool idea but lacks comfort which only makes it suitable for short periods of time, however if they throw in an attachable padded seat, I’m sold. RRP €135

 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01KKJR5A8 Pros Compact Easy to set up the stool Padded shoulder straps 22L bag Waterproof Lightweight

Cons Hard seat Sticky zips Lack of padding in tailbone area and hip belt

Tobii Eye Tracker 4C The Tobii Eye Tracker 4C is a clever little device that allows for immersive reality-gaming without the hassle and discomfort of a large headset.

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Currently the 4C is the only eye tracker on the market that can track both the eyes and head movement.

The ‘Tobii EyeChip ASIC’ uses powerful processing combined with the world’s most advanced eye-tracking platform, which reduces CPU load and power consumption from your device. It is ready to roll with Windows 10, with an easy set-up and connection via USB. It is recommend to be used on a 27-inch screen with 16:9 aspect ratio, or a 30-inch screen with 21:9 aspect ratio.

The Tobii is rather beautifully packaged; it would make a great gift. It comes with: two mounting brackets for installation, one to get started right away and the other as a spare;

the Tobii Eye Tracker 4C unit, with attached USB 2.0 cable (80cm) and USB extension cable (1 Meter); and finally the installation guide and instructions.

The Eye Tracker itself is very thin and discrete. With a clean glossy finish and good solid construction, it is also trouble free to set up. You will need to sit quite close to the Tracker for the initial calibration, but you can move further back afterwards. As an eye and head-tracker the Tobii Eye Tracker 4C performed impressively well: it is accurate and seamless and adds an exciting new level to compatible games such as Ghost Recon Wildlands. It offers ‘Auto Pause’ when you look away which is helpful, you

can explore your surroundings simply by looking at where you want to go, and the head tracking allows you to look in different directions. You can even tag enemies by looking at them and aim with your gaze! As a wonderful added extra it is super functional with Windows 10 and Windows Hello; you can securely unlock your computer, arrange open apps via Snap Assist, switch between open apps in ‘Application Mode’ simply by looking at them, and from a physical point of view it could be a real game changer for the physically restricted.

The Tobii Eye Tracker 4C is a lot of fun to use; I was surprised by how effective it is and how quickly you adapt to it.

I can’t wait to see what Tobii bring out in the future! RRP $149

 http://bit.ly/2jw0spl Pros Easy to use Eye and head tracking Great construction Multi-functional Works seamlessly Fun

Orp Smart Horn and REMORP

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Simply screaming expletives at other road uses from your bike to make them aware of your presence is often frowned upon, so to combat this, Orpland have created a solution by producing the world’s first combination dual-tone bike horn & beacon light.

Built with the express intention of making you more visible and audible, the Orp uses a dualdecibel horn and front beacon light within a small, light, and weatherproof case that can be recharged via a USB connection. Orp’s integral strap makes mounting a breeze for almost all handlebars.

I found the instructions in the box unclear but once I figured out how to undo the attachment it was easy to affix.

Available in eight, interestingly named designs, Asphalt Black, Wail Blue (clever), Safety Cone Orange, Aorta Red, Pink (how

boring), Frostbyte, Snot Green and Glorp.

The horn works in two ways, press up for a sweet-sounding horn at 76dB for pedestrian’s and other cyclists, or press down for the full 96dB horn designed for cars and other traffic.

The latter horn isn’t so friendly, in fact it is an ugly sound, but I guess that’s the point.

As well as the sound, the Orp’s LEDs fire every time the horn is activated to make you more visible. The light is built from two highoutput Nichia LEDS that emit 70 lumens each, there are three light mode options suitable for different

conditions and battery efficiency, press the button once for Slow Strobe, press it again for Fast Strobe and again for continuous (and once more to turn it off). The horn can be activated to avoid scary the living daylights out of people (and yourself) but accidently triggering it, there is also an awesome Anti-Dooring mode to make drivers aware of your presence when you a filtering through traffic. You need to press down very hard to activate the loud horn, it requires you to remove your hand fully from the handle bar, which isn’t always possible when cycling.

