THE Issue 27 sept 2022 2022 Review Smiths
Editor and ManagingchiefDirectorAlexHilling-Smith Senior Writer Emma Hilling-Smith Chief Laptop Biter Master Hilling-Smith DaveWriterHicks PeterWriterHilling
CONteNts 04. shark aNtI haIr Wrap COrdless uprIght pet VaCuum 06.ICZ300uktmatterpOrt axIs 08. dIstIl Wally BIfOld 5.0 10. spherO INdI 12. the Nux hOrsemaN 14. kNOmO harpsdeN 16. lOllIpOp smart aIr QualIty seNsOr 18. Ngt ClassIC BedChaIr 20. ZeN aIr phONO 22. greeNpaN slOW COOker greeNpaN slOW COOker 24. lOgIteCh mx master 3s 26. hOrI splIt pad prO pOkemON (pIkaChu BlaCk & 28.gOld)NOkta the legeNd Whp 30. ettINger sterlINg 6OZ CaptIVe tOp leather BOuNd hIp flask 32. IsOtuNes aIr defeNders 34. CaBOO CarrIer + COttON 36.BleNddmr Vault flat pedals 38. Nektar ImpaCt lx mINI 40.keyBOardlaWNmaster 48V 41Cm COrdless laWN mOWer WIth spare BatterIes 42. ekster summer BuNdle 44. ekster aIrtag CardhOlder For all media related enquiries please contact us at www.thereviewsmiths.cominfo@thereviewsmiths.comForAdvertisingEnquiries02081918472
Hey Wow,all!how are we already in September, this year has flown by so fast and I don't know about you but I am ready for the cooler weather to get here. Speaking of cool we have had some really cool products featured this month including the new GreenPan Slow Cooker which will be coming out in UK stores this month. We also have the Shark ICZ300UKT which is brilliant at tackling hairy homes with furry pets. The Logitech MX Master 3S mouse keeps things comfortable for you whilst you are at work or play AND the small but mighty NUX Horseman guitar pedal. We have plenty more awesome gear too, whether you are looking for a new bag, gimble, bicycle pedal, tiny keyboard or a powerful metal detector we have you covered. Before we let you crack on with the rest of the magazine we want to give a special shout out to our Instagram competition winner who won the Oaxis Myfirst digital sketch book, all from liking a post. make sure you follow us to join in the next competition.
When it comes to homes with pets it is hard to beat a Shark Vacuum and although corded vacuums still have the edge their cordless range is still impressive, and we were please to get our hands on the ICZ300UKT to review.
This upright pet vacuum is suitable for both hard floors and carpets and features the Shark DuoClean Floorhead with PowerFins which have been engineered to pick up more hair. It works by using two motorised brush-rolls that work together to glide across the floor but also digs deep into carpets dislodging dirt. There is a soft brush-roll at the front that draws in debris and lifts stuck-on dust from hard floors. The floor head also features the Anti Hair Wrap Technology which separates and cuts the hair as the vacuum is moved around. It isn’t fool proof, you may find from time to time you will have to remove some hair, especially if there are lots of long-haired people living in the house but it isn’t nearly as often as regular brush roll vacuums. The rechargeable battery can give up to 60 minutes run time depending on the settings used, this is long enough for most family sized homes and might even give you enough time to do the car too. The battery is removed for charging so there’s always an option of investing in a spare battery to keep one on charge if needed, there is an LED Smart Display that shows you in real-time how much power is left, it will also display the current suction level and selected floor type. There are three suction levels to choose from as well as two floor type settings, there is also an Anti-Allergen Complete Seal which captures and traps dust and allergens. The Power Lift-Away action lets you transform the vacuum into a handheld unit for stairs, high up areas, the car or soft furnishings.
There are four attachments included, Motorised Pet Tool for getting rid of hair, a dusting brush, wide upholstery tool and 20cm crevice tool. It can be a little awkward to turn into the handheld as you need to remove the floorhead and the handle, the main unit is then rather bulky to move about, but it’s fine for quick jobs. It weighs 6.2kg but don’t let that put you off, it actually feels surprisingly light to move around, when used on high power to produce a powerful suction that is impressive for a cordless but note that this will greatly reduce the battery life. There is a lot to like with the ICZ300UKT, the fact it stands up unsupported, a good-sized dust bin and powerful suction are a few of our favs, it does a great job with both pet and human hair, we would just recommend if you a planning to use the handheld more often you might want to look for something less bulky.
For more information on the Shark Anti Hair Wrap Cordless Upright Pet Vacuum ICZ300UKT click here
shark aNtI haIr Wrap COrdless uprIght pet VaCuum ICZ300ukt p rOs pOW erful suC t ION h a N dles W ell deCeNt Battery perfOrma NCe a Nt I-ha I r W rap teCh NOlOgy sta N ds u NsuppOrted sCONsOme Of the attaChmeNts are f I ddly tO remOV e Bulky ma IN u NI t
5 a pOW erful COrdless VaC uum makes lIght WOrk Of pet ha I r, W e WOuldN ’t expeCt a N yth INg less frOm shark. £299.99
Right now, it’s definitely a seller’s market as far as housing is concerned. Not to mention the rise in Airbnb in recent times. What better way to advertise your property than by doing a video tour? Not “…and this is the lounge…” type video tours but virtual ones where anyone can click through a door to see the next room and observe each room with a 360 degree view. The problem is, a 360 degree camera is no cheap thing. However, most of us have a Smart phone these days right? In steps the Axis.
