The Review Smiths Issue 2 March 2020

Issue 2, March 2020

THE

Review Smiths FORGING HONEST REVIEWS

TECHNIVORM MOCCAMASTER KBG SELECT FILTER COFFEE MACHINE

DAFNI Allure straighten things out with this cordless straightening comb

Cubii Pro

Divoom Tivoo

Work out whilst

travel back to the

you work

80s with

this pixel art speaker!

Top Five Focus get a comfortable nights sleep with these mattresses

KinderKraft UNIMO cut down on the baby clutter with this

5-in-1

baby crib

Roses are red, Our logo is blue, We review products And show them to you!

CONTENTS

Hi everyone and welcome to the second edition of The Review Smiths, we received a lot of great feedback from the last publication and couldn’t wait to get stuck into this month’s magazine with a whole host of new products. February, the month of love, has brought us our first days out of the EU, a terrifying new virus and some pretty horrendous weather, during these gloomy and uncertain days we have had the pleasure of testing out some great gadgets, including things to help you sleep well, work out and choose more sustainable ways of living, injecting some positive vibes back into our month.

So, thanks for coming to check out our latest range, we hope you enjoy it, I’m now off to work on my poetry skills.

Be kind to one another, Editor and chief

Managing Director Alex Hilling-Smith For all media related enquiries please contact us at info@thereviewsmiths. com For Advertising Enquiries 0208 191 8472 www.thereviewsmiths.com

4. Technivorm Moccamaster KBG 6. Kinderkraft UNIMO 8. Cornillaeu Softbats 9. Hoomband 10. Wuka Period Pants 12. Inimina Lily Cup 14. DAFNI Allure Cordless Brush 16. Divoom Tivoo Max 18. Twelve South Airfly Pro 20. HOYA ProND 1000 22. Custom Design FS104 Signature Speaker Stands 23. CORNER Boxing Trackers 24. Beldray 12 in 1 Steam Cleaner 26. 10minds Motion Pillow 28. DribbleUp Smart Soccer Ball 29. Mini Meis G4 30. Swing Align 32. Cubii Pro 34. SwitchBot Smart Home 36. BAM Enduro Leggings Side Pocket 38. Ocean Bottle 40. NIX Mini 41. Purflo Sleep Tight Baby Bed 42. Polti Vaporetto SV440 44. Eyeque Vision Monitoring Kit 46. Lindy BNX-100 48. Sleepy Bottle 50. Blurams Outdoor 52. Rockit

3

Technivorm Moccamaster KBG Select A beautiful looking machine that can provide enough coffee to get even the biggest addicts through the day.

Pros Cons Fast and silent brewing process Occasional bitter coffee brewed 10 cups within 6 minutes Choose between half or full jug 9-hole stainless steel outlet arm Jug lid with mixing tube Automatic drip stop Brewing element switches off when the brewing is finished Hotplate keeps the coffee at 80°C-85°C (switches off after 40 minutes) High quality copper brew element Easy to clean Great looking machine

€229 For more information on the Technivorm Moccamaster click here

There was a time when my mates would get together and compare the different craft beers they had recently enjoyed, these days it’s much more likely we discuss our favourite coffee and preferred brewing method, honestly, we are a hoot to be around.

The Moccamaster KBG Select is a 10cup (1.25L) filter coffee machine, ideal for keeping both the new parents and party animals in our group awake, this machine comes in 18 colours, including a bright Yellow, Orange and Red as well as a range of more subtle colours. Coffee filters have had a recent resurgence in popularity potentially due to the reduced levels of Cafestol which could be linked to raising cholesterol, it is also a conveniently and mostly mess free way to brew multiple cups of your favourite coffee.

The KBG Select can be used for both 10 and 6 cups thanks to the new select switch, you can easily choose between a full or half jug, the water-flow will be slower when using the switch for a half jug to ensure the coffee is brewed properly no matter how many cups you choose. The brewing temperature is 92°C to 96°C for a smoother extraction, ensuring the aromatic oils are dissolved for that ideal bitter and sweet taste. The machine is lovely and quiet as it extracts, no one needs a noisy machine first thing in the morning and it produces 10 cups in as little as 6 minutes.

The unit has a reasonably compact body at 36 x 32 x 17cm and comes with a glass coffee jug with mixing tube for smoother coffee, it all contributes to making it quite a striking piece on the kitchen counter. The 9-hole stainless steel outlet arm provides efficient wetting of the coffee grounds, the brew basket features an automatic drip stop, whilst the brewing element switches off automatically after brewing. The hot plate works independently, it keeps the coffee at 80°-85°C and automatically switches off after 40 minutes and the KBG uses high quality recyclable materials and BPA free components. Using and cleaning the KBG was a straightforward process, the coffee it made was good most of the time, occasionally a jug would come through a little bitter but more often than not it was fine, however, for the price I expected every cup to be perfect. There are enough redeeming features to forgive the occasional duff brew, the sleek design, ease of use, fast brewing time and effective hot plate makes it a good choice for those coffee addicts looking for abundant amounts of tasty filter coffee.

5

Kinderkraft UNIMO

Pros Cons 5-in-1, crib, cradle, bouncer, rocker and Moving between some configurations can be chair

fiddly

Each configuration is functional Small rocking movements might not be Washable covers vigorous enough for some children Deep detachable sunshade Removable toy bar with detachable toys 5 sweet designs Suitable for Newborns - 18kg

Kinderkraft UNIMO Friends of ours recently had a baby, when they first found out they were expecting they had a few people ask if they had the space for a baby in their small flat, this was answered with a slightly confused “yes, because babies are small right?”

However, now baby is here they understand what people were getting at. Babies require a serious amount of stuff, you will also end up with a serious amount of stuff they do not require from well-meaning family and friends.

The UNIMO from Kinderkraft aims to cut down on some of the bulk by combining five products into one.

The UNIMO grows with your child, suitable from birth, this product is a crib, cradle, bouncer, rocker and a chair, and can be used up to 18kg.

Available in five sweet designs, Blue, Pink, Forest Yellow, Peony Rose and Stone Grey each comes with different characters on the toy bar, the fox on the Forest Yellow being our personal favourite. The UNIMO comes as one piece, the only parts you will need to assemble are the toy bar and the sunshade when you need them, switching between positions can be a bit fiddly, it isn’t complicated but you need to make sure you do things in the right order for it to work.

When not in use the chair will pack down into a compact piece with one move which can easily be stored out of the way or popped in the back of the car, weighing just 5.75kg it is certainly portable and is 80 x 57 x 71cm when fully assembled. The entire upholstery can be removed for washing, because let’s face it, there will be accidents, the deep sunshade can be adjusted to protect baby from both the sun and indoor lighting.

There is a three-point safety belt to keep baby in a secure position, the buckles are tucked away out of reach under a padded cover, a mosquito net can be deployed to keep out insects and debris, it stretches over the edges easily but it does leave a small gap around the mechanisms near the base of the sunshade. The mobile toy can be adjusted to put it within grabbing distance of baby and the toys can be removed via the Velcro tabs for play time, the board they are attached too could be a little more durable as we found it can bend out of shape when tugged on by little hands. We found the rocking style was quite subtle with a small range of motion, this might be too delicate for some babies who prefer larger movements. The UNIMO is a great choice for those with limited space, each configuration is carefully thought out and high performing even if switching between some of them can take a little concentration, considering the price tag, we believe it is good value for money.

£79.95

The UNIMO is good value for money, a great choice for compact living areas or those looking to cut down on the baby clutter.

For more information on the KinderKraft UNIMO click here

7

Cornilleau Softbats and Balls

In our school we had two table tennis tables and in five years of PE lessons we were only allowed to play on them once, one classmate became a little overzealous, we lost the ball and that was the end of our table tennis lesson. When we moved into our new home, I decided it was time to indulge my table tennis starved self and kit our garage out for the game, I never appreciated that it is actually a fairly energetic and rather difficult game.

Annoyingly my partner was pretty good at it, I blamed his fancy schooling, the cheap bats and the breeze coming through the garage door so when the Cornilleau Softbats arrived I figured I would be a pro in no time. These paddles have been designed for outdoor use and to show their appreciation to the great outdoors they are also the world’s first eco-design table tennis bats. Believe it or not this ‘green’ racket is made from recycled clothing from former Amor Lux collections and end of life clothing, my old clothes just become cleaning rags!

They are an ideal choice for training and educational use (you hear that old PE teacher Mr.Watson…

EDUCATIONAL!). The grippy ergonomic handles are suitable for both adults and children alike and they are weather resistant thanks to the recycled thermoplastic blade making it resistant to impacts, UV rays and humidity, they also feature non-detachable covering. The Softbats can be bought in packs of two or four or individually in a bold Green, Blue or Red design, the dynamic composite rubber gives this bat a good overall speed whilst the soft surface creates some spin but not too much that you immediately lose control.

We received two sets of balls with the Softbats the ABS Evolution 3 (£3.25 for a box of 6) these 40mm white plastic competition balls have ITTF 3-star approval, they fit the criteria of the new balls approved by the ITTF and Table Tennis England for competition play. Now, I am not sure I will be competition ready anytime soon, but these highly responsive balls certainly give you a taste of the real thing.

We also received the Outdoor balls (£4.95 for a box of 6) these 40mm balls have a more durable construction best suited for outside use, they are also heavier to prevent them getting blown off course, this slowed the game down a little making it much easier for beginners like me to return the ball.