This brings me onto the REMORP. The REMORP is Orp’s dual action remote switch that lets you activate the horn

in a more comfortable way without removing your hand from the handle bar or brakes. One end of the REMORP plugs into the remote port on the right side of your Orp, it can then be placed where ever you like for easy access under the thumb, press lightly for the 76dB horn and harder for the 96dB. The REMORP is sold separately, but I feel it is necessary to use it alongside the Orp, as without it handling becomes more difficult. I liked the simplicity of the Orp, the silicone design keeps it protected from the weather but also makes it quick to remove and attach, as it is lightweight and easily portable. The two horns offer a choice between a polite, “excuse me” to a “HEY! don’t hit me!” Teamed with the Anti-Dooring feature and bright lights, it will make sure everyone knows you are on the road. Smart Horn RRP $65 Remorp RRP $15

 www.orpland.com Pros Easy to attach Portable Light Weatherproof 3 light modes 2 horn modes Anti-Dooring function 8 colours available REMORP

Cons Without the REMORP you need to remove your whole hand to activate alarm Instructions unclear

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Osprey Meridian 75 The Meridian 75 is a wonderfully large travel bag with a load of attributes that make those longer journeys as easy as possible. Starting with pure vanity, the Meridian 75 comes in 3 beautiful colours, Lagoon Blue, Metal Grey and Rainforest Green, all distinctive enough to stand out on the luggage carousel.

The Meridian 75 comes in two sections, a large 59L main pack and 16L daypack that clips together in a neat package, there are thick

flaps of material which hug the daypack in place, giving it more protection as well as providing a cleaner profile. The Meridian

can be carried in a few different ways, there is a thick padded handle on both the top and one side of the case, alternatively the comfortable ErgoGrip retractable handle allows the bag to be pulled on its injection moulded HighRoad chassis, which uses an ABS polymer plastic for durability and houses

polyurethane wheels that deliver a quiet and smooth motion. Option number three is a pop out harness that is stowed away in a zip compartment and allows the entire bag to be carried as a backpack, the shoulder harness has a sternum strap, with emergency whistle, but sadly no hip belt for extra support, that’s a lot of weight placed on your shoulders. The wheels also rested lightly against the top of my bum (hey, maybe mine just sticks out more than the average) this could lead to your clothes becoming dirty. I would love to see a way that the wheels could be popped in and out as needed, or a piece of fabric just to protect your outfit. To access the inside of the main compartment you will need to unclip the daypack which slows down the process, there is plenty of storage with a liquid/accessory pocket that is compatible with the Osprey Wash Bag Cassette and dual mesh pockets to separate dirty clothes and shoes. There are also internal compression

straps to help you get the most out of the available space and keep things secure when you are on the move. The daypack has a mesh suspension system for maximum ventilation and loads of organisation options including a padded laptop sleeve and scratch-free compartment ideal for storing sunglasses and

electronics. Give me a hip belt, padded handle on both sides (for easy grabbing on the carousel), keep those dirty wheels off my clothes and allow me to access the main compartment without unclipping the daypack, and I think you would have the perfect bag. RRP £270

 https://www.ospreyeurope.com/shop/gb_en/ meridian-75-1 Pros Attractive and distinctive design Comfortable ErgoGrip retractable handle Large capacity Removable ventilated daypack Daypack and harness attaches/detaches with user-friendly clips Lots of organisation compartments Thick padded handles Flaps around daypack protects it and provides a clean profile

Cons Wheels touch clothes Handle on one side only No hip belt on either pack Daypack has to be unclipped to access main compartment

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Quad lock iPhone X Bike Kit with Poncho What better way to kick off the new year than throwing yourself head first into a new hobby, and what better hobby than cycling? Most of us have a bike buried in the garage somewhere and let’s be honest, you always wanted to try out those padded bike shorts.