matterpOrt axIs For more information on the Matterport Axis click here
The Axis itself is pretty much a motorised stand that keeps your phone steady and revolves it around so that you can get a full 360 of whatever area you want to capture. Sounds nice but what’s to stop you just doing this yourself, holding the phone? Well, how many of us can honestly say we can keep a phone completely steady while turning on the spot? Plus, sometimes your motion-capture app doesn’t always put the photo’s together very well. The Axis comes with a Matterport Cloud account for free and this is where all the technical stuff is done for you. The 3D Media Platform instantly creates videos and photo’s for you to easily link to so that you can instantly have your video up online with a minimum of fuss. And that’s the real sell here, the ability to easily use what you’ve recorded in a short period of time. You can buy the Axis on its own or with a tripod (recommended!) and, although the tripod is definitely needed, it’s not the most solid of things so if you’re considering the Axis for outside use, you may want a sturdier one. It all comes in a foam-protected carry case too so it’ll be nice and safe when transporting it.
7 p rOs ease Of use BluetOOth eNa Bled muCh Cheaper tha N a 360 Camera 3d m edI a platfOrm CONs tr I pOd COuld Be Better a steady a N d rel I a Ble g I m Bal (with£79tripod)
a W ell CONstruC ted COmpaC t Wallet WI th seC ure ClOsure a N d COlOur COded pull ta B s . £30.95
We have moved away from cash lately, to the point where it feels like you should apologise for paying with these ancient metal nuggets, the plus side of this is that our pockets are becoming less bulky and jangly (great news for women whose pockets are on average big enough for 1p). With that in mind it would be a great time to slim down those chunky wallets and the Wally Bifold 5.0 from Distil is ready and waiting for you. Released in 2021 this bifold features Distils trademark MagLock mechanism, this magnetic closure keeps the two halves together as well as the two pockets to stash your cards, this means it will work hard to not only keep your cards safe but also remain as compact as possible. This Wally measures up at 3” tall x 4.4” wide x 0.31” thin (77 x 113 x 8mm) and can take notes up to 2.8" (72mm) and up to 14 cards (plus 30 or more notes if you still deal in such old-fashioned currency).
rOs COlOur- COded Wally p ull-ta B s m aglOC k sQuee Z etO - OpeN pOC kets tWO INter IOr slOts fOr tap a N d g O paymeNts CustOm sta INless steel mON ey Cl I p full- gra IN leather Opt IONal rf I d prOteC t ION
Constructed from a rich full-grain leather certified for p
For
9 dIstIl Wally BIfOld 5.0
environmental stewardship this wallet is available in Black, Navy and Brown as well as an option for adding a RFID-Shield for extra peace of mind. There are two interior slots to store your most regularly used cards for a quick tap-and-go without removing them, as for the rest of the cards they are easy to access with the Wally PullTab, one red and one black. This colour coding is handy to separate your bank and loyalty cards from example, once pushed back in they stay securely stowed within magnetic squeeze-to-open pockets (and no, the magnets don't interfere with your cards). For those old-style paper transactions there is a custom stainless-steel money clip to secure a stash of cash. We love the simple look, slim and compact profile combined with the user-friendly design, the leather will get more beautiful and unique as it ages, a great choice for the modern cashless world. more information on the Distil Wally Bifold 5.0 click here
Thetoo. final icing on the cake is the app you can download. In the app, you can start teaching the basics of coding to your little wonders. It uses a simple drop and drag system to add new movements, make Indi make sounds and even flash lights. So, they can learn to re-programme Indi and then use the colours to create their own story or adventure for Indi to go on! With multiple resources available to download from the main site including Challenge Cards, a guide to supporting literacy and numeracy and a special education guide, this is a really fun way to enhance your child’s education and learning.
spherO INdI
p rOs sI mple , Br Ight COlOurs Ca N help keep the yOu Ngest Ch Ild eNgaged pleN ty Of ONl IN e resOurCe help free app tO lear N the COdINg I N dI I tself lOOks pretty C ute! CONs yOu Ca N ’t prOgramme N eW COlOurs a really fu N Way tO eN ha NC e yOur Ch Ilds lear NINg
Why wasn’t this around when my kid was this age? I would have had just as much fun playing with this as they would have! The Sphero Indi is an educational toy for young children. It’s basically a little wheeled ‘robot’ with sensors built in that detect colours. Certain colours mean certain things such as green meaning to turn 45 degrees right or yellow meaning slow down. You put the cards down on a flat surface and send the Indi on its way, depending on what instructions you have given it. So far, this just sounds like a toy. A really cool one, but a toy none-the-less. Where this comes in to its own as an educational tool is when you start encouraging your child to meet challenges. So, “let’s get Indi over there, past all the furniture without helping it!” becomes a puzzle to solve and a game in its own right that young children will have great fun working out. Associating the different colours with different actions will help to develop logic skills and computational skills also. They have to work out what colour does what themselves and so they learn associative skills
11For more information on the Sphero Indi click here $125
desIgN the
All this is produced with a single press of the foot button which engages the ‘Gold mode’. This is what was aimed for the original ‘Horsie’. Press and hold the foot pedal again and the ‘Silver mode’ is engaged. This is essentially an increased level of gain which produces distinct distortion throughout the setting but still without dominant mid boost. Clearly I cannot compare the sound directly with a Klon Centaur as these are mainly retired to the display cabinets of deep pocketed collectors and destined never to be played again.