The Softbats are easy to use with a firm grip and a more forgiving game play, great for novices and those looking to enjoy the game outside, hopefully with some practise I can up my skills and finally beat my partner.

A strong and durable table tennis bat made from recycled materials.

£26.95 (four pack) Pros Made from recycled clothes Grip suitable for adults and children Provides a little spin but not too much

Good for educational or training practise

Heavier outdoor balls offer more control

ABS Evolution balls approved by the ITTF Durable for outside use For more information on the Cornilleau Softbats and Balls click here

HoomBand

When it comes to sleep people seem to be split into one of two camps, those who simply get into bed, shut their eyes and fall asleep, then there’s those who get into bed, toss and turn and replay every confrontation they have had since they were 10 years old.

It is safe to say that I fall into the second category of people, however, if you have one of those minds that seems nearly impossible to switch off there are ways to distract it at night to help you relax. The HoomBand aims to ease you gently into sleep with guided meditation, whispered stories or white noise all without disturbing anyone else in the household due to the built-in headphones. Yes, you could try sleeping with regular headphones, but even wireless headphones become uncomfortable if you try laying on your side.

The HoomBand comes in two sizes, Small or Medium/Large, the earphones are built into the sides of the band in the perfect spot to sit comfortably on your ears, the earphones are ultra-thin so you can barely feel them, they're placed under an innovative foam, which is itself concealed under the main fabric. The band is quite wide so it covers a large portion of your head, I was concerned it would make my head hot, but the thin material is quite breathable, it can also be machine washed.

The HoomBand connects to your phone via a good quality cable with an audio jack, this was the only thing I didn’t like so much, you have to be tethered to your phone as you wind down and inevitably fall asleep attached to it, although the cable is long I still woke up with a startle one night from rolling over and pulling my phone off the bedside table. Bluetooth adaptors can be used if your device doesn’t have an audio jack, but this doesn’t avoid the cable issue, eventually I would love to see the HoomBand as fully wireless.

The companion app gives you access to over 20hours of stories and guided meditations written by sleep specialists, travel back in time aboard the Orient Express, explore Dali’s masterpieces or Einstein’s relativity or take a stroll through a village in Provence or the lands of Iceland. The stories have been created by sleep experts to help you relax and guide you to a deeper sleep quicker than usual, you can program sound loops that will block out unwanted noise until you wake up, the stories can be downloaded so you can use the app offline. The HoomBand is very comfortable to wear at night, the stories and guided meditations are truly relaxing but of course you aren’t restricted to what’s on the app, you can listen to your own music, audio books or podcasts, I found this a good way to switch off at night and ease into a natural sleep.

£49.90

Hush your brain at night and relax into a deep sleep.

Pros Comfortable to wear and lay down in

20hours of stories and guided meditations

Machine washable Two sizes available Cons The cable can get in the way For more information on the HoomBand click here

99

Wuka Period Pants When I was growing up, I was taught there were two products to choose from when it came to dealing with menstruation, tampons and sanitary towels, sadly this dependency on single use products drives an estimated 200,000 tonnes a year to UK landfills, worse still huge amounts of plastic waste generated from sanitary products are ending up in our oceans.

Thankfully these days there is more choice allowing you to break free of the single use products, period pants being one of the most user-friendly options. The Wuka Period Pants have a hi-tech absorbent layer with anti-bacterial properties and eco-friendly fabrics that are soft to the touch, kind to the environment and comfortable to wear. Wuka was founded by Rubina Raut a passionate environmental scientist who set out to solve the problems that surround disposable menstrual products, these reusable period pants come in Heavy, Medium and Light Flow and Tween designs, the Medium Flow come in Black or Grey models, naturally we asked for the Grey as any light coloured underwear is usually a big no no when aunt flow arrives.

These undies are leak free thanks to the high-tech absorbency layer that can absorb 200x its own weight in water and lock it in, the anti-bacterial fabric prevents bacteria and odours and they are machine washable. The Medium flow can be worn up to 8hours on all but your heaviest days (I was easily getting 12hours wear on medium-light days), it will hold at least 15ml of period flow or light leaks (another issue these pants can be worn for), this is around 2-3 tampons worth.

When holding these pants they feel heavier than regular underwear but once you have them on, they feel comfortable, soft and you wouldn’t know any difference, you may find your undercarriage feels a little warmer than usual but then again I always feel hot at that time of the month. Cut in a bikini style you can move around freely, I tried out yoga, a HIIT class and a run without a single leak, I also wore them in bed with success.

These pants need a rinse before washing to avoid staining and can then be chucked in with your dark wash at 40Ëš, they may take a little longer to dry than normal underwear due to the layers but they are safe to line dry, pop on the radiator or leave in the airing cupboard (do not tumble dry). If you are used to disposable sanitary pads and tampons these pants are going to blow your mind, they are much more comfortable, breathable, have less bulk and are better for the planet, just give them ago for one month and we think you will make the switch too.

For more information on the Wuka Period Pants click here

Pros Soft and comfortable Leak proof Suitable for periods, post-partum discharge, endometriosis flow and bladder leaks

Machine washable Try one and refund or exchange for a different size for free up to 40 days after purchase

Available in light, medium and heavy flow Wear light coloured undies whilst on your period

ÂŁ19.99 Reduce waste by ditching the disposables and opt for the comfort of these leak proof period pants instead.

11

Intimina Lily Cup intimia cup

Continuing the theme of sustainable period products here is one for those looking to level up, we have the menstrual cup, there has been an awful lot of publicity about these funny looking things the last year or so with people claiming swapping to one being the best thing they have ever done.

First things first, everybody is built differently which means it could take a few tries to find the right cup, so do not be put off if you have tried one before and it wasn’t right for you.

So, what is a menstrual cup, well you can get the ideas of a coffee mug out of your head right away, it is a flexible silicone cup that is inserted into the vagina and collects the blood. The benefits of using a cup apart from being better for the environment and saving you money every month are that it doesn’t absorb the blood meaning you are not at risk of getting toxic shock syndrome (TTS), they also hold more blood than a tampon and won’t soak up your natural moisture.

The Lily Cup from Intimina is currently the only cup that rolls as thin as a tampon, it is made from an ultrasoft, medical grade silicone making it one of the more flexible cups on the market, ideal for working out and other activities. It is best suited for users with a higher cervix (told you all bodies were different) and has been designed to cover the lightest to heaviest of flows, it can be used up to 12hours and there are no odours or dryness. There is a no spill rim on the inside of the cup to prevent leaks, there are two sizes available A and B (B being the larger-suitable for those who have given birth vaginally or diagnosed with a weaker pelvic floor).

Every cup will take a little getting used to, give it 2-3 periods before making any decisions, we found it best to wear a reusable liner or period pant (Wuka is a great shout) whilst getting used to it. Full insertion and removal instructions come with the Lily Cup but the basics are that there are two different folding methods to try out, then you simply insert it like a tampon and give it a squeeze and a twist to make sure it completely unfolds and forms a seal inside the vagina, if you find the stem is too long you can trim it down.

The Lily is a very well-designed cup, it is flexible enough to remain comfortable during HIIT and yoga classes and is easy to empty and clean, when inserted correctly it gives you up to 12hours of leak free living.

£24.95

IT WILL TAKE A COUPLE OF CYCLES TO GET THE HANG OF IT BUT WHEN YOU GET THE TECHNIQUE DOWN YOU WON’T LOOK BACK.

Pros Cons Soft medical grade silicone Not suitable for those with a lower set 12hours of use cervix Comfortable Rolls as thin as a tampon No risk of Toxic Shock Syndrome No spill rim For more information on the12 Cup ZeroWater Filtration Jug click here.

Eco friendly and reusable For more information on the Intimina Lily Cup click here.

13

DAFNI Allure Cordless Straightening Brush

There is a reason hairbrushes have a very similar shape and design, that’s because they have the optimal structure to get the job done, now look at hair straighteners, these involve a reasonable level of flexibility and a good amount of concentration so your ears don’t get burnt.

That’s why the DAFNI Allure makes such perfect sense, created by Sharon Rabi along with her father the idea was to create a heat dissipating brush for less damage to the hair, which has evolved over the years into the Cordless Straightening Brush. The Allure comes with the Straightening Brush, Thermal bag, safety cover, charging cable and plug, it is so simple to use, just switch it on at the bottom and it will emit a beep to let you know it’s beginning to heat up, another one when it is hot enough to use, this was taking about 90 seconds.

You can get up to three heads worth of styling from one charge, this could be a little better but we believe it’s a small price to pay for not being tethered to the wall, there is also a handy four stage light indicator to let you know when the battery is running low.

For more information on the DAFNI Allure click here

DAFNI claim the Allure offers eight times the surface of a flat iron, it is made up of guiding bristles around the outer edge with the ceramic bristles inside these having springy bristles on the end so the ceramic doesn’t come into contact with your skin.

To protect your hair from heat damage the Allure uses a lower temperature than most straighteners, heating up to 174˚C this is a non-adjustable level but due to the design it still straightened my hair just as well as my regular straighteners but at a much quicker rate. This is a little chunkier and heavier than your regular brush, but it is more than comfortable in the hand and easy to manoeuvre around the entire head, the reduced temperature might struggle on very coarse hair, mine is quite fine and it knocked out all the kinks in no time, a great choice for those looking for a speedy way to straighten the frizz.