The Quad Lock Bike kit for iPhone X allows you to take your phone along for the ride without the fear of getting lost. This is the lightest, strongest, and most secure iPhone X Bike Mount available. The Quad Lock features a quick and easy dual locking system, perfect for

road cyclists, mountain bikers and commuters alike. Use apps like Strava, Mapmyride, or Apple Maps whilst on the move and track rides, monitor fitness and navigate around town. The elements protecting Poncho keeps your iPhone X clean and dry whilst on the road and allows

you at clearly see and use your phone still. The Quad Lock case for iPhone X doesn’t interfere with wirelessly charging, it’s compatible with all Quad Lock Mounts and accessories, and the Bike Mount Pro fits tube diameters ranging from 25-40mm in diameter.

Larger diameters can be secured with longer zip-ties. RRP $69.95

Penclic B3 Mouse If you’re a fan of gadgets designed to fill a very specific niche, and we here at Gadgethead definitely are, then look no further than the Penclic mouse series, computer peripherals designed to look and handle like a pen.

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Depending on the model, they come with 3 or 5 buttons and connect via USB or Bluetooth. They have a shiny, plastic body in either white or black and a pen-like stem with a matt coat and smooth, rubbery feel.

They come in beautiful, tubular transparent packaging and at least the one model we saw included a small cloth bag to carry the mouse in.

The B3 that we tested for this review had the standard left button, right button and scroll wheel configuration that you would find on a classic mouse, but they are arranged on the pen to be pressed with your index finger and thumb. The pen

connects to the body of the mouse through a ball joint, allowing you to move your wrist freely, but doing this doesn’t actually alter the position or any actions of the cursor, you’ll still need to slide the mouse across a smooth, non-reflective surface to make it work. It is this wrist position that helps the Penclic define its niche.

If you are prone to repetitive strain injury, or just enjoy the feel of holding a pen, using a Penclic mouse will allow you to keep your arm in a more natural position and avoid future aches. You will however have to put in the work to adjust to its button placement. They are, literally, at your

fingertips and can be flipped in your OS for right or left-handed use, they respond easily to touch and, overall, feel comfortable.

However, the buttons on the Penclic are very different compared to all the other ways we have now to interact with our computers. Between traditional mouse layouts, touch pads, styluses, trackballs and especially, touchscreens, if the Penclic had come out more than a decade ago it would have probably received a much warmer welcome.

Now, its very specific niche is for RSI-afflicted office workers and the occasional graphic artist. RRP £79.99

 https://www.penclic.se/shop/mouse/b3bluetooth/ Pros Natural wrist position Helps you avoid RSI Flips between left and right Good battery life

Cons Very steep learning curve

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Peli Protector Case 1615 Air Case (with Peli Trekpak) When travelling with fragile and expensive equipment, you want to provide the best possible protection, but at the same time, you need to be able to move quickly and easily whilst on the move.

The Peli Protector Case 1615 is a super lightweight polymer case weighing in at 6.4kg when empty (without foam). The 1615 boasts the title of the lightest premium Protector case on the planet with an interior size of 29.59” x 15.50” x 9.38” (75.2 x 39.4 x 23.8 cm), the maximum airline check-in size, but always check with your airline for exact measurement requirements. Pelican Air cases are the first in a series of protective cases that have now

been designed for over 40 years. Our 1615 came with the Peli Trekpak (sold separately) which can fully customise the inside of the case, Velcro compatible, with tub and 2 large dividers, 6 medium dividers, 3 small dividers and the Automatic Purge Valve, keeping out water and dust while maintaining a balanced air pressure.