You may be thinking hooray! just what we need, another overdrive/distortion (OD) to join the endless ranks of OD pedals out there already. However, a step back to 1994 is required first, to check out exactly what this tiny pedal is aiming at. Bill Finnegan decided to build an alternative to the Ibanez Tube Screamer because he was not happy with the overdrives which mainly pushed the mid frequencies and in so doing significantly changed the original guitar and amp combo tone, ok for some but not for all as the extra colour from the pedals can be too much.
The unit seems to provide a rich fat overdrive tone with little noise, even with single coil pickup and has true bypass when switched off. It retains your original guitar amp characteristics which I believe is what it sets out to do. Given its very small size and modest price I would suggest room could probably be found for this one on most pedal boards where it would soon become a go to favourite.
p rrOsICh fat OV erdr IV e tON e g reat p r ICe COmpaCt sIZ e COOl
Nux hOrsemaN
Bill produced the Klon Centaur to provide a rich full overdrive without losing the original tone, without introducing too much overdrive noise and to get a clear bypass. The Klon Centaur or ‘Horsie’ as it became known is an impressive lump of kit which was snapped up by the bluesmen of that time. The components of the Horsie were encased in gloopy black epoxy resin which made it robust for gig use and also impossible to replicate. Demand was high and production limited to a small number which resulted in escalating prices leading to the current £5000 price tag for a genuine Klon Centaur (Horse) Pedal.
The voltage converter in the unit increases the voltage from 9 to 18 volts which provides bags of power with ample headroom to produce a rich clear over driven tone without adding any pedal colour. The output knob simply adjusts the volume of the signal being sent to the front of the amp. The level of your chosen gain mix being sent to the amp to achieve the point of breakup for the powerful bluesy overdrive.
The Nux Horseman is a mini pedal, the size of a Snickers bar compared to the Centaur house brick, with its colour and Horseman logo a thinly disguised reference to the unit it seeks to emulate. For my test run I used a Fender Strat and a Marshall DSL Tube amp and this little unit produced some surprising results. It is simple to use with three knobs treble, output and gain. The treble knob £79 can be used to increase the treble gain only and the gain knob can be used to boost the low and mid frequency.
13For more information on the The NUX Horseman click here B r INg INg BaCk the k lON CeNtaur WIth th Is emulated pedal.
kNOmO harpsdeN
p rOs Water resIsta N t padded 14” laptOp COmpartmeN t thermOplast IC WaterprOOf W elded CONstruC t ION padded BaC k s - shaped straps a N d Chest strap easy aCCess Orga NIsed INter IOr lIght W eIght a N d flex IBle CONs ONly t WO COlOurs aVa Ila Ble NO refleC t IV e deta Il INg ON ma IN BOdy
If you haven’t come across Knomo before they are an interesting company when it comes to their work/life balance, the founder created the brand knowing he wanted to free people from the cubical prison and 9-5 work pattern, allowing the team to decide where, when and how they work.
The range of bags they produce follows this style by being suitable for all environments be it the office, commute, daytrip, travelling, holiday or picnic. The Harpsden comes in two designs Grey or Black, we received the Grey, it has an attractive asymmetrical design with black hardware and a discrete Knomo logo at the bottom. It measures up at H46 x W33 x D14 cm, it has a 20.3L capacity with an interior device compartment of H34 x W24 x D2.5 cm, that makes it suitable for up to a 14” laptop or tablet. The Thermoplastic Polyurethane produces an extremely light weight at just 900g, it also flattens down into a thin compact piece ideal for storage or tucking into luggage ready to be deployed on Therearrival.is an 8cm grab handle at the top of the bag, the adjustable shoulder straps have perforated lining for ventilation, they have some light padding and an adjustable chest strap for better stability in busy areas or whilst cycling for example. The s-shaped straps have reflective detailing for better forward-facing visibility but there aren’t any on the main body of the pack. The ergonomical back panel has padding either side of the spine and across the lower back and tail bone, in between there are ventilation channels to help deliver air flow but things can still get a bit warm and sweaty back there on warmer days. The outer body as well as the zips are fully water resistant, protecting your gear from rain, snow, dust and other debris, the classic dome shape and slightly angled zip make it easy to access your belongings. The internal organisation compartment offers two padded slip pockets, a key ring, two card pockets and two pen loops, the external pocket can be used for quick access to snacks, hat and gloves for example. There is a beauty in the simplicity of the Harpsden, it is comfortable, fuss free and protective, a bag you will find yourself grabbing time and time again, whatever the mission.
For more information on Knomo Harpsden click here 15 £129 the h arpsdeN has a sI mple style WIth a thOughtful CONstruCt ION.
lOllIpOp smart aIr QualIty seNsOr
We have had the pleasure of featuring the Lollipop Baby Camera a few times, we love it so much it lives in our little one’s nursery and provides us with both reassurance and giggles seeing what he gets up to when he’s meant to be Thesleeping.Smart Air Quality Sensor is a handy accessory that teams up with the baby cam to give you a deeper insight into the nursery environment. It is super easy to add on to the lollipop app, just click on the Camera Settings, select sensor and choose a name for it, then its just a case setting it up in the nursery. The sensor plugs into the mains directly, no dangerous cables, and needs to be 3-4 meters in direct sight of the camera for the best Bluetooth connection. It can get to work on monitoring the temperature, humidity and air quality. If the sensor picks up anything usual it will alert you through the app, you can set the preferred temperature and humidity range, particularly useful during the extreme heat we are experiencing this summer. The air quality sensor is a “VOC sensor” (volatile organic compounds), this can detect the presence of acetone, heptane, and many other metabolic products in human breath, as well as formaldehyde, cooking odours, human bio effluents, outdoor pollutants, paint and lacquers, cleaning supplies, and toxins. The sensor will work with the camera to provide a 30 second clip from your phone when the environment goes below your set standards, this could provide a real peace of mind especially for new parents in those overwhelming first few months. Just like the camera you can check in from anywhere at any time, as well as the instant alerts to changes in the environment the sensor will provide daily / weekly data charts in the app. If you already have a lollipop camera or you are looking to get one the Smart Air Quality Sensor is a no brainer add on, the temperature monitor is especially useful during that new-borns stage letting you check in without risk of waking the baby.