£155

Pros Cordless Reduced temperature is more hair friendly

Easy to use Quick at straightening

Cons Short battery life Might struggle with coarser hair

A fast and user-friendly straightening brush that doesn’t keep you tethered to the wall.

15

Divoom Tivoo Max Every now and then a product comes along that simply brings pure joy, the Tivoo Max from Divoom is one of those products, an audio and visual delight this is something you can have a lot of fun with, it has a sixties TV set look about it with rounded edges and four little chrome feet.

However, this speaker is truly an eighties child at heart thanks to the pixel art display, but we will take a moment to look at the speaker first.

The Tivoo-Max audio is composed with 40 watts, 2.1 stereo audio setup, a 20W active subwoofer which provides a punchy amount of bass and features the latest DSP technology, this compact little beast kicks out some serious volume that is enjoyable enough before we start digging into all the other features.

The large screen has 256 programmable LEDs built into it and is capable of 16 million different colours, the Tivoo Max comes preloaded with a handful of different pixel art which can be switched via the large dial, however if you download the Divoom app there is a whole world of creations to play with and this is where you can get creative yourself, produce images and animations of your own as well as downloading others art.

We found Pokemon, Mario, Link and all sorts of great characters as well as loads of original creations, you can like, share, follow and comment on your favourite artists and post your own work which can win you competitions and points that can be used to get more Divoom products. Funky pictures aren’t the only thing the Tivoo can produce, you can use it as a message billboard, just enter your message and it will play across the screen, the Silent Alarm feature simulates a real-life sun rise effect, where both lighting and an audio alarm come on gradually.

The Sleep Aid produces high quality Alphawave white noise tracks combined with special calibrated melatonin-inducing light waves, the lighting can be adjusted, you can receive social media notifications with the corresponding logo to alert you. The Tivoo Max will give you 10hours of playback time and takes 4-5hours to fully charge up, it connects easily over Bluetooth 5.0.

The Tivoo Max is a lot of fun, the app can take a little getting used to when it comes to creating your own animation but once you get the hang of it there is a world of creative possibility, the sound quality is great and the combination of some pumping tunes and lively pixel art makes for a striking piece in any room.

ÂŁ149.90

PROS GREAT SOUND QUALITY WITH PUNCHY BASS RETRO DESIGN 256 LED PANEL WITH 16 MILLION COLOURS PIXEL ART, ANIMATION, AND TEXT CREATIONS DOWNLOAD MORE PIXEL ART FROM THE APP EARN POINTS FROM YOUR ONLINE CREATIONS 48 BUILT-IN SLEEP AID AND ALARM PROFILES SOCIAL MEDIA NOTIFICATIONS 10HOUR BATTERY LIFE

Is it an alarm clock, speaker, sleep aid or art? Well, it’s kind of all of them and we love it.

For more information on the Divoom Tivoo Max click here

17

Twelve South Airfly Pro Take your mind off boring flights by enjoying a movie with your travel buddy.

54.99 I am not a huge fan of flying, the combination of sharing my personal space with a bunch of strangers, trying to get comfortable and the fear that every little bump means we are about to go plummeting towards the ground doesn’t make for an enjoyable experience.

One of the best ways I’ve found to escape the discomfort and anxiety is to watch a movie but then there’s the hassle of dealing with all the wires plus not being able to share the enjoyment with your travel buddy. The Airfly Pro from Twelve South is a smart little device that works in two ways, it can change any device with an audio jack into a Bluetooth transmitter and can send that audio to two separate Bluetooth headphones. This wireless headphone adapter lets you use your favourite wireless headphones or earbuds in places that only have a headphone jack, like airplanes Pros Stable connection and audio quality Bluetooth adaptor Pair two wireless earphones to one device 16 hour battery life and can be used whilst charging Compact and portable Included carry pouch and keyring storage Cons No battery life indicator No automatic switch off

and treadmills for example, it has a compact design 57 X 25.5 X 11mm and weighs just 15.6g, it comes with a travel pouch and keyring storage making it extremely portable. It is straightforward to set up, simply put the Airfly pro in pairing mode by holding down the button with one dot for 4 seconds, put your earphones in pairing mode to sync, to attach another pair just repeat the process by holding down the button with two dots, easy. The Airflow offers 16hours worth of battery life, there is no automatic switch off so you must remember to turn it off when finished, there is also no battery life indicator which seems like an oversight. You can use different brands of earphones which is handy if you live in both an iOS and Android family like we do.

It can be used to send audio from your phone to a car stereo, so you can enjoy music and get the sat nav instructions instead of syncing your entire phone to the car radio, ideal for rentals and sharing rides with friends. During our tests we found there was zero lag between the earphones, the audio quality was unaffected, it was very easy to use and paired effortlessly, great for sharing tunes with your gym buddy, enjoying a film together on flights or let the kids (or big kids) play on the Nintendo together without having to endure the tunes.

For more information on the Twelve South Airfly Pro click here

17

19 19

HOYA ProND 1000 Hoya was established in 1941 as Japan's first speciality manufacturer of optical glass, they have been producing high quality lens filters ever since, the PROND filter comes in a range of light reductions from the PROND 2 with one stop light reduction all the way up to the PROND 100000 which offers 16 3/5 stop light reduction.

We received the PROND 1000 to play with, this filter is available in 46 49 52 55 58 62 67 72 77 82 95mm and provides 10-Stop light reduction which is equal to a ND optical density of 3.0. The lens has ACCU-ND technology which gives you a neutral colour balance that avoids adding any unrequited colour-cast to your photography, the PROND has been created to be used with still photography and HDSLR video markets.

The filter has a Metallic ACCU-ND coating, this prevents a colour shift as you move from one density to the next, which can become a problem with some neutral density filters, simply set your white balance just the once and you will have the same colour balance, even when you change filters due to changes in lighting for example.

The clear optical glass is exclusive to HOYA and has the metallic ACCU-ND coating front and back to create the neutral density affect. This filter has been designed to reduce the amount of light that can enter your camera, by reducing the amount of light hitting the sensor or film you can play with wider apertures and slower shutter speeds without overexposing the image. This means you can capture dreamy images of rivers and waterfalls where the water looks like a smokey mist and play around with long exposures at night, a shallower depth of field makes subjects pop out from the background and it opens up many other creative possibilities.

The PROND1000 is an extremely dark neutral density filter with a filter factor 1000, this filter factor converts to 10 stops reduction on the amount of light entering the lens, this gives you high levels of blurred motion and depending on the speed some moving subjects will disappear completely, you can shoot with shutter speeds as slow as 16 seconds. Constructed with a low-profile one-piece aluminium frame and parallel to the sensor it can be used with super-wide angle lenses, we found that it is a bit of a dust magnet so an appropriate cleaning cloth is a must have. The PROND1000 is a good quality light reducing filter, allowing you to produce some creative and original images.

Pros Metallic ACCU-ND coating Clear optical glass Suitable for super wide angle lenses 10 stops reduction Cons Bit of a dust magnet

ÂŁ55

This neutral density filter is fun to use and can produce some really creative images.

For more information on the HOYA ProND 1000 click here

Without Filter

With Filter

21

Custom Design Speaker Stand FS 104 Signature The FS 104 signature speaker stand from Custom Design are stands created with Custom Design's philosophy of achieving business by product design and service success, as well as adopting responsible social and environmentally friendly practices.

These striking stands are constructed with a central column manufactured from ERW BS EN 10305-3 steel which can be mass loaded with the Inert Filler, there are four satellite columns for added durability and complimenting the industrial style design. Custom Design says this set up provides substantial performance improvements, especially due to the dynamic range and we would have to agree, there seems to be a better distributed and cleaner sound than traditional central, mass loaded designs.

The bass in particular is controlled and rich, however it is important you use the Inert Filler to avoid the top tones sounding too bright, dampening is not necessarily the easiest of tasks but it is so worth it. The satellite support columns are available in Black or White as a standard option with Chrome and Brushed Chrome finish being an optional extra, the acoustic top plates and base plates are laser precision cut and hand finished, manufactured from 4mm steel. The standard acoustic top plate dimension of 165 x 180 x 4mm with optional sizes 150 x 180 x 4mm and 190 x 240 x 4mm available on request.

The Base plates measure up at 220 x 260 x 4mm or 240 x 320 x 4mm. The M8 base isolation spikes are Zinc Plated with allen key adjustable points and supplied as standard. The height is 610mm not including the base isolation spikes however custom heights are available on request, the inert filler is an optional extra at ÂŁ4.99 per bag (we would recommend it) with 2 bags being recommended per central column 610mm high. The FS 104 Signature have been designed to have a minimal effect on the performance of your speakers, but simply provide a sturdy foundation that allows for an accurate and well-timed response, oh and they look pretty sleek too.

Pros Premium engineering Sleek design

ÂŁ219.99

Custom sizes available

Stylish and responsive desk top

Provides responsive bass and mid-tones For more information on the Custom Design Speaker Stand FS 104 Signature click here

speakers.

CORNER Boxing Trackers One of the exercises my old activity tracker used to have trouble recognising was boxing, it would provide very limited data on how much effort I had put in even when I was dripping in sweat at the end of a session.