The 1615 is constructed from Super-light proprietary HPX² Polymer and features a retractable extension

handle, business card holder and quiet rolling stainless-steel bearing wheels. On first appearance, the case appears to be tough and strong and it is indeed nice and light, it moves around on its two wheels smoothly and discretely, but it isn’t perfect. The handles that are conveniently located all around the case are very stiff, the top handle in particularly is hard to grab hold of as it clicks in place and doesn’t make for quick movement. Sliding out the retractable handle involves using both hands to unclip it and then pull it out, I would rather a

traditional button on top of the handle for ease of use like most rolling suitcases. Due to the weight saving plastic material, the retractable handle seems very flimsy and I am not sure how much weight it would take when the case it fully packed. The 1615 is tough, lovely and light, I have no doubt that it will keep your gear protected due to the thick foam padding, but the finishing touches need to be cleaned up to make it more user friendly when on the go. Case RRP £343.06 TrekPak Insert £169.60

 https://peliproducts.co.uk/1615-air-case.html Pros Lightweight Trekpak includes 9 customisable, thick padded dividers Crushproof, dustproof and watertight Automatic purge valve that balances air pressure inside the case Silent and smooth rolling wheels

Cons Stiff handles Flimsy and fiddly retractable handle

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RESPeRATE 2Breathe Sleep Inducer A good night’s sleep has the power to make everything feel better, and on the flip side, a bad night’s sleep can make even the smallest issue 100% worse.

The RESPeRATE 2Breathe Sleep Inducer aims to help you get to sleep easier by calming your mind and body towards sleep.

The 2Breathe tries

to reduce “pre-sleep tension” which can become vicious cycle of worrying that you can’t get to sleep and then you can’t sleep because you are in

fact worrying. In the box you get a chest strap that connects to your smart device via the companion app and they work together to walk you through breathing exercises to relax your body and mind. Just breathe in-sync with the guiding tones.

Each session lasts a minimum of 10 minutes.

To use, you fit the sensor around your abdomen, over your clothes, lay in bed and breathe. The sensor connects to the app via Bluetooth and the 2breathe transforms your breathing, in real time, into tones that gradually guide you to take longer and slower breaths, if you don’t follow the tones, a voice prompt will guide you to breathe in-sync again. Once you have reached your 7 In-Sync minutes goal, you can end the session manually, take off the sensor and fall asleep or continue to breathe with the guiding tones until you fall asleep.

Once sleep is detected the 2breathe automatically shuts off. The app allows you to report your session, breath-by-breath, it provides a sleep diary, tips and tutorials. There is also a Meditate mode, with breathing exercises for the daytime. I wasn’t impressed with the build quality of the 2breathe, it

felt a bit flimsy, the strap is very stretchy which meant I would often wake up with it under my butt or digging into my back as it moved around whilst I slept. There is a lot of excess strap left over that gets in the way and you can get a bit tangled up in it, I found the voice prompt jarring, perhaps because it is in a different accent to mine, it certainly didn’t add to my relaxation. After a few weeks I haven’t noticed the 2breathe have any positive

effect on my sleep. I like the concept of breathing exercises, and feel like the product is close to being successful, but it’s just not working for me. RRP $299.95

 www.2breathe.com Pros Encourages breathing exercises Meditation mode

Cons Cheaply made Irritating voice prompt Excess strap gets in the way Chest strap moves in sleep Had no effect on my sleep or ability to get to sleep

Lenco L-85 More and more people are turning back to the superior sound quality of vinyl, and with that, people are digging out their old record players only to find they don’t work anymore.

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Or if they are from the younger generation of music lovers, then they are looking to buy their first record player. The Lenco L-85 is a good place to start, choose from 4 colourful designs, black, grey, red and white, to bring a fun and contemporary way to play your vinyl collection. To get you up and running as quickly as possible the L-85 has an integrated stereo pre-amplifier which means there’s no need for an additional amplification taking up extra space and costing you more money, but you will need a set of speakers (the RAC cables are included.)

Features include an integrated dust cover, direct MP3 encoding that allows you to

record the vinyl straight into a digital format via a USB connection with automatic track splitting. Other features include the belt drive, 2 rated speeds 33 RPM & 45 RPM, a moving magnetic cartridge, a mechanical arm lift and auto return. First impressions were the striking colour of the L-85, when anything comes in this many brightly decorated varieties I can’t help but think they are trying to cover something up with that bold colour, but Lenco certainly know what they are doing when it comes to record players. It is very light weight which is often perceived as bad sign, but every hinge, button and finish is good quality. The sound

is reasonable, ideal for beginners, its best suited for lighter tunes.