a useful addIt ION tO the lOllI pOp set up. 17For more information on the Lollipop Smart Air Quality Sensor click here p rOs temperature , hum I dIty a N d a I r Qual Ity deteCt ION CheCk the areadINgsNyWhere , a N yt I me easy tO set up da Ily / Weekly data Chart 30 seCON d eV eNt push VI deO W heN exCeedINg the p re- set safe ZON e £45.06
£89.95 thIs lOW Budget BedChaIr Was surprIsINg COmfOrtaBle BOth fOr sleepINg aNd sat up WatChINg the WOrld gO By.
NGT specialises in low-cost fishing gear, with entry level products that perform well whilst protecting the bank balance, we received the Classic Bedchair to take a closer look at. As the name suggests it is both a bed and a chair combined, ideal for lounging by the riverside but equally useful as a sunbed in the garden and single bed for camping and even unexpected guests. It comes in one design, green, helping you to blend into the natural environment, it is rather sizeable at 82cm wide x 206cm long x 38 high. The legs adjust to give you a little extra height where needed and helps you gain a flat surface on bumpy ground, however we found the two in the middle difficult to pull out and needed a good wiggle for releasing; the six wide mud feet sit in a ball joint letting them level out whilst the textured bottoms help to give a secure foundation on wet or muddy terrain. When it comes to portability there are definitely easier things to carry about, a strap or carry case would make the process much easier. It weighs 10kg, not ridiculously heavy but equally you won’t want to be walking it too far from the car and certainly not whilst carrying other gear. Setting it up is fairly straightforward, unfold the legs and push back the feet and head rest, if you want it in the seated position there are two plastic dials that need to be adjusted. These dials could be more robust, they close the gap between two panels with grippy teeth, also made from plastic, which locks the back rest into the desired position, this can be adjusted by tiny increments allowing you to find the perfect angle. The top of the Bedchair is lined with a lovely soft micro fleece fabric comfortable against the skin, there is a removable pillow in the head rest and the adjustable webbing on the back of the mattress adds support. The footrest of the bed doesn’t fold down so when it’s in the chair position your feet aren’t on the floor, its more like a recliner, when fully laid out as a bed, it was surprisingly comfortable even for a slide sleeper like me. The Classic Bedchair could accompany you fishing but it is much more suited to hanging out in your garden, going car camping, glamping or caravanning or putting up that friend at the party who couldn’t get a taxi.
Ngt ClassIC BedChaIr For more information on the NGT Classic Bedchair click here p rOs BaC k rest a Ngle h Ighly Var I a Ble a djusta Ble W eBBINg ON the BaC k sI x mud feet IN Ball jOINts r emOVa Ble pIllOW sOft fleeCe l ININg sturdyCONsBulky legs dI ff IC ult tO sl I de Out fOOt rest dOesN ’t drOp dOWN BaC k rest dI als COuld Be mOre rOBust 19
So for those of you looking to embrace the world of vinyl, some turntables come prebuilt with phono pre-amps but most these days don’t. The phono amp or stage is the bit that enhances the sound from the stylus to a high enough volume for the amplifier to be able to make use of it. This is where the Zen Air Phono comes in. It’s an external phono stage that, as well as providing the essential service just mentioned has also been designed to reduce the background noise common with vinyl listening. And, if you happen to have one already built in, this device will upgrade an existing Air has a few handy little features to help it do its thing. Firstly, it has a Subsonic Filter. Most Phono’s have this to be fair but, according to Ifi Audio, theirs is unique in that it doesn’t cut out bass or cause phase issues unlike other phono’s, it simply removes the ‘rumble’ that you often get from warped old vinyl’s. They have also made use of a custom OV Series operational amplifier that really helps with low noise and low distortion and have incorporated TDK ceramic capacitors. These things basically reduce capacitor-induced distortion to almost nothing. The other big name they have in this little box is Panasonic with their ECPU Capacitors which offer Equivalent Series Resistance as well as lending to frequency stability and again lowering the distortion. The only thing we haven’t mentioned is whether this works with either Moving Magnet or Moving Coil style turntables. Well, good news, it does both! A switch at the back and you’re good to go! Not bad at all for the price tag.