The CORNER Boxing tracker has been specifically created for tracking your boxing sessions via two little sensors that measure up at just 25 x 35 x 8mm and weigh just 20g per pair, you will also get two CORNER wristbands to secure them during your session. These small but tough little trackers are sweat and water resistant as well as hit proof (if only they made you hit proof too). They are comfortable to wear, simply pop them in the wristbands, slip on the wrist bands and strap on your gloves or straps or attach them to your own hand wraps, you will forget they are even there.

The CORNER trackers provide you with 7hours of battery life and are effortless to set up, just download the free CORNER app, attach the trackers then connect over Bluetooth, you will need to ensure your smart device remains within range during your work out for a consistent connection. You can then get feedback on your punch rate, speed and power all in real time, it will also find trends in the punches and combinations you throw (straights, hooks and upper cuts), the sensors will automatically detect the start and end of your session.

You can set goals within the app to keep you motivated on improving with every workout, set the round and rest intervals for the training session or use the Manual Timing to start and stop each round using the controls in the app. CORNER are looking at adding a new feature that will allow you to connect with friends, interact with them and see their workout as well as compete in weekly leader boards. Those looking for calorie counting, or heart rate feedback will need to wear an additional tracker as the CORNER boxing tracker doesn’t flood you with information, however, they are fun to use and you will gain a better insight into your training sessions and motivation to push harder and faster with each workout.

Become more motivated during your boxing workout sessions with real time feedback from these handy boxing trackers.

ÂŁ89.99 Pros Comfortable to wear Real time feedback App easy to read Measures punch rate, speed and power Discover your combination trends Set goals within the app Cons More info/functions could be provided on the app For more information on the CORNER Boxing Trackers click here

23

Beldray 12 in 1 Steam Cleaner

Pros Performs well as a steam mop Fast drying floors Light weight and easy to manoeuvre Heats up in 25seconds Compact Lots of accessories Chemical free cleaning Cons Water tank non detachable Power cable could do with being longer Holding down the trigger can cause fatigue in the hand Nozzles would occasionally squirt water

ÂŁ43.99

For more information on the Beldray 12 in 1 Steam Cleaner click here

Cleaning your house shouldn’t have to involve carting lots of different bottles and sprays from one room to another, in fact it doesn’t have to be like this at all. By using a steam cleaner you can loosen and remove grime, grease and dirt whilst at the same time sanitising the surface by killing up to 99% of bacteria and germs, as well as mould, dust mites and fleas, basically all the things you don’t want in your home.

The Beldray 12 in 1 Steam Cleaner is a reasonably priced steam cleaner that can be used on upholstery, grouting, hard floors, windows and more, it comes with an angled nozzle, straight nozzle, two mop heads, grouting tool, scraping tool, carpet glider and two brushes. It also has a garment/upholstery steamer cloth and window/mirror attachments, the amount of steam used can be adjusted thanks to the dial. The Beldray 12 in 1 Steam Cleaner was easy to put together, the 330ml water tank is not removable but there is a jug and funnel included to make filling it up easier.

The unit itself is very light (3.3kg) an measures up at just 30 x 20.7 x 110cm which makes it easy to lift up to windows and move around the house. Powered by the mains you get a 5meter lead, this might seem long until you start using it around the house, we found that we had to stop several times whilst mopping the floor to find another wall plug. You will get 15minutes of continuous steam per tank and we found the water heated up quickly, in just 25seconds it was ready to use, when using the mop configuration, we found it moves naturally and it tackled the edges and corners well, the floor was dry in about 15minutes.

We found the hand-held set up a little more temperamental, when cleaning a mirror, the machine would occasionally spurt out water instead of steam, making the cleaning process last a little longer and being a little bit wetter than we had hoped for. This possibly isn’t the best choice for an all over house cleaner due to the random water ejecting from the nozzles, the upholstery attachment worked well but we think the Beldray performed best as a low budget steam mop, it left our floors clean, germ free and dry in no time, without a single chemical cleaner insight.

Improvements could be made in the handheld function but it is a great choice for a low budget steam mop.

25

$315 Pros Cons Effective in stopping snoring Connects via a lead Didn’t wake the user Slightly smaller than a regular Quiet and gentle inflation pillow Straight forward to use Comfortable and supportive memory foam pillow

Doesn’t need to be connected to your phone to work

10minds Motion Pillow As much as snoring is often seen as a bit of a joke the The inflation process is gentle and quiet (35db) so as reality of sharing your bed with a snorer is anything not to wake the user (or anyone else in the bed for but funny, my partner is a snorer and it keeps me that matter), it only adds an additional 2-3 inches but awake at night, it will occasionally wake him up and this is enough to change the position of the head, in when we have people stay over it has even woken my partners case it would sometimes encourage him them up. to roll over completely. Once your head has moved it It doesn’t take a lot to get him to stop, a gentle jab in deflates again to allow you to move naturally around the ribs tends to get him to roll over which stops the whilst asleep, if snoring is detected once more then snoring so when we saw the Motion Pillow which the whole process starts over again. offered to take the rib jabbing out of the sleep routine For the first week or two, 10minds recommends we were both excited to try it out. users to set it at the highest sensitivity level so that The Motion Pillow from 10minds has been created the Solution Box will have time to learn your snoring after four years of research and development, the sound. You will have to sleep in a quiet room so if inbuilt technology detects your snores without the you or your partner have the habit of falling asleep to need of wearing anything on your face. The antithe TV or a noise machine this could interfere with snoring system comes in the form of a soft, memory the performance. The Motion Pillow is comfortable foam pillow that has inflatable airbags built into it, this and contoured to support your head and neck, the is then attached to the “Solution Box” which listens anti-snoring system is very easy to use, it proved out for snoring, when it is detected it uses the sensors effective and activated appropriately about 90% of in the pillow to perceive where your head is positioned the time, there were still a small amount of occasions and inflates one of the four airbags to gently move when a rib jab was necessary but the majority of the your head. This change in position stimulates the time the pillow was activated before I was. relaxed muscles that are generating the snoring sound 10minds recommend trying the Motion Pillow for and resets your breathing, much like the jab in the ribs one week with the inflation option deactivated to but slightly more friendly. see how your snoring patterns normally are without The Pillow is a little smaller than your average pillow the inflation of the pillow and there was a noticeable (21.6 x 13.8 x 4.1 inches) so it may not fill out your difference. The Motion Pillow is really something pillow case, the lead connects into the top of the quite special, it could improve the quality of the pillow in the middle so you will also have to consider sleep of the user, as well as that of anyone else in the which way you want the lead to pop out. The solution room or even in the room next door. It’s a simple and box measures up at 7.8 x 5.9 x 2.7 inches so you will effective solution brought to you by some very clever need to dedicate some space on your bedside table for technology and well worth the investment to ensure a it. The app lets you record and measure your snoring decent night’s sleep. patterns this gives you an insight into what can be the snoring triggers with daily, weekly and monthly reports, this is also where you can adjust the sound sensitivity (three levels to choose from) and inflation height (low-mid-high).

A clever and effective way to stop snoring by gently moving the head without waking the user.

For more information on the Motion Pillow click here.

27

DribbleUp Smart Soccer Ball There are plenty of trackers out there to measure your movements and heart rate, but just because you are running around for an entire football match does not mean you don’t lose control of the ball as soon as it touches your footy boot.

The Smart Soccer Ball from DU (dribble up) is a clever football (or soccer ball depending on where you are from) that gives you one to one training when it comes to footwork. Skilled footwork can be directly applied to the game giving you better control over the ball and maybe help you pull off some sweet tricks. The Smart Soccer Ball can be used in a few different ways, the app will work with any phone or tablet with iOS 10+ or Android 7+ and can also be connected to a TV via Apple TV or Chromecast.

The ball itself is a high-quality, durable football available in size 4 or 5 and meets regulations of both size and weight, the distinctive yellow design has been constructed so it won’t fade over time, making it easy to distinguish from the other non-smart footballs (bless ‘em). The instructions are fool proof, download the app, choose your program level, set up the included smartphone stand, you then need to step back 3ft so the app can sync up with the ball, once it is synced you can move the ball around freely.

The next step is to choose from the wide range of workouts (warm ups included), you will be given a demo of the exercise via the virtual coach then a target appears on screen and it is your turn to follow suit. The system aims to build muscle memory as well as improving those allimportant muscles along with cardio strength.

You can improve footwork and ball control skills with structured 30-day programs, then you can look to move from the basics to more advanced skills with drills taught by professional soccer trainers. Each session is different and with the option of increasing the intensity the ball keeps you interested and keen to push your skills further, we found it easiest to use when connected to the TV but this does mean you risk knocking over said TV if you get a bit too vigorous. The DU Smart Soccer Ball is great for budding footballers, helping them improve their skills, confident in the knowledge they are nailing every move properly and even if you don’t have the premier league in sight this ball provides a fun and effective workout.

The DU Smart Soccer Ball is an

£84.69

innovative way to improve your footwork away from the pitch.

For more information on the DribbleUp Smart Soccer Ball click here.

Pros Lots of varied drills Effective tracking Easy to use Good physical workout Can be connect to the TV

MiniMeis G4 Pros Child hovers above your shoulders Weight is evenly distributed Back support keeps child upright Leg straps and harness frees up both hands

Child can clearly see the world around them

Lightest child carrier with a frame

A great idea but could

Compact

take some time to get the

Mirror included to check they are

hang of it.

strapped in correctly

Cons I needed help to get it on Where the harness sits on the chest it can be uncomfortable for women

£129.99

throwing you off balance.