The treble is lovely and clear although the bass is lacking a bit of bite, though it is still a lot better than I expected.

The Lenco L-85 is an awesome choice for people looking for a low-cost record player to either blow the dust off their old record collection or to test the waters of the world of vinyl without committing too much of their pay check to it.

RRP £99.99 (recently reduced from £139.99)

 http://www.lenco.com/p/l-85/ Pros Plug in and play Low cost Good sound quality Compact and light Integrated stereo pre-amplifier Direct MP3 encoding from vinyl to USB 2 rated speed settings 33 RPM & 45 RPM

Sleep Shepherd As someone who often struggles with falling to sleep, or getting enough of it, I am always willing to try out products that offer a solution to this.

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The Sleep Shepherd aims to help you get to sleep and measures your quality of sleep during the night.

Essentially it is a head band you wear at night with built in speakers and an EEG brainwave monitor (don’t worry this isn’t as scary as it sounds). The built-in speakers play binaural beats, one played into each ear, each tone is set to a precise, but different frequency with an adjustable volume.

The point of these tones is to lower your brain rate and lull you into a natural sleep.

However, it doesn’t stop there, the built in EEG measures your brain waves through the night and subtly changes the frequency to help keep your brain in the optimum brain rate. There is an alarm

option that works by reversing the effect on the brain rate to gently wake you up when you are in the lightest stage of sleep, to try an avoid the horrible groggy feeling first thing when you wake. All your data can be viewed on the free app where you will see results of the duration, depth and quality of your sleep as well as letting you know your head orientation (whether you sleep better on your back, left or right).

Starting with the band, I was initially worried it would become too hot to be comfortable at night, but it was actually ok. It attaches with Velcro so you can easily adjust the size but I did find it difficult to find the perfect size that stopped my ears feeling crushed. I was

unable to prevent the band slipping off in the night and every morning the band would be off my head.

Whether it was falling off, or pulling it off in my sleep, I don’t know.

Personally, I found the frequencies irritating and would have to play them quite quietly before I could relax, the app is very user friendly with clear results. I haven’t been able to test out the alarm at all due to the band never being on my head in the morning, so who knows if it works. I also was getting results every night, that the EEG wasn’t getting a signal, this could be due to the band moving around on my head.

I love the idea of the Sleep Shepherd, there is a lot of interesting tech going on, but it just doesn’t stay put which essentially renders it useless for me. RRP £249.99

 www.sleepshepherd.com Pros Breathable, comfortable head band User-friendly app Good amount of data recorded Built in EEG Alarm

Cons Kept coming off my head whilst sleeping EEG constantly lost signal

Rose and Rebellion, The Rebel

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Even though I have recently level upped into fully fledged grown-up (turned 30 AND got married in the same year), all my clothes feature at least one of three things: the colour black, rips. or skulls.

Although my Mum thinks I should grow up, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m ok with that. Being in the same position as a lot of people my age who are newly married, we are preparing for the next step (no, not divorce), the pitter patter of tiny financial burdens. So, imagine my utter delight when I discovered in amongst the cute cartoon animals and delicate flowery prints, I found The Rebel, from Rose and Rebellion emblazoned with mad eyed skulls and blood-red roses.