ZeN aIr phONO
Thephono.Zen
p grOsOOd pr ICe mm a N d mC COmpat IBle r I aa eQualIsat ION sett INg aCONstth Is pr ICe , I Ca N ’t th IN k Of a N y! NO phONO NO prOBlem. For more information on the Zen Air Phono click here 21
For more information on the GreenPan Slow Cooker click here greeNpaN slOW COOker p pfasrOs free , thermOlON Ceram IC easy tO use m ess free lC d dIsplay steam, BrOWN, sauté , slOW COOk, reheat a N d keep Warm Qu IC k tO Clea N (dIsh Washer safe) fam Ily sIZ e 6l CapaCI ty £199
I’m already a big fan of GreenPan, they were a big feature on our wedding gift list and are used nearly every day in our house, so the thought of being able to use GreenPan Slow Cooker was very exciting. Just like all the GreenPan range this slow cooker is made from PFAS-free, Thermolon ceramic, free from harmful ‘forever chemicals’ the ceramic has a diamond infused non-stick coating specially designed for the higher heat requirements of electrical appliances. The Slow Cooker is part of the brand-new range of small kitchen appliances coming out this September, waffle maker we have got our eyes on you next. It comes in a choice of Stainless Steel, Glossy Black, Blue Haze and Cloud Cream colour, it has a rectangular design with a large metal control panel, there’s something of a vintage look about it, reminiscent of the 70s but that adds to the charm. It measures up at 19 x 13.5 x 11 inches has a 6L capacity and weighs 13 lbs. The aluminium pot and glass lid are dishwasher safe and clean up really well with very little effort. Designed to let you cook healthy meals, ready for when you need them, ideal for busy families, you can make anything from traditional casseroles, stews and soups to more adventurous options like whole roast chickens, pasta sauces, curries and even desserts and hot drinks. The low setting is perfect for slow and gentle heat to deepen the flavours of your dish, all you need to do for most dishes is brown off the meat before adding it all in and leaving it to work its magic. The high performing ceramic means there is no need to oil the pot beforehand, as well as the slow cook (low, med and high) setting there a sauté/ brown setting, letting you prep your meat without adding to the washing up, there is also a steam option and an included steaming rack. The temp and time can be adjusted, all will be clearly displayed on the large LCD screen, but there’s no need to stress about the setting as this GreenPan will automatically set the right temperature for the selected cooking mode. There is a handy warm option to keep the food ready for eating without over cooking, perfect for parties, after cooking it will automatically switch to this mode to save from potential dinner disasters. The reheat option is an unusual one but another great edition, GreenPan have gone all out to save you time, hassle and washing up, allowing you to do multiple cooking styles all in the one pot before leaving to its magic.
23 perhaps a l I ttle pr ICey fOr a slOW COOker But W e BelI eV e yOu WON ’t regret speN dINg the extra ON th Is ON e .
lOgIteCh mx master 3s
Ever since it was first mass-produced for home computers back in 1984 (Yep, almost 40 years ago) the Mackintosh 128K came with one included although the first mouse was created by Douglas Engelbart in 1964. Pub quiz question answer there for you, you’re welcome!) the humble mouse has had many, many iterations and designs, each generation seeming to improve on the last. For its part in mouse history, the MX Master 3S has focussed mainly on silent and efficient running alongside a design of shape relatively common for maximum comfort. The efforts Logitech have gone to in order to reduce the noise on this mouse has paid off. Introducing something they refer to as ‘Quiet Clicks’, they have reduced the noise of the mouse-click by 90% in comparison to their older models and is a godsend for those like me who get
annoyed and irritated at repetitive mouse-clicking noises, especially when not doing the clicking yourself… They have paid just as much attention to the scroll wheel which whizzes along at a nice 1000 lines a second for when you really need to get to a certain point on the page! It’s an electromagnetic wheel which, it would seem, reduces the noise significantly. Makes sense I guess. At the business end of this mouse, the sensor is capable of reading 8000 DPI (Dots Per Inch) which gives it a highend gaming performance and can even work when used on glass making any surface viable. Thankfully, you can adjust the DPI if you wish – that much sensitivity can be a hindrance for certain tasks I find. Finally, the battery life is fantastic: up to 70 days of use fully charged and for just 1 minute of recharge time, you’ll get 3 hours of use.
p VrOsery Qu I et COmfOrta Ble desIgN m ade WI th reC yCled plast IC Versat Ile pCONsrICey – yOu really are pay INg fOr all that INNOVat ION!
slICk aNd dIsCrete
For more information on Logitech MX Master 3S click here 25 £119.99
COmfOrta Ble Ca N leaV e attaChed tO the sWI tCh W h Ile I t ’s dOC ked a ddI t IONal tr Iggers Ca N Be assIgN ed fu NC t IONs a fam Il I ar feel fOr CONsOle gamersCONs m IssINg sOme features that WOuld haV e BeeN W elCOme hOrI splIt pad prO pOkemON (pIkaChu BlaCk & gOld) tWO Of Our faVOur I te th INgs COm BIN ed NIN teN dO a N d pOkemON £44.99
For more information on the Hori Split Pad Pro Pokemon (Pikachu Black & Gold) click here
I love how practically everything is customisable these days! With the Nintendo Switch being designed to have controllers that detach, we have an abundance of styles and designs out there with which to make our handheld console our very own. Personally, I never really got in to the whole Pokemon thing but, I have to admit, this design does look pretty cool. The black marries perfectly with the Switch itself and the design works well with the gold, being surprisingly non-garish. But of course, looks aren’t everything! This Split Pad Pro from Hori features full-size analogue sticks, a D-pad and large shoulder buttons as well as additional rear triggers and Turbo functionality. None of this is new really – it’s what you expect with most pads for the Switch. But what I like about this one is the size of all the above features. It feels like you’re using a regular controller that you would use with any full-size console. It’s all comfortably within reach and fits snugly in to your palms. I didn’t feel like I had to over-stretch while playing or perform some mind-bending, ninjastyle hand acrobatics just to achieve a simple move in the game! I certainly prefer this to the designs which are just flat, straight lines or ones that are angled – they always feel like a chore. Hori have stuck with a design that has been proven to work and I for one, am happy they have. The comfort is definitely the major plus. However, there are some features missing that could have made this an essential. There’s no rumble function or motion controls for instance and there is no wireless feature or IR camera function that could affect some games you want to play. Despite this, it’s still worth a purchase, especially for the Pokemon fans out there!