I remember when I first attempted to carry my nephew on The MiniMeis weighs 1.5kg making it the most lightweight my shoulders, we had walked about two minutes before he decided he was exhausted, I’d seen loads of people do it, how framed child carrier on the market, it also folds down in half for compact storage, whilst at the same time feeling hard could it be? strong and robust. The MiniMeis G4 has all the right Well, pretty damn hard as it turned out. My Nephew ideas on paper but in practise it has its flaws, the length repeatedly tried to lean back which meant I was hanging of the shoulder harness isn’t adjustable so if it sits in an onto his little legs for dear life, keeping my hands in this position only added to the unstable feeling and it wasn’t long uncomfortable spot (ladies I’m talking about flattened boobs) there isn’t too much you can do to adjust it, apart before I passed him onto his mum out of fear of dropping from opening the sternum strap but then it doesn’t feel as him. secure.

The MiniMeis G4 is an interesting child carrier designed During our tests the child was happy, however, it proved specifically for carrying them on your shoulders, it comes more comfortable with male carriers, comfort aside it also in three colours, Navy/Black, Grey/Orange and Grey/ takes some practise to get used to putting it on, you can Black suitable from six months up until five years (five either load the child whilst wearing it which is fine if you years? they can carry me at five) with a max weight of 18kg. don’t have a fidgety little one, or load them in and then put The MiniMeis G4 is designed so the child sits in a natural position on your shoulders, with a view of the world, instead it on, this requires a little strength and mobility. As with so many baby carriers it will work for some and not for others, of the back of your head like some traditional carriers.

I found it comfortable to wear but had to get help putting For your comfort the child is placed on a double arch, just it on, whilst others who tested it found it a breeze to put hovering above your shoulders preventing pressure and on but not comfortable to wear for too long. Thankfully friction on the neck and shoulders and keeping the weight MiniMeis are on call for help with tips and tricks to make evenly distributed through the carriers’ body, making things more comfortable as well as offering a full refund if it it easier to walk longer whilst carrying the little one. To just isn’t for you, we believe it’s worth giving it ago because keep the child safe and secure there is a waist belt and leg when it is comfortable it is great. straps, there is an optional harness with shoulder straps to provide extra upper body support for the smallest kids (6-10 months), the new, extendable padded seat adds to the comfort for the child whilst the supportive backrest keeps the child up right and prevents them leaning backwards and For more information on the MiniMeis G4 click here.

29

Swing Align

As much as golf looks like it should be as simple as whacking a ball in a hole there are a whole load of different things happening, from the beginning of your swing all the way through to contact, if your form is off at any stage it will dramatically change the outcome of your swing.

The Swing Align, as the name suggests is an alignment correction tool to make sure you take consistently accurate shots, the Swing Align comes in two sizes, the Standard fits biceps under 13.5" in circumference while hanging at rest and the XL fits on your legs for lower body drills, or on biceps over 13.5". The basic idea is that you use the cuffs and rods to ensure your body holds the correct position during the movement.

The Swing Align can help with your alignment by making setting up your target as easy as looking down, your rotation, by getting the rod perpendicular to the target line, your connection, by using the connection belt to guide your swing and keeping your arms and body synchronized and finally your swing plane, by ensuring the rod is horizontal at the top to check you have stayed on the correct swing plane.

This device allows you to both see and feel a perfectly connected swing, once you have felt the correct position regularly enough it will become second nature until you can do it without the use of the trainer. The Swing Align takes a little getting used to at first, especially if you have been holding the wrong form for a long time, it is easy to use however, attach the cuffs to your arms just above the elbows, the rod connects the two cuffs for you to see your body line, the adjustable connection belt keeps the arms and torso working in perfect unison.

If you are looking to improve your golf alignment and swing rotation this is a simple and effective way, much cheaper than a coach and much easier to stuff in your sports bag when you are finished.

ÂŁ119.95 Pros Easy to use Effective training aid

Portable Comfortable to wear

Low cost Cons Can take some getting used to

Correct your alignment instantly with this handy training aid.

For more information on the Motion Pillow click here.

31

Cubii Pro One of the most common reasons for people not exercising is because they do not have enough time, whether this is a legitimate reason or more to do with prioritising time is up for debate, whatever the issue the Cubii Pro aims to eliminate this problem with a workout system that can be utilised whilst you do other activities.

This is a compact seated elliptical that you can fit under a desk at work or use whilst watching a film, reading a book or eating a bag of crisps if you like (although slightly counterproductive). Available in either Chrome or Noir colours, its compact design measures up at 23 x 17.5 x 10 inches and weighs 25lbs. There is a carry handle to make it easier to move about and it is recommended that the desk height from the floor to the underside is at least 25 inches and that you have at least 2-3 inches of clearance between the underside of your desk and your knees regardless of its overall height.

To use you choose your location, whether it’s at your work desk or your sofa, then connect the Cubii to the free app and select your resistance level, then you just start pedalling, there are eight levels of resistance to choose from and the app will track your strides, miles and calories burnt. The Cubii Pro is designed in a way that you aren’t lifting your knees too high and it gives you a smooth pedalling motion, keeping pressure on the joints to a minimum, whilst the patented whisper-quiet design ensures there are no noise disruptions.

The Cubii Pro connects over Bluetooth and allows you to track your progress as well as interact with the Cubii community. You can set goals, compete in groups by syncing to Fitbit and the Apple Healthkit. The device itself is easy to use, you may find it slips a little on some hard floors especially at higher resistance levels, but workout mats are available online to give you extra grip. We found the app connection to be temperamental and would occasionally struggle to find the Cubii, sometimes switching everything off and on again would help and sometimes it was just unexplained, this was a little frustrating if you are keen on tracking your session but it doesn’t prevent you from actually working out.

Cubii suggests that by using the Pro it increases energy expenditure over time compared to standing desks, it also helps you stay active whilst sitting, letting you burn on average 150 calories per hour (well that would cover that packet of crisps), it can also be useful for those with reduced mobility and in recovery from illnesses or injuries. Although the app needs work we did enjoy using the Cubii, it felt like we were able to get in some activity throughout the day whilst remaining productive with work, a quick session in the morning whilst catching up on the daily news leaves you feeling awake, refreshed and ready for the day.

PROS SMOOTH PEDALLING MOTION COMPACT DESIGN FOR UNDER THE DESK USE QUIET EIGHT RESISTANCE LEVELS FREE CUBII APP TRACKS PROGRESS AND LETS YOU JOIN IN COMPETITIONS WITH THE COMMUNITY COMPATIBLE WITH FITBIT AND APPLEHEALTHKIT CONS APP CONNECTION CAN BE INCONSISTENT EXPENSIVE For more information on the Motion Pillow click here.

£299 A great way to burn off those office snacks from the comfort of your own desk.

33

SwitchBot Smart Home SwitchBot have a whole range of accessories at budget friendly prices for smartening up your home, we received the Hub Mini, Thermometer and Hygrometer and the Button Presser, starting with the Hub Mini, this streamlines the use of the other accessories.

SwitchBot Hub Mini can control all your Infrared controllable home appliances and connects all SwitchBot BLE products to the Internet, it has a "Smart learning" mode, which means it can mimic your existing remote control in just five seconds. You can pair up your air conditioner, TV and other infrared appliances to the Hub Mini so all your IR remotes are located in on convenient place (just don’t lose it). Compatible with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri, so you can control your home appliances and SwitchBot devices with a simple voice command. As we said the Mini Hub is the gateway to the SwitchBot ecosystem, connect the SwitchBot devices and home appliances to the Internet, then start building up your own smart home with SwitchBot. The app will show you what you have switched on and let you turn devices off so you don’t run up unnecessary electricity bills.

The SwitchBot Thermometer and Hygrometer lets you monitor and track your home temperature and humidity, simply unbox, put in the batteries, and the Meter senses right away, you can check the temperature and humidity at a glance thanks to the high-resolution LED screen. The Meter can be stood upright on the tabletop, wall mounted or attached to a metal surface thanks to the magnetic back, you can remotely monitor your home environment from the SwitchBot App. You can set alerts once the temperature or humidity exceeds the set value, the Meter will alert you when you are near via Bluetooth but when it’s connected to the Hub you can be alerted from anywhere through the Internet. Multiple Meters can be set up and named throughout the house, it can even be used in your green house to ensure your plants aren’t freezing their leaves off, it will also store the most recent 36 days of data inside. The app will provide you with a graph with daily / weekly / monthly filters for tracking the change of temperature and humidity. You can control the Meters via Alexa, Google Home, and IFTTT services, set up a scene with the SwitchBot App, so SwitchBot products can all work together for home automation, when a temperature or humidity condition is met, turn on your air conditioner or dehumidifier, regardless it is infrared controlled (by SwitchBot Hub Plus, the all-in-one smart infrared remote) or mechanically switched (by SwitchBot, the switch and Button Presser).

That brings us round to the Button Presser, the little device that can be attached to appliances to switch them on, think of it like a robotic finger. It can be controlled with your iOS or Android devices via Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), via Hub Mini and over the Internet with Amazon Echo, Google Nest products, Apple HomePod and IFTTT. The Button Pusher can be attached by a little sticker right next to a rocker switch or button, use it on your fan, coffee machine or light switch. It isn’t the most attractive of gadgets so that could put off some people, you can set different timers, you can even set a password to prevent unauthorised access.