This rock and roll baby carrier lets you get about hands free AND

keep one little scrap of your individuality whilst the rest is being flattened under the label of parent. Suitable from 3.5kg â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 20kg this lightweight carrier weighs only 450grams and can be packed down into a compact good quality travel case. It features lovely thick padded shoulder straps, an adjustable chest strap that keeps your child strapped safely in place, the straps can be crossed for alternative wearing options. The body is long and offers full support from little baby into toddler, and for when they nod

off there is a built-in sleep hood that gives additional head support and comfort. There is a three part fully integrated waistband for comfort, security and lumbar support, the heavy-duty buckles with patented Slick Click latching mechanism and thoughtful ergonomic design feel secure, they take a bit of pressure to open, but this is reassuring rather than a problem. The Rebel adopts a versatile strap system to fit varying body shapes, the waistband extends to a maximum of 50 inches and the wide seat base places the baby in a more natural and comfortable position, it is easy to put on and adjust whilst

wearing. Importantly, it is machine washable for those inevitable messy moments. You can even avoid getting into trouble with the in-laws by switching the carrier into the reversible plain black material, however if you are anything like me, you might look forward to seeing the look on their faces when they first glance their little grandchild wrapped up like a hells angel. Its not just the design I love, it is packed full of features to keep both adult and baby comfortable and leaves your hands free for doing things like shredding up a fender or getting more ink added to your sleeve. RRP £79.99

 http://www.roseandrebellion.com/index. php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=rose. tpl&product_id=19&category_id=1&option=com_ virtuemart&Itemid=11 Pros Awesome Gothic design Comfortable Easy to put on and adjust Suitable from baby to toddler Integrated sleep hood Machine washable Reversible Three part fully integrated waistband for comfort security and lumbar support Versatile strap system Wide seat base

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Shock Absorber Ultimate Fly Bra These days I have more sports bras than regular bras, I feel my most confident as a woman in these thick strapped, chest scaffolding pieces, than the little lacey numbers.

In my extensive collection I already possess three Shock Absorber bras. The Ultimate Fly Bra uses their unique Cross Control technology

that combines laser cutting, bonding and moulding with the aim of producing a lightweight bra with a high level of support.

Featuring a laser cut

3D spacer that absorbs internal and external breast movements, it looked a little strange before I put it on, due to the gaps between the material and I wondered if I would fill it out enough to produce a smooth profile. It in fact looked great on. There are

three layers of fabric that are bonded together and provide a breathable surface and wick moisture away, the band is brushed elastic to reduce friction and prevent tops from riding up during activity.

The Non-slip straps have a regular bra fastener at the bottom and a plastic clip that connects between the shoulder blades, unlike some bras it is high enough to easily reach without being an expert in yoga. The shoulder straps are adjustable but only by a small amount, I wear mine on the smallest setting which is fine right now but if the material stretches, even slightly it will reduce the support I’m getting. The Ultimate Fly Bra comes in one colour, Grey/Lime and is available from a 32B all the way through to a 38F, I received mine in a 34C, as Shock Absorber bras go this line seems to run slightly larger than other models and the lack of adjustment means that it is something to consider when ordering.

I tested this bra over five different activities, yoga, weight training, boxercise, HIIT and running. During yoga and weight training it performed well, these are low impact, but the breathability helped keep me cool during weights and I had a good amount of support during upsidedown positions in yoga.

During boxercise, which I would rate a medium/ high impact class, the Ultimate Fly Bra delivered good support whilst I

twisted my body and threw punches, however during HIIT (high intensity interval training), which involves burpees, squat and tuck jumps, mountain climber and similar I felt I was bouncing about too much. On the run, bear in mind I run at snail pace, it supplied the perfect amount of support. The Ultimate Fly Bra has definitely made it into my sports draw and become a regular member at that gym. RRP £45

 https://www.boobydoo.co.uk/shock-absorberultimate-fly-bra-black-coral-breeze Pros Supportive up to mid/high impact Brushed elastic material reduces friction Easy to reach strap fastenings Breathable Creates a smooth profile

Cons Limited adjustment Runs slightly larger than other Shock Absorber lines

Bowflex SelectTech 552i Dumbbells

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With the workout trend refusing to roll over and die, you are left with three options: 1) to jump on the trend and sign up to a gym that you can’t afford that is full of beautiful people that make you hate yourself, 2) sign up to a gym you can afford where stray dogs sleep on the equipment or 3) work out in the comfort of your own home, in your pants surrounded by last night’s beer cans and take away boxes, free of judgment.