NOkta the legeNd Whp
The Legend from Nokta is absolutely packed full of features to make detecting as straightforward, enjoyable and fruitful as possible, it is their first simultaneous multi frequency metal detector perfect for multi-purpose treasure Thishunting.highly adaptable detector is suitable for all types of targets and ground conditions, it uses a versatile 11” DD coil and has a highly robust body and fully waterproof, IP68 rated construction, don’t let the weather conditions put you off getting out there and searching. In fact, get yourself in the water as the Legend is fully submersible up to three meters (10ft) and protected from total dust ingress. The Advanced Discrimination settings give you precise control over your detecting, with control over the depth and discrimination capability in messy sites along with silent and stable operation, ideal for beach and underwater hunters. For gold prospectors the Legend features specific tools for finding gold dust all the way up to big old gold nuggets in highly mineralized gold fields (we can dream right). We don’t have enough pages to dig into all the features the Legend has to offer but we will try to give you the highlights. You can choose between multi or single frequency searches, there are park, field, beach, gold field search modes as well as four additional slots ineach mode where your custom modes can be saved. The Pinpoint mode provides precise location and depth to avoid damaging items when digging them out, there is also saltwater mode, vibration mode for noisy environments or those with hearing impairment. The included wireless headset makes for a more comfortable experience, the noise cancellation prevents false alarms, the manual ground balance lets the user tune into the ground balance on specific search conditions. The Legend allows you to get rid of EMI easily with the Recovery Speed setting, there are 60 Target IDs and Harmonic Tones to play with, the backlit LCD control panel is user friendly, and the LED flashlight helps you take your detecting into the evening or early morning. This lightweight detector weighs just 1.4kg making it a pleasure to use for long periods of time, it has a comfortable balance to it and the battery can easily keep up with you with up to 20hours of searching time. The USB charger means you can charge the Legend via the mains or a powerbank, you can also stay up to date with firmware updates to get the most out of the detector. The Legend is well named, it is an absolute legend, a powerful detector, highly adaptable, easy enough to use that it will appeal to novices but with lots of adjustable settings that will attract experienced detectorists, you literally cannot go wrong with this machine.
$749
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For more information on the Ettinger Sterling 6oz click here I have gathered several hip-flasks in my time, the latest one being from a War of the Worlds live experience. It looks fantastic with a nice etched design on the steel cover. However, I don’t own anything as fancy-looking as this. Well, there’s the tartan cloth covered one but that’s arguably a little tacky! The thing that really sticks out for this Ettinger hip flask is the sumptuous leather encasing the stainless steel. The leather is made from top quality Italian calf sides that have been Chrome tanned. I had to look this up because, I don’t know about you, but I just had visions of leather being dunked in liquid metal and wondering how that worked exactly?! So, the chemicals used in this process are Chromium salts and they work by cross linking the collagen fibres in the leather, making it more water resistant but also retaining the fineness of the leather itself. Other 6OZ CaptIVe tOp leather BOuNd hIp flask p rOs Qual I ty I tem Well made sta INless steel fu NN el h as a lOV ely ‘feel’ tO I t. methods of tanning leather tend to give a rougher texture and Ettinger have clearly gone for a top-end luxury feel to this hip flask as well as addressing the issue of getting wet as is likely when out in the great outdoors! It’s also very hard-wearing and tough. The flask itself is stainless steel of course and has the usual attached screw cap. It’s a fairly standard 6oz size which is plenty big enough to sensibly enjoy a little tipple while out camping/fishing/hiking or whatever. The thing I really like though is the stainless steel funnel included to help you fill your flask. If only I’d had one of these when trying to fill my other hip flasks – would have saved many a mourned spillage! Ideal as a gift for your favourite outdoors loving friend, it can also be personalised (for an extra cost) and comes in a handmade Ettinger gift box. Nice!
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31 £95 the perfeC t g I ft fOr yOu OutdOOrs lOVINg lOV ed ON es .
IsOtuNes aIr defeNders
For those of you that work in loud environments, ear protection is essential. Once you go above about 85 dB for prolonged periods of time (about the noise level of a busy street for 8 hours or more) you can end up damaging your hearing. So, you can imagine what it’s like working in a workshop with loud tools operating all the time. You’d be daft not to wear ear protection! But who wants to be left with their own thoughts for that long in a cushion of hardly any noise? Scary prospect… That’s why those delightful people at Haven Technologies have created a series of ear defenders with Bluetooth capability. The Air Defenders are the latest in the Isotunes range, combining the ability to protect your ears from excessive noise and listen to music or your favourite audio-book/inspirational talk/alien conspiracy podcast while doing so. They claim to be 20% lighter than previous models in the Isotunes range (I’m taking their word for it, I don’t have any of the previous models) and they are definitely comfortable, fitting snugly around the ears. As a result, the Bluetooth ear-buds stay put, unlike many other in-ear buds I’ve had to put up with. It’s almost worth considering these for a normal pair of headphones but it would be slight over kill I think. As well as having Bluetooth capability, there is also an in-built microphone which incorporates noise suppression and echo cancellation technology so you can even take calls in those noisy environments without all the hassle of taking the ear protectors off and finding somewhere quiet to take that important call. The battery life is good too, being able to operate for up to 40 hours before needing charging. All in all, these are a pretty good investment for those that need them and at a good price too.