The SwitchBot accessories offer a low budget introduction into the smart home world, these are basic tools, but you may find yourself unable to live without them once you start using them.

A low cost introduction to smart home appliances.

For more information on the TOPVISION Video Projector click here

Cons Limited features Sometimes fails to

Pros Easy to use Compact devices Handy tools Low cost SwitchBot Hub Mini $39.00

connect

SwitchBot Thermometer and Hygrometer $25.00

For more information on the Motion Pillow click here.

SwitchBot Button Presser $29.00

35

"The colours are beautiful, they feel great on and move freely with your body"

For more information on the Motion Pillow click here.

BAM Bamboo Clothing Enduro Leggings with Side Pocket I read an online list the other day about “things people just don’t need to buy”, on this list was exercise clothing, with the explanation being, “just wear an old cotton t-shirt it will get sweaty anyway”, this just proved the author had never attempted anything more energetic than raising a biscuit to their lips.

Even if you aren’t working up a crazy sweat the right clothes are so important, take workout leggings for example, too tight and they will restrict your movement, too loose and you are likely to flash a builder’s bum at some point. The Side Pocket Enduro Leggings from BAM (Bamboo Clothing) are a great choice for a range of activities, these 7/8 leggings come in five attractive colours, Fig, Black, Ocean Teal, Rich Navy and Teal (our sample colour).

They come in sizes 8 to 16 and feature a handy 16cm x 7cm pocket, ideal for storing your keys or your phone, although when testing my phone slipped out when I did headstands. These leggings certainly passed the squat test thanks to their fully opaque design, the 340gsm Enduro fabric is also highly absorbent whilst breathable, helping you to keep cool and dry when you get your sweat on.

The deep waistband and contouring contrast flatlock stitching provide a very comfortable fit, the 64% bamboo viscose, 24% organic cotton and 12% elastane combo gives you a super amount of stretch, letting you flex into even the weirdest of shapes whilst at the same time hugging your muscles and remaining supportive. The slightly thicker material might be a little too warm for high intensity work outs, especially in warmer temperatures but apart from that the Enduro leggings are suitable for most other workouts as well as daywear. The colours are beautiful, they feel great on and move freely with your body, I loved them in the yoga studio as they had the perfect balance of stretch and support, and that high waistband and opaque finish meant I wasn’t displaying more than I wanted to.

Pros Deep elasticated waistband Fully opaque, squat proof 7/8 length with contour seaming Soft, supportive and comfortable Stretchy Large pocket is easy to reach but out of the way (side of the right leg) Beautiful colours Breathable and absorbent Cons Phone can slip from the pocket during inversions

Summary- These leggings are great for the gym or the high street.

£50 37

ÂŁ40

One of the most ethical reusable bottle out there.

ÂŁ66

Ocean Bottle

There are eco-friendly reusable bottles and then Constructed from BPA free recyclable plastic, this there’s the Ocean Bottle, this thermal flask goes bottle has a dual opening system for pouring drinks, above and beyond when it comes to helping the adding ice and making it easy to clean thoroughly (it environment, with 22 million kgs of plastic entering is also dishwasher safe), if you remove both parts of our oceans every day, it is estimated that by 2050 the lid it can be used as a cup, ideal for hot drinks. there will be more plastic by weight than fish in our The inner bottle is made from a durable stainless steel oceans, that is a terrifying prediction. which also provides the insulation, the matt finish 80% of this ocean plastic comes from a lack of waste gives you extra grip when your hands are sweaty or management infrastructure in coastal communities whilst wearing gloves, the finish also stays cool to the around the world, so the team behind the Ocean touch and doesn’t create condensation. The Ocean Bottle have wanted to create a long-term network of Bottle has an anti-leak closure which performed well recycling infrastructure to ensure plastic is collected during out tests, the bottle weighs 230g when empty before it enters our oceans in the first place. and can hold 500 ml, the lid cup holds about 90ml.

The sale of every bottle funds the collection of 11.4kg The Easy Carry Loop can be used to carry the bottle of plastic, equivalent to 1000 plastic bottles and or attach it to a carabiner there is also an NFC smart is then invested back into people-powered waste chip in the bottle which means you will be able to management. By partnering up with Plastic Bank all keep funding more plastic collection for free when the plastic waste that is collected by locals in coastal refilling at partner locations in the future. When communities can then be exchanged for money, we tested we found that after 9hours the hot water healthcare, tech products, school tuition and micro- that started at 97˚C was 38˚C, which is warm but finance at their local Plastic Bank. definitely not hot, the cold water that started at 8˚C Since launching in January 2019 they have funded was 10.5˚C 6 hours later and 13.5˚C 18 hours. The the collection of the equivalent of 30 million plastic Ocean Bottle is definitely doing a lot of good in the bottles and by 2025 they aim to collect 80 million world, it looks and feels like a premium product, hot kgs of plastic which is equivalent to 7 billion plastic drinks are best enjoyed within a few hours whilst cold bottles, stopping them from ever entering our oceans, drinks maintain their temperature for longer. this alone could be enough to encourage you to buy Pros one. As ethically perfect as this bottle may be, design Dual opening for pouring drinks, adding and performance are still important, these bottles ice and easy cleaning come in five colours, Ocean, Sky, Sun, Forest and Rock.

Dishwasher safe

Hot and cold insulation Part made from ocean-bound plastic and fully recyclable

Matte finish for extra grip and does not sweat

BPA Free recyclable plastic Anti-leak One bottle will fund the collection of the equivalent of 1000 ocean-bound bottles

Carry loop Cons Doesn’t keep hot drinks hot longer than a few hours

For more information on the Ocean Bottle click here.

39

Nix Mini 2 Colour Sensor Have you ever spotted a colour that fit perfectly with your design, only to realize that you couldn’t capture it, let alone find the actual shade of the colour? Enter the Nix Mini 2 – an easy-to-use, durable and sleek tool that lets you scan any item to find its paint match or digital colour values. The Nix Mini comes with a Mini Lanyard, Micro USB Cable, Quick start guide and free lifetime access to the Nix Paints Android & iOS Apps. What makes the Nix Mini different from other colour sensors is that there is no need for calibration cards, drastically improving accuracy. The devices are individually calibrated in Nix Sensor’s Canadian lab using proprietary calibration methods, and are the only company in the world to use this method.

The Mini 2 is as you would expect - mini! The tool is just 1.5 x 1 inches and weighs just 17grams, and the aperture is 0.6 inches. It works with an app on your phone, Android 4.4 or newer with Bluetooth 4.0 and iOS 8.0 or newer. It is easy to use, simply select the area of the colour you want to scan, place the sensor over it, blocking out all light (ensure the sample area is clean and debris free for an accurate reading), connect the Mini 2 and activate the scan via your smart device. Once scanned (it takes seconds) the app will give you a match to popular paint brands and collections including Dulux, Farrow and Ball, Valspar and many more, as well as complimentary colour palettes and RGB data.

The app can also be used to save projects and to share colour with clients or friends. It will also show you the location of your nearest DIY store and save your favourite colours to swatches, it can become a pretty addictive tool. The outer casing has been designed to prevent dust and debris from damaging the interior components and the completely solid-state technology means the Nix Mini 2 is a tough little device, ready for any environment. With access to over 100,000 paint colours and harmonies, as well as RGB data the Nix Mini 2 is suitable for graphic designers, photographers, interior designers, contractors and DIYers. The Nix Mini 2 has a built-in rechargeable battery that will give you more than 3,000 scans in a single charge, it is so easy to use and the majority of the time we got excellent readings, we would occasionally get different info from the same sample spot but this was usually caused by dust on the surface.

The Nix Mini 2 is a handy little device for getting accurate colour readings, as well as giving you colour palettes for design inspiration and precise brand matches, making decorating and design easier than ever.

Pros Portable and easy to use Instantly match to more than 100,000 brand name paint colours or digital colour values

Accurate readings most of the time Wireless Fast readings Cons Occasional inaccurate readings

£99

Fast colour readings with handy tools to help you get the perfect colour match.

For more information on the Ocean Bottle click here.

Purflo Sleep Tight Baby Bed

£120

Although it might not always seem that way, babies sleep a lot, having a high quality portable baby bed can help you and your family escape the house without little one missing those essential naps, the Purflo Sleep Tight Baby Bed is a good choice thanks to the portable and comfortable design.

Although babies bring nothing but upheaval and change to your lives, hypocritically they don’t like change themselves, many feel more comforted and sleep better when they are surrounded by familiar things, the Sleep Tight Baby Bed comes with a waterproof carry bag with a handle. The handle could do with being a little longer so it could be possible to sling the bed over your shoulder, freeing up your hands for the other 20 bags of stuff a baby requires.

Measuring up with a 92 x 49cm outer and a 71 x 27cm sleeping area it is easy to pop in the boot or store in the back of the car, it weighs just 1.4kg making it easy to carry. The cover is 100% cotton whilst the base and mesh are 100% polyester, 100% sustainably sourced Sorona is used for the filling, the sides are generously padded to provide firm support, to prevent baby being able to roll out of bed but remaining soft to the touch.

The Sorona fibre is also breathable, preventing the sleeping area from becoming too warm and it also retains its shape and doesn’t flatten with age, the base is firm and flat essential for overnight, unsupervised sleep. The mesh base and sides add to the ventilation to keep baby at a safe temperature, every part of the bed can be fully washed, including the easily removable base that can be wiped clean. This Baby Bed has been thoroughly tested to relevant standards and has been certified safe for overnight sleeping, eliminating concerns raised by traditional nests and sleep positioners. The Purflo Sleep Tight Baby Bed is a practical and portable baby bed, providing a safe place for baby to sleep wherever you are.