The Bowflex SelectTech 552i Dumbbells are good place to start building your home gym.

These dumbbells have an adjustable weight system which theoretically means they have condensed a set of 15 weights into one product. Adjustable from 5 to 52.5lbs (2 to 24 kg) in increments 2.5lb from 5-20lb, and then in increments of 5lb up to 52.5lb, the weight is easy to

change with the use of a large adjustable dial.

The dumbbell sits in a strong plastic cradle where it needs to be before adjusting the weight, there is a dial at either end of the of the dumbbell that allows you to select your preferred weight, and offset the weight at either end if you want, then simply pick up the dumbbell and the excess weights will remain behind locked into the cradle. To

change again, you just need to return them to the cradle and spin the dial again. Due to the amount of weights you can fit on one bar, they are slightly longer than the more conventional dumbbells, which means they will feel a little different on some exercises, but you can still do all the usual exercises with them.

Their compact design (15.75” L x 8” W x 9” H) means they are much easier to store in the corner of a room than a 15 set dumbbell rack, the durable moulding around metal plates provides quieter workouts, without the sound of metal plates clanging together, however any grunting and swearing won’t be

effected. The dumbbells are suitable for beginners as they come with a bonus Bowflex SelectTech workout DVD to walk you through a safe and efficient work out with over 30 exercises and over 80 variations. We found the Bowflex SelectTech 552i Dumbbells versatile, compact, well-built and most importantly so quick to change the weight, meaning you can simply get on with your workout hassle free. RRP £399 (Pair)

 http://bit.ly/GHbowflex552i Pros Compact Easy weight adjustment (5-52.5lb) Can offset the weight at either end Quick to change weights Good build quality

Cons More delicate than regular dumbbells

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Sound Oasis Stereo Bluetooth Sound Machine Model BST-400 At a glance, you may be mistaken in thinking this speaker is just like any other Bluetooth stereo. It certainly looks the same, however it comes with an added twist: a white noise feature to help lull you into a natural sleep.

The included 4GB microSD has 10 preloaded nature sounds

that rise and fall in volume to help your mind relax at night,

plus you can also use the Bluetooth connection to stream your own favourite white noise track or music. If you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to disturb your partner there is an auxiliary input jack for

headphones (or to connect non-Bluetooth devices), and obviously when you’re trying to drift off you can play music, TV and movies though it too.

It features 2x10 watt speakers with >80 dB volume and is compatible with Bluetooth 4.0 with a range of 30 feet (9.1 meters) and can be used for hands-free calls. The BST-400 uses a built-in rechargeable lithium battery (3.7 V, 4,000 mAh) that won’t break any records, but it will provide you 8 hours of playback time from a single charge - enough to get you through the night. Ideally, I would have liked to see a ‘sleep feature’ which automatically turns the speaker off after 1-2hours to help preserve the battery life for the next night.

As Bluetooth speakers go the aluminium construction makes for an attractive piece. With clean lines and curved edges and physical buttons, it is easy to connect and use: the mode button lets you

flick between Bluetooth streaming and the white noise SD, whilst the sound button lets you skip white noise tracks. The BST400 will remember what mode you were last on when switched ‘on’ and also what track you were playing, so you don’t have to fuss about with it before settling into bed.

The sound quality on the white noise tracks is good, I enjoyed the white noise feature to this stereo, but I can’t see what makes it specifically

a ‘sleep’ sound therapy device. You could easily pop some white noise tracks on an SD, bang it in any speaker with a microSD slot, and you would have the same product but for a much lower cost. All in all, I like the idea behind the speaker, but it lacks features to make it stand out from the crowd, whilst its weak sound quality means it just isn’t worth the money. RRP $129.99

 https://www.soundoasis.com/products/sleepsound-therapy-systems/bst-400-stereo-bluetoothsleep-sound-therapy-system/ Pros Sleek design 10 pre-loaded white noise tracks Easy to use

Cons Expensive Lack of features (doesn’t automatically switch for example) Flat sounds Weak bass

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