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Baby wearing is such a lovely experience for both child and wearer, baby gets to feel close and secure to you whilst you get two hands free, what a novelty! Caboo, which means to be close to someone, this baby carrier has been designed around the basic concept of a sling but with a few changes here and there to make it more comfortable and easier to use. Made from a strong but soft cotton blend it comes in three attractive gender-neutral colours, Olive, Phantom and Burgundy. It comes in two pieces, the carrier and the additional support wrap which also doubles up as a hand carry bag. The material is lovely and soft, comfortable on both the carriers and baby’s bare skin, it also has a good amount of stretch to it which makes loading and unloading baby easier. There is a wonderfully clear instruction video on the website with a real wriggly baby, none of this doll nonsense that shows you how to put on and remove the carrier safely and demonstrates both the carrying Thisoptions.carrier can be worn chest to chest or on the hip which is particularly good for older children who like to look about, it will support the baby’s head all the way down to the base of their spine, the additional wrap can be used for better support around the head, particularly handy for those floppy new-borns. This wrap will also provide additional warmth and the pocket could be used to store soft items, muslin or gloves, anything that won’t dig into baby’s back. Their legs sit in the recommended 'frog legged' or 'M' position to fully support their developing hips and spine as well as meeting the T.I.C.K.S guidelines for safe carrying. The smooth metal rings make it easy to adjust the straps on the fly, it can even be worn for seated breast feeding, the reinforced back panel prevents any pressure point forming on the wearers back and also keeps the material tucked in giving you extra ventilation space. We have tested a lot of baby carriers over the year but the combination of the Caboo’s soft material, ease of use and ventilation certainly makes it one of the best.
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CaBOO CarrIer + COttON BleNd
For more information on the Caboo Carrier + Cotton Blend click here 35 a COmfOrta Ble , fuss free Ba By Carr I er.
£120 dmr Vault flat pedals For more information on the EDMR Vault flat pedals click here p rOs fully C ustOm Isa Ble r elat IV ely l Ight at just OV er 400 g g OOd gr I p NICe , seC ure CfeelONs p rON e tO mOre sh INBash INg tha N Others I haV e used s er IOus gear fOr ser IOus C yCl Ists
Ah, pedals. Those evil little essential things that have left me with so many shin scars over the years my lower legs don’t seem able to grow hair any more. Can’t live with ‘em, can’t live without ‘em! Pedals, not leg hairs. DMR have been knocking out bikes and bike accessories for over 25 years now so they kind of know a thing or two about pedals it’s fair to say. These particular shin-bashers are made from aluminium with a heat-treated steel axle, making them pretty tough and durable. The pedal is slightly concave, allowing it to settle nicely in to the arch of your foot and also quite wide so you can more easily find a good place to plant your feet and get the most optimum pedalling stance. The thing that makes these pedals so good however is the customisability of the pins. All the pins can be removed with Allen keys and are therefore replaceable. There are 7 x 6mm pins on the back and front and 4 x 4mm pins in the middle. The 6mm pins can actually be taken out and reversed showing additional 4mm pins so you can adjust where you want that grip to be strongest on the pedal, giving you the control to decide what best suits you and your riding style.
The edges are bevelled so that if you hit an obstacle or the ground, you’re more likely to glance off of it with less impact and the chance of getting stuck as a result is greatly lessened. They also come in a variety of colours so you can pick whatever fits your bike. The only issue is the corners sticking out a little more than most other pedals, hence my shin-bashers reference earlier! Got some new scars now but maybe I should just be more careful.
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Nektar ImpaCt lx mINI keyBOard Given its name, you’d be forgiven for thinking this keyboard is a downgrade or designed for beginners. Well actually, it packs an awful lot in on its tiny little frame! As well as the keyboard itself comprising of 25 keys, there are 8 knobs, 8 LED velocity-sensitive pads, a joystick (for controlling pitch bend, modulation and foot pedal control), 7 transport buttons (for dealing with MIDI software) as well as numerous buttons that do all sorts of things! The transport buttons are all MIDI-assignable and the ‘shift’ button allows for 14 different functions to be programmed in. Speaking of which, the DAW integration package that Nektar supplies not only supports all the most popular DAW’s (It also comes with Bitwig 8-track by the way) but it also provides you with a third control level allowing you to have up to 21 different functions. Combined with each LED pad able to hold 4 ‘pad maps’ (allowing up to 32 note assignments) and the unique ‘part 2’ button that allows you to momentarily shift the octave up or down, transpose, layer another octave on top, switch to another MIDI channel (or all/any of the above if you want!), you really do start to see the potential with this keyboard. Also of note is the Arpeggiator and Note Repeat functions which can be applied to both pads or keys giving you the ability to play around with synth and percussion lines and the Instrument Mode button that changes the knobs to be able to control instrument parameters with most DAW’s. There are even more functions on this thing but I’m running out of space! In conclusion, you get a huge amount of customisation for your money and you could do a lot worse than this, worth it.