Pros Firm sides and base Suitable for naps and unsupervised night sleeping Portable Washable Cons Shoulder strap carry handle would be useful pricey For more information on the Purflo Sleep Tight Baby Bed click here.

A portable and safe place for baby to sleep.

41

My windows have never looked so clean.

I was recently talking to my window cleaner about how to get the inside of my windows as spotless as he leaves them on the outside (because that’s the type of conversations you have when you are the other side of 30) and he suggested using a steam cleaner.

The Polti Vaporetto SV440 Double Steam Mop comes with a wide range of attachments one of which being the window cleaner squeegee, so I was excited to put this to the test. It’s is easy to assemble, all the accessories and components are intuitive to attach, the 300ml water tank can be removed and filled up with cold water straight from the tap. The Polti Vaporetto will heat up the water in just 15 seconds, you choose the pressure of the steam by adjusting the dial and then you are ready to go, just press the trigger on the main body and aim the nozzle at the window. Sceptical that my windows could be cleaned without the use of chemicals I tested it out on the kitchen window, a good test considering there are remnants splattered all over with battles of dishes washed in the weeks gone by.

Getting the angle right with the squeegee and releasing steam was a little tricky so eventually I used the steam lance to spray the window and whipped the squeegee over the window by hand, within a minute or so the window was dry and sparkling clean, I was so pleased. Next up I wanted to try the steam mop, this requires attaching the handle and mop head, because it is mains powered you may have to consider logistics, the 7.5m lead is reasonable, it should reach all the corners of the room but I found it a little annoying I had to unplug it when moving room to room as this often meant walking back over the wet floor. You get two floor cloths which is handy for having a separate bathroom one and kitchen one, the mop head is flexible and easy to get into the corners, the steam trigger could do with an auto lock just to give your hands a break from squeezing the entire time. My floors looked great afterwards without too much physical effort, there is a brush on the back of the mop head that can be used to scrub off tough dirt which was handy as you didn’t have to bend down and the floors were fully dried after 10 minutes.

I fell a little bit in love with the Polti Vaporetto Double SV440, however there are a few improvements that could be made, a longer lead, an on/off switch on the main body (so you don’t have to walk across wet floors to switch it off at the mains), a trigger lock, a larger hole to make it easier to drain the water out when finished to prevent limescale built up.

However, the wide range of accessories including the rug and carpet attachment, upholstery attachment, ease of use and effective results plus the quick heat up time and compact storage outweighs the flaws. The Polti Vaporetto Double SV440 is a versatile, functional and easy to use cleaning tool, killing 99.9% of bacteria without the use of chemicals, you also have the added option of using the Frescovapor deodoriser to leave your home smelling fresh and clean.

Polti Vaporetto SV440 Double Steam Mop and Handheld Steam Cleaner PROS STEAM MOP AND HANDHELD STEAM CLEANER THAT CAN TACKLE 15 DIFFERENT SURFACES HEATS UP IN 15 SECONDS (LIGHT INDICATOR LETS YOU KNOW WHEN IT’S READY) CHEMICAL FREE GERM-KILLING POWER FRESCOVAPOR DEODORISER LIGHTWEIGHT AND EASY TO USE ADJUSTABLE STEAM COMPACT STORAGE BUILT IN LIMESCALE FILTER REMOVABLE WATER TANK CONS CABLE COULD BE LONGER WATER DIFFICULT TO POUR OUT OF THE TANK NO ACCESSORY BAG INCLUDED LACKS A TRIGGER LOCK NO ON/OFF SWITCH ON THE MAIN BODY

£99.99

For more information on the Polti Vaporetto SV440 click here.

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EyeQue Vision Monitoring Kit When it comes to taking care of our eyes, we are often terrible at arranging appointments with the optician, it’s one of those things that tends to get put off time and time again, like joining the gym and saving money.

The Vision Monitoring Kit from EyeQue aims to bring the eye test to you, this kit includes the EyeQue Insight binocular smartphone attachment, EyeQue Insight Plus accessory kit for flexible testing with head mount and smartphone holder with safety band, Bluetooth remote control, ergonomic game-like remote control holder and soft shell carrying case.

You also receive a EyeQue VisionCheck Bluetoothpowered optical smartphone attachment featuring; Bluetooth connection to smartphone app, an internal motor that rotates precision lenses to automatically advance to the next measurement, touch sensitive button controls, a safety band to secure the device to your phone and charging cable.

This kit aims to provide you with everything you need to screen your vision, test the accuracy of your current glasses and order new eyeglasses online, the kit itself isn’t that cheap and also requires an additional $4.99 per year membership, which is such a minimal amount compared to the product it almost seems pointless. This gives you unlimited testing and unlimited secure storage with online and in-app access as well as personalised vision reports.

The main features of the kit let you screen your visual acuity in about one minute, with exact measures of single and dual eye performance, you can test your current glasses or contacts to determine if an updated prescription may be required and instantly record and securely store results, creating a personal digital vision history. You can also test your colour vision in three deficiencies: deuteranopia, tritanopia, and protanopia, test your contrast sensitivity which can determine vision regression aside from visual acuity and even add additional profiles for the rest of the family (ages 6+).

There are two different units to use, the EyeQue VisionCheck can measure refractive error, that’s the lens power needed to correct near-sightedness, far-sightedness and astigmatism, you can use your estimated near-vision add values (NV ADD) to order readers and bifocal. The EyeQue PDCheck measures your pupillary distance (PD) instantly, measure dual, single and near pupillary distance this data is important to ensure your glasses are correctly made for your needs. The personal user dashboard has personalised vision reports and unlimited secure

storage, test results are automatically stored in the cloud, you can upload doctor issued prescriptions to create your full vision history.

The build quality of some of the components feels a little cheap in places, the padding around the Insight eye mask could be more generous to ensure the light is blocked out around the edges. The information you get is quite detailed, even if we didn’t really understand half of it, the technology is certainly there but the question is do you need it? The EyeQue Vision Monitoring Kit cannot detect glaucoma, cataracts or other important issues which means it is still important to see the optician. If you already have glasses, limited time, and a healthy pay-check then maybe the EyeQue is something worth investing in to ensure the current prescription is suitable, as long as you still see an optician for your regular check-ups.

TAKE AN EYE TEST IN THE COMFORT OF YOUR OWN HOME.

PROS LOTS OF DATA PROVIDED SEEMS ACCURATE (BUT WE ARE NOT OPTICIANS) EASY TO USE TEST YOUR EYES FROM THE COMFORT OF YOUR HOME

CONS PRICEY CANNOT REPLACE OPTICIAN BUILD QUALITY COULD BE IMPROVED IN PLACES ADDITIONAL COST FOR ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP

$159

For more information on the EyeQue Vision Monitoring Kit click here.

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Lindy BNX-100

ÂŁ120

Lindy was founded in Germany in 1932 and started off selling petrol lamps and early electrical appliances, 88 years later and they produce a wide range of electrical goods including these BNX-100 wireless headphones.

These headphones feature an Audio-Pass through mode which can be activated at a touch of a button, it helps to hear external audio a little, like traffic for example, however, if you need to speak to someone you can simply whip them off and take advantage These over ear headphones have a stylish design, they of the audio pause, which automatically recognises don’t look bulky on and feel comfortable thanks to their when the headphones are removed and starts your lightweight construction and the generous padding in music up again as soon as you put them back on. the protein leather earcups and headband. They come with a compact hard case for transport which would be Other features include the battery level indicator, improved by adding a handle or carry loop. There are 40mm high output drivers with neodymium buttons on both earcups which will take a little getting magnets and hands-free calling with the built-in used to, they are very small and not easy to distinguish microphone. The all-important sound quality is even when you are looking at them, the volume controls enjoyable, we found the high tones can become a double up as the skip button which means you can little lost at higher volumes, but the mid tones are accidently skip the track whilst trying to turn up the clean, and the bass is nice and punchy. volume.

The BNX-100 are attractive and comfortable The BNX-100 connect over Bluetooth 5.0 with aptX headphones, we would like to see those controls low latency codec technology which gives you a strong cleaned up a little, but they could probably be connection and clear stereo audio, you can also use the overlooked for now due to the enjoyable sound included audio jack if the battery runs down or you quality, healthy battery life and the high performing are using some old school device without Bluetooth. ANC. The battery should give you about 15hours playback, the audio cable and charging cable are always to hand thanks to the Velcro storage pouch that sits inside the case.

For more information on the Lindy BNX-100 click here.

Pros Enjoyable sound quality Good ANC Comfortable 15hour battery life External Audio Pass-through, Automatic Pause/Resume and Handsfree calling Cons High tones can get lost at higher volumes Control buttons not user friendly

The high performing

ANC blocks out the world around you.

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Sleepy Bottle

There seems to be an idea that bottle feeding is an easier ride when it comes to babies, well for starters no matter what the reason you are bottle feeding you already have to fight the stigma of Pros using a bottle, on top of everything else new Perfect temperature formula instantly parents have to deal with this judgemental attitude is outdated and unhelpful.