For more information on the Nektar Impact LX Mini keyboard click here
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The foam padded handle and the full width power lever makes it comfortable to manoeuvre around the lawn even with one-hand, it doesn’t pull itself along like a petrol mower, but you certainly don’t need to apply a huge amount of effort to move it forward. The cutting height can be adjusted in 10mm increments, there are six height settings starting at 22mm going all the way up to 72mm. A handy comb on the side brushes the grass into the blades, this provides a neat finish to the edge of the lawn reducing the need of trimming when you are finished. The collapsible 42L Redi-bag grass collector has an indicator to let you know when it’s time to empty. The LawnMaster also comes with a mulching plug, this can be used to finely cut up the grass clipping allowing them to be returned to the lawn so it can enjoy all those lovely nutrients. One of favourite features is how compact the LawnMaster is when stored away, the handle folds over, the grass box collapses and sits on top, unlike our current mower that takes up half the space in the shed with handles and wheels sticking out all over the place. There is a useful central carry handle for transporting the mower up and down steps and in and out of storage, there is also a safety key to prevent the mower from accidentally starting, essential if the shed is accessible to children. The LawnMaster 48V 41cm Cordless Lawn Mower is excellent value for money, it has bags of energy and manages its power really effectively. The finished cut looks wonderfully clean, the stripes give it a professional look (if there is such a thing), its tidy storage and ease of use makes it a no brainer if you are looking for a cordless mower.
mOWer WIth spare BatterIes
For more information on the LawnMaster 48V 41cm Cordless Lawn Mower
click here laWNmaster 48V 41Cm COrdless laWN
With the summer being so dry we haven’t needed to crack out the lawn mower a lot so far, much to the relief of my partner who ends up swearing at the cordless mower for continually cutting out before running out of battery.
The LawnMaster 48V 41cm Cordless Lawn Mower looks like an excellent replacement, it comes with four MX 24V 4.0Ah lithium-ion batteries and two fast chargers (one hour charge time), a dual charger would be handy to keep things located to one plug but it’s really not a big deal. The two batteries mean you always have two batteries charging up, ready to go whilst the other two are in use, no more half-finished lawns. This mower is ideal for large sized lawns, it has a wide 41cm cutting width with a rear roller that delivers a neat striped finish. The battery indicator lets you know how much juice is left, letting you plan accordingly. The iPower Intelligent Battery Management System will automatically adjust the power delivery according to the grass conditions, giving you an extra boost when needed but saving energy on easier sections, you can also manually kick the power up a notch if needed.
41 p rOs fOur Batter I es INClude WI th 1hOur fast Charger I pOW er I N tell IgeN t Battery m a NagemeN t r ear rOller prOVI des attraC t IV e str I pes COmpaC t stOrage COllapsIBle 48l grass BOx I NCluded mulCh plug easy tO ma NOeu V re sI x C ut leNgth Batter I es are COmpat IBle WI th all laWNm aster 24V a N d 48V prOduC ts mOW er a N d Batter I es haV e a t WO year guara N tee Carry ha N dle a N d safety lOC k £299.99 th Is mOW er Is ImexCelleNtValuefOrONey,aNmpressIVeCOrdlessWOrkhOrse.
Ekster Aluminium Cardholder
ekster summer Bu N dle
The summer bundle comes with everything you need to keep your cash and cards organised and safe, it includes two Aluminium Card Holders, two Cash Clips, two Tool Cards and two gift bags.
The Aluminium Cardholder now comes in 15 different designs including the brand new Forged Ember, Matte Black and the Graphite version we received. This minimalist wallet is made from a space-grade aluminium and has a builtin button that with a quick press pops up your cards and fans them out for easy access, when you are done simply replace the card and push them all back into place. Even with the most vigorous shaking these cards aren’t going anywhere without that button being pressed, even if you choose to store one card. One to six cards can be stored in the main compartment (maximum of six non-embossed cards, or a combination of 4 - 5 embossed/non-embossed cards, depending on the thickness of each card) with the option of storing an extra nine in the expandable aluminium backplate. This can also be used to hold notes, however the more bits you have tucked in here the more it slows you down in identifying and retrieving them. The wallet measures up at 0.29 x 4.1 x 2.3 in (0.75 x 10.5 x 6 cm) making it easy to tuck into a jacket or trouser pocket (even skinny jeans), however be aware of removing it from your back trouser pocket before sitting down, you won’t damage the wallet, but your backside will certainly know about it. The Aluminium Cardholder uses an integrated RFID blocking layer that prevents thieves from stealing your identity and money by data skimmers. The optional Ekster Tracker Card can be bought separately, which helps to locate your wallet from your phone (or vice versa), with a solar powered battery and up to 200ft (60m) range with Bluetooth 4.0. The Ekster Aluminium Cardholder is a stylish and distinctive looking device, it is probably best suited for occasions rather than day to day use unless you tend to carry a minimal amount of cards/cash with you. $79
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This new release from Ekster has teamed up with Apple to create a card holder that is compatible with Apple AirTags (Please note AirTag is not included) to make it as difficult as possible to lose. The Apple Airtag is a small tracker about the size of a £2 coin, ones you have attached it to the Cardholder they are on your radar in the Find My app, if your Ekster then becomes lost all you need to do is ping it from your phone or ask Siri to find your cardholder and the AirTag will emit a sound to help you locate it. There is also a handy directional arrow on your phone screen to assist with the search, it works via Bluetooth but if you are out of range the hundreds of millions of iPhone, iPad and Mac devices around the world helps track down your AirTag via the cloud. At £29 each they are an inexpensive way of keeping track of your gear you can also receive separation alerts to prevent you walking away too far when it’s been left in the coffee shop or gym for example. The custom silicon pocket hugs the cardholder and will secure the AirTag, ready to shout out to you if/when you misplace it. Underneath the AirTag pocket is the Expandable aluminium backplate this can be used to store cash, extra cards or shopping lists. The rest of the card holder is that good old family Aluminium card holder, with its patented card ejection mechanism, Space-grade 6061-T6 aluminium, RFID protection (wireless theft). It measures up at 0.29 x 4.1 x 2.3 in (0.75 x 10.5 x 6 cm), it will hold up to six cards inside with and extra nine under the back plate, its robust frame and anti losing action make it ideal for busy lives. information on Ekster AirTag
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ekster aIrtag CardhOlder
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