The other issue is the time it takes to make up a Travel friendly with car charger and bottle when you have a hungry baby waiting, the battery pack options worst of times being those night feeds when your brain isn’t functioning and you realise you have been waiting for a kettle to boil when it isn’t even Formula dry until feeding time switched on. The Sleepy Bottle was the inspiration of Rok Colarič who had taken a holiday with friends and their 3-month-old, he noticed the Intelligent heating control whole house was woken up during the night by the sounds of the dad boiling water and prepping LED lights tell you when the water is warm bottles. The Sleepy Bottle aims to simplify the night time feeds by warming water to 37°C while or should be replaced (with sleep mode) you sleep, the closable design allows baby formula to be kept dry and separate from the water until it Easy to use, easy to clean is time to feed your baby ensuring it is fresh and always at the right temperature for when you need it. When baby awakes all you need to do is twist Cons and shake to mix the formula with the water and Pricey investment due to replacing it’s ready in seconds, of course it can also be used for daytime feeding too. components

The Sleepy Bottle can be plugged into a USB port, power bank (no less than 2.1 A and 20000 m/Ah recommended) or thoughtfully a 12V car charger for those who need to prepare formula on the go. You will need to ensure the bottle is always plugged in but thanks to the power bank and car charging option this doesn’t tether you to the house, the teat is made out of quality PP, BPA free plastic and comes with a cover, it is also compatible with Avent classic baby teats and BIBI basic care baby teats.

Aiming to be energy efficient, the low voltage design warms water within 30 min - 40 min (depending on the temperature of the water to begin with), the LED indicator will tell you when the water is ready to use (it switches off after 15 seconds for sleep mode, simply tilt to reactivate) and will also flash if the water has been in there too long, over 10hours.

The baby bottle, both parts of cartridge, teat, teat ring and teat cover are dishwasher safe, these can also be put in boiling water and are steriliser safe, the Sleepy Bottle is to be used strictly in the formula/hot water combination, it is not suitable for other liquids or other bottles.

At €129 it could price people out, especially when it is recommended that the baby bottle is replaced every four to six months, the teats every two to three months and the cartridges every three months, this can add up to a rather pricey investment. The Sleepy Bottle is a great idea, the bottle itself is well designed and limits the amount of air baby might swallow, let’s hope they get on with the limited range of teats available.

The biggest drawback is the price, for it to be a useful system, you will need at least two or three bottles, that’s another €20, plus having to regularly replace cartridges (another € 8.99 each) and teats (€ 4.59 each), can cost you €230+ for one year. However, if you have the cash to splash it does everything as promised, a great solution for feeding on the go and simplifying those night-time feeds.

For more information on the Sleepy Bottle click here.

€129 Simplify night-time bottle feeds and feeding on the go.

49

blurams

Outdoor Pro

Home security isn’t reserved for the wealthy these days, with prices coming down you no longer have to sacrifice quality when it comes to your budget, the Outdoor Pro from blurams is one of these cameras where it feels like you get more than you pay for.

This outdoor camera has Smart Detection and Facial Recognition, to prevent the camera triggering every time you come home or your cat walks across the garden. Featuring smart AI facial/human/sound/motion detection to differentiate human, pet and other moving objects, the Facial Recognition can be used to let you know when your children have returned home or alert you if there is a stranger, you will need to activate the Cloud service trial to experience the facial recognition.

The Outdoor Pro can give you an instant notification whenever motion is detected by the outdoor camera and you can then activate the siren as needed, the 110-decibel siren and flashing alarm are more than enough to send off unwanted guests. Setup with the QR code is a straightforward procedure, you have the option to store your recorded footage on an SD card (128GB max) or on the blurams Cloud, the Cloud offers continuous recording to monitor your house 24/7 and relies on AWS to protect your data, it ensures all recorded video is secure.

The Cloud comes in two package options, $4.99 p/m per camera for the standard package or $14.99 p/m per camera for premium which gives you and extra 23day storage and an extra four hours storage clip, you can trial the standard version for free for one month. The IP65 weather resistant body makes certain it can handle the pressures of both outdoor and indoor life, it has a rather unusual design in that the camera is elongated horizontally, it is discrete enough not to be intimidating but obvious enough to deter intruders.

The Starlight Night Vision works thanks to the SONY CMOS Sensor, with high-power infrared LEDs and IR CUT filter, this provides a clear image even in low light. You can connect the camera to Alexa and the Two-Way audio features 3D noise reduction, so you can listen and talk clearly straight from your mobile device. You can set up viewing of up to four cameras simultaneously on the bluram App or official Web Portal. The 1080p/129° Ultra Wide-Angle lens gives you a clear view, you can use the 4X digital zoom and distortion correction, to zoom into an image. If you want the extra features you will have to budget in the cost of the Cloud subscription, the image quality is great, the facial recognition is a useful feature and we found the connectivity high performing, making the Outdoor Pro camera a great choice with a reasonable price tag.

Good quality security doesn’t have to break the bank.

ÂŁ69.99

Pros Facial Recognition IP65 rating 110 decibel siren and flashing alarm Automatic Starlight Night Vision Human Detection 1080P FHD Quality Good value for money Cons Cloud subscription adds to the cost For more information on the Sleepy Bottle click here.

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ÂŁ39.99

For more information on the Rockit click here.

Rockit Portable Baby Rocker I recently took my friend out to the supermarket, now, this The vibration level has been designed to closely mimic the doesn’t sound like the most exciting day trip but as a new normal hand rocking of a pushchair, it’s great for switching mum this was one of the few times she had left the house on when you get to your destination, be it your home, the without her little one and she was excited to browse the café or the library the Rockit has the benefit of using a quiet aisles with two hands to spare. motor (40dB to be exact) so as not to disturb baby or the It wasn’t long however before I caught her obliviously people around you. The Rockit has an IPX1 rating making moving the trolly back and forth as if attempting to rock it safe to use if you get caught out in a light rain shower (it the cake and crisps we were purchasing to sleep, even after I should not be exposed to prolonged rain and heavy rain). pointed it out to her I still caught her at it three more times. The only downside we found was that it is powered via 4 Annoyed at herself for not being able to switch off she went AA batteries, this will give you about 60hours but only at its on to tell me that jiggling her baby about was often the only lowest setting, if you are using a higher power they can drain way to get her to settle, she did this so much that is was out in a couple of days, it really depends on how strong a getting to the point where she was getting joint pain from all setting and how often you are using it. the constant rocking.

Switching the batteries over is tedious as it requires a small She was the first person I messaged when the Rockit screwdriver (not included), we would love to see a large Portable Baby Rocker landed on my desk, this ingenious rechargeable battery included with the option of purchasing space craft was developed by inventor Dr Nick Webb when a spare that can be quickly switched over on the fly. The built he noticed his three-month-old would wake as soon as the in 30minute timer does help to conserve the battery life and motion of the moving pram stopped. Tested to the highest can be restarted at any time with a simple push of the on/ EU safety standards it can be used with ages 0-36 months off button. Even considering the battery life (we recommend and upwards, it attaches to the pushchair or pram via the using high quality rechargeable batteries and carrying a universal mount, the Rockit can then be easily attached to screwdriver with you) this is a great product, one that should the mount when need and activated via a large push button be on every baby shower list. on the end, the speed can be adjusted via the dial at the base.

this is a great Pros Mimics the hand rocking motion of a pushchair

Fits practically any push chair or pram Simple to use 30 minutes built in timer IPX1 rating Adjustable speed Quiet Cons Battery life can drain quickly Accessing batteries is awkward

product, one that should be on every baby shower list.

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Top Five Focus

Did you know the average person sleeps for 26 years of their life? How is it that 26 years still doesn’t feel like enough? Regardless, it is important that you spend those years comfortable and well supported, so we have rounded up our top five mattresses that will help you get a decent night’s sleep.

Emma Original Ok, I might be bias here due to the excellent name but this three-layer memory foam mattress is a great all-rounder, comprised of pressure relieving Airgocell, viscoelastic memory foam and supportive cold foam it keeps you well supported and cool at night. It is bouncy enough that rolling over (and other things!) is easier than some other memory foam brands. £649 Double.

Eve the Premium This mattress is made with 28cm of luxurious memory foam and features active cooling, a patented floatfoam layer, a washable antibacterial, anti-fungal and anti-microbial top cover, and the Eve contour zones. You may find this slightly softer than some memory foam mattresses, it hugs your body whilst remaining highly supportive, a great choice for side sleepers. £899 Double.

OTTY Hybrid Mattress The more budget friendly mattress uses a combination of 56% springs and 44% foam to give you support from the pocket springs and comfort from the foam, with the top layer made up from a temperature regulating memory foam. More movement can be felt through this mattress so it is not ideal for those with fidgety bed buddies, due to the slightly firmer feel, it is favoured by back sleepers. £449.99 Double.

Nectar Memory Foam Mattress Not only do you get a 365day trial with the Nectar but you can sleep easier at night knowing your mattress is climate neutral, it is slightly firmer so again best suited for front and back sleepers. The adaptive foam layers are designed to relieve pressure points under your shoulders, hips, and legs and provide a good amount of movement reduction. £699 Double.

Silentnight Eco Comfort Breathe 2000 Another good one for those trying to do their bit for the environment, 150 recyclable bottles go into every eco comfort mattress. The Microclimate Sleep System aims to create the perfect sleeping conditions with a 2000 spring support system, ideal for those looking for a traditional springy mattress with a medium to firm feel. £889 Double.

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